Good. Morning. Evee.

Evee and I have been waking up in the same room every morning since I arrived in Princeton. I hear her little sighs and whispers as she makes conversation with herself and her stuffed "Nemo," waiting patiently for someone to wake up. Facing the wall so she can't see my face, I try to get just a few more snoozes in before I turn over to face her bed. Not even two feet from my face I'm greeted with a smile as she peeks through the wooden bars that form the side of the crib-turned-toddler-bed.

"Good Morning Evee."

"Good morning Grandma."

When I hear her stirring, I always wonder what time it is. It's a relief if it's after 7:30. It could be as early as 6:15. This morning it was just before 8:00. Way to go Evee!

"Evee, should we take a walk to Starbucks this morning and have hot chocolate? Let's be real quiet so your mom can sleep in, okay?"

We quietly got dressed for a care-free Saturday, whispering to each other so we didn't wake up mom. We snuck out of the apartment, being careful to close the door quietly. Evee chose to ride in her stroller and as I pushed her along on the sidewalk of a tree-lined street, rain from the night before rolled off leaves, dripping on our heads. "The trees are peeing on us, Grandma!" she said through giggles.

We rolled into Starbucks located in a small mall not more than a ten minute walk from the apartment and ordered our breakfast. Cinnamon Dolce Latte with a warmed up apple fritter for me and a kids hot chocolate for Evee. We were going to share the apple fritter, but when we looked in the pastry case we couldn't believe what we saw - mini donuts with pink icing and white sprinkles! Evee's a girly girl in every sense of the word. Pink is her favorite color, twirling dresses are the only thing she wants to wear, and princesses who find their prince charming are a part of her imaginary world. The pink donut was just the thing for Princess Evee :).

A small round table with two chairs in the corner was the perfect spot for our morning outing. I looked across the table at my three-year-old grand daughter sipping her hot chocolate, munching on her donut, and had to hold back tears. Does it get any better than this? The music coming out of the speakers right above us wasn't helping my teary moment.

"Evee, this is so special. I'm so glad we did this. I enjoy being with you."

"I enjoy being with you, Grandma! I'm still hungry," as she finished the last bite of her donut.

"Would you like another little donut?"

Of course.

I got up to purchase another donut and gave her a kiss on her forehead as I made my way around the table. "Evee, Grandma loves you so much!" "And, I love you so much!" Talk about melting your heart right then and there.

I should have bought the special - three mini donuts for two-something - right off the bat. I went back to the counter two more times to buy a single mini donut.

We chatted, took pictures to show mommy, and talked about how nice it was that mommy was getting to sleep in.

By the time we finished, the mall stores had opened. We were content to window shop until we turned into a GapKids store. Straight to the sales rack, we found several dresses and headed to the dressing room. With every try-on there was a twirl in front of the mirror, followed by, "I could take this one home!" Two went home with us. Not surprisingly a pink dress and a bright multi-colored skirt that will match her pink flip-flops just fine.

Before our walk back home, we sat under the "big tree" in the children's department at Barnes & Nobles reading books about Dora and Lightening McQueen and Sesame Street characters.

I had a good morning with Evee and mommy got to sleep in. It doesn't get much better than that!

Evee Time!!!

After smooth, uneventful flights on Saturday we were greeted by Clint, Jamie, and Evee. Dennis is in Indy this week for meetings, and catching some time with Julie in between. I'm loving hanging out with Jamie and Evee. I never get tired of hearing, "Grandma, I love you so much!"

The End of Season One...

I pulled my last journal off the shelf trying to decide whether or not I should pack it for our return to the states. Sometimes I like to have my most recent journal handy for reference. It holds the bulk of my reflections and impressions on life for these past four months. Decision, decisions. What to take and what not to take for a 10 week journey. Will I need this? Will I need that? I don't want to wish that I had something, only to know that it's sitting in our flat some 4,000 miles away.

I remember speculating in the first pages of this particular journal that I would probably be writing my last entry just about the time we were completing our four months in Europe. And now here we are!

Dennis is mopping up final details for field work and preparing for leadership meetings... we're getting our flat ready for a summer hibernation, saying goodbyes to new friends, and packing suitcases as we anticipate seeing our kids and grand-kids.

It's been a great Season One. We are thankful for God's goodness and faithfulness in this first leg of the journey. We wouldn't want to be living anywhere else, nor doing any other work.

Thanks to all of you who have joined us on this journey! We couldn't have done it without your partnership.

Budapest! You're letting me down!

If Only the Statues Could Talk...

I've been wanting to post about this for some time now, but waiting for it all to come full circle for me. This week it did. Now I can tell the story. I've tried to keep it brief all the while giving you the background for the reason of this post.

At the end of Andrássy Ave is one of Budapest's most visited spots - Heroes' Square, one of the World Heritage sites in Europe. At least as large as a city block, the square displays the millennium monument built in 1896 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians to this area. Coming from the states, it is difficult to even fathom such a long history! (The picture below is off the internet, as well as the historical photos in this post, in order to give perspective and historical imagery. The rest are mine. The Museum of Fine Arts is to the left of the square in the photo below.)

The two semi-circles of the monument house statues of kings and heroes significant to Hungary's history. Seeing these statues up close is fascinating.

Dennis and I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to walk down Andrássy Ave to see this spectacular spot at night.

Meanwhile, just outside the city limits of Budapest, stand statues of a different nature at what is simply called Statue Park. There is no sense of glory in this park. In fact, the grounds upkeep appear to be minimal at best. Statues kept for their historical and documentary value, but possibly more than this, a reminder of the 40 grim years Hungary was ruled by a communist regime. After the fall of communism in 1989, some statues were destroyed throughout the city, others were removed to create the unique museum of life behind the iron curtain.

Marx and Engles

I admire the Hungarians for creating such a place as I would think most of those who experienced these years would have wanted these statues demolished. There was quite a political debate over this at the time, but the decision to keep a select group of the socialistic icons prove the unquestionable years of dictatorship and oppression. Four decades that should not be forgotten. Statues of Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Engles. Statues dedicated to hard working men and women - a chief value in the new order (though with no reality of reward). The Soviet symbol of the hammer and the sickle displayed at the top of a flag pole. Countless soldiers armed for resistance. All of these statues seem to display the realities of force, limitation, control, death, deception... all justified in the quest for an egalitarian utopia.

One of the statues is a set of large bronze boots. These boots were once part of a tall Stalin statue located at Heroes' Square. During the Soviet years Hungary's heroes were hidden, covered in a vain attempt to shift Hungarians loyalties to the leaders of communism. (Compare the photo on the right with photo above)


Known as the "first tear in the Iron Curtain," the boots represent the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, a heroic fight for liberation. Perhaps then Senator John F. Kennedy said it best on the first anniversary of the revolution: "October 23, 1956, is a day that will live forever in the annals of free men and nations. It was a day of courage, conscience and triumph. No other day since history began has shown more clearly the eternal unquenchability of man's desire to be free, whatever the odds against success, whatever the sacrifice required."

The revolt and victory only lasted 12 days before the Soviets regained control, but it was a major turning point in the Cold War.

On that day it only took an hour to topple Stalin's statue. By pick, by saw, by metal cutting blowpipes, thousands of demonstrators set to work on the statue at Heroes' Square. With engine power attached to a thick steel rope placed around Stalin's neck, the statue was pulled down to it's pavement grave, only leaving the boots intact.

With all this in mind, fast forward to this past Easter Sunday.

I was told of a friend's elderly father who watched the event captured on TV with tears running down his face. Over the years he had witnessed the forced marches, the solemn celebrations and the brash speeches declaring something to be that never came - an unrealized hope. But not this Easter. Now in the midst of the Heroes' Square which had witnessed so much pain, he saw 1300 young people dancing freely to lyrics that make reference to Hungarian heroes and a hopeful future for Hungary. But the lyrics don't stop there. They conclude that Jesus is the ultimate freedom - the hope of not only Hungary, but the entire world.

Who would have predicted this experience (click for video) on October 23, 1956?

Mom Joy!

Well, it's been a great day, and it's not even Mother's Day yet!

I heard from all my kids today either via phone, email, snail mail, or video. It does a mother's heart good! An added bonus was hearing each of the voices of my grandchildren. Evee chatted on the phone while her mom was shopping at Trader Joe's. I love to hear, "Hi Grandma!" And then, "Love you Grandma" when it's time to say goodbye. My heart just melts at the sound of those words. Miles babbled over the phone at the end of a conversation with Joni and everything in me wanted to pick him up and squeeze him tight. Then, at midnight (yes, it's late here in Hungary) Josh sent an email with a link that shows a youtube video of Stella jabbering and toddling around her room before bedtime. Dennis and I laughed out loud at her sweetness, her laughter, and her noisy chatter. Oh, how fun it would be to be silly with her.

What a joy to be a mom! And, a grandma!

Today I received a Mother's Day card from Joni. I think it was the first time that I received personal mail since we moved to Budapest. Her meaningful words and a snapshot of the kids and me from over 20 years ago brought tears to my eyes. It stirred the sentimental in me and I found myself looking at old photos that I had scanned and loaded into my computer last year. Photos of births, birthdays, family vacations, holidays, school events, graduations, weddings... all brought back so many memories. Memories that capture the love, affection, laughter, togetherness that we shared, and still share, as a family. We had crazy times of acting silly and moments when we all had the giggles so bad we were out of control laughing. It always seemed to happen at the most inopportune times, much to Dennis' dismay. And we've had our moments of stress and tension to be sure, but I wouldn't trade any of it for the joy of being a mom.

Motherhood as I knew it back then isn't the same anymore, nor should it be. Now three out of the four are a Dad and Mom's themselves. The great thing about being a mom is that the family begins to multiply and making memories doesn't stop.

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all the moms that read my blog!

But, I especially want to say...

Happy Mothers Day to Kari, Jamie, and Joni! You all are great moms and I am so proud of you. I couldn't ask for more devoted moms than each of you are to Stella, Evee, and Miles.

Great memories... I am a blessed mom!

11th District Green Spots

Discovering the green spaces in the 11th district has been a delight, especially in this Spring season. I always enjoy flowers and it's been an extra blessing to see more than I expected in Budapest. Tulips, flowering trees, forget-me-nots, lilacs, lily of the valley, spiraea, pussy willows, forsythia, muscari, are just a few that we see. Pansies are planted around the city as much as the tulips in Holland, MI for Tulip Time. What an amazing sight to see hundreds of pansies filling a grassy street corner or the center of a roundabout.

A nearby reed-framed lake surrounded by a walking path
and a shady park provides a green spot for relaxing or picnicking.
It's an enchanting sight at night to see the Catholic church
lit up displaying it's yellow baroque architecture.

I love this! It's a daily occurrence to see
these gentlemen gather for a game of cards
or chess at one of the lake park tables.

My running course parallel to the elevated train tracks.
Usually three trains pass by on the duration of my run.

The other day on a long walk,
I discovered this lovely park developed on a peninsula
along the banks of the Danube. Walking and running
paths are all over with plenty of spots to throw a
blanket and enjoy a sunny day.

And, last but not least, one of the "green spots" in
the 11th District is our landlords, Frank and Maria.
They are as delightful as the grassy spots we enjoy.
Beautiful people!