CA time!

So, we've been in CA for a week now. And, in this time we have held and welcomed little Leo into the world, our world. A handsome little guy, he's keeping his Dad and Mom awake during the night and feeling his big sister's cheeks get close to his face as she loves on him.

Clint had a overnight visit en-route from Christchurch to Newark, NJ.  Mike, Joni, and Miles drove up from San Diego to see all of us. We missed Julie who is currently in Cambodia, and Jamie and the girls who are navigating their new culture without Clint for a couple of weeks.

Stella and I took the train to San Diego with Joni and Miles for her first overnighter. Stella was golden! We had a great time at Uncle Mike and Aunty Joni's place. Miles and Stella were great troopers on the train and played so well. SD to LA (or the other way around) by train is a beautiful ride along the ocean. We even spotted a dolphin on the way down.

We've enjoyed taking Stella to her preschool, an afternoon at Kidspace, and yesterday we had a fun day at the beach.

So, pictures are in order as our time in CA comes to a close.

Papa and Leo

Sweet Leo

Having fun with tissue paper from one of Leo's gifts. Stella said, Let's not smile. :)

Uncle Clint with Leo

Bedtime stories

Kidspace Children's Museum - lots of hands-on stuff for kids

More of Kidspace

Stella and Miles took the Safety Instructions on the train very seriously :)

Yeah! We made the 3-hour train trip!

What better way to keep the kids in tow, but to use the car seats while we waited for Uncle Mike to pick us up from the train station.

Beach time

From here we fly to Indy to pick up our ole' 96 Camry tracking close to 260,000 miles, then heading to Lexington, KY for General Conference.

Until next time . . .

Goulash, Apple Pie, & Friends

Two weeks ago our friends had us over for a true Hungarian meal. Zoli, Ella, and Christian have become very special to us. Zoli made the best Hungarian Goulash I've tasted yet, over an outdoor fire pit that he built. Ella made wonderful side dishes of pickled veggies, potatoes, and strawberry cake for dessert.

Tonight they came to our flat for dinner. What could be as American as apple pie, so after an appetizer of cold strawberry soup and take out pizza (I think that's American, too) we had pie al a mode with caramel topping. Yummy! Dennis is currently in Croatia. We missed him around the table, and that might just be the reason why we did take away pizza. :)

What's so funny when we get together is that we know about as much Hungarian as they know English, so we all have our English-Hungarian dictionaries as part of the place setting. It makes for interesting conversation and laughter!  

Beautiful evening for an outdoor dinner with wonderful friends.

Goulash is kind of between a soup and a stew, with a thick consistency much like a sauce. Zoli's was delicious and seasoned with paprika, a symbol of Hungarian cuisine.

Alma Pita - Hungarian for Apple Pie

Zoli, Ella, & Christian

Sweet Friends

Leo Close Up :)

What am I doing on Mother's Day far, far and away from hubby, kids, grands? I'm a bit unmotivated to do anything but look at pictures of the family. These just came across FB via Kari. What a special gift!

Our Leo

Kari and Leo are both home and well!

Many of you saw this photo on Josh's blog, I'm sure, but I couldn't wait any longer to post a picture. A proud and relieved Dad, a very happy big sister Stella, and a healthy Leo.

We can't wait to meet this little guy and hold him close.

A special Mother's Day to Kari today! We love you, Kari!

Meeting People . . . if only for Moments

Early this morning I bid farewell to two new friends as I unlocked the gate entrance to our flat and sent them off to the train station to continue their travels in Europe. Jackie and Kayla, who I had never met before, spent two nights in our home. A mutual friend suggested they contact us when he knew of their travel plans. I'm so glad he did!

Great gals. IWU grads exploring the world before they enter a new season in life. I love hanging out with 20-somethings. Adventuresome, full of passion, ready to explore. Taking in the cultures of the world, learning as they go, processing, asking questions. I think my ideal job could be to mentor students on a university campus. I'm inspired and challenged by this age. If we could only keep that sense of adventure and desire to learn that often accompanies the third decade of life. Maybe that's why I love this age. I want to keep that spirit alive in me. The spirit of life-long learning.

It was a joy to take them around the city. We had some great talks over coffee and dinner, getting to know each other. Loved hearing their stories of coming to faith in Christ, influenced by parents who made that decision later in life. It was a beautiful picture of how God orchestrates the movement of His Spirit. I loved hearing their dreams and passions.

There are times when people cross your path in life and you're all the better for it. A Hungarian friend told me that even if you meet people for only a moment, like having a conversation with someone on the train or on a flight, then you have enriched their life and they have enriched yours.

It's so true.

So, we hugged and I pointed them in the direction of the 49 tram stop. Maybe our paths will cross again. Maybe not. Nevertheless, I am thankful to have crossed paths with Jackie and Kayla for these moments in time. I have been enriched and I trust they feel the same.

My word for the year is love. I think this has something to do with it :).

Leo is Here!

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LEO JAMES JACKSON arrived shortly after noon on Monday, May 7. He is 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long.

He came out with what is probably TTN - a common lung condition (1 in 100 newborns have fluid on the lungs) which is often complicated by a caesarean birth. He is spending some time in neo-natal ICU, but has already made some great progress. Kari is doing well, and of course, Josh and Kari are a bit anxious. 

Our hearts rejoice in welcoming this little guy into the world. Two weeks can't come soon enough when we get to meet him. Thanks for rejoicing with us on his arrival, and for lifting Leo and the family in prayer. We are trusting that his breathing will continue to improve. Usually in a matter of 72 hours all TTN symptoms are gone. This is what we hope for.

Pictures to come!

Hiking in Bulgaria and Slovenia

Dennis and I love to hike. Though we don't hit the trails as often as we would like, it's one of our favorite pastimes. Surrounded by the natural beauty of nature we are always reminded of our Creator God, awesome and majestic.

After returning from Scandinavia and the Baltics, we drove down to Belgrade, Serbia and then further to Sofia, Bulgaria (where we met up with our colleagues from Macedonia for a day). Sofia sits at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain. We had the most beautiful day for hiking up to the Boyana waterfall, the highest in Vitosha, then followed the stream down the mountain.

Love our hiking poles!

Boyana Falls

From Sofia we drove 11 hours to catch Vintgar Gorge near Bled, Slovenia. Julie and I had been there in February. Water levels were much higher this time with snow melting off the mountains. It was as beautiful as I remember and I'm so glad Dennis was able to experience this beautiful area in the Julian Alps.

Bled Lake

Thankful for some holiday time, and the days of refreshment.

Be watching for a very important baby announcement in my next post! :)

The Hill of Crosses

I read about this historical spot when checking out the top ten list for Lithuania. It was only 12K from Siauliai, the town I mentioned in my last post that was almost destroyed twice during the World Wars. We just about missed the site. A simple metal sign was posted along the main two-lane road indicating a historical spot, and as I turned around to look I could see the hill of crosses in the distance. We made a u-turn and headed in the direction of the hill, which really is out in the middle of nowhere.

The Hill of Crosses is an amazing sight with rich history. It all starts back in the 19th century when the Poles and Lithuanians were under Russian rule. A peasant uprising against Russian authorities in 1831 was unsuccessful, and since relatives of the victims either could not locate the bodies of the dead or were not allowed to bury the perished, they began to place crosses on the hill as a symbolic remembrance. Another unsuccessful rebellion took place in 1863 when more crosses were placed on the hill. It became a place that represented peace and prayer, and now is a place of pilgrimage for people all over the world.

 After War World II when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviets, attempts were made to destroy the hill. Crosses were removed during the early years. The hill was even guarded by the Soviet army and the KGB. Three times - 1961, 1973, 1975 - the Soviets leveled the hill, burning the crosses or turning them into scrap metal, then filling the area with sewage. But, each time it was destroyed, the people would gradually begin to replace the crosses.

It was a place where people could anonymously show their resistance to the regime that oppressed them. In 1978-79 attempts were made to flood the area. It finally was left in peace in 1985.

Today, there are well over 100,000 crosses on this little knob of a hill. Crosses of all sizes, pictures of Jesus, crucifixes, rosaries. On windy days they say the tingling of the metal crosses and rosaries creates a beautiful sound.

It's a place that symbolizes grief and heartache, but also one of faith, love, and sacrifice.

It is a quiet stand against oppression, persecution, and injustice.

The words inscribed on the stone below are from Pope John Paul II, who visited the hill in 1993.
 

In just about every country we visit in Europe we see the effects of war, whether it be World War I or II or the Balkan war, not to mention those before.

Lithuania was not exempt. It was well worth a short stop at the Hill of Crosses. One I will not forget.