Gypsies

Our family's unplanned road trip to the North this past weekend brought thoughts of our grandmother's Hungarian Gypsy roots to mind.  

For pics of our exciting adventure check out my mum's site www.floursandfleurs.wordpress.com  

Skip ahead to 2:20 and I think you'll see why I've discovered why that side of the family has passed down so many knee problems ;)

Modern Twists

 I've always loved prints by John Waterhouse and loving how the same ideas are being reborn in modern designs.

Image Courtesy of shopruche.com

Borderland

Special thanks to Journalofanobody for allowing me to borrow the amazing photo above.

Came across this photo the other day...I have often seen the painted works of Mexico which depict similar scenes but the fact that this photo captures it in a more realistic sense is captivating!

Count down to the big day - 6 days! -  LOOK OUT CANADA HERE WE COME!  

ChhhhhhhChanges...

Slowly but surely we are all getting ready for a big trip to the Great White North...perhaps I should say right now Big Sopping Wet North... Still not a drop of rain her, have to admit I wouldn't mind a little thunderstorm being sent down...just one or two mind you please :)

Everyone keeps asking if we're ready for the wedding...in truth not sure what we're supposed to be doing to be ready for it.  Besides the packing and making sure we meet up with everyone on time how does anyone really prepare for a wedding.  I suppose the emotions of that day are not really something anyone can prepare for.  We are so proud of Stefano and Belinda for working hard to keep things simple and to keep the focus on what it really is about, two beautiful people embarking on a non-stop adventure...

Sometime keeping it simple is actually harder than not.  They've done so well, especially with the distances and countries, and time changes, etc... Must be a bit odd to be in the same country and time zone now for them both.

I best be getting back to work but thought I'd just take a moment to say a Hello & Love you to Stefan and Belinda and to all you wonderful friends and family that I know I often don't tell as much as I should how much you all mean to me.

Un Petit Plus

...Les Choses Belles et Tristes...

I adore Yann Tiersen, have from the first moment I heard his unique take on classical sounds.  The commonplace sounds of Europe with a modern twist brings me goosebumps everytime! He is originally from Bretagne the same area of France that Mon Grand-Pere Avry is from...near the cold waters of the Atlantic full of farms fed by fresh seaweed and arrays of celtic stones that mimic Stonehedge...You can hear the slight Melancholy in his music that is so commonplace there in Bretagne.

VIOLINS

!?WHO NEEDS A MUSIC STUDIO WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ROOMS?!

LIVE CONCERT

A TASTE OF BRETAGNE 

TASTE OF THE OLD WORLD

Marche Aux Puces

Been having an awful itch to stroll the flea markets of Paris lately...just found out the street we adore, Rue Cler has a small flea market once a month during the Marche Aux Puces in the Spring and Summer months.

Need a place to stay check out the website below:

http://www.parisattitude.com/apartment-selection.asp

Nice thing about staying in a flat is first of all the pricing is much less than staying in any hotel for the same amount of time...is a true living experience in your destination city (you feel like a local, are treated more like a local, and have a much better grasp of the culture by the time you leave)...and you can cook for yourself so you spend less money eating out.  Cooking for yourself means more time browsing the markets again getting a full cultural immersion experience!

What are some of your favorite Flea Market finds?  Locally or internationally....

You say good-bye, I'll say hello...

What a weekend.  Had the most amazing time at our two-day assembly in Denver. Had the privilege of driving up and back with a cargroup from our congregation who were truly a treat and joy to spend time with.  It's amazing even when you consider some people close friends, that the more you get to know about them, the more you realize you don't know.  Our special pioneer meeting was exactly what we needed to keep going.  And the assembly itself....can't even begin to explain the heart-piercing discourses and experiences.  Shayne and Tony did an amazing job on both of their parts and I was so proud of the many others in our congregation who also had parts and really appreciate all of their hard work!

Stefan headed to Canada Monday...this was a very odd mix of emotions as a new chapter has turned in our lives....things will truly never be the same again.... yet it feels right.  It is time, we aren't saying goodbye however, we are saying hello to a new beginning, a whole new group of people who will become family very soon, a whole new outlook on things, a huge change.  But one that we are so proud of Stefan and Belinda for handling in such a brave way!  We love you guys!

Pretty Patterns

Spanish Flamenco Guitar

Let's take a little trip to Barcelona shall we?

I believe the above clip is actually sung in Arabic...just beautiful!  

Updates

It feels like ages since I've actually written any of the goings on. . . It's late and I should be getting to bed but my adrenaline is still pumping from the days activities so hopefully writing will help a bit. This morning was the Special talk and Tony did an amazing job with Jehovah's help of course.  Such fabulous illustrations!  And the Watchtower?!  Our poor conducter was overwhelmed with comments.. (Being in a sattelite group because of the Special talk they combined us with the whole congregation today it was such a delight!) Today was the music recital of the school of music run by two fleshly sisters from our congregation and their mum from a local English congregation.  It was just beautiful, and one of our dear young brothers in our congregation gave a fabulous performance!

Spent the rest of the evening with wonderful friends eating amazing Sushi at "THE SUSHI PLACE" on N. Mesa...by the way if you are craving true-biz sushi down here in the desert, this is the place to go.  Small, Simple, and Delicious!  Tomorrow is the congregation's Going-Away picnic for Stefan. I still can't believe how quickly time has passed.  This weekend is our 2 day assembly and Pioneer meeting in Denver, from where Stefan will then fly to Canada.  With his wedding only about 3 weeks away.  Can you believe it?  Mi hermanito is getting married, and moving to another country!! You just never know where you'll end up or what you'll be doing even 1 year from today.  I wonder what we'll think 10 years from now looking back on life.  Such changes!  Who would've ever believed that yours truly would be living in Texas learning Spanish and loving it?!  Not I, that's for sure.  But Jehovah knows exactly what we need doesn't he?!

Speaking of learning Spanish.  A sister from the other side of town recently gave me a contact on an elderly woman here on my side of town that was deaf in one ear since childhood but has progressively lost her hearing in the other ear since and does not use any sign language.  Her main spoken language, Spanish, with very little English.  I told this sister this exactly the kind of challenge I have been praying for and Jehovah has certainly answered my prayers.  Mum and I arrived at her home the first time to pick her up for meeting not sure what to expect . . . Along the drive there were various markets set up selling saddles and boots along side the road and then we found it...cute little chihuahuas guarded the quaint little home and sure enough as the sister had said within 5 minutes the chihuahua chief made his way into the house to fetch his master and out came Elvira...all 4 feet of her (That may even rounding up)  She joined us the first time with all smiles and survived the meeting and all of the confusion I'm sure she must have felt.

The next week when we came to pick her up she had been spending the morning cleaning and straightening up (One thing down here I can't tell you how refreshing to be amongst a culture that values such cleanliness!  I can count on one hand the number of homes I've been afraid to put my bag down in while in the ministry....people truly have a sense of pride.)  She brought us in to meet her birds...some kind of parrots, lovebirds, and a finch.  Singing beautifully  and such bright colors.  As she showed us her beautiful crochet projects and embroidery it was all I could do not to cry.  What a gem!  She does so well at the meeting looking up the scriptures in her Spanish Bible to be sure she understands.  (My stick-figure quick drawings aren't always very understandable...even for me)  Can't wait to see what is to come.

This week is the last week of classes at UTEP and the following week will be the graduation.  I'll be interpreting with one of the other interpreters.  Last time I did it with Stefan, curious to see how it goes this year.  I must tell you finger spelling the ginormous names down here can be a bit of a challenge.

For those of you who didn't know Tony as well had the privilege to serve at Bethel for a week last month.  He still is on a spiritual high from the abundance of joy he experienced being there.

Well my eyes are starting to get droopy so I think that's my cue to sleep.  Love you all hope you are doing well.  Please let me know how things are going when you are able.

Loads of Love,
Meg