82 years ago ...

On the 18th of March, a most amazing man was born. He goes by many names -- Junior (when he was a kid), Joe, Dr. Clauson, Dr. Joe, Joseph Emmanuel Clauson, ... Pops, Dadzy, ... Gramps, Grandpa, ... you get the picture. He is dear to soooooooo many people.

(For more photos, check my blog archives -- April 2008. His big 8-0 party!)

There have been quite a few times that he has almost left this earthly home -- a serious lung infection way back in 1981 that had him in Intensive Care for a time; in the past decade -- two cancers. Only God knows allllllllll of the times that were "near-hits!" I'm remembering a blizzard when we lived on O'Malley Road in Anchorage, Alaska ... tree on the power line and Dad climbing a long ladder in order to cut down the treetop with his chain saw. My memory is that the only way to get the tree to fall off the line was for Dad to jump when the whole thing, ladder and all, started to fall. God continues to graciously allow him to stay here on earth for the sake of so many of us. We are all quite selfish about this. And quite grateful.

So, Happy Bday, Popsicle! What an amazing man of God you are -- full of wisdom, patience, grace, gratitude, humor (okay, I'm not too thankful for the puns! ;-) !!!), diligence, stability, compassion, ... it goes on and on! I don't think there's a mean bone in you. Well, maybe when it comes to issues relating to the 49ers!!!

We love you. Here's a huge hug all the way from Indonesia!

In Casper, Wyoming ...

30 years ago, today, Mr. Wonderful walked into my apartment in Casper, Wyoming -- and into my life forever!!!

We're going out for the only thing close to dinner at a Mexican restaurant that we can find, here, 'cuz our first dinner date was at a Mexican restaurant.

Our first date of any sort was cross country skiing on Casper Mt. -- we can't even begin to replicate that experience within ... what? ... many hundreds of miles??!!

Jim is so good about remembering this anniversary date, much better than I!

Tea Tidbits

My sister, Kathleen, gave me a great little 2010 desk calendar with a tea theme. Everyday I learn something new about the history, science, poetry, or mythology relating to tea.

For example, did you know that:
1. Even as long ago as A.D. 780 a Chinese scholar wrote that there were already "a thousand and ten thousand teas."

2. You can give a boost to your acid-loving plants by adding wet tea leaves to the soil or by pouring some tea onto the soil.

3. There are really only 3 main kinds of tea -- black teas (from robust, fermented tea leaves), green teas (from steamed tea leaves), oolong teas (from partially fermented leaves). All come from the dark, glossy leaves of the evergreen, Camellia sinensis, which can grow over 30 feet tall but is usually pruned to bush size so that the leaves can be easily harvested! (NOTE: herbal "tea" is not tea ... but some of it still is tasty, I know!)

4. A cup of tea
A quiet nook
A cookie and
A picture book
A lump of sugar
On my spoon
Now that's a
Perfect afternoon
Eileen Spinelli

5. Britain's love of tea blossomed when Josiah Wedgwood introduced cream-colored earthenware in the 1760s. At that time, the majority of British porcelain would crack on contact with hot water.

6. But the all-time-most-interesting of all of the days' pages thus far ---
"If you are a black tea drinker, you're a forward-looking, intense person. Your thoughts are always directed toward the future. You have a fertile and active mind that is always churning."
Now, I don't know where they got this information. Maybe it's like a horoscope or something?? Maybe it is the result of drinking too much black tea and not a correlation of black tea with tea drinkers ...
Whatever, it's certainly true for me! When Jim read it, he was amazed!

Take a Chill Pill!

It's been awhile, I know! The pace is definitely picking up around here! Which is a very funny thing to say in light of what I'm about to say ...

So, yesterday I taught my English class the idioms "calm down," "chill out," and "take a chill pill" (I start each lesson with an idiom or two just for fun!!)

Later, I started thinking about my own tendency to chill out. A strange thing has happened. I wish I could say that it's just that I've finally grown up and that with maturity comes the ability to hang loose and go with the flow. In all honesty, I must admit that if I were still in the U.S. I'd probably be as intense as ever.

I remember a season of my life when my journal entry actually included a commitment to God to embrace some new words in my everyday vocabulary (along with a begging of God for the necessary strength to fulfill the commitment). The new words were "Oh well" and "bummer." It was written during a time that I had massive responsibilities and in order to reach my goals I had to depend on many, many people for many, many of their own responsibilities. And because the group of people included some who were seemingly addicted to chill pills and did not understand the words "deadline" and "goal" I often reached a high frustration level. Therefore, with God's enabling, I began my journey into the land of the laid-back. It was a journey that involved many setbacks and many temporary returns to the land of intensity. But it was a journey that had some measure of success.

Can't you picture God just grinning at me way back then as He considered the reality that was yet unknown to me ... that I would, one day, be forced to embrace those words or risk permanent insanity!

And now it would seem that our years in Nigeria and in Indonesia have reformed me! At least somewhat ...

Here I am, in the middle of the afternoon, in a house-dress kind of thing that is not fit to be worn outside. I've stayed home all day, mainly watching the Olympics (26 gold medals for the U.S. is the current count!) ... plus reading, studying Bahasa Indonesian, having a massage, and now blogging.

If the ride I had hoped to arrange didn't work out ... I decide that I really didn't want to go out that badly anyway!

If I (or Lusy) couldn't get the necessary recipe ingredients ... I make something else.

If half of my students don't arrive to class ... I change my teaching plans.

If unexpected rains arrive ... I get a bit wet.

If the electricity goes out during the evening ... we already have the candles burning.

If the party hasn't started when we arrive an hour late ... we go back home and return to the party in two hours.

If we can't get the sport we wanted on TV ... we check out the internet.

If the internet isn't working ... we make a new plan.

If my mobile phone isn't working ... I'm thankful for the peace it brings.

If the oven doesn't get hot enough ... I just keep the pie in the oven an hour longer.

If the hot water goes out in the shower ... I just drip over to the other bathroom's shower (separate gas bottles and hot water heaters. no gauge on the gas bottles.)

If I have a couple of dirty plates from dinner ... I just leave them in the sink for Lusy to wash tomorrow. (I must admit, this one is STILL hard to handle 'cuz I HATE having dirty dishes left out!)

So, I still have my goals for the week and I still have my handy-dandy check list and I still make plans every morning. But I guess I don't hold that tightly to any expectations anymore. Or, better yet, I expect that nothing will go as planned and then my expectations are met or exceeded every time!!!!

For those of you who think your life has gotten a bit too intense for your own good and for the good of those around you ... I've got a great place for you to visit!!!

Last Day of Fun in Australia (for THIS trip!)

Mad Mex -- a restaurant that's almost as good as Chipotle ... but it's not Chipotle!
Kelsea, going nuts at a chocolate restaurant! (See later photos, when we went back for treats at the same place!)
Everything else is pretty self-explanatory.
Final photos -- Brad, the famous chef, preparing some fantastic steaks!!! Can't think of any that have been better in my lifetime!

Beauty and Fun in the Blue Mts

Brad's Biggo Birthday Bashes

Once again, Bubz -- Happy 25th! We're so glad we got to share it with you! And we are in awe of all that God has done in and through you in your first 25 years! Amazing!