Discovering Poetry

This week Malachi discovered poetry.  He got a timeout and was sent to our room and after his timeout was over he chose to stay in our room longer.  I kept checking on him and for the longest time he was just looking out the window.  Then he came out and asked for paper and I gave him a notebook.  He went back to the window and that is where I got this shot.  He was writing something and I was curious.  After at least a half an hour I came in and asked what he was writing and he didn't want to say.  I think he was shy to share his writing.  After some coaxing I got a peak and it was a series of short poems about the rain and the scenery outside.  Very simple and nice.  I'll have to ask his permission to post them sometime.  He stayed busy writing for a very long time.  Malachi definitely has a gift with language and a need to express things in language.  I hope this continues to be an outlet for him.  It was interesting to see him initiate this need to write in this style all on his own.  I think is speaks also for how nature can move us.  As he was looking out the window at the rain and the trees and birds he saw some beauty in it all and wanted to capture it with words.  A good reminder to sit still long enough to see the simple beauty around us.

Amazing Hand Work

Women in Turkey are very talented in various hand work.  Knitting, croqueting, and this thread hand work are some of the most common and impressive.  These detailed designs decorate the edges of head scarfs that many women wear.  They buy the head scarves in stores and then add these decorations with a needle and a special thread.  I've watched a few women at work and have concluded that this is one skill that I may leave alone only to admire.  It is basically a lot of fancy knot tying, but it is the small size of the work that seems the most challenging to me.  Most of the designs below are no bigger than my thumb nail.  

Year in Pictures: Week 10

March 10 - A view from our window:  contruction workers working late and trying to stay warm.

March 9:  Cay glasses lined up on the counter.

March 8:  Our little neighbor boy sat here a long time watching a backhoe at work outside.

March 7:  A day at the park.

March 6:  No picture for today.

March 5:  A morning walk.

March 4:  A sunset on my running route.

What was she thinking?

This was a series of pictures I took a week ago or so.  I had tucked Sonora into bed and was reading in the kitchen.  Soon I saw Sonora out of bed looking for her hat and coat.  She quickly gathered them and ran back into her room without saying a word.  I was curious but pretended not to be interested and secretly took these pictures without her knowing.  I think she was too much into her own little world she wouldn't have noticed me anyway.  She just quietly put on her hat and jacket then sat on the side of her bed for about two minutes with her hands in her pockets, looking at the floor.  Then she stood up, buttoned every last button and shortly after laid down to sleep.  I don't know what she was thinking.  Maybe dreaming of a North Pole expedition?

Flying Kites: A Farewell to Isaac

Our dear little friend Isaac has gone to be with Jesus after battling cancer.  We just finished attending the funeral via the internet.  Our prayers are with his mom and dad and siblings whose loss is so great.  I wrote this a few days ago as my way of saying goodbye.

Flying Kites

It was just last summer

When we saw you last,

Your hair so blonde

From a summer full of sun.

Your family pulled in for a visit

One sunny afternoon.

We all sat under the big wide shade

Of the farm's prize tree

Drinking lemonade

and munching on crackers.

It was a kite flying sort of day

And we had kites to fly.

A novelty at first

Every kid gave it a try.

But slowly the holding of a string

Lost it's appeal

And one by one

As the kites came down

You stood as the only one

Ready to set them flying again.

You didn't seem to tire

From holding the string,

From looking up,

From your kite

High in the summer sky.

You were a child

Wrapped in wonder.

I never did snap that shot

Of your small frame on the green,

And that vast space of sky

Inbetween you and your kite.

It was flying too high.

But that is how I will always remember you.

Isaac, we will miss you dearly.

Budding Artists

Sonora

I am taking so many pictures of the kids' art these days.  These were two of my favorites from the recent creations by Sonora.  From her doodles to drawings she definitely has her own distinct artistic style and color.  I'm always finding little drawings here and there that surprise me.

Malachi

Malachi is much busier writing than drawing these days.  However, when he draws he draws well.  Birds seem to be the thing he likes to draw.  When he draws he definitely has an idea in mind that he works hard to capture on paper.  I'm really proud of his work!

Year in Pictures - Week 9

March 3 - Everyone ready for cake at a friend's birthday party.  

March 2 - Malachi's class singing Happy Birthday to him  (in four languages) as they celebrated March birthdays that Friday.

March 1 - Someone feeding the birds on our  ferry boat.

February 29 - I brought home this yummy orange jam from a neighbor's home after tea.

February 28 - We awoke this Tuesday to another beautiful snow!

February 27 - A very cold and windy day at the pazaar.  The tarps were nearly flying in the wind and the shoppers few.

Febrary 26 - Me playing piano in our church's worship band.