Happiness

I am happy that I am happy today!

And I like this quote.

"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves." Blaise Pascal, Pascal's Pensées, Thought #425)

Wrecker hauled off our car!

The police were checking car papers yesterday morning, and Carol was pulled over to be checked. Unfortunately, the documents for our international car insurance weren't to their liking, so the police called a wrecker and he towed the car away.

I spent the whole day today going from one office to another, trying to demonstrate that I am legally insured, so I could get my car out of the "deposito." Finally, at 6PM today they let me have it back. What a way to spend the day! I must confess, it was hard to be a good witness under these circumstances."

All things work together for the good...???"

Hazim prospers!

Last year (May 20) I posted about Hazim, our Iraqi refugee friend in Nashville. Today we called him, just to catch up. We found him in his usual haunt, the Goodwill Store on Nolensville Rd. He has become quite involved in an Arabic church in the Tusculum area. We were so encouraged to know that he continues to walk with the Lord. He always begs us to return to Nashville. Maybe someday!

Miller-Carrillo Wedding

We had a lot of fun celebrating the wedding of Alba Miller and Mauricio Carrillo! Carol made the wedding cake (gluten free). Alba has been a good friend for many years. She does student ministry with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade). Mauricio is Mexican, from Mérida, Yucatan. I believe he also wants to go into the ministry with Alba. Many people attended the wedding from the U.S., Mexico, and many other lands. I also got a good shot of 3 pretty ladies, Carol, Alba y Heather Erickson.

Team Retreat to "El Escorial"

This past weekend 10 members of our core group held a planning retreat in El Escorial. We stayed in the very house where Philip II lived while supervising the construction of his palace/mausoleum, and from which he directed the Counter-reformation. How ironic that we were now planning to start a new Protestant church from his very living room!

While in El Escorial, we were encouraged by the inscription over our door, which says "Post Fata Resurgo" (Latin for "rise again after death"). We may adopt that phrase as a slogan for the new church! (Was Philip II a prophet?)




Peter McMillan and I biked home (72km). A wonderful way to enjoy a sunny, brisk winter day.

Biking with son Peter

A few kilometers in El Pardo

Peter and I enjoyed four bike outings over the Christmas holidays. We didn't really over that many kilometers, but we great discussions about mindfulness and meditation. He vowed to continue biking once he returns to San Francisco.

Christmas 2016

Every blog needs a few Christmas photos, right? This year, the special gift item was Sara Jane's hand blown glass which she made in her class at Centre College. We missed having Marc and John.