songs in the dark

We're sitting at dusk on a hot calm evening around the dinner table,

pasta all gone, stories about the day still being passed around.

Without warning everything goes black and still.

The eerie silence is pierced by a neighbor's loud comment, 

"Brownout!"  

It's brown, not black, because it's only a local power outage, 

as common as water outages are on this slice of the globe.

 Candles are collected,

and Elise washes dishes by their glow

as another neighbor begins to serenade the street with old 80's tunes,

carrying them just a little recklessly.
 But he does it passionately, like a mission of mercy to families robbed
of our evening entertainment through radio and TV.

We bake a batch of cookies by candlelight,

 thankful for our little gas oven,

while Mark collects a few flashlights

so we can play Ticket to Ride by their light,

though I'm sure the fact that I couldn't see the whole board 
is the reason I didn't win.

Even in the dark we're sweltering,

 so when the power surges,
and the blades of the fan begin humming in sweet ministry again,
we cheer along with the rest of the street
in a united celebration of electrical power.

“I am the light of the world. 
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, 
but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

from basketball starters to night of stars

The International School Athletic Conference gathered

from January 22nd- 25th at the British School of Manila.

There our high school girls' basketball team (including Elise and Amy) and the boys' soccer team competed with several other schools in the league.

 Top: all of the delegates from our school in Davao

Bottom Left: Sister-work - Elise picks an opponent to make room for Amy to get through

Bottom Middle: our girls' team won 3rd place - not bad for a school 1/4 the size of most of the others!

Bottom Right: Amy is named one of the All-ISAC team

 **********

Then last weekend Amy and Elise joined together musically on stage 

at the school's Night of Stars performing "Concerning Hobbits" in a beautiful piano/flute duet.

(Yes, I'm a little bit biased.)

How thankful we are for opportunities like this

in a community of believers unlike anything we could have imagined.

It's been a wonderful thing in the lives of our children.

 "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, 
for the sake of the kingdom of God,  

who will not receive many times as much at this time 

and in the age to come, eternal life."

Luke 18:29-30

And we give thanks to God for His faithfulness...

happy to be His children

The month of December is usually filled with celebrations;

opportunities to rejoice in the gift God gave in sending His Son to this earth.

But being so full, the celebrations often fly by without record.

So here, for the record, are a few of our memories of Christmas 2013.

Clockwise: - Kuya Ronnie and Michael happy to be celebrating together again this year.

- Elise and Amy share a piano and flute duet at the church Christmas party.

- Mark and Elise win the 20 questions type game!  Great teamwork, guys!

- Neil and a friend sing a beautiful Christmas carol duet for us, accompanied by Vic on the guitar.

L-R: A sweet handmade gift from a sweeter friend, 

feasting at the Church party; 

Michael and AJ give two delighted little girls a ride on the table as they set up the room for the feast!

Clockwise: Games at the high school Christmas party; 

 Enjoying an Italian dinner at the high school Christmas party; 

an Agdao Violin Institute benefit concert; 

a staff Christmas celebration with our co-workers.

Clockwise: - A Christmas Eve home celebration of Lessons and Carols

 - our traditional Christmas cookie feast on Christmas Eve

- stockings on Christmas morning (with candy canes!  thank you, A and J!!) 

- a delightful Tolkeinish Christmas surprise from Michael to his sisters

- father and son tinker with their Christmas R/C motor kits

- Elise helps prepare Christmas brunch.

We missed out getting lots of other photos... like our Christmas dinner with a co-worker, 

and Christmas night movie and snacks with friends.  

But we treasure the memories, and rejoice in the reason for all of our celebrations.  

We are so happy to be His children!

Oh, God...
help us rightly to remember
the birth of Jesus, that
we may share in the songs
of the angels, the gladness
of the shepherds, and the
worship of the wise men.

May the Christmas morning
make us happy
to be your children.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

make themselves heard

Photos by Elise

I love listening to Michael practicing his trumpet each day.

It reminds me of the great personality God gave to Michael - a personality bold to make that trumpet resound off of all the neighboring concrete buildings, resonating down the street and up to the school campus.

I would have rather died than make so much noise in 8th grade.

I love to hear the clear, bright tones 

and the enthusiasm Michael brings to them.

I love the gorgeous music he makes!

Michael with the Advanced Band - he's on the far right

And I love even more to hear his trumpet lifted in unison together with the band,

bringing praise to God through this gift of music.

...it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers 

to make themselves heard in unison 

in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 5:13

In his concert last Thursday evening, Michael soloed professionally,

and harmonized beautifully, thanks to the excellent direction of his teacher

(and fellow Ultimate Frisbee player!) Mr. B.

Mr. B. and Michael

Where words fail,
Music speaks.
- Hans Christian Andersen

Giving thanks today for our son,
for his dedicated teacher,
and for the trumpet that is his voice,
boldly proclaimed in melodious praise to God!

Where words fail, music speaks.
Hans Christian Andersen
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_music.html#sD8y730EqYO6chq1.99

Where words fail, music speaks.
Hans Christian Andersen
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_music.html#sD8y730EqYO6chq1.99

(And for those of you who think Michael hasn't grown, check out 
the photo at the bottom of this post posed with Mr. B. 1 1/2 years ago!)

o for a thousand tongues

O for a thousand tongues to sing

my great Redeemer's praise

the glories of my God and King,

the triumphs of His grace! *

Even as a little girl I loved this old hymn.

But I always thought the imagery odd,

envisioning myself with a thousand tongues.

I mean, that's just plain strange.

The author, Charles Wesley, began his education early at his mother's knee.

English was his first language, but his mother knew and taught Charles in

Greek, Latin and French.

Charles later graduated from Oxford with

a Masters in Classical languages and literature.

I now realize that such a man, as he wrote that hymn,

was not envisioning himself with a thousand tongues.

(Am I the only one who ever interpreted it that way?)

He was imagining a chorus of praise

in one thousand languages

from all around the earth and throughout history

all singing together the glories of our God and King!

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine it with me...

one thousand languages from all time and all places,

lifted in unison to sing of the triumphs of His grace.

No wonder Wesley wrote a hymn about it.

My gracious Master, and my God,

assist me to proclaim,

to spread through all the earth abroad

the honors of Thy name. *

Amen.

So that every tongue, every tribe

can join us when we lift our voices on that great day...

*Taken from the hymn, 'O For a Thousand Tongues' by Charles Wesley

**Note:  There are now almost 7,000 known languages in our world.  Maybe the hymn should read, 'O for 7000 tongues to sing...'

to the Giver of the song

Michael on trumpet at last week's band concert

 Praise Him, 

sun and moon;

praise Him, all you shining stars.

the advanced middle school band - Michael in the back row, center, on trumpet

 Praise Him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

the high school instrumental class - Amy on flute, front row, right side (looks like she dyed her hair red! she didn't.)

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for at His command they were created...

Psalm 148:3-5

Many thanks to an inclusive school,

and to a talented and committed teacher (thanks, Mr. B!)

for opportunities to make music together,

with the united goal of bringing glory to the Giver of the song...

*and thank you, Elise, for the photos! :)

washing feet

This week Michael Card,
Christian singer, songwriter and musician,
traveled to Davao to share his music in concert.

He was interviewed on the radio by our friend, Vic, 
and when asked his advice for young artists,
he responded that:
 every song should wash the feet of the listener.

Michael's music and presence did that here,
encouraging us to lament our sin,
find grace in Christ,
and respond by washing one another's feet.

Our family had the privilege of meeting him in person,

 

 and he also came to sing
and to challenge the students of Faith Academy.

 Michael's been merging insight from God's Word
with beautiful music for 30 years.
I think he has washed lots of feet.

Michael and Michael

 Thanks for your visit to Davao!

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  
For I have given you an example, 
that you also should do just as I have done to you.

John 13:14-15
 

join the band

Last Friday night Michael and Amy performed with their school bands;

Michael on trumpet.

It's amazing how much progress you've made in 7 months, Michael!

You sounded fabulous!

And then the high school band:

with Amy on flute.

Her solo part in "Scarborough Fair" was absolutely lovely.

But then, I'm just a little biased...

Keeping an eye on i-phone in the row ahead of us...

I couldn't resist a photo of the Sousaphone:

And Michael poses with Mr. B., 

their amazingly energetic, enthusiastic, inspirational and gifted band teacher.

Thanks for all you do, Mr. B., to bring music to our lives!

For some more artistic black and whites of the concert, see Elise's blog...

on stage

This just makes me happy...

all these tie-die T-shirts drying on our line...

...and these beautiful ladies who created them...

...for this dynamic production presented by the high school choral class last night.

Elise is on the far right, front

The Grand Finale; again, Elise is on far right

Fabulous production, people!  Your energy was contagious.

I still think that a few of you earned P.E. credits up on that stage...

To God be the glory...

for all that creativity,

for the beautiful gift of music,

and for giving you the energy and abilities to perform like you did!  

May you always praise Him so whole-heartedly.

contagious creativity

Things we've been creating around here lately...

...beautiful music...

(Elise performs with her choral class)

...restored order...

(Michael fixes the hinge of a sagging door)

...new artistry...

(Amy designs tile mosaics)

...nutritious food...

(Mark cooks up a batch of his scrumptious bean burritos)

...beauty where there was none...

(Michael prepares and hangs a planter for the courtyard outside my kitchen window)

...inspired projects...

(Amy quilts a cover for her Kindle)

...growing skills...

(Elise shoots a pot)

“Creativity is contagious. 

Pass it on.” 

-Albert Einstein

strings and flute

...praise Him with the strings and flute...

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150:4b&6

here we go a'caroling

Each December it's a tradition for Amy, Elise and I to watch one of our favorite movies,

Little Women.

It always makes me cry.  

But my daughters still love me.

One of my favorite scenes is the one 

where Jo and her sisters stroll merrily through the snow, 

bearing food for their poor neighbors 

while singing "Here We Go A-Wassailing".

I never dreamed that I would be similarly serenaded at Christmastime.

But every December, 

from the very first day of the month,

Filipinos celebrate by going from gate to gate, 

caroling and hoping for some pesos or a treat in return.

It sounds like a lovely idea,

but after about the third night of carolers every ten minutes, 

singing the same three songs, 

and repeatedly calling out "Advance Merry Chreestmas!" 

in hopes of some return,

it's easy to feel like it's a rerun of Halloween each night. 

Still, some groups try harder than others.

This group was definitely not Jo March and her sisters,

but they had obviously put some thought into their performance,
and they reminded me of how God has given us special gifts here
that we never would have expected.

Like serenading carolers at our gate.

What surprising gifts has He brought your way?

blow that horn

For the very first time Michael performed instrumentally on stage last weekend.

Michael, on trumpet, second from the left in the back row

He's loving the trumpet.

And thanks to Elise, we have some photos to mark his first concert.

The whole band performed excellently.

There's just nothing like the music of Christmas!

Keep blowing that horn, Michael, to the glory of God!

in house concert

This group of friends got together one evening this week at our home

and filled the place with the music of carols...

 

I didn't want them to stop.

Unfortunately, other moms did care about undone homework.

Today they provided the accompaniment for singing of carols at a local event.

It was beautiful, ladies.

You can bring your instruments to our house anytime.

:)