We've had lots of rocks thrown in our stream over the years. One of the most interesting, and one of the most life-changing is the addition of exchange students. We have had 7 students stay in our home, and for the most part, it has been a wonderful experience.
Yang Lou--Columbia
Katrin--Germany
Mika--Japan
Jorge--Brazil
Marina--Brazil (Jorge's sister)
Samuel--Brazil
David--Australia
It has enriched our life greatly, and changed it significantly.
Tomorrow, Miriam will join us for a few weeks from Germany, with her classmates staying at other homes of our daughter's friends. Should be fun!
If you want an opportunity to host an exchange student, there are two organizations (that I know of) which facilitate that: ERDT and the Rotary Club.
If you just want to dip your toes in, try warmshowers.org or couchsurfing.com. You can have travelers visit your home, and that pebble will definitely change your stream for the better.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Great big rocks!
I know this blog is about pebbles, but sometimes, there are great big rocks thrown into your stream. The other night, my son and daughter-in-law stopped by to tell us that they were expecting their third child!
Now that is a BIG ROCK!
No longer can one of the parent's have a hold of all of the kids!
No longer can the parents fully "divide and conquer!"
Someone has to sit next to a sibling in the car!
But you know what? I am so glad that we didn't stop at two kids either. Our stream has lots of big rocks in it, and the sound of the rushing water over the rapids is music to our ears. Sure, it is neat to have some quiet time now and then, but the thrill of our lives is to be in and to hear the tumbling, rumbling water that our family brings.
Now that is a BIG ROCK!
No longer can one of the parent's have a hold of all of the kids!
No longer can the parents fully "divide and conquer!"
Someone has to sit next to a sibling in the car!
But you know what? I am so glad that we didn't stop at two kids either. Our stream has lots of big rocks in it, and the sound of the rushing water over the rapids is music to our ears. Sure, it is neat to have some quiet time now and then, but the thrill of our lives is to be in and to hear the tumbling, rumbling water that our family brings.
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Pebble in the Stream
I often think of how my life has been changed by little decisions and events. How different my life would have been if a different girl would have been available to play racquetball 29 years ago. Or even three years ago when I sent my resume to a friend, on a whim.
Those are just a couple of the "Pebbles in My Stream."
Nobody stops us and tells us, "Hey! Wait a minute! This decision you are making right now will change someone's life." And you were just trying to decide if you were going to buy the cheeseburger, or sit in row 4 on the Southwest airlines flight.
The changes may be big, they may be small, and sometimes they may seem to be completely irrelevant and meaningless. But there is a change, nonetheless. And only time can tell us the magnitude of the change.
I also recognize that sometimes I have been like a pebble (or even a big stone) in the lives of others, and hope that the impact I have made is a positive one.
It is impossible for me to control what pebbles are thrown into my stream. What I hope and commit to do in my life is to be a positive pebble if I am thrown into the stream of others. I want to help counteract the bad, the evil, and even the worthless by highlighting the good that I see, the good that I feel, and the good that I hear about.
So, join me as I tell you of the pebbles in my stream, the people who have thrown pebbles in my stream, and the impact it has had on my life.
Those are just a couple of the "Pebbles in My Stream."
Nobody stops us and tells us, "Hey! Wait a minute! This decision you are making right now will change someone's life." And you were just trying to decide if you were going to buy the cheeseburger, or sit in row 4 on the Southwest airlines flight.
The changes may be big, they may be small, and sometimes they may seem to be completely irrelevant and meaningless. But there is a change, nonetheless. And only time can tell us the magnitude of the change.
I also recognize that sometimes I have been like a pebble (or even a big stone) in the lives of others, and hope that the impact I have made is a positive one.
It is impossible for me to control what pebbles are thrown into my stream. What I hope and commit to do in my life is to be a positive pebble if I am thrown into the stream of others. I want to help counteract the bad, the evil, and even the worthless by highlighting the good that I see, the good that I feel, and the good that I hear about.
So, join me as I tell you of the pebbles in my stream, the people who have thrown pebbles in my stream, and the impact it has had on my life.
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