Santa Fe is unlike anything we have experienced before. You could classify it as urban even though most people live on dirt roads. You could classify it as western even though the most popular stores are Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. And then there are the people....they are interesting and strange and "Manhattanites" (not literally) living in the dessert. Here are some examples to help you understand.
A week or two ago I was walking with Jack in his newly inherited single jogging stroller. Yes, you read correctly - walking, I'm not much of a runner. On the way this sweet old 70 something year old lady stops me to admire Jack. "Look at his hair!" "How old is he?" "What is his name?" She was having a great time with Jack. Then she looks at me and says, "Isn't this contraption supposed to be something you run with?" Hmmmm....something I would expect from someone in the North East. Which one is it lady - are you 'sweet and nice old lady' or 'rough around the edges, I'll tell you what I think' old lady?
We've entered for the first time into the Public School system here in Santa Fe. There are days that I think I should home-school. I asked the secretary in Alex's preschool the other day: "Who is Alex's speech therapist?" Response: "The teacher doesn't know??" (with a blank stare). The teacher is teaching at the moment. Did not get any further in extracting information.
Met a lady who was, for a week, Maya's teacher - such a sweet lady. First informal meet the teacher time she informs us parents that she doesn't take calls after school hours because she's a pastor's wife. I never heard that one before. Chris asks me: "Did you tell her you were a pastor's wife too?" "Nope, one pastor's wife was enough."
Just makes you laugh because you're constantly faced with the unexpected. Can't can these folks, they don't fit any mold. They are nice and rude, gracious and terrible drivers, mind their own business and want to know all about yours kind of people. Chris was totally shocked this morning when a pick-up truck makes a U-turn right over the median in the middle of a busy road - I guess he just couldn't wait....and that's just Santa Fe - home of the Weird.
What's wonderful about all these weirdos is that they are so much like us - made in the image of God, marred by the Fall, and in need of redemption and restoration. What a wonderful place to be in! We're very thankful to be here and see God's clear hand in changing this city for His glory.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Moving Day
Today we move into our 'new' house. New to us of course. We are excited to have a place to call 'home' and a place to put all our stuff.
I've discovered though that it wasn't so hard living out of a couple of suitcases (literally) for a month. We have all the necessities and just recycle clothes over and over again. Really, we don't need much. It seems to me that this Gensheer clan values space much more than stuff. What we value shone through though our house search. We wanted the kids to have space to be on their own if they wanted to. A big dining room table so we could eat with people. An extra room so we could have people sleep over. A easily accessible bathroom so our guests can use it. Outdoor space so we can grill out and feed people when they come over. "We don't have enough seating!" cried Chris. "Where are people going to sit?" We still don't have an answer to that question - Chris is particularly been coveting some leather chairs from Pottery Barn and I told him he might have to wait a WHILE for those.
What is encouraging when we step back and look at this process is that we are really doing what God has called us to do. It's not just a personality outgoing thing or a duty thing, it's a delight thing to be able to give of ourselves to eternal souls. Chris has LOVED every minute of his job and is so full of energy when he gets to pastor people. All those student loans were not in vain after all!
Yesterday I found out I won't be able to use the garage as a playroom because of mice - very bummed. But the Lord knew that, right? Which means, he'll provide space elsewhere (fingers crossed). I think having a couple of interior decorators stop by today will be a huge help in helping us place stuff. I think I'm having a love/hate relationship with perspective - it keeps me sane on one hand but poses such a threat to deadening my heart on the other. I'm really dissappointed about the garage and that's ok. I just don't want to stay there forever. I heard a friend once say, "You can let birds fly over your head, just don't let them make a nest in your hair."
People here have been sooooo generous and kind - someone gave us $500 because they thought 'we might need it'! YES WE DO! We're spending it today to pay for a used washer/dryer. Praise the Lord I won't have to go to the laundromat with 3 kids - I just had visions of Alex 'helping' Jack into the dryer! Someone gave us Perler Beads that have provided hours of entertainment for Maya. Someone is giving us some outdoor toys for Jack. Another person is giving us a kids table and a BUNCH of Legos for Alex. Someone sold me some Playmobils for the kids at a ridicoulous price. Someone has taken us out to lunch, someone has invited us over for dinner, someone has given us free ice-cream coupons, someone has let us stay in their house for almost a month and eat their food, someone is giving us a fireplace screen....we are SO thankful that the Lord has brought the 'someones' into our lives. May we be a blessing to others as we have been blessed by them.
I've discovered though that it wasn't so hard living out of a couple of suitcases (literally) for a month. We have all the necessities and just recycle clothes over and over again. Really, we don't need much. It seems to me that this Gensheer clan values space much more than stuff. What we value shone through though our house search. We wanted the kids to have space to be on their own if they wanted to. A big dining room table so we could eat with people. An extra room so we could have people sleep over. A easily accessible bathroom so our guests can use it. Outdoor space so we can grill out and feed people when they come over. "We don't have enough seating!" cried Chris. "Where are people going to sit?" We still don't have an answer to that question - Chris is particularly been coveting some leather chairs from Pottery Barn and I told him he might have to wait a WHILE for those.
What is encouraging when we step back and look at this process is that we are really doing what God has called us to do. It's not just a personality outgoing thing or a duty thing, it's a delight thing to be able to give of ourselves to eternal souls. Chris has LOVED every minute of his job and is so full of energy when he gets to pastor people. All those student loans were not in vain after all!
Yesterday I found out I won't be able to use the garage as a playroom because of mice - very bummed. But the Lord knew that, right? Which means, he'll provide space elsewhere (fingers crossed). I think having a couple of interior decorators stop by today will be a huge help in helping us place stuff. I think I'm having a love/hate relationship with perspective - it keeps me sane on one hand but poses such a threat to deadening my heart on the other. I'm really dissappointed about the garage and that's ok. I just don't want to stay there forever. I heard a friend once say, "You can let birds fly over your head, just don't let them make a nest in your hair."
People here have been sooooo generous and kind - someone gave us $500 because they thought 'we might need it'! YES WE DO! We're spending it today to pay for a used washer/dryer. Praise the Lord I won't have to go to the laundromat with 3 kids - I just had visions of Alex 'helping' Jack into the dryer! Someone gave us Perler Beads that have provided hours of entertainment for Maya. Someone is giving us some outdoor toys for Jack. Another person is giving us a kids table and a BUNCH of Legos for Alex. Someone sold me some Playmobils for the kids at a ridicoulous price. Someone has taken us out to lunch, someone has invited us over for dinner, someone has given us free ice-cream coupons, someone has let us stay in their house for almost a month and eat their food, someone is giving us a fireplace screen....we are SO thankful that the Lord has brought the 'someones' into our lives. May we be a blessing to others as we have been blessed by them.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
New Life in Santa Fe, NM
I don't think I ever thought of New Mexico as a place where I would come to live. And yet, the river of God's providence has led us here. I have to admit that I had lots of prejudices thinking about Santa Fe - I thought there was no grass, no brick, and just ugly desert all around. What I have found instead is a different kind of beauty - surrounded by hills on all sides, nestled in their arms lies this strange little town, brown all around with a few spots of color here and there, a town that is completely unique, strange, and yet in it's own way captivating. The sunset God paints here is one of a masterful artist with colors melting into one another, leaving the one watching helpless but to stare in wonder.
In the midst of this uniqueness and beauty we find ourselves homeless and in search for a house for our family. The kids are tired and in need of a schedule, our stuff is on a truck somewhere between here and St. Louis and we're learning to trust that God's providence never abandons us even when we don't see the next step. All we need is Him, and having but the clothes on our backs (and a few spares in a suitcase!) that is becoming the rubber that meets the road. We feel like Abraham who left all that he knew to be a sojourner in a country not his own and not knowing where he was going. We are encouraged because God led Abraham and continued to reveal Himself and pour out blessings on him. We are encouraged because God's character is steady and trustworthy.
In the midst of this uniqueness and beauty we find ourselves homeless and in search for a house for our family. The kids are tired and in need of a schedule, our stuff is on a truck somewhere between here and St. Louis and we're learning to trust that God's providence never abandons us even when we don't see the next step. All we need is Him, and having but the clothes on our backs (and a few spares in a suitcase!) that is becoming the rubber that meets the road. We feel like Abraham who left all that he knew to be a sojourner in a country not his own and not knowing where he was going. We are encouraged because God led Abraham and continued to reveal Himself and pour out blessings on him. We are encouraged because God's character is steady and trustworthy.
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