CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DAUGHTER

Amy With Sophie and Nathan

This picture was taken at Anna's school musical program this past week. I decided to use it because it was the most recent one I have of Amy.

Congratulations to Amy for completing her Master's Degree in Public Administration this week. She has done this while caring for four children, moving to a new home, adopting Nathan, participating in many church functions, and still graduating with honors.

We just wanted everyone to know how proud we are of her and her accomplishments.

We love you, Amy,
Mom & Dad

SPRING HAS ARRIVED?????

Here are pictures from our trip to the flower market. We had a couple of really pretty days and then it is cold again. So I decided to go ahead and make this posting --- it is fun to look back at the warmer days of April. HA!

Here are some pictures of the wild flowers (especially the wild poppies and roses) growing in the fields.

Shelia

Happy Mother's Day To A VERY Special Lady

Annie Ruth Earl

We want to wish our favorite mom a very Happy Mother's Day!!!




She not only raised 4 very amazing sons, but has managed to have 4 pretty great daughters-in-law, as well, who all love her very much.


Terry & Elaine at Terry's last birthday celebration. Terry is the firstborn. Terry and Elaine live in Port Neches, Texas - and Mom lives with them.


Then comes Arville - the second son - and me (Shelia). Now what do we call home??? For now - Skopje, Macedonia - even though we have children and grandchildren in Indiana and Missouri - and we own a house in Georgia. But we are still Texas residents!!! Go figure??


This is the third son, Derrell, and his wife, Iris. They live in Lawrenceville, Georgia (all of their children and families live in the Atlanta area, too).





And then the youngest son, Dwight, and his wife, Joyce. They live in the Chicago area - and are the parents of Beth (whose picture and story are below this blog entry).






This is a picture of Mom with Alan at her 80th birthday celebration at Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.




Here she is holding Sophie in the summer of 2006.


Mom has influenced the lives of many people over her 88 + years (she just celebrated her 88th birthday on April 15). She still mantains all the character traits that has made her a great mother for all of these years.


Here are some early photos of Mom that I found on my computer:

What a beauty!!


This is a picture of Mom with Arville (on the left), Terry (on the right) and Derrell (in her arms). Dwight wasn't born yet when this picture was made.


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM !!! WE LOVE YOU,

ARVILLE & SHELIA

Excuse Me While I Brag A Bit

This is our beautiful niece, Beth Earl, pictured playing at the production of "West Side Story".

Beth lives in the Chicago area (where her parents - Dwight & Joyce Earl - reside). Dwight is Arville's youngest brother.

Beth has been playing the bass for 12 years. She attended Northern Illinois Universtiy where she received a Bachelor of Music degree and studied with John Floeter of the Grant Park Symphony. She also studied with Michael Hovnanian of the Chicago Symphony while attending Roosevelt University where she earned a Master of Music degree.

She has played with the New Philharmonic, Wheaton Symphony, West Suburban Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Kishwaukee Symphony, and has also performed as a soloist with the West Suburban Symphony.

May Day in Skopje

May 1st is celebrated "big time" in Macedonia. I thought you might like to see some pictures of this special day here. The following are pictures of our balcony and the recently potted flowers:

These are pictures taken in the park area - adjacent to our apartment building. I took some from the balcony with the telephoto, but decided to get a little closer, too.

The Chess Game

They were glad to pose for me.

Yesterday was Darrell's last full day in Macedonia - he left early this morning. So we met downtown (Old Town) for lunch at our favorite restaurant (many of you have been to eat with us here). It is the outside restaurant under the old trees. Thought you would enjoy pictures of our walk through Old Town to meet Darrell & Kathy and have lunch at the restaurant.

Delivering Coca Cola (even the van is red)

Our new Albanian Rug Store in Old Town

Leather shoes (of varying sizes) for sale

We arrive at the restaurant. Kathy said that she knew why we were late --- I was making pictures again. HA!

We had a very leisurely lunch - were there about 1 1/2 hours. Darrell said he was going to miss this!!! Two-hour mealtimes are the norm for this part of the world. It is far more than just eating. It is socialization and part of the culture. No one (including the waiters) are in a hurry !!!

Pictures of the delicious food we ate:

And the best bread in town - baked in a stone oven.

This is a picture of Arville & Darrell getting tired of me making pictures!!!

So that is the end of the picture taking for today.

Happy May Day, Everyone

Shelia

SREKEN VELIGDEN - HAPPY EASTER FROM MACEDONIA

Yes, tomorrow is Easter here. We celebrate Orthodox Easter because Macedonians are traditionally Orthodox. This is one of the most important holidays celebrated here, but for many Macedonians it is more of a traditional holiday, than a religious one.

Sreken Veligden means: Happy Easter in Macedonian language, but more often, these greetings are used instead of saying "Happy Easter". When meeting, the first person (instead of hello), says: "Hristos Voskrese",(Jesus Is Risen), and then the other person greets back saying: "Navistina Voskrese". (He Is Risen Indeed!!).

A Ceramic Orthodox Church (typical style for Greek Island churches, especially). I got this one in Thassos, Greece, several years ago.



On Thursday, everyone was busy dying their eggs. They are colored red, symbolizing the coming happiness in the resurrection. In some homes, beautiful designs are scraped on the service of a dyed egg with a sharp instrument. This unusual technique is the traditional Slavic Orthodox Christian style of decorating eggs.

Easter Eggs I Purchased in Athens (these are ceramic)





It is a custom that the first egg to be dyed is put aside and called the "Protector of the House" (Chuvarsko Jajce). It is placed beside the family Icon and saved until next Easter, where the mother of the house buries it in the garden while nobody sees her.

Some baking is done on Thursday, so that nothing but only essential duties are performed on GOOD FRIDAY. On Good Friday, the family observes a strict vegetarian fast and attends church, where they kiss the grave of Christ. (Plashtenica). Even fish and oils are omitted from the menu on Good Friday and only nuts, fruits and vegetables are eaten.

On Saturday, the house and the food for the coming day are prepared. There are traditional dishes for the Easter meal. A typical menu includes lamb, lamb soup, sarma (stuffed cabbage), salad and delicious cakes. Members of the family, and each guest who comes to the house, are offered eggs on Easter morning, with the greeting "Christ is risen" (Hristos Voskrese) and the response is always "Indeed he is risen" (Navistina Voskrese). Eggs are tapped, end to end, and if your egg is broken by another person's, you must give it to him/her.

Here are the eggs that I dyed for Easter. I didn't chisel my design, but painted them instead.




I added the rabbits to my decorating theme. This one comes from Athens (as well as the wooden egg beside the rabbit).



But I created this one myself (without a pattern). I know, looks like I did. HA!



Happy Orthodox Easter, Shelia
SREKEN VELIGDEN !!!!
Navistina Voskrese

New Pictures of Our Precious Little Boy --- Nathan Mussie

Here are recent pictures of Nathan. He is growing SO fast. Hard to believe that he will be a year old on June 3. He is pulling up and trying SOO Hard to walk. It won't be long and Amy won't be able to keep up with him. He can go pretty fast now -- and he is crawling. HA!




Crawling Everywhere


In His New "Spurs" Shirt



With Mommy


He Loves the Water -- But It's Too Cold Yet

Happy Birthday, Elijah !!!

We cannot believe our grandson, Elijah, turns 9 years old today (April 21). Wish we could be with him to celebrate, but we wanted him to know that we love him very much and are so proud of him. He is a great kid !!!

Here are a few pictures of his birthday celebration. Nate, Violi and little Elliot (their dear friends from San Antonio) were visiting Amy & Christopher yesterday, so they all celebrated Elijah's birthday together. Can't think of anyone we would rather have "take our place" at that celebration!


Here is Elijah's "Africa" cake that he requested. Amy did a great job, don't you think?


Safari decorations, too !!

And the gifts ----




And then a fun time at the park ----


Happy Birthday, Elijah
Love, Baba and Peepaw

Here are pictures of Nathan and Elliot (3 days apart in age) playing in the playroom together.




At Church


And at the park ---




Violi, Elliot and Nate


Sophie and Anna



It is amazing to be able to share pictures, video clips, talk to the children over the computer phone --- we have come a long way, baby !!! Certainly does make being apart a little easier when you can keep in touch like this.

It's All GREEK to me!!!

I have a correction to make. When I posted our shopping trip in Athens and ended the post with what I thought was "EXIT" -- I found out later that what I posted was "Enter". Just wanted you to know that Janice knows her Greek -- I just don't know Enter from Exit !!! HA! I wondered when I posted it - why the exit sign on the door was on the outside??? But some things are different in the Balkans, so I thought maybe they didn't want people trying to go in the EXIT door??? Anyway, the door sign was pretty -- even though my Greek is pretty bad. HA!

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE SHOPPING - OUR LAST DAY IN ATHENS (PLAKA MARKET)

Those of you who know me well (or maybe even a little) know that I love to go shopping !!! Well, Janice & Bob were SOOO gracious to take me (along with Arville, Mike & Ana) to Plaka Market and then to the Antiques part of the market on Saturday morning. Mike and Ana treated us to lunch at Appleby's when we finished (just in time because it started raining when we went to lunch). Talk about perfect timing !!!

I looked up as we were walking down the street toward the Acropolis and the market area to see this site. Does shopping get any better than this??? Yes, that is the Parthenon behind the trees.



As we walked along the streets, we window shopped. I saw so many beautiful doors (just like our trip to France in the summer of 2005). I wanted to stop and take pictures of all of them -- but on to the shopping !!! So here are 3 (out of many) that I share with you.







Some things in the windows -- yes, they are Easter decorations. Orthodox Easter comes late this year - April 27.


I love these wooden people. I am trying to figure out how to make my own. They remind me of the African (Togo and Ivory Coast) figures that Amy is keeping for me in Jasper. Amy, I think we can make our own -- wouldn't that be fun??? Right, just another project to be done someday. HA!





We passed this restaurant, a sign advertising the menu, a man singing to some customers, and the chairs awaiting even more customers for lunch.








Souvenir Shops and Plaka Agora (Market)









Oh my, what do we have here??? People that don't want their pictures to show up on my BlogPage - definitely should not pose for a photo opt while standing near women they don't know. You might know that I couldn't resist this opportunity !





See how I slipped these photos right in with the shopping for souvenirs and Greek-made products???






The outside of this Taverna was so pretty - just had to have a picture.



Ana and I both wanted to put one of these pots in our garden. We loved the way it is turned on its side.



Now we come to the meat and vegetable market. That is olive oil for sale in the 4th picture.









Janice and I said that this was a great picture. You have the older bike in front and the newer in the back -- both in the same color of blue.



We are now headed toward the older part of the market area (where the antiques are located).
Game of chance - anyone???



There was lots of graffti written on walls - some of it very decorative. The best was this Coke machine at one of the sidewalk fast food restaurants. A work of art!!



Going toward the excavation area in the middle of the market.







Finally, we arrive at the part I have been waiting for --- the antiques (and some junk -- which is my absolute favorite). Mike and Ana look happy now -- but just wait until they are in this market for over an hour !! HA! Just kidding.




Janice knows her way around here. Wonder why???


We even came across an Orthodox priest shopping?? in the antiques market.

Some of the interesting things we saw -- no, I didn't buy it all. I only bought a small wine flask that had been used at a celebration (probably a wedding). Janice got one, too.




Notice the violin -- next to an iron ??? Typical.


I would loved to have been able to carry this back in my 15 kilo piece of luggage. HA! Isn't it beautiful?


Anyone need a barber chair?



Okay, they don't look terribly unhappy.


If you bought more than you can carry - someone is always ready to come to your aide.



Guess it has been a LONG day?? But wait, it is only 1 p.m. ???

This sign says "EXIT" (at least that is what Janice told me) - so that is what we will do. Hope you enjoyed the shopping trip as much as I did.

WHAT WILL WE LEAVE BEHIND? - THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR TRIP TO KORINTH, GREECE

We left Athens about 8:30 am on Friday - headed for Korinthos.

Along the road we saw - sheep


Olive Groves





And the Port


We all laughed when the tour guide said that Greece depended heavily on her ports for economic stability. We only laughed to ourselves - because we knew that ALL Greek ports had been closed to anything going in or out of Greece since January. And how did we know this??? Well, Darrell and Kathy wanted to ship a small crate to the States and found out that they would have to use airfreight (greatly reducing what they could take with them) BECAUSE the ports were not shipping AND had not been since January !!! So much for dependency on ports for economic stability???

At our first rest-stop, I took these 2 pictures:




Becky Smith and I bought some beautiful straw weavings from this Greek lady.

We arrive in Korinth:




Our tour guide was excellent.








Bob and Arville Listening Carefully (There was a service going on near us so it was hard to hear). These are pictures of the service under the trees.





Uncovered Ancient Ruins. This temple is older than the Parthenon. It is the temple of Apollo.











Statues without heads made it easier to put a new emperor's head on the body !!!








This rock is located where Paul preached to the Corinthians (it is in the Agora - marketplace).




It was in Corinth (Korinth) that Paul first met Aquilla and Priscilla - who happened to share the same vocational expertise of tentmaking. That appears to have been a relationship that continued for some years afterwards - with many others being brought into the circle of friendship and faith. One of those was Apollos - who accompanied Paul on various journeys - having been more deeply grounded in his faith by Priscilla and Aquilla (notice the order of the names - wife before husband).

Being there in Corinth, although in different circumstances, and thinking of those events recorded in Scripture that changed the lives of a number of people, including "many Corinthians who believed and were baptized", caused us to stand in awe of the potential of relationship.

During these past years, living and working in Macedonia, we have been blessed with the opportunity to develop long-lasting, trust relationships. In the context of these relationships, people are being "brought into conversation with God." (Eugene Peterson) In God's grace, those conversations will continue -- even after our departure.


(Appropriate to that last statement - we come to the end of our tour - at the tombstones). These tombstones were uncovered in the excavation process.

And the bathhouse for the women and a gathering place to fill their watering jars.



These are the toilets.

There is a beautiful garden area to the site, as well:






I love this picture - above (don't know why) - it just seems romantic, I guess.

Lemon Trees

And Poppies Growing Wild

Then just outside the excavated walls is modern Korinth (with souvenir shops, an Orthodox church, and motorbikes).

Friday, April 4th - 2008

CLASSES/CONFERENCE AT PORTA

On Friday and Saturday evenings, Arville & I had the privilege of getting to know some of the people who come to PORTA regularly. What amazing folks these are !! Thank you, Bob & Janice, for giving us the opportunity to get a feel for what you do in Athens. We are so glad you are on our team and thankful for all the work you do "at & through" PORTA ministry.

On Friday night, Bob & Arville took the guys to go play pool --- oh, yeah ! -- that truly is a ministry. HA! Seriously, it was a great way for Arville to get to know them better before he met (seriously) with them the next night. On Saturday evening, Arville talked with them for about 2 hours on the topics of reconciliation and peacemaking. He was glad that what he had been doing in Macedonia for the last few years translated well into the situation between Albanian & Greek realtionships, too.



In the meantime, I taught quilting classes to 2 groups of women. I say 2 groups because I had many new faces the second night and some of the first ones could not return on Saturday night. I had a BLAST!!





I am not sure how much quilting was learned -- but I enjoyed every minute of it. It reminded me of the days in Albania when I taught a class of young girls to quilt.





I think that Janice and I were both surprised at how interested several of the young women were to continue quilting. One young lady in particular was very intent on finishing her sample and going on to bigger projects !!









Afterwards, we had a wonderful time of fellowship over meals together. Here are pictures from the meal times, too.

TEAM MEETING AT PORTA

Welcome to PORTA !! This is the beautiful building that our colleagues, Bob & Janice Newell, have opened in Athens - near the Acropolis. With the help of many Albanians living in Athens and numerous volunteers, the Newells have created a wonderful environment where classes can be taught, folks can gather for meetings and social activities, fellowship, counseling, and just plain fun happens on a regular basis.

The Albanian-Balkan team met at PORTA for our meeting during the first week of April. Here are some pictures of the building and our team meeting together.



Welcome to PORTA - the view from the foyer.



Entering the kitchen area


The Library




Old doors carry through with the theme of PORTA.


Jim & Becky Smith and Darrell & Kathy Smith getting ready for our meeting to begin.

SOME BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF ATHENS

ATHENS PICTURES FROM
MIKE CHANCELLOR

Mike and Ana Chancellor - the member-care personnel for our team were in Athens with us the first week in April. Mike sent me some of the pictures of Athens that he took while we were there. They are beautiful, and I asked his permission to post them on our Blog - he gave me his permission -- so ENJOY!!


Historical Sites

















Parliament Building



Bridges