I have been really blessed that a lot of friends have already come to visit me since I moved to Prague. I haven't gotten around to getting pictures of all of my guests posted here , but here are the latest. Danny and Annaliese Foote from Kagarlyk, Ukraine came to visit and it was great!
[The Footes, Ruthann (my roomie) and Jason (pastor of CC Prague) having coffee in Prague.] 
Danny is part of an elite group (in my opinion, ha!). When he was about 13 I was his Jr. High Sunday School teacher! It has been a blessing to see him grow up into a wise young man of God (Liese is no slouch, either!). :)Danny, Jake Knotts, Paul Sisemore IV and Josh Tremeer were all in that class and for a time all served in Ukraine as missionaries during the time when I was there. (Jake is still there, check out his blog at jakeknotts.blogspot.com)
One time one of the boys' moms said to me that it wasn't fair that they (the kids' parents) had done all the hard work and now I got to enjoy all the fruit of that work instead of them since I saw the kids on more of a regular basis while living near them in Ukraine! had to agree, the parents had carried the real load, and I got to just sit back and enjoy the results! But I was glad that since I don't have my own kids I was able to enjoy these - just part of all the "kids" God has given me over the years.
Once in a missions conference I heard author and veteran missioanry Elizabeth Elliot say that "all women are called to bear children". And I have to say that my initial response was not positive! I was sitting there single and wondering "Great! Where does that leave me?!" But then she went on to say that if "you aren't bearing children physically, you can still be bearing children spiritually". She went on to say that God had designed women to reproduce, to nurture and to care for young...and that just because that wasn't happening in your life physically was no reason not to experience that joy or avoid that responsibility of "motherhood"...that there were plenty of people that at one time or another in their life need spiritually "birthing" (initially coming to faith) or "mothering" (encouraging to grow, to learn, to get up even when they fall and keep walking).
I have cooked a lot of meals, washed a lot of sheets, and made a lot of beds for these guys (and many others!) and although I know its nowhere near the work of being a "real" parent, I'm so blessed to have had the chance to do even the little I could. I don't know when they grew out of being my students to being the ones that so often I turn to for counsel, etc., but it has been great to see them grow up. To their biological parents, if you didn't know this already - they all are great "kids". You should be proud. Thanks for "loaning" them to me. :)
20 comments:
that's a sweet story. i didnt know all that about you & those folks. so cool!!
Cara, we love you!!!
Cara you need to make up your mind; are you a parent figure in our lives or a peer? Because it seems like you choose which one you feel like being.
Just kidding.
Besides, I always think of you as "the cool Aunt" who does fun things, seems to be a little crazy (in all the good ways), and yet is always there for you.
Danny
No, I don't have to make up my mind. That is the perogative of "crazy Aunts". :) Oh, "cool Aunt". :)I am long past being a parent figure...you guys have passed me up in maturity and wisdom....although if I ever can be there in that capacity again (like when you were 13?!?) I would be blessed to try! :) Love you guys!
hey cara -
very cool. reminds me of the verse in isaiah that says "'sing, o barren, you who have not borne! break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! for more are the children of the desolate that the children of the married woman,' says the Lord." (54:1) we hope to be soon in your long line of guests! do you know if lena needs a visa to get to prague? (i'd imagine yes, since its eu)
...yeah, that is my verse. :) "Barren" always feels a bit harsh, but I guess that is the reality. Sometimes hard to think about that it will never be differently, but my regular prayer is to "focus on what I HAVE not what I DON'T have". :) And I've got a lot! :) Would love to have you guys visit, just give me plenty of heads up as I have a few "journeys" planned. And yes, she needs a visa. Zhuk at CCKyiv office is the "expert" on that lately. Give him a call. take care!
:) I hope to get there one day!!! :)
Honeymoon? :)
That was really nice, you made me cry. I'm so glad that you are in our lives and our kids too. We love you so much and we think you are great
Hey Cara! Hope to be added to the "visited" list soon!! I'd love to try and make it in Feb or March- as I'll need to do visa stuff-- plus seeing you in Prague sounds pretty good!! Pray you are doing well- and hope to hear more soon!
Lots of love, Karen
Karen (if this is my Polish traveling buddy!..otherwise I'm not sure who this is! ha!) you are welcome anytime! Keep me posted...God WILLING I will be there for the Peipon wedding..I'm praying...we can talk then? take care! :)
Hey Cara! I like to think of myself as one of your "kids" also (even if I'm not part of the elite!!). Wish I could see you more than once every 5 years or so, but at least I get to read your blog (: You were the best sunday school teacher I ever had...thanks for pouring your heart into us.
You so TOTALLY were part of the "elite" group! Do you still remember "No Hooks in the Nose?" It was in response to Rachel Laney's question about Israel always getting punished by heathen nations by being "dragged out with hooks in their noses"...and she asked "does it always have to be a hook in the nose?" Winter camp when Cole accidentally kicked Brian in the face! Ok...TMI! So if you remember ANY of that..you are from the "elite" group. :) You just weren't in Ukraine long term and since I ramble on WAY TOO MUCH (example here!) I limited it to those guys...no, there was Bernadette, and many more, whose names escape me right now. Hey, I was just thinking of you yesterday and trying to find your blog...so thanks for writing! Can you send me your blog site address? THANKS! And wish I saw you more too! Take care!
http://sforzett.blogspot.com/....but don't expect much - I've been too drugged to think about much ):
sending my greetings and hugs to you Cara! *Val*
Oh my, I have been taking the SunDay School credit all of these years, but you passed me up with having been in Ukraine at the key times. We are thankful for all you have done and are doing for our kids. Sure wish we could have tagged along to Prauge, how beautiful!
Love David & Roxanne (in case you didn't know the proud grandparents to be!)
Hey Cara
Where you at? We miss you! I just linked to your blog so you better start posting. All your "Kids" want to know how your doing. Koren and I Love you and would love to see you! Come for a visit if you get the chance!
Much love, Conor
we miss you cara. we have yet to find a suitable filler for the void that was once cara's presence in our life. if the parent figure analogy is worked through, does that make you an honory granma?
I think "granma" is going a bit too far. Cara is like the cool aunt who is half a generation between us and our parents. Way too young to be an granma!
Does that make her honorary great aunt? Still sounds too old. Just Тётя works for terms of endearment (except when it's a drunk guy and he's hitting on you. When did I cease to be a devooshka? I'm so bummed).
Yeah Cara, where are you? Now we're the only ones in the blog world who still quote SNL.
Liese
LOL! I hadn't read you guys' last comments! FUNNY! Ok, I'm starting a new blog and I will put MY SNL quoting piece either there or somewhere...just to show you up..
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