Love, Laughter, and Life

March 25, 2009
by Angie Leave a comment

Dorm 37

Look in the way back for the row of windows

If you squint your eyes just right, and look way in the back, behind the front buildings, you will see a bank of tall windows. That is dorm 37. The home of the few couples and the many singles…us being the oldest couple of all. I don’t know what that means, but I’m trying not to read ‘their age will help keep things settled down’ into that thought. This building (aka – the place of the flood, see previous article) is our soon to be former home of the last 2 months. What a wonderful time of meeting and greeting like minded friends – married and single.

Already, I am homesick for the close comraderie of the music, laughter, smells of cooking, singing, doors slamming, shared experiences…but especially the friends. It seems impossible to go so deep so fast in so short a time. But it’s true. Our common bond of belief in Jesus opens doors and hearts quicker than the blink of an eye. Or two eyes.

Take, for example, the numerous offers of wheels (a much-appreciated commodity here on our way-out-in-the-middle of not much campus) ~ even a spare key for use whenever! That is love and trust. Well, methinks pity for the old folks. Open doors, game nights, hanging out, sharing, ”do you have some____? fill in the blank“, mystery foods in the common kitchenettes, group worship, folding each other’s laundry…I thought I would miss being in a quad apartment, but the chance to live with even more family members was awesome. A very excellent thing about the dorm is the lower rate of germ abundance. We had some illnesses, but not nearly as much as the constantly recycling bacteria/virus pool in the quads. Pass the hand sanitizer please.

I hate that our time is over and we are being scattered to the four winds. To my new friends – and family – bon voyage. Until we meet again. With much love and prayers…

And for those of you who KNOW Kevin, he really needed the dorm experience. 😉

January 30, 2009
by Angie Leave a comment

The Flood

Just so you know, it’s not Kevin’s fault. For those of you who know him, this may be hard to believe. But it’s true! He did not cause, accidently or otherwise, our ‘maybe we should build an ark‘ moment. Continuez-s’il vous plait! (Continue please.)

Early Wednesday morning, the first day of OFFICIAL meetings and trainings, Kevin and I woke up and were preparing for the day. It was also a day of extra duties for us, as we had 2 additional meetings for small group facilitators. I was in the shower shampooing my hair, and Kevin announced, calmly, “We have a leak.”

No big deal, I was thinking, other than the shower curtain was loose or the toilet was leaking…I kept washing my hair.

“Honey, we have a big leak. You need to get out.” There was a little more urgency to this announcement. But what’s a girl to do? I had to finish my hair.

“Ang, you need to get out now!” Desperation was quite evident as well as volume increase. After I turned off the shower, I heard disaster running between the bathroom wall and the bedroom. I peeled the curtain back to see the center of the bath mat the only island of non-standing water. One foot down, and that disappeared as well. Looking around the corner, pooling water stood everywhere! Kevin was frantically dressing and throwing bags, shoes, and items stored on the floor onto the bed.

Talk about an early morning shock. While I was hurriedly throwing on clothes, the ceiling started leaking onto the corner of the bed (onto our very nice mattress pad and lovely duvet, compliments of the Motley’s in Italy 🙂 Gasp! Our voices were quite loud now (it was still early), and 2 female heads poked into the door.

“Can we help?” “Yes, evacuate stuff! And Kevin, dial 0 and call maintenance.” Even as we worked at hauling stuff into the laundry room, yet MORE water began to leak from out of the light fixture and fire alarm. It spread ever closer to the window heat/AC unit, which is quite a long ways from the bathroom. I admit I was a bit panicked about all of us being electricuted and ran around turning off anything electric!

It was only a short while, but seemed much longer, before maintenance, in 3 golf carts, waltzed in to find out that we were in truth, having an emergency. I was very amazed at how little time it took 4 of us to completely strip the room of all our belongings and toss them into the laundry room. Quite a neat look. (I would have taken a picture, but I lost the camera in the rush, and my mind was a bit busy grabbing and shoving things into the suitcases).

Kevin and I had to leave for our first meeting, not ready, totally unorganized and unprepared, but we were on time. 🙂 Due to our extra meetings, we were unable to return and move rooms until the completion of the afternoon meetings…Great news though – we now are upstairs in a clean (DRY) room with a view of the river. Nicey nice. We decided that God wanted us to have a room with a view. He just used a very creative way to get it for us.

We found out it was a rare event where a cap popped off a pipe in the ceiling sprinkler system (right above our bed). We are very happy that we were already up and moving around. What a shock that cold water would have been had we still been snoozin. Sorry to our dorm mates, who did not have water for showers. We used it all up. No, just kidding. It was shut off to fix the problem.

All’s well that ends well. We met our across and down the hall neighbors in a most unusual way. Team work does work! A great big thanks to the maintenance guys who fixed it, the housekeepers who washed the bedding in the big washers and dryers, and the housing people who did not put us back in the same room, where I was concerned we would wake up to a bed full of plaster from a crashed in ceiling.

See – Kevin did not do it this time! AND, not one piece of clothing or any belonging was ruined, and only a few were even damp! Amazing.

December 31, 2008
by Angie Leave a comment

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I seem to be stuck. Not your usual opening Christmas greeting statement! I am in between computers, trying to mesh both mail systems, and get my address book complete to the new mail system (in Vista, does that explain anything?). So, our Christmas email newsletter sits in queue, waiting for someone to fix something…I apologize to those of you who think we have dropped off the face of our beautiful planet Earth. Nope. Still here. Just stalled.

So, in liu of being able to get that email out, we wish each of you a very Merry (late, but heart felt) Christmas and a truly blessed, wonderful, spirit filled Happy New Year! May our Lord reign and rain down on you with seasons of spiritual growth, deepening, compassion, trust, and love.

From our snow covered sage to your landscape of love

December 10, 2008
by Angie 2 Comments

All Hitched

December 6, 2008

Leaving the Church

It’s official. Chelsie and Collin are now married. She was a beautiful bride, the groom was handsome, and the dad (AND -aka- officiator of the ceremony) only cried just a bit. A full church enjoyed the ceremony and dessert reception which followed. It was so nice to see family and friends come together for the happy occasion – even if I didn’t get to visit with them (or even complete one entire thought!). It’s pretty weird that Chelsie is not Quantrell anymore…The mess is cleaned up (we did that part very very well), the presents unwrapped and put to use, the flowers are drying, the cool cake is gone, and Peeps and Collin have begun their new life together.

Congratulations, you 2 of our hearts. Forever keep our Lord Jesus at the center of your marriage and relationship. May He bless you for many years, and as your dad said, FOREVER, FOR ALWAYS, NEVER TO PART as long as you live. 🙂

November 22, 2008
by Angie 2 Comments

Thankful Thursday

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

This is only one of many references to giving thanks to God in the Bible. He has given us so much – as believers, as His children, as His creation, as a nation of His people…and yet I see America more and more consistently turning their backs on the power, majesty, and holiness of our God. Not only on Thanksgiving, but every day, we need to remember to acknowledge His love, care, and provision for us.

Enough preaching from me. That’s Kevin’s gift. So I am proclaiming this post to “Thanks-for-giving.” Consider it, and then make your own list of Blessed by God and Thankful for…. Go ahead. I dare you.

1. My Salvation. Without this, nothing else matters. Worship and prayer. Add to this a loving, living God, eternity waiting for me, what else can a gal want?

2. My honey. My best friend. Someone I can be myself with (ugh, he even loves me in spite of morning breath and zits and bad hair days).

3. My children. Ahhhh. A boy and a girl, with their ‘significant others.’ And one day grandchildren. Healthy, safe, independent (and I mean INDEPENDENT), believers…A heritage unto the Lord.

4. My family. This includes my birth family, my marriage family, my extended family, my church family, my family of friends…life would be awful boring without any of these. 🙂

5. My health. Granted, I AM getting older, but mostly it’s just aches and pains. Good health to get out there and love and serve…

6. Food. Clothes. Shelter. The basics are all covered. And then some extras are lovingly provided…transportation, entertainment, free time, work time, study time, coffee, tea, music, my cat…

7. Everything else. Freedom in this country, jobs, ease of communication with friends and family, technology, church, hobbies, nature, sanitary conditions, running water, electricity, and the list goes on and on…

October 29, 2008
by Angie 3 Comments

I DID NOT Steal Those Toys!

The Hill Clan

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a child. Not too young, but still the oldest in a family of four offspring plus two parents. We all lived, incredibly, crammed into a single-wide mobile home. You can picture it, lovely white and gold toned, kids and pets crawling all over the place.

As was often necessary, mom did deep cleaning. She had to, in order to keep up with the vast assortment of STUFF that accumulated in our small home. During these times of cleaning (and might I add, my siblings were really not good at keeping track of their belongings, and often stored them on the floor or under the bed or dressers), mom dug out closets, under beds, and behind bureaus. That being said, I was the thrifty type. I also was developing my super organized skills and methods of storing massive amounts of junk. (READ: packrat).

Mom always threatened us. “If you don’t clean it up and put it away, I’m going to through it away.” She was telling the truth. At the last possible moment, just before the dust pan scooped up the garbage stored on the floor by my siblings, I swooped in and rescued trash. I think I may have been one of the pioneers of ‘trash to treasure.’ I pulled out anything that was in good condition, unbroken, cool, or whatever I deemed save-worthy. I transferred my new stash items to my top drawer. Saved from certain garbage burning, I practiced recycling before it became popular to be green.

Occasionally, and my siblings employ much ganging up and coersion to share their twisted side of the story, I opened my top dresser drawer and offered specific collection items for sale (nevermind that it was back to their original owners). Inflation not being what it is today, I charged fair (scavenger rates) prices, ranging from a few pennies to nickels, dimes, or maybe quarters. Great deals, huh? After all, I needed to recoup my time and energy costs. And I had to support my horse. Horses are expensive! It was a win win situation. They got great bargains, I kept the landfill empty of good stuff, and I added the change to my cash flow.

To talk with them, one would think that I stole the stuff and hid it until it was open store time. NOT SO! They are way younger than I am, so they do not remember correctly. I was like a vulture, waiting until mom had her back turned from the pile of soon-to-be-disposed items on the floor, and I played search and rescue. Who can complain about that? I was practicing humanitarian social responsibility plus keep the world green goals.

This is to set the record straight. Back in the dark ages, when I was a kid, I practiced recycling and helping mom keep the garbage can less filled with good stuff. I did not steal the toys and assorted items from my siblings. Really. I believe I even remember a few items being given to me by a brother or sister, and then they wanted them back later. Can’t blame me for wanting to turn a profit. Let’s call it storage unit fees.

So we’re even, right?

October 22, 2008
by Angie Leave a comment

One of God’s Blessings

Our home church blessed us by building this baby

Check out our new storage unit! Kevin mentioned that we were working on storage (as in constantly sorting, selling, trashing, giving, storing belongings), and our church came up with the great idea to build us our own unit! Wow! What a blessing! Many men and women jumped in to work together to prep, build, and finish the shed. It is so cool. Now we have instant access with a short commute from our house (my sister’s home, which we are renting) of about 45 feet. Whew. Exercise AND saving gas…

God is building our faith and trust in Him as He takes care of the details (of which, we never seem to run out of, but in fact, they continue to increase exponentially). No detail is too small.

Amen to that, sister.

October 21, 2008
by Angie Leave a comment

Engaged and Wedding in Sight

Yakima, WA: Breaking news for the Quantrell family. On December 6, 2008, Chelsie and Collin will get be joined in marriage. Performing the ceremony is Chelsie’s father, PK. Wild and crazy arrangements are being made by the bride and groom, various volunteers, relatives-to-be, and a somewhat frazzled mother.

“We love our baby, Peeps, and think December will be a beautiful month for her wedding,” says mom. “Although she is young, she shows incredible maturity, responsibility, and of course, beauty!”

Winter colors of red, black, and snow white are being featured at the wedding and reception. The dress has been chosen, but is being kept secret. A dessert reception following the ceremony will offer a relaxed time of fellowship and socializing with family and friends.

Come one, come all. And bring your favorite calorie laden dessert.

Engagement Photo

October 20, 2008
by Angie Leave a comment

The Good Ol Days

The good old days...Help yourself. Just put your money in the box.

There’s hope. I found it. Just about 5 miles away, in the middle of many orchards, there it was.

I’m so tired of negative news and bad reports and ugly things happening to people. And not so nice people being ugly to their fellow humans. Am I alone is saying, that’s enough garbage? Can I please have some good news (and maybe less mud slinging campaigning please) in the paper and on TV? Maybe that’s why I don’t watch and never seem to know current news. It’s depressing. It’s like looking at grafitti. In our area, if someone does beautiful landscaping or freshly paints buildings, even as I enjoy the new touches, there is a niggle of ‘man, how long will it take for the grafitti artists to spoil that?’ I’d like to figure out how to be a fly on the wall and help local law enforcement cut that crime to zero.

But that’s all negative. Today, I found hope. Hope that there are still good people out there. True neighbors who are willing to take the risk and trust others. As we were driving on Old Naches Highway, I had Kevin stop at a farm that had a sign hanging ~ Apples. Kevin and I pulled into the driveway and up to the barn. There, complete with an old fashioned hanging scale, empty boxes, a wooden wagon full of fruit, and hand lettered signs for the apples, pumpkings, and grapes, was a metal cash can. Right out there in public! Nothing special about the can, just an older decorated metal tin, small enough that dollar bills had to roll around the edges. Instructions said to weigh out your own fruit, bag or box it, and put your money in the tin. That’s it. Lovely, fresh, fall scented, fruits of the valley.

Hope. Found along on an old highway. Serve yourself. I trust you.

Grapes, apples, and pumpkin from Old Naches Highway farm

Ahhhh. God Bless Us Everyone.

October 17, 2008
by Angie Leave a comment

Way Back When

Look what I never published! It’s only a few months old…

My 2 Favorite Mission Friends

My bad! I haven’t blogged for numerous days…but who’s counting?

Kevin and I are preparing to head to Richmond, Virginia and Oklahoma City for appointment week. This week will be chuck full of meetings and gatherings and sharing…and commissioning for service overseas. It’s a bit overwhelming! One thing we will do is to prepare our testimony, which we will share at the appointment service. I was thinking back…

Way back when, our two children were preschoolers! Even before that, in high school, maybe middle school, I have had a love of the French people and the French culture. The extent of that was to perhaps visit the country one day, maybe study there during college (mission trip to France, yes, studied during college, no). Like my mom likes to say, I was born French, just in the wrong country.

Fast forward a few years. Bub and Bubbette (my dad’s nicknames for the 2 little Q’s) were not yet in school. I needed something to do with the kids on Wednesday nights at church, as nothing was offered. Our pastor suggested we try Mission Friends. Cool. That began my journey with missions. What awesome curriculum for preschoolers (and mom’s who teach it!). We studied cultures, foods, languages, people of the world, and missionaries and their families that lived and worked around the world to share the love of Jesus. With each lesson I prepared and taught, I fell more in love with being obedient to the call and serving wherever the Lord called. I didn’t instantly know that I was being called, but rather, grew into it. I’ve always felt a pull towards Western Europe, but thought it would be ‘in the future’ trips exploring cities and countrysides.

My babies!

A few years later, after writing for Mission Friends and Mosaic, the call to go myself, instead of just reading of others going, continued to grow. I went on several mission trips. Each trip confirmed the direction I needed to head. Kevin and I both went to Paris on a mission trip, where we served alongside workers in the city. That trip and the relationships we built confirmed the call for both of us, not just going, but the place and the people. Whoo-hoo!

To make a really long journey of manageable length for this blog, now we are getting close to heading across the water to live and work in east Paris. On June 27, in Oklahoma City, we will be appointed as missionaries. Please pray for us ~ it will be exciting and awesome! And we’d prefer not to experience any of their world famous tornadoes. In the northwest, we are used to volcanoes, wind, heat, rain, snow, dust…Not tornadoes. Show me the safe place please.

Following appointment week, we head home to prepare in earnest for living in another country. The house is gone, but too much of the stuff remains. You know, yard sale, storage unit, giving away belongings, lists of what to take (or not)…We will be at our church in Union Gap (13+ years) until December 28. We leave for orientation and training January 26th-ish, with hopes of being in Paris, going to language school, around the beginning of April!

The great news is we have years of experience…in English! The bad news is it will take us old folks longer to learn a new language! (We were informed of this wonderful tidbit.) That’s ok. I’m sure you can teach 2 old dogs new tricks – and words.