Since I Was in the Neighborhood...

Hello!! This is PandaMom posting on Funderstorm's blog because I have access to it for various reasons. Smile. I just thought I'd say a few nice words about Miss R. Those who know her know everything I'll say is true.

This pic above was a little book that she gave to me years ago. We did that kinda stuff, ya know. Little love gifts here and there. One time I even gave her a special book that I lovingly picked out "just for her" only to find that in the inside cover it said in someone else's handwriting: "To Coco, From Cristina" HAHAHA!!!! Yes, I got it at a second-hand bookstore, but we have since gotten many more laughs and memories out of that little love gift than if I had just given something in the normal way. (No--I had no idea that the writing from the previous owners was in the book. Too funny!!)

She is loved by many and she and I both have wonderful friends all over this globe, but over ten years ago we were introduced and connected in a way like no other friends we have.

Let's list a few of her traits:
-Stuns others with those gorgeous eyes, million dollar smile and darling little pixie nose
-SINGS like no one else I know (makes my heart smile thinking about it!)
-Speaks truth in a beautiful tone that brings peace when needed
-Sees people for who they are deep inside
-Searches for who she was created to be
-Strives for excellence in all she does
-Darn it all, I can't think of another "S" word to go along with all those others that just randomly popped up that way!
-Oh wait, yes I can!
-Seeks to do what is right in all situations
-Stands in the gap for many who have no strength to carry on
-Sleeps with one foot out of the covers---ALWAYS
-Shoves the enemy as far away as possible
-Sends her heartfelt love and gratitude to friends and family through cyberspace
-Spends quality time with her family
-Squats to potty while in the east (sorry!!! LOL!!!!! You know it's true!!!)
-Surrenders her will for His

Let's just say that I am honored to call her my BFF. I know many of you appreciate her, too. Add some of those thoughts to the comments if you will and BLESS HER SOCKS OFF!!!

To you Miss R: I love you so much.
PandaMom

A hidden surprise...

We have discovered on many occasions that many things are not what they seem. I bought these "English Muffins" from the frozen food section. We were really quite surprised to see them and a little excited to make our own Egg McMuffin from Mickey D's. Anyway. The Prince bit into his first....um....surprise!...it's already filled with stuff and not the stuff we would fill it with....






..but not totally disgusting with just the cheese either. Being the precious commodity that it is...you try your best not to waste it. Not good. Not bad....just different.

A few of the sights of Thanksgiving Day...

They say...IT'S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION. I think I agree. Because things looked so nice it felt like Thanksgiving.

Dessert...Caramel Tarts and Chocolate Balls....to DIE for.

Boys shooting air soft guns at tag board turkeys. Tons of fun!

Ummm...

Do you think the Princess has watched The Princess Diaries too many times? This is not our cat, but she loved that HE would sit still and let them "dress" him. However, when he'd had enough...he got up and walked away. SHOCK. She loved it.



One ear down...getting tired of this...

Two ears down...Ummm, I'm outta here...and he was, but not before I snapped the picture. :)

Mom...you'd be proud.

Mom, I made a batch of homemade bread. The last time I made it was with you and you did most of the work! I was a little leary...but they tasted almost as good as yours and they were a HIT at the gathering today. As a matter of fact, we went around in a circle and shared our "thankfulness" and one of the little boys said the homemade bread! LOL.

I thought of you at every turn and remembered all the years gone by of hard work at the holidays. I'm not sure we told you enough, if ever, how the things you did made special memories for us. I've drawn on those memories alot lately. Thank you for serving your family all those years without fail and without much sleep. It was appreciated and still is. Miss you. Don't cry! :) I just wanted to give you a shout out! Love you~ More highlights to come...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessed. Thankful. Content. Unworthy. Covered in Grace...
Today we are having a turkey and dressing dinner...and we're very excited about it. Do you take it for granted? We did. Now we are SO looking forward to it.

I've been counting my blessings today. Most bring smiles to my face...some bring tears. Can you understand that? When you are thankful for something or someone and it makes you cry? Well, I'm a crier. Like it or not. Happy tears. Sad tears. I've cried them both today, but with a thankful heart.

Take time today (or tomorrow for some of you) to really think about what you have...and truly give thanks and then look around you and see where you can be a blessing.

This Thanksgiving I'm missing my family, but I am thankful that they are alive because some who are dear to me are facing their first Thanksgiving without their loved one. I can skype. :) So, as you are counting your blessings, be sure to look around you at those who may be struggling and pour some love on them.

I'm loving you today. I hope you know it. Happy day. Be blessed.

Calling all prayer warriors...

We have friends whose baby girl was born five weeks early. She has breathing issues and an issue with her heart. Please lift them up. They would appreciate it, as do I

Huh? Bummer, dude.

Good thing that wasn't the song I was looking for. :)

Remember this board?

Well, this is what is currently on it....


A miscellaneous assortment of stuff...Thanksgiving crafts...pictures of peeps...wish list items...to do list items...neighbors house numbers...etc.


A weather chart. We Fahrenheit peeps have had some difficulty adjusting to Celsius.


The King and Princess worked together to make this chart so we' all know what kind of clothes to put on each day. Every morning he checks the weather and writes in it...then she comes along later in the day and writes her thoughts...


FYI from the Princess...be forewarned...


...the Grandparents arrive! We have it written in the national language, though. Wasn't sure you'd know what we're talking about...

Insight.

Well...I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to Internet.

On Saturday around noon...our service was cut off...but it took a few hours to realize what had happened. It wasn't until we received a phone call from a friend that we were clued in. Apparently you don't get a bill. When you've used up the amount of money you put in your account (supposedly for a year), they cut your service off and you are supposed to know that means bring in some money NOW. Hmmm. Well, by our standards we have another month...so we thought it couldn't be that. Then our friend calls us (because the management office called them) to tell us we need to pay. Okay...that's a little embarrassing. But not really, or at least not to them.

By this time it's late on Saturday and will have to wait til Sunday (yes, they're open).

Well....Sunday rolls around and the King goes to get money from the ATM (the banks are NOT open). Guess what? They're empty. Not just one, but all. We have three banks attached to our apartment complex. OK. We'll just wait til Monday.

Monday rolls around. The King goes to class (I didn't have it that day.) and I go get money in the rain. I go to pay the Internet lady and struggle through to communicate with her. I've never had to use this particular set of vocabulary. We're making progress. She can understand me, but (SHOCK!) I can't understand her local dialect. I mean, come on....it's Monday morning and my brain is barely functioning...much less in a foreign language! Anyway. She knows 5 English words and they just happen to be the ones I need to understand her. PTL! We are communicating. She pulls up my phone number and bingo...we're in business. She's asking me questions like: How much do you want to pay? I respond, How much is one year? She tells me. I don't understand her ( and I KNOW my numbers!) But guess what...she can write it out. YEA. Plus I owe her for one more month of this year. Huh? We paid for one year when we moved in on Dec. 20th. Today is Nov. 16th. What am I missing? It doesn't matter. I'm going to just have to keep missing it, because even if I COULD ask her about it...I wouldn't understand what she said.

Sooooo....she tells me how much and I count it out. She asks for my ID and I hand it over. Uh-oh. Problem. She asks, who is this? and points to the King's name on the screen. I answer, My husband. Well, do you have his ID? What? No. He carries it. It's HIS ID. Well, sorry. You cannot pay the bill without his ID. Grumble. Grumble. Grumble. (That's me.) I smile. Okay. Thank you. He can't come in until this afternoon. Bye.

Now.....
Still no Internet. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is on at all hours of the day. So, the best time to download email is in the early AM. Especially if you have friends sending you pictures from Paris that are 13 MB. Yikes. (I still love you Flea, but it took FOREVER to download your emails...remind me to tell you how to resize.) So...I'm totally bummed that I'll have to go another day without email.

Now, let me tell you why I think I'm addicted.

I don't get that many emails a day anymore...but there is always the POSSIBILITY of email. Just call me Meg Ryan...you've seen, "You've Got Mail?" Right? I know it's old, but it's how I feel. I smile and get excited when the computer tells me it's downloading 1 of 7. Seven! Yea! Usually half of them are junk, but at least I can delete and still say I need to check my mail.

And SKYPE. Well....God bless the creator of Skype. It's truly my lifeline. I can call my mom or my friends and chat for very inexpensive. I usually try to save it until I'm feeling particularly homesick and need to hear a voice. AND I usually call someone who won't mind that I forgot to check the time difference....AGAIN.

Anyway. I digress. The three (well, not quite) days without Internet gave me a little insight into myself. I may not have email. I may not have plans to skype...but there is always the possibility and the availability that encourages me. Without it, I feel separated. With it, I feel connected. Crazy, I know. Seeing that I'm on the other side of the world, but maybe you get the picture anyway.

So, I met the King at the door and (before he could come in) handed him money and asked him to kindly go pay the Internet bill. Thanks so much. Lunch will be ready when you return. "Hurry home!" as I'm closing the door.

My husband likes to say, "Happy wife. Happy life." I can't remember where he got it from...which Bro-in-law...but he knows it's mostly true. :)Good man.

33 days and counting...

...'til grandparents ARRIVE!!! Woo Hoo!!

Steven Curtis Chapman

I downloaded this CD recently. If you haven't gotten it...you need to. Powerful. These songs are all written after the tragic death of his daughter. I believe Steven must have a heart like David (who was a man after God's own heart). I've been studying the Psalms lately...and that's what I hear in these songs. Honest. Raw. Truth. Right where he is RIGHT now. Powerful. Here's a taste...

HEAVEN IS THE FACE
"Heaven is the face of a little girl with dark brown eyes that disappear when she smiles...God I know it's all of this and so much more, but God, you know that this is what I'm aching for. God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door.

BEAUTY WILL RISE
"Buried deep beneath all these broken dreams we have this hope...out of these ashes, beauty will rise and we will dance among the ruins we will see it with our own eyes. Out of these ashes, beauty will rise for we know joy is coming in the morning. In the morning, beauty will rise."

SEE
"Right now all I can taste are bitter tears. Right now all I can see are clouds of sorrow. But from the other side of all this pain, is that you I hear calling out to me? Saying...See. It's everything you said that it would be and even better than you would believe. And I'm counting down the days until you're here with me and finally you'll see.......and He's counting down the days until He says 'Come with Me'...He'll wipe every tear from our eyes and make everything new just like He promised...wait and See. Just wait and see. Wait and see.....I'm counting down the days until I see..."

JUST HAVE TO WAIT
"...I can wait to see your sisters play the way they do when all of you are playing all together. I can't wait to watch your brothers face when he can finally see with his own eyes...everything's ok. I just have to wait. I know that day is coming, I just have to wait."

FAITHFUL
"I am broken. I am bleeding. I am scared and I'm confused, but you are faithful, yes, You are faithful. I am weary, please help my unbelief, yes you are faithful.

I will proclaim it to the world, I will declare it to my heart.
I'll sing it when the sun is shining.
I will scream it in the dark.
You are faithful. You are faithful. When you give and when you take away. Even then, still your name is faithful.
You are faithful. And with everything inside of me. I am choosing to believe you are faithful.

When I cannot have the answers that I'm wanting to demand. I'll remember you are God and everything is in your hands. With your hands you put the sun and moon and stars up in the sky. For the sake of love you hung your own son on the cross to die. And you are faithful, yes, you are faithful. When you give and when you take away. Even then...Great is your faithfulness. Great is your faithfulness..."

QUESTIONS
"Who are you God? Cause you are turning out to be so much different than I imagined?
And Where are you God? Cause I am finding life to be so much harder than I had planned... You know that I'm afraid to ask these questions, but you know they are there. And if you know my heart the way that I believe you do, you know that I believe in you. But still I have these questions...Is it true that for every tear I cry, you cry a thousand more as you weep with those who weep? And are you just holding yourself back from crushing all the pain and evil in this world for reasons we just can't understand for now, but isn't there a day of redemption coming? Redemption is coming."

OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL
"This is not how it should be.
This is not how it could be.
But this is how it is, and our God is in control.

This is not how it will be.
When we finally will see.
We'll see with our own eyes, He was always in control.

And we'll sing Holy, Holy, Holy is our God.
We will finally really understand what it means.
So we'll sing Holy, Holy, Holy is our God
We are waiting for that day...

This is not where we planned to be.
When we started this journey.
But this is where we are, and our God is in control.

Though this first taste is bitter.
There will be sweetness forever
when we finally taste and see that our God is in control
and we'll sing holy..."

FEBRUARY 20th, 2008
A song about his daughter accepting Christ...
"God only knows just how thankful I will always be...that He gave her mom and me...February 20th."

GOD IS IT TRUE (TRUST ME)
"God is it true that you're thinkin' of me at this moment?
God is it true that you hear every prayer that I pray?
God is it true every time my heart beats you know it?
Well if it's all true..then that must be you I hear saying, "Trust me.

Trust me. I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. Just trust me.

God is it true that your love for us is never-ending?
Could it really be true that you'd die before letting us go?
God is it true that not even death can separate us?
Well if it's all true, then what I can I do, but put all my hope and all my trust in you. Well, I KNOW it's true and I KNOW it's you I hear saying, 'Trust Me.'"

I WILL TRUST YOU
"I don't even want to breathe right now. All I want to do is close my eyes.
I don't want to open them again, until I'm standing on the other side.
I don't even want to be right now. I don't want to think another thought.
I don't want to feel this pain I feel, but right now pain is all I've got.
It feels like it's all I've got, but I know it's not. Oh, I know you're all I"ve got.
And I will trust you. I'll trust you. Trust you, God I will. Even when I don't understand even then I will say again. You are my God and I will trust you."

JESUS WILL MEET YOU THERE
"When you think you've hit the bottom and the bottom gives way and you fall into a darkness no words can explain. You don't know how you'll make it out alive, Jesus will meet you there...

He knows the way to wherever you are.
He knows the way to the depths of your heart.
He knows the way cause he's already been where you're going.
Jesus will meet you there.

When the jury says guilty and the prison doors close.
The one you love says nothing but just packs up and goes
Sunlight comes and your world's still dark.
Jesus will meet you there.

When you've failed again and all your second chances have been used
And the heavy weight of guilt and shame is crushing down on you.
And all you have is one last cry for help.
Jesus will meet you there..."

...whatever valley you must walk through,
Jesus will meet you there."

SPRING IS COMING
"We planted the seed while the tears of our grief sowed the ground.
The sky lost its sun and the world lost its green, til life was brown.
Now the chill in the wind has turned the earth hard as stone but silent the seed lies beneath the ice and snow and my hearts heavy now but I'm not letting go of this hope I have that tells me SPRING IS COMING. Spring is coming. And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear. Spring is coming. Spring is coming. It won't be long now...it's just about here...Hear the birds start to sing. Feel the life in the breeze. Watch the ice melt away. The kids are coming out to play. Feel the sun on your skin. Growing strong and warm again. Watch the ground, there's something moving. Something is breaking through. New life is breaking through! Spring is coming....(Out of these ashes beauty will rise)"

Okay. So it's more than a taste. Sorry, if I spoil it for you.

Can you relate? Maybe you've lost someone. Maybe your life didn't turn out to be what you planned. Maybe you've had sorrows no one knows about. I can testify, too, that Jesus will meet you there.

I have been so moved by this CD. In a country were it's no longer the majority of people who are christians, it is so wonderful to truly see someone living out the faith they say they have. The good, the bad, the ugly....in our eyes. Truly out of the ashes...beauty will rise and God will be glorified.

Fall Fun Festival Year 2

The plan...

The supplies...


The goody bags...



Backward Bowling...

Twister...Bottoms Up!

Make a mask...this one belongs to the Prince. Imagine that.

Paint a Pumpkin...or orange...whatever works.



Twister is definitely a game for kids... you should have SEEN the pretzels we turned them into! Amazing.

More pics later...
Fun had by all!

Just for fun...

Africa in a box...

I wonder if you've heard about the little boy whose mother asked him what he learned about at school and when he answered, " A Frickin' Elephant"...she was shocked.

"What?" she asked.
"A frickin' elephant," was his response.
"Son, who told you it was called that?"
"It says it right here under the picture."
When mom looked...she saw..."African Elephant"...plain as day written underneath.

Oh, come on...you know it was funny. :)

We received a GREAT package today from my my brother and his sweet family in Africa.
GREAT STUFF!


Scarves...

A cool slingshot...

Sandals made from tires! No kidding! The Prince says they are comfortable!

Lots of jewelry, cool bags and great artwork...

Thanks guys! We love it all! Miss you TONS!

A Sweet Poem...

You are My I Love You
by Maryann K Cusimano.

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.

I am your calm face; you are my giggle.
I am your wait; you are my wiggle.

I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.
I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.

I am your way home; you are my new path.
I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.
I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.

I am your lullaby, you are my peekaboo.
I am your good-night kiss; you are my I love you.

When I read this...I loved it! But it was a bittersweet moment. Some of these are in the past for me...my kids are so big and I guess there will not be anymore... But once again I reminisced about those baths, games of peekaboo, and days of picking (and blowing) every dandelion we could find. Sweet remembrances. Gifts from God. Blessings, without a doubt.

But there are still sweet memories to be made...like a new tradition of "Breakfast in bed for NO REASON at all"...or...just because it's Wednesday and you have to get up for school!



Okay...so I didn't think to take the picture til most of breakfast was gone! Sorry. And, YES, those are cherry tomatoes...they are fruit! Work with me people...I do the best I can!