Playing "Hooky"

When we lived in the states, I don't recall ever just playing hooky with my kids. There were too many responsibilities. Too much work to get ready for a substitute teacher...might as well just be there, sick or not, Spring or not.

But living over here without those responsibilities, things are a little different. We can wake up and say, "Wow...is that the sun shining THROUGH the clouds?" What can we do today? Or just decide to have some down time with kids. Granted...we haven't done it until today...

The Prince wanted to go to school because he gets to stay the weekend with some buddies. The Princess needed some extra sleep. So we sent him and kept her. She slept in and woke up to friends wanting to Skype. She INHALED her breakfast in record time in order to chat. Here are a few pics...

"Are you there?"....Lots of screaming little girls as they see each other...
Big sis walks into the room..."Who are you talking to?"...we had just gotten off of chatting with her to go eat when the Princess literally inhaled her food and came back before I could get off with the other sister...they usually Skype us at the same time. :)
Another friend peeking in....
We're just hanging out...telling each other how cute our hairstyles are. As a matter of fact, Princess M (recognize her from early blog days?) commented on the cute duck tail sticking off the side of my Princess' head. LOL. She hadn't been up but for 15 minutes when all this started.
Drinking stuff and chatting...

Eating ice and chatting...

Mean old mom(me...not you, MKRH) came in and said we had to go, but it was nice while it lasted.

God bless the creator of Skype...

and thank you, God, for beautiful Spring days to play hooky.

Okay...now I'm scared!

Before....

when he didn't really care too much about hairstyles...

before he was showering every day (without having to be told)...

and shaving almost as often...

before he cared what his clothes looked like...

Back then, you know...last month (LOL)...I didn't worry too much about girls.

But now, he's decided on a hairstyle...

even Googled it to find pictures to make sure he wanted it...

found it on Brad Pitt...

thought "if it's good enough for him"...

Now...

NOW, I'm scared. Actually, I think I'll just get me a BIG STICK!

Before he was still a little boy on the inside...

AND on the outside...

Now...

not so much.

More and more a young man...

as a matter of fact he calls himself the "man-child."

Next...he'll be asking for contacts.

Just wait.

That'll be the last straw!

A sweet thing...

...about faith in Christ is that when we follow his example (and as His word says) by carrying each others burdens our path is less formidable.

Today we learned that our family eye doctor back home passed away in his sleep. He was 52 with a beautiful wife and two college age sons.

A few days ago, we learned that a dear couple to us (who is expecting their first child) is dealing with a diagnosis of terminal cancer...my friend's mom. The doctors say she will only live to see her grandchild born by sheer determination, but we see it as the grace of God.

This kind of news is never what we want to hear, especially being so far from home, but the only thing we can do is really the best thing at this point...carry them to Jesus. He is everything they need. Although there are necessary arrangements to be made, we are not close enough to either family to be of real help. But, we can be of ultimate help. Do you understand my point?

During the times my family was (is) under trial and/or sadness...when we could barely think straight for grief, others carried us to Jesus and He lovingly held us. He soothes like nothing else can.

Can I ask you to lift up these families? The Doctor, as I knew him, was a man after God's own heart. He blessed my family on more than one occasion. He worked like no one I've ever known before. He will be greatly missed.

My friend's mom is a believer, but her father isn't. My friend is young...in her 20's and about 4 months pregnant. Please lift up the entire family.

Galatians says to bear each other's burdens and by doing that we are fulfilling the law of Christ.

Bear with me.

Thanks,

You are loved.

A bum deal...

A recent visit to a local zoo...

Isn't he beautiful?

I'm not sure Adam had any part in naming him.

Poor thing has to go through his life known as a "Lesser Panda." But at least he let us take his picture...the "other" Pandas just showed us their backs!

(BTW...I have no idea why this is underlined and no idea how to get it off! LOL.)

Precious moments.

They would never want me to advertise that they like each other...they have too much fun picking at each other and pushing each others' buttons...but...the proof is in the pudding. When it's all said and done, they might pick on each other, but you had better not!

Lucky Locks of Love...

The Princess and I had an agreement.

She wanted to grow her hair out. Then she wanted to cut it. Then she wanted to grow it. Then she wanted to cut it....etc. You get the picture.

So...we made a deal. We'd grow it out until she could consistently decide (at LEAST one month) that she wanted it cut.

Well...she's been there since January...but we were SO close to having the minimum requirement for Locks of Love. We made a deal. The MINUTE we realized it was long enough...if she still wanted it cut...we'd do it. She realized it yesterday.

Her daddy was not too thrilled because her hair is beautiful and she is darling with all the different hairstyles we fix it in...but...

she has naturally curly (well...wavy) hair and she gets TONS of tangles in it everyday...

we talked about how long it took to get it this length and once it is cut...well...it's a long time to get it back to this length again...

But...OH HOW DARLING she is with it short!

I KNOW you agree...

That natural curl gives it a natural flip...

She's still getting used to it. She pulled the brush through it this morning and laughed out loud because she almost dropped the brush from pulling so hard...

But even more than that we talked about how this is a ministry. We talked about Locks of Love and what they do. We looked at pictures online. She is missing her hair a little, but she has "loved her neighbor as herself" by giving up something she worked hard at achieving. She will adjust. Her hair will grow. The child who receives a wig made of her hair will be blessed with beautiful, blonde, healthy hair to make them feel better while they are getting better (hopefully). She will have been a small part of blessing their life. Giving selflessly...we're all better for it.

Things that make you go, "Hmmm."

Well, being an obviously FOREIGN family draws plenty of attention. Especially with blonde-haired and blue-eyed kids.

We've been asked to do all kinds of things. Lately (the last few months) we've been asked to take pictures and be in commercials. So far, we have not participated (for various legitimate reasons) in any of them, but the time has come where they will not take NO for an answer. So...on Wednesday we will participate in a photo shoot for some sort of documentary.

Do we understand all that we are doing? No.

Do we really want to do this? No.

Is it an inconvenience to our family? Yes.

Did we say,"No."? Yes. Multiple times.

But...there is no way to NOT do it without causing embarrassment issues for one or more persons involved. This culture is big on not causing someone undue harm (or embarrassment) unnecessarily.

The only thing I can say that we'll be getting out of it is copies of the pictures. So...watch for them. It should be interesting. :)

Happy Birthday to my men!

Today my husband turned 42 and our baby turned 15.

Wow. Time really flies. It seems not that long ago that my husband was holding a tiny tow-headed infant on one shoulder and talking on the phone with the other hand.

There is much to say in regards to the blessing they both are on my life. But my internet keeps dropping so I'll leave you with the words my husband sang to me not too long ago...

...sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"....

"On my 27th birthday, my true love gave to me...a blonde-haired boy with ADHD."

Go ahead and laugh, it's funny and it's true.

Happy birthday, boys! I love you both! Thank you for the smiles and laughter!

Sharing from literature...

"Mark Twain said,

'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.' International exposure also teaches us about the needs and opportunities awaiting us around the world."

All of the above is a quote from a book I'm reading, which I can't title here, but will be glad to in an email if you're interested.

I'm not trying to shame you into traveling, I'm just trying to share something that spoke to me. I've mentioned before that I consider myself a "small town" girl and how I would have been completely happy to stay in my comfort zone all, or at least most, of my life. I was never too ambitious. I wanted to marry and raise a family and work at a job I enjoyed and do the work that the Lord had for me in my small town (hopefully).

God had other plans for me. And truthfully, he might have them for you. NOT THAT he might want you to become a "foreign exchange student"...I have no idea...but he might want to broaden your horizons...and really, why would you not want them broadened? That's the real way to get a glimpse of what he sees...the big picture.

When I read the above quote, I was immediately thankful that the Lord wasn't content to let me be content in my comfort zone peering through my porthole at the world. He moved me to a balcony! and WHAT A VIEW!

I challenge you to let him broaden your horizons. His ways are higher than ours and although there is sometimes pain in the journey (growing pains)...it is completely worth it. Completely.

Art by the Princess

My daughter doesn't like art. She LOVES crafts, but coloring or drawing...not so much. So, when other kids her age can draw more than stick figures...she usually doesn't.

So, imagine my joy when she came to me with this precious drawing that she did in her free time. This is as good as I could get it for you.

The sign above the middle cross says, "Jesus, King of the Jews." The sign above the cross on your right says, "I believe!"

As we are celebrating this Easter weekend, we are reflecting on the price that was paid for our sin. It moves me to tears every time. I am unworthy of the price that was paid for me. The ransom for my soul that the Father willingly paid.

This year, though, as I realize my daughter is reflecting on it on her own...I am especially moved as only a parent can be when their child has chosen to believe. Must be how the Father feels about us...

He is RISEN! He is RISEN, indeed.
Blessings.

Thanks for checking on me...

I'm drowning in my foreign language classes.

Well, not really, but I am working 6-8 hours a day on language. It's rough on this ole' brain. Monday is a holiday over here...not for the same reasons we celebrate, but a holiday nonetheless! YEA!

Hope to post some this weekend. As it is, every spare minute is spent studying and doing homework.

I miss being on here and hearing from you. Just a season...