Some leftovers...

When we were on vacation (that seems like eons ago!) we met up with some people dear to us (maybe you recognize them) and did some fun things.

1.) Techno Bowl. We went bowling in order to have some fun and be able to chat...BUT the music was SO LOUD we could hardly think! We had fun anyway. The girls played against the boys...and we won! But, truthfully, it was luck. I bowled a strike in the 10th frame and won it for us...up until then...I think I was the weakest link. Sorry, Mom. I guess I didn't get your bowling genes. But...I always have fun and I always break a couple of nails.

2.) We went to IMAX to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Seen it? It was cute, but I don't know which was funnier...the Dad in the movie who was technologically challenged or sitting next to the Dad who was continually giggling at the technologically challenged Dad! If you know him, you understand.

We had a great time, and made some sweet memories. I'm sorry it took me so long to get these up here. BJ&K, we love you and hope all is well.

Reverse Language funny...

Mercy! I have been excited to tell you this...

Rarely, do I hear correct english. When I do, it's British english, usually.

One of my teachers has better english than the other...but they try, which helps me when I didn't understand their language at that moment. Teacher 1 is better than Teacher 2.

Also, they are trying to adopt a more "western" approach for the westerners in their classes...

So, today, Teacher 2 decided to have us come up to the blackboard and teach a portion of the lesson. After the first guy went, she was so excited about how well he did that she started clapping and yelling, "Uncle! Uncle! Uncle!"

When we didn't get it, she thought for a moment and then looked right at me and said, "I know Americans say this." It took me a minute to figure it out, and a classmate beat me to it."

His response was, "The word is French and it is 'ENCORE.'" He then explained it, but she still said Uncle.

Usually they are laughing at my mispronounciations of their language, but this time I was. I'm chuckling now as I write this. :)

It's official...

...I've lost my mind.

I've come to my blog several times to write something that I have pondered, but after wading through all the required passwords and waiting on things to boot up, etc., once I get here...I've lost it.

What was I going to say? Something profound, I'm sure. :)

It's crazy. The minute I log off and move on to something else, it comes back to me...but at that moment I can't stop and write it down. However, when it returns, I go, "Oh! Yeah, that was it. I won't forget that again."

But I do.

Must be age. LOL.
Or life. LOL.
Or my kids. LOL.
Or...how about...ALL of it!

Hopefully when those thoughts return...I can capture them!

I'd like to hear from you...

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.

I read these somewhere recently. Don't they make sense? Why doesn't everyone do them?

I know what I think, but I'm curious as to your thoughts... Leave a comment if you will.

The Santa-fication Process...

In the movie, The Santa Clause 2 (I think), Santa has to get married or he can no longer be Santa. It's called The Mrs. Clause. Anyway, at one point the DE-Santa-fication process begins and he gets more and more slim as well as less hairy and definitely less jolly! LOL.

That's what came to mind when I overheard my husband say, "The SANTAfication process has begun!" Unsure of what he meant, I came to see. He was standing in front of the mirror wearing my favorite red sweater. We had just dined sufficiently so his belly was full, and he was noticing all the white hair that has made its way into his goatee. So, I saw a round belly and red sweater as he pointed out the white hair. LOL.

He makes me laugh. He's not anywhere close to looking like Santa, but it was a cute moment!

Blessings...

This past week has been harried. Yesterday (Sunday) we received notice of two care packages. Wow. Two. At one time. We were only expecting one, we thought. Anyway.

One was belated Christmas presents. We don't care! We were glad to get such treasures. The Princess got some sweet things from her BFF and she just hugged them to herself and said, "She must miss me as much as I miss her." I don't have to ask. She does. She would have to. Salt and Pepper are separated. One without the other is not quite the same.

Anyway...the story I was trying to tell....

Today we went to the PO and picked up our packages Remember earlier stories about how they would not give us our things? Well, today, the lady didn't even look at my passport (required) she just smiled and said, "Hello." Crazy. She knows me, now, and didn't give me any problem. She took my receipts and went to the back. She came back a minute later saying one was really heavy. I told her I was expecting it and that's why I brought my husband. That got a huge smile from her and she began chatting as if we were old friends. Time changes things. We are not so "foreign" to them anymore. I am looking forward to sharing more with her in the future.

My husband grunted and groaned all the way home, but never complained. When we got home, we tore into the boxes as if it were Christmas!...and the kids were NOT home. So we spread the goodies out on the table and again could not believe all that was there.

There really are no words to say how special and loved we feel when we get a gift like this. How completely humbled we are. I get teary eyed every time. I mean it. EVERY TIME. It's almost ridiculous. :) A card came in the mail with this particular box. In it were all the names of all the people who gave to make it possible for us to get these 4 boxes. Unreal. How do I say thank you to all those precious ones? Maybe if you are one...you can help spread the message. We are more than blessed, we are truly humbled by this act of love. As if the things alone were not enough, we know the cost incurred for shipping around the world. Truly, thank you seems not enough to say.

It is such a wonderful blessing to know you are loved. No one need send care packages for us to know that, but they do. You do. And it truly makes a difference. This box was FILLED with snacks! The kids' eyes LIT UP when they saw what was there. Things we cannot get in this country. I even had to threaten them not to get into it all right then. Of course, we dug into the chocolate! Who can wait for that? LOL.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you...infinity. :)

Thanks...

Thanks to Pandamom for the birthday shout out...and to all of you for your sweet words on my birthday. My inbox was filled with e-cards and greetings. My phone rang early in the AM and I received texts blessings as well as the fact that my skype icon stayed lit up with messages.

Usually birthdays don't bother me, but this one had me feeling kind of funky. Not to mention some minor health issues....guess that comes with AGE. So THEY say. Don't know who "they" is, but they say it.

Thanks for thinking of me and for all the prayers that went up on my behalf. I truly appreciate them and know the power of them.

You are loved~

Happy Birthday Friend!!!!

****To anyone who is easily offended then, please skip this post and just send a Happy Birthday wish to our sweet friend in the form of a comment.****

Happy Birthday Miss Queen!!!!!!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful and fun day turning 39. I can say your age outloud because you and I both are pushing that big 4-OHHHH and I want us to enter the next decade together with exhilaration and finish this one out with laughter!

I am just sick that I haven't been able to mail your box yet. : (

This card would have been in it. I'm quite sure it isn't appropriate for your blog, but I know you and I can hear you laughing out LOUD looking at a picture of me and you in 40 more years and overhearing our conversation at the movies!!! LOL!

(Feel free to delete the post after you get a good laugh. Smile.)

Pictures deleted by Funderstorm to help preserve the young minds who read this blog. :)

Ponderings...

It took many years before I was comfortable singing with my husband in front of people. You see, his family is entirely musical. Not that mine doesn’t have its share of talent, but we didn’t study music and practice music to make it our life’s work. They did. Do.

So, even though I play a musical instrument and have been singing since I was knee high to a grasshopper…I was severely intimidated to sing with him. Them.

But…after singing in my husband’s choir for a few years, I began to be able to read him. At one point, I wanted to record myself singing for my dad and he helped me. While we were working on that particular project, we began to experiment together. He sang some harmony and we really liked the sound of it. So…it began. Slowly.

Until then, I had never lacked enough confidence to sing in front of people, but I did lack enough confidence to sing in front of him...very much. He’s THAT talented. He never meant to intimidate me; he didn't even understand the depths of his own talent. Anyway. Slowly and steadily we began singing together more and more. I learned from him and paid attention to him. I liked the way my voice sounded with his. (He makes me sound better and we blend together nicely. )

As the years went by we became more and more of a team and eventually even “marketed” ourselves as such. After many years of working together, well…I miss it. We led worship together for a long time as just the two of us. I could follow him as he followed the Lord. I knew by the kind of breath he took whether he was continuing on or winding down. I could usually guess where he would repeat to in the song.

Sync. In sync. Not the group, but the two—no-make that three of us. When people would comment on it, it was difficult to say thank you for something we really had nothing to do with. The Lord had planned it and was using it. We wanted to remain humble. I never wanted to be too comfortable in it, but now that it is gone from my life in that format, I realize that the Lord used it, not only in the lives of others, but in my own.

So, if I never said it enough, I want to now. ..

To God be the glory for the things He has done.

Mercy.

After a nice long break, I've now been working with a new tutor for two weeks. She is GOOD. She's pushing me and I'm learning.

But, add to that, classes started back at the school this week. This semester, for the first time, I am able to go to school for more classes because my kids are covered during that time.

Sooooo....I'm taking 3X as many hours. I am actually in class everyday from 8:30-12:00 and then I'm tutored two more days in the afternoon for 2 hours at a time. Then I have daily homework, which is anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, not to mention the actual studying.

And like a GOON, I signed up for an online Master's level course.

My goodness. I felt like I was trying to stuff foreign language into my brain but it was just leaking out the other side. I know it will get better...from experience. You adjust.

I really need this time to get more language and I really need it to stick! So, please say a prayer for me. I'm working harder than ever. I'm getting older! LOL.

Something may have to give...I hope not. I just wanted you to know where I've been...AND our internet has been down. Hopefully more to post this weekend.

Love!