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You have to look carefully to see how the kitten is tucked in with his head on the Princess' pillow while she is rolled off in the other direction. It was dark and my phone doesn't have a flash...best I could do.


Hanging out on her hip while she reads....

Too pooped to play with his "Odie" anymore. A nap sounds good. :)

Baking with Buddies...

A friend of mine with her own baseball team worth of kids' husband was out of town then they started getting sick. So, one afternoon, the Princess and I entertained her two youngest so she could get a little rest while the other three were down for the count.

I had already planned on baking but decided to wait until my buddies came over to help me. You cannot see it, but there are on their knees on the piano bench. Each in an apron. These two are very close in age and want to do whatever the other is doing. So. After we carefully washed our hands, we took turns measuring things and pouring them into the bowls. We took turns stirring and counting. We helped each other hold when it wasn't our turn. It was a team effort. :)
I double checked to make sure it was all mixed.
We ALL three used the mixer at once. One hand on the mixer, one hand on the bowl. I am looking forward to having little ones in my house again. I've forgotten how fun (and exhausting) it can be to "Do school" with them through every day life. (The Princess is so independent these days.) We made Pumpkin Bread and they each got to make their own little heart shaped one.
MMMmmmmm. smells good. The funny thing is that this particular recipe took an hour to bake. As SOON as I put the bread in the oven and closed the door. Little Man asked me, "Iz the bwed wedy, yet?" LOL. That could have been a long hour, but we had a jello snack (and checked the "bwed," and watched a Veggie Tale Christmas video (and checked the "Bwed"). We played with the cat (and checked the "Bwed". We played with the hamsters (and checked the "Bwed").

I took their little loaves out when they were ready to cool, but didn't tell them. Little Man kept walking back to the kitchen and reading the timer. Schlumping (is that a word?) back into the room declaring, "Not yet." Finally, he lit with joy when it said less than 10 minutes!

I enjoyed helping my friend out in this small way and loving on her kids. The Princess loved it, too. She took tons of pictures and giggled at their antics! She's going to be a fabulous big sister!

We took some bread back to the Sick Ones and I had to tell their mom that they already had eaten theirs, because Little Man was asking for more.

By the way, one more funny. After mixing the ingredients with the mixer, both little sets of eyes looked hungrily on at the beaters. I asked if they wanted to lick them and they spoke in unison, "YES!" So, I sat them down at the table with the individual beater and went back to pour the batter into the pan and put it in the oven. When I turned back around the kids were licking the beaters meticulously with the most awful looks on their faces. I asked them, "Don't you like it?" and they both (with tongues still touching the beater) shook their heads and said, "no." SO PRECIOUS. They were being thankful for what they got even if they didn't like it! I didn't make them finish licking and gave them some water. They guzzled! LOL. But...they LOVED the final, COOKED product.

So much...

So much. So MUCH. SO Much. SO MUCH has happened/occurred in our life these past 3 and half months that I have had some difficulty processing it all.

I am typically a verbal processor and that helps when you have friends around, but when your husband and best friend is traveling and your other peeps live around the world or are consumed with their own family and life issues...well, I find myself talking to myself in the mirror. Don't laugh. Well, okay. Go ahead. It is a funny mental picture. Besides talking to God, who doesn't typically give me immediate feedback, talking to Him and myself in the mirror helps me work through some things. That old adage, "Get it off your chest," was probably meant for people like me. So, I talk out loud to God (and to myself). I'm sure there are people around who think I'm weird, but after all...I am a foreigner to them so who's to say what's normal? Nothing seems normal anymore.

Having said all that, I've been careful not to talk about and/or blog things that probably shouldn't be blogged, but in the process have missed a few opportunities to share where I am in this journey. I have tried and been blocked with internet and/or computer issues. OR I've had internet and no motivation or no words to articulate because I'm still processing. OR it needed to be kept to myself. Am I making any sense?

Whatever the case, I just wanted to say that I appreciate you stopping by to check on me and mine. Because we try to keep this blog relatively anonymous, there are stories that can't be shared. I am considering a change, but just considering at this point.

So, TODAY, we are looking towards the weekend when the Prince is home for the Christmas holiday. Two weeks.

We are homeschooling the Princess and trying to help her stay motivated in her class of one.

We are ever learning and using this language, but it seems never correctly. :)

We are thinking about our loved ones at this time of year and praying for them.

We are trying to share the TRUE meaning of Christmas in a foreign culture that only understands Christmas= Santa and gifts.

We are daily looking for the blessings that God gives and thanking him for them.

We are enjoying some cooler weather and wearing more layers of clothing.

We are entertained by the orphaned kitten that has taken up residency with us. He brings joy and laughter in the most unexpected moments. Thank you God for the feline gift.

We are looking to next year when we will probably add two more children to our home.

We are looking to next year when we will return to the states for a visit longer than a vacation.

We are preparing to have a senior in High School and all that that entails...

We are soaking up this time with just the Princess at home and pouring into her life like never before.

We are LEARNING to be content in all things. Maybe it's a life lesson that keeps cycling around. It seems I've been here before, but the scenery looks a little different. Different season of life.

I discount how difficult it is to live in a foreign context...how difficult even the most mundane things seem to be and then question why I'm frustrated or tired or weary. The truth is, I often try to do things in my own strength. I know I can't, yet, it's my first impulse to try. Only after some frustration do I turn it over to God and find peace. Then I can continue to lay things at his feet and bask in his peace. But at some point, my self-centered-ness thinks I'm the one doing it and I stop placing things at his feet and quickly find myself sinking in the quicksand of self. Ug. A never ending cycle.

The worst part is when I realize it, but am tired of fighting the same battles and in my selfishness decide I don't want to fight anymore. That's when it gets really ugly. We've been given SO MUCH and yet, I find myself grumbling. Yuck. I hate that attitude. I want it to disappear. Is that possible? One moment at a time, it is.

There's been much talk in my circle lately about a book that's been out for a while: Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts." I've read blog posts and heard conversations about this thought provoking book. She is a gifted and poignant writer. She talks about living fully in the moment by giving thanks in the way that Christ gave thanks, following his example of EUCHARISTEO. (Search it out for yourself.) I am usually a fast reader, but I choose to read this book slowly and let God speak to me however He wishes. And He definitely does. He keeps pointing me back to His own word that says to "rejoice always" and "count it all joy" and "in everything, give thanks" and SO MANY others.

Ann says, "...when we give thanks in this moment, we stay in this moment with the God Who Is Here, I AM."

I love that. I KNOW He is here. I've been a Christian for the majority of my life, but I'm daily learning what it means to be a "Christ follower." I don't always FEEL like he is here, but he is. So, I give thanks in this moment that I can sit down at a computer that connects to me my loved ones when I am physically as far away as possible, and say what's on my heart that my FATHER has been teaching me and know that you'll read it and smile. Not for my lessons necessarily, but for the Father who loves me and faithfully teaches me...and you. And in that sharing there is the feeling of crawling up into my "Daddy's" lap as he wraps his arms around me, loves and comforts me, and speaks my love language of time spent with him.

What are you thankful for today?

It's my joy to serve...

My girl LOVES to cook and bake. We are currently compiling a cookbook for her of various recipes that do not necessarily need adult supervision. This is a new one. Pumpkin Spice cookies.
I love it that Dad is always the one she thinks of first. She thrives on his approval...
...and he LOVES to give it. When we are having attitude problems, we do something to serve someone else. It's amazing the perspective you get from giving of yourself. I have told my kids (and MYSELF!)..."Obedience first, and your attitude will follow." It hasn't failed, yet. Thank God that he gave us an example in Christ of what service really looks like.

Guess who likes the King best?

Another time...another place...

The King's favorite saying, "Cats don't have people...they have STAFF."

Pics with the Prince...