on moving to the 4th floor in 4 days

It's Saturday night. We've had a fun celebration of Grace's 4th birthday today (pictures to come soon), and I'm still looking at some of the party aftermath in my living room. I really ought to be cleaning up wrapping paper, packing up my kitchen, packing up my bedroom, really packing anything that's outside of a box. But I'm plumb wore out so blog I will. In 4 days we'll load up our belongings and move about 2 hours south of where we live. If you'd told me a few years ago where I'd be moving, I might have panicked just a bit. It's just the truth. Yes, there were many adjustments that came with simply moving to this country, but we are moving to an even bigger fishbowl than the one we already live in. I do believe we'll be the first foreigners to live in this town that's not associated with a school or university of any kind. And my kids will be the first little foreigners living there. Thankfully, by the end of the summer, some other foreign kids will be living there too! Yes, if you had told me a few years ago for sure we'd be moving to this little town, I would not have been ready. And while I might still be a bit sad about leaving the big city and our friends here, I can now honestly say I'm more excited than nervous. This move just feels completely right for our family. Last year when Kevin said he felt the Father moving us in this direction, at first my heart skipped a beat. I wrestled with it for a few weeks. But really as time wore on and I came to the same realization that this is what we needed to do (read: let go of my stubbornness), my heart started changing a bit. I've been a bit disconnected from our work here and often have just had to live vicariously through what Kevin has told me. Occasionally the girls and I have traveled with Kevin but it's just not the same as when you plant your life there and have people over for dinner and can be available spur of the moment. Most of our local friends live there and I'm so very excited to get to develop the friendships that we've started and all that comes with that. (Those of you who know us and our situation know what I mean.) So, all that said, in the past month the Father has completely overwhelmed us with blessings and opened doors for our move. He's doing it. And it's encouraging. From finding someone to take over the lease on our current apartment (thus avoiding a big fine) to working out our visa issues to other events probably better detailed elsewhere, I can't explain well enough how GOOD He has been. You know sometimes how when you read the Book you feel convicted, sometimes inspired, and sometimes, well, it's just hard to know what He's saying? Lately it's been all words that seem to encourage to take heart, not fear, etc, etc. It makes me wonder what's coming around the corner! I know I shouldn't think like that but it makes me wonder what is in store. The good news is I don't have to have it figured out. Another thing I'm thankful for is that Grace so far is handling the transition MUCH better than I expected. She's never been one to easily embrace change. Last year moving from the US back to this country was rough. Now, at a year older, when we told her all her toys and her bed could move with her she was pretty pleased and generally at ease about the move. We've been talking for weeks about how exciting it will be to move to the 4th floor right after she turns 4! (Our new apartment is on the 4th floor, in case you hadn't guessed.) And she is anticipating going to preschool in the fall. (She doesn't quite understand she will have to use the local language all the time yet!) The only time Grace has really mentioned being sad recently was when she realized her friend Miss L was staying right here. I know there might be some rough adjustment days ahead but I also know He knows her little personality and her needs much more than I do. So if you think of it, you might remember us on the 16...late evening of the 15th US time. I can't wait to show you pictures of our new place and some of the new people in our lives!

riding and swimming

Soon I plan to post an update on the latest happenings in our family...to detail how God has provided above and beyond everything we've needed as we prepare to move in, oh my, less than 10 days. But for now I just wanted to post a few pictures, you know, for posterity. Encouraged that perhaps we should at least try to fit all 4 of us on Kevin's new scooter, we thought we'd give it a go. I felt so culturally, what's the word, "authentic." We thought we'd drive the bike next door to the bird and flower market...why not?! We gave it a good effort and had some laughs, but Kevin actually called it off because balancing all of us on there was difficult. It made for a fun memory, though. I think Grace was relieved. She likes riding with Daddy on the bike together, just the two of them. It's kind of their new thing. Now that she has a good helmet, she's feeling the need for speed. Sometimes they go riding just for fun after dinner. Trinity's face in this picture made me laugh...she looks slightly petrified.

Kevin has been working so hard lately and on Saturday we all enjoyed the fact he had a good, full day off. We went swimming for the first time this summer, and it was Trinity's first time in the big pool. I consider this her first legit swim since the whole baby-swim-fiasco last October doesn't really count! But perhaps she was having flashbacks because she clung to us the entire time she was in the pool. We couldn't even put her in her little floatie.

Lounging poolside with a box of raisins seemed to be more her style!

Back in the water = no more smiles for T-girl.

But my big girl was in heaven! Bless her heart she's been wanting to swim for so long. She started out with her floatie in the kiddie pool and gradually worked her way to hanging out with Daddy in the bigger pool. We love this pool! It is the cleanest one I've ever seen here. We hope to go at least once more before we move.

Catch you soon with further updates!

the new family car

If you ever happen to buy a motorcycle in East Asia, your experience might go something like this:

• Plan a time when your husband has the day off and make sure your helper is around for nap time so you can sneak out together for an hour or two, sans kiddos. I mean, it might even feel like a date!
• Go to the area of town where they sell lots of motorcycles. Since your husband has been shopping in 2 separate towns already, he will be fully knowledgeable of a good price to keep from getting ripped off.
• Seeing as how you live in a tropical climate, it might be hot as blazes when you get to the motorcycle shop. In that case, motorcycle dude might come up to talk with you wearing no shirt at all. Even though he really should be wearing one. Because here, during summer months, shirts are completely optional for men.
• Watch as your husband tries out a few motorcycles. Observe that since he is a foreigner with really long legs, he needs a tall enough bike which won't bump into said long legs while steering. While your husband tries out more bikes, listen to chatty, shirtless motorcycle dude make lots of observations about your home country although he's never actually been there.
• Be careful to note that you are looking for a lower-powered bike since local law says any motorbike over 48 cc's must have a licensed driver/registered tags. (Obtaining a license here = bothersome hassle). So, you observe that the bike you want to buy has a 48 cc engine sticker on it. But then, you notice that almost all of the bikes say they are 48 cc's. And listen to motorcycle dude freely share how they put these stickers on just about all the bikes, regardless of the engine inside, just to ensure you don't have to go and get a license. Because from the outside no one can tell the difference. Be reminded again how traffic laws here are often interpreted as suggestions.
• Once you haggle on a price, let the nice motorcycle folks finish preparing your bike to ride and mosey on next door to the outdoor stall that sells helmets and bike locks. Buy the best lock you can find to keep away thieves. But note that they only have the cheap kind of helmets that offer little more protection than a Tupperware bowl. So, go back to the bike shop and ask motorcycle dude where to find a good helmet. Listen to him explain that really you don't need a helmet, because the police probably won't pull you over for not wearing one (again, the rules thing) and that most helmets don't offer much protection anyway. Tell motorcycle dude you are actually interested in safety. He offers a suggestion on a place to buy a better helmet.
• Watch as the motorcycle people get your bike ready and then put the finishing touches on it, complete with red ribbon. Climb on the back before your husband drives away and look back to see 20 people gawking at the foreign couple on a bike.
• Enjoy the ride home with the wind in your hair. And, although you might have flashes of worry because your two children are sleeping at home and their parents are across town in heavy traffic on a motorcycle with no helmets and could be orphaned in an instant, you still enjoy the time on the bike and realize it's more fun than you thought it would be. And, be thankful that soon you are moving to a much, much smaller town with no heavy traffic.
• Come home and watch your almost 4 year old literally squeal with excitement that Daddy has bought his bike. Note that you've not seen her this excited since she first discovered Disneyland. Listen to her squeal "wheeeee" as Daddy takes her on a short (and SLOW) little ride. Resolve quickly that you will need to get her a kiddie helmet pronto so you can sleep at night.
• Decide that although many local families put 4 people on a motorcycle, you really don't see how you can manage that and still have a shred of your sanity left. But still, you consider it for a brief second because it's so doggone handy to have a set of wheels!

T-girl and my birthday boy

It's pretty tough to get pictures of a moving target, but every so often I follow Trinity around with the camera. My 14 month-old is truly in the "busy toddler" time of life. The bathroom seems to be her favorite place right now... actually, it's a toss-up between the bathroom or climbing on top of the coffee table. She's keeping me on my toes! She's imitating a few more words and is understanding lots of what we tell her in both English and Chinese. My helper plays with her often and I can tell she's been exposed to more of the local language. Her current favorite thing to do is go to the shoe closet and bring me her shoes so she can go outside! She loves to see dogs in our neighborhood, and now when I ask her if she's a puppy she will crawl on all floors and pant like a dog. And I think she's going to be our little comedian because she LOVES to make her big sister laugh. Trinity constantly has a bruise somewhere on her noggin' from a fall.

I still can't get enough of these cheeks.

I love how toddlers make their tongues do funny things when they jibber-jabber!

And...guess who turned 35 this past Saturday?! Kevin-babe, I guess when you are 35 you don't get big posts about all your developmental milestones and the things you've been up to lately :), but you know you mean the world to me!! I'm so proud of what a fabulous husband and father you are as well as how diligent you work!! Let's go get you that motorcycle soon!

Oh yes, I think we've lost our minds...a motorcycle. Well, a small moped-like motorcycle but gas-powered just the same. Here's to an accident-free, local-hospital-experience-avoiding year!!

rainy day play

Perhaps you can't tell just from looking... but this is a fashion show, a budding artist,

a float at a parade,

2 princesses with their wands,

a fashionista-in-the-making,

who, by the way, created this look on her own and was very proud,

a secret hiding place,

the beach,

and a mommy carrying her baby in a snuggli.

Glad I could clear that up for you.

because some days I still need to be reminded...

A few weeks ago a doctor confirmed a diagnosis which gave me a medical explanation for our infertility lo those many years. My first thought was, "this is absolutely crazy!" I mean, all those years of trying for a baby and seeing doctors and tests and I'm JUST NOW fully understanding what was/is happening with my wacky hormones while at a routine doctor visit? It's absolutely crazy, if you look at it from an earthly perspective. Truth is, I look back and am extremely grateful that at the time I didn't have a "diagnosis." In my heart of hearts, I think God knows I would have sunk into an even deeper pit than I was already in. Truth is God didn't have to answer my prayer for children but He did. Knowing how difficult it is for women with my diagnosis to get pregnant has made me stop again and praise Him for choosing to allow me on this motherhood journey. It also makes those extra drama-filled days that come with having wee ones a bit easier. Something our family likes to do after dinner sometimes is turn on music and dance in the living room. Even Trinity gets in on the action now with her little toddler moves. Last week I pulled out a cd I haven't listened to in over a year but it immediately took me back in time. (Does anyone else have music that does that for them?) When we lived in Ft. Worth, I drove all over town for my job, which gave me some great times for praise and worship on I-35! The Lord used many songs and scriptures to comfort during our "infertility days" but one in particular was Hillsong's "Blessed" cd. And so as my girls and I danced around our living room with Hillsong in the background I was reminded that I still need to choose thankfulness over annoyance when I hear "MOMM-MMYYYY!" for the 140th time in a day because there are many nights I wrestled with the Lord and asked Him for that very privilege. I am so completely blessed. Back in 2004, Kevin and I quickly bonded with a precious couple who also came to live on the East Side. I think one of the things that bonded us so quickly, besides the fact that they are just plain awesome, was our shared infertility journey. They rejoiced with so many others who had children while they prayerfully, beautifully, expectantly waited to become parents. And finally, last year they experienced the miracle of adoption! It has been one of the most beautiful journeys to parenthood I've ever seen. And not long ago they discovered they are expecting another child. JD2, from 0 to 2 kids in 13 months...can you believe it?! We are rejoicing with you! Ok, and since I always love a post with pictures, can I show you a few pictures of our girls taken in February? (I know, taken 2 months ago...I'm so on top of it!)

Easter weekend

Easter completely snuck up on me this year. I'm not too happy about it because I wanted my heart to be more prepared. Days and weeks all seem to run together over here at times like we're in a time warp. So when Nana and Pappaw came and brought Easter dresses for the girls I had to ask when Easter was on the calendar! But I'm thankful we had a great Easter weekend. On Thursday our fellowship had a Maundy Thursday service and we had the L. Supper together. I really liked doing (and needed) this to be reminded of the events leading up to His suffering. On Friday our family took a short trip to the countryside to begin apartment-hunting for our impending move this summer. Again, the time warp thing strikes! We are looking to move in about 2-3 months' time and I can't believe it's upon us so quickly. Our housing options in this new town are limited but we have a few leads on an apartment. (More on this later!) Saturday we indeed dyed some eggs. Grace was in heaven. Since last year's Easter, egg hunting has continued to be one of Grace's favorite things to do. As in, year-round we hide and hunt eggs from time to time. As we were approaching Easter this year we had some re-teaching to do. "Grace, do you remember why we celebrate Easter?" At first she said, "Because Jesus wants us to have egg hunts." and "because we need to celebrate his birthday!" But she eventually remembered it's because "Jesus is Alive!"

Trinity's role in the egg-dyeing process was to tickle Grace's feet. She is fascinated with toes. Oh, and by the way, my baby girl started walking this past week! She's slowly been taking more and more steps and tonight she worked her way across the room several times.

On Sunday morning Daddy was gone helping at an event while the girls and I headed to an Easter breakfast and service. Without Daddy around to help pose the girls, these were the best Sunday morning shots I could get. Nana, we loved the dresses!

Later that afternoon, our friends organized a big egg hunt for both foreign and neighborhood kids. They did a fabulous job! Here's Trinity with two of her favorite big girls. They are so very sweet to her!

The little ones lined up to wait their turn for the hunt...

The race is on! And in case you are wondering, yes, once again this year we had to keep other adults, particularly grandmas from pilfering the eggs before the kids could hunt for them. But I talked with one man and he was so pleased and bewildered to find an egg as he walked by that I just didn't have the heart to tell him to put it back. He kept saying, "really? This is a real egg?" He was completely confused because it was dyed green!

This kind "shu shu" (uncle) helped Grace and made sure she didn't miss any eggs!

Life is so simple when you are one. Trinity was content for about 10-15 minutes just to pick up this egg off the ground and then put it back again. Yes, she did this over and over for quite some time.

Hope you had a fabulous Easter! He is risen, indeed!