thoughts from the first two weeks

I keep meaning to download pictures off my camera and get some blog posts going, but by the time I sit down at night lately all I want to do is sleep! So until I get around to downloading pictures, I'll write a little bit of what I've discovered over the past two weeks.

• Our move went more smoothly than we could have even asked! And ironically, I like this apartment better than any I've lived in before. Go figure. Sure, this apartment has some of the funny plumbing and electrical quirks that are standard for living anywhere in this country, but overall we are really enjoying our new place.
• By day two of living here, I had a long conversation with a local friend that reminded me why we moved here in the first place. In regards to our relationships with local friends, the benefits of living here are going to be amazing.
• It is a funny experience to have local friends in your home who have never, ever in their life eaten western food. A few nights ago we had 3 ladies join us for spaghetti. I figured spaghetti, garlic bread, broccoli and fruit wouldn't rock the boat TOO much. Two of the three ladies enjoyed everything but one girl didn't like the spaghetti sauce. (Kevin laughed at the funny faces she was making and said it's a little bit of payback for all the times he's had to throw down some weird food here!) They examined all of my silverware (something we brought from the States) and couldn't believe how well-made it was. Even my apple-corer was a source of great conversation. They were thinking up new business strategies how they could make apple corers and sell them here!
• I was totally, utterly, completely spoiled in the big city by having a helper. It looks like my days of living the high-life have come to a close until I can find another helper here that I trust. The "that I trust" part is the kicker. Actually we've been asking around but have been told it will be difficult to find a helper here. My body might be 33 but most nights I feel somewhere around 73, or maybe 83. I don't know. Between going to the market/store almost daily, walking more in the heat, cooking everything from scratch, daily sweeping/mopping my new nemesis (aka the all-white flooring in my apartment), and taking my kids out to play each night I am using muscles I haven't used in a while. At night I'm tired but it's a good tired!
• My girls are transitioning so well, PTL! Grace is overall really excited to be here. One thing I've prayed specifically for is at least one or two good friends for her. There is a sweet girl two days younger than Grace who lives in our apartment complex. She and Grace have already been swimming together and last night Grace went to her birthday party to celebrate this girl's birthday on the lunar calendar!
• Another pleasant surprise is that the local knock-off version of KFC is actually pretty good. There is one place in town where we can go get our fast-food fix. I just can't look at the floor too closely. When we went last week to eat, I walked to the sink to help wash Trinity's hands and a boy (probably around 6 years old) came and peed on the floor right beside us. Not even into a drain, just right on the floor. Some of it sprayed onto my foot. I know I've been in this country long enough because I didn't hesitate to tell him he really should have gone into the toilet, which was a mere 10 feet away. He just looked at me, finished his business, and walked back to his table.
• My family consumes much more cheese in a week than I realized. We have to store it up from the big city and were (GASP) running low but had wonderful friends save the day by sending some cheese, butter, and other supplies down to us. Lesson learned: always buy more cheese than what I think I will need.
• The big preschool-hunt has begun. This is worthy of a blog-post in itself. Grace is SOO ready to go to preschool. I'm ready for her to go. This will be trial and error. I am torn between taking her to what everyone calls one of the "better" preschools which will likely have almost 50 students in a classroom versus a smaller one that everyone says is not as good but would have 25 or so students in a class. More on that and pictures to come later...

Thank you for lifting up our move!

Grace's 4th birthday

Grace enjoys a party as much as anyone I know. She loves to celebrate other people's birthdays, both young and old alike. And she's pretty much anticipated her 4th birthday party since, well, June 13 of last year. Thankfully it worked out to celebrate with her friends here in the big city before we move. We have some pretty wonderful people in our lives here and they made her day special. Thank you, friends, for loving on our girl! Being the girly-girl that she is, this year Grace wanted a princess party. After last year's Dora cake-falling fiasco I decided I needed to do some research to avoid a repeat. So I saw online that doing a castle cake was the easiest way to go. Candy and ice cream cones as decorations? That's about my speed. I wasn't really concerned about it looking professional, I just wanted Grace to like it. But I made the mistake of telling Grace she would have a castle cake, because then I heard her say things like, "Mommy my cake is going to be sooo cute!" Umm, no pressure at all there. But thankfully she liked it. I don't see professional cake decorating in my near future, but it was fun to do nonetheless. Here we are before the party trying to straighten up the castle a bit and working on fixing the crooked flags! (Can you tell from my empty walls we are moving soon!?)

Boy, do I love these 3 people...

Cousin Macy was our first little guest to arrive! She recently had her first birthday! We love you, baby girl!!

The first game played was "pass the teapot."

Then we had a little fun with "Kiss the frog."

Blowing out the candles... Today we learned Grace was under the impression she automatically turned a year older when everyone sang to her and she blew out her candles. And then, at the end of her party, she thought her birthday was over. No wonder she places such a high value on the actual birthday party!

Sister played a little peek-a-boo with the kids at the party.

checking out the party favors...

Grace was so excited to have new jammies and jewelry that she changed into both before the party was over and napped in them that afternoon.

Grace, what a wonderful year this has been for you. I can't believe how much you have grown and changed and learned, especially in the last few months. One of my favorite things about you is your imagination. You are ALWAYS pretending and role-playing. This year you've taken on a hundred and one names. Some days you decide your name is Fern, some days you are Uniqua, some days you pretend to be one of your big-girl cousins or your buddy Hannah. But more and more lately you've been Grace. It's been fun to pretend with you this year, and you've taught me how fun imagining can be. You love to read together and recently you began sounding out words. While we've been packing up our apartment, you've surprised us by reading some of the labeled boxes on your own. You love to "do preschool" with Mommy and you certainly want to go to school "for real" you say. Daddy and I are praying you can enjoy going to local preschool this year. Despite the fact you will be the "different" kid, we pray you can thrive and make friends and learn to speak the local language.

Yesterday evening after your birthday party we went out to eat and let you wear your princess dress. People were smiling at you, and you asked me why they were laughing. I told you they weren't laughing at you but maybe that thought you looked like a real princess. You immediately told me, "Mommy, I'm God's little princess. I love God every time. Not just some of the time but all the times." Oh baby girl how I pray this will be true your whole life. I pray you won't grow up to be a princess who feels entitled to all that life has to offer but that you will first and foremost be proud to be a daughter of the Most High King. I love you so much.

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.