Just some processing!

Can I process with you for a moment?  I don't have any pictures, and probably won't do any fancy fonts or indenting, just have thoughts jumbled in my head that I think would do me good, and do more of His good in me, if I got them out.  For it's raw-ness, I apologize.  But I've wanted to be better about sharing more of the moment to moment, and not just the after-the-fact slideshow. 

Yesterday, Austin and I's morning routine was halted by the BBC headlines.  A home we had made and enjoyed (in many ways) was ravaged by 2 bombs on Monday.  We both sat stunned as we watched live footage down a street we had walked countless times; going to visit Lisle's; Austin and Ethan buying nan paying with a "credit stick;" walking to a tailor friend who made all our floor pillows and several shirts.  Never did I think "that's our street.  Is that our house?" would come out of my mouth while watching BBC.  Austin quickly emailed our old landlord/dear friend, to find out how they were.  All were fine and they planned to return to their home in a days time.  The next thoughts through my head were, "I'm glad we moved.  It could have been us; my kids."  And the thought that trailed that one was one of those sweet Father whispers "they are my kids and I watch over them."

Remember that paradigm blowing 2002 Summit retreat; Ethan B- something?  Wasn't that his name?  That safety is an illusion and our days are really the Lords.  The rest of the day it was like I had a podcast of his talk running through my head; with little scratches and blips missing.  

I remember Ethan's first day of Kindergarten (and numerous days afterwards).  9-4p.m. is so long for my little 5 year old to be under the instruction of someone else.  We've taught him to respect and obey the teaching of authority and it wasn't long before he came home with his mind full of ghost and witch stories.  Halloween, hadn't thought through that one.  We hadn't been around Halloween and here he was hearing all these stories from people we had taught him to respect.  "We don't believe in that, buddy.  Jesus is victorious over all that darkness."  Numerous nights of re-guiding and re-teaching.  They are His and He will guide them!

"Mary" asked again yesterday if Elli could come with her for the afternoon to her village to play and pick cherries.  Elli, my 3 year old (who thinks she's 12)?  Austin and I talked it over, weighting the risks and benefits.  One of our goals as a family is to grow in our love for our national friends.  An afternoon together, doing such fun things on a farm would foster that.  But this place isn't the most kid-friendly (in that nothing is "baby proofed").  We felt okay if Ethan went along too.  His local language is better; he's a lot more responsible and less distracted by his whims or emotions.  I didn't tell him he was in charge (as I don't want to foster too much of that) but knew he would watch out for Elli.  Mary said it would be an hour and a half trip.  I new better than that.  I prayed all afternoon.  Prayed over open water ditches; prayed for local transportation; prayed for squatty pottys.  You name it I (and my girl friends) covered it in prayer.  But I prayed too for great memories to happen for my kids, in language and with local friends.  My heart was relieved when they came home.  And He again whispered, as we listened to story after story at the dinner table, "they are mine, I will watch over them." 

Austin and I have been given a great gift and responsibility in parenting and guiding our 3 precious children.  As I do it, may my heart remember that regardless of the location or the circumstance, I am merely a steward of this precious gift and that He is ultimately trustworthy!

thanks for your patience

Friends, thanks for your patience and letting me know the pictures didn't load. I tried again and it worked for me.  Hope it works for you!

Thanks for caring and taking the time to look at them all.  We're getting excited here.  Elli packed her whole closet full of clothes this morning.  Mommy's not quite ready for that, so it all went back into the closet!  Soon enough!

The New House

Austin signed the contract with our landlord on the 20th!  We were hopeful of quickly getting the keys as there are some (not many) time consuming projects.  Mainly laying a concrete floor in the kitchen.  Saturday, thinking we were getting the keys, Austin and I met with the landlord and found out all the stuff that was there would be staying there in a room.  He was willing to put it all to the back and let us use what remained of the room, but I'll admit I was bummed to loose out on a whole room.  I'm hoping for some creative storing energy to "bippity-boppity-boo" make it all go away!  He promised keys in 2 days but we didn't get them until Saturday.  I week of a lot of waiting and fighting fear in my heart that they were going to back out.  I'm still fearful, as he's told us he doesn't want our rent money until we've lived in it several days and like it.  Oh, and he's asked us to move out for several weeks in the summers, when they need the house for weddings!  That one is still out for clarifying and negotiation.

So Saturday at 8 a.m. Austin got the keys.  After Elias' nap, we made a family 10 minute walk to the new house for a picnic lunch to show the kids the house for the first time and take some measurements.  I tried to organize the pictures so that you could "walk" through the house.  Keep in mind that homes here are squares with the courtyard in the center and all doors opening outside, much like a motel in the States.




The main projects before move in are

1. plumbing for a hot water heater for the kitchen/shower room.  
2. Ripping out the rotten floor (those holes are where Austin fell through when we looked through it with the landlord) in the kitchen and family room and installing a new floor.   
3. Cutting a door to connect the kitchen and family room; this will be especially key for an almost mobile infant when mommy spends a large % of the day in the kitchen. 

The list seems so much shorter than our last move.  But we are trying to guard our expectations.  Values in real estate are so different here; it is not always important for something to work.  It is of much greater value for it to look good.  So there may be surprises waiting for us.

You are always welcome!

The Ulitmate Up-grade!

Much like the Swiffer commercials, I've found a GREAT replacement for my local "vacuum" option!!! 

You'll notice my local broom sporting it's own Turkish Airways complementary sock to help prevent the "sweepers" fingers from being poked by the stray wires that bind the dry reeds together!

Our shipment finally arrived on the 13th.  It took our office staff in the capitol 2 days to get it out and then Austin drove over the mountains (again!) on Tuesday to retrieve it!  In the shipment came my vacuum and a high powered voltage converter (thank you Trevor for your recommendations!).  My life will never be the same.

Please don't misunderstand, local women wield amazing skill with that broom.  It is astounding what they can sweep out of a carpet filled home.  I've worked hard to master the same skill, but as I didn't start at the ripe age of 4 or 5, I'm at a grave disadvantage.  Yet there is only so much a reed broom can do. 

I anticipated filling my "easy empty dirt container" with random chunks that could not be swept.  I was hopeful to reduce the flea problem that can be prevalent in the spring time (though PRAISE Him we haven't had any fleas this spring).  I had no idea how much dust and sand would fill my container!

This is only after vacuuming our room, Elias' walk-in closet size nursery, and the entry hallway! Almost half full.

I guess you can say, this has far exceeded my expectations!  When your house is made of mud-bricks, apparently the amount of dirt is much greater!  It wasn't easy getting our shipment here, but believe me it was well worth it!!!

New growth sprouting!

That's right, our grass is growing!!!  And if you look closely, Elias is sporting a cute little fuzz top hair do!  Love it.  Still loves curing those toes too.

Fun with sister

Ethan has been sick (throwing up and lethargic) since Saturday.  Which means more concentrated time for just Elli and Elias to play together.  I sure love watching them love and laugh with each other.  I thought you'd get a kick out of it too!

Giggling Video

And don't worry, Ethan is on the mend! 

Editor's note: Sorry that I couldn't get the video to embed like I wanted it to.  But we are sharing an internet stick and are on a strict MB diet, so I couldn't play with it like I would like to.  You'll still get to watch it . . . and it's worth the extra click of a goose chase! :) 

A fun visit

Thursday our friend Mary brought her 2 ½ year old niece to our house to play with Elli while she worked.  Her mom is about to have another baby (like any day) and I’m sure she was glad for the morning break!  “Reagan” was very timid at first; not wanting to stray far from her aunt’s side. 

Still in her jammies, Elli wanted a head scarf just like her friend's. 

I was so proud of Elli’s persistent hospitality.  She offered her RC cola (which Reagan consumed 1 whole liter of).  Gradually Reagan felt more and more comfortable; first willing to wash tea cups in the same room as her aunt; then share a yummy Goldfish snack; warmed up to requesting ice cream from bazaar; and by lunch time she didn’t want to leave.  

 An amazingly culturally appropriate picture; straight faced, no smiles!

 Elli so excited to share Goldfish.  Thanks again Arkansas guys!!!

 Sharing some ice cream on the front step!

 3 year old girls are the same the world around; ice cream is ALWAYS a good idea!

 Elias and our dear friend Mary!

Our entire family loves her.  So glad to be back with her!

Such fun for my kids to have good play time with local friends.  Bummer that Reagan speaks a minority language, so it won’t do much for Ell’s language learning.  Though it is amazing how much playing can happen without language.