We have tickets

We've bought tickets to travel back to Kansas for the month of July!!!!  And I'm so excited.  All kinds of things run through my mind, though time with family where they can get to know my youngest two children is definitely high on the list.  It's crazy to even write that, 2 little, very significant people that so many don't know.  And then there are significant little people that I don't know.  Aliza was weeks old when we left.  Now she's two and full of so much life .  . . I can't wait to know her.  And then the much prayed for and anticipated little boy Sapp due to arrive in June . . . can't wait to know him.  And Michala's beau; I feel like I've missed a huge chapter in that story . . . I'm praying we get to know him.  There are other things I'm also looking forward to.  Dear friends I can't wait to see, hug and listen too in person.  Significant people time is one of the hardest losses in living so far away . . .

So we're super excited to have the opportunity to re-connect.   It will be full and packed days, but so worth it. 

So on a random side note, as you are unpacking your summer things and run across some clothes you don't need, we're hunting hand me downs.  Mainly for Elias (3T) and myself (I'd guess size 10-12; cortas don't come with sizes!).  I never wear western summer clothes here, so I'd hate to spend money on clothes that won't be worn again.  If you have some extras laying around, I'd be interested.

And, this is a HUGE long shot, if you know of someone with access to a spare vehicle, we're hunting.  We would need space for 6, 4 car seats (though I need to double check on Ethan).  If you know someone who leases cars reasonably, or has one sitting around unused that we could rent . . . we'd be much obliged.  And if you don't know of anyone, feel free to pray with us for the provision of such a thing!

But, all logistics set aside, I'm SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

Thoughts on Easter

Christmas and Advent have always been special to me.  Since I was little I've been quick to don the Christmas spirit and all it's anticipation.  This has become one of our family traditions; a way of watching and waiting for Christ's arrival together.

Last Easter honestly slipped by, as we celebrated it in the fog of a 2 week old baby, in a different country, pretty worn out on guest house living!

Hard to believe this 2 week old has grown so much!

Not that life's fog has passed.  In many ways the fog remains, it's just a different sort of fog; not so hormonally charged as those early postpartum days.  My heart was impressed upon to really take note of Easter this year.  To as a family, in these days leading up to Easter, together lean into Jesus and the message of the cross. 

 
So it's started with doing this devotional together. 

And as I was stringing the photos, to hang on our tree, I began to wonder "What will our Auntie think?"  She is in our home everyday; interacts closer with us than many.  I've already experienced the disapproval as the 3 bearded 5x/daily praying men printed the pictures off at the post office.  The very graphic photos flashed up on their screen and there was no denying who it was, or what I believe.  They had printed them, but very be-grudgingly.  And now they'll hang in our kitchen until Easter.  And Auntie will likely be offended. 

The reality dawns on me: the essence of Easter is offensive.  You can't celebrate Christ crucified and risen without acknowledging your own sin that put him there! 

Re-read some of Noel Piper's "Treasuring God in our Traditions" and my heart musings were confirmed: "Although Easter is the highest celebration of the Christian year, it doesn't have the fascination and thrill that surrounds Christmas.  There's a reason: The death of Jesus was a very somber and tragic event, and we had a part in causing it . . . Easter's Resurrection could happen only after the Crucifixion, and the cross is like a crossroads in our lives.  Every one of us must stand at that crux, that point requiring resolution, and must choose which way to go (pg. 92)."

Last week I hurt a friend.  The majority of the offense wasn't intentional.  But the truth is I'm selfish and often think first of myself.  I can choose to do what I know, what is comfortable and fail to see the needs, gifts and input of those He has placed around me.  I am awakened anew to the reality of my desperate need of the Cross.  The sting is real.  My sinful man is offended. My renewed self is grieved by the impacts of my sinfulness.  But in the same, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the Cross.   

I'm working to memorize the Sermon on the Mount and as I chew on it, I am reading an excerpt from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship."  The salt and the light . . . we don't choose to be salt or light.  We don't have salt, don't become light.  We are the salt of the earth, whether we like it or not.  For we have been made salt by the call we have received as followers of Jesus.  In the light of the cross, the visibility of God's great redemption of all mankind, the good works He has created in us are seen.  All these good works are a bearing of the cross of Jesus Christ.  "Jesus does not say that men will see God; they will see the good works and glorify God for them.  The cross and the works of the cross, all the blessed in the beatitudes, these are the things which will become visible . . . It is by seeing the cross and the community beneath it that men come to believe in God.  But that is the light of the Resurrection."

And now on the ipod we have an Easter playlist; seeking to keep the fullness of the Gospel and God's redeeming work on the Cross current in our hearts and minds :

   "Christ is Risen" Jeremy Riddle

"By His Wounds" Glory Revealed

"Hallelujah, What a Savior" Shelly Moore Band

"Oh the Deep, Deep Love" Soverign Grace Ministries

Elias' favorite "Nothing But the Blood" Passion

"I am Redeemer" Jeremy Riddle

among others are playing constant filling the kitchen, my heart and mind with thoughts centered on His saving work for me; for those dearest to me; for those I live among.

You'd think we were in Kansas

I've heard it said that if you don't like the weather in Kansas, wait an hour because it will change.  We've had quite the flip on weather lately. 

It's hard to believe that this was just a couple of days ago.  Weather warm enough for a picnic, American style (where you sit on the blanket).  

You know you are a sister with 3 brothers, when you're picnic is delivered in a dump truck!  She really is a trooper.  And it is amazing what those brothers will do for her. :)

And this is the same yard, after 2 days of snow.  International Women's day came and went without many visits outside this yard.  Though, the Electric department did restore the city's power as a Women's Day gift.  So we've had snow, but having power 24hrs/day really does a lot to help keep a house warm.  

We've made 2 batches of snow ice cream and Ethan's got quite a fort going.  The other 3 have awful respiratory stuff going on, so they haven't been playing in the snow much. 

Trees had begun to bud, some were in full bloom, before the snow hit.  We'll see how that affects fruit trees and the wheat crop; all pretty crucial elements to life around here.

Happy 5th Birthday Elli

It's amazing how fast 5 years can fly!  Our little Ellianna Grace just turned 5!  This is the short version of the birthday, and birthday prep.  I hope to make time to write a longer version too . . . but I wanted to get pictures loaded.

Our family tradition is the birthday person gets to pick their menu.  Elli wanted cinnamon rolls with pudding (frosting) for breakfast along with a marshmallow in her hot chocolate.  For lunch, she couldn't decide between peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or pooroshkies (fried, potato filled bread).  And for dinner, she wanted the local traditional dish Osh Pilau.  She has lived in Central Asia most of her life, it's crazy to see how that shows up even in her menu selection. 

Elli with her birthday banner.  The name didn't work out so well.  I failed to get pictures of the banner hanging throughout the room

Sporting her new Kaleen hat.  She was gifted multi-cultural dress up accessories.

Elias admiring Elli's birthday skates (that she's been requesting for years).  He started out in his pajamas, but for some reason decided disrobing was necessary for true streamline skating!

Elli in her new dress up dress.  Just in time for her birthday princess tea party.

One of 7 adult women guests who dropped in for a birthday lunch

The princess tea party guests

Elli and Auntie, who made the pooroshkies and osh happen!

First look at the Belle cake

 

The Sassiest Belle cake I've ever seen!  You gotta work with what you've got, and this is the doll we could find.

  

Elli got a birthday card with 5 local currency (the equivalent of about a $1.)  She, excitedly glanced up and said "Thanks Ezra" accompanied with a wink.  This girl loves winking and seems to do it as an appropriate form of punctuation.  Ezra happens to be 5 years older than her and Ethan's best bud.  The entire room broke out laughing.  

 And Ezra started blushing!

It was a great day.  Way more than we anticipated or planned for, but lots of fun.  With 3 brothers, you have to seize the opportunity to celebrate the princess.  And I think the day was officially seized.

Hopefully more musings to come.  Until then, with all the expression Elli makes, in looking through the pictures, you may just feel like you were there!

A window to our world!

Some pictures of life around our home this past week.  Resolution isn't great, cause I've just been grabbing the shots with the iphone.  But I'm so glad to catch them, however I can!

 

 Zeke fully enjoying his cappuccino muffins; chocolate chips and all.  What I didn't catch was his older brother spitting out the chocolate chips.  Halfway through breakfast I noticed he had a pile of chocolate chips by his plate.  "Elias, what are you doing?"  "Rocks, Mommy, in my muppins." 

 

Elli playing "Strawberry Shortcake" with her set (complete with lots of little things) up at the table away from little brothers.  When Elmo and Cookie Monster (Lego guys, how great is that) show up to visit the ice cream parlor.  Elli's response "Can't you go play with Elmo in your own little world?"

 Zeke enjoying a ride in the "pram" we inherited from a British family when we moved here in 2009.  We also inherited an assortment of Usborne books featuring the Bunn family (must be read with full British accent.)  I love the pram ride, where you get full view of said "chubby calves."  On warmer days, we don't wear long socks and the "kankles" get to breathe a little.

 Another fun warm day activity; Playing bazaar.  Elli is selling potatoes and carrots to her brother.  I love that she wanted the extra bag to use as a makeshift glove, just like some sellers do (usually those selling cookies by the kilo).  I bought her last potatoes and proceeded to use them for our lunch.  It brought on quite an emotional response.  So much so, Ethan rescued her by escorting her down the road to buy 2 more kilo of potatoes to re-stash her stall!

This is the treat and book box that we created so the kids can eat their snacks and read books in their "Tree house."  The plan is only for the older two to enjoy this privilege.

However, you notice Elias feels quite brave and wants to join in on the fun!  The ladder is only set up with supervision!  As the tree house is quite high!

 Some moms believe lids should stay on markers.  Apparently I believe that stifles one's creativity. :)  Or I'm just not as with it as other moms.  Why not sort them by color and line all the lids up!

 

 All his own idea and he was pretty proud of it!

Elli had her first peer sleepover.  The big girl, not fully pictured, is the 13 year old friend who came to help during the night, as the girls sleep in the warm room across the yard.  Elli, and friends, had a blast.  Austin, however, was in shock most of the time.  His response "I feel like I'm living an episode of Downton Abby, we've had tea time and there is plenty of drama."  Daddy to 3 sons, not so used to all the girl drama!" 

We are never in shortage of laughable moments at our house!

Popcorn

If you've been around our family any time at all, you know that Friday night is family fun night.  And it is anticipated from about Wednesday on!  And on family fun night we do popcorn and apples (or a more flavorful fruit in season, but most often apples).  We get to watch a movie.  Our family favorites are The Cosby Show and Little House on the Prairie.  If we get baths and dinner done with enough time, we live on the edge and squeeze in both before bed. :)  (Just some insight into our family excitement!)

On a very far tangent, here's a video of Elli "reading" her first book.  I think she had it memorized before she started to "read" a word, but she is eager and is catching on.  Both the action on screen and the rustling in the background should give you a small idea of what school time is like at our house; full of life.  Most of the time all four kiddos are in the small proximity for learning, feeding, playing, or diaper changing.  Sometimes for all of it.  I digress with more family insights . . . on to the video:

The news anchors of tomorrow!

My kids have too much fun with the iphone we inherited from Aunt Jenni.  I thought you'd get a kick out of their own documentation, all on their own thinking!

Ethan started it off:



Then Elli's turn:


And this is a rap that Ethan has made up in the local language!  Translation "1, 2, 3, 4.  Do not fear, we are ready!"  Only one of the numerous fruits of attending local school!