Where I've Been

 Whew, where did April go? It's May, my big Two-O birthday is coming up and summer is coming on full-blast!

Since April has flown past without a chance for me to write, let's take a moment to revisit.

1) April was sprinkled with my younger  brother's (can't call him my "little" brother any more) baseball games. Micah has been playing in a homeschool league for the past three years. I always enjoy watching him play.

2) I teach piano to three students and had a co-recital in April with my good friend, Bethany. My students made me so proud!

Bethany and I

My students and I

3) My sister, brother-in-law and three nieces moved here for a little while. My days have been richly filled with colored picture-gifts, searches for shoes, hair-ties, hugs and kisses, no-no's, walks outside and tickling fights. :)

The Birthday girl

The Almost-Five-Year-Old

The Baby

3) My big brother was ordained to go on the mission field with his wife, Sarah!! On the spur of the moment, Caleb and I re-learned The Lord's Prayer in three days and played a violin-piano duet at his ordination service. That was crazy fun!

4) Last but not least, at the end of April/beginning of May my family traveled down to Florida to see Micah in the Homeschool World Series. It was great to see him play and wonderful to have a mini-vacation. This was my first trip to FL and I enjoyed it immensely!

Marvelous sunset

My first view of the Gulf!

Stunning ocean-life

April was full of fast-paced fun but now I'm looking forward to some slow summer May days. :)

What did you do this past April?

Valentine's Day 2012

Valentine's Day is a special occasion for my family. Though not as big as Christmas or Resurrection Sunday we still have a few traditions we keep. 

I think I added a new one tonight. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Instead...

There is a struggle of emotions that goes on in me when I look ahead to Thanksgiving. I am naturally pessimistic, not that I necessarily look for bad things to happen - though I certainly try to be prepared for them - but more often than not I see the bad rather than the good in my life. It is a terrible habit but, there it is.

Right now I am tempted to look at my dad's unemployment struggle instead of seeing how God has faithfully taken care of us through it all.

 I want to feel sorry for myself when I see how my family is spread out across the whole world, instead of thanking God for how close our hearts still are.

I want to mourn the loss of my grandparents instead of shouting for joy at the knowledge that they are in heaven!

But God has been cultivating a spirit of thankfulness instead of fear in me this year. He has opened my eyes to see His overwhelming goodness and faithful love. I am forever grateful. Or at least I should be!

This year -
~ I have been surrounded by people who love me.
~ I have regained my health.
~ I have spent time with my entire family, together.
~ My grandfather has come through two dangerous operations.
~ I made two amazing trips to Russia.
~ I have learned that money and health insurance do not take care of us. God does.
~ I have discovered what a great blessing it is to be so intimately connected with my siblings' ministries.
~ I have cried and struggled through many difficult things and been carried through it all by the Everlasting Arms.
~ God has allowed me to have a positive impact in childrens' lives.
~ God has taught me what true humility looks like.
~ I have been overwhelmed by Jesus' vast love for me!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

This week I am grateful for: My Mom :)

My mom is my very best friend. (Seriously!)

The only person in the world I feel free to tell absolutely anything to.

Things I love about my Mother:

She always thinks of others first.

She loves taking care of people.

She gives me hugs.

She likes to be with me.

She listens to me.

She is wise.

She knows and understands me better than anyone else on earth.

She loves Jesus.

She is patient.

She is always kind.

She is hardworking.

She is fun!

Who can find a virtuous wife?

      For her worth is far above rubies.        The heart of her husband safely trusts her;       So he will have no lack of gain.         She does him good and not evil       All the days of her life.         She seeks wool and flax,       And willingly works with her hands.         She is like the merchant ships,       She brings her food from afar.         She also rises while it is yet night,       And provides food for her household,       And a portion for her maidservants.         She considers a field and buys it;       From her profits she plants a vineyard.         She girds herself with strength,       And strengthens her arms.         She perceives that her merchandise is good,       And her lamp does not go out by night.        She stretches out her hands to the distaff,       And her hand holds the spindle.         She extends her hand to the poor,       Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.         She is not afraid of snow for her household,       For all her household is clothed with scarlet.         She makes tapestry for herself;       Her clothing is fine linen and purple.         Her husband is known in the gates,       When he sits among the elders of the land.         She makes linen garments and sells them,       And supplies sashes for the merchants.         Strength and honor are her clothing;       She shall rejoice in time to come.         She opens her mouth with wisdom,       And on her tongue is the law of kindness.         She watches over the ways of her household,       And does not eat the bread of idleness.         Her children rise up and call her blessed;       Her husband also, and he praises her:        “ Many daughters have done well,       But you excel them all.”         Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,       But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.        Give her of the fruit of her hands,       And let her own works praise her in the gates.

(Well, Blogger is acting a little strange. I tried to get the Scripture passage above to be centered and it came out like this! But ya know, I kind of like it! :D )

Things that Make Me Smile

Surprises (good ones!)

Real mail

Laimon Fresh (Long story...)

Baptisms

Megamind

Listening to Nickel Creek (although sometimes it makes me cry too.)

A phone call from my big brother.

A comment on my blog. (hint, hint)

Spending time with my oldest sister (a rare treat)

Memories of my grandmother. (sometimes that makes me cry too..)

My brother's saaad jokes. *smile* (<-- see? I told you so.)

My nieces' antics and funny sayings.

Hugging my 93-year-old grandfather.

Wearing my favorite dress.

Cozy days.

Sunshine (It makes everything beautiful!)

Southern courtesy (a.k.a. chatting with a complete stranger just because you're in the same line.)

Weddings

Happy Endings

And much more! I expect you’re yawning right about now though so I’ll cut it short. 

Sisters

This week I am grateful for: My sisters

They make me laugh.

They make me feel special just to be related to them.

They've seen more good and bad in me than anyone else

and they still like me.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.  ~Marion C. Garretty

Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize.  Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks.  Borrow.  Break.  Monopolize the bathroom.  Are always underfoot.  But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there.  Defending you against all comers.  ~Pam Brown

Sister to sister we will always be,

A couple of nuts off the family tree.

~Author Unknown

*Smile*

Many Things

This week I am thankful for - a lot of things!

To still have my 93-year-old grandfather with me.

 (He had a serious operation this week but came through wonderfully!)

For joy! 

(I have been so full of peace and joy these past few weeks and I don't take a minute of it for granted.)

For the beautiful weather we've been enjoying lately.

(The blue sky overhead, the sweet-smelling grass underfoot, a quiet breeze, and a wonderful swing to take it all in on.)

For the most amazing friends ever!

(I've been able to see a lot of my friends lately and I am so thankful to have such good ones!)

For a purpose and a hope.

(I believe I am finally completely content where I am. It also helps that some new ministry opportunities are opening up for me. I am so excited to start working in a children's club soon, as well as the start-up of AWANA this year.)

Saying Goodbye

Today, my last day in Moscow, is drawing to a close. Tomorrow I will drag my tubs and bags to the airport, answer lots of questions, check my bags, grab my ticket, say my goodbyes and walk through the barrier.

Tonight I'm babysitting for a few hours. I've made American mac-and-cheese, spread peanut butter on bananas and fed my three nieces. We played the quiet game while we ate and talked about the movies we watched today, namely, "Tangled" and "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".

After dinner I sit down on the couch to work on a blog post about my recent visit to a mosque, but it's not right. I can't find the right words to express the subtle, gentle, but deep way it affected me.

The older two girls bug me to "do something fun", a tradition I created for when I babysit them. It usually consists of a special game or craft or movie. I reluctantly leave my "work" to search for a new craft online.

The baby needs more food.

I check my email.

The girls are loving on me, climbing and tugging. It's sweet but not practical with a computer in my lap. I grumpily brush them aside, find a craft and give them the materials and instructions, relieved to finally have some peace.

After a brief interlude my middle niece climbs up beside me to ask questions again...I only half-listen to her, giving her brisk answers.

Finally I catch myself....this is my last night with them! Is this the parting memory I want to leave, a distracted, grumpy aunt? I look down at the small face cuddled up against my arm.

"Am I grumpy?"
"Yes," she answers decidedly.
"What does grumpy mean?" the oldest one asks.

What is making me so grumpy tonight?

I put the computer aside determinedly and grab Kaela, then Abbie for a spin. Their delighted laughter lifts my spirit. I plop back down and just watch. I watch the girls leap around the room playing with the space ship I made them out of a toilet paper roll, construction paper and a few Werther's wrappers. They speak in their high-pitched play voices, happy as queens...or maybe happier.

I watch the baby maneuver around her sisters' antics, babbling to herself, experimenting with new sounds. She is learning so much, so fast, changing every day. I retrieve a stray marker top from her possession. I chuckle a little at her angry cry and pick her up to cuddle. Her indignation is short-lived; she gleefully pulls away from my embrace to climb on the couch, practicing sitting down and standing up, chattering happily all the time to me. I wonder what she is telling me all about.

All of this sends shards of pain through my heart. I will miss them so much!

And not only them...I realize I've gradually come to love it here.

I love:
~Studying the people on the metro and praying for them
~Practicing my (extremely) limited Russian.
~Understanding the culture/Knowing how things work here.
~ Eating hatshepurri!! (A Central Asian bread with cheese and egg topping. Very oily and cheesy and soft and soooo yummy! btw, I have no idea if I'm spelling it right.)
~All the fresh, soft, yummy bread!!!
~Hanging out with my awesome big sister!
~Watching my nieces grow up.
~Being with the people I've met and grown to love here.
~The different perspective on life I get here from seeing people begging, people working so hard to please a God they barely know and living in fear of Him all their lives, people who haven't bathed in so long you can't stand within ten feet of them, people trapped in a religion they were born into.
~The new level of dependency on God.
~The way I can take a step back from myself and my own problems here.
~Knowing that I am serving God in a practical way in everything I do here. How useful and productive I feel.
~The way I can enjoy the simplest things here like: a yummy meal, Coca-Cola, any and all outings, laughing with my nieces, chatting with people from home, making my little sister laugh at my craziness, reading a book.


I've learned that your home is not confined to a place, even a country.This place has become part of my home.

So tomorrow, as I walk through the gate that will separate me from this new piece of my home I will more than likely be fighting tears for all I am worth, but in the end I can be nothing but grateful. I have made such rich and precious memories. I have met such wonderful people. I have experienced things others only dream of. But most of all, I have been changed.

I only hope and pray that these fresh and still-delicate impressions will not be forgotten or erased with the pressures in America. I pray that I will keep the things I have learned here, treasuring them and pondering them in my heart. That God will keep my heart tender towards Him and towards the people here..and everywhere!

(Note: You made it all the way to the end! Hoorah! Thanks for putting up with the long, rambling post...I wrote it late at night in a very sentimental mood...something I try never to do but it happened and I've decided to keep this one no matter how choppy and unpleasant it may be to read. It expresses some true feelings that I don't want to forget. So...three cheers for you faithful reader!! Thank you for your perseverance!)

Graters and Gratefulness

Have you ever swallowed a cheese grater? No? Well, if you had you'd know exactly how my throat felt on  Friday.

Friday morning I crawled out of bed with a throat sore enough to rival the the my tonsillitis throat's record. I tried everything I'd ever heard of to find relief that day, warm tea with honey, plain honey, gargling vinegar-water, throat drops...the whole shebang. The only thing that helped  to any degree was two Tylenol, but still, tears came to my eyes and I tensed all over with the pain of swallowing anything.

I was mildly upset with God for throwing such a wrench in my plans. I felt even worse when I heard of the plans the others had made to pass out fliers at a mosque and eat out for dinner - plans I would have to miss out on to nurse my throat. I even wondered (somewhat bitterly) if these germs had slipped past when God wasn't looking (can we say drama queen?). But in the back of my head, or deep in my heart, or wherever, I knew God that must have some reason for letting this happen to me. So, not having much else to do or being too miserable to do it, I started trying to sort out what it might be.

I suddenly realized that it had never occurred to me to thank God for a healthy throat before. Then I began thinking about all the blessings I take for granted (sometimes even while complaining to God for not blessing me in other ways!). And not just the "common" things like life, clothes, food shelter but extra-special things like: 
~a homey house with a large yard,
~amazing friends,
~a beautiful town,
~spending money,
~a quiet neighborhood,
~music,
~parents who understand me,
~brothers and sisters who like me,
~a church that cares about me individually
.
...I began to see my life in a different light and I saw all the things I could and should be overwhelmed by gratefulness for....I was disgusted with myself but I still wasn't all that grateful...

I still haven't gotten to the point of being overwhelmed but, while I think gratefulness is actually a gift from God, I do think it also comes partly from discipline. So, as an exercise I have decided to pledge to post once a week with at least one thing I am truly grateful for. This post will take place on Fridays so check back on me!

Another way you can help me is to be praying for me, that this lesson will not slide off with time but will become etched on my heart and transform me and that God would take this weakness of mine to show off His own strength.

"Praise to the Lord
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth
Shelters the under His wings
Yea, so gently sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen, how thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?"

Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing... a grateful heart!         

~George Herbert 

Surprise!

Well, it's been a while since I've posted. Sometimes I have a hard time finding something to write about and sometimes when I find a subject I can't find the right words to express it. But then, that's what this blog is for isn't it? Practice, practice practice! :)

I have big news for you in this post! I am writing it from Russia!!!! I don't know if I mentioned before that I have a sister in Russia or that I have made three previous trips to visit her and her family, but I do and I have. :)

I can't remember when exactly, but a week or two ago I was suddenly taken with an overwhelming desire to go back to Russia. It might have had something to do with my fast-growing 9-month-old niece, or it might have been the restless feeling I've been struggling with lately or it could have been both plus a few other things! At any rate, that's what happened. I almost couldn't stand the thought that I had a Russian visa that was still valid (last year my sister and brother-in-law bought me a year-long visa) but no way to get there.

On previous trips I was able to fly to Moscow for free. My dad retired from an airline so, until I turned 19, I could fly anywhere for free. But my free flights expired a few months ago...or so I thought. Last Wednesday we found out I can still fly for free, but only for a few more weeks.

My previous trips were planned well before-hand; I had plenty of time to pack and prepare myself for spending time in a strange country. This time was different....

Long story short, the only flight I could take was on Friday. I found that out on Thursday so I had one day to shop for my sister's list of items she can't get in Russia and pack my suitcase! It was crazy but somehow I made it and found myself in Moscow on Saturday morning.

(more to follow)

Mini Family Get-Together

I'm back!! I had the most amazing weekend full of family and fun!

Sometimes they drive me nuts, but I love my family to death. :)

We arrived Friday night and were able to see my aunt, uncle and cousin. I hadn't seen them in two years so it was great to catch up again!

Saturday afternoon we went and saw an old settlement.

Lady in an old costume talking on the phone. :)

The Baker

The Bakery

 Saturday evening we went to a park where we cooked-out and played frisbee-golf!

 Usually frisbee-golf is a pretty mild game...not this one! I got hit with a frisbee three times! Once in the wrist, once in the HEAD and once on my arm. 

Those frisbees hurt too! They're not those light ones you use for ultimate frisbee, these are heavy, compact ones made to go a long ways. 

And THIS is what they do to you.

Sunday morning was church. After church we had a big lunch in the activity building, hung around playing games and finally headed back to our hotel for a short swim before the evening service.

The evening service was completely dedicated to commissioning my brother and his wife. In a few weeks they will be headed to Africa. That night was really hard for me. I love my brother and his wife. They've been living with us for a few months now and I've really enjoyed having them around so much. It's going to be tough when they leave.

After church there was a big reception with food and soft drinks and cake. I sat around a table with my siblings, cousin and two of my brother's friends. We told stories and laughed the whole time. It was great! I love to laugh. :)

After the reception most of our little family group went back to our hotel and payed MadGab. More laughter. :)

Monday after lunch we came back home. It was sad to leave. Every time we go up to NC I leave a little more of my heart there. Still, it's good to be home again.

Update

Sorry about the smattering of posts lately...May has been the absolute busiest month of the year so far. In the last month or so we

1) painted our kitchen cabinets (I told you about that)

2) my oldest sister and her family came for a good, long visit 

3) we had the last AWANA night at our church for the year

4) we went camping with my whole family down near Savannah (that's      15 people in case you were wondering)

5) I took the SAT (finally)

6) we had three guests in the house (along with the 8 other people living in the house)

7) we packed my brother and SIL's container for their move to Africa, 

8) three of my friends graduated, 

9) one friend got married (Hurray!)

10) oh, and I had a birthday. :D 

(That's only the big stuff by the way!)

So, now maybe you understand why I haven't been around much lately! Life still is busy, (when is it not?), but it has slowed a bit, enough for us to catch our breath, take a small break and fold the laundry! (Just kidding.) Here are some picture-memories from this last month:

Feels like The Waltons!

My niece by the lake

Camping!

The salt marsh by our campground. The vastness of it awed me, especially when I remembered that God's love for me is even bigger!!

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 Just as a father has compassion on his children,

So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

 For He Himself knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are but dust.

 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,

And its place acknowledges it no longer.

But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

To those who keep His covenant

And remember His precepts to do them.

Psalm 103:11-18

Family

Bed or pillow? Which is more important to you? Would you rather sleep with a pillow on the floor or on a bed with no pillow? I guess that seems like a pretty random question to you...until I explain my reasons for asking.

Last night I shared my room with two of my three nieces; one is 6 months, the other is three years. The 6-month-old wasn't a problem...unless you consider waking up at 4:30 wanting a bottle and playtime a problem. I didn't consider that too much of a problem because my mother and sister were both willing to take care of it for me. THE problem came when my three-almost-four-year-old niece wanted MY bed...AND my pillow!!! 

Now I love this niece to death. Just not enough to give up my sleep number bed AND my memory foam pillow. So I gave her a choice, "You can have my bed or my pillow but not both." Unfortunately this three-year-old answers the question I opened this post with the same way I would, "Uh, you can have the pillow; I'll take the bed."

*sigh* 

How come I have to be so nice? Any other person would probably have kicked this adorable girl right out of their bed and made her sleep on the bed made of old comforters. But then....Any Other Person is not this same adorable little girl's "best friend".

*smile*

OH! The real reason for this post is to say how incredibly awesome Moms are! It has been brought home to me, as I've been helping babysit my three nieces this week that, while being a Mom is amazing and fully rewarding, it is also a tough job and takes an incredible amount of energy and stamina. My nieces are soooo sweet (just this morning the oldest one came and woke me up specifically let me know there were donuts downstairs.), but keeping up with their questions and energy is quite a task! I can't imagine doing it 24/7 for years on end!

So, to all y'all Moms: thumbs up! Thank you and keep up the good work (because work it is, work worth doing!)

The other real reason I was posting was to show you our second painting project! Four of my siblings and I painted the kitchen cabinets for Mother's Day! My mom was gone for the weekend so we surprised her.

Sorry, I don't have a "before" picture...we are bad about that. But before our cabinets were stained a dark brown. Not entirely bad, but since our kitchen has no windows anymore it gets really dark. Also the cabinets are pretty old now so we thought we'd freshen them up!

My mom loves it! She's wanted the cabinets painted for a while now.

It is a shocker at first, but after a week I don't even notice it any more.

There, I think I have you caught up now. Now it's time to pose the bed or pillow question to my niece again. :)

Coffee Party

My sister and I threw together a spur-of-the-moment espresso party today! Spring time seems to be a good time for spur-of-the-moment ideas. My sister-in-law and my mom joined us.

Our theme was "Old-fashioned," hence the red lantern as the centerpiece.

Fruit salad in a cup

 The picture is blurry but you can see the antique hat I am wearing. It was my great-aunt's.

Grapes, peanuts and animal crackers.

(We also had Ritz crackers with extra-sharp cheddar cheese! YUM!)

My older brother gave us their old espresso machine a few months ago. I never bothered to figure out how it works but my younger sister did. She makes a mean cup of espresso, let me tell you!