We're back.  The kids and I arrived around lunchtime last Friday.  It was a really long trip (as always), but they were so good.  So was I, for the record.  It was a fun adventure for us.

I was in my bed sound asleep before Justin even got up to our apartment with the suitcases!

After a few days in this time zone I think we're adjusted.  I do find myself feeling sort of out of it and foggy in the late afternoons, but I doubt that I can blame that on jet lag!  I'm pretty sure that's just me!

Tomorrow the big holiday starts.  It typically lasts 3 days but since it fell on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday most companies just gave off the entire week- Justin's included.  It's nice to have a few extra days with Justin around to settle in.

We'll also be doing tons of visiting this week.  Let's hope I didn't forget too much!

Headin' Home

It's my last day in the States.  We've had such a good time.  But now it's over... time to get back to real life!!

If you think about it, please pray for safety, sanity for me, and well behaved kids as we travel.

Sunday Sneak Peek

I'm not sure I can even explain what this is about!

Today

The guy in line behind me at Wal-Mart tonight (10:30) was buying yarn and a case of beer.

That's an odd combination.

I guess it's no worse than my big Rubbermaid tub, 2 bottles of maple flavoring, 2 bottles of tangle spray, and 2 tubes of Burt's Bees lip balm.

Speaking of Wal-Mart, I have been to either a Wal-Mart or Target almost every day.  That includes 3 different Targets and 6 different Wal-Marts.  I guess it's safe to say that I love, LOVE, LOVE those stores!

Justin came home from Toronto tonight.  He flies home tomorrow.

I had a mini-reunion with some sweet high school girl friends.  It was so fun to catch up and laugh about the old days!

Welcome to Canada

In honor of Justin heading to Canada (at 4 am Tuesday) I'd like to share one of my favorite Youtube videos with you:

Sunday Sneak Peek

Fun with cousins!

Family Reunion!

Food

Family

Four-wheelers

...it doesn't get any better than this!

What's Next?

I had a sweet friend ask me the other day, "Well, you've got your dryer and your car.  What's next on your wish list?"

I didn't really have anything!!

Could it be that I'm content?!?!  Wow!  What a concept!

The Little Things

Of course the best thing about being in the States is the opportunity to spend time with our precious family and friends.  But there are a few little things that we are loving every minute of.

For example:

air conditioning

traffic laws

no-litter laws

Chic-fil-A

people who bag your groceries at the the market

one-stop-shopping

understanding exactly what everyone is saying to us

big beds

slushies

consistent water and electricity

fun family activities

green- trees, grass, flowers

it is so easy to find and buy the things we need

grills

not having to worry about disturbing the neighbor below (Although my Dad probably wishes the kids would worry about this a bit more since he's downstairs!  HA!)

huge washing machines

quick dryers

lots of space

church



It's funny what we take for granted!

The Next Generation

As we were walking through the mall on Monday I leaned over to Justin and said,

"Are you thanking Jesus that we are not raising our kids in America!"

We were so shocked at the crazy looking and acting kids that were haunting the mall.

Raising third culture kids has its disadvantages but it does also have its advantages.  We can sort of pick and choose from both cultures, and (hopefully) come up with our own culture for our family.

Livin' the Dream

Rope swings over the creek

Horseback riding

Pretty little cowgirls

Amazing scenery

Meeting new friends

and more new friends

Playing in the waterfall together

In some of God's most beautiful creation

Beautiful!!

Reminder

I wrote this post about a year and a half ago.  But the recent tragedy in Norway has gotten me stirred up again.  


Do you know that the media, across the world, especially the Muslim world, are calling that guy a Christian .  Just like my Muslim friends would croak if you called them a terrorist, do you want to be grouped in with the Norway Terrorist.  Remember... he's a "Christian!"

Bad People do Bad Things

I have a friend who is constantly putting up "news articles" and other random things on Facebook (the culmination of all that is wrong with the world today) that have a distinct anti-Muslim sentiment. The headlines are things like Muslims Kill 4 in Quatar or whatever. Then she gets a host of comments from people about how evil Muslims are and that they must be stopped!!! May I please set the record straight?

Bad people do bad things, not Muslims! For every story you read in the media, thing you find on the internet, etc. about how Muslims kill people, you can find the same thing on this side of the world about Christians! Did you know that just like most people think that all people over here are real Muslims, the people over here think that all Americans are real Christians?

Would you like to be judged based on what is going on in America? Do you really want the people over here to think what they hear and see from America represents Christianity? Think about it...

This is what we are to them... Playboy, Desperate Housewives, raunchy videos, greedy, stupid, violent, obsessed with sex and money, murderers... the list goes on, and its not pretty.

Are the people who go in and shoot up schools or supermarkets a good representation of you? Are the people who bomb abortion clinics a good representation of you? Are the people who watch, produce, and/or export pornography a good representation of you? Are the people who abort their babies a good representation of you? Are the people who lure others into cults and eventually convince them to commit suicide a good representation of you?

Do you think this is an accurate representation of the truth of Christianity?

My point is that bad people do bad things. Life is full of choices for everyone of us. In following the Lord we must constantly choose to take the narrow path. To put others before us. To submit ourselves to God. (Islam literally means submitted to God.)

Unfortunately, there are many who do not make these types of choices. It's too bad, but it is their choice. Do you want them representing you, your country, and your faith?

My guess is no.

Guess what... my Muslim friends do not want to be defined by the bad choices that people on this side of the planet make, either. Since I have many Muslim friends that honestly fear God and submit themselves to Him, then i feel like I can speak for them.

Please stop judging Muslims based on the garbage that you hear from the media!! Normal Muslims are not like that. Just like normal Christians are not like the thousands of terror/murder stories that are coming this way.

Thank you and good night. I will step off of my soapbox now!