Paradise

We are back! All I have to say is... we picked the wrong place to live! Just kidding, sort of.

The big sea down south is more beautiful than you can imagine. It is the deepest color teal- indescribable! Our conference was very good. The best part was getting to worship and sing with other people. We haven't gotten to do that since August.

The other best part was that instead of leaving as soon as it was over, we stayed an extra day. That gave us time to dip our toes in the sea! We played on the beach the entire afternoon. It was bliss. Justin and I both agreed that it was the best day that we've had thus far in our new country. The coast is so beautiful. The western part of the city is mountain after mountain spilling into the sea. Slowly the landscape changes into cliffs complete with random waterfalls. Then finally it turns into beautiful beaches. The sand is more like tiny smooth pebbles.

We ran into another family from our conference, and Noah played army with their boys all afternoon. They built a huge sand fort and fired the cannons all afternoon. It was such a blessing for him to get to play with boys. Lucy cruised all around doing whatever she pleased- very happy with her freedom. Callie and I walked up and down the beach collecting beautiful rocks. Daddy took her out into the cold Sea for a brisk swim. It truly was the perfect afternoon.

We're worn out, but happy.

Here are some pictures of the scenery that I found on Google. I'll post ours tomorrow.

Sight Seeing

Occasionally we get out to see some of the amazing sights around this place. It's not as often as I thought, or I'd want, but none-the-less, it tends to be awe-inspiring and fun! In the past I've shown you the tower, and the walls, and I've taught you the namaz. Also, I've answered these questions, those questions, and this question.

So, today, I proudly bring you The Maiden's Tower:






Click here to read about it.

This Guy is Selling Some Stuff

I was studying at my desk the other day, when I heard blah, blah, blabbity, blah coming from what sounded like some sort of crazy loudspeaker. So, as is the custom here, I yanked my window open and hung my head out to see what was going on. This is what I saw....





Of course! How else would you expect us to buy sweatpants?





I am quite sure that personal loudspeaker systems must be the hottest selling item at our local Advance Autoparts...ok, so we don't have Advance Autoparts, but we do have a high ratio of cars with loudspeakers! This is a very common way to sell things here. Just strap it to your car and drive slowly through the streets screaming your presence to all within earshot.

This is the most common way to sell potatoes and onions. Although I have yet to buy them this way because I cannot imagine how long it would take my family to consume 50 pounds of potatoes or onions! Also common is the gas truck. It plays a recognizable song (think: ice cream truck goes to the Middle East) and drives around with a truck bed full of propane style tanks. Many women use them to fuel their stoves. (Incidentally, many kitchens do not have ovens. Women will take whatever they need to bake to the local bread store-on every corner- to be placed in their oven.) Other items I've spotted sold in this style include plastics (buckets, containers, mops, brushes, etc.), fish, hats, scarves, and gloves, fruits and vegetables, cotton candy (complete with the spinner/maker thing in the trunk),clothes,prayer beads and trinkets, shoes, and toys.


On a related note, several times each day an assortment of "junk men" wander through the streets. They push what looks like a large, flat wheelbarrow through the streets hollering out "junk man!" It's like Goodwill coming to your door. You give your junk to them, or in some cases they buy it, and then they sell it to others. Fortunately, they don't use loudspeakers. Each one has a unique melodic way to shout his presence. It is neat- one of those reminders that, "we're not in Kansas, anymore!"

JUST STOP IT!!

I snuck into the kids' room the other night, lugged my sleeping baby out of the crib, and held her. I just held her, swaying softly, and trying to drink her in. Her intoxicating baby smell. Her tiny little blond curl at the nape of her neck. Her sweet soft cheeks. She is a year and a half old- not really a baby at all anymore. A toddler, and I hate it.

You see, I have been here before. My first baby- the tiny little thing that taught me what it was to really live, is about to be seven! I can still remember so vividly the feelings I was flooded with during those early months. The delight at simply watching him breathe. Thousands of pictures and hundreds of hours of video footage. The pure delight. But now, that tiny baby is strong and handsome. He reads and writes... in two languages! Sometimes, every so often when I least expect it, the baby is still there. A sweet hug, a good belly laugh, childish thoughts and words. But, they are fleeting! Board books, puzzles, and stuffed animals are being replaced with homework, and soccer, and Star Wars.

On the heals of that sweet baby boy, came a little pink princess. Unfortunately, the details are not as vivid (call it shock and awe of two little babies), but the love swelled up again. With one, we were parents. With two, we were a family! That sweet little girl tripped, wrestled, and bowled her way into our hearts- deep and full. When she was born, we laughed with joy, and I asked the doctor, "what on earth am I going to do with a girl?" I'll tell you what... This girl loves to laugh, and dance, and create. What I do with this girl is see things in a whole new way.

She wasn't a baby very long. No, she had no time for trailing behind. She was walking- make that running- at nine months! And, has kept us on our toes since. But, the precious blessing about her is, that although she grew up quickly, she loves to snuggle. She looks for an excuse to curl up in your lap or sneak into bed with us. (Although it's hard to appreciate the latter because she is the wiggliest thing you will ever meet!!). So I still get to hold her, even if it is on her terms and in her timing.

But, now, here I am again, feeling the emptiness in my arms. Where is my baby? My other sweet little princess has no time to be held, no time to snuggle, or even to slow down. She has to keep up with the other two. She is nipping at their heals. She is supposed to be a baby, a tiny baby. Yet, here I am wrestling her down from on top of the refrigerator!

It's the worst conundrum! You are so caught up in keeping them fed, happy, and alive, that when you take a second to step back and breathe a little, you realize you missed it. Maybe you can check the memory card on your camera, or the film in your video recorder, hoping to at least have some evidence. But you feel like an observer- on the outside looking in as life whizzes by. Can someone please, please tell me how to just stop it- if only for a moment. How to drink it in. How to love and laugh, and not be so caught up with the toys on the floor or the dishes in the sink? Please tell me how to keep my babies little. I just want to hold them in my arms a little more. I'm afraid they'll be off to college tomorrow.

Mom

For the first time in my life I was tenderizing meat. I still do not know why you tenderize meat, or what it does to the taste and texture of the meat, but my recipe called for tenderized meat, so i was a 'poundin! As it was my first time to do this, I had a complete lack of meat beating tools. So I just slapped at it with my hands. But, even without the hammer thingy like my mom had, it still brought back memories. Whenever I heard that sound in my momma's kitchen, I knew we were having country fried steak, complete with pan gravy, for dinner. I can still see her in my head with that wooden mallet pounding away. Unfortunately, at the time I'm sure I hated it. Now, the thought of it makes my mouth water. Funny isn't it? I never took the time to watch my mom cook, or cook with her. Sure when I was little, I helped make the chocolate chip cookies, and when I was older and married, I tried to boss her around her kitchen. She graciously listened as I "taught" her to cook. Then she went about making what she wanted, how she wanted to. Which always turned out better than anything I could have whipped up. She's the reason that people love southern cooking. She has a zillion hand written old recipes in a binder, but she rarely needs them. My mom just knows how to make everything!

I remember one time my brothers and I were teasing my mom about her outfit (as if we had any fashion sense ourselves). It finally got to her and she blurted out that she chose to wear her "ugly, old clothes" so that we could have the nice new ones we sported. Ouch! I knew it was true. And like so many other things, it was not until I became a mother that I could fully appreciate my mom. She gave us the world and served us hand and foot. Do you know that I never made my lunch for school? Heck, my mom still makes my brother's sandwich when he drops by for lunch. She loves, and she gives. Now that I am a mother that is what I want to do. Somehow, its not the same. I can't seem to give as selflessly, or love as much, or not expect anything in return the way she did. When I serve, for some reason, deep down, I'm waiting for the trumpets to sound and the husband and kids to stand at attention and sing my praises. Maybe she wanted that, too. I sure do wish I had sang her praises more. Is it too late? She is out of the harried, overwhelmed young mom with three crazy, ungrateful kids stage. But maybe, just maybe it's not too late!

She's the reason that I love vegetables, know Jesus, long for a surprise yet don't know what I want to be surprised with, and double the meat, cheese, and chocolate in any given recipe. She's better than anyone I know, and my goal is to be as much like her as possible. She is selfless beyond words, always thinking of others. But the neat thing about her, is that when she thinks of others, she takes the time to do something about it- give them a call, drop them a note, or take them some "goodies". She made my childhood wonderful, and happy, and full of lazy days at White Water. She never missed a practice, a speech, or a game. When we're together we laugh so hard we cry. I cannot even get started about how fun it has been (not to mention life saving) watching her be Gamma! What grandma do you know would do this? She is cherished by everyone who knows her- especially my children. She calls regularly, and insists on talking to the kids. She always plays along when, for the 100th time, Noah trys to imitate my voice and says "this is mommy". She is attentive to others and intentional about loving them.

So, today, Mom, on your birthday, I want to make sure you know just how dearly and deeply I love you. My cup runs over (my eyes, too) when I think of you. You're the best and I could not be more blessed to have you! Thank you for being so great, and giving, and fun. You're special, really really special!! You're my best friend, and I miss you more than words can express.

I'm crying now, so I have to stop. I LOVE YOU, MOM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Whoops!

Here are my latest language blunders...

The other day I was talking to my neighbor out the window. She told me she was baking a cake. I replied, "I know, I'm scared!" I meant to say, "I know, I can smell it!"

The kids and I went to our friend's birthday party. My friend, in broken English, said, "this is my mother" (pointing to a very elderly woman), and then said, "this is my mother" (pointing to a different middle-aged woman). So, (in English) I said, "oh, this is your grandmother, and this is your mother." Nope, as it turns out, one of the ladies was her mother and one was her mother-in-law! Good thing that no one there understood me!!

Going Away

Hooray, hooray! In just two days we're going away! We get to go to a family retreat down south on the big Sea, and I can't wait!

Mac Daddy

Go buy yourself a Mac computer. They are fantastic!! I know its scary. You think you'll have to change a lot of things and figure out how to work a computer all over again. And before you know it you'll be a third grade teacher wearing a denim jumper with an apple on it. But, it really isn't that hard, and it is totally worth it! One of the best features is the built-in Photo Booth. It is easy entertainment. If you want to keep your kids quiet for an extended period of time- this is the answer. Well... except for the laughter!








This is a small sampling of the fantastic photos we've taken in our photo booth!

Huh?

Ok, so you want to know 2 things that are not fun?

1. When you are making you best attempt at conversation with someone from here, and your 6 year old says, "Mom, why do you always make that weird face when you're speaking Tish?" Oh great! So now, not only do I have to worry about what I'm trying to say, but how crazy I look when I'm saying it. This is just great.

2. Speaking of my face... it seems I have hit puberty, or at least my face thinks so. For some reason I now have the skin of an oily 13 year old. I can't find Oxy 10 anywhere! For Pete's sake I look like a pimple machine. Good grief, don't I have enough to deal with? I'm wondering if Job got acne. Not that I think my plight is similar to Job's. But, it does seem like the ultimate insult!!

She's Coming!!

Our family loves this woman, and she's coming to lend us a hand! We are so excited. Now the countdown. Two months is a long time to wait!!

Alone

"I feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside.
Because how do you meet a new person?

I was very stumped by this for many years.
And then I realized, you just say,
"Hi."
They may ignore you.
Or you may marry them.
And that possibility is worth that one word."
-Augusten Burroughs

BLAHHHHH

That is how I feel! The reality of this lifestyle has set in. We all have spring fever, but with hardly a blade of grass in sight we can't play in the backyard or plant flowers in the flower-bed. City life is different... very different. City life in a culture that is so different than your own is just plain brutal!! We work hard every day, at best, we accomplish maybe learning a few new words. Language learning is our biggest goal right now, yet we are realizing that it will take a few years to really be able to communicate the way we want. It is so demotivating and lonely! Whoever said that you just show up in a country and pick up the language should be shot!! We could not be any more immersed, yet the learning feels so slow.

On a more upbeat note, we are going on a retreat next weekend! It could not have come at a better time. Our family has never needed a break this badly. We get to go to the big sea in the south. This post has a few pictures. We cannot wait!! Please pray for a refreshing and fun time with the Lord and together. We need it!!

Marbles

Every boy in the area gathers at our park to play marbles. For a while I thought it was so cute and simple. Ah... just like the olden days! Until Justin burst my bubble and told me that they are playing for money! Oh well, they probably did that in the olden days, too!

One of Those Days

Today was one of those days. It used to be very rare that Justin and I would both be ready to sell the kids to the highest bidder and move to a commune in middle America. Unfortunately they have come more often these days, and today was one of them! Things didn't go right, we didn't understand like we wanted to, the kids were crazy, Mt. Stairverest got the best of me. It was a zinger, I'll tell you.


How much do you think I can get for these kids? Maybe I can trade them to the gypsies for a horse!- You need horses in middle America, don't ya? I'm off to check this country's laws concerning the matter!!

"There are better days to come than those we leave behind." C.S. Lewis

100

This is my 100th post! What better to blog about on this monumentous occasion than a weird sleeping cat!


Here is the view from our window. Notice the speck up in the tree that looks like a bird's nest?















If you look closely, you can see that its a cat. It was just curled up sleeping peacefully on the branch. Not the typical way you see cats in trees! My kids watched it forever!!





You need to see this! It is my April Fool's gift to you! It was filmed here, but it's not Justin!