coming and going

it's that time of year over here in Asia.

[picture taken last october]

[last november. they loved these chairs. at the same time.]

i've heard people talk about it but i have yet experienced it. until today.

the sad part about closing out a year.

for saying goodbye to friends that we've lived around for a year. 

thankful for all that's been done in and through and around me, but still sad.

[thailand. january.] 

[march]

[april]

 [june]

you see, i get really comfortable with... well, things that make me comfortable. this family was one of those things:

we had to say goodbye today. 

it was hard. because they're going. and we're staying.

one's not better than the other.
and one's not easier either.

i could just boo hoo in my room all night, but in His provision [a way that only He could be thoughtful enough to plan out], this family is coming:

jason and malorie are here for a glorious week that i wish was a glorious year. [but i can't have everything, now can i.] and a much much much appreciated plane flight back WITH US to the States. they're incredible. and even cuter than this cute picture. i know, right?

thank you lord for doing what You do. for making things make sense when i thought they didn't.

thank you that with the going, there is the coming.

5 blurbs

I'm just not great with it. With collecting details and sharing them frequently.

I am better at blurbs. Blurbs that come with month-long pauses, apparently. 

SO much happens in a month, now that I think about it. And more than just 5 things. I'll save the others for another day.

1. Noah got hand foot and mouth disease. We think. So said the doctor that we called. Great news is that it went away and that people were also getting it in America. Not trying to rejoice in someone else's sufferings, just love when I find out that something weird in Asia might actually be a normal happening in America.

No worries, we are back to digging in the dirt, putting rocks in the mouth, and sliding down slides [head and hands first] that others with "splint pants" have previously been down. An adventurous, messy life this little boy leads.

And then I got some funky eye thing a couple of times.

But that doctor's appointment lead to a really great surprise of an ultrasound from a western doctor [Chinese doctors are not able to say the sex of the baby] ...

2. We are having a girl. Really excited. I feel like I don't see enough new people where I live to really express that excitement. My tiny community here already knows we are happy about it, so it's strange not being able to express "it's a girl!" to random run ins at church and restaurants and downtown. We love a sweet little [kind of long] name. Didn't even realize how much I'm set on it until I saw it in a friend's handwriting the other day.

Hopefully these hormones won't change my mind. Because it's so pretty.

3. Noah's been cute. And a mess. I wonder if those two words will some up his presence at each phase of life. I hope so. He adds some serious spunk and sparkle to my days. And bruises. But those fade, so I'm okay with it.

4. I've been growing.

[there really is no need for belly pics. this was me at 22 weeks. use your imagination. WAY bigger now because i'm 29 weeks. and don't think solo pics are fun any more. wait. were they ever?]

5. Scott's been... well, he's just been hunky dory. Really number 5 could say the same as number 3. Scott's also a cute mess. Can't help but make that tangible for you...

http://youtu.be/dI9udHWM0Ew

[Noah's screaming "hey baby"]