catandscott

tickles to combat fits

2012-01-29T03:03:00.008-06:00

noah has been pretty good with throwing some tantrums.

for example, not getting to touch scott's computer. that's usually a BIG upset.

or really to not do something that scott does is always an upset.

a couple of years ago, i sat back and stared at parents whose kids were out of control in public.

it didn't make sense.

just make them stop pitching fits. tell them sit in their chair at dinner. put them in their room. stop screaming. come on.

then came noah. wow has he forced me to look at people with grace. now i get it. more than anything it teaches me what's in my heart. noah can make a scene on the outside and i sure can on the inside... just with a sweet smile to cover it up, of course.

this baby has high highs and low lows.

that's just how he is right now. can't wait to tell him about it when he's all grown up and socially poised, right? praise Him that His goal isn't well behaved children.

so yesterday, scott's remedy was to tickle him right out of a fit.

and that little bit was good for that day.

BEACH

2012-01-23T08:32:00.004-06:00

it's just good for the soul.

for mine, and his, and the little his.

thailand

2012-01-16T21:50:00.003-06:00

We are at this wonderful beach for a conference and some days of relaxation.

First thing yesterday morning when we woke up, Scott opened the balcony doors

and Noah took his little cheerios and watched the birds flying around out by the beach.

We've heard it said that you don't really know

how much you need these things [sun, space, people, quiet] until you get here.

Now I know exactly what they're talking about.

on biting and hitting...

2012-01-04T23:58:00.003-06:00

As I was skype messaging my Mom [why weren't we just talking? weird],

I told her that Noah wants to bite and hit his only little best friend he has.

These are Mom's next fix it sentences:

"Pretty soon you will be able to do a time out or take something away...

Then he will grow up to be a teenager and slam his door and say he hates you."

[this was totally me, by the way]

"Then he will turn 20 or 21 and he will love you again.

Or maybe sooner, but he won't admit it."

It made me laugh instead of cry. Oh how horrid I was when I was little. And oh how things come back around.

I've tried the soap method... putting a tiny bit of soap on his tongue if he bites, then he would immediately hate it and therefore quit biting.

FALSE.

That may be most kids, but Noah did the signal for "more". He wanted me to put more soap in his mouth.

That stinker.

en route.

2011-12-27T21:54:00.004-06:00

[noah is on the move. felt like this picture captures what most of our christmas days were like. noah didn't seem to get the memo that we could sleep late during the holidays.]

a really great family came to visit us for a few days, while on their way to pick up their two girls from this side of the world. while they were here, the mom/wife said one of the wisest things about christmas. i had previously been [and maybe still am] a little "thrown off" by being away from home during special times. i felt like i had a light bulb conversation. i still hear the words spoken to me from last week...

"it's okay that we aren't "home with our families". mary and joseph were en route during that very time of jesus' birth. they left things and travelled... [then speaking on contentment] and we won't be 100% content here or there. that's what keeps us longing for heaven."

it was a light bulb conversation. and it wasn't until today that it started flashing up above my head... when reminded that perhaps it is on this side, for me, where i long for heaven most.

he's alive.

2011-12-05T01:31:00.004-06:00

there is a mass of people that have little knowledge of the very reason for our being.

that's a huge part of why we moved. in fact, that is why we moved.

to a place that's on the opposite side of the globe than where we were born.

to a country whose language couldn't be more different.

to a people whose kids are diaper-less and instead wear split pants.

any time in scripture where i see the word "strangers", i literally feel it.

it would seem pretty rare to move to a foreign place to have someone of the other culture remind me of who jesus is. right?

i've heard the stories. ones that move me and make me cry. ones where believers' lives have been totally changed by seeing His Power move through the people that they had come to witness to.

and now, on this day. i've had my very own.

as i was talking with a chinese woman who helps me clean our apartment, she started teaching me new words. this isn't unusual. what was unusual was that she was over by our little, tiny nativity set sharing these words. after many, many SLOW speaking chinese words, i finally understood what she was dying to tell me.

"Jesus died, but he's not dead.

He rose. He lives. He sees me. I know Him, but I can't see Him.

He's not dead. He died, but He's not dead."

and that's what i came here to learn.

my g0d's not dead. he's surely alive.

the tree is up

2011-12-02T01:36:00.006-06:00

and we've got some pictures thanks to self timer.

[noah only pulled the tree down twice within the first 24 hours it was up. pretty good, right?]

war eagle, hey.

2011-11-28T07:53:00.009-06:00

i'm not quite sure why, but the first few pictures i tried to "fix" the massive spot of water on his shirt. then i thought, okay really? how about i stretch myself. how about becoming carefree about what people think of my son's habitual water spitting outing. and everything else for that matter. but one thing at a time, people.

let's be honest. there's a fun fact about being over seas...

nobody, other than the americans, care much about football.

win or lose, it doesn't really matter to a whole lot of people.

that's the awesome[ness] in still sporting around an auburn bandana. nobody cares.

it's just fun and orange.

at least in noah's eyes it is.

war eagle.

quite the duo

2011-11-21T01:36:00.004-06:00

aren't they?

scott didn't know i was trying to film him.

and he didn't even care once he saw that i was.

wishing i knew how to make the video shorter,

but i'm thinking that just getting a video on here is doing pretty good.

so you'll just have to see noah getting excited to see his best little friend.

singing forever

2011-11-14T01:47:00.006-06:00

i'm learning from my mei mei [little sister].

this girl has some words.

good, life giving words.

you know, there's definitely some perks to living overseas. you get to hear things from people the closest to you that you wouldn't normally hear. just purely out of our circumstances. we talk less. often that means more.

when the words come out of their mouths and into my ears, they immediately get stored in my treasure box inside my heart.

perfect example.

i opened my inbox on monday afternoon and found this at the end of an email from sarah:

"... i love you and today when i was driving i pictured us singing songs to Him. it was really beautiful. i got kinda sad because i was like, G0D! when is that ever going to be real. you know what He said?..

y'all will get to sing to me together forever one day."

i get to pull this out of my treasure box in heaven. and it'll be real.

meet MAX

2011-11-14T00:46:00.003-06:00

This is our teacher, two days out of the week.

We have a lot of fun with him. He's very animated and passionate. He also shames us a little when we get an answer wrong. But we love him.

He told us he had a surprise for our class today. I thought it was going to be something sweet. [I think that's a little of what China does to you... makes you daydream about chocolate.] But no, it was Chinese tongue twisters.

So here he is... MAX.

amen and amen.

2011-11-03T19:01:00.004-05:00

i woke up to this awesome truth a friend wrote me this morning. she's one who knows what it's like to be in a different country than her family. she knows that ache in the distance.

she also knows the beauty in it.

"being separated from family is something that you never get used to, but you learn to live with it. that is one thing about being overseas that people don't really understand. they think that we're okay with being separated and that the Lord just made us differently.

but we know that's not really the case.

it's okay for it to be hard, for it to not feel so much like home. and that's really the bottom line.

the beauty of global living and a global perspective is that you understand first-hand that this world is not our home. the moment that He marked us with a seal of ownership is the moment that we became at odds with the world.

called to be in it, but not of it.

our home is with Him. and i always take comfort in that fact. in my heart i am at home with Him. and i go there any time i need that homey goodness to surround me. may sound childish, but hey we're called to child-like faith right?"

in my jiao shi

2011-10-31T09:51:00.003-05:00

so there's this white board that sits in the front of our classroom.

i kid you not... by the end of class, i could read the first character all the way to the last one.

i am seriously impressed. the mind is quite a wonder.

of course [as he is sitting here singing "in my white tee, in my white tee, in my jiao shi"], scott now reads paragraphs of this. but then again, who is surprised.

1 year olds

2011-10-26T20:52:00.002-05:00

who else can't get enough of this?

a loss and a win.

2011-10-23T02:20:00.004-05:00

Scott left today for a few days out of town, or

I should say city. Big, big loss for us.

But we received a box of goodies. Which means lots of great things. But the main one for me is that this box will be lasting entertainment for the rest of the day for this little munchkin.

His timing is good. Today I experienced it

in the smallest detail on a Sunday afternoon.

warms the heart

2011-10-11T01:22:00.003-05:00

Those are the sweet and specific words from my Mimi when she saw these videos [below].

Often times I walk in and out of our apartment, to and from class, back and forth on the playground just going through the motions. The motions of what the day holds. What I write down in my cute calendar. Or even what I think will take up the most time so that I can finally call it a day so Scott and I can eat something chocolate and watch some kind of funny episode of something wonderful on our laptop.

Then Mimi sends me a text. [I feel like you need me to pause. Yes Mimi is my grandmother. Yes she texts. It's amazing. We use "Textfree". I love it over here.] Saying her heart is warmed by seeing these people love Noah.

And then He goes even further to warm mine...

Today at lunch I had someone speak a blessing over me. Saying that by the very sight of our "young" family being here, this person's parents finally saw the picture of Him loving East Asia. That He would send young families to share their lives with them. With their children. People of a different language, a different nation.

On my walk back to our apartment, I strolled Noah with purpose. I smiled and waved and spoke with radiant light beaming out of me.

He gave them understanding.

He gave me a warm heart.

clingy

2011-09-28T04:15:00.002-05:00

on this guy.

[the typical noah face with scott]

[his face that lights up when scott walks in the room. i'm guessing scott is showing off his self proclaimed synchronized swimmer legs. you read it right.]

[noah intruding on scott's study time. what'd you say? his MBA or his chinese?

exactly.

overachievers make us normal people feel, well, that's exactly it. normal.

in a deep breath thank goodness i'm not an overchiever kind of way.]

while mom's away,

2011-09-24T09:40:00.003-05:00

& dad's at play.

apparently this is what Scott and Noah do when it's my turn to go to chinese class.

totally normal.

whose plan is it anyway?

2011-09-06T20:11:00.007-05:00

It's a good thing... how He chooses to spring forth joy and draw in people.

[pictures taken on a campus]

Thankful that Noah's little smiling dimples are part of His plan.

Babies seem to be the hardest part about being here.

Yet the most rewarding.

If it were up to me, I'd have my babies in Auburn, AL and live right down the street from my family and thirty minutes from Scott's. The kids, all having dimples of course, would grow up riding tractors and playing on playgrounds that were sanitary. I'd never worry about grandmothers trying to pull my kids' diapers off because they'd rather them wear "split pants". We'd go through Chick Fil A drive thru's and have red mouths from eating way too many slushies at ball parks.

I would never plan on moving to a far away place. That would be super unfair to my kids' lives. Right? All that stuff they'd miss out on?

But what if what they would miss out on is right here on the other side of the world. What if the injustice done to their lives would be for us to stay put in Auburn, AL.

Swarms of people surround our kids over here. They are magnets. I believe it's not just by chance, but that He's doing something. And I'm convinced that it's good.

It is exactly what makes the overwhelming and crying moments [where in my head I may even be saying I want my Momma!] worth it. That we're building in to something much greater than what my little pea brain can fathom.

small spaces

2011-09-03T03:49:00.003-05:00

i've been capturing noah's love for small spaces with my phone.

[his little cubby in our kitchen]

[side table in our living room/kitchen. i love how east asia does the combo deal.]

[on our neighborhood, if you could call it that, playground]

and also his love for loud noises. just like scott.

day in the life

2011-08-28T02:11:00.002-05:00

We got out for dinner last night.

It was fun. Not so much because it was Amsterdam Cafe and high chairs were there.

But because we went on our three little scooters. Scootin' around as the only Americans in sight, with two babies and a puppy.

I giggle a lot and I cry a lot. Because I think, is this my life?

Honey, I'm home.

2011-08-25T21:03:00.004-05:00

Some men come home from work in suits. [Papa]

Some come in with concrete on their boots. [dad]

Some walk in the door with a fun little briefcase. [Mr. Tom]

Others skip in with a helmet, a backpack, and

shelved milk for their 1 year old.

Hello new normal.

playtime

2011-08-25T04:29:00.005-05:00

it looks a little different for each of us, as you could imagine.

for me: banana bread. that's when i felt at home in this apartment.

[my little malorie orme apron. just needed to type her new name.]

for scott: building a coffee table made of chinese stools.

for noah: crawling around on the playground with some little friends.

don't freak out Babs and Gigi [and Mimi], i rinsed him off immediately.

goodbyes & settling

2011-08-21T21:40:00.009-05:00

we shared some goodbyes about a week ago.

scott's family too.

we got on the plane.

landed. where people swarmed noah.

got to our apartment super late in the night.

then woke up to stroll around what seems to be a park that we live in. it's amazing.

got a little something to scoot around on.

travelled here and there in these little taxi [ish] 3 wheelers.

[SO hot here. yesterday it was 108. um. you read it right.]

we've just been settling in and talking to our families on the other side of the world. trying to describe what it's like here. hardest thing to do. because we love it. and it's difficult.

i'm not sure if that will ever change. and that's the hard part to swallow.

i just started today reading the J Storybook. the kid's version. today i read this sentence and realized why i was being prompted to begin reading it for myself:

"And they were lovely because he loved them."

[the song of creation, from the first 2 chapters of gen]

this place and these people are lovely because he loves them.

i have access to viewing this culture through the lense of a child.

and that's exactly what i intend to do.

miles apart & a small connection

2011-07-23T22:18:00.003-05:00

we may never understand them.

dad's in alabama. noah's in colorado.

last week i looked over and noah was hugging the football. weird? sure.

but then that same last week i looked down at my phone to see a picture text of dad hugging his tractor. weirder? sure.

[i thought about not posting this potentially embarrassing picture, but i thought for a second... a man who hugs his tractor probably won't be checking the latest blog posts.]

they're just two peas in a pod.

BOYS. we may never understand them.

well, some of them.

peculiarities

2011-07-22T14:40:00.002-05:00

just to name a few lately.

licking the concrete to watch it change colors.

preferring to eat with chopsticks

and forming some serious opinions [or what my Papa calls them: "protests"].

it's about a week 'til he turns ONE.

life for us is full and busy.

shoes, baths, & books.

2011-07-13T23:42:00.002-05:00

happenings

2011-07-09T11:42:00.003-05:00

[ i can't take credit for the pictures.]

a kid's concert [noah just crawled around the whole time]

a fourth of july baking contest.

a marriage weekend

a little friend, just a month older than noah.

and now gigi's here. pretty fulfilling week.

table talk

2011-07-05T21:57:00.005-05:00

how do you know when your husband is respected?

the entire table stops to listen when he speaks.

vanity

2011-07-03T10:26:00.002-05:00

definition : excessive admiration of one's own appearance.

he smiles the biggest when he sees his own reflection. the other day i was running out of things to entertain him, so i grabbed the computer and got out the photo booth.

score.

eleven months

2011-06-27T16:11:00.005-05:00

i'll start you off with some priceless facial expressions.

wonder where he got them from.

[some forced love. swear it doesn't happen everyday.]

this is all in our little apartment and on the balcony in ft. collins, CO.

he's not walking yet. and i have a feeling it may take him a while to get the hang of lugging around his chubby little body. meanwhile, scott and i are getting some awesome arm workouts everyday.

brenda

2011-06-25T10:43:00.003-05:00

meet my mom:

[picture taken in Hong Kong when Noah was born]

she's the kind of person every one loves.

her hand can't stay down when someone asks for volunteers.

she thinks she's not brave, but she is.

she may seem a little timid, but don't let that fool you. she's got quite the backbone [thanks to many years of practice from my dad].

when diagnosed with breast cancer, one of her first questions was "i wonder what God wants to teach me through this?"

she's destined for leadership.

people look to her for empathy. someone who could really "get it".

her husband says she's the sweetest person he's ever known.

she has spunky friends. old friends. new friends. young friends.

the gift of hospitality she doesn't claim. but people seem to come right in, take their shoes off and feel right at home.

you know when she's choosing Life because you walk in the door and praise music is on even louder than when dad watches a movie.

mom, i read this last week and thought of you.

it's from Euguene Peterson.

"I am [solely responsible] for reading and writing my story well, for digging deep into the gaps, for finding the desire and passion and themes that God has written into my life. At the same time, I can't write alone. I am in community. For good and for ill, my story spills over to the lives of others."

You've shown the world that He's writing your story.

Thanks for spilling it over on us.

Happy 50th Birthday.

May He call you to write and rewrite many more stories for us to celebrate.

a "finker" he is...

2011-06-20T21:58:00.001-05:00

oh how i love reminiscing.

training part II

2011-06-12T14:45:00.005-05:00

right now i'm reminding myself that this is how it goes.

the beginning.

where God needs me flat smack down as low as i can be.

so that he can use me. teach me.

i just wish it could pleasantly happen.

and maybe it would if i would be less resistant to it.

you know, change.

training part II because part I was daytona.

now we're in fort collins, CO.

should have known that it was going to start out like part I.

hard, but good. isn't it always?

first day: child care.

noah actually cried so hard for so long that they had to come find us.

i walked in and was like yep.

that's mine.

the one with the snotty nose and hyperventilating cry.

i seem to find that day 1 is always a bit hard.

truth is...

if i acted out my deep down feelings, then scott would probably find me snotty nosed

kicking my feet on the floor crying as well.

[all because i might have to do an hour of homework a night and a power point presentation. which just made me cringe typing it.]

[this picture is funny to me because i was actually like okay noah SMILE!! FOR THE CAMERA!]

WHY?

because i've got that self junk in my heart too.

just like noah.

at least he's a bit sincere with how he's feeling.

me? i like to cram it inside for a while and let it come out with a lovely wah bam!.

isn't that sweet.

so that was day one. at least from my perspective.

if scott let you in on his world, you'd all be

packing your bags and heading to East Asia with us.

we're in his la-la land right now.

mountains.

hikes.

skiing.

trails.

cool weather.

new people.

[noah already looks at him like dad, you're so the fun one.]

you should all have a scott.

[and as for me...]

i find myself wanting one of those promises.

you know how people say "i'm clinging to his promise".

and you think, okay what are you talking about.

well, i found one.

and now i know what those people were talking about.

i read it and my spirit was like that's it!.

isa 43:2

he's with me.

even in crying baby moments.

they shall not overwhelm me.

10 months

2011-05-26T13:40:00.003-05:00

this is just about as good as it gets

as far as trying to get a picture with him lately.

he smiles and looks at you right until you hold the camera up.

oh well, what can you do.

i'm learning that you can't make a baby do much.

even if you're wanting him to smile and wave to the sweetest person ever.

thank goodness there's more to life than pretty christmas cards.

gigi

2011-05-11T20:59:00.000-05:00

Gigi [my mom's "grandmother name"] has been planning a beach trip for some time now.

She's one of those really thoughtful people

who happen to really wait until the last minute

to act on her thoughtfulness.

To me, those two things seem like complete opposites.

To her, it makes total sense.

This beach trip was a different story.

The most ahead planned trip that I've ever seen her do.

She booked it knowing that it would be a good time for all of us.

Scott & I still have a few months of being in the States.

Sarah is out of class.

And Dad. Well, he's just Dowe. Hunky dory about life.

Little did we know, this trip would come in perfect sync with our circumstances.

It's really a celebration.

A celebration of life. Days and more days that we don't deserve.

Yesterdays and the day before's that we count as blessings to have had.

It's pretty crazy what shocking news can do to you.

Scream out fear.

Make you hold tight to anything.

Cry out.

Shut down.

Wonder why.

But then it can make you rethink life.

That's what happened for me when we heard that Mom had cancer [the pink is for you, Mom. Just in case you haven't already had enough of it].

Makes you wonder.

What is life?

Is today the last day?

Or is tomorrow?

How long will I have with her?

[possibly my favorite of them]

God works those things out. Transforms us in the process.

Those questions that pull you closer to Him or drive you further away.

I want to know Christ and because He is all and in all.

Then what is this about?

You find yourself repeating what is true.

[and planting your roots deep, deep down into His truth]

All I know is that He is renewing me and my family through this season.And today we rejoice in that Mom is cancer free. 8 months later.

What a timely little beach trip.

It's a celebration, really.

dimples

2011-05-06T21:47:00.001-05:00

they're pretty much God's gift to moms.

practicality

2011-05-01T09:31:00.003-05:00

[forgot to add this one yesterday]

Practicality:

[involves the actual doing or experiencing of something rather than just a theory or idea of it]

This is a term that I know very well from my husband.

But I love when it doesn't just have to be in him.

It can be found in me too.

Reading through 2 Corinthians.

Chapter 4.

Ah, the picture of being treasures in jars of clay.

Don't we all take a deep breath at that visual ... like thank You that I'm supposed to have holes and cracks in my jar and that it's about what is flowing out of the inner parts.

And then I get to those 4 words in verse 16.

"... renewed day by day."

Lots of times I think, Okay God, how do I become this? How can you mold me like that? And then lots of times I buy into that lie of "that's just not my personality" or "I don't feel like doing or being that way".

Then as I enter into His Presence, and press into His thoughts, what do I find?

That I am being renewed.

I know this because I'm actually looking forward to a conference that Scott and I are going to today for 4 days. Might be lame to you. But let me tell you, this is remarkable. That I would actually be wanting to move forward with this process [of moving to East Asia] rather than become resistant.

He is renewing me.

I am beginning [I repeat, beginning] to see what I have been whispering to my Father.

"What are you making?" or "How come I don't have handles?"

Isaiah 45:9

Wow.

How could I ask my Maker why he's formed me the way that He has?

How could I ask my Lord why He's chosen this path for me?

So as I read through 2 Corinthians 4,

I saw that verse practically playing out in my life.

Because he is equipping me. Renewing me.

Because I'm looking forward.

Not looking down for oh my gosh where is the next step because I can't see that my foot has a place for it, but looking straight to Him knowing that He has a secure place for that next step because ...

I know that He knows what He is making.

He knows why I don't have handles.

new snapshots

2011-04-30T20:58:00.005-05:00

[three on top and three on bottom]

we're soaking in these last few months in the states.

so thankful noah's first year has been with lots of family.

opening up.

2011-04-05T19:47:00.010-05:00

[I am opening up a mixture of our lives.

Because some want happy, pretty pictures.

And then some want what's really going on.]

you know that feeling of being stuck? like you're an onion and you have SO many layers that peel away, deeper and deeper to the center, but you can't seem to get there. and you know that there is more. more depth, more being known, more knowing, more of that vulnerable kind of love, more exposure, more enthusiasm and joy. just more life to be had.

But then you feel like you're stuck on the 3rd layer. there's at least 157 more layers to go, but you can't seem to push through even that 3rd one. and what would it take to go to the fourth?

well, that's how i felt from training up until our ten day trip.

[that in between stage]

Knowing i'm supposed to be excited about moving in august.

Knowing i'm supposed to be pressing in to the Lord.

Knowing, knowing, knowing... just not quite living out

my knowledge of what i am "supposed" to feel.

So i just couldn't seem to push through to that yearning to be in east asia, that soaking up every second of life and being thankful for it when anticipating the move.

then it happened and i got a glimpse during TEN days that we were away.

[a family we will be serving with in east asia]

perspective!

it was a flash of purpose. life. joy. sanctification. tears. peace.

All of those things that will be in our next three years in east asia.

i got there [on our ten day trip to visit the city we'll be living in] and the He peeled back that layer. the old is gone and the new has come. the new layer is scary and leaves me vulnerable. at the same time it is refreshing and places me completely on my knees. well, make it my face. let's be honest, it's going to be a bit different this time around. not that cozy hong kong where english is everywhere and velveeta is a ten minute shuttle bus away.

"hard but good" as Scott says.

so there it is. my thoughts from these past two months.

and you know what? maybe i don't make sense, as scott sometimes tells me.

maybe this is jibber jabber.

but maybe someday someone who is surrendering their right now for a soon to come thing will read this and know that there is life to be had on the other side of the unknown.

and it'll be hard but good.

and that deep breath of relief to that someone

will be worth all this jibberish to me.

shallow but necessary.

2011-04-04T20:35:00.004-05:00

that's how i feel about this post. it's shallow, but necessary. necessary because i'm so deep in the being absent on this blogging that i've got to start somewhere. so i'll start with a tooth.

his first little tooth.

6 months

2011-01-29T13:50:00.008-06:00

[his "arching his back" face = awesome double chin.]

i held off

2011-01-09T09:55:00.012-06:00

[and i'm glad i did].

i held off from posting about the beginning.

because if i didn't, the last blog would've been titled:

UNFAMILIAR.

i would have gone on about the

sticky hotel carpets.

daycare.

theology class.

freaking out because this tiny hotel room reminds me of

the tiny apartment in hk and the tiny room we are proabably

going to return to.

[shallow, i know. but it's the truth].

i waited. and i'm glad i did. because i am on the other side of those earlier feelings.

we're at training. joining a new organization.

new for us, that is.

daytona beach.

but why does it always have to be the unfamiliar.

it's what gets me.

gets my attention.

gets my contentment.

gets my mood.

BUT i'm thinking maybe that's just it.

He knows that about me.

He knows that's what brings me to my knees.

so then it's my choice.

i can zoom in and keep my miniature perspective and pitch a fit

i can trust

usually the first happens until i am [and then i make scott] miserable.

it must be why we're staying on the beach for 5 weeks.

reminder to zoom out.

look up at the ocean. and how it goes on for what looks like forever.

talk about perspective.

speaking of, i have been praying to get perspective.

specifically in our time here, specifically from someone with about 3 kids who's moving to east asia like us. what? i'm picky? oh.

i'm thinking "wouldn't that be nice. just so i can see that people are doing it. they're moving overseas and it's doable. not only that but maybe they even like it. or love it?".

of course you know what happens next.

it's the woman who leads my "small group".

what'd you say? does she have 3 kids?

try SEVEN. seven kids. and she's been living in east asia and headed back there again.

i know, right? it's like God is in control or something.

so i asked the woman.

i said "how do you even get to that place where you are? of such contentment in moving your family of 9 across the world?"

she laughed as if that was the most trivial question and said "my life is His anyway. why would i do anything different?"

it stuck. it is still sticking with me.

why would i do anything different?

four months old

2010-11-27T20:18:00.003-06:00

the littlepages.

2010-11-26T10:06:00.007-06:00

promise i love jen.

she's just always the one behind the camera.

[i know these two are basically the same.

but i can't stand to only

show you one.

it just wouldn't be fair.]

enjoyed being [thankful] together this year.

war eagle

2010-11-08T21:09:00.001-06:00

hey.

three months

2010-10-28T11:31:00.004-05:00

... and we look nothing alike.

except for when he does this:

filled to be emptied

2010-10-07T15:10:00.005-05:00

here we are.

and i absolutely love it here.

thought we'd stay for 3 months.

3 actually turned into 12.

12 until we head back to the other side of the world.

which feels like forever away from home.

[which is why He is allowing time to grow my desire.

and time to grow scott's patience.]

even since the very first day of arriving "home", i've thought ...

wow, father. i've never experienced the richness of your kindness like this.

AND

ever since then, i've heard Him telling me that the very purpose of being filled in this season is to be emptied in the next.

dear noah,

2010-09-20T09:54:00.002-05:00

figure out your days and nights.

we're not in china anymore.

love,

mom and dad

can we say

2010-09-18T22:31:00.005-05:00

STRONG similarities?

noah.

scott.

just another lovely part of being home. old pictures

and baby books to file through.

noah.

scott.

i'd love to say that when i head over to my parents' house

i'll find some baby pictures

that look like noah,

but i'm afraid the only similar ones

will be where we're smiling ...

with our eyes "closed".

the things they make you say.

2010-09-13T00:56:00.009-05:00

i know it's weird.

but this face makes me blurt out

cutie patootie.

and just because i had to show you the

rest of the pictures from

yesterday.

he loved staring at our curtains. white curtains. what the heck is

so interesting about that? as scott says, "we may never know".

this looks like a little school photo or something.

or maybe a picture showing the

definition of a square head.

[the pictures look a little different because i was messing with the different settings. don't ask me why i feel the need to say that, i just do. it was bothering me to think of not mentioning it.]

5 more days

2010-09-13T00:30:00.008-05:00

counting down 'til our families get to see these

sweet cheeks.

so pucker up and get ready.

what i'm just a learnin'

2010-09-04T21:52:00.013-05:00

scott went to china this weekend.

first time alone with noah.

so of course i called mom at a low point yesterday.

and heard a good word from her.

she said He gives me :

"grace for what is, not what if..."

not sure about you, but when things

get blah i start doing the what if.

ready?

what if i seriously can't do this by myself.

what if it doesn't get easier like people say.

oh gosh, what if something happens to scott.

what if then i really am by myself.

what if blah blah blah.

as dramatic or trivial as they are, i think them.

you can just wear out those what ifs. that's when mom said it. don't go down the road of what if. He gives me grace [in other words: supply] for what is. for the now. and if one of the what ifs happened, then there'd be His supply for that need right then as well.

one day at a time. surrendered day.

a baby brings a whole new meaning to that.

so i woke up today to find more.

wanting to be "shattered".

i loved reading that word this morning.

with all the adjustment lately, i need my present perspective of Christ to be shattered.

i don't want my mind to be bogged down.

i want my mind on the things of God, not the things of man.

He is readjusting me. He's doing it by

finishing in me something that only this current situation can do.

some people may wonder [and i ask myself]:

"do you feel like

these past few weeks in hk

have been pointless?"

"wouldn't you rather have spent those first 7 weeks of

noah's life back "home"?"

"now that you're moving from hk,

do you think you should have just come

back to auburn to have the baby and stay there?"

NO.

because He is finishing in us something that only this situation can do.

he brings about NEW situations so that

we can become NEW in character.

so here i am, hoping for that abundance.

that as i am seeking newness in Him, i will find it.

and find it in abundance.

Something we wanted to share...

2010-08-27T08:47:00.000-05:00

This definitely brought us back to riding in the back seat listening to cassette tapes with our moms. It was such a blessing to both of us today. We felt like sharing it with you. It's one of those songs that just seem to pull the words right out of your heart. The ones that you've been longing to pour out before Him.

he's a daddy.

2010-08-26T02:35:00.002-05:00

crazy to look at scott and think : wow you're a dad.

and i'm a mom.

what in the world.

he seriously is not an ordinary dad.

i can't explain it.

you'll just have to be around the two of these guys to experience what i mean.

a favorite little tid bit of mine

lately

is how scott sings to wake noah up.

i sing him to sleep.

scott sings him awake.

that joyful noisemaker has come in handy.

strike a pose

2010-08-23T23:53:00.002-05:00

he's 4 weeks old.

picture post.

2010-08-18T03:41:00.008-05:00

hopefully nobody cares that i'm not putting many words on this one.

ever since the being a mom thing started,

i've felt a slight release of trying to "people please".

it feels good. you should try it.

all my brain can think is

EAT. CHANGE DIAPER. WAKE UP. SLEEP.

repeat cycle.

again, and again.

with that said, who has brain space to even blog? so here are some pictures

that we hope can show you how our days have been [of course,

we don't have any pictures of Noah

crying, but i can assure you that definitely takes place.]

we love our little baby. so much it hurts.

Noah's first bottle and check-up

2010-08-04T02:37:00.003-05:00

Like we said in the video, Noah had his first visit to the doctor today and she said that everything looked great. He is weighing in at 4.2 kg and is 53 cm long, so he gained 3 ounces and 1 cm, pretty good for the first week.

sorry...

2010-08-02T23:38:00.002-05:00

if this blog gets annoying to some of you, but since most of our close friends and family are not able to see Noah in person yet, we are going to try and put up regular videos and pictures until we get back to the States.

Sound asleep

2010-08-02T19:31:00.000-05:00

Eyeballs

2010-08-02T02:09:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the little comment, Sarah.

taste and see that the Lord is good

2010-07-31T03:47:00.005-05:00

Say hello

2010-07-29T00:58:00.002-05:00

38

2010-07-15T21:43:00.004-05:00

Here we are with about two weeks to go.

[pretty rare moment right there where scott's actually not smiling]

Dr. Chan told us yesterday that he's already at 4 kilos.

Go convert.

Exactly. Slow down, Noah.

chef joel.

2010-06-23T23:37:00.009-05:00

scott's brother took over our apartment last night and cooked a super fun dinner in a super tiny kitchen.

so grateful to have him here. [even when he stays late at night to watch the soccer games with the LOUD horns coming from the crowds.

anyone else feel like that noise is slightly unbearable?]

scott snuck some random pictures of me playing at his desk. when i looked through my camera, i thought OH how weird my body looks with a blob sitting in the front of it. funny to see pictures of yourself in these kinds of phases. i feel like it's not really me. maybe that's why i'm totally fine displaying solo shots in an out of control way these days.

i told scott that girls really don't enjoy pictures from a downward angle. it's just not good for anybody. get with it. so he was like oh okay and then took this one:

hmm. yeah not quite this extreme, but - future grandparents - [you'll be glad to know] we're working on our picture taking skills before noah gets here. scott's good with numbers and memorizing the settings. i'll take on the creativity part. hopefully we'll balance each other out for this next phase of picture taking life.

too soon

2010-06-20T22:54:00.003-05:00

to pack my hospital bag? absolutely.

do i care? nope.

did it anyway.

week 35

from the front.

to the side.

where oh where are you week 40?

happy anniversary to my mimi and papa. it was their 50th.

happy father's day to dad.

talked to him today to tell me that he just ate a cheeseburger, french fries, and baked beans at the lake. rub it in, dad.

happy father's day to scott.

we're celebrating at outback tonight. it's funny the restaraunts that turn into luxury as soon as you exit america and head over to the land of rice and noodles. it will be a 45 minute adventure to get to. and totally worth it.

Look who made it...

2010-06-11T03:04:00.011-05:00

Yes, for those that were wondering, my (our) little brother Joel made it to HK safely and has been here almost a week now. Sorry for not posting anything earlier, it has been quite a busy past few days with more than half of our team leaving to visit the States or Germany. For those of you who don't know, Joel is staying with the guys on our team for about a month and then he will be teaching english with an organization here in the city. Needless to say, we are excited about having some good hang out time [side note: I just realized it has been more than six years since Joel and I have lived in the same city for longer than a couple of weeks].

So far this week, I think Joel has pretty much figured out public transport in the city and is pretty comfortable exploring things on his own (as you can see if you click the link above). Today we took him to the jade market to show him some things and somehow Cat managed to find something she wanted...

Luckily, we had the professional to teach me more about taking pictures.

Check back soon for more updates.

happy birthday scottie boy.

2010-06-09T19:15:00.004-05:00

today is the big 25. he'd rather not make a big deal about his birthday. i'd rather.

ah. how could you not just love every ounce of that dimple face.

.happy birthday scott.

i love you.

that you look half your age. so do i.

love having met you.

even though you shook my hand. and it made me nervous.

loved marrying you.

and i will follow you anywhere. always.

well hellooooo

2010-05-25T00:18:00.002-05:00

to week 31.

Absolutely.

Hand on the back

is a way better option

than that searching for the hip thing.

I hear he's supposed to grow 3 to 5 more pounds.

What a chunk.

Off to my next doctor's visit on Thursday

where she'll probably tell me

I'm tippin' the scales in my weight and his.

Then I'll remind her that I'm not Chinese.

his frames

2010-05-17T21:25:00.003-05:00

Scott put these together.

What a handy guy he is.

It was the last little touch to Noah's room.

[... above his crib]

Mom helped me pick them out [back in Auburn].

We shoved them in our suitcases when we flew back.

Scott thought it was super impractical.

Hello, you can't find shabby little frames in HK.

And what do I do that he thinks is practical?

Yep, I realize they are empty on the inside.

I kind of like that look.

And it gives me enough freedom to fill them in if we get the urge to ... down the road.

Team Dinner

2010-05-14T00:07:00.014-05:00

Every thursday night we gather to eat dinner together at the Dean's flat. It is always one of the best parts of the week and a great chance to fellowship with our community here. I could talk a lot about this time and how much everyone enjoys it but it's the little conversations that I'd like to share:

Context:

Josh and Caleb had been playing hide-and-seek

throughout the apartment after dinner

was over while everyone was just sitting around talking.

the small conversations we love:

Matt (with Luke in his lap sitting next to Cat): Luke, where is baby Noah?

Luke: Looks around, trying to decide who to point to...

Caleb: (with his mind still being in hide-and-seek mode) Hey, Noah's got the best hiding spot!

Speaking of Noah.

Cat's pretty ready for him to be out of her stomach. About 11 weeks left.

(this is just his head. his whole body can't fit in the screen anymore)

We're just dying to know more details about him.

So the ultrasounds are getting less satisfying, probably

because we're doing it old school style. No

such thing as 3D at our dr. office.

We did hear that he's measuring at a little

over 3 pounds. So when Cat reads the part

about him maybe tripling in size by the time he's born,

her face pretty much drops. Like this:

(by the way, the "bubbles" I was refering to in the last blog are at the top of this picture... showing the different categories of people who should have priority seating on the MTR)

Change of pace:

Now it's me. Cat.

Scott told me to get on here and "fix" it.

What does that even mean?

He's been saying: "update the blog". And then I say "no, you update the blog".

So he gets on here and half way does it so that little stinker can manipulate

me into finishing it up. I know his schemes.

So here's to catch you up on things.

Scott's been wrapping up the first semester of his MBA. I've been seeing A LOT of this:

And wanting A LOT of this:

But I'm needy and pregnant, so who can blame me.

Moving on to my stomach... I can't believe I'm about to put this picture on the computer...

... but then again I can. Because not a whole lot of what I do these days are seeming like me [forgetting things, not thinking of words, ACTUALLY reading the last chapters of my "What to Expect" book, which I said I was not going to do. Because it's frightening.]

Yes, I know my shirt is pulled up. Gross.

Yes, I know you see my belly band. Again, gross.

This picture above I sent to my mom, Scott's mom [who I told to never show anyone, ever. So much for that], and my sister. Y'all have to understand that I can't understand

the hand on the hip pose.

Why?

1. Because it's unnatural and I just about put my shoulder out attempting the stupid thing.

2. I had to look in the mirror to find where my hip WOULD be so that I could put my hand on the right spot.

3. It seems to be a necessity to pose like this if you are on the ends of a picture. That's weird. And why are people doing this.

THE POOL

I have been waiting for this thing to open and for the sun to make it's glorious appearance. Which it has. And I'm getting out of control with self portraits.

Funny things about the pool.

No one is there to soak up some sun.

Every one is wearing a Speedo.

It closes during the peak hours of the day: 12-2. Who does that?

No, the pool is not for relaxing,

it's for swimming laps, duh.

Soon and very soon:

Tonight is Friday night. Bunch of us are watching LOST together.

Scott. Yep, he's studying. His last test before summer classes start [and he'll be taking 2 of those.]

Working on our update that's being sent out the end of this month. [If you want one and haven't received one before, let us know.]

Church.

You better believe I'm making some Spinach Dip. Mom sent me Vegetable packets this week.

I'll be 30 weeks pregnant this weekend.

We're having over some new Chinese students to eat dinner Monday night. Super happy to introduce them to Mimi's mashed potatoes.

Scott goes to Chengdu [Mainland] on Thursday. For a few days.

She might call me back...

that's a might.

Hard to believe...

2010-05-13T04:00:00.002-05:00

that in less than three months we will be moving from the third bubble to the second.

For those of you unfamiliar with Hong Kong public transport, this is all over the MTR (subway) and we are just now getting to the point where people will insist that Cat take their seat.

...maybe she will do her part in this whole blog thing and show you a picture of Noah soon (this is sarcasm for those of you that didn't hear me say that).

-Scott

Finally...a post from Scott...sorry if it is shaky

2010-05-02T03:02:00.001-05:00

Apartment Tour from Scott Littlepage on Vimeo.

favorite part about his room...

2010-04-20T00:29:00.007-05:00

So far, is this sweet picture that a friend gave to me.

I love those baby's hands raised up.

It's hanging on an easel that Scott made me for Christmas. When you have limited space, you get creative. Scott and I wondered where we'd hang Noah's clothes since there is no such thing as a closet in our apartment [and zero room for a dresser]. So we thought, why not the easel? I'll give you the bigger picture...

We need to clear out some things before we get the crib in there, and as soon as we do, I'll post a picture of his room. Small and simple. We love it.

GROWING.

2010-03-30T16:12:00.004-05:00

[this past winter = a must for changing to black + white]

seriously. is it the American food or just being at the front end of 6 months?

strangers now look down at my belly and then smile. you know, the smile where

they're still trying to figure out if i'm old enough to be out of high school.

we're "home" and loving the visit. it's weird that we're here. then again it's weird that it's not weird. so many people we've run into. spent time with. places we've eaten. i've only taken pictures once. isn't that terrible/typical?

i love coming here not feeling attached [to the place]. i was scared about that at first. scared that i would want to be back. nope. not at all. God has confirmed us being in hk through the smallest of things. i love that. soooo encouraged to be where we are. and that has come through many conversations with family/friends. super grateful for those.

so much has been going on.

can't wait to share a few [when we think through it all] at the end of our trip.

i'll make scott do that post.

he'll be good with some bullet points.

18 weeks.

2010-03-04T04:04:00.006-06:00

I officially can no longer suck it in.

But i did eat a cheeseburger today.

Maybe that's why.

My sister will be the first to tell me

that taking a picture of myself

in front of the mirror with my phone

is super lame.

She pretty much gags when she sees these kinds of pictures.

I used to gag with her.

All of the sudden I don't care.

It actually became a great idea in my head.

Wait, what's happening to me?

Here's Noah:

[His head is on the very right, with his face pointing up. Then there is his tummy, and on the very left are his scrunched up legs. That tiny little black spot in the center is his heart. It was beating so fast.]

Dr. Chan said he is a little over 5 inches.

Same due date: July 31st.

We saw his stomach, heart, and all the little body parts.

"Very normal", she kept saying.

He even did a little spin for us.

Noah is still very much a little boy.

Timely

2010-02-16T22:28:00.004-06:00

Wouldn't it be like Him to put

these words

in my lap this morning.

Why would I expect anything

other than timeliness from the Father.

Hmm. Wonder what

He's teaching me.

Annoyed

2010-02-16T02:56:00.003-06:00

Today I was.

More than ever.

So many people to push through.

[ In New Town Plaza, the closest mall to where we live. I was trying to get through to the grocery store. Yep, trying. These crowds were everywhere.]

It caused me to go from semi-irritated to

full of water in my eyes mad.

I mean, what are these people thinking?

Don't they know the world revolves around me?

Go home so I can have a peaceful walk around City Super and Taste.

That was just the beginning of my snobby little thoughts going on this afternoon.

Peak into what my brain was saying to me today [the white words]. Then I bought my groceries and started walking. Answering my own thoughts, as you can see [in yellow].

Why the heck are there so many people out right now?

Because you live in Hong Kong, along with 7 million other people. Who do you think you are.

Excuse me, WOMAN. Can't you tell I have eggs in my grocery bag and you just squished the mess out of them. Move out of my way.

No. She can't magically see through your ugly green grocery bag. You move out of her way.

Yes, I'm standing right here. Don't push me.

Relax. It's just a little push. You probably needed it to get that pride up and out of you.

I want to cry. Right here and now.

Then do it. Who cares, you're in Hong Kong. Isn't that freeing?

Why is everyone buying groceries today. Don't they have leftovers from Chinese New Year? Ugh, these people.

Today is actually a holiday as well. Maybe they needed a little stroll outside of their apartment to find some smiling faces in the mall. But then they ran into you, Your Highness.

Bottom Line...

THE WORLD DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND YOU. There's your answer, Cat.

It's like a terrible reminder of what was smashed into my head as a first grader, and every year after that. It was pretty much the answer for 90% of my questions.

"Catherine, the world doesn't revolve around you. That's why."

I was annoyed today.

Hello, wake up call to me.

I'm here to love the people.

Love the crowds.

[Without a doubt in me] the hardest, yet most valuable invitation:

Die to self. Die to self. Die to self.

Oh God, teach me.

May I fall in love with these Chinese crowds.

For our Parents

2010-02-06T22:53:00.005-06:00

Since they're probably the only ones who will care about these

blurry little things that hardly show much.

It is amazing, though, how fast our baby is growing.

I can actually make out what his tiny body parts are.

So starting from our first doctor's visit:

[We never showed you this one. Look inside the smallest black circle and you'll see a TINY white dot. That's him.]

Moving on to 10 weeks:

[You've seen this one. We put it on our support updates.]

Here is our last visit, finding out it's a boy:

[Isn't it amazing how the ultrasounds have changed so much? Just within weeks.]

I don't know if the picture makes any sense. But this is where Dr. Chan told us she thought he was going to be a "finker". His head is on the very right and his feet are up there on the left.

I love these little pictures.

It's a BOY!

2010-02-04T01:51:00.007-06:00

First thing's first...

Let me introduce you to Dr. Chan Fan:

SO MUCH details to share. Here's a few.

Appointment at Dr. Office: location is about 5 minutes from us.

So she started the ultrasound [which are given at EVERY appointment in HK] and Scott and I already were thinking we could tell that it was a boy. That little baby has already grown so much.

Me: Dr. Chan when will you be able to tell what the baby is?

Dr. Chan: Oh I already know. It is a boy. Here you see one leg. There is the other leg. And there you see "somefing" in the middle.

SO CRAZY. I am only 14 weeks. She said she was 100% sure, so we called our parents and just rejoiced over God providing a baby boy. Things are getting a lot more real. Especially when my dad is chanting over the phone...

"I'm gonna have a huntin' buddy. I'm gonna have a huntin' buddy."

We kept seeing his little hand touching his face.

Dr. Chan told us he is going to be a "finker" [thinker].

We REALLY like Dr. Chan. Out of all the doctors in HK, God allowed us to come in contact with her. So good.

Union Hospital

YES, we are having our baby in Hong Kong. May sound weird if you haven't visited this place, but it's super clean and similar to the U.S. [No worries.]

About a 10 minute taxi ride from where we live = awesome. I love a taxi ride.
Super clean hospital
Only 11 floors. Wasn't huge or intimidating at all.
They showed us our options of rooms. That was really fun to see.
No one was screaming in labor in the halls so that was comforting. Let me tell you, I had LOW standards so I wouldn't be disappointed... like I was picturing slight chaos and LOTS of people, but this hospital really is impressive.
They actually have options of different levels of rooms. SUPER. I wasn't really digging the "you are one of many in the room" kind of thing.

I'll put a picture of Noah in my tummy up later. It's starting to be noticable. Woo hoo! I'm ready for it to pop on out and quit looking like I just ate too much.

All Smiles

2010-01-30T23:09:00.003-06:00

We are now on our 2nd Trimester!

I told Scott to squeeze his eyes really tight so we

could show how excited we were.

I am now at 14 weeks and going to see Dr. Chan on Thursday for another appointment. Never thought I would love going to the doctor as much as I do. We're going to try and take a picture of her so I can show all of you. Such a creeper thing to do, but Chinese people love pictures... so maybe it won't be so weird.

And. Super, super exciting:

We'll be finding out in about a month from now

whether we're having a boy or a girl.

Oh, and Scott keeps referring to the baby as "Oscar".

Somebody make it stop.

because i wondered too:

2010-01-14T03:29:00.002-06:00

www.compassion.com

Right when the website pops up, there's a "donate now" button for Haiti. If you were wondering how to help, there's one option from a reliable and trustworthy organization.

psalm 139. 9-10

2010-01-11T23:30:00.005-06:00

So I got this in an email from Mom this weekend. Much needed little reminder.

It's funny because the day I read this when I opened my email, I read it like...

"...if I settle of the FAR side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast."

Some days I feel like that. Like oh okay that's me... I'm far on the other side of the sea. But I really am beginning to see how God is so changing me. Guiding us. Holding us fast. Ooo I love that fast part too. Bringing me to this FAR side to change me. To reveal new things. Scott and I are knowing Him more. And beginning to see that that's the whole point.

the secret's out...

2010-01-06T04:11:00.004-06:00

clue #1

we've added a new picture to our fridge.

[can you guess which one?]

. . .

clue #2

it's inside the red heart.

I'm pregnant! I usually don't love exclamation points, but I feel that this is exclamation point worthy. Scott and I found out the day before our anniversary. We're due in July and having the baby in Hong Kong. Woo hoo!

and such a fun part of this: NAMES.

We are rejoicing.

a wrap up

2010-01-04T22:46:00.006-06:00

from our squished in week of showing mom and sarah hong kong.

My favorite part is that they didn't really care about seeing this place or that. They were perfectly content with sitting and talking... So were we.

I tried [actually, credit goes to Scott] to take a few pictures. Scott loves the "running man" on my camera [he's out of control on that setting], so I had to scroll on through some of those to actually get to the good ones.

first day opening christmas presents at our apartment. SO fun.

right in the middle of Scott doing the running man setting.

the MTR... Sarah's least favorite form of transportation.

the MTR. can't you see her enthusiasm? probably a forced smile.

in our new shades from Mimi and Papa!

our little treasures from the Jade Market.

in front of a really fun hotel.

at a market in Stanley.

and the last few are from the Harbor...

They left early this morning to head back to Auburn. Their trip really was such perfect timing.

I think I had hit that five month wall of wanting a little taste of home. That was exactly what they brought with them. I am so refreshed!

they made it!

2009-12-29T09:50:00.002-06:00

mom & sarah

2009-12-28T09:09:00.002-06:00

They're boarding the plane and headed to Hong Kong! We'll see them tomorrow night. I'll take good pictures [for once] and show 'em to you soon.

And pray for no peanuts to be around sarah on her little journey here. Add mom to that prayer too. She's not even allergic and we all know she'd probably have a worse reaction than my sister.

shoulda

2009-12-23T00:42:00.003-06:00

Duh. I should have put a picture up yesterday. These are the girls that sent a little delivery on over this way. All these girls [plus katy and grayson who aren't in the picture] and I were in a bible study together up until i left for hong kong. I'm so excited for what God is continuing to stir in their hearts. They are so fun and of course there was never a dull moment with them.

[And I'm sure they're already taller and even more beautiful than this right now]

a delivery!

2009-12-21T20:41:00.006-06:00

and the delivery man:

[Our friend, John. He's here for a couple weeks and brought something special. Scott and I met him a few summers ago in Swaziland. Just thrilled that he's here. There's the explanation for these super random pictures that I found on my computer.]

He brought something from a group of fun girls in Auburn.

My little package had some sparkly ornaments to livin' up our tiny tree. And sweet cards.

Thanks girls, this was such a great surprise to wake up to! And to you, Abby for getting it all together. Means so much.

craft & cookie time.

2009-12-16T07:17:00.006-06:00

we had some girls over to create little ornaments and cards. and of course, some cookies too.

they were really into it. it was so fun to watch because they never just sit around and do these kinds of things. it's funny because when i think about it, that's pretty much what all my christmas memories are about. just making things. so how neat to be a part of introducing creative get togethers with them.

they were like little kids again. glitter ALL over their fingers and funny decorations on their cookies. it was a good day.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-13T19:39:00.005-06:00

Surprisingly. The city is covered in Christmas lights and decorations. So we decided that even though Christmas is going to look a little different than we are used to that we would not let that keep us from making our home feel like Christmas. So we decided to go find ourselves a tree...

Sorry for the blurriness but if you can make it out that is our little tree wrapped in plastic

So we got home and put it up and hung the stockings...

I know this may look like a Charlie Brown tree but this is the best we could find and it works just great for us. In all seriousness it is somewhat crazy to walk through the streets and the malls here and see everything and everyone so decked out for Christmas and as I thought about it more it really is pretty disturbing that the vast majority of the people here have no idea who Christ even is. I would venture to say that 95% of the people here would tell you that Christmas is just when Americans give gifts to each other, which may not be far from the truth in much of America. I pray that it looks different from that for us. I pray that as we (as the Church) prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior we would be overwhelmed by the grace of our God. That while we were still sinners, he made a way for us.

happy birthday to our mimi.

2009-12-07T20:14:00.004-06:00

[mimi with my sister]
[this one is me and mimi]

Wish I was with you to give you a huge hug mimi! I love you so much.

and just because i can't resist putting up my favorite picture of you three...

[mom, mimi, and aunt beth!]

super awkward picture

2009-12-03T23:40:00.003-06:00

Especially the one in the middle, where Scott is doing a surprised smile and I'm not looking.

BUT it sums up our time with the conversational english class [this semester has flown by]. This picture was given to us by the people who headed up the class. Sweet Chinese collage.

the neighbors.

2009-11-25T06:13:00.003-06:00

I know I've talked some about the sweet little one, Breanna, but her Mom is also just something else. She just knocked on my door to give me this:

Oh yeah. It's an ice cream maker. Cracks me up. She probably thinks I'm somewhat obsessed because of my little ice cream trips with her daughter. When I opened the door, she said:

Breanna told me that you have made ice cream before

and that you enjoy it. So here is

a gift for you.

{The only time I have ever made ice cream is with Mrs. Barbara [Scott's mom] the VERY FIRST time I came to their house to eat dinner with the family. She handed me the recipe and said it could be my job. We laugh so hard thinking about it because she now knows how much I didn't know about cooking. I was terrified. I love those kind of memories.}

Oh, and Ben... here's to you:

You say you need to see some more of us, so i figured this face should last you a while. This is the one he does to make me laugh so hard. He crosses his eyes and it's just too much. I hope you've seen this side of him.

this weekend:

2009-11-21T07:34:00.004-06:00

the one year anniversary.

oh happy day.

update on number 2.

2009-11-14T05:20:00.006-06:00

Breanna and I had our second ice cream date yesterday.

It was lots of fun. We have Haagen dazs in our club house. She got vanilla. I got strawberry. And we sat and talked. Just like little girls do. She told me that she didn't have a very good day because she was busy with ballet practice and class. What would she rather be doing?

"Skipping"

A simple little thing she is.

This time she didn't bring along her grandparents, so I'm thinking she is getting more comfortable with it just being the two of us. She's precious. Let me introduce you:

[yep. cold enough to wear a little sweater. finally.]

And because I just can't resist, here's the little brother on the playground.