Preschool Begins

We have been in our new home over a month now!  The first 2 weeks after arriving was full of B asking, "What's next?"  He would literally go through each event of the day, asking me what was coming after that (i.e. what's after breakfast? what's after playtime? what's after lunch? what's after nap? and on and on).  After going through an entire day's schedule, he'd say, "OK. But what's after ALL that?"  It took me a while to put all the pieces together....our 3-year-old was BORED.  Bored, because his short life of 3 years has been full of exciting events....traveling all over the world, months on end of visiting family and friends, moving SIX times in just his lifetime!  And now that we have reached our "final destination" and have plans to be here for YEARS, he just couldn't quite grasp that nothing new was coming next.

So, through God's prompting, I realized it was time to start preschool at home.  I had already downloaded an awesome curriculum a couple months ago, so it was time to begin.  Here are a couple pictures from today's activities. The curriculum walks through Bible stories chronologically, with each week's letter and activities centered around that story.  So, this week (Week 3) is about Adam and Eve's Fall into Sin in the Garden of Eden.  The letter of the week is "a for apple" and today we made apple prints.  I don't have any paint, so we improvised and made vanilla pudding, then added food coloring to make our "pudding paint".  Biggest potential problem with this?  The ants were having a feast on B's apples....we stuck them in the fridge to dry and hopefully that will solve the problem!  B sure loved eating his apples afterwards, though, dipped in our edible paint! :)

Making apple prints from our "pudding paint"

And now B's question of the day?  "Can we do more preschool?"  I'm thankful for God's leading in showing me it was time for starting this fun adventure with my son.

B Quotes: Sept. 27, 2013

Yesterday when I put B down for his nap, he kept calling out for me.  I would go to his room and he would have some random question about what he was thinking about.  After a couple times of this, I instructed him to not call out for me again or he would be punished.  So, today as I prepared him for his nap, I told him that he was not allowed to call out for me.  His response was, "Ok, if I have a question, I will just ask myself."

Our Summer in Pictures

Here are some pictures off my phone (i.e. the only camera I always have with me!)

The boys with one of their buddies, Mary

Benji and his topi petani (farmer's hat)
(He loves it so much he asked me if he could wear it to church...)

Our local bakery delivers bread throughout the neighbor with these bikes
or with hand carts, both play a "tune" so you know to come out and buy your bread!

View of a mountain close to our house

View of the same mountain at the nearby school where we play soccer and exercise

Always thrilled to play outside!

First day of being allowed to play with LEGO,
he was ecstatic!

At the playground (same nearby school)

Crossing the bridge at the playground

Neighborhood ladies meeting
(I was trying to take a picture without being noticed...
hard to capture the room filled with 30+ women all sitting on the floor.
Every month they have a meeting to discuss any events/issues
in the neighborhood.  Great cultural experience!)

One of my successful "experiments"

Playing after Sunday School

The boys in front of their Sunday School room at our church

Benji showing off his big brother skills!

Adding some safety features to our bike...

Are you excited?

We have 2 weeks left here in the city where we've lived for the past 8 months of language school. Honestly, it's been hard to answer the questions recently.  I know everyone means well and I am thankful that they care enough to ask...but here is some of what I've been hearing...  Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are excited about your trip?  Are you excited to move?  What are you excited about?  Are you packed yet? Are you nervous?  What are you looking forward to? etc.

I have almost felt guilty that I haven't had any strong feelings about the imminent move.  I'm not super stressed or overwhelmed (yet!), but I'm also not super excited.  I see many of the challenges ahead of us (another transition...) and maybe it's the realist in me that knows it's not all going to be wonderful.  I have moved more times in my life than I can count.  Since we've been married, my husband and I have moved 7 times.  SEVEN times.  This one will make 8.  8 moves in 6 years.  And you know what, there are lots of things I like about moving.  I really enjoy packing (seriously, I'm not being sarcastic! Maybe it's my love for organization?).  I love flying.  I love airports (good thing I married a pilot, huh?) I enjoy the excitement that comes with being in a new place, exploring, discovering and settling in.  BUT, I am also well aware of the hard parts....the time it takes to build deep, meaningful relationships.  Time to get connected into community.  Transitions with little kids:  acting out, temper tantrums, sleep disruptions, tears. Missing the place, people, life you just left (and all the other places and people you aren't with, because being in a new place always brings out those "homesick" feelings).  Moving is hard.

In the midst of all this that has been on my mind, God spoke to my heart in church today.  Essentially what He communicated was that I should be excited about what is about to happen- the move, the transition, the new.  NOT because it will be all wonderful.  But because HE is going with us. 

I was reminded of a conversation with my 3-year-old the other day.  He said, "Jesus is going to be with us in P." 
Whoa, I felt like God was speaking to me through my child...
"Yes, buddy, He is going to be with us in P....and He will be with us in H...and on the airplane...and everywhere we go."  

I am filled with excitement just knowing that HE will be there!  HE has plans for our family.  HE has lead us each step of the way to this point in our lives and I know without a doubt that He will continue to lead.  HE will be with us, through all the transitions, all the hard parts and all the exciting parts.  HE has promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us.  What a powerful, comforting promise. 

For those days when you just want a Frosty, but Wendy's is 5000 miles away....

Missy's Frosty (a.k.a Chocolate Milkshake)
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 1/2 cups powdered milk
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
4+ cups ice

Blend all together in a blender until smooth.  Makes 4 adult size milkshakes.