The Visitors

Yesterday we had some unexpected visitors. About 30 minutes before some lunch guests arrived, Hannah and I were busily preparing the last details of lunch where there was a knock on the door. Wondering who it could be.....a package? my BBQ sauce and Starbucks order? maybe? But no, it was my landlord. And his father and grandfather, and his son and grandson.

I am normally all about having company, but not really right before invited guests are about to arrive and I am in my final prep and cleaning. I welcome them into my home, get them water and ask how I can help them. They say not to worry, but the grandfather was here to look at the place and check out the feng shui. Ummmm......ok. I wanted to ask if they could get it done quickly becasue I had stuff in the oven.

They walked onto the front balcony, talking and gazing at the mountains and the view for a while, then they walked to the back balcony taking in the views and enjoying the day. They declare that the view is good and balanced, then head to the front door frame. The son brings out a bowl of rice, some money, and a string. The elderly grandfather gets on the floor and begins measuring the center of the doorframe with his dial, a string and a single grain of rice.

During this time I sent Hudson upstairs to get Rob to come down and help me. :) There are some religious customs where they hang things on the doorways for protection from evil spirits and post spirit guardians at the doors. I really didn't want them to do that to my house. They told me this was their tradition and I immediately began explaining our beliefs and that we didn't need to be protected from the spirits because of the One who is over all lives in our life and He protects us from evil. They continued measuring and at one point placed a bowl of rice with some money in it right in the middle of the doorway. Rob came down and shared with them a little more about our beliefs, then suddenly the elderly gentleman stood up and declared the feng shui in our home was VERY good. And they left without posting anything in our doorway or outside of it.


As they did their feng shui measurements under the door I glanced over them, above the doorframe and thought it fitting the Scripture we had posted there.

The most exciting part of moving day

Imagine you showed up to your job at 7am, made a 2 hour trip to another city to move a family out of their 6th floor apartment, there were only 3 of you, and this family had A LOT of stuff. Then you realize, after the 2 hour drive back, that they are moving into another 6th floor apartment so now you get to heft all of that stuff back up 6th flights of stairs and there are still only 3 of you.


2 choices:
1. Stay in bed.
2. After ascending and descending to the 6th floor all day, stop. Try a rope.

Moving guy 1 says to moving guy 2, hmmmm...... Here come my dishes.
Safe and sound. The best part when we questioned them what would happen if a box broke, or fell from up high, they said they were only pulling up light boxes. NOT TRUE!!! The next box to make the flight was a full box of books!! Oh well, it was exciting!!

No Water

We are moved in but not quite settled. Translated: everything is in the house, but all over the house and not unpacked. I keep getting requests for pictures, but all in due time. We have been working to get everything in its right place, and we are getting close~!

Today, Saturday, is shaping up to be a great day for a lot of projects to be done, however, we woke up to no running water. We noticed outside our window that our neighbors were all bringing their buckets outside to fill up on a spicket until the water ran out.....it quickly ran out there too.

Hooray for no showers and no flushing toilets!!

Moving.....

Finally the weeked has arrived for the big move. Boxes are packed, drawers and shelves are empty. The movers are coming and we are done in this current apartment. It has been a great home for us the last 2 years and we are so thankful for a wonderful place to live.

Next post.....from the new home, 2 hours away from this one. See you there! And yes, that is Bubbles the bunny in the trash box, chewing and eating everything she can.

The Fridge Magnet

As I am packing up the last of the boxes in my current apartment, I come to the refridgerator. I have some magnets that are on my fridge that are special to me. Most of them are magnet pictures of my kids, but there is one that has moved with me now 3 times. This magnet is always on and hopefully always will be on my fridge. It always makes me stop and smile when I look at it. Not only are the little guys and girls in this picture special to me but there parents are too. All of the kids pictured are turning 12 and 13 this year. WOW! I remember this day like it was yesterday. Hannah's sweet friend Roman turned 3 and we celebrated by going to Earlywine Park to play. This magnet was included in the thank you note. Such a special time with good friends and a great time in life. And the fun thing, I have been to several houses who also still display this same magnet.

Next year the magnet will be 10 years old, meaning the birthday girl will be 13. We will be in OK for the big day, I am hoping for another magnet to put next to this one. Then again, maybe I don't want to look at that one.

In case you were wondering, my girl is the one in the middle with the pink shirt and plaid shorts. She is WAY too big now.

Saying Goodbye

We have discovered that we never stop saying goodbye. We said goodbye 2 years ago and hello to many new friends when we moved here. However, we have now discovered that we must say goodbye again to friends who we have lived with here for several years as they prepare for what is ahead in their own lives.

Last month we had to say "goodbye for now" to some very special people in our lives. Friends here become like family because they, for all intents and purposes, are our family while we are here. Change is a part of life and it seems there are always people coming and going in and out of our lives.

So thank you sweet friends for loving on us and having a special place in our hearts!! We miss you already!

Stuffed Hearts

About a year ago we took a trip out to some villages doing health checks. Before we went, Hannah asked me if she could go through her stuffed animals and give them away to the village children who checked their health, since they don't have toys or stuffed animals. I told her that sounded like a great idea. I was very moved by her willingness since we had already left behind so much in America before we came here. She carefully combed her room and came up with a big bag of animals to give away.

They day came when we went to do our health check. After each child had weighed and checked his height, he got a stuffed animal. The joy on each child's face was priceless. It really meant a lot to Hannah to see each face and the happiness a simple gift could give. When we returned home, Hannah and her friend Katy decided to come up with "Stuffed Hearts", a way other children in America could participate in what we were doing through giving their "lightly used" stuffed animals. Hannah shared this with her Uncle Reagan who shared with some people who shared with some people and with the a few people in OK, we began receiving shipments of stuffed animals. So far we have received close to 300 animals. WOW!! Hannah has had a few opportunities to give animals away, like at the village elementary school last Christmas.In May, we gave stuffed animals to each of the kids at the orphanage we visited.

And last week we did a week of health checks and gave the rest of the animals away.

I am so proud of my girl (what's new?) and her willingness to get involved and participate in life here! And we have a BIG THANK YOU to the kids at Thompson Station, Ms. Kirby's class, and Aunt Shirley!!