The first one...

The first suitcase has been packed for America!! One down....??? to go.

Watermelons

It is watermelon season here.  There are watermelons everywhere! Good thing I like them.  I think this week I have had 7 watermelons brought to me.  I have had to give most of them away because there is no way we can eat so many watermelons. 

It became a little comical this week as everyone who came to the door, came bearing watermelon.  Our landlords, Hudson's friends, teachers from the school we taught in last week, etc.  So, I just keep cutting it up and putting it in a bag in the fridge.  They are soooooo good!!!  I wish you could come over and I would share some with you. :)

My Friend

Tonight my heart is heavy for my friend, Staci.  She is the girl in the picture on the far right.  Staci, her husband, Tracey, and their 3 children, Mari Kathryn, Jake and Addison live in Joplin and lost their home yesterday.  Staci's parents and grandmother all lost their homes as well.  It was quite a devastating day for their family.  One of the things I love about my friends is that the other girls in the picture (we all lived together at OBU) are collecting things for the family and driving up today to lend a hand, encourage the family, and just do whatever is needed for them.  

Seeing the devastation of Oklahoma tornadoes first hand and walking with so many people who have gone through similar experiences, my heart truly breaks for my friend. Please join me in praying for this sweet family as well as all those in Joplin who have lost so much.

11 and counting

 On May 18, Hudson turned 11.  It is really amazing to think that this boy, my baby, could already be 11.  Wasn't it yesterday I was holding him and wondering how I would manage 2 babies?  And today, they pretty much manage themselves. 

I am so thankful for the special gift of a son.  Hudson is one of the most caring, serving, helpful boys I have met (not that I am biased).  He constantly thinks of others and what they need, and is more than willing to help and meet needs.  One of his biggest gifts is his compassion for others.  As a mom, I couldn't be prouder or more humbled at his tender servant's heart.  I learn from him every day. 

He loves to spend hours on the phone talking to his Pa about cars and bus routes and just the goings-on in his day to day life. He loves to go outside and ride bikes with his friends.  He is an avid sports fan.  Right now, he is wearing his Mavericks gear daily....Thunder wear has been banned until the Mavs/Thunder series concludes.  But in a few months all of the Mavs jerseys will be replaced by OU Football, which is never too far from his mind.  He loves his family and is really looking forward to big family meals together over the next year.  Hudson loves to laugh and is usually having fun wherever he is and no matter what he is doing.  He truly brings great joy to our life. 

This year, we knew we would be traveling on his birthday, so a week before we invited 4 of his closest friends here to come for the weekend.  The weekend? Yes.  You see, his friends live all over this province, 2 - 3 hours away from us, all in different areas.  So when you have to travel 3 hours one way to a party, you might as well stay a few days. :)  We had a great time with these boys.  Hudson made a menu of all his favorite meals, so I stayed busy in the kitchen making food....11 and 12 yr old boys can eat a lot!  They swam, played outside, played basketball, wrestled, and just had a great time!  On the last night, we invited all of Hudson's local friends to eat cake and have a party with us.  We had a full house of boys.  The local boys had a great time playing party games and eating chocolate cake. It was a great weekend!!

I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but I love it.  Isn't it the best to have a dad who really plays with you and your friends?  Hudson thinks so for sure, and so do I!!!   Here is Rob in action with Hudson and his friends! I am sooooo thankful to have a married a man who is an AWESOME dad!!

Some things I will always remember

1.  I love the beauty of where I live. This week we had the opportunity to climb this "mountain".  While up there we looked out and could see for miles and miles.  The Almighty's Handiwork was abundant and clear as we peered out on villages and streams and lives down below. 

"For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

 2.  I think this is my favorite view. As you approach this door you can't see what is beyond, but when you get to this point you can begin to see the beauty of what is below. It is truly breathtaking!

 3. And then this is one of my favorite memories. Candid moments that seem to pass all too quickly. Father and daughter dancing and laughing together in the living room.  This is a treasure.

4. And I will always remember these two at this age.  So fun and full of life.  They are growing and maturing daily.  I will always remember their smiles and their laughs and how special they are and a joy to both their father and mother!

A Most interesting experience

Today was a first for me in this culture.  After 3 years, I don't have many firsts anymore.  But today we finally had another interesting experience. 

Last Saturday we had all the girls on our team over to watch the Royal Wedding.  We were all occupied making our own crowns and talking about the hats and pomp while Rob was diligently working upstairs.  Hudson had 3 friends over at the house playing basketball and other crazy games.  It was a very good day. On Sunday morning we woke up and were getting ready to take a trip and Hannah began frantically looking for her ipod.  We told her the normal "parent things" like "did you look behind things?" or "where did you use it last?" "when you say you have looked EVERYWHERE what does that mean exactly?"

Hannah is a very careful, responsible girl.  She is extremely organized and meticulously careful with her things. (I will add that this is not a trait passed down from me)  Hannah knew she had used it on Friday during school.....it is hard to do your math when your brother is breathing beside you.....and then she had placed it back on her dresser by her stereo system.  Suddenly the thought occured to me.....one of Hudson's friends stole it.  Rob quickly said "no way" to that, but I couldn't think of what else had happened to it.   Hannah very graciously accepted that it was gone and that it was just "stuff" and not the end of the world.

On Monday, 2 of the 3 boys returned to our house to play.  I casually mentioned, not accusing, that Hudson's sister couldn't find her ipod, had they happened to see it on Saturday.  They said no.  Then on Wednesday, Hudson's buddy, Kenny, called to Hudson and said he needed to talk to us.  He came upstairs and said he knew where the ipod was, one of the boys had stolen it. The boy was showing it off at school that day. But....Kenny had a plan.  The boy who stole it didn't want Kenny to tell Hudson about it, but he said Hudson was his friend and he should give it back. So Kenny came up with a plan and told Rob and I he would get it back today and the boy wouldn't lose face.

Now, here is the interesting part of this culture.  "Face" is everything.  In my mind, once I knew who took the ipod, it seemed ok for me to walk to the boy's door, ask to speak to the parents and get the ipod back. Simple.  However, in the process I would have humiliated the boy, the parents, likely broken relationship with them,  and it would have been culturally inappropriate.  So, Rob said we should instead trust Hudson's friends and see what would happen.  Today, after school, all the boys came back over and asked to play ball. As the thief passed by us, Kenny pointed him out and whispered to us the thief had brought the ipod.  A few minutes later out comes Kenny telling me to stay in the kitchen and for Rob to come help me in the kitchen while the return took place.  Shortly after, Kenny reported the ipod was hiding under a blanket on Hudson's bed.  Sure enough.....it was.

I don't think we ever expected to see the ipod again, but here it is.  More importantly we didn't alienate a little boy and his family, hopefully we can continue to build relationships with them. It sure wouldn't be worth "being right" just because of an ipod.

Saying Goodbye....again

Today brings another goodbye. This goodbye is one that is a difficult one.  For the last 3 years we have had THE BEST teammates.  The day we arrived in this country, they picked us up wide-eyed and English speaking from the airport, had an apartment ready for us, food in the refridgerator, and several dinners that first week if I remember correctly.  Since then, their kindness, generosity, and friendship have never ceased.  They have been a constant in our lives, and now they will be gone.

While we love K and his excellent leadership, I am especially going to miss my friend B.  She and I have very similar upbringings, experiences, and tempermants.  I don't think I ever realized how deep of a friendship I would make here, but I truly have found a friend in B.  It has been such a blessing to know she was "down the street" for a quick phone call or recipe or even a late night foot massage and milk tea. 

They have shared their girls with us and allowed us to love them like the cousins we have been missing. We are so thankful for their kindness in sharing them with us! Today we all feel like we are saying goodbye to family again. 

We will miss you G Family! You have been such a blessing to us and treasured gifts from a faithful Father. Good thing we aren't getting rid of you, since your daughter told Hudson she was marrying him.

The GIRLS!!

We love K and J who live with us out in the countryside!! California girls seem to know how to have a lot of FUN!!!

WEDDING!!

We were so pleased to participate in our good friends' wedding this weekend.  It was such an honor to be apart and to witness their special day!  This couple has become such a huge part of our lives and even our family. We will truly miss them when we are back in America!  Rob and I have done their marriage counseling, which has been quite a learning experience  and fun for us as it hasn't been in English.

We have all been looking forward to this day and were so happy that it has finally come!

Rob and I emceed the wedding, meaning we were a lot like talent show hosts, telling what came next. Hannah sang a solo and Rob and I also sang with the bride and groom. :) It was a fun day!  

This wedding was the first Christian wedding most in attendance, including their families, had ever seen.  Again, we were so thankful to be part of this event!