Happy Valentine's Day

In 2006 I started an annual Valentine's Dinner just for my family.  I made all their favorite dishes, used the fine china, and decorated for a fancy dinner.  From the time the kids were little we have always enjoyed doing this.  Since we moved overseas, most years we have found ourselves traveling and not home during Valentines, so this year we were thrilled to have a chance to celebrate together tonight.  Living here, we have to adapt and make most of what we decorate with....which turns out to be really fun!

My house helper was a little baffled as to why I was decorating the dining area, but after I explained it to her all afternoon, she was starting to get it.  She watched me make dessert and just shook her head at all the steps I was taking to make one thing.  She said (in her own language) "you sure do things different!" 

I had a lot of fun cutting and hanging hearts from lights and making a banner to go across the door, though I didn't get a picture of it.  I found vintage valentine cards that I cut out and turned into napkin holders. And we all made each other Valentines with special messages on them. It was a super fun dinner!

Please note my beautiful roses in the above picture!  The best moment of the day came when Rob had some roses delivered to me.  I said, "Oh, these must be from my husband!"  The rose lady replied, "I don't know if the guy was your husband or not!"  I laughed and asked if the man who bought the flowers was a foreigner, and she said "YES!"   Pretty sure since my husband is the ONLY foreigner in town, they were from him.

One other special part of dinner was dessert!! My sweet friend Rachel sent me (via the husbands) some special treats she can get where she is, but we can't get where we are.  It just so happened one of the things she sent was a recipe for chocolate chip cheesecake ball and all the ingredients I needed to make it.  I have put the ban on all sweets and general junk food in our hosue, so this was extra special for our family. Thanks again Rach!!

 And here are the people I love more than anything and and their sweet faces! 

Fireworks Excitemnt

All around us New Year celebrations are in full swing.  Day and night there are firecrackers, fireworks exploding everywhere.  What are 2 boys to do, but join in the fun.  Yesterday, Rob and Hudson went bike riding after we finished school. They came back with the loud, long strand of firecrackers.  One of the things people do is hang these off of their balconies and light them.  This is all fine and good as long as your neighbors below know what you are going to do. 

Let's just say that 30 seconds after this video ends, there was a knock on our door.  We had scared our neighbors to death.  Imagine sitting comfortably in your living room and suddenly smoke, fire, and a lot of noise begins.  It would scare you too.  Rob apologized profusely and told them it wouldn't happen again.  And it won't.

 Rob and Hudson took a big bag of fruit to them a little later and apologized to them again for scaring them.  On the bright side, we made some new friends tonight. :)

Christmas Programs

Christmas programs have always been one of my favorite things at Christmastime.  Even overseas, we have found a way to share the story of Christmas through song and story.  This year, it was so fun for my kids to both have a chance to participate in their school programs.  We had quite a crowd both weeks of all the family that lives in OK as well as friends.  A HUGE thank you to all who came to support our two kids in their performances, it really meant a lot to them and to us!! 

Hudson tried out for the roll of the shepherd in the 4th-6th play, and he got it.  Here he is in his performance last week.  

This one is a little fuzzy.....but he was singing with his classmates.  He is the one in the shepherd costume.  He was secretly very glad not to have to wear dress pants.

All of the 4th - 6th graders finishing strong.

And last night Hannah had her first choir concert.  Her jr. high choir did a great job!  I was such a proud mom!! 

Hannah has been really blessed this year with some great friends! Here are a few of them who also participtaed in the band and choir concert.  

My Favorite Carol.....this season

I love music.

This month as I have prayed, thought, and pondered this Christmas season, life around me, and the world in which we live, this song has really spoken so much to me.  Life in the States is hectic, crazy, and fast-paced.  I am looking forward to the week of Christmas to spend with family.  But in the midst of life, this carol has calmed my soul and helped me connect again with the One who came to heal and restore.

My favorite rendition of it, in case you were wondering, is from Chris Tomlin's Glory in the Highest: Christmas album.

May you have a blessed Christmas Season!

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Easter 2011

We have had such a fun Easter weekend.  It started on Friday when our friends came into town for the weekend.  We all had a big dinner at our favorite place in town, then our friends two oldest boys,  who happen to be Hudson's very good friends, came over to spend the first of 2 nights with us.   On Saturday, all 8 kids spent the day with my amazing friends B and A.  They graciously dyed eggs, hid eggs, facilitated egg hunting, made dinner, cleaned up said activities and PHEW......they looked tired when we saw them that night.  

We had a great weekend for many reasons and truly celebrated that HE IS RISEN!! So thankful to do this with our friends, both foreign and local!!

Here is the crew dying the eggs.

 Hannah helped her little friend make some beautiful eggs!!

 Time for the hunt!

 Hudson and his buddy taking a break

 Easter Sunday morning brunch....YUM!!

 We acted out the Resurrection Story with all the kids.  My favorite part was our friend, (the man in the pic) acting out the part of the stone.  Here he is rolling away. :)

 Rob reading the story as the kids act it out.

Happy Easter from the O Fam!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Many Blessings from the O Fam as you finish 2010 and welcome 2011! We love you all and are thankful for each one of our family and friends!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas 2010 will go down as an exciting Christmas!! It has definitely been different than all the ones I have had, but it has so been worth it. We have had 14 friends from the States here with us for 2 weeks. We did Christmas programs at high schools, junior highs, and a college, performing for over 8000 students. It was truly a blessed Christmas, focusing on the Reason for the Season and getting to share that Reason with so many who had no idea why we celebrate this holiday. Here are some pictures of what we have been doing for the last 2 weeks.

Hudson and I singing a duet together. Hannah singing her solo. I was so proud of her! She did an excellent job in every part of the performance! I have a character on my hands....in case you didn't know. Hannah sitting on Santa's lap....aka...Rob.

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!

Christmas Day...after

We have been traveling so on Christmas morning we awoke in a countryside hotel room and ate chewy chips ahoy (a new arrival here in the Big country). So we decided to postpone Christmas Day until the 26th. We arrived home the afternoon of the 25th and our "extra" family came over. We ate chili and cornbread, watched Christmas movies, and Skyped our families the rest of Christmas Day. Everyone slept over at our house on the 25th and we all woke up to Christmas morning the next day. I made the Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls....YUM......and we had a very fun time opening presents together. This is our 3rd Christmas away from home and while we are looking forward to being with family next year.....our family away from family sure is a good substitute! We love you guys!

All of "the kids" waiting to see what is in their stockings.

Luigi...I mean Hudson... Stocking Time!

Thanks Manners Family! Thanks Nana for the Bob Stoops football!! Hudson gave Ryan Dr. Pepper for Christmas. Santa's Little Helper!

Christmas Climb

What did you do on Christmas Eve? We climbed a mountain. It was a lot of fun and I am glad we had the chance to see the beauty and majesty of the area where we live.

View from the top.So sad our girls had to go home. :( The O Fam!

There was a cave in the middle of the mountain. There has been a temple built inside of it. This is a balcony built off of the cave. Our family on Christmas Eve. So happy Ryan can be here with us on Christmas.

Thanksgiving Visitors

I am behind again in my blogging. I have blogs waiting to be written and pictures waiting to be shared but alas, life has caught up with me and I am backlogged. I have a few minutes tonight so I will try to string a few blogs together for my faithful readers.....Bob. :)

We were truly blessed to have my dad and Kerry Ann come and visit us the last few weeks. It is always great to have family visit us and give them a small taste of what our lives are like here. Here are some pictures of our time together.

I flew to the capital city in our country and met my Dad and Kerry Ann at the airport. Here we are meeting again after a very long time.
Yes, I am on my phone, calling the hotel van they can pull up to the exit, we would be there shortly.We woke up early the next morning and took a trip to this country's big wall.Now we have arrived in our small town and are enjoying a local meal together....at least some were enjoying the local meal. :)
While at home Grandad played some old familiar games...... ....and learned how to play guitar hero as well. Ryan took my dad to see his school,his dorm and roommates...at least a few of them, and his classroom where he showed off his writing skills. On Thanksgiving, we celebrated Hannah's birthday.
Then we headed out to the countryside to visit some friends. They treated us to lunch in their home and a good visit. Then the boys took the football to the streets and started up a small game. Everyone thought this was most interesting to watch.Here are my dad and KerryAnn on a bridge in one of the towns we visited.
After we got home from the countryside we put up the tree, however, sadly, the tree broke. So, with a little duck tape, we think it will hold together for the month. Hannah and Hudson doing their decorating of the tree. And finally, the group picture around the tree before opening Christmas presents together. You will notice we are(almost) all wearing OU clothing, this is becasue we had just watched the OU/OSU game. Of course, Rob and Hudson wear OU shirts almost every day of the year, is that a problem? We had a wonderful time seeing my dad and Kerry Ann for this year and were truly blessed to have them come and visit us!!