Happy New Year!!!

And what good is a new year without a little recap of the old year? Some of our fav pics from 2008!! By the way....it was a little wierd "skype-ing" with family who are still in 2008 while we are already in 2009. Some people....just can't quit living in the past.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Monday, Monday.....

How do you know it is a Monday?

*when you have to go back to language school after a nice break and your alarm goes off WAY too early

*when you get on your bike and head out and realize it is raining....and cold, but are late and can't go back to get your rain things.

*when halfway to school, you realize the new mascara you just bought, becasue the American stash ran out, isn't water proof or water resistent.....

*when the main road you take has road construction, in fact the bridge that was crossing the road 2 days ago....is no longer there only a big pile of rubble blocking the road and your favorite short-cut to school. So now, not only do I have to go the "long" way to school, but I am also forced onto the road with the other cars and bikes and now there is a traffic jam.....meanwhile...I am very wet.

*when you try to stay under bridges and trees to stay dry, but suddenly a huge shower falls down just as you ride under.....2nd shower of the day, only this one is colder and dirtier for sure.

*when finally you arrive to class and now have to sit for 3 hours, cold, wet....and shivering.

It's Monday.....thankfully my knight in shining armour called and told me to take a taxi home, he would ride my bike home for me....boy do I love that guy!!

So this is Christmas...

So this is Christmas....

I am one of those people who would love to have a musical soundtrack to my life. It is probably becasue music has always been so important to me. Harry Connick crunes quite a bit in my house at Christmastime, as well as Stephen Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, and Reliant K ( I know an odd mix) I have several favorite Christmas songs, but overwhelmingly my favorite is "O Holy Night". The words are beautiful and have such meaning to me. It really speaks to the meaning of Christmas and joy He brings to the world.
Let there be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with ME!

I have thougt many times this month about how "different" this Christmas is for me and our family. No cousins, family, grandparents, etc.. There have been a few times this month that I felt very sad for not being home with my family. I could go on and on about what I am missing, but I was reminded again this season how good my Father is to me, and I was overwhelmed by how much He has given me. I thought I would share a few of the blessings with you.

Silent Night...Holy Night

I have heard the Christmas story from the time I was in the womb. I know it, I can recite it, I understand the meaning of it. But, I watched adults hear this story for the first time this year and it was more special to me than ever. I had an instance in a cab this week where two cab drivers were sitting in the front seat (it was shift change) and they began asking me about Christmas. So I shared the story with them of the baby and the manger. I went on to tell them about how this baby lived, grew up, and the rest of the story. I told them "my story" as it relates to Him, and how I talk to Him and He to me.....the cab driver whipped his head around in shock and said "you talk to him?" I loved having these opportunities to share the meaning of Christmas.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Our family and another family were asked to sing at 2 events. The first was a type of talent show. We all wore red, sang Jingle Bells, Silent Night, then our kids sang "Jesus Loves ME" in the local language. There were about 500 college kids in the auditorium and you could have heard a pin drop. I was so proud of my two kids singing boldly and proudly about His love. Then a few nights later we were asked to sing at a Christmas party which was actually a Christmas pageant (some things are lost in translation). This group of locals had invited everyone they knew (about 500) to celebrate Christmas with them. We were the token foreigners with cute kids who sang. I sat there for 2 hours listened to this local group share, sing, and proclaim. I was so moved. At one point a little local girl got up and sang "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" in her language, while another child accompanied her on the flute. It was truly a holy moment. As tears came from my eyes, I so longed for everyone in that place to understand that this Infant loves them so!! That night we sang "O Holy Night", it was unforgettable.

Away in a Manger

One of my greatest joys this year has been my children. As they are growing I see more and more of their Savior in them, and it thrills my heart more than anything. We have been reading Matthew as a family this year. We learned through the teachings and parables that what is on the inside, not just the outside, is most important. That what is on the inside will come out and influence the outside actions. All that to say, it is so special to see your kids trying to live that out.

All I want for Christmas is YOU

There are so many stories I could share with you about my kids living this out, but at some point you would stop reading, you may have already. Last Saturday night we had a big party at our home. We hosted about 20 people. There was a lot of prep to be done during the day. Hannah and Hudson both looked for work to do, in order to help. I was amazed. Hannah would finish one thing and then ask, "Mom, what do we need to do next?" Then she would begin to look for things to do without asking. From sweeping, to icing cookies, to washing dishes, there was no tiring this girl. Hudson looked for things to do as well. Sometimes, his wanting to help causes you to work harder, but when you see a such a willing spirit, how can you not encourage it. He became my cheese and ham assembler. Which was a perfect job for him. He enjoyed it and it kept him busy! Despite the hectic day, my heart was thrilled with my children's sensitivity and their servant's heart as they wanted to serve and make everything great for our party that night. Then as I watched them interact with students and take thousands of pictures with them, they exhibited love that was beyond them. This morning, the day after Christmas, we all slept in, except for Hudson. (he doesn't know that word) When Rob and I got up, Hudson was waiting for us with the table set and breakfast laid out on the plates. He said, "Mom, you have worked so hard all week in the kitchen I didn't want you to have to make breakfast, so I did." Pop-tarts and Rice Krispy Treats. And when we finished breakfast, he told me to sit down, he would clean it all up.

O Holy Night

I know there are a lot of things I am missing. I have 2 nieces who don't really know us, fun family times, lots of laughter......but there are so many things I am not missing. So many blessings He has given. Mostly, the gift of his Son, which brings LIFE!! I truly have abundant life and treasure that. Merry Christmas!!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Another Year Another Birthday Sleepover

This weekend we had Hannah's birthday party sleepover! Fun times, and now Hannah is home sick with a fever. Hope we didn't give it to anyone....or maybe it was too much partying. Here are the girls along with their favorite teacher who is leaving our city next week. She came over and helped us celebrate most of the night.

We invited all the girls in Hannah's class to spend the night. All such sweet little girls. Some of the girls who had eaten at our house before requested baked potato soup for dinner (my cooking is being requested), however some of the other girls thought potatoes in soup was a strange thing....rice is supposed to be in soup, not potatoes. However, they all really liked it. I made Hannah's favorite chocolate cake (she likes mine better than the BOX! go figure...please see picures of how chocolatey the cake looked). And the next morning Rob made pancakes. This was fun because several of the girls had never eaten them before. One little girl asked the other (in Korean) "what do I do with this" and "what are these things they are putting on top." Butter and syrup. I am pretty sure most of these little girls had NEVER eaten so much sugar in a 12 hour period as they did at my house, hope they get to come back. Another first at the sleepover.....discussion over which language the movie subtitles should be in. Note to self......when only 2 of the 6 girls speak English as a first language there could be a difficulty when watching a movie in English.

The majority of the time the girls spent playing with thier Gooey Gooeys. What is a Gooey Gooey? Well, at the end of the summer Hannah's grandparents sent her some pencil grips along with other school supplies. Upon starting a new school and making new friends, Hannah decided to share her pencil grips with all the girls in her class. They quickly renamed these "Gooey Gooeys" and made their own world. 4 months later, today, the Gooey Gooeys all have their own houses, schools, bed, chairs, playgrounds, etc. Each girl has taken it upon themselves to use whatever is laying around their house to create Gooey Gooey world. When they all get together on the weekends they each tote a big plastic bag of "stuff" with them so they can play. I have never seen anything like it. From the time they arrived at our house until they left the next day, this is all they played. I moved out our coffee table and they took over our living room. Rob and I got a big kick out of them. (And it was a very easy bday party)

Our Front Door

In honor of my good friend Bev and her always beautiful door and yard decor no matter what the season, here is a picture of my front door decorated for Christmas. In this time of "new traditions" for the O Fam, I decided that one of them will be the annual coloring and decorating of our door. Since we have no porch, lawn, or sidewalk, just a metal door and small rug to wipe your feet on this is all we can do. The fun part about living here is that we are the only ones who will decorate with a reference for the true meaning of the season. Here is a picture of our door and our neighbor's door. Not the same.....as if anyone didn't already know where the foreigners live. So, this brings so many opportunities to tell of the REAL meaning of Christmas. As we decorated this night, our sweet neighbor came out and checked out our door then peeked inside at our Christmas tree. As she looked at all the pictures posted on our door, I asked her if she had ever heard the story of the Son and his birth. She told me she had NEVER heard His NAME or His story. Santa, however, is thriving here.

Hooray for Christmas

We have a Christmas Tree!! Thought everyone would like to check it out....it is amazing how much it looks like the tree we always had in OK. Especially with the special ornaments we brought with us.

Here are my little elves working on the tree. Perfectly spacing out the ornaments.... hee hee!

Hudson working hard!

Hudson and Hannah happy to have the tree finished!!!

The finished product!!!

Fun Times with my MOM!

On Thanksgiving Day I left in the early evening to meet my mom's airplane at a port city as she entered this country. There was great excitement and consternation because all of our passports have been at the visa office for the past 3 weeks. I waited until the day before to buy my plane tickets and prepped my mom for how to come into our city alone. Upon calling the airport they assured me it would be no problem to fly if I had a copy of my passport, proof the visa office had my passport, and I threw my Oklahoma driver's license in there for good measure. Long story short....there are problems. Not so easy to travel in a foreign country without your passport. However...it can be done. A little money, a little convincing, and I was on the plane!! The next day...a little more money, a little more convincing, and I was on the plane again. Woo hoo!! And just so you know....my OK drivers license means absolutly NOTHING here! Upon my arrival in the "big city" to pick up my mom, I had a few hours to kill, so I checked into the hotel and headed to Starbucks for a coffee....I had heard they had their holiday flavors. I read my book and sipped my BIG coffee for an hour then headed back to the airport. It was a TREAT!

My mom arrived safe and sound to our country and to our city. We had a whirlwhind time with her, and it went by too fast. We stayed close to home the first 2 days so she could get oriented to the time difference and have our Thanksgiving meal. The kids were so excited to get to play with her. While Rob and I cooked she played dolls with Hannah and video games with Hudson. They were thrilled. And not one time did anyone call her to buy a house!! On Sunday we had a party for the OU/OSU game. Several friends came over and we watched the game. Then in the evening we all caught a bus and went out to the country to give Mom a little tour. We ate "local BBQ" and met some friends of ours who generously had gifts to give my mom. The next day we decided to take her to a small place we had been to before, only a 15 minute drive. BUT!! Our driver took the wrong turn and we ended up off the main road on a small, bumpy dirt road, that ended at the river. We then had to trek down the river and take a small boat that ferried people across the river. There was a rope across the river and the man who lived on the boat pulled the it back and forth all day long. I am quite sure this was WAY!! out of my mom's comfort zone but she was a trooper. She enjoyed seeing the small town and the people were very friendly to her. I am pretty sure she will come back because the thing she heard over and over again was how beautiful and young she looked. No one could believe she was my mother. She was THRILLED!! After we returned to our city, the kids each took a day off of school to spend with her. We shopped and ate at their favorite places. Finally on Thursday she helped us decorate our tree, and on Friday we had Christmas with her before she left for the airport. We were so Happy to have her come and visit. It was great to see her and spend time with her. Thanks MOM for making the long trip over here to see us. We are so thankful!!