Powerless

Not me, US. Looks like we're going to have another day without power, the second this week - and that means no A/C (check out the temps on the column on the right), only fans (not TOO bad, considering) and hearing the generator which is just outside my kitchen window LOUD AND CLEAR all day... It rained all day yesterday so hopefully today is sunnier so the clothes and towels get dry.

The kids had a blast playing outside in the rain yesterday morning but by 11:30 were chilled. We were all cold at lunch time - wonder what the temp was. Should probably get a thermometer for moments like that because we'd probably be amazed at how warm it actually is when we're thinking about a sweater!! There was a cool breeze so that's probably why we felt chilly.

On Tuesday Mitchell started Kindergarten! He's doing a great job and has a great attitude - of course he has a great attitude about it - he's been pestering me to start Kindergarten for months!! I'm glad he enjoys it and am SO excited that he'll be reading in a couple of weeks. I remember doing this curriculum with Spencer and it was so fun to see him figure out how stuff goes together. By the 2nd week of school they're already reading primers. I was just remembering last night some of the cute things he used to say - that he doesn't say anymore, and I'm not sure we got it on video tape! He's growing up so fast!!

Spencer is doing a 1st grade math review and flying through it so far. I'm doing it with him because he's going to be supplementing his 2nd grade math this fall with this other math curriculum and didn't score well on the placement test because he didn't get the format, not because he didn't know the math. It seemed that it would be best if he spent some time with the curriculum reviewing what he already knows before he started new material with a whole new format. It's from another Asian country so some terminology is a bit different than we would normally use. I think he's enjoying it and he seems to get it all. Can't wait til he gets to the Challenging Maths, we'll see how he does. Seems to be laid out really well. Maybe after he goes through all of this I will "get" math too!! In the photo below the boys are checking out the turtles and fish in our small backyard pond. Note they're squatting like local people do. If only I could get MY muscles to let ME do that!!

Our Julia is talking up a storm. Her favorite things are My Little Ponies, her baby doll, and her "beautiful" shirt. I was getting her dressed yesterday after coming in out of the rain and she requested a long-sleeved shirt in her closet. She volunteered that she wanted to wear it because it was beautiful. I don't remember how she pronounced it, but it was cute!! Here she is in her new piggie pajamas - from her aunties, matching her cousins' pajamas! She said, "Mommy, the piggies are running!"

OK, that was strange, but I'm glad to say that our power just came back on!! Anytime the power goes off first thing in the morning (like 6:15 or 7:30 or some other time that's precise like that) we are usually in for a day "off". Have a great day!!

Overwhelmed

Today I’m feeling overwhelmed, but it’s for a different reason earlier this week.

It’s been TOO long since I’ve written, but for good reason. We’ve been transitioning into our new ministry roles, and also have been out of town for about 2 weeks. We had a good time at our Field Fellowship time, connecting with colleagues, taking some time to relax and enjoy the company of friends from language study and also having the opportunity to shop in a grocery store that had western-style groceries. Highlights of the grocery shopping trip include whole wheat flour, flax seed and other grains for baking bread as well as a HUGE food service sized can of nacho slices!! We opened it today for lunch – haven’t had jalapenos since last summer – it was wonderful!! (...I forgot how spicy they were…) It should last a while…

Since we arrived home from Field Fellowship on June 6th, we’ve had guests in spades. Yesterday, the last guest left (until more come tomorrow) so we took the two days to move into our new home!! Part of being overwhelmed before was that our guests helped us move all of our stuff over (thank you!) but we didn’t have time or brain power left to figure out where to put the stuff. So, we walked around it for just under 2 weeks! I’m thankful to report that my floors once again can be seen by all, most everything is somewhere I can find it if needed and I feel much more settled in!!

We also got sick on the way to field fellowship and were sick about half the time there. Then on the way home we all got sick again and are still working to kick the head/chest colds we got!! Julia’s still not better and I’m still fighting a sore throat but the rest of the family seems much better.

That takes me to my current overwhelm-ed-ness. Today our supply buyer walked into our home carrying THREE care packages!! One we were expecting because it was stuff we paid for and had sent. The other two were from friends sending stuff to us because they love to minister to us that way. There are miracles all over this situation. We have already seen a number of times where packages have been held up in customs (or who knows where). Then they arrive on the perfect day – either exactly when we need what’s in them, or on a day when we could use a little pick-me-up. (For instance: Last fall we had decided to see if we could find some matchbox cars for the boys since theirs were looking a little run-down. That same day we received an unexpected package containing matchbox cars!! I prayed for months that the birthday package my mom sent would reach us before we left for our new region – we got it 2 days before we left (over 5 months after she mailed it). One day in fall (my favorite season – non-existent here) I was missing the leaves and we received a package with laminated multi-colored maple leaves from my sister!) So, here are some miracles for today, lest we forget…

We took our last vitamins last night not knowing when the next ones would arrive– the package we had sent to us contained the new ones we’d ordered.

Then another: I decided to go off of sugar for 1 month for health reasons this past Monday. It’s been going OK but sometimes it’s hard and I’m scrounging around the kitchen for something to ease the munchies. 2 of the packages I received today included sugar-free stuff, including strawberry Twizzlers (as anyone who knows me well knows, I LOVE strawberry Twizzlers) and she’d found them in Sugar-Free!! She also sent Splenda, which you can’t get here! I’m totally a beverage person and both packages included sugar-free drink mixes. NOW I'm set! (that's for Brenda)

On top of that, had our supply buyer not been there to pick up the packages, we may not have received the vitamins in them because they were not in original packaging and customs had a problem with that. He was able to talk to them and convince them that these were not illegal drugs or an import that I was re-selling but just something for my family to be more healthy. So I thank God for taking care of that too!

Beyond all of this, a couple from our church brought care packages from our church friends while at field fellowship as well –including an incredible assortment of items from our list on the blog (besides Spencer’s entire 2nd grade curriculum). We are excitedly anticipating making pepperoni pizza this weekend; we have some needed medical items and many other things to enjoy!

So here we are, with heat, humidity and a bunch of wonderful friends and family that God is using to bless us!! How overwhelming is that!!! We’re SO thankful for the tender loving care from such a caring Heavenly Father!