December is a time for celebrating...

Getting our Visas!

12 years of marriage

Charis turning 3...more to follow

Christ's Birth

The washer hums...then stops abruptly. It starts again going the opposite direction. All the while the clothes aren't going anywhere. As I stare mesmerized, it hits me if I were the clothes inside, it would drive me crazy . . . Then, s.l.o.w.l.y. I accept . . . I am those clothes. My task oriented side cringes. I like progress. I like completed tasks especially the ones unlike laundry that are completed - - - FOREVER! I don't like to have to go back to the store for something I forgot and much less do I like having to relearn a lesson. I feel like it is going backwards. I dislike backwards. This tiny energy efficient washer today fulfills a greater purpose than washing my family's clothing. As it spins its fastest it becomes God's tool to teach me, life most of the time is more like being inside of a washer machine than in a car going forward. In this process of life turning I pray I am becoming more and more like God's son, Jesus.

What has consumed my world...

“What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.”

Gabriel turned 9 months on Sunday. I feel like each month flies by quicker than I want (except the sleepless nights). I hold him tight as if that will keep him a baby longer. His laughs and smiles fill our home. We all enjoy making him laugh, but I think Charis may be able to get him to laugh harder than anyone. Their relationship is precious. His eyes light up if he hears her voice or sees her. And she asks for him at times when she is sad. He loves people. People marvel at his smiles and friendliness.

Our little boy is full of energy and always on the go. He goes full force so that by nap or bed time his entire body and soul are begging for sleep. His adventurous spirit is the only thing that will cause him to slow down to inspect something which usually means putting it in his mouth. If he is not stopping to chew on something, he is crawling, pulling up, cruising, climbing or using his new little walking toys (my life savers right now). Gabriel celebrated turning nine months by letting go while standing. The next day he had numerous big falls as he attempted to get from one object to the next . Bathing him is like a work out for me to make sure he stays safe. He wiggles out of my hands so quick, pulls up on the sides of the bath tub or just dives face forward!

(caught eating a snail)

I recently went back and read what I blogged about Charis at this age, and I was struck with how unique God makes each child. Charis was just getting active and curious, but Gabriel has been an energizer bunny since 4 1/2 months. Charis said more words and sounds and did a lot of "tricks". Gabriel says only "dada" and "mama". He tries to say banana but only mouths it which probably won't change because he loves me laughing about it. His only "trick" is his piggy face. But the thing that made me laugh is that they both discovered at the same age somebody’s left over ice cream AND loved it!

Finding Sister's ice cream

(look close to see those top four teeth)

Fall Pictures

Spots on My Apples

I. love. fruit. I grew up being able to pick mangoes, grapefruit, tangerines, and many other fruit straight off the tree. Biting into freshly picked fruit and having its sweet or sour flavors spray in my mouth might be even better than biting into a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. As a kid I remember fruit straight off a tree being so juicy that I had to keep the juice from dripping down my face. And I never thought about the spots...except to maybe eat around them. Maybe that is why I tend to want to buy organic (obviously funds don't always make this possible).

One of my sweet little joys of living here is, as we have begun to get to know people in our village, we have been blessed with the gift of fresh fruit. A lady who promises to help me learn Greek and who invited us to her sons wedding, brought us fresh grapes, figs and zucchini. Then two days ago the lady that cares for the upkeep next door brought me freshly picked apples. She apologized for the spots but explained they don't spray anything. I cut off the spots and took a crunchy bite of pure goodness. Lets say the store bought ones are still in my fridge and Charis now asks for an apple to snack on instead of a cookie.

Private Happiness?

God has used John Piper again... Well, let me back up. I was rereading a child rearing book, Don't Make Me Count to Three, and decided to jolt down some scripture for reference. In her third chapter she touches on 1 Cor 13 "Love is not rude". Wow, how have I forgotten this simple phrase is in scripture? I try to teach Charis this, but I should be taking her to God's Holy Word that doesn't come back void. As I read this section of 1 Cor 13, I was thinking "hmm, yes this is good for Charis...then I got to "it is not irritable or resentful". There were the four large ugly fingers pointing back to me. No, not this again! Once again I am confronted with my impatience and anger ...ultimately my sinfulness. Yuck. I hate my yuck. I reread the passage looking at my own heart. God's Holy Word doing what it promises - piercing like a sword. Then I remembered John Pipers blogs title "Love is patience" that had come up on my blog list several days back. I hadn't been able to read yet. I ran downstairs and grab technology. I open the browser:

"...Selfishness is the real archenemy of love:

Selfishness seeks its own private happiness at the expense of others. Love seeks its happiness in the happiness of the beloved. It will even suffer and die for the beloved in order that its joy might be full in the life the purity of the beloved (John Piper, Desiring God, 206-207).

Love is patient because patience is a dying to selfishness"

Then the Holy Spirit brings it all together in my heart. My irritability is because I want my own private happiness. The Holy Spirit reminds me of His recent revealing of my desperate need for a servant's heart. Being a wife and mother doesn't feel glorious lots of times, and I find myself grasping for my private happiness. This can be as insignificant as wanting dishes to be done. I find myself easily irritated when I am "interrupted". Being interrupted from completing my to dos or finishing a task as simple as hanging up the laundry is an assault at my private happiness. I don't like it. I find myself sadly uncompassionate when my tender baby is crying at my feet to be picked up or my sweet girl wants me to fix a bow in her hair that fell out AGAIN... but I. WANT. to. finish. MY. task. . . . just this once. If I desire to have a servants heart, I must give up even this idea of private happiness. My joy must be in doing the will of God instead of my own little will. Right now it is a fact that His will is serving with Love, 1 Cor 13 LOVE, my husband and my children. It means not being irritated when my plans are interrupted, my task is unfinished, my needs including sleep aren't met, when everything isn't just as I WANT.... Our society has fed me with lies that I find submerging from my subconscious....if I give into this TRUTH, I am doing to disservice to myself. I am humbled. When did I start believing the lie that I have to be my own defender, advocate, promoter...worrying about my own needs, wants, dreams, desires...me me me? Instead I am called to die to myself. To be like my Savior who "but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant" (phil 2:7). I am overwhelmed! How will I ever have a servant's heart? How will I ever love like this? Unselfishly? How do I expect to teach my two year old this when there is the same sinfulness in my heart? The Holy Spirit graciously lifts my eyes to the ink that hadn't even dried from a verse I jolted down just minutes before:

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence," 1Peter 1:3

Wish List

A few weeks ago Joshua's cousin asked for a list of things that people could send us in a care package. Here is a list of some ideas of things we miss or are very expensive here:

Starbucks French Roast Coffee

Pecans

Maple Extract (put in ziplock)

Chocolate Chips (put in ziplock)

Goldfish or Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies

Teething crackers

Chocolate (Favorites: Chocolate Covered Raisens, Reese's Cups, Milky Ways)

Powerbars

Gatorade mix packets

Ranch Dressing mix packets

Instant hot chocolate packets

Dial Antibacterial soap (antibacterial bar soap can't be found)

Children’s books

Activity & Coloring books & Stickers

Any books =)

Stationary and greeting cards

Children's clothes - Gabriel 18m and Charis 4T

We love "snail" mail whether or not any treats are included.

Another walk to the village...

Today we went for a little walk to enjoy some fresh air, stretch our legs and hopefully make it easier for daddy to work (he was wearing ear phones when we left). Last minute I ran back inside and grabbed the key to check our PO box for the first time.

I grew up going to a post office box to get our mail. Costa Rica didn't have the ability to handle mail the way the USPS does. In fact as children, my siblings and I were mesmerized by the American mailbox. At Nana's house, we would beg to be the one to get the mail even if we knew nothing would be for us. We loved opening that little black door and pulling out what could be treasures. I took countless pictures of Nana's mailbox (which I heard was recently replaced).

Now as I walked past the olive press museum with my chattering 2 year old, I remembered how the PO box had its own charm...

As we walked up to the aqua green post boxes, my friendly girl tried waving to a passer by and I pulled out the little key. With a bit of effort, I slid the key into the lock, lifted Charis to open it AND there was something in there! An address I knew well! I pulled out the manila envelope...

"Charis! It is from Aunt Kelly!"

I opened it right there. To make it even better there were drawings from her cousins.

"Oh and Susanna!..and Miriam..."

She was so excited that she wanted to hold them on the walk back. We talked about the drawings and about doing ones for our cousins - How she would draw one and then mail one and then wait, wait, wait and on a day you didn't know there would be one back. I told her about pen pals. I told her how I was pen pals with my cousin Laura and how I loved going to the post office for letters from her. I didn't even get to tell her how that is how Daddy's and Mommy's story began. I guess the charm isn't in what box you pull out the letters from, but in the experiences you have with those boxes.

Gabriel's First Meal

First Bite

Big Sister helping

Silly boy

αναλφάβητος

When we prepared to come to Cyprus, I was told that almost everyone spoke English and that learning Greek wouldn't be a requirement (we were/are still planning on learning Greek). Well...what we have found so far is that there are lots of people that speak English, but it usually isn't the Cypriots. The majority of Cypriots that we have come in contact with don't speak English, or if they do, it is pretty limited. It probably doesn't help that that we speak American English and not British English. While there are some general signs in English that make it helpful, the details are not in English.

One area that this is difficult is grocery shopping. On top of the high prices and the exchange rate, I find myself struggling to know WHAT I am buying. I walk out mentally exhausted. I find myself staring at rows of can milk trying to figure out which is evaporated (our current substitute for half and half) and which is condensed. It didn't help that in Lidl (a German chain like Aldi) the evaporated milk was called condensed in English. The other day Joshua picked up some ice cream. As we took a bite, we quickly found out that “Kaimaki” isn't vanilla. The flavor wasn't anything our taste buds were expecting. I looked it up online and found it was either ground orchid root or clotted cream from water buffaloes or goats -think feta cheese ice cream. Sufficient to say I find grocery shopping challenging. And it hit me why - I am αναλφάβητος ... illiterate!

Starting over again...

I walked down a cobblestone road with Gabriel on my hips to a tiny mail room. In the doorway I passed and greeted the lady from a local cafe whom has already invited us to her wedding. My eyes darting to and fro trying to figure out if the man to get my mailbox was here.

"So... you are the Americans who just moved here?" a British accent broke my thoughts. The question reminding me that we live in a small village and news travels fast. I hesitated and then answered "yes" as if I was unsure of the answer. Wondering where the hesitation came from, I was struck with how I am once again trying to catch up with where I am. "Yes" ... three letters, one word packed with so much meaning he could never know to his simple question.

Yes, just over three months ago I tearfully said goodbye to family, friends, and home. Yes, just two weeks ago we left Spain a country we were growing attached to. Yes, the last two weeks we have practically lived out of our car as we drove around in a sea of Greek and English trying to find the best place for our family to live and learning again the best places to shop. Yes, just one week ago we moved in with our four duffle bags and carryons into a 700 square foot house with two beds, two outside table sets and a few abandon dishes. Yes, just one day ago I woke up and our house now with a table, couch, and dishes is starting to become home for my little family - a home I love.

Ready or not here we go!

This is my last post in Spain! We are on to our next assignment - Cyprus! It will be where we call home. I am excited to start this new phase. I am a bit sad too... Some of it is the things we didn't get to do. Mostly though it is that we have been here just long enough for it to begin to feel like home ... familiar. I don't know what Charis is going to do without her "Mercadona snack" (a local grocery store she loves) and her Nana. We will miss the amazing city of Granada with all its history to see. We will miss the sweet people we have met! Tonight we had a car that actually worked so our little family went up to the mountains and watched our last sunset. It was spectacular! The best part was watching Charis run free. She kept saying "this is our place". I didn't realize how city living has been hard for her too as she sobbed when we left "I don't want to go bye bye...I want to stay in the mountains". Even my sleep deprived Gabriel was giggling as I sat him on the ground. I am writing in a hurry as we are about to leave so will sign off.

city night

Unjudged baby strollers late into the evening

Tapas

happy children's laughter from the neighborhood courtyard

cars zooming by

honking to open the car port

dogs parking

footsteps of a passerby

distant music

Water dripping from flowers on balconies

street lights

cool breezes after a blistering day

"One of my favorite things"

6 Months of Sweetness

Last week Gabriel turned 6 months. Gabriel was our gift in the midst of lots of change and hecticness. Through it all he has learned to go with the flow. He is a happy baby and usually is ready to laugh and smile if you make eye contact with him. Sometimes I see him staring at someone just waiting for them to look up and smile. I have especially noticed this with his daddy...almost as if he is looking for his approval already. Charis and he can get going laughing together - one of my new favorite things in life. He squeals in delight when he sees her. When he turned 6 months he got to sit on grass for the first time. It was funny to watch him. He usually smiles and laughs about everything but he had the most puzzled look on his face. He would look at us and then stare at the grass.

He is more active than Charis was at this point. He has been scooting and rolling all around since 4 1/2 months, but now he is doing an army crawl. This week he got even faster and loves his new found freedom. Squealing and laughing as he finds he can go to a different room. If we have barriers around him he attempts to get by or over them. He seems to be attracted to any wheels he sees. Otherwise He goes for the most gross or dangerous object around - shoes, wires, sister’s favorite toys. Yesterday he pulled 5 glass bowls on top of himself. By God's mercy he was okay and nothing broke. Today I was watching to see if he was going to repeat his mistake. Charis couldn't handle it and pulled him away as far as she could and then begged "mama please move him!"

Everything goes in his mouth...especially his fingers. And it seems he is trading in a paci for his fingers.

In the Shadows of the Alhambra...

I sit in my parents non air conditioned row house. The ceiling fan above desperately trying to cool the 95 degree heat that seeps in. I feel like my emotions and brain are still trying to catch up with where my body is living. Joshua and I have always wanted to serve the Lord overseas. Although we had trouble narrowing our passion for different places in the world, the last 3 years we thought it was going to be Italy. We learned about Italy, prayed for Italy and attempted to raise the support required. Last fall after a focused time of prayer by many asking God to get us there, Joshua and I found ourselves asking "What do you want, Lord?".

One chilly December evening as Charis played carefree at a park, Joshua and I held each other and cried once again surrendering everything to God - going to Italy or even overseas at all. I had no idea the whirlwind that would follow. On Christmas day, God led us to talk to my parents about fitting in the organization they are with. Before the end of the year as an answer to a specific prayer, we had the confirmation we needed to move forward! This was followed by meetings with our pastors and elders, joining a different organization, building a storage shed at Joshua's parents, packing up our home of 7 years, and by FAITH with the money raised... flying off to SPAIN!?!

So here we are - temporarily in Spain and trying to take it all in before our next assignment. God has answered yet another cry of our heart: to be "goers" in the Great Commission. Our main purpose in Spain is for Joshua to strengthen his Spanish for communicating within the organization we joined. I am trying to figure out living overseas as an adult, wife and mother. I find myself inadequate and in need of God's grace, mercy and strength more than ever. Praise God that He offers them to us freely!

Birthday thoughts...

I have always been someone who is cautious. It is probably part of what God has used to keep me from "getting into trouble". I tend to not like change. I like routine and constancy. In fact I get frustrated when I am not consistent…which more than I would like to admit. Yet I am entering a new season and instead of looking at it as if there were a sign that said "CAUTION ADVENTURE AHEAD". I want have a sense of adventure. I want a curiosity to learn. I want to not be fearful. I need to relax and be able to laugh at myself more while being diligent about what is important. I can't go into all the details right now but I am in the midst of LOTS of changes. This birthday…I pray I will learn to be BOLD for the kingdom and FULL of faith. I want to be more adventurous and be able to laugh at myself. I want to love deeply, feel strongly and yet be grounded in what is true.

Gabriel Peter

On January 30, a 7lb 13oz; 20 inches long little boy entered our lives. He already made his distinction from his sister by taking a long 28 hours of labor to make his appearance. So far, like his sister, he has been a content and happy baby. We are loving being his parents. Charis can't get enough of him.

A couple nights ago as I held him and stared in his sweet face, I was overcome with tears. What a precious gift from God! I know I will probably bore people the rest of my life talking about how I didn't think I would ever have children, but I still find it unbelievable that I was blessed with Charis. So to be holding Gabriel, it is overwhelming. TO GOD be the Glory!

Our prayer for him is that he will follow the Lord all the days of his life. That he will be a like Gabriel the angel and be a messenger for God and proclaim Jesus as savior. Joshua made a picture book of Gabriel's first days and put this verse as our prayer for him: Psalm 22:10 "On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God."

Our little Lollipop

Our little girl is now TWO!

For her birthday I did a lollipop theme because of her love for lollipops (see blog entry on 10.7.10). I had lots of fun with with this theme and even found some ideas online. I enjoyed getting to use the rusty creative side of my brain. I kind of wish I didn't have to try to fit in her birthday during such a busy time (Christmas parties, anniversary, Christmas...) because I had plenty of ideas that I didn't get to do. Here are a few things I had fun making...

I know every parent feels this way, but I still can't believe she is already two. After her birthday, I went back and looked at old videos of her first birthday and I couldn't believe how much she had changed. Even though at one, she said a lot of words and she didn't feel like a baby...NOW she talks in phrases, tries to recount events and communicates emotions (total girl!). As my first time going through this as a parent, I find myself staring at her in disbelief. How is she growing up so fast?

Since she has turned two she has gone to sleeping in a "big girl" bed and wanting to drink from "big girl"cups. Some days I feel like she wants to do all the growing up at once. Tonight she asked to go on the potty (not successful but hey I'll take her being interested) and wanted to wear big girl undies. She reminded me to get my phone as we walked out the door and later spelled her name. My baby girl is slipping through my fingers!

No Greater Joy...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" John 1:4

During breakfast I have been reading to Charis a Children's One Year Bible that her Uncle Steven and Aunt Cameron gave her. It is a little old for her age but she has even started to ask for me to read it if I get distracted with other things. This morning she wanted me to go back to the story of the "snake". While finger painting later today, Charis began talking to herself. I love listening to what is running through her little mind. She began to quote her memory verse "Children obey" and then paused "...Adam, snake, apple...obey". My heart jumped with joy. To the mother heart in me, this was thrilling. I desire nothing more than Charis learn to WALK in The TRUTH. Here she had made on her own the connection between two Bible lessons. She was meditating on them. Oh how I pray that this takes deep root in her heart and produces eternal fruit.

"Blessed is the man....his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he mediates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither..." Ps 1