making traditions

Tonight is the beginning of our 'Holiday Season' and the new traditions we are starting. We really wanted to incorporate so many things that will be fun for the boys but will still keep the focus on Jesus. So tonight we are having our very own tree lighting. We are going to make Christmas cookies with the boys after dinner and then turn the tree lights on for the first time. Then we are going to tell the Christmas story using the nativity scene. Since we aren't going to put Christ out until Christmas day and the wise men until Epiphany we will explain who each figure is and then choose a starting place for the wise men so they can 'travel' throughout the month until finally reaching their destination on January 6th.

I'm still hunting down ornaments to use for our Jesse Tree but I'm hoping I can get at least a few today and then most of the rest when I go to KM on Monday--we may have to get creative for some. I'm getting a mommy and Judah trip (with a good friend as well) to pick up our Christmas turkey and shop for decorations and some other food items. Not to mention a nice kitchen trash can. I never in my life thought I would get so excited about a new trash can. But seriously, it is on my Christmas wish list. Anyway, a lot going on in the next few weeks but I'm going to try to post all of the things we are doing and how they go over with the boys.

Hope everyone is awakening out of their Thanksgiving turkey coma and getting in the Christmas spirit. We bought 5 new Christmas CDs online yesterday. That is out of the norm for us but since we had some iTunes gift cards and all of our Christmas music was lost when our computer crashed at the beginning of the year we had to get something.

I LOVE this time of year!

giving thanks

Today I really wanted to do a great list of all the things I am thankful for. I was even going to try to write it ahead of time since I knew today was going to be busy. But since I was a tornado of cooking and cleaning yesterday and most of today, I'm tired. I'm not washing dishes, I'm not vacuuming crumbs, I'm just going to go watch Christmas Vacation in my bed with my wonderful husband and drink apple cider (with red hots just like Stan likes it). But I did want to do a little mini thankful list because today I did have the opportunity to reflect on the many things I have to be thankful for.

-The Lord saved me and nothing can change that.

-I have a wonderful husband and sons.

-We have great families, that we wish we could be with today.

-I am blessed with many friends, near and far.

-We got to eat turkey and have some left over, this is huge when you can only get it once a year.

I know the last one is silly but I'm serious. Those are the things that made being away from our family a little easier. We had a wonderful meal with good friends.

Thank you Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

behind already

Absolutely NO cooking/preparing got done yesterday. The trip to visit my big sister was wonderful. After all the prayers and worry over this tiny little baby they let us know that now he is now 'a little big'. Which we are taking to mean that he is doing really well. I didn't get to hold him. They didn't offer and I didn't want to ask cause I don't know the cultural norm in this case. And now that I think on it they didn't hold him except to feed him.

When I got home to my quiet house (Stan had a fun morning including some outside finger painting and other activities, got all three fed and down for naps...he's wonderful!) Stan told me that our friends would be here around 4:00. I had some general house things to do, a shower to take and I was starving. So I opted to just push my two other To Do items till today. Which means I have a little more on my plate than originally planned but yesterday was fun and it was important to spend time with locals that are so dear to us.

Also I was way too tired to get up this morning and workout. I was really bummed when I finally did wake up and realized how late it was. I think I must have turned off my alarm in 'twilight' sleep mode and went right on sleeping. So the few minutes I did have this morning were for quiet and coffee.

I'm praying that all of you will find peace in the Thanksgiving and that you can enjoy time with your loved ones! This year I am concentrating on not getting overwhelmed by tasks and enjoying each moment. That is what will make me truly thankful.

it's here!

Thanksgiving week is here! So exciting. I have so much to do, and just for fun I thought I would share my To Do list for this week. I've kinda scheduled out my days since I'm working in a trip to visit my Big Sister and her family (with plenty of lovin' on the new little baobao) and a B-day dinner for our dear friend Chocolate since he will out of town for his birthday next weekend. Since it's actually Monday evening I technically have checked off the items for today but I'll include them anyway.

Monday

Shopping at Walmart

Shopping at import store

Tuesday

8:30 Leave for DJ's village

12ish Return and have a short rest/meal

Afternoon: Make pie crust (oh how I miss Pillsbury roll out crusts!) and Buttermilk White Sauce for Green Bean Casserole

6:00ish Dinner for Chocolate's Birthday at hot pot and back home for cake

Wednesday

9:00 Trip to Market for fresh veggies

10:30ish Wash all veggies (they have to soak for a while since there is no laws to regulate pesticides) and prepare for afternoon of cooking.

12:00 Lunch break/time with boys

1:30 Get busy...make fried onions for Green Bean Casserole topping, make Hummus for veggie tray, make Sweet Potato Casserole (leaving off topping till the next day), make whipped cream for all the desserts!

8:00 This is my wishful thinking time of completion so that I can get a good night's rest and not feel exhausted all day. Also at some point during the day/evening I hope to put out some Fall/Thanksgiving decorations. I don't have any and have never really decorated during this time of year but my friend had some extras and is letting me use them so I can make our home a little more festive!

Thursday

AM Get both casseroles finished and baked. Put together Candied Apple Pie to be refrigerated until baking time in the afternoon.

Finish cleaning for evening guests

12:00 Get family and food out the door and to lunch host's home.

12:30 Relax and eat a wonderful meal!

2-2:30 Return home for boy's naps

2:30 Bake pie and finish with candied topping

Make Turkey Noodle Soup

Finishing touches and cleaning around the house

Set up dessert table, drinks area and soup

4:30 Friends arrive and fun continues!

8:30 (or whenever everyone leaves) Stan and I will enjoy a Christmas movie with some Apple Cider :)

Friday

(I know this is after Thanksgiving but it's part of the week)

Relax, decorate for Christmas--Stan refuses to do it before the day after Thanksgiving-- and watch Christmas movies. Oh yeah and eat LEFTOVERS!

This list may not sound too daunting as it is but add in there three small children, one of which I must stop what I'm doing and feed throughout the day, my normal 8-10 loads of laundry, and numerous kitchen mishaps (cause you know I am SO clumsy) and it is for sure gonna keep me constantly busy. I know Stan will be a huge help with the boys and staying on top of the dishes. I'm also really hoping not to interrupt my normal morning routine of workout and quiet time so that I will have plenty of patience and can feel less guilty about the extra calories.

Let the carb overload begin!

(Oh and all linked recipes are new for me so I will let you know how they turn out!)

a week to go

It's just one week until Thanksgiving. I am really excited this year. Last year Thanksgiving was our first major holiday away from family and if I'm 100% honest it was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, we had a great food and great fellowship but it was about 60 people, including children, most of which were from another city and we were meeting for the first time. Plus the meal was at 2:00 pm and my boys are usually sleeping at that time. We tried an early nap but that wasn't successful so by the time we got there, I was worn out from cooking, the boys were overly tired and hungry and Stan was wanting some football.

Now don't hear that I didn't enjoy the company, because now the families that we met for the first time that day are dear to us, but it just wasn't the right thing for our family. So this year we decided to plan a meal with just a few other families. All have young children so naps are coveted and the day is partly planned around that. We will have a nice lunch, break for nap and then come together again for some fun activities, a light dinner and DESSERT! We get to host the activities and dessert. I'm going to plan some fun things for the children...got any ideas?...and make Turkey Noodle Soup and then we will all contribute a dessert. Really the main event for the evening is going to be coffee and dessert (and maybe a good Christmas movie) but I thought a little soup would be good just to prevent us all from going into a diabetic coma from so much sugar. Although I'm not sure the noodles will help with that either..but whatever. So I thought I would share the menu at this point...

12:30 PM Lunch

A Veggie Tray with dip for a starter

Two Turkeys, one stuffed and with gravy

(we can only get it this time of year so we are getting plenty for leftovers)

Herbed Dressing

Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Squash Casserole

Creamed Spinach

Creamed Corn

Deviled Eggs

Cranberry Sauce

Corn Bread

Rolls

5:00 PM Light Dinner and Dessert

Turkey Noodle Soup

Cookies (for the children of all ages)

Pumpkin Cake Delight

Candied Apple Pie

Chocolate Chip Pie

Key Lime Pie

Fresh Whipped Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

Now that this list is written out it makes me both hungry and thinking a little bit like we are going overboard. But isn't that what makes the meal part Thanksgiving so wonderful? I think I will definitely need a work out that morning and after lunch.

dirty jobs

I fully expect that at some point Mike Rowe will call me up and tell me that he wants to do a segment with me on my job. What job am I talking about...? Well 'Mommy' of course. I mean technically there are a few other job titles that I hold but I think Stan and I both agree that our job as parent is the most important one. And why do I think Mike Rowe is going to show up? Because out of all the episodes I have watched (which was quite a few since Discovery was one of the only English channels we had in BKK and lets face it's just plain interesting) the things we have to do as parents is just as 'dirty', if not more so, as the jobs he shows on his program.

This has all come about after a 4:30 vomit clean up early Monday morning (no one is sick, Bennett just has a very sensitive gag reflex and if he gets a throat tickle and starts coughing sometimes throwing up isn't far behind) and starting the task of potty training Bennett. I have never in anyway been under the impression that being a parent would be glamorous. But I just don't think I was prepared for all the yuck we would have to deal with. So while Stan was spraying down the bedding and I was scraping off chunks I started to imagine Mike Rowe there with me. Gagging along with us. And as I rinse out underwear I see him taking a pair and helping out. At meal time he is wiping up the food off the floor while I am wiping faces and Stan is scraping uneaten (but sometimes slightly chewed) food into the trash. And then after Judah's blow out Mike can hold him over the tub while I hose him down. Seriously, our house (and any other with multiple small children) would make a great episode. Mike...I'm waiting for your call. You would not be disappointed in this dirty job. Although I have to tell you, the pay is WAY better than any other job on earth!

a short catch up

Last week was a big week for me. Stan needed to travel since we knew this week his hiking partner was going to be out of town and next week is Thanksgiving. So I sucked it up, got prepared, lined up a little help and pushed through. With our helper gone I just didn't know how it would be for me. Lately the boys need a constant referee--and playing that part puts a serious hurtin' on my patience. We've also been limiting TV time because it had gotten out of hand from the bed rest period of time to time in BKK with limited toys to getting home and just trying to figure life out. The boys LOVE to play with each other and have a blast but they are...well, they are brothers. So each morning I asked for an extra dose of patience and drank an extra cup of coffee. Tuesday afternoon a friend came by to watch the boys so I could run a few errands and she surprised us with bringing dinner! What a blessing! Then another friend was going out of town and her helper was gracious enough to come over Wednesday and Thursday to give me a hand around the house. That was particularly awesome cause it enabled me to play with the boys instead of plopping them in front of the TV. And to top it off she went to the market and cooked for us for Thursday night so when Stan got home that night he had a 'real' meal as well as a sane wife.

I'd like to think that even without the help I could have survived but I PTL that I didn't have to chance it. I really feel that in the States it would be no problem. But then I remember that here I have no car to load up the boys in to escape our house and taking them out on my own is not a task easily done. It's just so different here. But we made it and Stan blessed me with a 'me' day on Friday--only requiring me to be here for Judah to eat. I went on a long walk, just me and my ipod (which only ONE person sent me a music suggestion for...thanks Kari, poopoo to the rest of you...but seriously I still want suggestions) and then went shopping and wondering. It was wonderful. And Saturday was an amazing family day--Stan and I finalized our ornament ideas for the Jesse tree and then took a family outing to Old Town for more shopping (Christmas gifts almost done!) and good food. Sunday was a fantastic day of worship and rest. Stan even got to watch the Bulldogs pull off a win with a friend that is an Auburn alum...so that made his weekend. Now we are in for a fun week of getting ready for Thanksgiving and then of course decorating for Christmas!!! So exciting.

calling all music lovers...

Well calling anyone who even remotely enjoys music, actually. Music is one of the main avenues into my heart. By this I mean, songs about my Lord speak to me in much of the same way the Psalms do. Songs get me going when I need a little push. And especially as of late, songs get me motivated to exercise! So what I need right now is a little help. I need some good 'get your booty movin' music. Songs that are a great pace to walk/run/shake it. You know what I mean. Really I'm up for most music genres, my ipod contains everything from Handle's Messiah (not great for exercising but oh so beautiful) to the Black Eyed Peas (my guilty pleasure, they are all about some questionable lyrics--meaning things I hope my boys NEVER say--to a great beat). So bring it on. I need some motivation and I'm in a no radio zone to know great new music and I'm lacking in time to search itunes for hours to find it. I've got itunes gift cards ready to go so send me your favs!

gladly trusting

After such a busy weekend I was quite honestly dreading this week. There is a lot going on this week, including Stan traveling for at least one night. I have some help lined up in case I need it but I was still just not excited about being on my own while our helper is gone this month and all the other things that are going on. I was ending a fun but exhausting weekend and heading right into a busy week.

When my alarm went off this morning I was struggling. It has started being quite chilly in the mornings so getting out of my warm bed at 6am to begin my early morning routine was not appealing. And I could tell I was going to be grumpy. So I compromised and sacrificed my workout time (I knew I could fit it in later today) to give me a few extra minutes of dozing and then forced myself out of bed for some coffee and time in the Word before the day started and the boys were up. I still had a really bad attitude about it all.

Anyway, the study that I'm working on listed a certain scripture to read and in my sleepy, half heartedness I read one Psalm off and 'accidentally' read this...

When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter

And our tongue with joyful shouting;

Then they said among the nations,

"The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us;

We are glad.

Psalm 126: 1-3

The Lord has done great things for me! And boy did I need to be reminded of that this morning. That last line needs an exclamation point in a major way. I am glad! He makes me glad! And as soon as I read that my whole perspective on this week changed. Not to mention I was ready to get going on my day with a fresh outlook. The Lord has done so many great things for me and He will continue to do great things in my life, even in this week that will present challenges.

So after my 'accident' moment (no accidents with God) I went on to read the correct Psalm...

Those who trust in the Lord

Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever.

Psalm 125:1-2

It is really easy for me to picture this because we live in a valley that is completely surrounded by huge mountains. God is surrounding me like these mountains surround our valley city. He will always surround me. Amazing. And I can be like Mount Zion and be unmovable in my trust in the Lord. This week I am going to work on trusting Him in the small things. Getting the boys to bed (and them sleeping all night...BENNETT!). I will trust Him. Being able to nurse and not have to try to regulate Kirby and Bennett playing (they like to fight...are they brothers or something?). I will trust Him. Keeping my early morning routine that so obviously helps me start each day. I will trust Him. Having the energy to keep up throughout the day. I will trust Him. I will be glad for the Lord has done great things for us and I will trust Him in the unmovable way of Mount Zion.

The ways of the Lord are awesome. My ugly heart made beautiful again through his Word. Just as it has been done so many times before. He is new every morning! Even the mornings when I am so very obviously struggling like today.

my kind of weekend

This has been one of those crazy busy weekends that is full of fun, leaves you exhausted and makes you oh so thankful for lazy Sunday afternoons.

Thursday night was pizza party night. Yes that is Papa John's you are seeing. This is new to our capital city and our good friend was coming back from Hong Kong and stopped to bring us all dinner. 3 large pizzas was over $50 but when you only eat it every year and a half it's not so bad. She also brought back a Mountain Dew for each of us to drink with our pizza. Not good on the diet front but after my body processed all the excess sodium I was right back on track.

Friday was a fun day with friends. The boys had a blast with their friends in town and we survived 6 children four and under with relative ease. I was exhausted by the time everyone left but it was worth it. Kirby and Kate took some pictures during lunch. She's becoming so Chinese flashing those peace signs! Kirby asked her dad if he could marry her, but she said she was going to marry a little boy in her class. There may be a little boy trouble ahead for her parents!

Saturday we went on a lunch picnic with some friends. They of course got great pictures that I'm hoping they will share but Stan got a few shots. I have some funny stories to share about that day so look for them on the Angels blog. We were just excited to find a fun place to go in our city. Thanks to friends that have lived here longer we now know of another place to let the boys run free!

So looking forward to fellowship tomorrow morning since I had to miss last week due to Judah being sick. He's so much better so we get to go be with friends and have some 'good learnin'. And then Sunday afternoon naps. I think God intended just that for Sundays, some teaching from the Word, a good meal with friends and then a time of rest.

4 things...again

It's been one of those crazy weeks. I was literally freaking out while I did my dream room (which of course is open for any ladies to come in for a cup of coffee, if you bring me Starbucks, and a chat) post on Monday. It was my attempt to distract myself as we were trying to figure out if I was going to have to rush off to Hong Kong with Judah. I'm so thankful we didn't and all seems to be steadily getting better with Judah. Anyway, that combined with other things, including out of town guests for the day tomorrow, has led me to just opt for a easy update.

1. tell me something great as of late


2. tell me something hard as of late


3. tell me something about your family


4. tell me something about your friends

1. Tell me something great as of late...My Big Sister is a grandmother! Her daughter-in-law was due later this month but went into labor over the weekend. They had a little boy, no name yet due to tradition. He was small and needed extra care so they had to transfer him to a hospital here in town (she had a c-section in a smaller town about 1.5 hours away). We haven't heard an update but we take that as a good thing.

2. Tell me something hard as of late...My Big Sister will not be here for a month. It's Chinese tradition that a new mother does not leave her bed for a month (seriously, no bath, using a bed pan, grossness all around--something that is definitely not a part of this culture I could handle) and the mother-in-law is the one that cares for the woman and helps with the baby. We are so excited she gets to do this but we already miss her. The boys have lost DaMa for a whole month. I think Bennett finally gets it after few days--we'll see if he asks for her again on Monday. Anyway, we've had to cancel a few trips that Stan had planned this month and try to work out a good routine for our weeks ahead but no big deal. We're excited for her!

3. Tell me something about your family...Judah is doing much better. The doctor said the only lingering effects could be that he now has a higher percentage chance of developing asthma...umm, I can handle that. I could have told you this wouldn't be the end of it. I had childhood asthma and Kirby has had respiratory issues so we can handle things in that department. I PTL that we were already equipped with a nebulizer and albuterol so we could treat Judah right here at home. Please just pray that this cold dries up quickly and he is able to avoid getting sick again...cold season is just beginning. :(

4. Tell me something about your friends...I have two things actually. First, a friend is coming in from the capital city today and they just opened two Papa John's. Guess what she is bringing us for dinner. Oh, yeah, pizza party at our house! Second, our friends that live two hours away are coming up for the day tomorrow. There will be 6 kids 4 and under in the house, mommies are getting an afternoon outing for shopping and we are going to grill steaks for dinner (hotdogs for the kids). It should be a wonderful day!

Tag to someone else. It's easy, you can do it!

dream room

I was thinking today how nice it would be to have a room all to myself. A place to go that I could lock out little snoops and read, internet, nap, have a QT. That sort of thing. So I just started thinking of all the wonderful things I would put in there. How I would make it a no testosterone zone, a little bit of femininity just for me. Stan said, 'Now where do you think we will ever live that will have enough room for you to have a room all to yourself'? I reminded him of the definition of dream.

First I would of course have my favorite chocolatey brown chaise from Ikea. Minus the Bennett laying on top. I love this piece of furniture.

Next some lovely brightly colored awesomeness like the coverlet that is hanging on the wall here. Oh, I just love all these fabrics. So perfect to curl up in on my chaise.

I have always wanted a roll top desk. I just love them. So of course my dream room will have one. And since by that point I will have my own laptop it will sit nicely and wait for me and only me. Plus that little top drawer will be perfect for my chocolate stash. I can see it now with our lime green desk chair that I will, of course, keep for myself.

And maybe a great bookcase like this one. Or several of them lining one wall. All filled with books and other things that I love. And it will never gather dust, cause dreams work that way.

And there will be a sign on the door.

*sigh*

A girl can dream...