hodge podge

I think I'm back.  It has been a crazy past three weeks.  I didn't intend to take a 3 week break but it just sort of happened.  The first week off was filled with completing a huge To Do list (with the help of my wonderful husband, who didn't have a choice in the matter).  We did get a TON done around here including putting up two ceiling fans and cleaning out the storage area outside (aka the 'man cave'). 

The next week was something that we had been waiting months to get here.  My dad and Eric were here to visit.  It was such a wonderful time.  The only bad part was their luggage didn't arrive until two days before they left.  It was a relief to know at least that they had it again before making the trip home and to get the two bags they brought for us (I bought a bunch of clothes for the boys, some kitchen stuff and two huge duffles that it was all packed in--replacing it all would have been a nightmare!). 

Last week our whole team was here and we had a great week!  We called it The Blitz and just went out to meet people around the city.  So basically we got home from KM and jumped right into that.  It was so wonderful and tiring all at once.

And so I think I am back.  I still have a lot going on.  I'm going to have to up my tutor time and I'm going to try a few new things to help with my language learning.  I also want to work on going ahead with some 'school' time for Kirby and Bennett.  We still won't technically begin kindergarten until the fall but we need some practice time.  This week my goal is to begin with the big potty training push for Bennett.  We've been easing him in to it for months but it's time to get rid of diapers for good.  It's warm so he can go without pants for the whole summer for all I care.  It's GOT to happen.  No amount of his protesting is gonna deter me.

Another big thing for the Summer is to take advantage of the good weather and get outside.  I am back on the weight loss track and I am making more weight loss goals.  Don't know for sure what those are but I'm working on it.  So hopefully this is me getting back on track.  With everything.  I have been praying to not feel overwhelmed and so far that is being answered.  I have a lot I want to do but if my To Do list isn't completely marked off at the end of each day I will just let it carry over to the next.

More to come...

mr. fix it

A couple of months ago I started a book with a group of ladies that live in our city.  We do a book study and pick a book, reading one chapter per month and getting together to discuss.  Right up my alley.  This go round we are reading Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free.  The chapter we just covered was on the lies we believe about God.  I was pretty sure I didn't believe any lies about God...until I read this chapter.

It hit me right in the face.  And since I didn't really expect it, the impact was double.  I won't go into each thing the chapter talked about, but I really wanted to share the one that made the biggest impact.  

THE LIE:  God should fix my problems. 

THE TRUTH:

-Life is hard.  Romans 8:21-22

-God is more concerned about glorifying Himself and changing me than about solving all my problems.  2 Corinthians 4:17

-God has an eternal purpose He is fulfilling in the midst of my problems. Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4

-God wants to use my problems as part of His sanctifying process in my life.  Job 23:10

-No matter what problem I am facing, God's grace is sufficient for me.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

I have spent the last 10 years as a believer, and I'm sure several before, expecting that God would make everything better by making my problems go away and/or solving them for me.  I mean I knew God wasn't Mr. Fix It and that things wouldn't always be happy go lucky, but in the back of my mind I always expected that His number one concern for me was to have a good life that would be free of major issues.  Like I really thought living a 'good Christian life' would exempt me from having problems.  I mean that is just absurd.  And I didn't really realize that I thought that until I read it, reread it and then read it again.

Yes, God loves me.  In a way that I can never fully understand.  But for the first time I realized my problems aren't really His concern.  Mostly because he doesn't see them as problems.  He sees them as the thing that makes me better.  Makes me more like Christ.  Wow.  So yes, I see it as a problem that I don't get enough sleep.  That I'm sick of chasing a 3 year old around trying to coax him to the potty.  That there isn't a quick fix to losing weight and more importantly changing the way I think about myself in reference to my weight.  What He sees is the means to growing me in my pursuit to manage my time better, in persistence and in patience.  And even in the big stuff.  What is loss to me is gain to Him.  When I feel bitter or angry or frustrated, I am acting on the growing pains He is happy to see.  It's not fun.  It's not pleasant. It's not what I see as fair.  But it is His perfect plan for me.  It is His way of shaping and forming and changing me.  It is good.

Do I like having problems.  Mmm...not so much.  Do I like God's purpose in them.  Oh yes, I absolutely do.  

homeschooling

This week I have spent at least 20 hours on the computer researching homeschool curriculums.  I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to do but I needed to look into several things and make decisions.  I have to say, it's pretty overwhelming.

I have never been one of those moms that was overly pro homeschool (my whole family has worked in public education) or knew from the moment I conceived that I would choose to do it.  It has been something that I was always open to and with our living situation it is a must.  The only other option would be to send Kirby to a local school which would be pretty difficult considering the language barrier.  Not to mention he wouldn't learn to read English for several years.  I don't even have a clue what choice we would have made were we living in the States, cause let's face it, it's not worth the brain power to think about something that isn't a current reality.  So here I am, gearing up for our first year of school.

I've been trying to focus solely on the positive aspects of homeschooling, like being able to determine exactly how our children learn, going at an individual pace, and so on.  But it's incredibly intimidating.  I am a little sad that they won't get the socialization that a classroom offers and at the same time so very happy that they won't pick up the 'bad' habits of anyone other than me and Stan.  You know, they may be a little sarcastic but not with an accompanying potty mouth.

So for Kindergarten we are going to focus mostly on, first and foremost, creating a love of learning, and secondly, learning to read and basic math.  I've found curriculums that I like but haven't ordered quite yet, so if you are interested I will share all that I am using once final decisions have been made.  My plan is to find readers (oh how I will miss not being able to use a library) that will cover some topics in science and history in addition to some fun topics but not cover either of those subjects on their own just yet.  I am also planning on picking a fun Bible learning program since they aren't getting anything on a regular basis that is directed specifically towards children.  That is something I'm going to go ahead and do with Bennett too, in addition to some preschool stuff.  I know if Kirby is doing school there will have to be something for Bennett as well.  And I'm pretty set on not using the tradition school calendar for planning out our year.  With celebrating both American and local holidays and having random times for likely vacation, my thoughts are that it will be easier to keep up if we try to find a year round type calendar that works for us.  Maybe with a few modifications.  Still looking in to that though.

Once all final decisions are made and materials ordered I will start on my Summer to do list.  #1 on that list is potty train Bennett, or die trying.  Pray for us as we are making these homeschool decisions.  I know I can't mess up too bad at this point but I have to be honest, I'm still pretty nervous!

oven

I warned you.  So now out of pure joy I have to show off my new oven.  Why is this such a big deal you ask?  Well I'll let the pictures do the explaining.

This was my oven (and microwave before).  The oven was just big enough to get a 9x13 pan in and the cookie sheet I have had to be slid into the slots on the sides.  It was an ok oven but didn't cook evenly.  The top would always be done WAY before the inside was so I had to watch it constantly and be strategic with the aluminum foil.  I have dreamed of buying a full sized oven since we moved here.  Of course it would have to be bought in the capital city and brought by bus.  That wasn't appealing to me.  Not to mention there were other house hold items that had to come first.

Until we found out that some friends were moving back to the States.  When she asked me if there was anything in particular I was interested in buying (please understand this is just the way here) and I immediately told her definitely her oven.  She said my name was on it!  So Thursday Stan went to pick it up--with a few other items--and Friday we spent the day reorganizing.  The doors and shelf had to come down and I had to find something or organize my pots and pans on but as you can see it worked out.

Oh and now the microwave (yes we got this from them as well, ours was bought from another family and was pretty old) has to live in the cabinets.  But it doesn't really bother me.

So before you think me completely cold hearted, yes I will really miss my friend.  That family was one that has been on this journey with us from the beginning, through the interviews, our time in Richmond and adjusting to living in a new country.  They have small children just like us so it was nice to have someone who understood exactly where we were at.  But this is just how it works around here.  In our short time here (two years this summer) we have seen many families move away.  We aren't numb to it but we are accepting of it as just a part of this life.  

fashion friday

Not typical for my Fridays but I got inspired by other posts and thought I would give it a try.  Just a few outfits for fun.  

#1. Shopping and lunch with friends

(I actually own this outfit, well the jeans aren't exact but close.)

#2. Sunset Beach date night

(I have almost absolutely no occasion to wear a dress at this point but this looks super comfy and I think it's cute.

#3. Saturday afternoon family picky nick

    

(pink cardigan worn over t-shirt, animal print flops cause they are adorable)

All of this is courtesy of Old Navy, which is still one of my favorites since I worked there in high school, with the exception of the Crocs and earrings (Etsy) in #1.  Yes, I do still love Crocs.