a different kind of childhood

I have never been under any illusions that with our calling to live overseas our children would have a similar childhood to what we had.  There wouldn't be frequent trips to visit family, no going to school and holidays and memorable moments would be just a little different.  And I am totally OK with all that.  Well, not totally OK with being so far from family, but I have come to a place of peace about it. 

But even with all that, the other day Kirby said something that kinda threw my mind for a loop.  Stan was explaining a burn scar from his childhood that is on his left collar bone area.  This prompted Kirby wanting to hear stories from our childhood.  I was telling him about something, I seriously can't remember exactly, and I mentioned a lady and he asked 'Was she English or Chinese?'  And it just totally hit me.

As long as we live here he will always think in bilingual life.  This simple question is part of his everyday.  He has no concept of growing up in an almost all English speaking world.  I know that people in America speak multiple languages but most people stick to a social life spoken in their first language.  He is slowly learning to respond to English speakers in English and Chinese speakers in Chinese.  When I told him that everyone I knew when I was a child spoke English he was completely puzzled.  For him to imagine that my childhood was different is so difficult. 

My boy's childhood isn't going to be better than mine or Stan's, just completely different.  Do I know how to handle it if they have culture shock when we return to America?  Nope.  Will it always be easy on us as a family?  Nope.  Would I change the decisions we've made?  Nope.

I am excited to see how their little hearts grow in their desire to know and serve God.  I'm excited to let them soak it all in.  I'm excited to see the men they will grow to be.  I'm excited that there is the question, 'English or Chinese?' 

summer

It's already June.  I looked back and saw that I only had four posts for May.  That about sums up that month.  A whole lot of fun but busy, busy, busy.  And like I said before, there is a lot going on for us in the next few months.  But this week I don't feel so very overwhelmed like I did last week.  I sat back, took a deep breath, asked God to bring me back a notch and got through the week.  Today I crossed off  last couple of things on my To Do List that were for some reason kinda worrying me.  Why I was feeling so uptight about getting them done I don't know, but they are done now.

Over the weekend we were even able to squeeze in some beginning of summer fun.  I think for most Americans summer really begins on Memorial Day weekend.  That's when we head to the beach, crank up the grill and cake on the sunscreen--or is that just me?  Here the summer months really start more at the begining of May--in my opinion at least.  Our temperatures start to climb, not really any higher than what they have in NC but to be honest the no AC makes it seem SO much hotter, and since around July our rainy season begins (lets hope we get more of one this year than last cause we are in a serious drought) at that point the weather can be quite pleasant most days due to the rain cooling it off.

So here we are, summer time, busy time.  I feel just a little better prepaired to head into these next few months.  And knowing that we will be richly rewarded with a vacation at the end of the summer is going to make it all that much easier.

overwhelmed

Today is one of those days when I just feel completely overwhelmed by my to do list.  Not in a run from the house screaming or curl up and stay in bed all day way but definitely in a eat everything in the cabinets way.  And really it's not just my to do list for today, or this week but the mental list I have of the next several months.  We have a lot going on and I realized today that I feel completely incapable of figuring out the 'how' of it all.  I have low energy--mainly due to how hot it has been and will continue to be and a serious need for a real vacation, which is in the works but won't be until August.

Last night we met for our Esther study and B. Moore was talking about how HE knows the how.  I really needed to hear that, and I really need to go back and read it.  Sunday's message was all about finding our Joy in the Lord in all things.  Even the small things.  Those are both things that I so easily stray away from.  I know He knows the how and that I can live each day in complete joy for just knowing Him, but to flesh it out is hard.  Instead I try to do things in my own power and look to earthly things for my joy. 

So for this seemingly hard day I am going to look to Him and not allow myself to eat everything in sight or feel overwhelmed by the how of things.  I will accomplish what is immediate and work toward the rest.  Most of all I will cling to these two words of truth...

'The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trails and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.'  2 Peter 2:9

'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.'  Psalm 28:6-8

I am praying that I move from being overwhelmed by all that is to come and just be overwhelmed by the joy I have in the Lord. 

time: friend of foe?

This has been a definite week of playing catch up.  We've had a ton of admin type stuff to do, some of which I will still be working on today.  We've had some decisions to make about language study and the summer and what it will all look like.  And I'm still working on getting some things loaded on my computer so I am set up to work and play.

In the world of learning language there are several types of 'learning strategies' so to speak.  One that has been getting huge buzz in our circles is called Total Physical Response (TPR).  We've know several people who've used this method and have had high success.  If you are doing it in it's true form you start out with what is called the sprint which is 4-6 weeks of intense daily study, starting out completely with listening and working up to speaking.  Even though we have 2 years (Stan a little more) of language learning already there are a lot of holes in the curriculums we are using.  Most are geared towards College Campus life and miss a whole realm of common and useful vocabulary.  So even though some parts will be a huge reveiw we are going to do it.  I won't actually be able to do the sprint because it would be impossible for me to spend 5 or more hours a day just on language.  I'm going to do it at a slow and steady route, hopefully 3 lessons a week for as long as it takes but Stan is going to do 5 weeks of studying 5 times a week.  He has a week long training in June, will come back do his 5 week sprint, have a couple of weeks off in which he will have to study some specialized language and then have a week long tintensive class on that mid-August. 

Needless to say, after we make it though all that we will need a vacation.  We've already started talking about places to go.  At this point I'm not even thinking about cost.  I just know we will have to go somewhere, especially since the regular semester will start the beginning of Spetember.  So all this to say, this next 4 weeks has got to be used to get my behind in gear.  I have a few ideas of things that will help me stay organized, like taking a weekend to cook several meals in bulk and have the freezer stocked.  I've never done that before but I'm thinking it would be a great way to take make my weeks go smoothly.

Am I the only one that makes a plan to have time to plan?

My friend has recommended a book to me, Shopping for Time.  And actually she isn't the only one who's said how great it was.  I borrowed it last night and I can't wait to jump in.  Time always gets away from me and has not been my friend...I'm looking to change that.  For right now I have a list of things to accomplish before Stan and I get a night out tomorrow...and by night out I mean ALL night.  Some dear family friends are keeping the boys over night so we can party all night sleep late in the morning.  Although I fully expect that I won't sleep much past 7 I am looking forward to having a leisurly date night and not be worried about getting home too late.

OK, all these thoguhts jump around just a little too much and  I better go make the secondary lists to supplement the primary list before I forget half of what I need to do today. 

he's five

Today my Kirby is five.

Not sure how that happened...

If you want to see pictures of his fun day then you should click here.

I woke up at 5 in the morning not feeling so well.  I kept wondering if my body wanted to remind me what it was like to be in labor all night and so therefore wouldn't let me sleep.  Kirby was my only labor experience (excluding early contractions with Judah) so although that might be grasping, it's the only explaination. (I feel better now, thanks for asking.)

Kirby has had a wonderful day.  From what I can tell.  We kinda let him pick the agenda and menu.  He got to have his first taste of soda--something we have been telling him all his life was something that could only be enjoyed once you were five years old.  I've been pushing non-caffinated choices and it worked, he asked for Sprite.

I really can't believe he's five.  I mean that is school aged.  I no longer am the mom to all pre-school or younger children.  It doesn't totally seem real since we are homeschooling.  I'm not doing all the 'normal' things like registering him for kindergarten.  Plus he's not invloved in organized sports or any other activities like he may choose to do were we in the States.  So since his main play buddy is Bennett and he's still home with me, and will be on into the Fall, I don't think I'm feeling it fully.  It may hit me when his school materials arrive and I have to figure out how to teach him to read.  We'll worry about that when the time gets here.

So Kirby, on your fifth birthday I would just like to tell you what a complete joy you are.  You love your little brothers.  Bennett as your best friend, which warms my heart more than I could have ever imagined, and Judah is your 'best' baby and I think you will always be his protector.  You are just like me which means you get in trouble a lot for being bossy and trying to control every aspect of life.  It has helped me to see myself and I am learning to depend on God more and I hope through the coming years you will learn the same thing.  Your sweet prayers and questions about Jesus are so wonderful and I love the heart He has given you. 

I love you Kirby, Happy Birthday!