His Great Love

Yesterday morning started by reading Psalm 107. The theme that stuck out for me was God's continued, delayed deliverance...it's never too late to cry out to Him, He's ready to save, and waiting for us to ask. THEN give thanks (v 1, 8, 15, 21). His acts of saving (v 9, 14, 16, 20, 29, 30, 41) in this psalm ended up being exactly what I needed for the day. And in the end...it really IS thankfulness that automatically flows out of my heart. Whew. "For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 108:4)

My friend Veronica and I got up early to walk. I hurried and showered so I could be ready before the kids got up at 7 since Jon now leaves at 7:30 everyday for his language class. Kolby would be going with Kristie and her boys to VBS at 8:20. Kristie ended up being sick so we worked up a plan. Veronica would take Gabby, I would take their truck (our truck has now been in the shop for a month) with the boys to VBS from 9 to 1, and Kristie could get some rest. So by 8 we are walking out the door to Veronica's. I tell Kolby to go potty before we head out for the day. He goes to the bathroom (at V's house) and locks the door...yep...and then he can't get the door unlocked. Funny thing about the doors around here...you can't really break in :) Bars on the windows; the hinges to the door are on the inside with Kolby. Kolby starts FREAKING out...Veronica herds the girls to the other room while Justin and I stand there trying to figure out what the heck to do. It's so hard to think when your child is seriously in distress! Justin is trying to put the screwdriver in the lock and keeps pushing out the key. Kolby keeps trying to put the key back in and screaming louder saying he needs a new key...Justin goes to try and find something else and I am trying to talk to Kolby through the key hole. My first thought is "I will call Jon 800 times if I have too and he will come with an axe and break down this door!" My second thought is "Jesus, PLEASE, help me get Kolby out!" I'm starting to panic now...probably 5 minutes has gone by really. No lie, in that moment Kolby just gets hacked and takes the key and throws it under the door. It slides right by my hand, I grab it and unlock the door from the outside. (Wow! What a novel idea! One neither Justin or I could think of!!) Thankfully, by 8:30 Kolby and I were on the road to VBS calm and happy. All I could think about was Psalm 107...and I told Kolby that Jesus gave him the wisdom to throw the key under the door...that made him feel so proud and immediately he calmed down (funny, after VBS I tried to give him some cough medicine and he said he didn't need it b/c God was going to heal him!!). The 30 minute drive to VBS consisted of me telling God thank you over and over for helping us get out of little situations.

I'm convinced Jesus helped Kolby throw the key under the door :) Seems like we need help out of tons of little situations around here these days...waiting for a taxi in the heat, finding someone that speaks English at just the most frustrating time, a friendly offer from a friend to help, knowledge to deal with whatever comes up...whatever it is, God has seriously dug us out of some holes! Always faithful..."Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men..." (Psalm 107:8)

If you want to experience part of our life...

It's 10:30 p.m. Shouldn't I be in bed? Of course there are no fireworks to watch here, so why stay awake? I just took 3 short videos. It's a good reason to stay awake. Go ahead, turn up your computer, the volume is about that loud at my house right now, and enjoy the wedding music from our neighbor's house.


This is me standing in the dark in our living room. Our house is dark, everyone (but me) is asleep upstairs.


This is when I am standing in our kitchen. If I were to go upstairs and take a video, it would sound the same...even with our fans and air conditioners running. Please note, all our windows and doors are closed tightly! But now I will walk out the kitchen door onto our balcony so you can get a close up on the action. Unfortunately the first time I hit the wrong button on the camera so you don't get to see the arrival of the bride...which consisted of a long line of cars waiting outside the driveway, honking like crazy. But this will still give you a good taste.



This wedding party will be kickin' till around 2 or 3 a.m...hopefully I will be asleep by then. Not sure though! Inshallah (if the Lord wills)!!!

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

Little Miss Sparkles in her outfit from Nana, hand-me-down heeled sandals from cousin Jayden, and painted toes thanks to Imen (our sitter for when I am in language class.)

Mr. Happy Pants after his second trip to the barber! He did great and was really excited...he just didn't want to have his picture taken.

This is what Kolby does during Gabby's naptimes...he's always building something. Today he built "the United States tower".

Kolby's friend Amelia called to say hello today. He was so funny...he walked around talking to her and pacing back and forth. This was his first sentence, "Hi Amelia! I am the super hero. What are you?"

America's birthday cake...complete with marshmellow stars, skittles, and a cake mix!


July 4th takes on a whole other meaning for me now that we are living overseas. It's weird to think that our kids won't learn to say the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the National Anthem unless we teach them. Thanks to Nat & my mom we have some fun July 4th things to help us celebrate...stars (which are actually becoming part of our bedroom decor), napkins, candles, and cute clothes for the kids. Kolby has been so excited to put on his July 4th t-shirt. He wanted to get dressed right away this morning. Yesterday we practiced singing Happy Birthday dear America while the kids took turns blowing out the July 4th candle...so this morning we made a birthday cake (trying to use the oven before it gets blazing hot). Jon recited the Pledge with them at breakfast too. Oh the little things that seem so so familiar...but might never feel as familiar for our children. Thankfully they have been super excited about the whole thing. I think it helps when we try to make a big deal about it. I'm trying to remember that I need to really explain American holidays to the kids. It's easy to just keep it all inside my head in the midst of busyness. So I described to Kolby what we used to do while living in America for July 4th and what his cousins might be doing today to celebrate along with him. I'm proud to be an American living in a different country. My prayer is someday my kids will be too. That they will see how the Lord has blessed us as Americans, and be excited to bless others because of it.

Three cheers for America!! Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday with our friends!

GRASS

Above are the before shots of our yard, taken 2 1/2 months ago. Lots of dirt, glass, over grown stuff, trash...then Jon got ahold of it :)





For over a month, Jon has been diligently watering our grass 3 times a day to get it to grow. His dedication paid off. On Sunday the yard dudes came and cut the grass. What a huge difference...well, for us it is a huge difference. Already Kolby and Gabby were out running around in it and climbing the trees. Good thing Jon is so disciplined...he never complained once about how much time it takes to water grass 3 times a day! Amazing what helps make our house a home.

By the way, yesterday Kolby told us that when he looks out over his balcony he can either see the city or the "stinkin' trash".

Gabby's second birthday

We celebrated Gabriella's second birthday and our friend Kian's third birthday together one night (her bday was June 6). The kids played in the little baby pool we have and with water balloons. (Elianna, Kian, Kolby, Gabby, and Kaedren)

Yeah, I made that cake! Thanks to bettycrocker.com and my mom (who brought all the candy, cake mix, and frosting for it!). It's supposed to be a purse with a coin purse.

Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles. This is my pregnant friend Susie (she is 5 weeks ahead of me...it's her first baby give me a break! I know I am bigger than her!) And also my good friend Veronica. Thought I would throw this picture in for a belly shot.

Okay for real I am done blogging now!

Our Growing Baby

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. I really wish I could take the camera and take a picture of his office. It cracks me up. He has a desk that we sit at while we "talk" for about 20 minutes (mostly in English thank goodness!). Then he takes me through a door to his little exam room. It seriously looks like something you would see about 30 years ago in America...minus the ultrasound machine. Here you have an ultrasound every time you go to the doctor. The schedule is different too...you go every 4 weeks no matter what trimester you are in. So the next time I go, I will already be 30 weeks. That is hard to believe. Also you have to go to a lab to give blood before going to see the doctor...EVERY visit. This last week I had to give blood for about 4 tests and also the glucose test. Then you pick up the results and take them to your doctor appointment. I am a pro at giving blood now. I didn't even bruise this time. I got to see our baby BOY (it's been brought to my attention through emails that I have been bad at sharing this news. Sorry!) He weighs 985 grams and measures at almost exactly 26 weeks (which is what I am). We are sticking with Kyler Joshua (the name we loved before Gabby was born). Kolby is super excited for a brother! He randomly comes up to me and asks if he can see him. Then he lifts up my shirt and touches my belly. It's cute. Okay, there are my updates for the day!! Look at me blogging. Gotta do my homework for language class!

Off and On

I'm trying to think of how to describe our life these days. Here is one thing that is consistent!

Things that are OFF or ON around here:

1. The flipping water!

2. The heat, then wind, then heat, then wind (which leads to sweep the dust off the floor, sweep it again, and again...you get the point).

3. The air conditioner (it works, it doesn't, it works, it doesn't).

4. Our truck (it's in the shop, it's out, it's in, it's out...)

5. Gabby (sassy on, sassy off, sassy on, sassy off!)

6. Our brains and language learning (this is the first time I've taken an intensive language course. It's from June 15-30 and it's 3 hours/day. Jon will start his intensive June 29- July 24, 3 hrs/day. By the end of my 3 hours I can't see straight! Especially the days I have my other tutor for 2 hours.)

7. Our good attitudes. (We wonder where they go sometimes!)

8. The internet.

(Now for some happy ones!)

9. Our dryer and dishwasher! Yeah!! It's great to have them ON!!! What a HUGE blessing.

10. Isn't it nice that Jesus is always ON? :) It's just me that turns that one off! Humdullah (praise God)!