A New Day

Hello all! It's Amy again, Jon's been writing for the last few weeks, but I'm back today!

Today  is one of those rare days when I woke up really refreshed, in spite of the pouring rain outside the window and even though I went to bed later than usual.
Maybe I'll be more tired later, but right now I'm feeling like His mercies are new this morning, just as He promised.

There are couple of things leading into my refreshing this morning, I think-
1) The reason I went to sleep so late last night is because I was reading- I am a pushover for a good book!  And it's one of those books that, as I'm reading, challenges me to get out and live life fully.  To enjoy the simple pleasures- like the beauty of the tiny violets popping up in my front yard and to expand my horizons all at the same time- less TV and more time with those I love or trying new things or reading the classics...  Amazing how reading a well-written book can inspire you.  Oh, and for those who are wondering- yes, it's fiction!

2) I had the best dream last night about going to Indonesia!  I dreamed that our family got to go to Indo for a visit before we actually moved.  So we showed up and it was beautiful- lush, green and hot and muggy as promised.  They had the best fruit I have ever tasted (which, I hear, is very true).  Ethan was running around, having the time of his life with all the other MAF kids who welcomed him with open arms.  Jon ran off to the hangar to hang out with the guys and check out the airplanes.  I got to meet a lot of the wives and it felt like I'd come home.  It's hard to explain it, but it felt like I could take a deep breath and put my feet on the ground and enjoy the moment, just relish it.  Then- the alarm went off and back to everyday life...  But that dream felt like a gift- a reassurance that we're heading the right direction, that the constant transition we're in right now is not in vain, that the Lord will get us there in His time and in His way, with His blessing.

But something else also came out of it too- I realized that there are people that I feel like I know really well through reading their blogs and yet if I met them on the street and greeted them like an old friend they would probably have no idea who I am!  So...  I don't want that to be the case here- if you read our blog, I'd love to know who you are, to hear your story, to hear about your family like you hear about ours.  I don't know really how to make that happen, but I would count it a privilege to call you, "friend"- if I don't already!  Please, post a comment introducing yourself!

Saddle up Partner!

Its not often that you can have a thematic weekend while being separated as a family, but we were able to have one this weekend!  In the course of all the chaos that has ensued since getting our training schedule from MAF and realizing that we will be leaving Charlotte in a few weeks for a few months of training and continued support raising in Maryland/New Jersey and Florida, we had a great opportunity to step back and enjoy the warm spring sunshine here in the south.  Amy had a weekend that would make any mother jealous.  She had the opportunity to head to the mountains with one of her girlfriends for a weekend of dude ranching, with NO KIDS!



While she was basking in the glory of a "late morning" (7:30am), I had Daddy duty.   My boy and I were destined for a weekend of pizza, hamburgers, and anything else that would fit in a microwave.  However, we were saved by the power and might of Grandmothers as my Mom and Sister decided to head down spend some time with us. On Saturday morning we all packed into the car and headed to a local petting zoo/rescue ranch to see some animals.  We had a great time of being up close to some unique animals that you would never have the opportunity to see.  And while Mommy was away relaxing in the quietness of the mountains and her book, Daddy and E were feeding Camels, Bison,Giraffe, Emu, lama, pigs, goats, and Ostriches! We had a blast as we were encompassed with animals of all variety, and we loved it.  Except for the slimy noses and tongues that were always out looking for the next meal.  Now if you ask my boy what a Bison does, he sticks out his tongue and waves it around looking for food. Thankfully it was only the food that was eaten in this process.  After we went I looked at the disclaimers added to the release that we signed.  Good thing I looked later because you basically need to bring a sealed bubble to walk around in to avoid all of the things this disclaimer was warning of.  Liability, gotta love it. 

Not in Kansas anymore...

So as we have been in this process of preparing to go we have often taken refuge in our own strength.  We have felt very self-reliant and in practice that is the ideology that we are taught from an early age.  We figure we have traveled, we're smart people, dealing with foreign culture should all be in a days work.  Right?  WRONG!

The other day I noticed a new Asian food store that opened up in our area only 3 miles from our home.  I thought that I might be able to find some great Indonesian products that I could take home and share with the family.  You know just to experience a little bit of Indonesia on safe and predictable grounds.  Control, it's all about the illusion......

"Wall of Sauce"

So I walk into this store and suddenly find myself transported to a very distant land.  Suddenly I was the only pseudo white face in a sea of difference looking back at me.  I kindly gestured a "hello"  and went on my way in search of my Indonesian experience!  I walked down an aisle just like those we find in Walmart, floor to ceiling with shelves upon shelves of, I still don't know what.  I stood in this sea of merchandise and couldn't pick out tomato sauce from hot sauce, except one did have a picture of a chicken on it so I'm still not entirely sure what that meant.  I was not in Kansas anymore.

To enrich the experience I decided to walk around a little bit and see the sights.  Maybe I would find that one thing I was looking for.  Around the corner from the "wall of sauce" was a ginormous aquarium.  One large enough to house all the fresh fish anyone could ever want.  I watched as a man carefully deliberated on his selection.  As he found just the right fish, he carefully pointed to the man with the net and then to the fish.  With cat-like reflexes the worker scooped up that fish with his net and held it out for the man to further inspect.  After the determination of the suitable fish, I watched to see what would happen next.  I knew that fish's fate was sealed, but I wanted to see how this would be accomplished.  I know there's something wrong with me, I've learned to accept that.  But I figured that in our society we would have a "humane" and "sophisticated" way of ending the existence of this fish.  Nope, instantly he was thrown down on a large block table and in no time "KABAM" , "KABAM".  One more time the large hammer reminiscent of Donkey Kong's slammed down on the poor fish, "KABAM".  So much for the dignified sophistication on the Americas.  He was quickly gathered up and wrapped up and into this gentleman's shopping basket.  It was at that moment that with my mouth gaping open, almost touching the floor, I realized that I had no idea what we were in for!  I turned around and walked back to my car, quietly praying, "Lord prepare me".  And so He is........

Yes these are the actual fish.  Watch out for the "Hammer" boys! Here fishy, fishy!

Laughs and Lessons from a 2 year old!

So life with my boy is increasingly entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking... Here are some of the laughs from this week:

When we were grocery shopping last week, I let him choose what cereal he wanted for the week. With MUCH excitement he pointed to the box of Honey Nut Cheerios and declared, "That one! I want the bzzzzzz!" The next morning, he could hardly wait to open the box of cereal. I was happy, this meant no fighting to get him to eat his breakfast- victory! Then, as he finally ripped the top flaps open and pulled the bag of Cheerios out, he was very confused- "Mommy, where's the bzzzzz? Where's the bzzzzz?" My sweet boy thought there were going to be bees in the cereal! Really, it makes sense, green beans have green beans on the can, why not bee cereal?

This one's my favorite: My dad teaches Sunday school to Ethan and the kids learn a biblical principle.   Last month the principle was, "I am special to God."  So, on Saturday my dad came over for dinner and after dinner he and Ethan were just playing, wrestling and Grandpa went to grab Ethan.  Ethan's little pointer finger went out and he scolded Grandpa, "Don't grab me- I am special to God!"  That's right, sweet boy, somebody tries to grab you you remind them Whose you are!  Of course, Dad cracked up and rejoiced, "It's sinking in!"

Jon is a pushover both for Ethan and Matchbox cars.  So I know if the two of them go to the store, they're coming back with at least one car. Since we had a crazy week last week Jon had a little Daddy-Ethan date on the weekend and off to Wal-Mart they went followed by a shared Happy Meal at McD's. When they came home E was so excited to show me his 5 new cars giving details of each one.  But 2 hours later, as we were once again discussing the virtues of the new cars he remembered something... "They had gween twash twuck at store Mommy! I didn't buy it, they had gween twash twuck!" (dramatic pause, followed by dramatic flailing of arms-) "I NEED it!  I NEED the gween twash twuck!" (a few more laments of his desperate need of the green trash truck)  "You go to store and get gween twash twuck Mommy, right now!"  "What about all the other new cars Daddy bought you?" "Don't want them, I NEED the gween twash twuck!"  "No, baby, you need to say thank you to Daddy for all your new cars, but no green trash truck."  So funny the dramatics from this pint sized kiddo, but really how often do I do the same thing with God?  All the time- "please God, I need this.  I need it, can You make that work out?"  "Child, what about everything else I've given to you?"  "Well, I mean that's nice and all, but THIS, this I really NEED."  Humbling, to see yourself as a two-year-old through the eyes of a parent...