Life Lately

So, here's the deal. I STILL haven't finished our travels post. I know, it's taking me forever. Did you know it's so much easier to post pictures straight from my ipad/phone than to hook up the camera to the computer and upload pictures?...hence the reason for the delay. We took so many pictures on our real camera that I want to use for the post about Italy/Turkey. 

In the meantime, here's what's been going on in our world! 

(AG is 15-16 months in the following pictures)

Everyday, I come home from school around 12:00 to meet up with my best little friend. 

Every Sunday, we have our house ch-rch, where we entertain AG every possible way. Here, play with these...pearls.

I just love this picture. AG loves to eat our food. If we are eating anything, she will come up to us and expect us to give her a bite. So sweet daddy shares his cereal.

It snows here. A lot. But life must go on. You like my earpuffs? A purchase I made in Italy when I WAS SO COLD.

AG likes to get ready with me in the morning. As I sit to put on my makeup, she waits for me to either pick her up, or give her a make up brush. This day, I did both.

Curly pigtails. 

My 16-month old girl. So big. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I come back to the school for basketball practice. I bring AG with me to hand her over to Eric. 

A friend took this picture. I'm thinking it may have been at a soccer tournament held in November.

Winter in October

The first snow dusting of the season proved to be everything I hoped and imagined. It was beautifully refreshing. Snow capped mountains, the feeling of winter in the air...oh wait. It's October.

The first snow of the season is always exciting for me. Possibly because I've been in school my entire life and the result of a snow means NO SCHOOL!! It means you get to sleep in a little, hang out in your PJs all day, wake up to a warm drink by the fire...its a feeling of cozy around the house. But here...well, if we didn't go to school every time it snowed, we would be out of school from November to April. I'm okay with that. But apparently it's not good for the whole learning thing.

This past week was Fall Break. In NC public schools, Fall Break means no school for two days. Here, we are out for an entire week.  Winning. We slept. We ate. We hung out. I sewed. We stared at each other for hours. Having no car really limits our activities. So, we asked our friends with cars to hang out. We also took advantage of down time this week to practice the taxi system here. Mom, Carlyne, Nana, Aunt ME...you should stop reading now, but if you choose to continue, remember that what I'm about to say is COMPLETELY NORMAL here.  The taxi system here is similar to hitch hiking. Actually, that's what it is. We need a ride, so we hold out our hand, someone pulls over, we hop in the car, they take us where we need to go. Boom. No-car-problem solved. If you have a car, you are a taxi. It's just what they do here. And it is way, WAY, safer than America. Promise. We have already done it three times, and look, we are still here.

The last three days we had a retreat with our team. It was refreshing. A team from NC came in and brought tons of coveted American goodies...and the only thing I really care about...Starbucks. I was so excited about good coffee that I couldn't wait to go to bed so I could wake up and drink it. I even woke up throughout the night from excitement of good coffee and fresh snow. It's the little things, y'all. 

AG was so exhausted from the retreat that she slept in until 9:00 Sunday morning, took a three hour nap, and was out by 7:00 that evening. She is such a people person. She will let anyone hold her and will play with about anything and anyone. She gets passed around so often here, most of the time I have no idea where she is...and she LOVES the attention.

Lately at 13 months

So apparently AG likes cats. Which makes sense since Eric and I don't...of course our child would love cats. Many of our team members have cats, so when we go to their houses, AG gets so pumped to play with the kitties. 

This picture says it all...there were three cats, and she got so excited about all three, she didn't know which one to go to:

Kisses for kitty

Last week, AG and I went to one of the soccer games with some people from our team. AG loved playing in the grass

Last weekend, our school had Fall Festival where the little kids got to dress up. We didn't pack any costumes so the best we could come up with was a little cupcake...which turned out adorable! The Fall Festival was a blast! There were different types of foods, candy, cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, games, talent show, and the popular Air Band competition.

She loved her pet balloon dog. She popped it in less than 5 minutes...

CA Happenings

This blog is inspired by exaggerated true events, real thoughts and feelings.

So let me tell you. LET ME TELL YOU, I say, fingers snapping in the air. 

There are some interesting happenings around this part of town. Here are a few I want to remember...

I've been honked at, multiple time and it ain't because I'm flauntin' myself down the street in my stilettos. Nope not even close. I'm in my tshirt, jeans, hair in a bun, casually walking to get some fruit and veggies. Seems innocent enough right? But if I'm an inch, AN INCH, too close to a car driving by me, I'm apparently in the way. Maybe I should wear my mini skirt and high heels out to the fruit stand. Because then I'll fit right in. Oh, but wait. I don't own a mini skirt, nor did I pack any of my fancy shoes. 

Someone should've told me girls like it flaunt it here, I might have packed accordingly. Kidding. 

I've also seen a fight. In the street. Two men bumped each other in their cars, couldn't agree, got out, yelled, and then started fighting. And now I know that if I get into an altercation between either two men, I most certainly would win the battle.

Yesterday, I saw a man carrying a LIVE sheep, upside down, by its legs, across the street. Don't know where he was going. I was too distracted figuring out how to actually pick up a sheep like that (lamb? sheep? He was carrying ONE, so correct if you may, grammar police).

Remember that movie where there is a really cool girl, and an overly chipper younger girl who tries too hard to be BFF's with the cool girl? I don't know what movie that is, but I am sure there is one out there. Well that happened to me. I had a young teenage girl chase me down the street in order to walk and talk with me. I was the cool girl. THE COOL GIRL!!...by default, it was only because I am American. She kept talking in her incorrect, broken English, trying to tell me how she thinks America is so amazing.

Oh, have you been there? I ask.
"No, but I want to so bad!!!!"
How do you know it's amazing?
"Movies!!!"
Oh perfect. That's a great way to discover the true America. No, no I actually didn't say this, but it kinda scares me that she feels this way based on movies.

We continued chatting, for a little bit longer. She told me she is wanting to practice English so she can go to America. I told her I would love to help her. She was super cute, and I wouldn't mind being her BFF :).

We have a nanny that keeps AG while we are working. She also cleans and cooks too...I'm thinking about packing her when we come back. For real...I'm going to be spoiled when we come back to America. She is amazing and AG loves her. She recommended that we get a house helper too...house helpers clean and cook. But she cleans and cooks. Is she saying that it's obvious we need tons of help?! So far I have come home from work to: homemade pizza, homemade tortillas, homemade tortilla chips, homemade french fries, a taco bar...I'm thinking she knows us Americans pretty well, don't ya think?

Things are going well over here y'all! Feel free to personally catch up with us by shooting us an email!

AND GOOD NEWS...today is slushie day!!!

He is good, I promise.

I write this following post to boast about G-d's kindness, once again. Over and over He has proved Himself faithful and good, yet over and over I question it. Someone so unworthy to receive any of His grace, I constantly find myself covered in it. He is good, I promise. 

Today was a harder one. When our nanny arrived this morning, I found myself a little more reluctant to hand over my most prized worldly possession, and teared up as I left for school. Discouraged that I no longer get to spend all my day with this sweet little one, I began to cry a little as we waited on our ride to school.

Then I dropped my breakfast in a puddle. 

We arrived at school and all was great just like it usually is, I even went on a run.  But today I just longed to be home. North Carolina, home. I left school early so I could go spend the rest of my time with Addie. Before our nanny left, I walked to the market and bank...to find the ATM wasn't working with my card. The man that worked at the bank tried to explain something to me...maybe why it wasn't working, but of course, we didn't understand each other. I use to think it was kinda funny. Not today. I just want my money, man. I finally gave up on any sort of communication and charades and walked tearfully back towards home. 

After our nanny left, I am home for a few hours by myself until Eric's gets off work. But remember, today just wasn't a good day. Which means, today I just need someone who speaks English to be my friend. 

Addie and I went outside for a bit and I found myself once again, tearing up. Trying to hold it together. I really just want to be home. So I began talking with Him. L-rd, please reveal more kindness to me. I just really need an English speaking friend. Or something. I felt so selfish in my prayers. He has given me so much and is always kind, I don't deserve anything more than what He has already shown. He has even provided a wonderful team for us, but I have to take a bus to get there houses and I have no idea how to do that. 

So Eric arrives and I am so thankful to not be alone any longer. He then proceeds to ask if I care if he goes on a run. I guess that's fine. He could sense my hesitation, so he suggests that we all go on a walk. 

A few minutes into our walk, we hear, "You must not be a local, you have a BOB." (A BOB is the name of our fancy jogging stroller that I so adamantly begged for while I was preggers. Actually, I knew I wanted this thing before I was preggers.). We stopped where we were and found this couple with grocery bags in hand. I immediately thought, english. ENGLISH. They speak ENGLISH!! We began talking and found out they were from Boston. They immediately invited us over to their flat, where we hung out for the next hour.

He is good, I promise. He used something as silly as my materialistic drive to own a BOB for His glory. And it isn't because this couple heard us speaking English, that they stopped us. In fact, they were in a taxi on their way home, saw our BOB, and asked the driver to drop them off right in front of us. I pr-yed for Him to reveal more kindness. And He did. HE DID. After all He has shown, I asked for more, and He so patiently and gently provided it. How often do we ask Him to do more than what he has already done? Really, all we need is to know that we have J-sus, and that should be enough to satisfy our longings for the rest of eternity. He knows our fickle hearts, our worries, and doubts. I am so thankful we have a patient G-d who grafts us into eternity with Him, through J-sus. Even through all our imperfections, He still wants us.

Small victories

It's the small victories that are celebrated over here. When you don't know the language nor the location of your flat (apartment), anything that is completed by yourself is a big deal. My big deal happened two days ago when I bought fruits and veggies all by myself.

I was told that at the fresh fruit/veggie stands, it is possible I would receive a "foreigner price." Which is a nice was of saying ripped off. There are a few stands close to our flat, so I decided to walk over and give it a shot. The interesting thing about this place is that there are all sorts of people here. Dark hair-dark skinned, blonde hair-blue eyes, etc. So I thought if I just kept my mouth shut, this could possibly be a success. 

And it was. The thing is, if you act like you know what you're doing, there is a good chance everyone else thinks you do too. I mean, what can be so hard about picking out fruits and veggies? I do it all the time in the States. So after I paid a good cheap price, I opened my mouth for the first time. "Thank you." The man at the stand brightened up his eyes, let out a surprised grin and looked at the man next to him. I walked off. Victory indeed. I paid the equivalent of $4.00 for:

Watermelon

Two onions

Three cucumbers

I think the L-rd allowed me to experience the joy of a small victory before allowing me to realize I need so much help. I leave early from school, so I can spend time with AG at home. I have a driver that will be taking me home everyday, so yesterday was his first day. Keep in mind his English is not good. The traffic here is the worst I have ever seen. Not to mention the driving. OH THE DRIVING. We almost hit a girl on the way to school. And playing chicken with other cars is normal, an everyday occurrence actually. And people drive on sidewalks and other areas not created to be a road. 

Anyways, after what seemed like forever on the road, my driver gets pretty close to my flat and says in broken english, "where to?" 

Um turn right?

He starts to turn. 

No no no, actually go straight.  

He swerves back on the road. "Keep going?" he says.

 I think? Um yes, keep going. 

He goes. 

Actually, I have no idea. 

Fail. 

He pulls over on the side of the road. And we just sit there. Think Kelly, think. 

Oh yes! I have a phone! 

G-ds providence that I was given a dumb phone by the logistic guy on our team. Surely his number is in here. So I scroll to the contacts and find his name. PTL!! I say in English to my nice driver man, "I'm going to call my friend, and he will tell you where to go," while of course pointing to the phone, his ear, and the road, all at the same time. I have a feeling charades is going to be my new favorite game.

My logistics guy speaks in one of the two languages that are spoken here (Yes. This is a BILINGUAL country...we are dumb, America) and explains to him where to go. So, 100 yards later, yes YARDS, I am home. Well, at least now he knows where to go for tomorrow?

On a side note: Usually on my first day of school, I like to try to get to know my students by asking them questions. One question I asked is, "what languages do you speak?". Most of my students are bilingual and trilingual.  Also these students been to more countries than they can count. Their worldview is not small, and I pr-y that He will continue to expand my worldview. I have so much to learn here. And so much to learn from kids 10 years younger than I. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that this is not home to me, but I pray that I will soak up this time in another culture. In another world. That I will not waste it, and that I will be changed to be more like Him. 

First day of school for the whole family

We made it

We flew out on Wednesday evening. We arrived Friday morning.

Let that sink in.

 

 

 

17 hours. In the air. But we are here. We made it. Barely sane. But we are here, and I write from my quaint little kitchen all the way across the world.

And of course, I have to represent...

 Part of my computer is in Russian...not sure why?

We flew out Wednesday even at 5:10 (US time). We went from RDU-NYC-LONDON-OUR COUNTRY. We had a long layover in London, so we decided to escape from the confines of yet another airport and enjoy the dirty air of England. At first this idea seemed a little daunting, because not only did we have a sweet little baby who was running on so few hours of sleep (not to mention all of us "adults" were too), but we CARRIED ON:

Carseat

Pack N Play

 the BOB

Huge diaper bag

My personal bag

My purse

My pillow

Abby's carry on suictcase

Abby's bookbag

Abby's purse

Eric's carry on suitcase

Eric's bookbag

Eric's pillows. Yes, pillowS

 

 

...and there were THREE of us to man-handle all the goods. Besides the overwhelming amount of items needed to travel with a baby, AG was a total rockstar. Seriously. I couln't have been more proud of her. On our long flights she slept or sat quietly most of the way. She was ready to play the last two hours of our last flight, but who blames her right? I sure don't. Goodness. I was ready to play.

 

 

But, back to London. Excuse the random thoughts. Jeg lag going on over here.

 

To our great delight, the London airport has a baggage service where we can pay per item for them to store our things while we sightsee. So of course, we felt it necessary to fork over the cash. We took many pictures, saw many tourist-y spots, marveled over amazing architecture, and ate outside at a cute cafe. AG slept for most of her time in London.

 

On the Heathrow Express to Paddington

 

Heathrow Express to Paddington

 

Our taxi ride from Paddington to Buckingham Palace...Yes, we straight up rolled the stroller into the taxi.

 

 

 

What's London without a selfie?

 

This telephone booth was so gross and smelly

 

 

 

 

When we arrived in our country, we hauled our many items inside to Customs. One thing I learned about this country from the get-go...no personal space.

 

Somehow we ended up in the BACK of the line. We did not start in the back. Apparently if you aren't touching your nose to the back of the persons head in front of you, people think its fair game to cut you in line. OH YES. MY PET PEEVE. Line cutting brings out a side in me y'all. Not to mention the lack of sleep.

 

Anyways, my conscience, aka ERIC, gave me a look that said "cool it." Okay fine, but remember I'm holding a very fussy baby right now so this mama bear is about to flip out if she doesn't get through customs ASAP!! Many people staring at white girl with red hair, who speaks a funny language, in a funny dialect, rocking a baby back and forth.
 

Real life. Tired baby, daddy, and aunt

 

After an hour wait, we finally made it through. The very last ones. But on a positive note, it was very easy to find our bags. Except that one of Abby's didn't quite make it.

 

So we are missing a bag, and we have this huge language barrier going on. How do we communicate to these people...WHERE IS OUR MISSING BAG?!

 

Oh. Right. It just so happens, that one of our team members (from Alabama) was on our flight with us and speaks fluent Russian. G-ds grace. It's incredible the amount of His grace that has been so evident within the last few days. I could cry thinking about it. We learned that Abby's bag got stuck in NYC, but thankfully is making it's way to us as we speak.

 

On a random note...Eric and I opened one of our huge duffle bags to find a little boy's Sketcher shoe?? Just one of them. Our theory is that this kid's shoe fell out of his bag, so while they were stuffing it in a random bag (aka ours), they forgot to load Abby's bag. Yeah. This is probably what happened. Poor kid only has one shoe.

 

We walked out of baggage claim to be greeted by our friend Liz and our driver. They brought ONE van. Our bags were stuffed to the ceiling. Abby squeezed in the front with Liz. Will, Eric, Addie, and myself squeezed on one row. Will was holding the Pack n Play in his LAP. Eric was holding the BOB in his LAP. The front wheel to the BOB was poking Liz in the head the entire 45 minute ride back to our apartment. We couldn't have squeezed in one more bag. G-ds grace that Abby's bag was delayed.

 

 

Since we got to our apartment, our schedule has been jammed packed. It's Sunday here, and we still have not unloaded our bags. We have not had one bit of time. Our team here is AMAZING. We have our meals provided the entire next week. They have taken us grocery shopping to help show us what is what. We have already pr-yed together. Sang together. We have a family away from family here.

 

G-d is SO good. He is so kind to us that He has provided so much already. Just a few things I for me to remember:

 

1. AG did amazing on the flights. His kindness.

 

2. When we walked into our apartment, I immediately cried. Overwhelming tears. I just wanted to go home. This apartment doesn't feel like home. Then I walked into the kitchen. My dream kitchen. I see this kitchen as His kindness to me.

 

3. I was anxious about getting AG milk/food if we ran out, since we don't have a car. Across the street from our apartment is a little market. WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING girl who works there. His kindness.

 

4. There is a fresh fruit and veggie stand down the street from us. His kindness.

 

5. Our first night, we left our apartment to go to a school picnic. When we came back, we had no idea how to get into the door of our apartment building. We just stood outside. Couldn't get in. Someone eventually came out, and let us in. So I decided to ask, "Do you speak English?" Pretty rare, here. The guy said, "yes." He said YES!! So we asked him how the door works, and he showed us. His kindness.

 

6. Although the buildings aren't very pretty (old Soviet architecture), we have an amazing view from our living room of the mountains. His kindness.

 

 

7. The amazing community here amoungst our team. His kindness

 

8. I have already met several young American moms who are blvrs who want to help/hang out. His kindness.

9. Will (from Alabama) was on our last flight. He helped us get through customs and find Abby's bag. Out of all flights, all times, all days, someone from OUR team was there. His kindness.

 

I could go on. I cannot get over the amount of grace He has provided in so short amount of time. One thing after another. I am overwhelmed with the amount of love He has for us. He is a good G-d. A kind G-d. A loving and gracious G-d.

 

Marty, a dear friend of mine from back in NC sent me the most encouraging email the day we left for CA. It is a quote by Charles Spurgeon, that I highly recommend you take the time and read. So let me leave you with these encouraging words:

 

"All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause. Out of the golden gate of G-d's ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth. The trials which come from G-d are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy. Our L-rd in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people's faith that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it is well that J-h-vah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich towards G-d."