Black Marble Composition Notebooks

These things should be banned from every school supply list imaginable. It's bad enough that there is not one left in either Howard or Montgomery counties, but the fact that I need six of them is slightly enfuriating. Why? Because 5 of them are for my first grader. When Kt was in first grade, she also needed 5 and at the end of the year each of them came home with a subject written on the outside: Spelling Journal, Daily Writing Journal, Math Journal, Science Journal and Social Studies Journal. Only the spelling and writing journals were even written in. The math journal had about the first 6 pages used and the science and social studies ones were not even touched. Why am I looking all over the county for 6 of these things, in black I might add??? Hmmm.....

Things That Make You Go Hmmm....

So, having a bunch of these today. First, as soon as I got into the house from the bus stop there was a message on my machine. The kindergarten teacher's aide called me to see if I could come in and help with kindergarten lunch today. Hmmm.... what to do? I'll go, because I'm a pushover! And because I know the kindergarten teachers will need a break today!

We waited 15 minutes for the bus today. Our little bus picks up exactly 9 children, then goes off to school. Every year they publish that our pick up time is 8:50, but we have no idea if it's our same bus driver, who always changes that time to 9:05 so the kids aren't getting dropped off alone at school. We appreciate that, but this year our same bus driver just didn't bother to show up until 9:05 and said.... absolutely nothing to us. She's not the nicest lady and while I'm grateful she's consistent, I wish she had a little more personality and maybe even a smile! Hmmm....

Finally, I still need composition notebooks. I guess I'll shower and go out and look for some. I thought I might price them on Amazon, although that might take too long. They are rather cheap, but I was wondering about the option of buying them... uh... used? Why are they even offering to sell used composition notebooks? Is that not just plain scary or ridiculous? Hmmmmmmm.......

Big Plans

There is only one person in this house who has big plans, and it's not me. I'm actually going through a sort of depression over sending my kids off for another year of school without having had a family vacation this summer. I knew when we made the commitment to go to Hungary that we'd have to give that up, I just never realized how difficult that would make returning to school. I'm just not ready.

Kt has some serious plans, however, and has asked me about them every single day since we've come home. She is determined to return to Hungary next summer for the very same conference. She is insistent and has asked me every single day to promise her that we will let her go back next year. Now, every day I've explained to her that the chance of us returning next year are slim. It's expensive, we have not been invited, we don't know what kind of a team we'll have, and I'm not even sure we'll be going anywhere as a family next year.... Even with all my explanations, she insists on bringing this up every single day!

Today, as we left church, she said to me, "Mommy, is it all right for me to go back next year to Hungary? Will you let me go?" By this time, I'm just rolling my eyes, trying not to get all mad at her, and I basically said all the same things..... Then she said, "Well, Caroline, McKenna and Olivia all invited me to come back, so I'm invited. And Miss Kelly said she would stop here on the way to Hungary to pick me up!" Man, this girl is just completely intent on getting back to Hungary.

The truth is, I couldn't have asked for a better experience for Kt this summer. To her, it was almost better than one of my Disney dream vacations. She met people who will have a lasting impact on her life, she did something with a bigger purpose than laying on a beach, she learned that the world is different outside of the confines of the U.S. and she has a heart that wants to go. I'm not really sure what to do about it, but it is what it is. She will never be happy to sit at home and watch the world happen around her. She will always want to be a participant.

As for Em, we have a little more groundwork to lay. We skipped the boot camp experience with her this summer. Her journey is taking a different turn. She is still processing what happened, and while her plans don't seem as grand now, she does talk about Hungary to perfect strangers wherever we go, so I know it's on her mind. She might actually be happy to join me at Cinderella's Castle.... but not for long. And she prayed for Trev tonight (which I'm sure is extended to the whole team) that he would be able to tell everyone at school tomorrow all about Hungary. Good luck, team, and happy first day of school!

Bird Flu in Bavaria

It's a good thing this story didn't break a few weeks ago or T may not have allowed us to travel to Germany!! I'd have to say it's one of his worst nightmares at this time - which is why our basement is stocked with all kinds of "stuff" for that pandemic that's heading our way.

Underutilized

This morning I sat in our up and coming megachurch, waiting for Trev from our Hungary team to get up on stage and tell everyone what an incredible trip we had and it occurred to me: one of the issues in big churches is that we underutilize people. Every week it's the same people up on stage doing music and worship, the same people running the kidzone, the same people making announcements, the same people on the Greeting team, the Parking Lot team, the Information Desk team..... and honestly, if I didn't know any better I'd think that this church didn't need me at all. I could come every week, never sign up to do anything that I wanted or even thought about trying because I'm just not necessary.

I would love to be part of a church that said, "We want everyone here to have a chance at doing something for God, whether they are good or bad at it, just because they want to worship him in that way. We don't care if you can't sing, we'll hand you a mic. We don't care if you have never babysat before or don't have kids, we'll give you a morning of joy with 3 year olds! It's OK if none of our reflective vests fit you, come wave hello to everyone coming to church and help people cross the street." Instead, we make people discover only the things they are good at and fit them in where they can best be utilized so nobody has to listen to someone sing off key, or direct cars the wrong way down a one way street or discover that kids can be fun even if you don't understand what they are saying.

I'm sitting in church today, listening to 4 people share how God did something for them this summer out in the world not here. God taught them that He provides all that we need and more, that He will guide us to His intended destination in ways we can't even research or dream up on our own, that joy doesn't come in material things, that worship is the best way to start each day.... and why can't we learn these things here? Because we don't need to, and no one needs us to. Isn't is a wonder that God has to take us far away to teach us how much we are needed? I think it's really sad.

International Office Of Space

That's what we call this place. It's kind of a joke, but it's also kind of true. I mean, it's really like an office. I'm the receptionist, event planner, cleaner (although not really.... if you've ever been here, you know what I mean!), caterer, counselor, and I basically hold down the fort. I should be heading out to church soon, although my 9 year old sounds like she has croup. Here are some recent conversations with the President of our company.

Pres: The N's are coming over Sunday at 3.

Me: What do you want me to have?

Pres: I don't know.

Me: How many people are coming to see them?

Pres: I don't know.

Me: Are we having snacks or a meal?

Pres: I don't know. How about brownies or something?

Me: OK, so we'll clean the house up on Saturday.

Pres: OK. But I'm going to be away all day. How about I clean it up on Sunday? And I'll go get drinks and snacks.

Me: Uh, OK. But what about that old TV stand that's in the foyer that's been there since January. I told you no more events at the office until that thing is gone and this is about the 10th event....

Pres: Oh, right. I can take that to Goodwill tomorrow after church.

Me: (rolling my eyes, because after 8 months of hearing the same thing, I deserve to be able to do that) Right.... and clean the house, buy snacks....

This morning, day of event, after I spend all day yesterday trying to get ready, of course it doesn't look like I've done anything!

Pres: Did I happen to mention to you that I am speaking at Light Company this morning?

Me: Well, you did just now!

Pres: Oh, right. Well, I probably shouldn't be, but I'm speaking this morning.

Me: OK, well see you at "our" event this afternoon!

In case you don't know, our office is our house. Our president isn't very tidy, neither are his kids, and most of their mess goes unnoticed by them. It doesn't go unnoticed by me or the hundreds of guests they invite to the premises on a daily basis. I think it might be time to hire someone to clean up after them because I'm not really interested in that job anymore!!

Like This is any Surprise!

You Should Spend Your Summer at the Beach

You're a free spirit who is always thinking of new ways to have fun. And you don't just love summer... you live for it. So, you really should blow off your responsibilities and head to the beach!

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

Of course, I've spent only a minuscule part of my summer anywhere near a beach. It's quite sad! I know quite a few people who have had beach houses loaned to them.... and I'm thinking, "Why don't I know anyone who would loan me a beach house?" I have beach on my mind, and I'm feeling the need to go. But, tomorrow is the first day of school. I believe I've run out of time. For this summer anyway.

Don't Mess with New Haven!

This story is funny to me.... of course, knowing that my brother works in New Haven and his architecture firm just completed a brand new FBI building in that city.... well, I don't think I'd be sprinkling flour around their city any time soon!

Building Student Leaders

I guess Space is all about building leaders. It's something T has a passion for, and combined with his passion for world missions it is what has kept us in our suburban church, pulling out kids in within our sphere of influence who show an interest in those same two things. We totally hit the jackpot this summer, or at least it appears that way so far. Of course, I hadn't planned on the jackpot being so close to home....

A couple of team members, my husband included, have been attempting to hit every continent as far as a visit is concerned. It's sort of a running joke, because for T the ones he's missing are Australia (which has always been a dream of mine to visit) and Antarctica, which I could totally skip altogether - I'm just not a snow and ice person at all! Of course, in all our ramblings on this subject, our oldest daughter has apparently developed her own ideas about where she wants to go. Here's what she told me on our bus ride out of Sopron:

Kt: I really want to go on more missions trips.

Me: I'm glad you liked this one.

Kt: But I don't want to go on one just because I want to visit a continent. I want to go where God can use me.

Me: Well, that's a good reason to go. Why don't you tell your dad that?

Of course, just the fact that she put these two completely separate ideas together on her own was in itself scary, it's a reminder to T and I that much of what we're doing, what we say and how we "joke around" will be interpreted by our own children in the context of what we are doing at the time. We don't plan our missions trips based on what continent they are in, but I guess we ought to be making that a bit more clear to our nearest and dearest (sorry space kids!;-)) up and coming leader, who happens to live in the International Office of Space.

I will be totally honest. The fact that this is what goes on in our house has not escaped my understanding that our children will be impacted in ways we cannot fathom. Especially Kt, who is constantly processing even the smallest of events in the context of her faith. I have often wondered what kind of plan has been in store for my kids knowing where God has placed them in life - with two crazy people! After this summer, I can't wait to read those daily journal entries they start writing for school. Those have been our most telling sources of what happens in the mind of our children!

Schonbrunn Palace

This was my favorite spot in Vienna, although we arrived there from a bus tour taken the day we landed in Austria. It was not until the end of our tour, which sleep deprivation and heat seemed to have deteriorated, that I finally asked who lived in this monstrous abode. It was the imperial family's summer residence, the home where Marie Antoinette was raised. Wow!

As you can likely tell from our photo, we were not in the best of moods for such a grand tour, but I saw enough to know (and not enough to know!) that this is at the top of my list of places to visit when I return to Vienna at some undetermined as of yet point in my life. Here is a funny conversation I had with my half comatose daughter, who only knew that this was the home of a princess. We were waiting in a shaded, covered walkway between the huge palace and another set of buildings which were likely at sometime either stables or offices, but now are the home of a restaurant.

Em: Where did she live?

Me: In that big building. Let's sit here (on a step off the back door of the kitchen) but watch out. People might come out this door and not know we are here.

Em: I want to go in that door.

Me: We can't go in there.

Em: Why not? I want to see where she lived.

Me: Well, she lived over there, and we are going to go in and see that. This is a restaurant.

Em: So, she lived next door to a restaurant???

Me: Laughing.... well, when she lived here, it was not a restaurant!

How, exactly, do you explain 300 years ago to a 6 year old? I thought the immense size of the place might be some indication, but apparently I was incorrect. All in all, I'm guessing the fact that there was no longer a real, live princess living in that palace made it not seem so authentic to her. In a sense, Cinderella's Castle at Disney World is the only "real" castle she's ever seen, because she knows Cinderella lives there, has seen her with her own eyes. And by the way, she has her own restaurant as well!

New Invention?

This is HARDLY an invention, but as I sit here with 90 pencils in front of me, an overheated electric pencil sharpener and kids who have completely lost all interest in an activity that typically (and oddly) fascinates them, it occurs to me that if they actually sold "pre-sharpened" pencils, that is one thing I would totally pay extra for. To me, on a day like today, it would be well worth my money!

Carambar Fruits

A missionary friend, MR, gave me a delicious bags of treats, including these Carambar Fruits taffylike. I'm eating an orange one... sucking on it in a complete and utter daze because I just barely survived an introvert's worst, most horrifying nightmare. I escorted my two children to the first ever "open house" at their school.

It was first ever because in the past, they have staggered these events by grade. This year, for some unknown and completely insane reason, they gave parents and students a 45 minute window to come in and meet your teacher. We arrived 5 minutes early, had to park waaaaaayyyyyy down the street and could barely walk through the halls fillled with every single student and their parents. It was a complete madhouse and to say that I'm not happy about how it turned it would be an understatement. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed, underimpressed, weary and overall really disappointed. Of course, I had a feeling this might happen after last year was so incredibly amazing.

Em's class is made up of almost everyone I'd hoped she wouldn't be with again and nobody (except for one sweet little friend) I would have chosen her to be with. While I love her teacher, I can see that we have a long, long road ahead of us this year. I'm not even a little bit optimistic about first grade this year. Then again, I can remember that same feeling when Kt was in first grade. It must just be the first grade teacher in me.

Kt's equally in bad shape. Literally all her close friends are in the other two classes. Her teacher is... interesting. Nice, but not someone I would choose specifically for Kt. She is sitting next to a child she fears (he has special needs, frequent outbursts and has been known to physically "hurt" people), is the only one of her close friends in that class without any of them, and is not at all excited about school. The last one is what worries me the most because Kt basically LIVES for school. Even all my pep talks have not lifted her spirits about heading back, and I'm a little anxious myself.

All this being said, I didn't feel any warm fuzzies today from anyone. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm the prickly pear. I don't really know, but it's going to events like this one when I think, "Maybe T should have gone to this one!" By the last ten minutes, I was walking down the halls, following my frantic children to the kindergarten pod (mind you, neither of them is in kindergarten!) looking and acting like a complete zombie.

In the confines of my analytical, perceptive, discerning, pessimistic mind I am getting a really bad feeling about this year. I can't really put my finger on it quite yet, but there is something very dissatisfying to me about where my kids have been placed. I can see that trust is going to play a big part in my own personal journey this year. Trust and contentment. It's just going to be a season of.... I'm not sure yet.

On a bright note, the sun is out. Of course, it's over 90 degrees! YIKES!

School Supplies

Each year, I think to myself while on our long, arduous school supply gathering journey, "College can't be much more expensive than this! Can it?" Of course, I'm exaggerating, but here's what we've had to purchase for school this year (and I'm so thankful they have taken off the ream of paper for each child they have always suggested!):

4 boxes of Giant Food Brand Ultra Softcloths Baby Wipes, 100 count
1 box gallon size ZIPLOC brand plastic storage bags
1 box quart size ZIPLOC brand plastic storage bags
Crayola Crayons - 16 count
Crayola Crayons - 2 boxes 24 count
Index Cards - 3x5
Box of 8 basic colored pencils
2 Sturdy CLOTH school pouch for pencils
2 Pocket folders, just pockets
8 Pocket folders, with 3 prongs
2 pair sturdy scissors, Fiskars work best
4 LARGE boxes of tissues, Puff Plus preferred
2 packages unscented 4 dry erase markers, dark colors, NO NEON
12" wooden ruler
Yellow Highlighter
Pack of 8 washable markers
Black fine point Sharpie Marker
3 blue ball point pens for checking
90 sharpened #2 pencils (30 unlabeled for Emily, 60 labeled for Katie - I totally messed up)
3 pencil erasers
6 black marble composition notebooks (can't find these anywhere....oops! that's what we get for going to Europe!)
1 package, loose-leaf, wide ruled, 200 count
7 single subject spiral notebooks, not multi-subject
pack of 5 subject dividers for binder
2 3x3 sticky notes
1" binder
14 Large .88 oz Extra strength glue sticks (can't find these anywhere....)
mini pencil sharpener with shavings collector
2 $15 checks made payable to school to cover the cost of magazine subscriptions, homework planner, folder, spelling handbooks, and special class projects


It's a pretty detailed list we get and this year I just can't seem to keep it all straight. So... first grade will have one batch of pencils labeled with Em's name because I thought Kt's were the ones that were NOT to be labeled. Now I have to sit down and write her name of 60 pencils.... I wonder if all our tax money is just not enough??

Mind you, we still get notes during the year asking to replenish the kids school supplies. I can't imagine this would be necessary given the amount of supplies I'm sending in, but maybe I'm just naive about education or something. I've totally cheated on this list.... so now we're off to meet our teachers, drop off these supplies and get lectured on how we messed up. Yay!

On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Danube so blue, so bright and blue,
through vale and field you flow so calm,
our Vienna greets you, you silver stream
through all the lands you merry the heart
with your beautiful shores.

Far from the Black Forest
you hurry to the sea
giving your blessing to everything.
Eastward you flow,
welcoming your brothers,
A picture of peace for all time!
Old castles looking down from high,
greet you smiling from their steep
and craggy hilltops,
and the mountains' vistas
mirror in your dancing waves.

The mermaids from the riverbed,
whispering as you flow by,
are heard by everything
under the blue sky above.
The noise of your passing
is a song from old times
and with the brightest sounds
your song leads you ever on.

Stop your tides at Vienna,
it loves you so much!
Whenever you might look
you will find nowhere like Vienna!
Here pours a full chest
the charms of happy wishes,
and heartfelt German wishes
are flown away on your waters.

~Johann Strauss II

BEST PICTURE EVER - THE TEAM, SUNSET ON THE BLUE DANUBE

The Danube is the oldest, longest river in Europe, reaching through ten EU countries. The name means "to flow" and alludes to a strong, swift current. That we congregated on it's banks, an intentional, missional, vibrant movement of people with a heart for Europe, seems to me no mistake. I wish I'd known that day all that I know now, but I will never see our day in Vienna the same after learning about this seemingly insignificant at the time venue on the banks of the Danube. May God be heard for years to come as a result of what happened that day on the Blue Danube in Vienna.

Dismal

That's about the only word I can think of for our last week before school starts. I have not seen a speck of sunshine since we left Europe, which is obviously making me wish I was 4000 miles away! Usually our last week before school is spent at the pool or in Connecticut at the beach. Instead, it's been spent trying to recover from jetlag, working, sorting through the misguided party antics of our resident teens and TV - yuck. HELP! This is seriously miserable!

The Bitter, The Sweet and The Chocolate

T: I think this is the one. I think I'm going to lose them.

D: Wasn't that what you set out to do all along? I think that was your intentional goal. I mean, isn't this why we did this?

T: I know, but aren't you sad?

D: Yes, but I'm so excited as well. I think it might have worked.

T and I had this little exchange on our last day in Hungary, speaking about the students, mostly leaders, who have been committed to Space since it's inception. Each of them just being propelled to the next level, which unfortunately for us means they are leaving. Moving to the next level. Going out on their own, for the sake of the Gospel, not just to have a little fun with the Shengs. (LOL)

A couple Hungary team kids came to me and asked if we could go next year to work with one of the CA families, like maybe in Paris or Amsterdam. I just looked at them and said, "As soon as one of you goes to that place, we'll come." I mean, that's the idea, right? We teach them, we train them, we take them, we send them. God moves them. He gives the whole process purpose, and these kids get it.

So, it's bitter. What will we do without them? I'll admit, we've grown a little dependent on them and we'll miss them dearly. They breathe life into us because their giving spirits are just so inspiring and refreshing. They have a deep trust in their Savior and an even deeper desire to share His light. But for us, we know we have to let them do it without us.

It's sweet, because we know our hearts will go with them. We are completely invested in them, we suffer with them, we pray for them, we can say, "I know that amazing person! I served with him/her!" They are the proof that we don't labor in vain.

It's chocolate - I know that's really what is pulling them to Europe. They may think it's the need for laborers in such a lost continent, but I've tasted and I know it's sweet, and bitter. The chocolate is just delectable! So Space cadets, once you've been launched into the world, don't forget to send me some of that yummy European chocolate! ;-)

The Team

I will start this post by just expressing this overlying theme for this past missions trip: I just served on my all-time, favorite, most amazing team EVER! I'm actually really sad that we won't be serving together ever again, because I'm not sure any other team will ever measure up to this past one - and that is totally a fact.

That being said, I've been processing what my role was on this team. Prompted by the post before this, I was afraid from the start that my role on this team would be "grown-up wife of SPACE director" - and it was a role I did not want. I did realize it would be a difficult one to overcome, and I recognized that, to a certain extent, I'd be viewed that way by everyone we met. Knowing that we had on our team the most talented, able-bodied, intentional, dynamic, and motivating leaders on our team - 4 others to be exact - I made it clear to T from the start that on this team, I wanted to be in the background and let them shine. In doing so, THOSE leaders allowed the whole team to shine to the point that I still have some Christian Associate friends asking who those leaders were.

One example of leadership assumption by default of being the wife of "the" leader - when we arrived, T was to be given a tour of the properties we would be utilizing. Since our hotel was being utilized for the conference, there was no space large enough to run a full kids program, so we had a space up the street for that. For reasons I will never understand, only two people could go on this tour and for other reasons I don't understand T and I were chosen. It only took me a few seconds to conclude that it was silly for me to go on this tour because MY work on this conference was at our hotel, in a very small room working with all the 2 and under children. So, I suggested they take along another leader who would actually be working in this space!

Every one of our leaders on this trip did things sacrificially to allow our team members the maximum benefit, most missional experience possible - and they were extremely intentional about it. And our team members, all high school students, blew everyone away. And I mean that in the most amazing sense. There was not one student on our team who acted like anything other than the most responsible, incredible, mature, loving teenager ever. I'm honestly so proud of all of them. Of course, their leaders allowed them to shine. We had no choice!

Out of this team and the leadership, there is only one thing I would have changed (maybe more if I took a bit more time to really think about it) that stands out to me: our attitude in dealing with conflict that arose in working with others. It was something that united us as a team, was slightly unexpected and deserved a different response and could have had the potential to destroy what we were trying to do as a team. I am humbled by the fact that one of our teens, not a leader, reminded us daily that we were there for the kids. It was not about us at all. Thank goodness for Trev!

Working with the babies, while it was a sacrifice of sorts and created a very isolated feeling for a few of us, gave lb and I a taste of missional life from a very different perspective. We communicated with some of these families on a whole different level, spent gobs of time with incredibly well-adjusted toddlers (who were amazingly good-looking!) and bonded over poturdies and some of the messiest diapers I've ever seen! It was the perfect job for me, although quite stressful at times. It made me appreciate all the more seeing our team in action whenever I could.

Thanks, everyone, for making this the BEST MISSIONS TRIP EVER for me. I'm almost afraid to try this again for fear that the standard has been set way too high! You all are the best!

Grow Up

Some days, despite the fact that I'm 37, I get this overwhelming feeling like it's time to grow up. Today I've been feeling that all day. Maybe it was the visit to the "Beautiful Style - Feel like you're 13" spa this morning, or the anxiety I've been feeling since I returned to the pile of drama here or maybe it's just the beginning of the school year jitters, knowing that once again, I'm "taking the year off" to be a mom. I have no idea, but I'm feeling like maybe I just need to grow up. And I'm not really liking that feeling.

Jet Lag

One way to ensure that your children will not overcome their jetlag is to allow them to have friends sleepover. Then, once they are completely worn out from jetlag, their friend sleeping over and goofing around all day, ship them off to granny's for the night.... in tears. Well, I did that anyway and I'll probably regret it. Fortunately, we still have 4 more days until school starts. WooHoo! (NOT)

Kt Mir Salon

I just visited the Kt Mir salon, conveniently located in my own bathroom! It's amazing what two 9 year old girls can create with two old pillowcases, scissors, a bathtub, hair brushes, make-up and fingernail polish. I'm not sure I'd go out looking like this (;-)), but it's been a breath of fresh air that my girls are still young enough to entertain themselves with simple things in life. No beer, drugs or even phone calls to boys yet. Just pure, unadulterated fun! They are working on my little 6 year old princess as we speak!

Moose Gas

I'm thinking there might have been a moose on our plane trip home from Europe. I wonder how much damage that did with our proximity to the ozone layer.... It certainly smelled like there was some damage!;-)

Rain, rain, go away!

It has been nothing but cloudy and/or rainy ever since we returned from Europe. I'm pretty sure this has been a contributing factor, along with other aforementioned incidents, to my lack of ability to recover from that melancholy, overtired, jet-lagged feeling. Of course, the Cote d'Or from MR is helping tremendously - thanks, good French friend!;-)

Speaking of Europe, we received an email today from one of the CA team members who was at conference trying to make a connection. At first, he was slightly discouraged because his past connections were not panning out. He would love to serve in Europe on a CA team and we knew this, so it was exciting for us that he was able to make a few solid connections. He wrote us saying he's received 4 invites from teams all over Europe.

After reading this, T said, "I want to be invited to go to Europe." To which I replied, "T, had you shown even the slightest inclination towards wanting to go to Europe to serve, I'm sure you would have had PLENTY of invites!" I mean really. If you are going to take your whole family on a missions trip serving families that serve on the mission field, don't you think they'd invite you if you were interested? OK, maybe I scared them all away, but at least a few could have overlooked even the scariest of women like me! :-)

We have talked in the past about serving on the mission field, but for whatever reason God has been directing us toward these party-hearty, suburban teens who need a bigger purpose in life. We both feel like the connections they made with the kids on this trip and their parents probably had the most impact on our kids feeling like it was possible for them to go. American families, living in groups/teams with children, young adults, students.... have many of them asking questions about what we are doing here. Very insightful for all of us.

Now the key here is finding a place in Europe, on a beach, plenty of sun and lots of lemonade. Can it be done?

Brevity

So, the short version is this. While we were away in Hungary on a missions trip, our housesitter hosted an underage drinking party in our basement, which our underage neighbors attended.... Then they went away on vacation and another neighbor and his friends decided to have a couple fun nights in their house. Things were stolen and somehow, they are blaming it on my housesitter and her friends.

Let's keep in mind that T and I don't drink. Ever. In fact, they are all throwing around names of different kinds of beer cans that were left in various places and I've only ever heard of Bud Light - pretty sad but true. Of course, the police are involved and we know very little. Everyone is telling the part of the truth that makes them look like the good guy and nobody is fessing up to anything felonious.

Have I mentioned how much I need a vacation?

This all brings to light a couple of thoughts for me. First, that suburban American kids need purpose in life because this apathetic boredom is creating misdirected felons. Second, where are parents these days? I don't want my kids to end up like this, and I certainly don't want to be the parents who tries to explain my own children's illegal behavior away so they don't ever get in trouble. Third, what is God trying to communicate to me, having this happen just this way? I did not need this upon returning, but here it is. Maybe it's this: educate myself and communicate to kids just how impactful their unwise choices will be on those around them. Also, make sure my kids have a bigger picture in mind so they don't need to spend endless amounts of time drinking themselves into oblivion because they have nothing better to do with their lives.

OK - party over.

Lists

I'm a list person, although I've outgrown making endless written lists of everything. Instead, I try to make my feeble mind retain my plethora of organized data. It's quite a task, especially when I am trying to process a cultural, missional, familial experience into something that can be communicated specifically for others who have no idea what I'm thinking! I'll give it a try here, but my guess is that I'll be frequently editing and categorizing this post, so bear with me!

Things I take for granted:
- lemonade: this lucious, refreshing drink is completely absent from the European menu. I did find that Citron Fanta somewhat quenched my longing, but even that was difficult to come by!
- square footage of living space: why we think we need bigger houses when families of 4-6 are living in less than 1000 square feet AND are happy is beyond me, but I know now that I don't appreciate my large house nearly enough.
- English: it's quite embarrassing that we only know English and just expect that we can find someone wherever we go who does as well.... we should learn more languages here!
- Variety: I find it difficult to choose when I have so many things to choose from. But having little or no choice is something I hadn't really considered until one morning when the only juice left was "multivitamin" - and that's what we had for about three days in a row.... I like choices.
- friends: I'm not sure why, but I tend to feel like I don't have any. Then I meet people who really feel isolated and friendless.... so now I know, I have friends.
- citizenship: being in America, traveling freely around the states, I forget that I actually belong to a country and have access to millions of acres of fun and I don't even need a passport to get there!
- cars: they make life so convenient, and I can't imagine how my world might close in around me if I didn't have a car to get me out. Of course, walking would do me some good as well!
- air conditioning and dehumidifiers: there wasn't one day that I didn't feel a dampness around me. That was probably one of my biggest adjustments.

Things I will miss about Europe:
- cleanliness: we are filthy here. It's quite pathetic. I'm sure there are messy places somewhere in Europe, I just didn't see any of them!
- outdoor cafes: they create atmosphere, community and just a fun place to congregate. They are also great for people watchers!
- history: everywhere you go, there are old town areas that are just incredible. Narrow cobblestone alleyways, Roman wall remains, small buildings, fountains, town centers and I would constantly find myself envisioning the sounds and sights of hundreds of years ago - horses, carriages, long flowing dresses, top hats, smoke filled streets.... it was easier to be transported to way back when.
- passport stamps: it's a reminder that different countries and cultures are so close together, just a hop, skip and jump apart.
- flowers: they were everywhere, but I most loved them in window boxes, which were everywhere. It was so colorful, fragrant and gave life to even the starkest of gray stone buildings.
- beautiful accents: I was mesmerized by Europeans who spoke in such eloquent, twisted English. They could have lulled me to sleep with their beautiful accents.
- markets: fresh fruit, fresh flowers, fresh meat.... so colorful, tasty looking and such variety. I wish I had a fresh market within walking distance of my house!
- clean bathrooms: Katie was the first to notice - not one toilet was left unflushed and most of the bathrooms were spotless.
- creative communication: on some occasions we had to be a little creative to convey our question or message. It's nice that some things, like numbers, are universal.
- smiles: when a European smiles at an American, you know you've done something right. It's one of the warmest things I've ever felt, very genuine and very authentic.

Things I learned about Americans:
- we're rude: about the only polite things Americans do that Europeans don't is wait our turn in line. Otherwise, we are plagued by entitlement, thinking we deserve something from everyone. We need to get over ourselves!
- we're dirty: after an evening at the mall, I'm pretty appalled at how disgustingly dirty Americans are. We leave tables looking trashed, garbage everywhere, bathrooms that stink with paper towels everywhere and toilets... well, you know what I mean. It's just downright filthy!
- we like to talk the talk, but not walk the walk: Americans talk too much and take little action. Meeting all those CA families made me realize that it's only a small percentage of Americans who are willing to actually give up the comforts we have to reach a world of unreached people who are thirsty for God.
- we are arrogant: we choose to only know English, think everything American is the best, believe that others want to hear us be silly (we're too loud!), have little respect for history and it's monuments (I'm throwing this one in for TTS), are easily frustrated when people don't respect us.

I'll stop here - I know there are more lists, categories, data entries, but for now I'll just have to take a break while I organize it all in the cerebral hemisphere.

Happier Kids

Maybe this is why we have so much fun on our mission's trips!

Questions

We're back, safe and sound, and just processing all that's happened while we were away. We arrived to our house looking different (I'm not so happy about that), our housesitter having had some neighborhood issues (I'm not so surprised about that!) and our neighborhood being in an upheaval about an apparent break-in. Welcome home!

On one of our last nights in Sopron, Kt asked me this question:

You know how sometimes you don't know someone's last name, or their favorite color or even hardly anything about them, but you can still be like almost their best friend?

Altogether, this experience as a family will be one of my favorites. It wasn't without it's challenges, it's ups and downs and scary moments, but it was by far the most amazing way to introduce my own children to life outside the United States. Being around "3rd culture kids" for a week, building relationships, loving on families who are serving in some of the most darkest places in Europe and doing it in a safe environment was just amazing. When your kids are begging to go back next year, you know you've hit the jackpot!

Now we're back and trying to process just what happened here. It just reminds me that life goes on even when it feels like it should stop for us! Do I get upset when the front posts on my porch look dorky and I just paid hundreds of dollars for that?? I do. But does it really matter in life? Probably not. I'll just try not to look at them everyday when I pull up to my house.... 100 times a day! I guess we still haven't learned that lesson - don't have major work done on your house when you are going to be thousands of miles away. Once again, a lesson gone unlearned by the Sheng house! So, I wonder what will happen at our house next summer while we're away!;-)

(And it's so nice to have blogger back in English - not hungarian!)

Short Pic Preview

In the Vienna Underground

Our Team at Sunset on the Danube River

Emily on the Danube Katie jumping into the Danube

Half Time!

We are continuing to have a great time here in Hungary! It's been an altogether amazing time meeting missionaries, their kids, and others who are here to work with these teams. I think we are each taking away some life lessons, food for thought and from what the kids have shared each night it appears a new appreciation for the sacrifices many make to reach the unreached - and the many blessings they receive in return. They see God work in ways that only those who choose to go will experience. It's really sinking in for our team.

Right now, I'm letting my laundry soak. We'd been told before we came that the hotel would be able to do laundry for us, and some of us hoped beyond hope it was true. It's taken us nearly a week to get an answer on this and now it has become apparent that #1. it will cost us, and #2. we don't have any time left to do it! Had they had this available on Sunday when we needed it, it might have made sense. Now, we are leaving in a couple days and are not even sure we'd get our stuff back in time.

Thank goodness EO'b thought enough to bring along some Tide, and even though the girls and I are allergic to it, I used it anyway! I did a full load in my tub at 11:30pm, after our full day of children - morning, afternoon and evening sessions. My back is KILLING me, and I'm swirling the laundry of four people through a wash and rinse cycle, soon I'll be putting it outside to dry.... When I finally get to bed tonight, I'll be waking up to take care of babies again.... I'm just completely exhausted! And the drama around here! Let me tell you, there is no end to it. But it's really just living real life in close quarters.

I have so much more to share, but I really must go check the weather here in Sopron to see if my laundry has any chance of drying! We could wake up to rain, in which case I might as well blow dry everything now. Don't you wish you came along?

I think I'm going to be posting this, but I'm writing on the Hungarian version of blogger, so I can't remember what I'm doing here for real.... I'm "bejegyzes kozzetetele" this post!;-)

We Made It!

We arrived Thursday morning in Vienna - safe and sound with all our luggage! The flight was superb, but we unfortunately had little sleep. Our first day we went to our hotel - which was wonderful, brand new, and 2 short blocks from an avenue of shopping. Put a bunch of Americans in Austria, set them down in the middle of a bunch of stores and what do you have? Some happy Americans! No one actually bought anything other than food, but it was fun to stroll around H&M, even if everyone was speaking German!

Later that day, we took a bus tour around Vienna, which if you ever have a chance to visit is an amazingly beautiful city. The architecture is amazing, palaces that will wow you and parks everywhere. We had a beautiful, hot day and other than having difficulty staying awake we really enjoyed our tour. We also toured the palace where Marie Antionette was born and raised - it was just incredible! That evening, a few of our brave souls attended a sampling of the arts in Vienna while the rest of us went to bed!

Yesterday, we traveled about an hour outside Vienna to the city of Sopron. Our hotel is just outside the city in the woods. It's peaceful, quite, lush and today it's pouring rain! We had a short time to get situated here and then right to work. We have a small group of children until tomorrow when the rest of the conference starts. Our team has already fallen in love with the children who are here and I'm guessing when the rest of the kids arrive, they will be equally in love with them as well! Pray for strength and wisdom as we work through some kinks and learn how to work with the other team that we are serving with.

As a side note, I'd ask for prayer for myself and lb. We are taking care of the infants up to age two room. Fortunately, we have only 7 children at most, but nobody adequately prepared for this group/age. We've been given the center room of a suite - it's about the size of a small bedroom - and we have NO TOYS! At the moment, we have only two toddlers and last night, for only 3 three hours, we were quite challenged. When we can go outside, we should be OK, except that once we actually 7 children, I'm not sure how we will manage all of them between the three of us with outings. Your prayers would be very welcomed!!

Other requests: we have one team member who has lost her voice, fortunately not her desire to serve. She's been a trooper! Also, please pray for us and our working relationship with the other team we met here. It's been a little rocky, as one might expect, and we are seeking wisdom and grace so we can work together and provide something these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. Last night, the team was amazing! I'm so proud of all of them and very encouraged for the rest of our week.

Praises: we arrived, we have all our bags, nothing appears to be broken (craft supplies) and so far everyone has had plenty to eat, beds and as of yet, no stomach ailments. We've been severely blessed!:-)

EEK!!!

Everyone is here, downstairs.... I think we're all packed, but I'm pretty sure we've forgotten something. I'm just hoping it's nothing essential!!! I'm very nervous, my girls won't eat, not hungry. Poor babies. And it's so stinkin' hot!! I feel like such a nerd in my airplane clothes. Thanks, everyone, for praying for us. I hope to post from Hungary unless I'm just having too much fun!! Yay!

LIFE

Today, while I was packing, cleaning and playing on the computer the girls were playing LIFE in the middle of the living room, aka ground zero! Those bags around them are the last of the duffel bags - YAHOO!! The rest of them are all piled up in the foyer. We are finally done. Now just packing the last of the girl's stuff, backpacks and then tomorrow - snacks! Well, at least that's what I'm thinking. We'll just have to wait and see when tomorrow comes!

Still Packing

So, I'm still packing... and need to start cleaning and I have a small list of things that need to get done before we leave. Like I should probably take a shower. And I would have already except that I'm expecting someone to show up here with a duffel bag so I've been waiting....

The girls are still in their PJ's. I did just feed them lunch and straightened out the kitchen a bit. They are veggin' today - TV, computer, games and relaxing. I don't usually let them go this long just hanging around but 1) they won't be doing this for a couple of weeks!, and 2) it's giving me some space to get a few things done! Again, I'd send them outside, but it's about 100 degrees (for real!) and that's making it even harder for me to pack because where we are heading, it's in the 60's/70's and rainy. Hmmm.... bug spray, can't forget that!

I made some tuna for lunch today and when I opened the can, it was the kind of can of tuna you wish you could have seen before you bought it. It wasn't bad or anything, but my solid white tuna was a different shade of white than I'd imagined. I had to pick a few pieces out and the rest we just ate. No one seemed to notice, it all tasted the same but it wasn't what I'd expected from my favorite Bumble Bee Solid White Tuna packed in spring water.

I was sort of thinking that's what missions trips are like. We have the whole package wrapped up right now - plane tickets, hotel reservations, games, crafts, connections, more hotel reservations and plane tickets - and while we can imagine what we'd like it look like or what it might be, we won't know until we open it up. Chances are, it won't be what our dreams look like, but it will still taste good and no one will notice because nobody can read our minds!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8

2 More Days

Only two days, actually 1.5, left and I'm just completely exhausted, stressed and to top it off, ANOTHER box arrived today from California. I am finishing up laundry, did a grocery store run for snacks, meds and other essentials and am now home to try to organize. Not easy, considering I have two children who don't really care to keep anything organized, or clean, or help with anything. If it wasn't almost 100 degrees out I'd send them outside to play!

For past overseas trips, the custom has been to pack a suitcase for yourself, one "team" bag and one carry-on. Typically, well before departure date, they have a "packing party" and fill up all those duffel bags with team items or items for missionaries. The idea? Bring a duffel bag that you can then pack in your suitcase so your ride home is lighter. It's been an awesome idea and has worked well the past two years, even with Cameroonian relatives last year dropping off a couple suitcases AND a huge trunk - that was interesting!! Also, having everything done so when everyone gets here, we check for documents, passports, luggage tags, grab our bags and go. NO TIME FOR PACKING!

This year, either because I'm completely stressed out because I'm actually going this time or because there are huge communication gaps or both!, things are not going so smoothly. For our "packing party" only the leaders showed up. Our team members have consistently been out of town for meetings and because of that not only do I feel overwhelmed at the moment, but I also feel like we aren't very cohesive. We also have oddly assorted multiple size ranged duffel bags unlike anything I've seen in the past. Half of them are nice sizes and we've filled them to the brim. Others are carryon size and the truth is, there is no way we can fit everything in them!

Add to that, we somehow have ended up transporting 4 HUGE boxes of stuff from the California team, the last box arriving JUST TODAY! It is the largest, the heaviest and full of T-shirts, CD's and beach balls. I've filled the very last teeny, tiny duffel bag and still have a huge pile of stuff to pack sitting in the middle of my living room. I'm stressed - can you tell??? I've even considered taking an extra blood pressure pill today! At the very least, we will have a new policy on transporting other people's things AND a deadline for when we need that stuff.

I can tell I'm being stretched. I'm a very task oriented person, meaning I find it nearly impossible to move on to another task until one is complete. Right now, I have about 5 incomplete tasks hanging around, I'm not packed, my house is a complete disaster area and not only do I need to get all this done in 1.5 days, I have to have things looking semi-clean for our housesitter. I'm honestly beside myself, which is why we went to the pool this morning. I needed to get out of here!

Pray for me!

Em's Turn

My little one is just so nervous about going to Hungary. She is asking all kinds of funny questions, it's making me wonder what she is really thinking about!

In church today, we were prayed over at each service. Before this, either T or another team member would say a little something about our trip and each time they would say that Europe is a very dark, meaning spiritually, that only 3% is evangelical. So, tonight, Em asked me this:

Em: Is Hungary just very dark?

Me: Are you talking about what we said in church?

Em: Yes.

Me: No, it's light in Hungary, but what they were talking about it how many people in Europe do not know Jesus.

Em: Ohhhhh, so we are going there to teach them about how Jesus likes to help us?

Me: Yes, sort of.

Em: Oh, so are there trees there?

Me: Yes, there are trees, and animals.

Em: But, are there dogs?

Me: Yes, there are dogs.

Em: Thank goodness! Are there seals?

Me: Yes, there are probably seals. And deer, and squirrels, chipmunks.

Em: Oh, I hate squirrels. Are there elephants?

Me: No.

Em: Are there beaches?

Me: No, there are mountains and a lake, but no beaches.

Em: Then where are the seals?

She got me!

Car Conversation

I'm taking a short break because this just totally cracked me up today. Kt asked T and I in the car today if it was OK to swear. Here's how it went:

Kt: Is it OK to swear?

T: No, it's not.

Me: No, why? Do your friends swear?

Kt: Yeah, like all the time! (very sarcastically)

Me: (you should probably not ask this, but it just came out) Well, like what do they say? (T and I kind of give each other that look of complete shock)

Kt: Well, like my friend L. She said, "I swear, if that happens I will kill myself!" And guess what? It happened and she did not kill herself.

Me: (I'm starting to laugh and under my breath say to T, "I don't think we're talking about the same thing here.")

T: (Starts laughing as well and replies, "Apparently not!")

Kt: Why are you laughing?

T: Your mother is just laughing at you! (Gee, thanks!)

Me: I'm just laughing because I thought you were talking about something else.

Kt: What?

End of conversation.... and we moved on to T distracting everyone by nearly launching the Montero over a hill while Em squealed with laughter. Good save! Could we be experiencing a small generation gap here?

Such a Time As This

Kt and I read Esther this morning - in it's entirety. It's one of my favorite Bible stories, along with Daniel and Ruth, and countless others. We both knew the story, but every time I read it, there's some new treasure tucked inside it. This time I found myself wondering just what was revealed to the Jews and Esther as they prayed and fasted together for 3 days. It had to be something, because Esther had a plan. A really smart plan. It's nothing I would have thought of. If the King Xerxes offered me up to half of his extravagant, powerful kingdom I might have asked for Haman's head on a platter right then and there. She didn't do that, instead the carefully crafted and executed plan went into action.

This part of the story is stark reminder to me to wait on the Lord, to follow His lead and not rush into anything. Of course, I say this as I've sent T on a wild goose chase over to the very disorganized, crazy Post Office in search of an answer to our passport dilemma. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't first pray to see if God might plant a better plan in my head. Even AFTER reading Esther! I can be so ignorant sometimes!

I must say, reading Esther also has be very excited to get my hands on Beth Moore's new study on Esther, whenever that may come out. Or even to watch that silly Veggie Tales version of the story. I'm even more excited to meet all these children in Hungary who, if they are anything like my kids, are going to be thirsty for some of God's Word. It's an amazing story, Esther is. God can use ordinary, abandoned kids to fulfill his great plan for mankind, especially when we are least expecting it!

Passport Prison

I feel like we are being held hostage by the US Passport disaster service. Back in March, everyone lauded us for promptly applying for passports for our August 8th departure date, assuring us that it would not be necessary to expedite them. Surely, we would receive them by the end of June. Here we are, 5 days away from departing, and Em's passport is not here. We only just received Kt's and mine 2 weeks ago. It's a bit suspicious as to the mystery behind how three passports, applied for on the same day, sent in together, paid for together (with check clearing in early May!) would be processed so far apart.

We have called now three times about Em's passport. The first time, it was just starting to be processed. The second time, it was finished being processed, waiting to be shipped. That was Wednesday. Now today, Friday, it's in Passport Prison waiting to be released. What will it take for someone to stick that thing in the mail??? It's not like they send along all the documentation with it or anything. We had to wait another week for Kt's birth certificate and my old passport. My birth certificate never arrived - it's in Passport Refuse I imagine. But I can "write a letter" requesting they try to find it. I'm not that dumb, Passport Personnel. I can see the mess you've created and I'll just assume that there's no way in #@$ you will ever find that.

When we embarked on this missions thing, I knew everything was too smooth to be true, that little issues would crop up and we would soon be enveloped by uncertainty, stress, possible regret. It happens every year and it's really just the way God would have it be. So, my type A persona kicks in, Plan B(eligerant Passport Customer) will have to emerge from this situation. Luckily, Camp Lovegren is still open for business (thanks, mom), but how do we leave our sweet little Em behind while we head off to Hungary? I just don't know if I'd have the heart to do that. It would be one thing if this was some big vacation, but people are counting on us to be there, not that the prison guards even care!

UPDATE: Not in a million years will anyone believe this. OK, maybe you will. T called this morning to check on the status and was happy find out that we had a tracking number for the passport they shipped either yesterday or today. HOWEVER.... upon verifying the address, it appears that some (fill in the blank) put T's name down as the city we live in. I'm speechless.

UPDATE 2: Passport HAS ARRIVED! I repeat, it HAS ARRIVED!! Not only that, but the address is correct. Now just ask yourself, can we read? Just wondering....

Bicycle Built for Two

I've never ridden on one, but I have vivid memories of a puzzle at my grandparent's house in Pennsylvania that depicted one. I loved that puzzle, and every time we would visit I would complete it not once, or even twice, but probably a few times daily! While I would work on that puzzle, my grandmother would sit in one of her lazy chairs in a big old housedress and sing, in the shaky, broken voice of an old woman:

Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle made for two.

I can remember this so vividly because so many images would go through my mind. Things like riding to my wedding in a carriage, riding on a bicycle built for two, riding to my wedding in my wedding gown on a bicycle built for two! All my grandmother's little diddys always sent me back in time, wondering what life was like before cars or bathrooms, back when Daisy was a popular name. I would always envision my grandmother growing up like that, and she was quite happy to share with me how difficult her life was, how she never bothered to complete high school because she had to work and how unfortunate she was to grow up without her father around, something that was quite taboo back in the early 1900's.

While I loved visiting with my grandparents and I savor the memories I made there, I see that my own mother has fostered a different kind of memory making for her grandchildren. She takes them places, teaches them things, rarely talks about growing up having to take care of her mom, who didn't drive (she reserved those stories for her own children!), and rarely do my girls ever imagine how difficult life must have been when she grew up. She lives in the present with them, and their memories will be vivid and experiential. There's not a puzzle in that house they've done a thousand times because there's nothing to - quite the contrary.

I'm so thankful for my mom, and if I was going to try to ride a bicycle built for two, I'd love to try it with her!

Camp Lovegren

The girls and I returned from Connecticut today. It's always bittersweet, as I feel like I leave a part of me in CT each time. I really love it there, especially being with my family. Now it's back to reality!

The girls apparently had a blast at Camp Love! They ate out, went to the beach, learned how to weed (thanks, mom!), gardened, played lots of Webkinz, worked on those summer packets and visited Gillette's Castle. Em's take on that castle was, "It was really cool, totally made out of stones. On the tour, you may not backtrack.... unless you lose a kid!" I guess there was a missing child that day - LOL!

One special day at camp, Em spent the day with mom at the Beardsley Zoo while Kt went to NYC with Uncle Doug. They took the train down to Grand Central, the subway to Battery Park (where they apparently walked by a bench full of pot smokers - what have I allowed my brother to expose my innocent children to? LOL), walked half way across the deck of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, then took the subway back to Grand Central, saw St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, FAO Schwartz, the American Girl Doll Store, Toys 'R Us and Times Square. Kt had frozen hot chocolate and loved it, bought herself a New York shirt and was dumbfounded by a $400 stuffed giraffe. Her reaction? "It was amazing! And we have a list of all the things we are going to do NEXT time we go!" Have fun with that, Uncle D!

Once mom and dad arrived, the reality set in that they would be going home. Yes, once again we spoiled alllll the fun! We did have Em's kindergarten teacher and her new husband, who moved up there, over for dinner and they brought their dog. The girls had a wonderful time with him. We hit the beach, the lake and the sprinkler and did LOTS of shopping! Last night, we had filet mignon from Stew Leonards - what a treat! Today, we drove all the way home. We are hoping for many more summers at Camp Lovegren!

I'd love to post some pictures, but they are all 4x6 prints right now. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to scan and save them on here..... someday!

Things I Dislike about Disney

Yes, say it isn't so!! For those of you who know me, you know I am semi-obsessed with Disney. Of course, showing up for the Pirate and Princess Party this past February out of costume helped convince my husband that I am far from the Disney freak he always thought I was. The REAL Disney freaks were out in full force!!

While I do love the magic of Disney, there are a few things I don't like. Allow me to share them with you!

1) They don't have a toll free number. For a company that is so customer savvy, friendly, oriented, every time I have to call LONG DISTANCE to talk to a Disney representative AND wait on hold I cannot figure out why I have to pay to do that. Don't we pay enough at Disney?

2) When calling gets too expensive, email doesn't seem a whole lot better. The Disney email system is SO MESSED UP! We took a trip in February and had a small incident that I thought could be resolved through Guest Services. My first attempts yielded a 2 week response time, numerous phone calls but no resolution. Just today, I received another email from someone else in the company..... several months response time..... he sent me an email (NO KIDDING) that had my previous emails attached to it and said he was unable to received or see attachments so he did not know what my issue was. For real????? Is this 2007 folks?

Anyway, I had to, once again, relay the entire issue and hit reply only to realize that it is going not to him, but to guest services again. Just shoot me now, why don't you! I guess the goal for them is to drive an issue into the ground until their customer just throws his hands up in the air and screams, "I surrender!!!!" Then, there's me.;-)

3) When you are in Disney World/Disneyland, most of the Cast Members are clueless about the goings on in Disney. They might be familiar with one aspect of Disney, like the cart they man, but everything else they sort of look at you like you have 10 heads. If you go to Disney, you might want to spend a bit of time researching it before you go because these people are not going to be much of a help once you're there.

4) It's just so darn expensive!

Manicures

I've never thought manicures were for stay at home moms who wash their own dishes, do their own laundry, clean dirty bathrooms, chauffeur their children around to various activities, swim for exercise, fix their daughter's hair and cook. But I got one anyway - thanks, lb!;-)

Author's Ice Cream

A few months ago, the girls and I were here in Connecticut (spring break, I believe) and stopped by the home of my childhood best friend's mom's house. I wrote about that visit and how we missed seeing her, and upon hearing that, she invited us back for some author's ice cream. Not only that, we swam in the author's pool, played the author's piano and heard all about the author's grandchildren. It was super fun!!

Em had guessed the author might have a lot of books, and she was not disappointed! Not only that, each of the girls received one of the author's own books, signed.... what a treat. Two Emma Dilemma books, straight from the bookshelf of Patricia Hermes. Kt was quite impressed that PH knows James Howe, an author who had visited the girl's school this year. Em was mostly impressed with the fact that the book she came home with has a ferret and and cat in it. I'm SURE I'll hear more after it sinks in. It takes her a bit longer to process.

Now we just need to find a way to have Patricia Hermes come to our school as a visiting author - that would be the ultimate treat!! Well, for me it would be the ultimate treat if she brought along Jen and her two adorable children. ;-)

Are You Hungary??

Tonight, if you live in the Columbia, MD area, are planning to eat dinner and would like an easy way to support our trip to Hungary (WE LEAVE NEXT WEEK!! EEEK!) - join the team at the Dobbin Road Fuddrucker's. Our team will earn 20% of whatever you spend there. What a deal!! So if you're hungry, come support the Hungary team! Yeah!

A Dozen

We are about to head out after a nice, quite week at home. I can't say that I've accomplished what I'd hoped to, but I did have a nice week. I'm sure I'll be returning to a messy house, once again!

Tonight we are spending the evening up in PA about 4.5 miles from where my grandparents lived while I was growing up. I can't WAIT to go see it! I haven't been there since I was 9 years old, but I have the most vivid memories of that farmland, trips to the milk store while "driving" in my grandfather's lap (can you believe that?), archery on the hill in their backyard, riding on his riding mower with him and playing hours of Skipbo. What fun!

After our little tour, we will be attending the wedding of one of T's former D-team guys, then heading up to CT to get the girlies. We have cookout plans with Em's kindergarten teacher and new husband, who just moved about 4 miles from my mom - weird, but fun! Then Monday T and I celebrate 12 years of marriage. He bought me a gorgeous bracelet, but we have to return it - it's broken.... already. LOL We are exchanging it for a DVR, because that what I've wanted for a long time. I'm such a "hopeless" romantic - aren't I? hehe I just hope it arrives before we leave for Hungary. I hope Em's passport arrives!! Pray with us it does!!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Solution?

All this news about two girls who grew up to be superstars, lived lives that we'll never understand or experience and are now just completely wasted. Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan - two Disney princesses who have fallen from grace (were they ever even graced?) and have ended up where we should have expected them to all along. Paris Hilton, while not the mouseketeer type, falls in this same category. Is there a solution for them? Will they ever be able to live lives worthy of their following? or will they eventually just not have a friend to speak of??

Honestly, I'm totally against jail time for these bad girls. My solution? Take away all their stuff, money, worldly possessions and make them get real jobs, manage their own money, find a roach infested apartment to live in, have enough clothes for a week, and make them live in the real world. Until they are accountable for everything, they will just continue to live like they are the only thing in the world that matters at all - the ultimate alternate reality. It's just crazy, and frankly, I'm tired of reading about them!

Quietville

It's quiet here in Quietville,
all the kiddies have gone north to play.
The usual sounds of whining and complaining
are distant, on delay.

It's silent here in Quietville,
all the parents are getting a break.
They aren't cleaning up as much as usual
because the kiddies no messes do they make!

It's peaceful here in Quietville,
the normal ruckus has turned to still.
You could almost hear a pin drop
if the dogs barking wasn't so shrill.

It's lonely here in Quietville,
no Kt on Webkinz or swimming.
No car questions or home spa days
No cyclone Em MP3 singing.

I'm enjoying the climate in Quietville
but it makes me shiver to think
What kind of place would Quietville be
without my kids? (wink, wink!)

I Peter 5:7

"Cast all your anxiety on him....."

This is one of those verses that I sometimes wish said something different. How I REALLY want it to end is "because he can make all the bad things go away forever" or "and he'll fix it" or even "so you'll never feel anxious again!" But it doesn't say any of those things. Instead, it simply says "because he cares for you." I should do that because he cares. Because it matters to him. Because when we cast our anxieties to him, it's a practice of our faith in him, our belief that the God who created all things cares about our anxiety. For real, that's bigger than him just taking something away, fixing it or helping me not to be anxious again. He could do any of those things and not care, but he cares. That's big.

Reconnecting

Over the past week, I've had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old friends. Sometimes, this is not so pleasurable, but in all three cases I'm so glad I did! First, I called an old playgroup friend who lives really closeby. She works now so we don't see each other at all, but I think it was wonderful talking to her and look forward to getting together for lunch. Second, T and I spent the afternoon/evening yesterday in DC with my best friend from college. We were Connecticut buddies, travel partners and just really had a lot of fun together. Yesterday was no exception. I just love Eli and her family and it was awesome to spend some time with her. Finally, tonight we had dinner with a really special couple. They were one of the first families I met here in Maryland and we instantly connected because they grew up and met in Trumbull, CT, right near my home. It was amazing reconnecting with them, sharing stories old and new and just hanging out. I miss them all... and really wish I had more friends like them all here. Reconnecting can be so refreshing, until you have to say goodbye again!

Personality

2/3

We received two of our three passports yesterday!! Looks like Em will have to stay home alone while we're away.:-( Poor thing! How will she survive.... LOL. Anyway, if we get hers today, that will knock one thing off my list of things to do this week.

Apparently, my mom got the car questions she was hoping for yesterday on a long ride to Connecticut. The first one was a lengthy discussion on tatoos, if they hurt, why most of them are blue and how much they cost. This should be interesting. The second line of questioning was more like what I get - the questions we can't really answer.... Will the earth ever run out of trees, why do plants need carbon dioxide and we don't..... My mom said she finally understands how I feel as I'm driving along, no internet, no books, being asked questions I'd have never thought of in a million years. Yay, mom! Good luck with those!

I'm sitting around today carless. Of course, on my week of freedom the first thing that happened?? My van won't start. We figured that out yesterday, called someone to come look at it and we're still waiting..... I'm ready to have the thing towed and fixed, but instead I'm sitting here in my pajamas because I have nowhere to go, nothing to do, except clean. Yuck!

Quiet

Other than T listening to Paramore downstairs, it's soooo quiet in this house. My mom and the girls left at 5:30 this morning for Camp Lovegren. I've never spent a week without my girls in this house, so it feels weird. I'm excited for them because they've been looking forward to a week without parents - hehe! I have what is amounting to a full week of swimming, doctors stuff, visiting old friends and trying to clean my house without being followed by a cyclone!! I will admit, I felt a tinge of sadness last night wondering what I'd miss this week. It always feels strange not to have my girls around, but I'm sure we'll have just as much fun! Right?

Accomplished

That's not really a word to describe me, but it's something I can say I've done today. I've accomplished:

-doing an insanely ridiculous amount of laundry - and I'm hoping to do small laundry bits in the next three weeks so I'm not doing it all the day before we leave!

-surviving an entire summer day inside with sick children - make that two!

-nothing else.

I can think of a bunch of things I wish I'd done today, but our delivery came of the faux wood our friend is putting on the front of the house, I've been asked to score Webkinz points for both girls today and that's entirely too much fun, I've been taking somebody's temperature all day and am glad to report that she's feeling better - for now, I've been chatting on the phone with a few old friends today - a bit of relief and I did clean up the mountain of shoes that have been piling up in the mud room - but I would not count that as an accomplishment since I SHOULD have made the culprits do it!;-)

Here's what's left on my list:

-reorganize our pantry
-clean all the bathrooms
-file away the girls school papers that I'm keeping
-throw the rest of those papers away!
-clean up the toys all over the back yard (again, someone else should be doing this one!)
-change the sheets on the beds
-wash the kitchen floor
-vacuum the whole house
-clean up my bedroom

On top of that exhaustive list, I need to clear off the front porch so our friend can get started tonight. Why me? Because T is off having fun with the middle schoolers and that was going to be our dinner tonight until Em decided to get sick. NOW I have to figure out what to do about dinner. With no food in the house. It's a glamorous job, but someone's got to do it!;-) I'm not feeling so accomplished anymore!

Phoebster

I figured since I'm stuck at home I'd do a Phoebster update. It has been 8 months since Phoebe was diagnosed with Renal Disease, which she was born with. In that past 8 months, she shows little to no sign of being ill at all!! When she was originally diagnosed, she was given 2 months to 2 years of life, and since then has passed her very first birthday.

Phoebe is an exact replica of Pavlov's dog, although her "triggers" are always associated with people, unless, of course, the opening of cans is involved! She has a funny whollop of a bark when she wants something. She drinks quite a bit (part of the kidney thing - but her big brother shares her passion for agua) and whenever anyone goes to the refrigerator for an ice cube or water, she begins to whallop. Really, though, it's just because she knows someone will play with her.;-)

A regular playmate in her life is Calvin, who had life breathed into him by her. You would never know it, but he really loves her despite his constant yapping and nipping of her. She is such an instigator, though, that we know she loves it! Those two truly have a love/hate relationship - they love to play and hate to be apart! Her second favorite playmate.... it's a toss up between Em and T. Kt would be a close favorite as well!

Phoebe is a very gentle, playful, affectionate and compliant dog. She comes when we call her (wish she'd teach her big brother that trick!), runs at the speed of lightening (or maybe faster!) and will find any way out of her boundaries just to be with someone. We rarely remember that she has a life-threatening condition because she is just so full of life!! When we do remember, it's hard to imagine life without her. I'm sure if she could speak, she'd say she loves life just the way it is - only with more canned dog food!

The Way Kid's Minds Work

Well, today has been interesting... and it's only a little after noon.

Em's fever is gone, but she woke up with a killer stomach ache. T took Kt to swim lessons and I went with a sick little girl to pick her up. Of course, we were barely out of our neighborhood when she vomited in the convenient bucket we brought along. Fortunately, she felt much better afterward because we had to keep truckin'!

Once she was feeling better, she asked the question that had apparently been on her mind all along:

How old do kids need to be to ride in the front seat?

I told her the first number that came to my head - 13. I sort of figured that was the end of that conversation, and while she felt much better she was still looking a bit ragged.

We made it up to swim lessons, I shot pictures today because Kt was diving like a champ! She had a great lesson and it was difficult getting her out of the pool. She, of course, asked to sit in the front seat when we got back to the car - what is the obsession with the front seat, I wonder? She was none too happy to be relegated to the back seat with her sick sister. First question out of Kt's mouth: Will Em be able to go to Connecticut?

After a nice little chat about how we have no idea who will be going to Connecticut until everyone is better and how we ought to pray that everyone is healthy enough for Camp Lovegren..... we hit the road. Here's how that went:

Kt: So I learned some rescue techniques today with Tricia.

Me: That would be a great summer job someday - being a lifeguard. Don't you think?

Kt: Dad said that now that I'm a preteen I have to get a job. (HUH?)

Me: Well, there are child labor laws, you know. You'll have to wait until you're about 15 to get a job. Of course, you could babysit when you're 13.

Em: AND you can also ride in the front seat when you're 13.

Yup, that was out of nowhere. So that child was obsessing about the front seat for over 30 minutes.... silently.... or the brain of a child can make much faster connections than the brain of a 37 year old. It's likely both of those!

Katie made some snide remark to Em about being sick (I'll spare you the conversation Em had about her vomit - way too descriptive!). Em said this to Kt: Well, could you AT LEAST pray that I get better??? I'm in for it today.

On a lighter note, I have been telling everyone that this year's missions trip, our first together as a family, will probably not be an annual thing. Of course, for years T and I have dreamed of being able to go to Australia. Just this morning, someone we don't even know messaged T about going to Melbourne, which is where we have a college student serving AND where our friends began a Campus Crusade for Christ. On the way home, Kt asked me if we could go on another missions trip anywhere, where would I want to go. I said Australia and Em said, faster than I could have taken a breath, "I need to go there to see some kangaroos." Nice to know that all our prep meetings have prepared our daughter for a life of mission - to animals!!

Kt wants to go to South Africa - probably because when we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this past February we heard a presentation from a girl from South Africa. Also, that child has been passionate about Africa since she was 5 years old - God is placing something on her heart. I'm just not sure what.

On an even lighter (or heavier?) note, T wanted me to tell everyone that he just taught Kt how to start a car. Just shoot me now!

Packing

I guess I need to start a packing list for Hungary. With Em being sick today, I started a mental list in my head that looks something like this:

Tylenol
Advil
Allergy meds
Inhaler
Prescription meds
Bandaids
Neosporin
ear thermometer
snacks (even the missionary is worried that there will be no kid food - EEK!)
lemonade packets for my bottled water
earplugs

Somebody, please, don't let me forget my clothes!

Diving In!

On the way home from swim lessons, Kt asked me this:

You know that feeling when you are proud that you did something, but you still feel a little, eh....

Me: wiggly, or still shaky and nervous?

Kt: Yes. That is how I feel!

With all of us watching from the side of the pool, Kt did her first dive off a diving board. She told me on the way this morning that she had decided to do that today, but I didn't realize how much fear was involved. On her first attempt, when I had my camera phone ready to go, she backed out. I had to coax her back out to do a big cannon ball so she felt comfortable on the board. After that, she went back out and stood in position for another few minutes, encouraged by everyone and then did it - a perfect dive! And I didn't take a picture. The pressure was just too great with mom standing by with her camera. I promise, I'll get it tomorrow if I can convince her to do it again!

Em has a fever, so she didn't go in the pool today. Instead, she sat on the sidelines "encouraging" her sister with these words I remember my own siblings yelling to me at times:

"Oh, come on, Kt!"

Now we're home, preparing for the girls exit for Camp Lovegren on Sunday. They are very excited and we're hoping Em is feeling better by then. Mom returns tomorrow evening, so we have a little time, especially being stuck here.

As for me.... I don't know if I'm nauseated from changing my blood pressure meds or from the 700% increase in the cost of all my meds. T's old job had incredible benefits, which have been difficult for me to give up. This new job, not so great. We chose the most expensive insurance coverage so I could keep my doctor but our prescription coverage on that plan is practically nothing. In fact, they have paid NOT ONE PENNY for any of my meds. It's really just nauseating. So this morning sickness feeling in the pit of my stomach today.... could be anything, but it's NOT morning sickness!!

Nerd Factor

No surprise.... T's nerd factor is wayyyy higher than mine. I'd even rank Kt as higher than me on the nerd factor in this household. I would come in third and Em would not even rank - seriously. She has no interest in anything involving learning. Case in point....

We went to swim lessons today and her ADHD (undiagnosed, but quite apparent!) kicked in right away. The girl's teacher hopped in the water. Em caught every other word as she bobbed in and out of the water. Trish had to ask her several times, "Em, did you hear me?" She would look right back at her and say, "What?" At one point, she said to her, "Um, can I just go over there and play?" as she lay on her belly on top of a kickboard with her arms and legs up in the air, somehow balancing her body, asking to be excused from her lessons after less than 5 minutes of instruction. Somehow, one year of full day kindergarten did absolutely nothing to improve her extremely limited attention span. It's just, well, embarrassing.

After a few more minutes, I called her over to me and told Trish to work with Kt for a bit and I'd "take care" of Em. That means we have a little speaking to while appearing to be working on our frog kick. Here's what I said: Em, we're here so that Trish can TEACH you things about swimming We are not here to "play" with her. (Em is nodding her head, bobbing up and down, and saying "I know!") When she is trying to talk to you, it's your job to listen and practice the things you need to learn. What did she teach you that we need to work on?

Em: Well, I can't do that chicken, airplane, torpedo thing. It's hard.

Me: Let's practice it. (Try it once, frowny face to me.)

Em: See. I can't do it!

Me: Do you want to try it again?

Em: No.

Me: Em, that's what we're here for. Do you want to take lessons?

Em: YES! But can I just swim?

She then exited to the bathroom, returned to "practice" some more - kickboard surfing, that is - and then I sent her off to learn how to tread water and dive. When she arrived at the other end after asking me if she could join Trish and Kt, Trish said, "We're learning how to tread water. Do you want to try?"

Em - as matter of factly as you could imagine: No.

She did it, but I did tell Trish not to even ask her anymore. Just tell her what you're doing because 9 times out of 10, Em will choose not to learn. No interest. There is not even a baby nerd in there, so I might as well stop looking for one!!

Am I Normal?