Movin' On...

Yup, it’s been 6 months since we flew from Chiang Mai to Seattle!  What have we been up to?  Visiting friends and family, working, celebrating birthdays, taking in some Seattle/Northwest sights, enjoying free summer events around town, watching the world change from a distance, praying for countries and people, figuring out ‘what’s next’, and “resting”? 

This word “furlough” is still something I am trying to figure out.  This is the term that many missionaries use when they are returning to their home country for a time of rest or break from their extended time in a foreign country.  Dictionary.com defines furlough like this:

1.     A vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.

2.     A usually temporary layoff from work.

3.     A temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.

And I’m still trying to figure it out…because honestly none of these 3 definitions apply to the last few months of our life.  So here I sit trying to put words to what should be so easy to explain.

One of the fun things for me has been working (yes, I said fun) almost full time out of the house for the last 3 months at a Marriott hotel 10 minutes from our apartment.  In my 20’s I worked my way up in hotel management before getting married and having my beautiful daughters. In 2006, I went through a very low valley in the hospitality business and, to say it nicely, my confidence was shaken.  These last few months have revitalized me and reminded me of the experience and knowledge that have been lying dormant inside.  God has been so faithful to heal and awaken my confidence when I didn’t even realize how broken I had been. 

Sheraz has been very busy caring for the girls while I have been working, and even admitted out loud that staying home with the kids is HARDER than going outside to work every day!  A true testament to all of us ladies who have stayed home at some time or another.  More than having satisfaction of him admitting this is a challenge, is just having him understand my life as a stay home parent. 

In his “free” time Sheraz has been finishing up school and figuring out the next step for our family.  And after a few applications and references we are on to the next adventure in God’s great plan.  Sheraz has been accepted in Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago) to learn theological education and social justice, which will give him the knowledge and theological education as we move forward to work in South Asia along-side pastors and the socially deprived.  So the time has come for us to pack up our Seattle Seahawks t-shirts and scarf and head to the Midwest!

Right now we are in the “what’s the best way to get us and our few belongings moved” phase, and realizing how pricey moving across country can be.  If you have done a move like this and have advice, I will gladly take it. 

I think that as workers in the field that we are in, each of us has a different idea of what a furlough should look like and then when we are in the time of furlough it’s not what we expected.  Even though different than expected I am so thankful for these last few months with family and friends.  One thing I know for sure whether in a foreign country or on home soil, we must be SO intentional about making time to spend with one another.  Unfortunately life is busy and there are many worldly “shiny things” to distract and steal our time from having the real relationships that are the most important. 

Here are a few pictures to share what we have been up to and how the girls are growing.

 Zarah & Keziah's 2nd Birthday

May 2014

Minnie Mouse Theme

Cute Sister Birthday Photo Shoot

Family Ferry Ride to visit Friends

The girls LOVED going on the "big boat"

July 2014

Hope Learning to Play Soccer

This Summer!

July / August 2014

Space Needle Visit

Seattle, WA

August 2014

Hope's 7th Birthday

Frozen Theme

August 2014

God Bless you & Thank you for taking time to check in on us today!  

Walking with Him while traveling,

Jennifer

Living the American dream

Haven’t heard from us since we arrived back in the US? and what does that mean?  Means a life of a sick family (after changing from 90F degree weather to 40F-50F degree weather) finding a roof for our heads, getting settled into said roof, re-adjusting to our “new” surroundings, experiencing reverse culture shocks, and living the American dream.

All that to say that we really are doing well and being blessed by our Amazing God!

Another reason for our absence from being online has been not having access to internet service.  9 days after our arrival back to the US we moved into an apartment that will be our home for the next 6 months.  Oh, and I just realized that today we have been in our apartment for exactly 1 month! After a few complications with getting internet service, we are finally got online last week!

Since it has been a while since my last post, I’m giving my planner a look and going to give you some highlights of the last month of our return to the US. 

Moving Day – After a very restful week staying at my friends’ hotel, we moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in the Everett/Mukilteo area.  The feeling I had was like I was a 20 year old and moving into my own 1^st apartment; exciting, thrilling, and a little unknown. The biggest blessing has been watching our apartment fill with furniture, kitchen items, toys, clothes, linens, and all the little “stuff” that makes a house a home because of the generosity of friends and family.  We have not even spent more than a few dollars and we have everything (and more Sheraz would say) that we could want. 

Mom’s award – On a Wednesday evening I got a Facebook message from a co-worker of my mom to let me know that my mom was getting the "Joe Alberstons Employee of the Year Award" from Albertsons and could we surprise her and be there on Friday morning. My answer, Of Course We Will Be There! (those who know me, know I LOVE surprising other people...especially my mother!).  After being out of the country for 2 1/2 years, it was SO special to be in the country for this wonderful occasion to honor my mom and her hard work for Alberstons for over 25 years!

Coffee, Lunch & Dinners Dates - As an extrovert I completely enjoy this season of seeing friends and family and sharing a meal together.  My calendar is full of these dates over the month and more to come, so this fills my heart to spend quality time together.  I have been so 'in the moment' that I have neglected to take pictures along the way.  Can hardly believe there is only about 20 pictures since we returned to the US.  Time to get the camera out a little more!  Here are what I've got so far...

For those of you in the Washington area (or the US in general) and would like mine or Sheraz's new mobile numbers, please email me at jennifergakhtar@gmail.com.  We would love to hear from you and plan a time to get together!  

(Kept telling myself to get a new blog post written...

...as soon as we have our internet

...by the end of March

...this Saturday

And so finally getting this out I get to check it off my "To-Do" List.)

Living the dream,

Jennifer

2 weeks to go

This weeks post is sort-of a Part 2 of my last post.  After my thoughts about how God has provided "things" and finances, He then showed me how He has provided relationships in abundance and many close friendships in these 2 years as well.

When we arrived at the Chiang Mai airport on October 9th, 2011, we came out of the Arrivals door and were on our own.  With two 4 month olds, one 4 year old, and 8+ heavy bags carrying all of our earthly possessions we found 2 taxis and made our way to the only place we knew in Chiang Mai...Payap University.

Fast forward to 2 1/2 years later, after dropping off Hope at school a few weeks back our truck was making a VERY loud noise and so I pulled into a gas station.  Of course that was the morning that Sheraz was at his very important appointment to defend his Master's thesis at Payap University. So, I made 1 phone call to a friend from Hope's school and 10 minutes later I have 2 guys from the school and a couple other friends right by my side...AMAZING!

An hour or so later I was sitting in the mechanic shop waiting as my truck was being fixed (at a great price I might add).  The TV is on...in Thai language, there are magazines on the table...in Thai language, my phone battery...is low.  So I was forced to sit and think without any distractions...this is not something I am used to (maybe some of you can relate).  I reflected on all the friendships that God has given me and our family since our lonely arrival.  Some have been acquaintances, some have provided a sounding board as a mom, and a handful have even created deep close bonds that will last my lifetime.  As I sat there I even started to cry thinking how blessed I am to have all of these people in my life here, and at the realization that one of these friends was also leaving the country in just a few days.  It was so good to take a moment to really FEEL my emotions, then had to "pull it back in" so the mechanic didn't worry that I was crying about my truck.

Whenever I read a book, have a good/bad customer service experience, have a conflict with someone, do a bible study, even watch TV shows; everything that I go through and learn always comes back to relationships.  God is a God of relationships, it is the most important concept while we are here; 1st with Him and 2nd with others. God is my provider for all the "things" in life, and most important than any-'thing' is that He provides relationships.  To those of you reading this in CM (or used to be in CM) please know that even if we have only met once or many times, I am so unspeakably grateful to God for providing you in my life here.

(Side Note: A week after our this truck incident, we sold our truck in great working order!  This is a great blessings as this is the main "item" that needed to be sold before we leave Thailand.)

As for an update about our family planning returning to the US:

Car seats - all have been provided!

Housing - Still praying for and believing for a more permanent housing option during our 6 months there.  We have a reservation at my good friends hotel for when we arrive up to 2 weeks.  Once we get there the search for a place will be in full swing.
(If you know of any short term, missionary housing that might be available in the Seattle area, please let me know.)

Transportation - we will have a car available for the 1st week or so, but will need more permanent transportation solution.  If you or someone you know who would be willing to lend your vehicle for 6 months. Or if you or someone you know have an older good running vehicle for sale at a reasonable price.

If you are able to assist us in any of these areas, please email me at jennifergakhtar@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook.

I personally would like to ask for your prayers as I am now without a vehicle and home most everyday with Zarah & Keziah. Also, I am again in the process of selling all our household items which is a slow and exhausting process.  And then there is the packing...oh the packing...please pray for me!

We will keep you updated through this blog or FB as I can over the coming weeks.

Here we go again...my life as a Traveling Mother,
Jennifer

It's official, 6 weeks until take off!

Tickets are officially booked and paid for!  We leave Chiang Mai at 11:55pm on February 28th and arrive in Seattle at 11:00am March 1st.  What seems like just a few hours in between is actually more than 24 hours of travel time.

And so it begins, we had our 1st major yard sale today and the next one is already in the planning.  As we enter this phase of transitioning, there is a lot of making-do with what we have on hand.  As I am cleaning and purging through toys, clothes, arts & crafts, etc., etc. I am reminded again how amazing God is in providing more than our needs.  

2 1/2 years ago, we came here with just our bags (and they were mostly filled with formula for the twins),   

...and now we have a houseful.

A few months back I was hanging towels out to dry and as I looked at my kitchen towels my thought was "wow, these towels are in bad condition, but don't really have the finances to buy any right now.

...30 minutes after that conversation in my mind I received a care package from my Aunt Jill which included 2 brand new Kitchen Towels!

Just a few short weeks ago I wrote an email asking for prayer for finances for 5 airfare tickets.  The dollar amount seemed so huge, 

...but sure enough He provided all the money we needed to buy our tickets through our generous supporters.

I am so thankful for these constant reminders of how much God loves me and my family.  Whether it is something so small as kitchen towels or something huge like $5,000+ for airline tickets, we can completely trust that He sees our needs and wants.  

If you are living in the Seattle area and reading this blog, please consider these ways we are still in need

1. Housing starting on March 1st for anywhere from 1-7 months.  Ideally we would like to find a source for missionary housing, but also looking to sublet something furnished.  We are open to other options, i.e. Mother-in-law basement, or apartments / condos for rent.

2. Two carseats for Zarah & Keziah that you could give to us or sell at a low price.  They are 2 1/2 years old / 23 & 24 pounds, so something like the pictures below would work.

Please email me at jennifergakhtar@gmail.com about either of these 2 areas of need for our family during our furlough time.

So now I wait and watch God in action, it is truly A-Mazing to watch Him work in our lives and for our family.  I will keep you posted on the ... for updates on how He provides these needs for us. 

Here we go again!
This is my life as a traveling mommy!
Jennifer