Back in the Blog seat

If you keep a journal, have you ever started your journal writing with "well, it's been awhile since I last wrote in here..."  I for sure have done this.  Recently in my women's small group one of my friends mentioned starting a journal entry with this sentence and we all had a good laugh, I think because we all had done it at some point.  It got me thinking...why do we start a journal entry like that?  who am I explaining too...myself?  isn't it obvious by the previous and current date that it's been awhile?  All that to say that that sentence is how this blog post should start.  Well, It has been awhile since I last wrote in here...

My post in September was about potty training my twin girls Zarah & Keziah.  It sure didn't go exactly how I was planning, but what about motherhood ever really does?  The first couple of days were pretty hard and I felt like I would never leave the house again.  The 1st week had me feeling like a failure, which is such a lie because potty training is about your child getting the idea of going to the bathroom...not about me as a mom.  But as we all know, being hard pressed causes insecurities to be magnified.  So we persevered and had some great days and even outings without accidents.

After a few weeks of working on it and the girls doing 'okay', I decided to let go.  Over all they both were just not getting the idea of telling me when they had to go so I was constantly asking throughout the day.  With 1 child that can be exhausting, but with twins it was overwhelming.  Also, after my first few days a friend loaned me her book 'Potty Training 1-2-3', which is what method I used for Hope and worked like a charm.  In the back of the book under "FAQ's" it said for twins you should choose which twin is showing more signs of being ready and start with that one and send the other twin off to Grandma's house for a couple of days...  Obviously they didn't take into consideration those of us mommy's living overseas far away from our Nano.  So, to all you mom's who are able to potty train in 2-4 days...BRAVO!...oh wait, I was one of those proud moms.  And now I know it is NOT always the case.  

There have been big changes and decisions going on in our family in the last few months, and that is probably why it is hard for me to sit down and write a post.  One of these changes is that our planned furlough back to the US in 2014 was moved up from June to February.  So after over 2 years of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand we have only 3 1/2 months left here until we "move" again.  We are currently in the process of making career path decisions about where we will settle after our 6 month furlough to the Seattle, WA area, so this means letting go of everything we have now except our bags for the plane...again.

Another reason for my lapse in posting is because I've been trying to figure out what this blog is for...why am I writing?  who am I writing to?  how much information can I share? should I make it private?  So obviously if you are reading this then I am writing for you and to you about my life, my family, and our travels.  This year God has been giving us an amazing vision about our next steps, but sometimes I will not be able to share everything on such a public forum.  At this time I will leave this blog as public, and I changed some of the search settings.  There are some small glitches/annoyances about changing a blog to private, so at this point anything we are not able to share here will be sent through email.  
A few weeks ago I sent out an update email and prayer request, if you did not get this email and would like to receive it (or hear more about our vision) please leave a comment with your email address or send me an email at jennifergakhtar@gmail.com.

Other than this big stuff, our little family is doing well and getting ready to enjoy Thanksgiving together.  Last year I did a big family meal and it was a great experience (click here).  I think I will wait until my girls are a little older and can help me with such a big task. 

Hope is doing very well in the 2nd grade, she enjoys going to school every day.  And just last week she received the Star Student award!

This was one of those days where I was running late going to Hope's school for chapel time.  And my thought was, "is it really worth it to drive there to be there for 15 minutes?"  As the girls and & I opened the door her teacher, Mrs. Cross, was just standing to talk about the star student, and her name was Hope!  Yes, it is always worth it!

Here is a recent picture of my favorite spunky lunch dates and the reason my days stay so busy....

My next project is getting some new pictures posted from this year on our Family Pictures tab, so check in again soon!

God Bless you and your family!
This is my life as a traveling mother,
Jennifer

1-2-3 Here we go...Potty Training for Twins

There are 2 things I have had on my "To-Do" list for weeks now.  One is a new blog post and the second is potty training twins.  The first item I really do enjoy... updating my blog, but when I get a week or more behind it becomes hard to get back on track.  The latter of the two I have been avoiding by using the summer and a birthday party to put it off...more than understandable, RIGHT?!

So, here I am on the eve of finally having potty training on my calendar.  We have blocked off 1-4 days, have the chair, purchased treats, stuffed animals are dressed in underwear ready to go, and even sequestered my helpful husband!  How do I feel?  Well, that would be the reason I am finally getting a blog post done...I am asking for you to pray for us these next few days.  Potty training Hope was one of the "mom" duties that terrified me, and now here we are ready for the twins turn.  To give you some perspective on how much I dread potty training, even when I was pregnant with twins I thought about having to potty train them in 2 years!  Even just posting this before I start is a step of faith that I can DO this, instead of waiting until after it's done.  

If you have any encouragement, please post it in the comments below, especially if you have potty trained twins!  I appreciate you caring and praying for us as we encounter life's terrifying moments.  Also, there are a couple of posts to update you on how we are doing that I have been working on and I will try to get them done very soon.

I will update you next weekend on how it all goes.  Here we go...

This is my potty-terrifying life as a traveling mom,
Jennifer

Impact-Full

YEA! So happy to say that the weeks of my husbands traveling, that I dreaded months ago, have come to an end!  

Plus, this week I had lunch with a friend returning from the US, and it dawned on me that she is the first friend of the many traveling this summer to return to town.  Definitely makes me feel that we are on the home stretch of summer furlough season here.  As I have learned after 2 summer school breaks living in Chiang Mai is there is a mass exodus in the 1st 2 weeks of June, and then a mass entrance in the end of July and beginning of August.  

Still going strong doing the summer bible study with Good Morning Girls.  If you are looking for a good book to read or looking for a bible study to start in the fall, I would definitely recommend the book we are reading.  It is titled "Anything" by the author Jennie Allen.  God is doing a great work in my heart and stirring up a fire in me this summer. 

I just want to share some highlights from my chapters this week that are challenging and impact-full.

"I don't want to make decisions based on my adequacy and capacity.  I don't want to miss what God has for us because I am afraid.  Just because we are willing didn't mean it was easy.  I still wanted God to be more clear, so we could be more sure." (Chapter 15)

"In parenting...you have two or maybe three babies who turn into toddlers. At some point you either live perpetually anxious or give in and embrace the fact that your life is now completely out of control.  Once you embrace that, parenting shifts from an agenda to an experience." (Chapter 16)

"Our reality is a cross, a heaven, and a God who sees us and gives us his Spirit so we can do something while we are here.  And that's not building a cute, easy life for ourselves where the pros outweigh the cons."  (Chapter 16)

"We doubt because of the risk, the cost, the abandonment of rights and comforts, the disapproval of people you really love, and then on top of it all, because you have now officially picked a fight with the devil.
The devil is real, and nothing ticks him off more than people waking up from the numb stupor he has crafted to keep us harmless."
(Chapter 17)

"To accept that life is supposed to be hard is the beginning of joy.  There is freedom in understanding that heaven is coming and we are not there yet.  We're called to live, instead, aware that we are at war with a ruthless enemy who is trying to destroy us if we are living surrendered to Jesus." (Chapter 17)

"God has bigger purposes in allowing us to suffer, bigger than just winning.  He allows us to suffer because we change through suffering.  We hurt with others better.  We become humble.  We want him more." (Chapter 17)

Even as I read them out of context of the book here, they challenge and inspire me to know God more.  This really is a great book to read, and study scripture along with it.  (She has lots of scripture references that go along the way with the above quotes).  

Today I will end with God's Word:

"Now I am coming to You, 

and I speak these things in the world

so that they may have My joy completed in them.

I have given them Your word.  

The world hated them because they are not of the world, 

as I am not of the world.

I am not praying that You take them out of the world 

but that You protect them from the evil one.  

They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.  

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.  

As You sent Me into the world, 

I also have sent them into the world."

John 17 v.13-18

WE ARE THEM.

This is my blessed & non-traveling life,

Jennifer

Taking back our living room

I'm definitely a "a place for everything, and everything in it's place" kinda girl.  When we lived in our last home in the US I was pretty strict to keep all my daughters toys in her room...that was their place after all.  Our living room was a family space with pictures and candles and just a few knick-knacks. 

Fast forward to living in a new country and adding 2 more little girls to the family picture...
Since living in Thailand, we started out with a very minimum of toys for all 3 girls and so they were in a box and stayed in our living room area.  With time (almost 2 years actually) of living here, our toy collection has grown way beyond a box and still overwhelming the living room area.  So, a couple of weeks ago I took back our living room from the toy over-growth by moving ALL their toys into their bedroom as I had done with Hope when she was young.  I think one of the reasons I hadn't done this before is because here we are in a 2-story house, where as before we were in a single story house. A little leary about the twins going up & down the stairs, but they are doing really well! 

It has really been great to have their room for them to play & I am actually enjoying the fruits of having twins.  They are playing together in there!  I can put them in their room and even get a quick shower in while they play with each other.  

In an earlier post, I mentioned another twin mom saying that after 2 years old it got a little easier...and I'm happy to report that She Was So Right!  

As I talked about in my last post, I am involved with a summer bible study through the Good Morning Girls blog.  This has been an AMAZING way to thrive this summer and not just survive.  We are reading the book "Anything" by Jennie Allen and there are daily scripture to read and apply to our everyday life with the help of this book.  

A couple of exciting points that I want to share are that first, I have been memorizing a weekly scripture verse for the past 4 weeks of the study!  This is exciting for me because I have done a few studies and they usually encourage memorizing scripture, but I always said "oh, that's so hard" or "I can't do that, my brain doesn't work like that".  Now I know those were complete lies from enemy, because it is possible to memorize scripture for anyone!  I just had to believe that I can memorize the Word of God and put the effort in.  

Secondly, is another point about putting in the effort...with my daughter Hope.  This study also give a great day by day plan to do with your kids, no matter their age.  Up until today, we were doing part of it...but not the whole.  Today I had to make an aware decision to sit down and do the craft and spend time with Hope, and it was really great!  This week we will be learning about prayer, and today she made her very own prayer book!

I really love being aware during my day!  

And it is a decision we have to make...

And this is life as a traveling mother...well, maybe not this summer ;-)

Jennifer

Summer Break is Upon Us...AND I'M SO EXCITED!

This time last year I was overcome with anxiety about having my daughter home everyday after being in school full-time for 7 months.  So the title of this post may surprise you that I am actually excited to be looking forward at the next 9 weeks of having 3 very active little girls around me all day.  

As I think about this change, I think there are 2 reasons.  

First, I have come to realize that each summer the girls are at a certain age to enjoy.  There will NEVER be another summer that I will have a 5 year old and two 2 year olds other than this summer.  If I stop all the nonsense that keeps me busy or preoccupied (i.e. TV, games, straightening every item, etc.) I might actually appreciate the fun that being 2 and 5 really is. 

Also, while "blog browsing" I found an online bible study group called "Good Morning Girls" (GMG).  Since signing up for their summer study, they have put together a "For Kids" version study guide using the same scriptures as my study guide.  I have often thought about starting a bible study time with Hope and the twins, but have never put that good intention into action.  Their study guide is great with all kinds of resource links for each scripture, including a craft and songs.  The idea of doing this WITH my girls is so exciting to me!  If you are interested to use their materials this summer click here.

If you are familiar with GMG, please let me know how your experience went in the comments below.  And for others who might be interested, I look forward to sharing my experience in about 8-10 weeks!

About a month ago I started to really stress about the months of June and July because my husband is traveling out of town for weeks at a time.  Let's just be honest, having all three girls at home without him is hard work.  But then I heard myself dreading days, weeks, and months that hadn't even happened yet.  It dawned on me, "how can I enjoy today or the days to come if I am dreading them?"  I can't...but I want to enjoy them...I want to find joy in each day.  

I believe that it is up to me to change my mind from dread to joy.

And just being able to write this blog about my excitement for the summer months to come proves that as we choose what to focus on, God can change my heart for the better.

This is my enjoyable life as a traveling mother!
Jennifer

Happy 2nd Birthday Zarah & Keziah!

The week before the birthday celebration another twin mom (whose twins are grown up now) told me that she felt life got a little easier once her twins turned 2 . . . SO HERE WE ARE!  Our lives are about to turn "easy", right?!?  If only life were really that simple.  The truth is we are still in a busy time of everyday learning and growing up.  I want to share with you our family birthday celebration this week.

Having a good time eating their Strawberry Shortcake, opening presents, and going out to Swensens for ice cream.  At this point both girls are excited about cake and ice cream, but when the time comes to eat...not so much into it...are these really my daughters?

 Here are our 2 beautiful daughters!  They are so delightful each in their own special way.  

Please check out my post from last year when the twins turned 1 year old.  It's amazing to see how much they have grown and changed (especially their hair!).  Their personalities are still very different when it comes to food and actions, and now those are just showing up in different ways.  Last year Zarah wouldn't get messy with her cupcake, and now that has evolved into activities like finger painting.  She really gets upset when she gets paint (or anything "messy") on her hands.  Recently I have been working on getting to know their Love Languages, and I think I have found for Keziah she needs physical touch from mommy every so often to be okay.  It is very nice to feel so loved.

As most of you probably know, I didn't grow up with any sisters (now I am truly blessed with 3 wonderful SIL).  Being a mom of 3 girls who are growing up with sisters is a new joy in my life. {insert tears forming in my eyes here}  I love to watch them interact, play, talk to each other, love each other, fight over toys (for now), and giggle together.  From a sisters point of view I probably have no idea what I am doing each day, so I am immensely thankful for the Lord's guidance! What I do know is that there is almost never a dull moment with 3 sisters, and I can say that I am learning to find the FUN!

And this is my life as a Traveling Mother,

Jennifer

I DID IT!...finished a whole book!

I have to be honest, I'm not a big reader.  But about a month ago I checked a book out from the local library and I finished it last night to return it today! That sounds super cheesy, right? ...unfortunately it's just so true.

Okay, so part of the reason for not reading books more might be due to being a mom of 3 girls under 5 years old...yea, that might be part of it.  But I would have to admit that my lack of reading is mostly because I struggle to really enjoy picking up a book.  My brain would much rather watch Survivor...or Mike & Molly...or American Idol...the list goes on.

So by now you are wondering what book I actually read?  It's a book I have been wanting to read for awhile called 'Peace Child' by Don Richardson.  After arriving in Chiang Mai, Don Richardson spoke at the church that we attend here.  I was able to catch a bit of his sermon and was impressed and encouraged by his experience serving God among the Sawi people group.  After finally reading his book, what I take from it is a new hope.  He found the common ground between what the Sawi people had already in their belief system and how God had prepared the way for him to link those beliefs to the Gospel of Jesus.  My hope is to look for this link among those that God puts in my path.  

Not long after hearing Don speak I watched this You Tube video to follow up after the years they had lived there.  It is SO encouraging to many serving in the Kingdom.  Whether you serve God in another country or your home, whether you are serving in missions or serving as a sender of missions; please take 15 minutes to watch this video and be encouraged about what God is doing among people.  

Click HERE to watch "Never the Same: Celebrating 50 Years Since Peace Child" video.

To be honest I am quite thankful that God has not sent our family to live among actual cannibals...right?!?  It can be so hard to be away from family and friends, but this is a great reminder how thankful I am for where we are what we have.

The final words in this video also ring true for me:
"What an incredible privilege it is to join God in His journey to the nations, and it makes me wonder how many people are waiting to experience what the Sawi have experienced"

One last thing...if you could pray for our family to be healthy.  Hope brought a little cold bug home from school and it is gradually working through our family.  It is so weird being sick with a cold when the temperature is 100F!

Thank you for reading and caring for our family.
This is my life as a traveling mother,
Jennifer

New Videos to Share

Last year about this time we unfortunately lost our video camera. It was a great little camera, and after searching through all of our bags and boxes and refusing to give up the search...I had to admit that it was gone.  We have taken a few videos with our regular camera, but they are very bad quality.  Now, thanks to a very "smart" phone, we finally have new videos of the little ones!

Click here to see our girls dancing and singing!

Enjoy!...oh, you may want to turn your speakers down a bit to begin with ;-)

What's been going on?

Again, it's been awhile since my last post...I think I'm just going to use the excuse that's it just been too darn HOT!  My western Washington bones are melting and aching for a good rain!  

So, what's been going on with us lately?  Let's start with our youngest girls.  As I write this it is 1 month until their 2nd birthday, and it is so hard to believe that they really aren't "babies" anymore.  Lately they have really been becoming little girls by saying words we actually understand, being able to ask them a simple questions and having them answer yes or no, playing at the play area on their own, less nap time sleeping, figuring out how to play with their more 'complicated' toys, loving to go swimming at the pool, and giving the cutest smiles at just the right moment!

Hope is just finishing up the 2 week holiday and heading back to school on Monday (Yea!). This 2 week break is for the water festival called Songkran here in Thailand, it's also about the same time as the American spring break.  We were able to keep quite busy these last 2 weeks mostly going to local pools to cool off or taking a dip in our little blow up yard pool.  To get me through this break from school I came up with "Hope's Daily 20's", which was a list of activities for Hope to do when she was "bored" or watching too much TV.  This is what the list included:

• 20 minutes reading books
• 20 minutes doing activity books
• 20 minutes practice riding bike
• 20 minutes cleaning/organizing/straightening
• 20 minutes of exercise (swimming or Wii)
• 20 minutes of resting

Although I do have to admit that she did NOT have 1 day of doing them all, it was a good idea to start this up and I can see it in the future this summer to get me through 2 months without going to school. Hope also recently lost her 2nd tooth by Sheraz pulling it because it was just hanging there...oh boy, there was blood and there was dramatic screaming!  The funny thing is that when her 1st tooth was loose and we started to discuss the tooth fairy, she said "God didn't make fairies, they're not real!"...oh boy we have taught her too well about the Truth!  So we (Hope & I) decided we would make believe and play the tooth fairy so she could enjoy the fun of putting teeth under her pillow at night and getting some money.  So far the tooth fairy in our house pays 35 Baht per tooth (that's about $1).  I think it's fun that she gets her money in Thai Baht for now, what a fun memory for her when she grows up! 

As for me, my last post was all about my cooking skills, but since the hot season of at least 100F has been going on, unfortunately the kitchen is the last room I want to spend any time.  To get me back into the mood of cooking, I've been trying to find recipes on Pinterest that Do Not include turning my oven on.  (If you have any favorite recipes that fall into this category, please share them!)  I'm thinking...Rice Crispy Treats!  Also, I have been trying to improve on my eating and exercise habits lately and this has been a great week.  The trick is that I have to get up early, before 7:00am to get a workout in before the temperature heats up too much.  May is a busy birthday month for us with Sheraz's on the 1st and then the twins on the 20th, so that will probably be taking up my time for the coming weeks.  

And finally Sheraz...well, it's probably the same as always...schoolwork, schoolwork, and some more schoolwork.  Currently he is researching and writing for his thesis paper, which is a good sign that he is at the end of his master's program for the TESOL degree.  

As I mentioned above, it is summer time here and at least 100F everyday, so a water festival that is a giant water fight was very refreshing!  Here are some highlight pictures from our adventure into the fun of a city-wide water fight.

Thanks for checking in on us!  Have a great week, I hope to keep my momentum of another post soon ;-).

(P.S. The air quality has improved with a few good breezy days/evenings and less burning, thank you for your prayers for our families health!)