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!)

Growing Together

With all this time indoors due to the heat and smog in Chiang Mai it's about time I write a new post for this blog already!

Here is what we have been dealing with...

Now going through our 2nd burning season here, this is what we have learned about why there is a burning season and why we live with smoke in the air.  

1. Here in Thailand (and surrounding countries) they use the slash and burn method to clear their farms.  Although this process of clearing fields IS illegal, there is NO policing of this law...so it continues.
2. The burning in not in the city Chiang Mai, but in surrounding areas, but because Chiang Mai is in a valley the smoke settles here, until the rain comes to clear the atmosphere.
3. As with almost anything, money is a driving factor... because after they burn their farm and then rain comes, a certain type of mushroom grows that is worth a lot of money on the market.  

So there you have it...unfortunately money wins over health.  

Something I have had on my mind to share is one area in my life that has grown leaps and bounds in the last, yes almost 2 years of living overseas.  My cooking ability.  Growing up I was what Americans have termed a "latch-key kid", meaning my mom was a single working mom so I would go home to a usually empty house.  Since my mom worked we usually cooked and ate easy to prepare meals, and I never really learned about baking or cooking.  It wasn't until after I was married that I realized that my Grandmother DOES know a lot about cooking and baking. And then it wasn't until during my mom's recent visit to Thailand that I realized that she doesn't really enjoy cooking and baking.  So there you go...my Grandma's skills were not passed down.  

The couple things I have learned is that there are different levels to being a good cook and some people enjoy it while others don't...and that is okay.  A couple of weeks ago I made pizza for dinner completely from scratch...yes, the dough, the sauce and all the toppings were fresh.  I thought to myself "this would never have happened so easily a couple of years ago".  Part of being good in the kitchen is just getting in there and becoming comfortable with ingredients, amounts, substituting, temperatures, timing, etc.  Before trying to make something from scratch would stress me out because I wasn't familiar and comfortable with even being in the kitchen.  

Being in a foreign country as a stay at home wife and mother to 3 growing girls has really forced me to go outside what I knew before about preparing food, and it has all been for the better.  Last year I posted about our Thanksgiving meal, this was one of my greatest cooking accomplishments, along with Christmas dinner too.  A few other things I have learned to make from scratch are pancakes/waffles, tortillas, salsa, french dips, soups, pretzels, pizza dough, breakfast sausage, spaghetti sauce, mac-n-cheese, doughnuts, corn dogs, enchilada sauce (this one thanks to my mom!), dill pickles, and even now I make my ranch and taco seasoning by mixing spices together instead of buying the packages.

Although 2 years ago I really thought I knew how to cook because I could make spaghetti by opening a bottle of sauce and adding it to cooked noodles and browned beef...and it was okay like that, but now I have grown to a new level of ability. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in the kitchen and in life.  

So the funny ending to this story about my growth in the kitchen involves my husband.  Obviously knowing how to cook and making sure dinner is on the table every night was not one of my strong skills in the first years of our marriage, and he was quick to point it out.  But now even he has been fully aware of how much I have grown in this area and gives me some credit.  

On the other hand, I learned early in our marriage that I did not marry a Mr. Fix-It by any stretch of the imagination   I've never been a wife to make a "honey-do list" because I know it would NEVER get done.  BUT...for the past couple weeks our sink was drip-drip-dripping, and yesterday (with the help of a neighbor) Sheraz replaced our sink faucet!  At first seeing him under the sink, I was a little concerned...but I put that aside and said a prayer.  Now I'm even regretting that I didn't take a photo of him getting the job done.  

Later in the day I told him how proud of him I was and questioned his ability and confidence...  His answer?  "Well, you have grown your abilities in the kitchen, so too I am growing my abilities!"  

LOVE THIS MAN!  

Jennifer