Bubble Baths

Ava is almost 7 mos. old and is now able to do a few things with Chloe (supervised, of course). One of her favorites is pool time and bubble bath. Two weeks ago we were able to move into a house that our company provides for people in the states. It's really nice with a big fenced backyard that the girls love to play in. Grandma bought the girls a small blow-up swimming pool and they spend loads of time splashing each other.

The house also has a piano. I have been practicing again for the first time in 15 years. (The only music I could find was an old baptist hymnal. I have become quite proficient at "Amazing Grace", "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Be Thou My Vision") It's fun to actually play something again. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed it when I was younger.

Our time is rapidly winding down in the states and we are trying to purchase all the things we think we will need for our new home as well as for ourselves. Top on the list for me is jeans. I spent 5 hours today looking for a pair of jeans that didn't say "skinny" or "boyfriend" on the tag. Regardless of the brand and style, every pair said "these jeans will make your legs look thinner and your stomach flatter and you will be happy every day for the rest of your life." BUT... every pair I tried on just made me look too young or too old. I can't pull of the matchstick frame you need for skinny jeans and I am tired of squeezing my thighs into bootcut jeans that just fall off my waist. I did find one pair that I liked but for the low, bargain price of $136 I passed.

Ava at 6 months

When Chloe was born the first 6 months were the longest time span in the history of the earth. The second time around the first 6 months is the shortest time span ever. Crazy.

5 Inconvenient Truths.

Inconvenient Truth #1: Family conflicts are easier 10,000 miles away.
Issues that neither of us cared to work on are now upon us and must be taken care of. It was much easier while overseas to just hang up the computer phone and say "isn't that a shame." Now that we are right here in the middle, we must do something- but what?

Inconvenient Truth #2: America is a fast-food culture. Never in the last two years have we had so many immediate items that had to be dealt with on a daily basis. We have started calling a family meal going through the drive-thru together in the minivan.

Inconvenient Truth #3: Returning to the states has been a bit like re-opening a healing wound. Upon landing, there was an immediate pain that in some ways we had missed out on quite a bit but in other ways it was painful to see that some things we wished would change were exactly the same. Over time, we have put a bandaid on the wound. Now that it is healing, we are itching to get overseas.

Inconvenient Truth #4: Two plus years in transition is two years too many. Since our departure two years ago, our conversations about the future have always started with "if we go back to the states... or if we come back overseas..." The uncertainty of our future caused us to be in constant transition which meant that we were unable to keep more than 8 suitcases of our earhtly possesions or make definite plans on anything. Transition can be one of the most uncomfortable places to be.

Inconvenient Truth #5: God is more concerned with our spiritual development and relationship with him than with our happiness and comfort level. It is true that oftentimes these two items go hand-in-hand, the better the relationship with God, the more contented and overall happy we are. However, one only has to look at Job to know that the process of getting there can be very unpleasant.

What do you do in the states?

Many people have asked us what we do while we are here in the states with seemingly no job. Our stock answer has been kind of vague because it's kind of complicated. I thought I would instead give you a glimpse into each person's to-do list:

First the easy one- Ava:
1. Eat
2. Sleep
3. Poop
4. Chew on anything I can get my hands on
5. Learn to crawl

Then there's Chloe:
1. Annoy my sister
2. Watch Dora
3. Learn colors, shapes, numbers and Alphabet
4. Watch Dora

And of course Heather and Jeff's to-do list is a bit more complex:
1. Complete our Visa application for Taiwan (this consists of mailing each person's birth certificate, our marriage license, college diploma's, transcripts, a letter from our church, a letter from our company, a letter from the company we are going to work for, a notarized medical exam sealed by the secretary of state and a certified non-criminal record also sealed by the secretary of state. We mail all that to the Taiwan Government office in Houston for them to "authenticate". Then, we actually complete our visa application and mail it along with all of the above authenticated documents, copies of the above documents, our passports, pictures and dinero back to the Taiwan government office to get our Visa. Did I mention that Ava's birth certificate has to be sent back to Bangkok because she was born in Thailand? And our medical exam consists of a HIV test, syphilis test, TB chest X-ray, fecal smear for parasites and something else called Hansen's Disease?) We might get this all done sometime this century.

2. speak in churches and various organizations around the state that would like to hear about the work going on overseas. (This has consumed most of our weekends)

3. Crate an entire household of goods overseas. This time, we get to bring a lot of household goods with us to Taiwan including a mattress, washer/dryer, airconditioners, rugs, heaters, extra clothing, etc.. However, you may remember that we got rid of all our wordly possessions the last time we left and so before we can send a bunch of stuff overseas we have to buy it all again.

4. And finally we have to accomplish all of the above amidst traveling for conferences and trainings for the company as well as not neglecting friends and family that we will not see again for possibly four more years.

Doesn't that sound relaxing?

How can we partner?

As Jeff and I look towards the future and our new home in Taiwan. We have been thinking about our partners back home. This includes our family, friends, small group study, church, etc. A big question we have been asked is "how can we help?"

We know that many people want to show their support for our work overseas but aren't sure what their options are. Therefore we have provided this list of opportunities for you to be thinking and praying about over the next few months before we leave.

Ways to partner with us

1. Pray, pray, pray: Col. 4:3-4 "Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should."

2. Give: We are completely supported by our company. But the company is supported by donations. If you are interested in making a donation to the non-profit organization we work for, let us know. Your gifts are greatly appreciated particularly in this poor economy. Even now, there are people wanting to go and do the same work as us but are unable to due to lack of funding.

3. Go: If you are interested in a short-term volunteer project or more longer term service, let us know. We would be happy to connect you with a project or the right people to answer your questions.

Feats of Strength

Welll, it isn't quite Festivus time yet but Chloe and Ava did demonstrate their feats of strength this week. (watch "Seinfeld" episode "The Strike" to understand reference to Festivus)

First of all Chloe is potty-trained!! Yeah!!

And Ava learned to roll over and sit-up all in the same week and she isn't even 6 mos old yet. She's Gifted!! :)

Way to go girls!

Chloe and Ava's week with Grandma

Jeff and I had to take a trip to Richmond last week. Chloe and Ava spent the week with Heather's mom and grandmother. Aunt Melissa then watched them on Saturday before we got home. Here's how their week went:

Day 1: Arrive and receive LONG list of instruction from Heather that included 8 pages on Chloe with complete information on food allergies, daily medications, eczema, preschool, potty-training and what to do in case of seizure and 1 sentence for Ava- "Give pacifier and lay down to sleep."

Day 2: Having fun with the grandkids. I wish I could understand what Chloe was saying.

Day 3: Chloe sure does talk A LOT and goodness she is active. I may be getting too old for this.

Day 4: Uhh, ohh. We got a flat tire on the van, the girls are out of clean clothes and I'm not sure what Chloe has in her mouth. Is Ava still breathing!?

Day 5: I am so glad that Aunt Melissa is coming to stay with the girls today. I think I threw my back out and Chloe hasn't slept in two nights. Jeff and Heather come home soon.

Thank you Mom and Grandma for watching our precious children.