Step 5: "The Blog Before The Blog"

So we are home, enjoyed a great meal for Thanksgiving and now continue on the battle of jet lag. Both Liam and Cole did amazing on the trip and are doing amazing at home but we all find ourselves up at 3am wondering what to do. I know time will fix it, until then, it is a fun memory. Mark and Cole shared a 3am grocery run the first night because they were both wide awake. Cole enjoyed it and found it to be his special treat.

So I wanted to get a post on the blog because I know that many of you have waited patiently. So this is kind of like the blog before the blogs. I am putting together two blogs, one from our trip to Vietnam, the other from our time spent in Cambodia. As I would love to post all the pictures I have, and talk about everything we did, I have to be cautious. Many of the places that we went  have people there that are at high risk of trafficking, either they have been rescued, or being at high risk of being sold. There are amazing people out there, doing amazing things, and they need to be protected. So, many times the stories I tell will be vague, but that shouldn't take away from anything. This is the main reason I did not post much while I was over there. That and I had a 5 month old attached to me for about most of the day and then when it was bed time it was time for bed. :)

I hate to jump on the bandwagon with this next comment, but I am realizing how true it is. As Americans, living in the States, who have never been out of the country, it is so hard to understand the concept of freedom. Visiting a country that basically tells you when to eat, sleep, and drink, and where most people run to Cambodia because that is the closest thing to what they believe is freedom and a better life, I began to understand what I took for granted my whole life. Even the poorest of poor in the States seem wealthy to the slums of Vietnam/Cambodia. Children eating in trash piles, and sleeping in the city sewer, and PAYING $5 a month to be able to do that. Unthinkable. (I will write more on this and post pics in the Vietnam/Cambodia blog) This Thanksgiving I am thankful for EVERYTHING I have and for those that fought and those that gave their life for me to have it. I was always thankful, but my heart never really knew the way that others had to live without freedom. My heart is with the children in Vietnam today and those in Cambodia that are unable to fight, that are forever in my heart.

To say all that, I am not taking away from America and what we have. As Christians, shoot as Humans, we need to be aware of those around us, and help. Doesn't matter where, just do it.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Step 4: "Seeing Our New World"

I figured it out...it the midst of all the Vietnamese, I found the english button. Thank you for waiting so patiently.

Well it is Midnight here on November 12. Most of you are honoring 11.11.11 as it is only 9 AM California time....(side note...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!)

Oh, where to start. I have to say that I have the most amazing kids in the world. They have rolled with everything that we have had to do. From LONG bus rides, to long days, and no complaining. Poor Cole, I think his face might be close to falling off. Being the red hair, white boy, he draws A LOT (and I mean a lot) of attention and as we walk through a crowd everyone women grabs at his face and rubs his hair. It is in a loving gesture, but can be a little physical at times. Cole just keeps a smile on his face and a look up at me silently screaming HELP!! :)  With Liam, everyone wants to hold him, or play with his hands, or give him kisses. At one point, a sweet lady I let hold him, didnt want to give him back. She insisted I go about my business and that she would watch him for me. Momma bear kicked in a little and was able to 'nicely' get him back. Good times.

I have posted 2 new videos to the blog. The first being the first time that we stepped foot onto our new home as a family, and another being some family fun we had at the local resort that is only 10 min away from the property. Hope you enjoy the videos.

The property is AMAZING!! The video shows a little of how amazing it is, but nothing can compare to the actual view of the land. We were able to sit around the table and eat of the fruit that grows on the land. I have never tasted fruit so sweet and fresh. I crave it!! As Mark and I walked around, we could hear the children running and playing. It felt like home. We are excited to begin the process of getting the homes built on the property.

Well, I would love to write more, but we have an early morning and it has been a long, amazing day that I can’t wait to fill you in on....tomorrow. :)

Step 3: "Get through The Insanity"

Someone please tell me why I thought it was a good idea to have a garage sale the day before we take off for Vietnam for 3 weeks. I guess the wonderwomen in me thought, "Hey, that shouldnt be a problem."  But you know what? It had to get done, and when it is over, I know that I will be glad that I did it. But in the meantime, IT IS HELL. :)

Today my son Cole and I, cleaned bathrooms. It was fun. I got to hang out with my son that is quickly, before me, becoming a little man. I found myself looking at pictures the other day, amazed at how quick it has been. I feel like he was just born, and now he is a big "4 and a half Mommy" And that big four and a half year old can clean a bathroom like a beast.

So I am sorry that it took so long to get another post up, and that it is so short, but time is not very much right now and I have to move on. I think I hear laundry screaming my name.

Little Bunny Trail, and feel free to comment. But what is your least favorite part of laundry. I HATE putting clothes away. Washing and folding, ok. Hanging and putting away..PLEASE NOOOO.

Okay, Thanks.

Step 2: "Knowing Where You Came From"

It is 12:05am on the morning of my 31st birthday. My mother is funny, she has become a fan of the face book and any time one of 'the kids' has a birthday, we are showered with a day of 'tags' and posts of wonderful pictures that haunt our past. So today my mom posted this picture of me with that wonderful hair cut and my Daddy with those incredible glasses...and the best part is it is only 12:20 and I have 23 hours and 40 minutes left of pictures.


But this is my Daddy. I would like for you to meet him. He is the warmest, kindest, best hugger guy you will ever meet (besides my husband). He gave EVERYTHING of himself and asked for nothing in return. I know that my older siblings have their stories and memories but here are mine. We are in Springfield Missouri and my father a pastor of a little church called Eagle Heights Assembly of God. He was also a teacher at Evangel college and ran an inner city Sidewalk Sunday School program called His Kids. He was a busy man, sought after by many and loved by all. If you ask anyone that knew him, they were blown away by his gentle spirit.  He LOVED to preach and teach. And he LOVED children. I know this is where I got my love for kids. I remember every Thursday afternoon when we did visitations to some of the homes of the children that came to His Kids. Sitting in rooms where there was nothing but mattresses laying on the floor and bugs crawling everywhere. Many times I left with a head full of lice, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I saw my dad love Jesus and love people.

This life went on for ten years till we moved to St. Louis. At this time my life was consumed with sports.  I can hear his voice now as he instructed me on how to hit a softball. "If your gonna swing, then swing through the ball. None of this checking stuff" he would say. Say? No more like scream from behind the backstop. :) What can I say, he was an amazing baseball pitcher (or so I was told, lol) and I was living his dream. I remember playing catch with him during my brothers baseball game and as I stretched back to throw the ball, not noticing he turned his head, I let it fly. Screaming, "watch out Dad!! (which is so wrong cause he didn't need to watch, he needed to duck) I watched as the baseball crushed his nose and more blood than I have seen, was gushing out his nose. He remained calm. He didn't want to scare me. And in my tears, and his blood, he made sure that I was alright. See the black eyes in this picture? Yeah, I did that. :)

I remembered the day I called him to tell him that I gave up my college scholarship and was heading home. I was so sure that my Dad was going to be so disappointed. But I just remember the three words that makes everything okay "I Love You."

But the best memory by far is this photo. I was blessed and honored to have had the chance for my father to walk me down the aisle. He was nervous, I was nervous. What many people don't know, is he was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. The thought of having to remember to say "Her mother and I" was wearing on him. Right before we left the door, he asked me again to remind him. When we got to the front, and as he handed me to Mark, the words were gone and he stumbled through what to say. But you know what? If everything would have gone smooth, I don't know if I would have remembered that moment. We laughed at the time, and I still laugh now.

So I know that it is my birthday, and making a post about my dad is weird. But I think of it as this... he had a part in making it my birthday so I can write about him, lol. :)  My dad is 2000 miles from me, in a home, with severe Alzheimer's. This horrible disease has left him speechless. I haven't been able to talk to him now for over a year and a half. But I thank Jesus every day that he is my dad. I love him so much.

I still contend for his healing. And I know that he is proud. And I know he gives me his blessing in moving to Vietnam. And I know if he could come he would. And I know he wants me to carry on his dream of rescuing children.

Hey Daddy,
I miss you so much. I miss your hugs, your voice, your wisdom. I am sorry that you are going through this. I am praying for you everyday. I am moving to Vietnam, there are some pretty bad things going on over there and I have to make it stop. Thanks for training me. I love you.
Your Little Girl.

Step 1: "If It Doesn't Fit In The Plane, We Can't Take It."

Step 1 to movingtovietnam... time to sell everything in the house.

My son asked me, "Mom, why are you selling our stuff?" I replied, "If it doesn't fit in the plane, we cant take it."  I look back at that now and can't imagine what is going on in the mind of this 4 year old. Watching his things get loaded into a strangers car, and being told we have to sell it because we are moving to a place called Vietnam.

The other day I was going through the pictures on my phone. I came across a bunch of photos of Cole's stuffed animals and told him I thought he did a great job of taking pictures. He replied that he wanted to take there picture because he wanted to remember them in case he had to sell them. (Insert mommas melted heart here)

I never thought I would be so emotional about stuff. The thought of having to sell things was not that hard for me. It was stuff. Ask my husband, I like space. If there is room, keep it that way. Dont just fill it with stuff.

But things changed when I looked at my son's first bike, or my king size bed, or my softball bat that I have had for over ten years. That 'stuff' had emotions behind it and memories. So how do I get through it? Well, I rememeber why I am going and that makes it easier, and then I get a small storage unit for the stuff that I can't part with. :)

BUT the good news is, the stuff I can part with, IT IS FOR SALE.  Click the link below and let me know what you are interested in. And remember 100% of all the money goes to helping us move to Vietnam.

CLICK HERE FOR STUFF FOR SALE