every girlie needs a pink boa! hehe

Yesterday was my beautiful girls 6th birthday! My girly girl and I went to get our toes done and celebrated with cake at the co-op. I so delight in watching her grow into a beautiful, sweet young lady.
A verse I have been praying over her for a couple years now is Isaiah 62:3. I pray that she would be a beautiful, royal diadem in the hand of her God. I pray that she would bring healing and Life with her hands and her words and that wherever her foot lands, she would help bring restoration and beauty. I know she will be a beautiful girl, but raising a daughter to be beautiful on the outside would be the most shallow thing I could focus on- I long for her to be a Princess Warrior, a passionate God-follower, and a beautiful worshipper. That would be beauty from the Inside Out.
She has her first tooth growing in right now, although she has yet to lose one.  We are patiently waiting. She loves coloring, dressing up, being with friends any time day or night and is an amazing little reader. David and I have a blast taking care of her and learning to appreciate her girly ways. While my guys are actually sensitive and thoughtful, there is a unique way Olivia shows it and communicates her thoughts with us. That is to be expected I know. She lasts longer when snuggling too! 
Happy Birthday my Angel. I love you!

Birthday invitation Jackson made

Saturday night we had a surprise birthday party to celebrate Nathaniel turning 18.  I’m not sure I’ve ever done that for him.  He found out right before hand, but he enjoyed the evening anyway.

We wanted to roast a pig, but found out someone has to sit and turn the spit literally all day long and we had no one around for that.  So, we bought a pig already cooked and took some lovely pictures of him.  (eww!) There were about 50+ people, all lovely friends who were also like family for the night.  It was a simple affair, but we just wanted to say happy birthday and then do a send off as he leaves today for 5 months.  Basically, it is like a graduation because he graduates alone and will only be around for Christmas.  Here are some pics of the night.

games when everyone else had gone

Always lots of kids!

Our house helper today made the comment that we don’t seem to have ‘problems’ with our children.  She is a Believer and yet knows that doesn’t mean kids leave home unscathed by the world.  She had such a huge smile as I was saying Nathaniel was turning 18.  She basically made the comment, ‘Wow, he is a good 18 year old!’.  ‘You have a good family!’  I so agree!  Thank you Nathaniel for being a fantabulous first born- you were a helpful guinea pig!

I love you so much Son!
You make me happy.

Momma

Moving on.

Two weeks ago, while on our trip to Australia, I just got the biggest set of giggles because I had 6 different currencies in my wallet.  NO LIE!!!  I needed 5 of the 6 for our trip. I happened to have Chinese Kwai (sp?) from our Shanghai trip a couple months ago.  Most annoying aspect?  Taking the time to look at each coin….  and then trying to remember the exchange rate of each currency and understand what I was spending.  Exhausting.
Laos doesn’t have coins.  THANK YOU LAOS!  I can hardly be bothered!  And, to make matters worse, Australia has $2 COINS!!!  They are the smallest coin out in creation (although gold and thick!), but I drop coins- often.  You can’t drop and flippantly lose $2!

Moving on.

So, I took a picture for all of you skeptics who won’t believe me.  I actually had mostly ‘20’s from each place which are VASTLY different in worth.  I’ll explain below.  Anyway, then, guess what I DID!?

Yep, I organized- by country.

1- $20 USD
2- $20 AUS
3- 20  Thai baht (about 75 cents)
4- 20,000 Lao kip (about 25 cents)
5- 5 Chinese RMB ( almost a dollar)
6- 1 Malaysian Ringitt ( 33 cents)

the Lao kip is the only currency listed here without coins!

But, geez, this is JUST as painful.  In the same year, I’m experiencing my ‘first’s’ (firstborns) – ‘lasts’ (last things with ME).  Please tell me you get it.

This is Nate

It looks like an album cover to me!- good job Jackson!

I don’t want to be here.  I don’t like this first.  I don’t want to send my child off to another country, let alone another continent.  Both are coming up in this next semester.   How in the World (literally), am I supposed to survive. How am I supposed to smile through every day and joyfully go about my life and job when I will always be wondering how he is, wondering if he is safe, wondering if he needs me for counsel or just a hug.  What if he DOES need a hug?  Shoot, what if I need a hug!  And, anyone who knows me, knows that I often do.  My love language is physical touch.  I’m an affectionate gal.  I love hugging my boys.  I love that they are willing to grab my hand or arm as we walk anywhere.  Who does that?    I love that they see their father show such affection with me around the house.  They don’t question our love and devotion to one another and I can’t help but assume that they will copy this in their own marriages.  I hope they find someone who appreciates being taken care of and loved on.  I actually think it isn’t so appreciated today.  Maybe it’s because it is not observed in people’s homes very often these days, maybe because we have veered towards such a feminist  viewpoint that ‘being taken care of’, seems demeaning to women. What a lie!  What a blessing to be covered.

I’m getting off point.

The thing is, my life as I’ve known it for the past 19 years is changing.  Almost 20 years ago we got
 married.  19 years ago I got pregnant, and 18 years ago our world changed forever when Nathaniel was born.  Mothering is all I’ve done for so long and especially with Nathaniel.  With him, I have hit every
area of parenting a dependant out there.  Up until now, he has relied on us for so much.  It’s daunting to think of releasing him to all we ourselves have instilled.  I know it should be enough, but am I the only one to wonder, if in fact it isn’t?

In this First, ‘last week’, Nate and I had a first ‘last week’ breakfast together.  One of the questions I asked him was:  Tell me what it is Dad and I need to continue doing with the rest of the kids that you think worked..  and then tell me what didn’t and how, from your perspective, we can work on changing things for everyone else.. And, ps.  Thanks for being our guinea pig.     His insights were actually very insightful and some spot on.  God won’t tell him something He hasn’t already been revealing to us….  That was awesome.   I was seriously not looking for accolades, and he didn’t dump them on me.  Good on him.  I really wanted to know, as a young man, what he thought we had possibly done right or wrong in raising him.  It was awesome.  Guess what was at the top of the list both good and bad?  Communication!  This is my bandwagon for parenting.  Listen to your kids.  While he said we did it great, he commented that sometimes we are hasty in assuming and replying.  Ouch.  We know better.  Not only do we ‘know better’, but we’ve seen it work repeatedly when you listen and communicate like you would with a friend, you can keep walking forward.  When you get hasty and – especially angry and hasty together, you don’t just halt, you actually take steps backwards.  Not good.
Good stuff.

This last week, my firstborn will turn 18.  Wow.. Did I really just write that?  That’s intense.  I don’t ‘feel’ old.. but I must be getting it.  It’s his last week of family time as we’ve known it for years.  Last night, we had our ‘last’ dinner together at Nazims.  His favorite Indian restaurant.  That was sweet.  It is his last week to have me give him instructions like nothing has changed.. ‘turn your air-con- off, stop playing guitar- people are sleeping, can you dump the trash’…  I realize those things will happen elsewhere, yet, it will never be in our normal realm of family as before. The funny thing is, I KNOW how liberating it is all going to be for him! 

He is SUCH a good kid.  He knows himself.  He knows what he wants and he knows he has to let God have it.  That is kinda intense.  I’m very proud of him.  I’ll write more about that when he actually leaves.  I can’t do it without my box of Kleenex.

Maybe not our ‘last’ picture together on Australia’s gorgeous beaches…  If I have to SWIM there, Ill be back!

  The Holy Spirit was so evident during our sessions and there were spontaneous intimate moments of worship which had us on our knees several times.  It was so powerful and sweet.  I now feel like I need a little vacation to process it all. 

  My single complaint the whole of the week, repeats my single complaint from 2 years ago that David wasn’t there.  I find it is so much easier to grapple with whats going on inside me when my man has heard all I have and can dive in with me.  One Day!
  Our speakers were all outstanding.  I loved each one.  John Maxwell, Jentzen Franklin, Priscilla Shirer, Nicky Gumbel and then in smaller sessions, Joel and Julia A’Bell, Bobbie Houston, Sanga, Robert Furgeson, Phil Dooley, Christine Cain…. 

  I cannot believe the theme and strand that ran through this conference.  Literally, I Corinthians 2:1-5  was brought up almost daily and sometimes more than once:
‘And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.’

Once again, the resounding Theme at Hillsong was ‘Jesus’.  The Name of Jesus was definitely high and lifted up.  It is seriously the coolest thing about Hillsong.   Priscilla Shirer talked about how horribly sad it would be to have a church with all the bells and whistles, lights and show, but Jesus missing.  Amen!  The clearest thing about being at the conference, is that while bells and whistles are full on, Jesus is supreme here.  
  I told David that there is such an anointing over Hillsong and their ministries.  It seems to me that because they are faithful with God has given them, He will of course, continue to pour out more.  I am thrilled my son gets to be a part of a growing, passionate House.  I shall continue tomorrow.

As a gang of 11, we will stay altogether at Eva’s Backpackers in downtown Sydney which we found is within walking distance to the Entertainment Center where the conf. is to be held this year.  I am grateful to not have to worry about all the trains, buses, taxis etc… and just Walk!  We are pretty pumped to fill Eva’s guesthouse with the authority and filling of God’s presence as well.  My prayer has been (for months!) that we are in a constant state of worship and wonder of Jesus, and that the guesthouse is ripe for harvest…  pray for us, that the 6 teens who are with us are not just willing, but openly given opportunity to speak Truth and Hope to anyone who asks! (or hints, or is nearby using the computer…)    hehe  YES LORD!  I Believe!

This trip is multi-faceted.  Not only are we going to first off, enjoy the speakers, intense worship and anointing, but we have signed Nathaniel’s acceptance letter to HILC and will hand that and the first allotment of tuition over and hopefully get a tour of the college.  We plan on attending church there on Sunday and will try to meet up with the lady who is holding a room for him in her boarding house  (who also just happens to be an auntie of a friend here, isnt God sweet!).  However, there is something bigger than all of that for me this year:

Two years ago I KNEW we were meant to take Nathaniel to Hillsong.. having never been, I only knew the Spirit of God was leading us there.   It transformed so much of our lives as a family and a sprinkling of it passed on to friends around us…  This year, it is a trip my heart has cried out for over my second son Jackson.  Jackson’s name means ‘Truthful One’.  oooohhhh!!  I love that!  As Jack is headlong into his 15th year of life, my fervent cry has been that he would need nothing more than Jesus.  That he would see Truth and love Him.  That he would cast aside anything that doesn’t align with that authority and pour himself fully into Who lasts.  So, I am praying that Jackson is captured by beautiful aspects of the Cross that he has not fully recognized before and has a fire LIT under him forever.  It is all about the Cross. And the Cross is all about people…
So.. my prayer request for you all out there, is that you pray the camaraderie amongst the 6 youth there is intense but focused…  that they do not pull one another away from what is happening there and instead, push each other Towards what God has.    That they are transformed from the Inside/Out!

So, our itinerary is as follows~  We leave tonite at 5:30 pm for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!  We hang all day tomorrow (Sun.) in KL and since Jack and Nate have been there, they can tote Blake and I around.  We leave Sun. pm for Melbourne and fly all night.  Three hours after our arrival in Melb. on Mon. am, we fly to Sydney where we hook up with the K mom and daughter!!!  whoohoo!  Then, we spend Mon. arvo and Tues am gallivanting around Sydney and getting our bearings!  Tues. pm the conf. starts and goes until Fri. pm.  Sat. we say goodbye to the A family and head to Sydney Harbour and wherever else!  That night is a worship night and Sun. is church morning and night which I am pretty sure we all want to go to.  Mon. we do college stuff and hopefully meet up with the Auntie..   Tues. our family and Blake head back to Melb. in the am, and spend the day there with our DEAR dear friends the Spragues who will pick us up and hang with us till night!  We are so pumped that worked out… God is good! (they were our dearest friends here and  a part of the co-op for two years!) We all leave on Wed. am for KL and then Thurs. pm back to Vientiane.  I am tired just thinking about it all!  Please pray for our trips, connections, time with friends and of course the conf. 

Sydney or BUST~

Me

Global Nomads

REWIND:

In 1986, I found myself in the international airport of Quito, Ecuador surrounded by a throng of best friends and my boyfriend J.  I even remember what I was wearing~ black and white and I had a cool beret on.  I don’t know why I cared what I looked like that day knowing my face would be splotchy and wet from all the crying.  And either we were insanely early, or with all the commotion of my friends and I, my parents couldn’t get me to the gate to leave.  Nothing could entice me to leave as I stared into the eyes of my ‘life friends’, and grabbed a few more hugs.  To bad I was only 15 and not the one calling the shots.

My parents having a hard time getting me on the plane would not have surprised me.   I loved my life in Quito, I loved my school, friends, house and routine.  As I looked around me that day, I couldn’t imagine leaving that world. The reality for me at that airport was, my heart ached and I couldn’t foresee how my life could possible be enhanced.  Why did we have to leave?!  That was only one of approximately a dozen moves I would make in my pre-college years.  How very little could I comprehend then, that it would serve as preparation for not just the rest of MY life, but of walking my children through the same.

FAST FORWARD:

Today, I was ‘back’ in Quito ~on that very day.  Only, it is 24 years later, I am on the opposite side of the globe, and today, it was my sons hugging and saying goodbye to very special pieces of their lives here.  Friends are leaving.  They are on the opposite end of the spectrum, but the pain is the same.  I hadn’t realized all those years ago that just ‘maybe’ others hurt seeing Me go…  what a sweet realization if in fact it was true.  Goodbyes affect both parties don’t they?

It was unreal to be transported back in time so completely.  I understand what happened today in such a genuine way.  There is no salve or band-aid that can be applied to this hurt.  There are not words that can comfort.  The truth of the matter is, it must be endured.   Notes that have been previously written with much care are handed out, little memento’s stuck in pockets, several ‘last-minute’ hugs are given out, group pictures are taken, last-minute silliness is thrown in with no care as to who is watching, and final warnings of ‘dont forget me or else’ are given.  In this day, it is ‘Facebook me when you get to Bangkok’, or ‘come visit me in England during school break’…  which actually, seems possible these days.

My heart broke today in watching my sons almost step for step and line for line, follow the road I’ve walked.  While there are many roads I’d love for them to trace of mine, this wasn’t one I would have said I’d choose for them.  However, they are older and sturdier maturity wise than I was~and young men ta-boot.  Something about this life also builds a sort of quality that I feel has, if nothing else, equipped me to make lots of friends and then do departure, entry and re-entry fairly well.  Either that, or I’m in extreme denial and any day will snap. 

Now, how to shepherd this time…  I cannot remember what my parents did for me…  I think I left in a mental funk all those years ago, and maybe it is harder when you are the one leaving?  So, I’m asking God for wisdom and opportunities to use it for their growth.

Now… friends are one thing.  But, what do you do when it is a Son?

I added ‘International’ to our name totally without permission of our Leadership core (hehe), because we ‘are’ such an international group of people, NOT because we have multiple co-ops throughout the world.  When it is time to become formal through the government here, we will have to take away the ‘Christian’, and I suppose will try to find another way to communicate that we are different from the International school currently in Vientiane.  We also will make it clear that we do NOT charge  $15,000. a year per student!

Check us out. 

~Jen

There was a goal to this mini trip.  Back in Jan. of this year (2011), Nathaniel and David had joined Dick Dungan for a mens retreat there.  During that time, all three men spent a bit of time with yet another ‘K’ family and over the course of the last 6 months basically, the K family has asked Nathaniel to return for a few month stay in Shanghai.  They felt like he would be a good fit with their Yth gp in the worship department.  Nate was totally keen to give it a go and so this trip was 3 fold:

1- to give Nate time to go back and re-meet and spend time with the youth there, the leaders and sort of get a feel for the city, the K family and the Youth leaders he would be spending time with.  He needed to get some sort of blue print.
2- to give his brothers Jackson and Isaak a picture of life after family…  David and I knew instinctively that our family would need a context to put Nate into vs. just hearing about life.  We wanted some of the guys to ‘get it’ and know the people.
3- to give Mom (me !!) a peace of mind regarding life (which means: will he find ways to eat, play and get around?), to re-connect with my friend Mrs K, and to see where my baby will be.  Critical peeps.

If Shanghai was a test, it passed with flying colors.  I told my friend that I walked away feeling such a peace in my spirit about sending my firstborn out there and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can be a help to them.
Putting ‘work’ aside, Shanghai was just a blast to be in.  I am so about foreign places, travel, new foods, culture, ministry work, and even smells, that I just soaked it all in. Soo cool!  Most things are on FB, so I will not repeat a lot here.. but just a flavor of what we saw.

My tribe walked into our bedroom with these for me on Mothers Day. 

Then, my tribe made me dinner! 

Feelin’ loved!