Rock'in that Diaper Bag

Tonight had one of those rare moments when my super fantastic lover held me close, outside our van of screaming children, and whispered in my ear, “I’ll take the kids, you go by yourself.”

  “Where?” I asked, surprised by the offer

“Anywhere.” He replied, “Anywhere by yourself, I’ll take the kids.”

Then, by pure habit, I’m sure, I begin to protest, “No, you don’t have to take the kids. I need to get home and start icing a cake.”

“You know if you go home now that you won’t be icing a cake until the kids are in bed, and that wont be for at least another hour. I will take of bed time, you come back when they are already in bed and then you can start icing the cake.”

He was right, as usual. Tomorrow is our third child’s third birthday and as usual, I leave the cake icing to do at midnight the night before. Honestly, though, when else am I going to do it. I mean, have you ever tried icing a cake while all the kids are up? It is nearly impossible. 

My little sweet hearts, just like their mama as a kid, always want to help in the kitchen. My mom would rarely let me, declining my offer with a simple, “I just want to get this done.” How offended I would be, and now the tables have turned and I get it. Unfortunately, help from little ones often creates more work, more mess and takes more time. Unlike my mother, and being a homeschooling mom, I do create opportunities for my kids to cook and bake with me in the kitchen. However, when I am trying to get something done, in a timely manner that demands my constant attention, such as cake decorating, the last thing I need is to be batting little fingers away from my art, which will inevitably cause a cake decorating disaster. 

“OK, I will go somewhere.” I accept my lovers invitation. It is so like me to have to be talked into doing the very thing I long to have, “ME TIME!” I am a mystery to myself. Or still learning how to look after ME without the mom guilt. I am sure I will get the balance right in time to have grandkids, maybe. 

“So, where do grown-ups go?” asks my fabulous lover. 

“I have no idea.” I replied as I tried to fish through my baby filled mind for a grown-up location to just chill by myself and not look weird. Pub? Bar? No, I I want quiet, and relaxing. Coffee? I guess. I only have an hour or so, so I better move. 

Leaving my Mr. Wonderful with screaming, crying, overtired products of love (we have 4), I head for the nearest coffee shop. Feeling good about the me time, I head into the shop, confidently order my fave, Chai Latte, and reach for my wallet. 

Shut up! I scream in my head. Now, how do you confidently dig your wallet out of a diaper bag, with no baby. I can’t believe I just brought the diaper bag on a ME date. Well, WHATEV! I instantly made the decision to ROCK this diaper bag more confidently than I ordered. I picked the bag up off my shoulder and plopped it down on the counter. I am sure my actions were just screaming, “YEAH, I’m a mom, and PROUD of it! And YES I am totally BY MYSELF right now, because I have a super AWESOME LOVER who is totally watching our FOUR products of our AMAZING marriage. So, THERE!”

I paid for the yummy Chai, sat down at a table and proudly set my diaper bag on the table. What were others thinking in this crowded house of coffee, I don’t know, I actually never even thought about that until now. Who cares, this is ME time. I would like to think that this whole incident is a sign that finally, at the age of 32, I am maturing and becoming confident in who I am. About time! I raise my cup of delicious Chai, “Here’s to Me! Cheers”

American Thanksgiving

Our first American Thanksgiving as a family and of course I had to think of some fun traditions to start. One of my ideas was making turkey surgar cookies and decorating them as a family. To make it as mess free as possible, I made the cookies before had, made the icing, and put the icing in a ziploc bag, cut a small hole in the corner of it. This ziploc bag would serve as my money saving icing bag. (Pretty smart-eh?) So, I got Amariah all set up and gave him the go ahead to start icing the cookies. Then I made my second parent boo-boo of the day. I left the room, to go get the father. My first parent boo-boo was revealed as I returned- I had left the ingredients for the icing on the counter. PAtrick had entered the kitchen first and then shouted, "What are we supposed to ice the cookies with?" Right then I knew something was wrong. When I returned to the kitchen the corner of the icing bag with the hole was in Amariah's mouth, and he was using straight food colouring to decorate the cookies. He had drowned the turkeys.

The second tradition went much better, our own "Turkey Strut" around a nice park. Went spent over an hour walking around this park and playing on the play ground. The idea was to put the kids in a jogger and Pat and I would run. But 8 minutes into the run both kids were screaming. So, we ended up taking them out and just walking. During our walk 3 deer had crossed in front of us, they were so beautiful.

The rest of the day was fairly predictable and non eventful, we ate a totally delicous meal and just hung out at Grandma and Granpa's. Relaxing and Enjoyable.

I asked Amariah what he was thankful for this holiday and he replied, "DVD's and DVD players." Is this a sign that he watches too many?

----So I am at McDonal's right now. I just looked up and Amariah is wretling with some stranger boy. Hard to say who is winning. No one is screaming for help, so I think I will leave them.

What to WRite....

Oh Boy!!!! I am finally on here and I don't know where to start an update.....

E started to crawl. She has been moving backwards for awhile but today she started her first moves forward. So exciting.

Amariah, still not in a preschool or anyting, but I am praying and we will get him into someting regularly.

Patrick is working three jobs, for his dad, at a climbing gym and at Fed Ex moving boxes. He is working hard and we are praising God. one incredibly good thing about is climbing job, is that I can take Amariah to the connect gymnastics area and let Amariah play for free. Burn that energy!!!

We don't have the internet at home, so unfortunately these entries will be far and few between, : (

Well, I have probably overstayed my welcome here at McDonald's. I will finish checking the garage sale list and head home to Patrick.

Enjoying Life

We have got our own apartment here now and loving it. We were supposed to move in on Thursday, but then the landlords called and asked if Friday was ok for a move in date because she couldn't schedule the carpet cleaners until Thursday, such a difference from China. In China we moved into a completely filthy place filled with our landlord's crap (old purse, kite, phone, chains, water dispenser, toys, etc.) and then here we moved into a professionally cleaned apartment. I mean, we couldn't find a speck of dust it was so clean. All this to say, we love our new home. 

Patrick still does not have the desired CNA job. He is working construction for his dad's company and will soon start working at a climbing wall. But he is still looking for a CNA job. 

Tonight we went to the Great Midwest Balloon Fest. It was so neat. About 20 balloons launched into the air, and then later when it was dark they had a balloon glow, which was really beautiful. Unfortunately, the loud count down and then all the fire scared Amariah, so we left. But we had already been there for a couple of hours and then he fell asleep on the way home, so I think that he will be ok, : )

One my favourite things about being back is the garage sales. Whoever said China was cheap obviously doesn't garage sale. I have been overly excited about the deals I have found. For example, I got this black leather bag for a dollar. I remember looking at one very similar to it in China, and was tempted to buy, but good thing I didn't because it was a whole lot more than 7 RMB. I laugh at myself though- it is such an odd American event, if you would call it an event, that we do. We can put all our unwanted stuff out on the front lawn and complete strangers will come by, give us money for it, and take it away. It is odd, but there is something about getting a 'good deal' that is addicting, and makes garage saling a justifiable hobby. It is also a great excuse to get to know an area when you first move into it- which is the category I have fallen into. 

Anyway, everyone else is sleeping and it is time I hit the hay too (right after I check on-line for tomorrows garage sales- I now have an apartment to furnish LOL). 

 

Kari

update

Well, jet leg has been beat and we are finally on a regular schedule, PTL!!! God is good.

We haven not heard back from PAtrick's job interview. They were looking for someone with more experience than what Patrick has. We are not discouraged though because we know that God has a job for PAtrick. And not to say that he didn't get this one, we just haven't heard and we were expecting to by now. 

Patrick has been working construction with his dad for and he also has been offered his old job at the climbing wall. God is good, we have money coming in. 

It is official, we have an apartment. It is a 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, newly renovated with new appliances, light fixtures, carpet, flooring, shower, counters, and fresh paint. We get the keys tomorrow and start moving in the same day. Thank-you Jesus. 

Well, gotta run, kids screaming. 

In KC

This is just a quick e-mail to let everyone know that we made it to Kansas City Safely. The trip was amazingly smooth and the children slept most of the journey. It was the complete blessing of the Lord how well the children were for this long haul. PTL!

We viewed 2 apartments already, but we weren't that keen on either. We will look at more tomorrow. We know that the Lord has a home for us. 

Please remember Patrick in prayer as he has a job interview tomorrow, God is good. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

Patrick, Kari, Amariah and Eternity

Our final China update

I am sitting here eating dragon eyes (like leeches) and I can't help but wonder the next time I will have these. It is so hard to believe that this time has come so quickly. I am excited to go but I don't want to leave the relationshipd that I have here. This is always the hardest part of moving. Well, some I know we will see again, and the others we pray that the seeds planted will grow into a mighty harvest. 

I apologize for not keeping you more updated. "Keeping in touch" has never been my forte, but PTL I am here now writing. We still have so much to do, so I am keeping this short. We are leaving tomorrow, September 5. A friend is picking us up at noon and driving us to the bus. From there we will go to HK to catch our flight. WE fly from HK to Taiwan, to LA, to Houston, to KC. Yes, that is with 2 small children and a husband prone to get sick every time we fly. So, please pray for a smooth trip, for the children to be gracious, for the parents to be patient and in the mighty name of our Lord we will see no sickness. Thank-you Jesus. We have some great testimonies coming out of here and I pray that they will be used to glorify Him. 

We have an appointment to view an apartment this week. And Patrick has a job interview on Sept. 8th and KU medical centre. We are exciting about these opportunities and praying that the Lord has everything set up for us so we need not be anxious. 

Any further questions, please e-mail us. 

In Him, 

Patrick, Kari, Amariah, and Eternity