"School's out for summer..."

Just as most of you are gearing up for the new school year, or already started on it, we are taking a much-needed one month "summer" break.  So far, two out of the plus three have perfected sleeping in (till 8:30), but one will always be an early bird.  At least they have all perfected making their own breakfasts for some time now.

With eldest daughter making her favorite egg on toast as often as she can.  The kids have been reading, playing games, and generally annoying each other--so a typical summer break (apart from the blazing heat).  But rumor has it that an inflatable water park may be opening soon near us...we'll have to keep you posted on the safety vs. fun on that one!

More Fun With Leaves

We loved the leaves when we were in the states, and so we even found a way to make them educational (beyond the fun of jumping in piles of them).  Collecting, sorting, graphing...throw in air and dance around.  Life is good. =)

A few I missed

Looking back through my sadly neglected camera (I stink as historian in this family), I discovered some wonderful shots (from our time last fall and winter in the states) with my best friend and her family.  I love that our kids fall right in step with each other and don't miss a beat, but it is truly so hard to be away...you can see why, such fun kids!

Course these kiddos, and their awesome parents, are now on their own adventure traveling overseas this summer.  I just wish they were traveling a little farther our way!

Pillar to Post

It has been a crazy few weeks, and I feel we've been everywhere; and the wear of being everywhere with nowhere in particular being Home but a piece of it, is beginning to show.  If that makes sense...
I think when you travel, when you live outside of your home country, it seems like Home is what you make, what you take with you.  We are constantly creating Home, and while it can be exciting and beautiful to add to that understanding, it can be painful and exhausting as well.  Life is always in flux and sometimes you just need
                                                                        Still
                                                                     Sanctuary
                                                                       Peace
                                                                       Home
And that, I am reminded, is always with me...

"The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms..."
                                                                       

I wish I could

I wish I could condense it all, all the stories, happenings, life and be able to share it all as it unfolds, but I seem to always be running behind, pulling my scattered thoughts in my wake.
I wish I could think how to share the hard news in a way that conveyed the reality of the grace that enfolds us in every one of those moments.
I wish I could show you into the center of my heart...then you would know.
You would know what we felt when we were told eldest son has Asperger's.  Not surprise, more of a deeper understanding and insight into our precious son.  You would know that the beginning of this felt like being plunged into an ocean of information with a desperate need to swim through it all.  You would know the waves that came later, "What if...?"  "Why didn't we see...?" "What next?" .  Some of the questions are the same as they have always been when you consider your child's life and future, but rightly or wrongly they've become tinged with a deeper weight and concern.
You would know that we are held in the peace of knowing that the God who made our son, foresaw this before he was even ours.  Asperger's doesn't change who our son is, it isn't a deviation in the plan of God for his life, it is a piece of who he is and we are blessed, so blessed to be our son's parents.

And this is what it looks like...

When you announce that we will be taking our little family to the most magical place on earth.  Please excuse the random banana and comic book...it's a very candid moment.

Look out Mickey, we're coming for you!

Traveling thousands of miles to...

Kill my very first scorpion.  I kid you not.  I lived three years in a land known for deserts and scorpions and I had to come back to the states to come face-to-face with one.  Such irony--almost like teaching the plus3 to ice skate in a desert land.
All irony aside, we have loved being back and hugging necks and catching up on life and laughs.  We have eaten out and in more than is good for the waistline, but I feel like we're finding our pace now.  Sort of...but I have yet to walk in a Wal-Mart so maybe I shouldn't speak too quickly.
I have experienced some reverse culture shock even without Wal-Mart.  I'm kind of overwhelmed by how much people greet and talk to you in the store and the amount of enthusiasm they bring to a one-sided conversation in doing that.  In one grocery store I felt like I was being stocked (ha! that is a crazy typo/pun that I didn't intend to do!) ahem, stalked by a worker who kept meeting me on every aisle and asking me very cheerfully, "How are you today?" After the fourth time, I really just wanted to run from the store.
There have been many learning curves--I've had to give several water fountain lessons to my kids on how to make the water work.
But there have also been many beautiful moments.  Reconnecting with family, and just enjoying the love that so many have you poured out on us in welcoming us back.  Oh, and I am loving the new drink machines in certain restaurants where you look at a screen with every known soft-drink and press one icon and then wait for that drink to magically appear in your cup.  Makes me think of Willy Wonka--in a good way. =)