Somethings about living overseas have changed me and made me different. I am still me, of course, but there are times that I just chuckle.
In Mongolia, we eat gobs and gobs of cabbage. I didn't particularly love cabbage. but guess what? I love it now. If I don't have it in the house, I want it. I like it in salads, on tacos, in soup, steamed with curry, steamed with just salt. I love it.
When I chop cabbage, i chop it Mongolian style. I could NEVER get mine as thin as they do. They cut it machine thin. I don't know how. They call my cabbage cuts--- "ohur bitsza" that means cow cabbage, as in large and wide like a cow! So now I pull out the ohur bitsza and I don't include these fatter pieces in my salads. Guess who comes running for the cow pieces?
My kids. They beg for it like a treat. They come back to the cutting board, right by my side and try to steal it. I have to hold back their fingers and tell them to wait as I get closer to the stem where all the best ohur bitsza grows. Then they run away happily munching on cabbage.
1.29.2011
1.27.2011
Birthday and Weekend in AZ
We had a great weekend in AZ. Peter taught at one of our supporting churches there on Sunday morning and we were able to stay with family.
I had the last of my birthday dinners. I had one at my parents on the 16th, one at my house on my birthday and one at Peter's family's on the 25th! I ate well on my birthday.
I got a new watch, birthday money, a painting, some hand painted things from the kids, great book I'm looking forward to and some other great things. I'm so spoiled.
In AZ, we had a wonderful visit with family. We had lots of nice meals, when to the park, dad and Peter cleaned the car and headlights.
There was a wonderful balloon festival. I really like hot air balloons and it was cool to watch them inflate and fly away.
Peter taught from Matthew 16:13-20. It was an encouragement to remember that Jesus said that he would build his church and that Satan will not prevail against it. He has conquered!
1.19.2011
Get $20 of Amazon.com for $10
Today only.
On living social you can get a $20 gift card for $10. :)
If you are interested in this deal and click here it will help me get a deal too. :)
On living social you can get a $20 gift card for $10. :)
If you are interested in this deal and click here it will help me get a deal too. :)
1.17.2011
New Tenants- letter to our house
Weston loved working with my uncle Torrance and watching him paint our house.
My family at our house
My man spray painting the roof vent and us prepping the house for the final paint.
Today we approved new tenants for our house! That is nice. Pray with us? That they take care of our house, pay their rent and enjoy living there for a long time.
Goodbye house,
You are a "very, very, very fine house." There will even be one dog in your yard.
I like you. I like your rooms. I like your yard. I like how you look out at my mountain.
I must remember, you are an investment, at least for now, but I like you house.
It would be fun to live there with you, house, to make you more pretty and make you mine. To make you a home. But for now you have a new family to take care for.
Keep them warm and keep them cool. Let the kids swing from your trees and enjoy living at our house. Make sure they care for you, if they do not, we'll make it right.
Thank you for being a strong house that doesn't break easily. We like that about you. You are functional, yet neat and clean. I think that makes people happy. So enjoy your new family!
Your owner,
Becca
1.15.2011
Hard week
It is hard to write when I feel down. This women did it so beautifully today. I am amazed by her writing so often.
I love that verse
You have recorded my troubles.
You have kept a list of my tears.
Aren’t they in your records?
Ps 56:8
Last year was a bit of a struggle. Sierra is slowly getting better. Yet, the cloud of denial and hope of a quick recovery is slipping away, she is most likely on a very long road. I want to cry for her, I want to cry for me. I want to cry for Peter. I want to cry for her education. I want to cry for her friendships that can't be. I want to cry for her teacher. I want to cry for a life that is far away. I want to cry for all the unknown of our future.
Sometimes I do, but all too often I don't cry. I keep it locked deep in my soul and heart and "handle it." I'm thankful for that sometimes. Things need to be handled, life taken care of laundry folded and tucked away, toilets scrubbed and children fed.
But if God cares enough for my tears, so much that He keeps them written in his book, I should let them fall and let Him love me. He knows my frame. He knows I am but dust. He is not a God that is not acquainted with my weaknesses. He lived a life so fully man that he knows the crap of this earth and the pain it doles out.
So cry I will.
I love that verse
You have recorded my troubles.
You have kept a list of my tears.
Aren’t they in your records?
Ps 56:8
Last year was a bit of a struggle. Sierra is slowly getting better. Yet, the cloud of denial and hope of a quick recovery is slipping away, she is most likely on a very long road. I want to cry for her, I want to cry for me. I want to cry for Peter. I want to cry for her education. I want to cry for her friendships that can't be. I want to cry for her teacher. I want to cry for a life that is far away. I want to cry for all the unknown of our future.
Sometimes I do, but all too often I don't cry. I keep it locked deep in my soul and heart and "handle it." I'm thankful for that sometimes. Things need to be handled, life taken care of laundry folded and tucked away, toilets scrubbed and children fed.
But if God cares enough for my tears, so much that He keeps them written in his book, I should let them fall and let Him love me. He knows my frame. He knows I am but dust. He is not a God that is not acquainted with my weaknesses. He lived a life so fully man that he knows the crap of this earth and the pain it doles out.
So cry I will.
1.11.2011
It is painted!
BEFORE: I wish you could see how pink it looked.
AFTER:
Our house is painted and we are so pleased. There is a bit of touch up to do, but the house looks great. I love it.
It looks modern and new. It doesn't look tired or sad anymore. Our neighbors are so happy. The women across the street gave us a big thumbs up when she drove by this morning.
AFTER:
Our house is painted and we are so pleased. There is a bit of touch up to do, but the house looks great. I love it.
It looks modern and new. It doesn't look tired or sad anymore. Our neighbors are so happy. The women across the street gave us a big thumbs up when she drove by this morning.
1.09.2011
"may your troubles last as long as your new years resolutions"
Because I'm slow sometimes, the first time I read that, I thought, "that's mean." The second time I read it, I chuckled. Isn't that true? Pie crust promises easily broken,
However, I am hopelessly flawed. I need to change. I need to improve. Realistically.
Peter recently made an interesting observation, "being creative, cheap and clean is impossible." So true. I have so many projects in my mind. Beneath the veneer of wanting to be a "good housekeeper" and a woman who has it all togetether, is a girl who wants to paint a terribly unskilled mural on the wall, strap on a backpack and explore the world, and be the artsy fartsy that is deep down in there. Then two seconds later, it's the women who wants the counter cleared off and every speck of laundry either neatly put away or piled up and burned. :)
Peter, being my senior, nearly 37, has embraced his flaws and says that 's just the way he is and his is secure in that. I told him though, his flaws are more culturally acceptable than mine. He is someone who constantly likes to be busy in a world that values hard work and production. So his flaw of not resting when needed is far more acceptable than my flaws. Someone who wants to turn their back on order, neatness and create something in the midst of chaos is not acceptable, right?
That is why cooking suits me. I can create something right in the kitchen in the midst of the my messy home and it's acceptable because I'm producing something that must be made, dinner!
Anyhow, my friends, I feels good to be able to think again and write out my tangled thoughts because Peter, my love, is home again and playing Legos with my beautiful children. The orderly me has had time to empty the dishwasher, put away the breakfast tornado and throw in a load of laundry.
The artsy fartsy me sits here and thinks while I do these terribly mundane, yet necessary, things and then must blog. I must have Pandora going, I let me be me or else I die inside and am not who God created me to be. And guess what? That's ok because Peter knows me and still loves me and together we are a very complete person... Thank God for that.
Resolutions?
I want to learn more about photography. I have watched some lessons on YouTube and I am posting a picture a day to Facebook- not too hard. Kind of artsy, yet realistic.
Real change from the inside out?-- I want to read through the Bible with the church we attend here in Redlands, Trinity. They are making this years theme, "The Year of the Bible." A little guide has been issued called, "Route 66" a route through the 66 books of the Bible. It is realistic because there are only 28 readings a month and a reflection day each week- realistic because I'm behind already! There is a blog that gives a short devotional each day. The blog has a link to read the section there, or I can click on the button that says, "listen" and it will read it to me! Interested? Click here. There is a place to subscribe to the daily devotional (to remind me of this choice) and to print the route.
Happy New Year. May you be you and may you change in the ways you want from the inside out!
However, I am hopelessly flawed. I need to change. I need to improve. Realistically.
Peter recently made an interesting observation, "being creative, cheap and clean is impossible." So true. I have so many projects in my mind. Beneath the veneer of wanting to be a "good housekeeper" and a woman who has it all togetether, is a girl who wants to paint a terribly unskilled mural on the wall, strap on a backpack and explore the world, and be the artsy fartsy that is deep down in there. Then two seconds later, it's the women who wants the counter cleared off and every speck of laundry either neatly put away or piled up and burned. :)
Peter, being my senior, nearly 37, has embraced his flaws and says that 's just the way he is and his is secure in that. I told him though, his flaws are more culturally acceptable than mine. He is someone who constantly likes to be busy in a world that values hard work and production. So his flaw of not resting when needed is far more acceptable than my flaws. Someone who wants to turn their back on order, neatness and create something in the midst of chaos is not acceptable, right?
That is why cooking suits me. I can create something right in the kitchen in the midst of the my messy home and it's acceptable because I'm producing something that must be made, dinner!
Anyhow, my friends, I feels good to be able to think again and write out my tangled thoughts because Peter, my love, is home again and playing Legos with my beautiful children. The orderly me has had time to empty the dishwasher, put away the breakfast tornado and throw in a load of laundry.
The artsy fartsy me sits here and thinks while I do these terribly mundane, yet necessary, things and then must blog. I must have Pandora going, I let me be me or else I die inside and am not who God created me to be. And guess what? That's ok because Peter knows me and still loves me and together we are a very complete person... Thank God for that.
Resolutions?
I want to learn more about photography. I have watched some lessons on YouTube and I am posting a picture a day to Facebook- not too hard. Kind of artsy, yet realistic.
Real change from the inside out?-- I want to read through the Bible with the church we attend here in Redlands, Trinity. They are making this years theme, "The Year of the Bible." A little guide has been issued called, "Route 66" a route through the 66 books of the Bible. It is realistic because there are only 28 readings a month and a reflection day each week- realistic because I'm behind already! There is a blog that gives a short devotional each day. The blog has a link to read the section there, or I can click on the button that says, "listen" and it will read it to me! Interested? Click here. There is a place to subscribe to the daily devotional (to remind me of this choice) and to print the route.
Happy New Year. May you be you and may you change in the ways you want from the inside out!
1.05.2011
Christmas Mania
My favorite day of the year- Christmas Eve and the chance to play Santa.
Piles of presents...
Tetherball for our big boy
Shoes long overdue for Peter.
The wonder of a new perspective...
bouncing bouncing bouncing!
Thank you friends, family and Jesus for this wonderful Christmas season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)