WE SURVIVED!

Exactly one year today, we landed in South Korea.  Caleb was 9 months old, Steve had never lived outside the U.S. before and I had never been to Asia in my life.  Our little family made one of the hardest transitions we have made thus far - moving across the world to a new country, a new home, a new job and a new church.  At the time, we really weren't sure what we were getting ourselves into or if we were making one of the biggest mistakes of our lives.  We couldn't shake the feeling that this is where the Lord was leading us and this is what we were meant to be doing but we also had moments of extreme doubt:  we had just left almost all of our "worldly possessions" behind, all our family, all our friends, one of the best churches a person could ask for, a job I loved, and everything else familiar and normal!  Even now, it sounds a bit crazy.

Before moving, Caleb almost 9 months

Not gonna lie, the first months were really rocky.  Nothing was as we had imagined.  There was a steep learning curve.  Korea was a lot more foreign than we had prepared for.  We didn't have heat in our apartment for several days (and it was freezing outside).  We didn't end up getting paid or reimbursed for our move for almost a month after we moved here (meaning all we had was about 12 U.S. Dollars to our name those first weeks).  Our washing machine didn't work for several months (meaning we washed our clothes and cloth diapers mostly by hand in the bath tub).  We didn't have a broom and our floors were covered in grime.  We didn't speak the language, we didn't have any close friends and we didn't know our way around.  The list goes on.  

Things did eventually get better.  A lot of things are still hard.  A lot of things are really great, better than we ever imagined.  We have some close friends and a solid community and Church.  We are beginning to figure out our way in Korea and how to get around and get the basics of life done.  We have heat, we have a nice washer and dryer, we have a broom and some days we even have clean floors!

In some ways, I can't believe we survived and lived to tell about it!  In many ways it feels like we have lived here 5 years, instead of just one.  I can not believe all that has happened in just one short year.  Our lives have been busy and full.  We are on the adventure of a lifetime.  In many ways, as I reflect, I can not picture our lives had we stayed living in MN.  I can't imagine if Steve still worked a desk job and had been doing the same old same old for another year.  I can't imagine not being home with Caleb and getting to watch all the learning he did this year take place or if Steve hadn't been here to have countless good conversations with young adults figuring their way in this world.  I can't imagine had we not moved here and met this Church or these youth or this community.  I can not imagine if we hadn't had the chance to learn the subway or metro or bus systems, if we hadn't taken Caleb to the CoEx or if I didn't spend my Wednesdays enjoying beautiful fall days at the Korean Folk Village with my 21 month old son.  I know this is exactly where we are Meant to be, this is exactly the place the Lord has for us right now.  Is it easy?  Often times no - there are many hard things about it.  Is it good?  Mostly, yes - there are many great things aspects people about it.  We are on a great adventure -- life is full, life is meaningful and life is exciting.  You only live once, right?  And man will we have some stories to smile over as we grow old!

Tonight, exactly 1 year later

Steve's top 2 biggest lessons learned this year:

- God will sustain you and will be with you wherever you go.  I love that this truth is something being in Korea has taught me.  And that God is the same God wherever you are!

- My wife and my son trust me wholeheartedly to lead them wherever we go and home is where ever we make it!

Sarah's top 2 biggest lessons learned this year:

- Contentedness, contentedness, contentedness (still learning.....but have come a long ways....)

- Live in the present, count your blessings, take one day (or one hour) at a time, keep big picture in mind

Caleb's top 2 biggest lessons learned this year:

- Talking (non-stop, mostly English and some Korean)

- Running (always)

Korea on the map, come find us!

To sum it up - WE SURVIVED!!! And we're doing okay, mostly well.

We thank the Lord for sustaining us, we thank our families for supporting us, we thank our church for caring for us, and we thank all of you who have loved us from afar and kept in touch - it means more than you know!

Celebrating....Lesson's Learned, a weekly debrief

I fell in love with this adorable photography blog when a friend of ours (Charlotte) had family pictures done through her last winter.  She is an expat wife who happens to also be living on this side of the pond and is an artsy crafty extraordinaire.  I became obsessed with stalking her blog began following her story more closely as her and her husband adopted their first child this spring.  Since Steve and I feel the Lord may be leading us to adopt as we expand our family, it is always an interesting topic and something close to our hearts.  We read a lot about it and hearing real-life stories are always inspiring.

Each week, as she has been adjusting to mama-hood, she has been doing a "lessons learned" blog post and inviting others to link up.  I've been sitting on the silent sidelines too long and have decided to join the fun in "Celebrating...Lessons Learned." As I've said before on this blog, it is absolutely incredible what BIG lessons such tiny (inexperienced, and often wordless) little beings can teach.  And I love her take on "Celebrating" the lessons ('oft hard learned) along the way.  Too many times I find myself regretting, lamenting, or desparing over my mistakes.  Celebrating my growing and maturing and learning sounds like a lot more fun. 

And besides, a little bit of humor goes a long way, as my lessons this week will attest:

Lessons Learned August 21:

- Toddlers aren't the only ones who can throw tempter tantrums.  Adults are just much better at making them look socially acceptable and pretty on the outside, while raging the all-out-on-the-floor-kicking-and-screaming-and-having-a-pity-party on the inside. It can get ugly, folks, and it is incredible how young we all are at heart, isn't it?

- It is good to remember to stop and distinguish between childishness (ie being a child, by nature a mini scientist curious about all things WORLD) and being outright disobedient.  Disobedience is not okay, but childishness doesn't always need to go punished (Sheperding a Child's Heart talks about this).  In fact, sometimes instead of getting frustrated, joining in the fun can go a long ways:

Case in point:  When I discover my floor and a certain 18 month old covered in stickers.

I started to get frustrated, then this sweet, confused look stopped me, reminding me how fun sticking stickers all over must have seemed and reminding me that I never actually told him not to put them on the floor or on himself and that's what stickers are for, right? To stick.

So we decorated my feet, snapped some pictures, giggled and had a talk about putting stickers on paper and never on the floor, walls, highchair etc.

And my biggest lesson this week?

-  Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER (and can I just repeat NEVER one more time for emphasis?) put your toddler to bed without a onesie on.  Even if you live in Korea and it is hot and humid.  And you don't have an air conditioner.  And you have a tender moment of compassion and think it might be nice to nap in just a diaper.  Don't do it.  Be heartless. And selfish.  Just this once.

Unless, of course, you enjoy spending your afternoon cleaning up smeared toddler poop from every surface of your crib and toddler. 

At least he didn't eat it, right? 

 Lessons learned.