I'm Dreaming of a....

MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to several people who are helping us get home, Caleb and I will (Lord willing) be flying to MN the last few days of November and spending the month of December with family and friends in the States!!  I could not be more excited - it has been a year and half since we were back last.  Caleb was 17 months the last time he was around family or in the States...and has changed so much in that time!  

Caleb with Auntie Renee & cousins Summer 2011

This will also be his first Christmas with family.  The plan is for Steve to join us around the end of December and stay 10 days, flying back with us to Korea.

The reason we are headed back is especially exciting:  Our sister Renee is getting married December 21!   Congratulations again, Renee and Chris! We received your wedding invitation yesterday and can not wait to celebrate with you!

For several weeks I've been thinking of all the people I can't wait to catch up with, all the places I can't wait to go, things to do and restaurants to eat at! There are a lot of people and things we miss about Minnesota and I'm not sure we can cram it all in in only 5 short weeks but we're going to try!

I think seeing family, going to the wedding and spending Christmas with everyone is for sure at the very top of my list of things I'm excited about....seeing friends and our former small group is also at the top of the list...as far as things to do, I can't wait to SHOP AT TARGET!!!!! Oh my goodness I can't wait to shop at Target. GO TO BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH AGAIN!!! Be able to ask for anything I want in English!! Go to the grocery store and read all the labels and be able to find everything! Chop down a real Christmas tree with Caleb and my family, try to go to the Bethel Christmas concert, the Macy's exhibit, the Macy's parade, go to Mall of America, go to Rosedale Mall, walk into William Sanoma and take a deep breath of  nummy smells, have a DECAF coffee at a coffee shop, go to Panera Bread, go to Caribou, eat at Ruby Tuesday's salad bar, go to Herman's bakery with my parents, Albertville Mall, go to some big thrift stores, get bagels at Brueggers, visit the Copper Dome and our old neighborhood, walk down memory lane with Steve at the Egg and I (where we met every Friday morning while we were dating to have a Bible study over breakfast before work), eat our mom's home cooked meals.....If you want to join me in doing any of these exciting things, please let me know! I would love to have some company!  :)  

I can't wait to see many of you in, Lord willing, TWO SHORT WEEKS!!!!!! Please be in prayer everything works out smoothly (we will be trying to fly standby) and for safety as we travel (I'll be traveling alone at 31 weeks pregnant with an almost 3 year old...I'm more worried about the pregnant and flying part than the toddler part, I think Caleb is going to LOVE flying, unlike his  mommy who HATES it).  And a HUGE thank you to the people who helped make it possible for us to fly home, those who got us stand by tickets and those who paid for them - it really means more than you know!!

Precious moments

By way of update, we have hit the ground running so to speak here in Korea.  As I think I've said before, Steve keeps reassuring me that "things will slow down" but it has been my experience that he has been saying that for almost 10 months now.....Yes, there have been some weeks that have been quieter than others but for the most part, Korea = Busy!  It's been fine though. 

Steve has been really busy with his final paper and exam for his RTS class, I've started my coursework through Childbirth International and have been enjoying it, Caleb has reached a new stage of wanting to do EVERYTHING on his own, with no help and wanting to do EVERYTHING period.  It's been exhausting.  Also a new level of testing boundaries and needing to be reminded....a lot. 

We survived completed a week of VBS which was fun but also very time consuming in the evenings and busy, with Caleb getting to bed altogether way too late every night.  Steve went on a camping excursion/good bye time for one of the youth we have really come to love (sad to see them leave) and we have continued our Battle Against The Mold.

If you think of us, please keep that health issue in your prayers.  We are looking into purchasing a dehumidifyer and air conditioner since we just can't keep it from multiplying with our other remedies but that is an expensive purchase so we are shopping around.  Anyway, mostly frustrating and gross more than anything else.

I think that is most of our update for now.....the next few weeks will be busy with some end of summer big activities with the youth, an all church retreat (not exactly kid-friendly so we'll see how that goes), and gearing up for a big school/fall kickoff with the youth. 

We miss you all and continue to treasure our time in the states - what fun memories were made!  Caleb continues to talk about everyone he met and the various things he did.....It's really fun to hear his various responses when people ask him about what he did and to hear the things that stick out in his little mind.  It is crazy how he can remember so well already - the human mind is so incredible.  He also frequently asks to call his oma and opa or grandma and grandpa or aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  I think it is safe to say, you are all missed and loved dearly.

We made it!

In case you are wondering, we did make it back to Korea okay.  I keep intending to blog - blog about our time in the states, blog about our traveling adventures, blog about Steve's time in India (Sidenote:  did you realize that in less than 2 weeks Steve touched down in Korea x2, China x2, India, Taiwan, and the United States?  And in 7 days he flew half way around the world, twice? Pretty crazy impressive.  I just realized this the other day, thought I'd share).

I know I've heard from more than a few of ya'll wondering if we made it and how things are going.  Thank you for asking, thank you for your support and thank you for your prayers!  To answer your qeustions, we are doing better.  And you can add my lack of blogging to your list of blessings for the day because any blogs I might have posted may have been more pity party than you would have liked to witness in one sitting. 

After a really hard (abrupt) good bye (we ended up leaving slightly earlier than we had planned due to open flights) and an exceptionally long travel day (during which, I might add, Caleb did a fabulous job....he is proving himself to be quite the excellent little traveler thus far in his young life), we came home to these lovely new decorations on our walls (aka MOLD):

It was mostly all in Caleb's room (worst possible place for it to be - you'll understand if you are a mom of young kiddos), with some additional growths in the living room and bathroom.  The apartment smelled like mold, we had a broken bookshelf and glass from a picture that had shattered and a thick humidity (no AC) like I've never experienced before in my life....Needless to say, this sleep deprived, already sad, disheartened mama didn't take all of this in stride.  Had someone offered to give me a one way ticket home, I would have gladly accepted.

BUT the Lord is good and we had some good friends come to our rescue, help us clean up the mold as best we could, give us encouragement and a hug, let us stay at their house, gave us a cute smiley baby to hold and hug and help cheer us up.  I am glad they are in our life on this side of the world (or any side of the world for that matter).

Since then, I've gotten caught up on some sleep, spent considerable time asking the Lord to change my heart and attitude, tried to focus on the reason for us being here (we aren't here, after all to have a beautiful home, comfortable living, or a perfect life...if we'd wanted that, we'd be stateside for sure) and I've spent time laughing with Steve and Caleb (remembering that they are "home" to me and being thankful for them in my life) and I am reminded again that really, things could be worse.

 As much as I hate the mold, as hard as it is to live in Korea and not have access to all the wonderful things America has to offer, as much as it is hard to be away from friends and family, as hard as it is to not understand the language around me or the ingredients on my food labels, as hard as it is to not have our own home and a yard and a car or nice furniture and painted walls, as much as life is not "perfect,"  it could be worse and I am thankful for the many gift and blessings we DO have, the family and friends who support and love us from a distance while we are over here, the apartment we do have, the friends we have over here, a job, food, a grand - once-in-a-lifetime adventure, an adorable toddler son who takes life in his hands and enjoys every minute with a smile, a husband who loves me and cares for me and is good to me, a God who forgives and loves despite our pity parties, our self centeredness and our lack of thanksgiving....although it isn't "easy," it really could be worse.

I am reminded, too, of a favorite quote of mine....Maybe I've shared it before?

 "I have never heard someone say 'the deepest and most rarest and most satisfying joys of my life have come in times of extended ease and earthly comfort.' Nobody says that. It isn't true. As Spurgeon said: 'They who dive deep in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls." --Pastor John

One Day at a Time

Steve and I got away this morning for some coffee at DunnBros and a much needed "catch up" time.  We were able to talk through and process our time away, his time in India (more to come on that), our time Stateside, talk through going back to Korea (which has been really hard for me to think about), and catch up on some goals we have as we return to Korea.  It was a great time of catching up and being able to talk with no distractions and no agenda.  We haven't been able to do that much in the last 10 months, we need to find a way to do it more.

After coffee we walked next store to a cute little used book shop and browsed....not that we really needed any more new books to haul back with us (I think we've bought several too many already) but book stores are just sooooo irrisistable.

I found a slim pale yellow tattered book from the 1960s called "Moments of Awareness: Inspirational Verses" in the .99cent bin.  Flipping it open I "happened" on this thought:

"One Day at a Time" by Helen Lowrie Marshall

"I'm glad life is given us bit by bit,

In minutes and days and years;

For if we were faced with the whole of it

How filled it would be with fears;

With all of its laughter and all of its pain,

It's sorrow and joy and care --

Why, even its beauty all at one time

Would be more than we could bear.

But God drops a bit of happiness here,

And lowers a shadow there,

And each of us has his portion of both,

The bitter and the fair.

And, wheather the way be rough or fine,

It's a comforting thing to know

We've only one step to take at a time,

Just one little day to go."

Email from Dad

There is nothing like a reassuring email from your daddy when you are about to do something hard (like go back to Korea when everything in you wants to stay close to the familiar, easy, convenient and love of family/friends).

Dear Steve, Hawa & Caleb,

 

I prayed for you this morning. I prayed for a nice, relaxing day as you look forward to returning to Korea tomorrow morning. I miss you all already! I was emptying the dishwasher and saw the little red cup, spoon & tiny fork that "C" used while here, and really missed him. I even took down "Goodnight Moon"  booklast night and looked through it.

 

Now don't be sad! I am glad for the time I spent with all of you.  Hawa, we had some good times hanging out & just talking when you were here and I appreciate it a lot. Lots of good memories were made.

 

The Lord has called you all to Korea for a time. And, I am joyful over your commitment to the Lord, so my prayer for each of you is that your "joy would be full" as you return. You are a beautiful family doing a beautiful work.

 

Love you much, Dad

 

Exactly what I needed in my inbox this morning.

Sweet Friends and an Updated Picture

Steve made it to the States late Thursday night (yay! praise the Lord!).  We drove to Rochester, MN to pick him up since all the flights directly into MSP were overbooked.

On Friday, we were able to meet up with some sweet friends.

This is half of our former small group plus 2 new additions who were added while we were in Korea! 

Below is a picture from almost 10 months ago:

Caleb was 8 months old, Tara was in her 3rd trimester and Megs was in her 1st Trimester

10 months later and an updated pic:

Caleb @ almost 18  months, Charlie @ almost 8 months and Jude @ 6 weeks!

Caleb and Charlie

And...Caleb and Charlie!

Oh so much fun!

Miss you girls, love you and love your sweet babies!



Dear Steve

I recently had two (very short, ahem, ahem) facebook messages from Steve (who is currently in India).  From his breif posts it sounds like he is really enjoying India.  He said he has limited access to email but will be able to check one more time before he heads back to Korea (and then Lord willing back to the States to see US!!!).  He asked me to update the blog for him to check so here goes:

Dear Steve,

We miss you!!  I feel like I won't be able to wait 4 more days but I know I'll have to.  C makes it easier with all his running around, he is one busy boy to keep up with these days!

  I think you'll be amazed at his vocabulary and how much he has learned in just 4 weeks.  He will string 3 or 4 or 5 words together now to make sentances and he will repeat almost every single thing you ask him too.  He has even started responding to "I love you Caleb" with "I love you too."  He has been so good these past weeks - he is listening and obeying (much of the time) and he puts up with the car better than I expected.  We've done a lot of driving!  You will be proud of me, navigating our way all over (Brooklyn Park, Forest Lake, Albertville, Richfield, North Minneapolis, Lake Benton, St. Cloud) ~ We've been making some serious trips!  We start with a pile of toys and books in the front seat and by the end of the trip they are strewn all over the back! 

Poor guy has also been seriously over-tired and over-stimulated for about 4 weeks now.  Working through jetlag, going to bed way past bedtime, taking shorter naps or no naps at all.  It's amazing he isn't a total basket case.  I suppose he'll save that for when we get back to Korea.....He is such a sweetheart and such a joy.  It is so fun to watch him meet and interact and love everyone here. 

Last Sunday we went to church downtown BBC and got to see a number of people.  I found out some friends of ours are expecting their first baby!!!! But she hasn't announced on facebook or her blog yet so you'll have to wait until you get here to find out who it is!  Renee and "her" Chris came and met us at church, which was really special too.  After, my parents and Caleb and I went to Chipotle.

Monday we drove to Brooklyn Park and got to spend the whole day with Krystal.  Her Baby Bump is adorable...we got to see the nursery and talk lots of baby and got all caught up on just about everything.  It was great to spend time together and  Caleb enjoyed all her toys.

Tuesday I was supposed to hang out with Tara, Charlie, Mallory and Emery but Tara and Charlie got sick....the awful yuckie cold that has been going around and C and I just got over.  No fun.  But Mallory and Emery and Caleb and I met at a park in Forest Lake (about a 45 min drive for both of us) and spend the afternoon chasing two toddlers around the playground, talking, catching up, comparing notes, getting new ideas, and eating apples on the grass. 

 You know how Caleb has that really funny quirk where he has claimed his second pacifier as his "lovie" and has to sleep with one in his mouth and a second one in his hands or he can't sleep?  Apparently Emery does the SAME THING!!  I couldn't believe it.  Neither Mallory or I know what to do.....but at least we know someone else is dealing with it too and we can try to brainstorm a solution.

Wednesday Caleb and I drove to Richfield to see Meridian Crossings and my former manager and former co-workers.  It was so fun.  I miss those sweet friends!!!  Their new location is AMAZING and such a great facility.  Caleb enjoyed running all over the offices, climbing up in Brian's chair and using his desk phone (before I could find where he'd run off to), trying out the copier, getting fed from everyone's lunches and snack drawers, stealing someone's blackberry out of their purse when I wasn't looking (and then none of us could figure out who's phone he had taken or whose purse to return it to), drinking out of the "wawa foun-tain"  and wailing when it was time to be done..."fun mama, fun! foun-tain fun."  And of course the visit couldn't have been complete without a total on-the-floor meltdown before we left.....I was one embarrassed mama!  I wasn't surprised though, seeing as he gave me several big yawns right as we pulled up to the parking lot and we were there over 2 hours.....Poor guy.  Needless to say, meldowns + former co-workers = no fun  =( 

From Richfield we drove to Albertville to see the cousins and have a cousin sleepover. 

Unfortunately, Caleb fell asleep about 20 min from their house so his nap for the day was totally shot but we still had fun and it's great to be around another mom who "gets it."  I had a great time with them, even though Jeni and I stayed up way too late talking...you'd think we were in college with nothing to do in the morning, not two moms with kiddos to deal with at 6:30am! 

What were we thinking?!?  ;-)  While I was there, I also picked up some way overdue new clothes for you and Renee drove ALL THE WAY UP to go shopping with us.

The next day we drove back to C-town and Micah came home.  I told Caleb at dinner that Uncle Micah would be coming home but then when I put him to bed and Micah wasn't in yet he was really upset.  He stayed up until Micah came in (about 8pm) and I heard him in there going "Micaw Micaw Micaw"  Soooooo I got him up and he got to rough house and play and get all wound up until 10pm when I put him back down.  Yikes.  It was fun though and that is why we are here, right?  It isn't everyday he gets to stay up late with his beloved Uncle Micaw.  He sure loves him.

Friday my parents, Micah, Caleb and I went to the zoo. 

 It was overcast and rained some but was a ton of fun.  Caleb especially enjoyed his time with the three of them and seeing the monkeys, the sparky the seal show and the polar bears (which he at first thought was a dog and then a horse, poor kid was so confused). 

 After the zoo, we went to the mall, ate lunch at Panera (NUMMMMMY, one of my "must eat at" places), Micah took Caleb on a train ride (which he adored and won't stop talking about "Micaw, train, ON, fun" and I dropped off my rings to get their annual cleaning (so sad to be ring-less right now especially!).

After that Caleb and I headed over to North Minneapolis to see the LANGES!!!!  So. Much. Fun.  Rubi is so grown up and absolutely beautiful.  There are a lot of very cute little girls out there, but few that are just beautiful....she is one of them.  It was so fun to play with her now that she is "all grown up" and to watch Langes be parents.  Caleb and her enjoyed playing together too. 

 After dinner we went for a walk and walked past the last house we offered on.....In some ways, I still really like it and wish we were living there but I know the Lord has been good to us and we are doing exactly what we should be doing...even if it is hard some times. It felt funny to walk by and think about the past year - it has been almost exactly to the week a year ago we offered on that house!  It got late so Caleb and I ended up spending the night, which was great because then Kasi and I got some extra time to catch up.  Oh and G. Hill had his baby last night!!!!!!!!! Yahoo - Congrats to him and Kelli....I didn't get to see baby Isaiah though.  Sad.

This morning we headed back to C-town, Caleb got a nap that wasn't nearly long enough, we played outside, fed Joe snacks (C's favorite thing right now),

checked on the baby birds that he watched hatch out of eggs last week, "rode" the tractor (aka sat on it and pushed buttons), read books on the front lawn, watered the flowers, ate way too much food, and went and saw the house my parents put an offer on this week.  It's really nice, I like it.  It's on the river - really pretty back yard.  And it has a walk out basement with it's own bathroom, kitchen and fireplace.....so we'll have a place to stay =)

Tomorrow we head down to church, hopefully get to see Michelle and then head back up here for some sleep.  Micah leaves for Arizona early....I'm sad to say goodbye to him again.  It's been so fun to watch him with Caleb ~ He is such a great Uncle Micaw.

Well, how's that for a play by play for ya?  It's been a busy week ~ It's been a busy 4 weeks!  We've been having a great time but can't wait for you to come join us.

All my love, Me

India - Bound

As most of you know by now Caleb and I have been Stateside for almost 4 weeks.  It is hard to believe it's been that long - it has absolutely flown by.  I think just about every day has been packed with things to do and we've been hard put to try to find times for Caleb to squeeze naps in and try to get to bed on time.  I think Caleb has at least met one new-to-him person almost every day and many days found himself sleeping in his borrowed pack n play in yet another new location.  He has done wonderfully though and I have so enjoyed watching him learn and discover and try new things.  He has been soaking it all in and spouting it out his mouth in the form of lots of new vocabulary and many new names!  I just can not get over how wonderfully he has been doing - he's been obeying and listening, he has been thriving on everyoe's love and attention, and he has even done a great job in his carseat (spending many an afternoon driving, including a 5 hour non-stop drive to Grandma's).  It's been so sweet to watch him interact with all his family and enjoy them so much....It will be hard to leave.  I love watching my siblings excel at their new roles of auntie and uncle, I love watching my parents (and Steve's) be grandparents, watch our grandma's be proud greats, watch Caleb's cousins love him to pieces etc etc etc.  It's going to be hard to leave!

Lots of carseat time - poor guy!

C watching his daddy - we sure miss you hunnie!

C Loving the country and running all over outside in the grass!

Caleb and his Uncle Micah

Meanwhile, Steve has been back in SOKO working hard.  He has been continuing his normal jobs, he has been able to ramp up his time one-on-one meeting with students, he has plowed through his Seminary course The Gospels (recently finishing his midterm - awaiting the results!), teaching English, mold-proofing our house for me, and getting ready to head to India next week on a mission's trip.  He will be spending one week in Bangalore, India (he is leaving in a few hours!!) - there they will be working at an orphanage, distributing much-needed supplies like children's vitamins (and soccer balls), and speaking at a Pastor's conference.  Steve will be giving several talks in a series on the Names of Jesus.  Please keep his talks in your prayers and also keep the whole team in your prayers for safety and for an effective time in India.  Pray they will be a blessing and not a burden, that they will have sensitivity and share the word of the Lord. 

I will leave you with a quote from Steve that he shared with the church this morning :  "I am excited to partner with pastor Enosh. I love his vision for raising up men to preach the Gospel in India and I'm excited to touch those who are considered "untouchable" because I know that God has reached out and touched us when we were untouchable."

After flying back from India, Steve hopes to leave the next day to fly HERE! Caleb and I are getting so excited to see him again!  He plans to be here a week and then we will all fly back to Korea together.  We are planning an informal open house get together at Steve's parents house on Saturday, July 23 from 11am-8pm so PLEASE COME OUT if you can! We would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see as many people as we can.

Where are we?

Right now, Steve is in Songtan, South Korea working his behind off.  He has a lot on his plate this summer and in 9 days will be leaving for a week in India (on a missions trip with the church and some of the youth).  Caleb and I are Stateside, in MN visiting family and friends.  We just got back this week from a camping trip (Caleb's first!) and I hope to get some pictures of that up soon.  We had so much fun watching Caleb and his cousins run around - too cute.  Tomorrow we leave for Lake Benton, MN to visit my Grandma for a few days and then we'll be back in town ready to see some friends!  Lord willing, Steve will join us July 19 for 10 days before we all head back to K-Town.

Caleb and I have been absolutely loving our time stateside but (that said) we do miss Steve a lot! Wish he could be here the whole time with us!  Thoughtful as he is, Steve did leave us with a file of video clips to watch (one each day) while we are apart.  Although I didn't watch while we were camping so we are a few days behind, Caleb and I have been enjoying seeing "daddy" each day.  I thought I would share his "intro" with you (and maybe I'll share a few clips here and there as well).  They have really meant a lot to me and I thought I'd take a minute to brag on my sweet hubs.  We love you, hunnie!

Stateside!!

We made it!  Caleb did wonderfully on the flight - I think he thought it was one of the best days of his LIFE!  He got to ride on a bus for 2 hours, a train for 30 min, an airplane for 13 hours and then another one for an hour and half.  He LOVED watching the planes on the ground and watching them takeoff, he loved socializing (or trying to) with everyone on the plane, he loved the little computer screen with buttons on the back of the seat in front of us (including calling the stewardess several times by mistake!) and he loved watching the clouds outside the window.

Taking the bus to the "airpot"

Waiting for the bus, leaving Songtan

Steve took 4 hours out of his day to get us to the airport

On the bus with daddy

A clip from the bus ride, Caleb naming all the bus stops we frequent among other things.

Caleb loving watching the airplanes!

He slept a good chunk of the trip too, all spread out on my seat plus the empty seat next to us (don't worry, there was room for me on the floor!).

It was so much fun to land in MN and be greeted by our families!  A special treat - his cousins were at the airport too waiting for him!  It was so much fun to see Audrey, Luke and  Natalie and watch Caleb get to interact with them for a bit (thanks for making the drive during bedtimes Chris and Jeni, and everyone else too!).

Audrey ~ So grown up!

High Fives for Natalie!

Loving Lukie

Excited to see Abby and Byzz, Grandparents, Renee and Chris!

I think (hope!) we are all adjusted to the time change - Caleb slept through the night last night and had a normal nap schedule yesterday.  We've been having a blast seeing family, Caleb is getting royally spoiled, we've loved running and playing in wide open green spaces, going to the park, enjoying the quiet and clean air, having the option to drive our car again (although I still haven't braved it yet!), seeing friends that we haven't seen in 9 months and worshiping at BBC again!  I've missed this place and missed these people!  It's so good to be back and to watch Caleb enjoy everyone.

Uncle Micah showing C the "kintens"

Jammin' with Uncle Micah

Perkins breakfast with Grandma Houser - Nummy Fun!

Grandma took him to the park - he loved it

Reading with Oma

Couch time and more reading

Rough housing with Micah, loving it

I loved watching my brother be an uncle! So much fun.

Couch time with Oma and Opa

Auntie Abby and Mama

Picnic in the park with Oma and Opa

Wide Open Spaces + laughter + running

"one, two, three!"

Sooooo Excited to finally meet baby Charlie!

Auntie Shell!!!

Lots more fun to come, I'm sure!  Really been enjoying these past few days....Missing Steve though and excited to have him join us in a few weeks.