Saturday, December 29, 2007

Nate and Kenny are both napping-- such a rare thing around here, to have them both napping at the same time. This gives me the peace and quiet I need to do some reflecting on the past year and maybe some planning for the upcoming new year.

Instead, this is what's occupying my brain space at the moment...

I stub my little toe on my right foot all the time. In fact, I think I may have stubbed it to death. It's been years since I can bend it so it's possible rigor mortis has set in. It has a nail but it's tiny and Hetee teases me all the time that I don't have a nail at all. I can't really argue in my toe's defense because I wouldn't actually call the little hard thing on the tip of it, a nail.

Anyway, I'm trying to quit, but like any bad habit it's hard to stop. It's like a tradition; every time I go into a room, I kick the doorway and stub my right little toe. It's not on purpose but I've almost learned to live with it. I suppose it's because I have bad balance and I tend to be generally accident prone. Maybe it's subconscious hate for my little right toe? Either way, I stubbed it on Christmas day. It was the mother of all stubs and I, a semi-grown woman, had to fight back tears of pain. It still hurts today so it must be still very much alive.

Anyway, Abi's walking around with her daddy's belt draped over her shoulders, saying, "Black Mamba!" trying to scare me. I'm not scared of snakes.



But doesn't this face just make you want to be scared of whatever it is she's trying to scare you with?

Thursday, December 27, 2007

What's making me smile these days...

  1. Winning a blog giveaway! I NEVER win anything. I can't shut up about it!
  2. Seeing Munkhuush and his mommy at church on Sunday
  3. Having Amanda all to myself for Christmas vacation
  4. Seeing the kids so thrilled with their presents
  5. MY presents (among them jewelry from Hetee AND my in-laws!)
  6. Nate learning the concept of self-control and putting it into practice on his own
  7. Kenny's sumo wrestling position
  8. Being able to help a poor family buy firewood and coal
  9. Seeing my kids celebrate the holidays with both sets of grandparents
  10. Sending a package to my friends, Brad and Sara
  11. Getting a package from Sara
  12. Abi eating a Popsicle


Although this Christmas season was fraught with sad news, I am trying to focus on the good things and blessings that are all around us. Counting my reasons to smile helps me to do this.

Please pray for Enkhee and Byambaa, a couple from our Ulaan Baatar church. They awoke Christmas morning to find their days old baby boy, dead. Please pray that God's comfort and peace be with them and their 2 small daughters. My heart just aches for them at the thought.

Also pray for Temka, a friend of ours who also lives in UB. She was 8 months pregnant and lost her unborn baby boy and had to have him surgically removed from her womb about 2 weeks before Christmas.

Please keep our little ones in your prayers. Satan is really attacking. Many of our couples are expecting and I know of 2 women now who are experiencing signs of miscarriage.

I'm sorry if I bummed you out with all this stuff. We covet your prayers. Thanks for listening!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year!

We wish you all the best this holiday season and new year to come. I wanted to post a picture but the internet isn't cooperating...

God bless!

Hetee and Mel