Happy Tsagaan Sar!

This week we traveled to Ulaan Baatar to celebrate the Mongolian Lunar New Year, or "Tsagaan Sar" (it means "white moon" or "white month")as it's called here. We had a good time filled with love, food and well, more food! We spent a night at Hetee's parents and fellowshipped with them and Hetee's brother and his wife and two beautiful babies. The the next day we headed over to Hetee's Grandma's house. Hetee is her oldest grandchild and she cried when we walked in. She was so happy to see us and the kids and it touched us, too, to see her so moved. She's is such a sweet lady!

The Fam:
Back row, L-R My sister-in-law Gerlee, Hetee's baby brother, Billy, their little girl, Ennie, Abi, Mel, Kenny and Hetee.
Front row, L-R My father-in-law, Jagaa, Hetee's Grandma holding Billy and Gerlee's youngest, Tushigee, Nate and my mother-in-law, Chimgee.

My beautiful sister-in-law, Gerlee and me

Abi and Great Emee (Grandmother)

I'd like to add more pics but Hetee keeps asking me if I'm done (I'm letting out a long Napoleon Dynamite like sigh...) So, more later!

Overheard at the Toybox...

Abi: Nate, what's a "graveyard"?

Nate: It's where they plant gravy.

What's Been Making Me Smile

• God's amazing provision for our family through translation work. We have not been without work since we started translating 6 weeks ago. It has been non-stop and we have been given favor with 2 organizations who are keeping Hetee super busy!
• Time to spend with family. Today we leave for Ulaan Baatar where we will spend the Mongol Lunar New Year with Hetee's parents and brother and the rest of our extended family. I'm not a fan of the Lunar New Year but ALWAYS a fan of family time!
• Time off from school for Nate and I. We don't miss the early morning alarm!
  
• Hot chocolate in my big, clunky mug
• Our tickets are bought and we are just about ready to go!!! We don't have a clue what we will do in Malaysia yet but who cares?!
  
• I get to see Amanda tomorrow!
• Ice skating with my little girl
• Talking and talking late into the night with my hubby. Always so refreshing!
• Abi's new pink stockings. She finally outgrew her stockings from last year so it was time for a new pair. She's getting taller!
• Hearing a dragging, scraping noise under the living room window at 1 in the morning and having a husband who was willing to go out in the freezing cold and investigate. Didn't find anything. Hmmm.
• Feeling better after having been under the weather for a week.
  

How about you? What's been making you smile?