Saturday, May 23, 2009

Promises

During our Singapore trip last March I was thrilled to swim with a beautiful pink dolphin named Han. She was so gentle and left a huge impression on me. My experience was an unexpected gift from God.

I promised pictures and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get on that. I know, I know, I'm like a cloud that promises rain but doesn't deliver, haha.


Even though these two pics didn't do the experience justice, enjoy!

Here is Han and I, getting to know each other. I was shaking and choking back the urge to cry. I did have a good cry afterward. =)


Han let me give her a hug. Her trainer was really nice. I think his name was Billabong. =)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Heartbreaking, but with a Happy Ending


This is Odko, pictured here with her 8 month old daughter. When Odko was born she was abandoned by her mother. She was later taken back in by her family but remained an outcast. All her life she has been mistreated because of her malformed face. Everywhere she goes children throw rocks at her and call her a"witch".

She's been coming to church, her only place of solace, for a little over a year. Slowly she has opened up to us and allowed us to love her. When her baby was born, again she was rejected by her family. As far as I know, she is not married or in any kind of relationship.

When the baby was a few months old, she became very sick. The doctors told Odko that the baby had pneumonia and fluid in her lungs. They asked if they could "help her die". They insisted that the baby should not have to go through life with such deformities, that she were better off dead. Odko refused their offer and immediately took her baby out of the hospital. Since then the baby has recovered and looks very healthy.

Every Sunday when I see these 2 I can't help but smile. Abi calls Odko "the lady with the heart-shaped face". We talk about the things other mommies talk about: kids, hand-me-downs, and nap times.

Odko and her beautiful baby girl have taught me and my kids a lesson about how special all God's creatures are. No matter the shape of their face.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

What's been making me smile...

  • Mothers' day, and all the handmade presents and drawings I got. And the massage! Thanks Babe!
  • Window shopping for maternity clothes online
  • Friday family nights! We eat a wacky dinner then play games and color together.
  • We have been getting Nick Jr. in the mornings now. Hello, Diego and Dora! I hope it lasts a while!
  • Spending the day with mom, just talking and eating.
  • Sunny weather, at least for now!
  • "The Office" bloopers on youtube
  • Kenny and Abi and their scary faces
  • My indoor flowers are sprouting! And my bean sprouts are growing good. At least I'm not totally incapable of growing something!
  • Chatting with my sisters. I need to do that more often!
  • Getting positive feedback on my kids' behavior. It is worth the hours of discipline and teaching put in!
  • Nate is about to complete 1st grade and can read and write in Mongolian. His English is lagging a bit behind but not as much as I thought it would. He pushes himself and can read anything in both languages if he really wants to. His math skills are great and he loves numbers. I'm so proud of him!
What's been making YOU smile? Please share!