tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329021052024-02-08T08:22:45.135+08:00CantareMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-87993046360161839762011-05-28T23:02:00.005+08:002011-05-28T23:32:27.370+08:00No, I'm not under a rockThank God the weather in these parts is warming up! After my 13th consecutive winter in this country, I was seriously fighting depression the last couple months. Even now, I feel like I'm still "recovering" from something. The kids find it hard to believe that we can now go out without piling jackets on (for the most part). Kenny asks each time we go out, "Can I go out right away?!" They Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-26352016910467744942011-03-23T09:49:00.009+08:002011-03-23T10:22:52.200+08:00Cupcakes, Dahling!Abi and I thought it would be fun to have all her guests decorate their own cupcakes. Our friend, Lydia was kind enough to send us some decorating supplies- sprinkles and decorative frosting, etc. The kids really enjoyed themselves! We all sipped tea and spoke with funny Brittish accents because that's what little girls do when they sip tea. Thanks again, Lydia for making Abi's day extra Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-90190497394210406052011-03-23T09:00:00.006+08:002011-03-23T09:28:19.536+08:00Happy Birthday, Abigail!Abi turned 7 yesterday! She wanted a rainbow cake. It seemed pretty simple to make but since I had never made one before I was a bit nervous about how it would turn out. Happy to say that not only was it super easy to make but it was alot of fun, too. If you have young children you HAVE to give this cake a try! We had a lot of help! Happy Birthday, my princess! We had a cupcake decorating Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-54689832011845456602011-03-11T22:58:00.002+08:002011-03-11T23:26:54.486+08:00~What's been making me smile~Talking to my friends in Tokyo and finding out that they and others we know there are fine. Whew!Playing mad libs with NATE and giggling like crazy. Who knew grammar could be so fun?!Mud! The snow is melting and I never thought I'd be so happy to see MUD.I found *Smarties* at a store in town today!!! (Apollo, for you locals) Yum! The taste reminds me of America and Bellina's and Maw Maw TetaMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-578343488423744482011-03-08T23:18:00.003+08:002011-03-09T00:20:41.862+08:00Happy Women's Day!I guess the best way to resume blogging is to pick up right where I left off. I feel like it's been years and not months since I last signed in to blogger. I'm sure you all wonder what I do with all my free time, right? Ha!Yesterday I was invited by a fellow teacher to share about parenting and motherhood to a group of women at the school where I teach English. Of about 600 mothers of studentsMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-35149163928919861312010-11-09T22:50:00.005+08:002010-11-09T23:44:35.896+08:00Happy 1st Birthday Evelyn!My baby turned 1 yesterday. It was a happy but emotional day for me. I wasn't emotional about Eva getting big, I mean, I want her to grow and change and turn into her own person. I was emotional because she's getting big (all my kids are) and I feel bad because I don't take the time to stop and treasure all the special moments as much as I would like to. I made a point to slow down yesterday andMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-59409711097453877902010-10-30T01:13:00.001+08:002010-10-30T01:25:15.047+08:00 "I'm not cute. I'm handsome. And cool."Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-11865440469525731692010-10-28T21:41:00.004+08:002010-10-29T08:24:57.934+08:00To Blog or not to Blog...That is the question that has been pestering me for the past month or so. I go round and round with this. I love this mode of keeping up with my friends all over the globe but at the same time I struggle with wanting to protect my privacy and that of my family. I want to stay real but at the same time I feel vulnerable and open to criticism (which anyone who knows me well can tell you I don't Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-11441773873168688422010-08-08T15:04:00.000+08:002010-08-10T17:14:50.732+08:00What's been making me smileIt's Sunday afternoon and 2 kids are napping and 2 are in UB having fun with their daddy. I'm enjoying some peace and quiet with a bowl of creamy potato carrot soup and a thick slice of buttered homemade bread. I had my dessert of chocolate cookies first so as not to risk the kids waking up and interrupting that very important part of my meal.Anyhow, it's been a while but I'm back for now with a Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-16268671898984221152010-07-18T20:28:00.002+08:002010-07-18T21:14:40.238+08:00Taking The TimeWe all say it. "Kids are more important than ministry." I grew up hearing the phrase and in our home, it was nice to know that it was true. But I have seen so many ministry families who find it difficult to balance both family and ministry. Not that Hetee and I don't find it challenging at times. But we really enjoy each other and our kids and we like spending time together whenever we Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-60631022437290441682010-06-04T22:34:00.008+08:002010-06-04T23:29:46.996+08:00Summer, 2010So happy to share with you all the latest pictures of our gang plus 2 cousins...L to R: Nathaniel, 8; Kenneth, 4; Munkh-Tushig, 2; Munkh-Enerel, 3; Abigail,6; Evelyn, 7 mos.I love how in this quick shot everyone is just being themselves!Have a happy summer, everybody!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-6289243145517210462010-04-10T15:46:00.003+08:002010-04-10T19:08:33.120+08:00They Got Style Abi, age 6 and Kenny, almost 4Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-90529983750398713752010-03-27T11:06:00.003+08:002010-03-27T12:14:54.325+08:00THANK YOU! For Aunt Leah... For Aunt Lydia...For Aunt Lydia and Aunt Sara...Thank you all for the lovely surprises!(I wish I could have gotten some better shots but the kids were cooperating about as good as a small herd of goats. But I knew you guys wouldn't mind.)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-42015443099348510622010-03-18T23:35:00.003+08:002010-03-19T00:40:00.284+08:00TherapyFor me sadness and grief have always been a funny thing, if you'll forgive my choice of word there. There are a few things that stand out in my memory as truly sad events in my life. The memories of these things sneak up on me at the strangest times and I usually feel better if I give in and cry a little. Today, melancholia snuck up and hit me over the head so I've put the kids to bed, put Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-43620315936641895692010-03-06T17:12:00.004+08:002010-03-06T20:55:56.956+08:00 Here, Hetee, Nate and Caleb are getting ready to take the first ride down the hill. As you can see behind them the hill was really busy. The weather was beautiful and lots of kids were out playing and sledding. Caleb's younger sister, Leah took a nasty spill when a boy on a sled ran into her. She was pretty shaken up but not hurt too badly, thank God!Abi and Kenny with New Darkhan, Old Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-53943954778618416982010-02-26T14:58:00.016+08:002010-02-26T16:18:46.584+08:00Every Good and Perfect GiftMany of you remember Bogi and Enkhmaa and the loss they experienced almost 2 years ago. I can't believe it's been that long since Yalalt was here with us. I sure do miss him.Bogi and Enkhmaa would like to let you all know that they have been blessed with another baby boy, Tuguldur (which means "good and perfect"), who was born 1 week ago. He was 12 lbs 1 oz and oh my, what a handsome big fellow Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-76355965014104258442010-02-25T00:49:00.003+08:002010-02-25T01:27:08.143+08:00Tempting...I feel tempted to write "Let everything that has breasts praise the Lord" as the title of this post. I still might do it. It's after 1 am and my judgment is a little clouded by a serious need for sleep...This little girl was an infant when I first met her. She was very sick, being diagnosed with pneumonia and severely malnourished. During the time she spent in the hospital her mother's milk Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-42384335309471501872010-02-10T12:25:00.003+08:002010-02-10T13:05:35.469+08:00My big girl!Guess who is 3 months old?ME!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-72185549070944519722010-01-27T21:59:00.012+08:002010-01-30T08:07:27.845+08:00"When I was born I made you a mom" --Nate, 7When I first became a mother I used to feel flattered when another mother commented on how well I was with my child or when someone would come to me for advice. But by the time my first baby hit toddlerhood I had another newborn and I was beginning to get the feeling of having bitten off more than I could chew. The compliments no longer made me feel flattered. Instead, I began feeling like a Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-36278827741929908702010-01-12T15:53:00.002+08:002010-01-12T15:56:19.545+08:00Overheard at the art table...Nate: Abi, you're so boring.Kenny: (repeating) Abi, you're so boring.Nate: Abi, you don't do anything fun.Kenny: (repeating) Abi, you don't do anything fun and you're such a baby.SilenceNate: Kenny, you went too far. You went too deep, man.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-13619999336341207042010-01-06T21:02:00.002+08:002010-01-06T21:53:41.276+08:00Today Nate and I braved the freezing cold and headed out to the church office. I had a meeting and Nate had drum lessons with his Uncle Billy. Hetee has only one sibling-- his baby brother who is 2 years younger. Belee, or Billy as we call him, is a music teacher. He is extremely talented and works so well with kids. Especially my kids. =) Billy is teaching Nate to read music and play the Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-57304360888859694682010-01-03T23:44:00.004+08:002010-01-04T00:03:46.981+08:00Sweet PicsTo keep you on a sugar high all day!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-22758137527804621972009-12-29T23:09:00.003+08:002009-12-29T23:23:15.309+08:00Happy 2010!We're a little late in getting this out there but MERRY CHRISTMAS none the less, and a happy, happy, happy New Year!(Please pardon our backdrop. This was a very impromptu photo!)We love you!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-58020798754563521082009-12-22T23:19:00.008+08:002009-12-23T00:24:06.050+08:00Thank You Ms. Gwen, Lydia and SaraAt the Post Office, picking up the goodies!Off to deliver the presents!Judah loves cars! (That's Ken in the background)Abi and Daniel play with the cars and LegosNice warm pajamas!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-54300305540668761242009-12-16T15:10:00.002+08:002009-12-16T15:30:27.325+08:00A LinkI read this post today and thought I'd link to it here. This is something I've been passionate about for a long time. I wish I had more time to write my thoughts but it'll have to wait for now. Soon I will share Nate's birth story, which I've never actually written out, but have been wanting to. It was very traumatic and difficult to overcome emotionally and physically. But as a result of itMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4