tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329021052011-12-14T10:28:15.413+08:00Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.comBlogger3801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-87993046360161839762011-05-28T23:02:00.005+08:002011-05-28T23:32:27.370+08:00

Thank 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+08:00

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+08:00

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

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 Teta

Melaniehttp://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+08:00

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 students

Melaniehttp://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+08:00

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 and

Melaniehttp://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+08:00

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+08:00

It'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+08:00

We 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+08:00

So 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+08:00

Abi, age 6 and Kenny, almost 4

Melaniehttp://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+08:00

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+08:00

For 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.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-53943954778618416982010-02-26T14:58:00.016+08:002010-02-26T16:18:46.584+08:00

Many 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.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-76355965014104258442010-02-25T00:49:00.003+08:002010-02-25T01:27:08.143+08:00

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+08:00

Guess who is 3 months old?ME!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-72185549070944519722010-01-27T21:59:00.012+08:002010-01-30T08:07:27.845+08:00

When 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.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-36278827741929908702010-01-12T15:53:00.002+08:002010-01-12T15:56:19.545+08:00

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+08:00

Today 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+08:00

To 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+08:00

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+08:00

At 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+08:00

I 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 it

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-86330454090592272202009-12-11T00:32:00.005+08:002009-12-12T17:12:14.304+08:00

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-82617792220844828442009-12-10T23:23:00.002+08:002009-12-10T23:58:46.201+08:00

Every time I tell my mom something cute one of the kids says, that's what she tell me, "Write it down". Today Kenny, Abi and I were listening to a CD of Sunday School songs. Sometimes my kids have trouble understanding certain English accents and when the song came on that goes, "A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam..." Nate got a funny look on his face and asked, "Why does Jesus

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-4621078529941405482009-12-02T11:50:00.003+08:002009-12-02T13:55:40.542+08:00

After 4 kids, I am becoming an expert at typing with one hand, cooking with one hand, and well, doing pretty much everything else with one hand, too. One thing I am not good at is putting something on hold until I have a chance to get to it. Things like thoughts. I have trouble putting thoughts out of my mind and they tend to consume me if I'm not careful. I have so many thoughts running through

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-48910683327700417382009-11-13T22:56:00.000+08:002009-11-13T22:58:40.680+08:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-77011831590622725712009-11-11T19:12:00.003+08:002009-11-11T20:06:58.889+08:00

Evelyn AyalguuBorn Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009at home, into daddy's hands.Weight: 3.8 kgLength: 51 cm

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-86813285922442124662009-10-25T19:19:00.002+08:002009-10-25T19:43:17.930+08:00

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-26962923239483077762009-10-18T08:45:00.002+08:002009-10-18T09:14:51.614+08:00

Abi is reading!Baby's bed is all painted,names (English and Mongolian) are all picked out, and everything is washed. Seeing hundreds of lives touched and changed at the G12 conference and encounter following a few weeks ago in Ulaan Baatar. The snow. Snow always reminds me of my sins being washed whiter than snow. Homemade waffles with the best tasting Russian jam ever!Being a channel through

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-69615194963634490232009-10-06T21:26:00.002+08:002009-10-06T22:05:08.133+08:00

We moved! The apartment we were praying for became availiable and we moved in the night before Hetee left for UB to start translating. I left the next day to join him and to translate as well. The kids stayed with my parents for the week we were gone so unpacking took a backseat until we got back and were able to focus on that. Now we're pretty much settled and Nate says that when he uses the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-26674239575058648372009-09-16T07:36:00.003+08:002009-09-16T08:03:48.717+08:00

Thank you to those who have been praying for our apartment situation. We looked at a few leads yesterday but they all fell through right around bedtime. Then right before we were about to go to bed, Hetee's phone rang with another lead. We will go and look at it today. We are down to the wire and having to wait is not easy for me. =) After the move we will be in Ulaan Baatar for a week of

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-60240734181375784932009-09-13T09:03:00.003+08:002009-09-13T09:35:44.945+08:00

Over the past couple weeks several people have asked us what we would like for the new baby. We appreciate everyone's kindness SO much and, in an effort to make it easier for everyone, I have devised a Target wishlist at target.com (accessed by "Melanie A Kocke"). Since they do not ship to Mongolia, if you order something you will have to have it sent to yourself and then ship it to our address

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-91409117329101305722009-09-03T06:55:00.002+08:002009-09-03T07:21:56.702+08:00

Reaching week 30 with nary a discomfort and feeling the Holy Spirit so near and helpful during this pregnancy and the demands of my life right now.Listening to Kenny tell me about the car he's going to get when he grows up. He said that daddy, Nate and Abi will ride in the back but I get to ride in the front with him. How cool is that?hugging and kissing my kids and husband every morning and

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-58383293783803804812009-09-01T19:55:00.002+08:002009-09-01T20:30:49.517+08:00

179 more to go! We kicked off our first day of school today with the excitement and enthusiasm only a 7 year-old, a 5 year-old and a 3-year-old could supply. The kids were awake at 6 (!) this morning and ready to get going. But, the sweet and considerate little people they are, (They really are. I'm not being sarcastic!) they stayed in bed until I was up about 20 minutes after. Then they

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-75871178643655830762009-08-25T14:46:00.002+08:002009-08-25T15:10:22.097+08:00

These days I've been making and eating a lot of granola. Yogurt is plentiful this time of year and mixed with homemade granola it makes a great summer breakfast or mid-day snack. We are sometimes able to find Musli (German granola) here but it is very pricey and somewhere between baby #2 and baby #3 we were no longer able to afford such luxuries. I'm only half kidding. Anyway, after digging

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-43644172521483890342009-08-24T08:36:00.004+08:002009-08-24T08:56:35.288+08:00

The blog break, unintentional as it was, is now over, I'm happy to say. I feel good, as I get back to writing about the happenings in Mongolia and the happy little goings on in our household. I still don't know if I will be able to blog as much as I would like to but, I've decided that blogging is something that I want to work into the upper part of my list of priorities. If my little break

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-23189349774194928642009-08-05T08:19:00.001+08:002009-08-05T08:20:25.381+08:00

Cust. Disservice

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-34229679748219530222009-07-31T22:30:00.002+08:002009-07-31T23:21:57.482+08:00

I know it's been a while. Life has been...full I guess would be the correct term. Lately I've been either too busy to update my blog or just feeling a bit melancholy and introverted. Luckily I now have some time on my hands and I am feeling much better and less tired emotionally. Part of the reason I was feeling so "off" is that I was going through a time of extreme fatigue. It's a long story

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-9395390379116422722009-07-11T09:38:00.002+08:002009-07-11T10:10:13.474+08:00

Hetee's birthday was this past Thursday. He turned 32! He's not big on birthday celebrations but I did manage to convince him to have a few friends over for some homemade cake. We all had a good time and even Hetee admitted it was fun!10 things I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about my SweetheartHe never pressures me to change to fit into Mongolian culture. He accepts me and loves me for who I am.He cleans

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-60211892952373392842009-06-27T10:53:00.003+08:002009-06-27T11:25:36.357+08:00

So, I just turned 20 weeks and so far I've gained... 22 lbs?! Just to give you an idea of how much that is for me, I normally am 7 or 8 months along before I gain that much (I can't remember exactly but I gain about 35-40 lbs all together for each pregnancy).But wait! Before you label me a hog, there's a simple explanation for this. My prepregnant weight this time around was 110, which is a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-81277986086248181342009-06-25T00:31:00.005+08:002009-06-25T01:12:24.945+08:00

Kenny's birthday was on the 20th of June. We celebrated on the 19th with a small family party. For now, it would seem that we are Kenny's favorite people. He's more of the shy type and doesn't enjoy being the center of attention...10 reasons why I love me some Kenny:he's super cuddlyhis favorite transformer is Bumblebeehe comes to find me during the day just to tell me he loves mehis brother

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-77278901460806687802009-06-14T16:45:00.002+08:002009-06-14T18:11:27.642+08:00

after almost 3 weeks of sickness (mumps and a mystery virus), the children are feeling better and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Please keep praying; we're not completely out of the woods yet. Abi's mumps have moved to the other side and Kenny (the last one to catch the mumps) still has both sides swollen. A couple days ago Nate and I started our summer reading program. We picked

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-63339560890173738422009-06-09T15:54:00.002+08:002009-06-09T16:17:52.798+08:00

I just passed week 17 feel like my tummy popped out overnight. I can still squeeze into one pair of jeans that were too big and long before. Now they're longer and drag on the ground cause the waist band fits under my tummy. It makes me feel like I'm going to lose my pants which is not a very good feeling when you're walking home from the grocery store with a heavyish tote in each hand. But

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-10206166115468576992009-06-05T18:44:00.005+08:002009-06-05T19:17:52.123+08:00

Thanks for the prayers! Kenny is slowly recovering. His appetite is picking up but he still can't eat well because of the mouth sores. He asked for his favorite thing to eat, bread and peanut butter, many times during the day today and yesterday but each attempt to eat it was met with wails of frustration and pain. He's still very clingy and fussy so prayers for my sanity during this time are

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-83762621974999218592009-06-03T18:51:00.003+08:002009-06-03T19:26:10.243+08:00

Three days ago Kenny started having a fever of about 99-101. The fever came and went throughout the last few days and nights. About the second night I gave him tylenol. Since Nate had mumps the week before we assumed Kenny was coming down with the mumps, too. But it became clear that Kenny was in a lot more discomfort than Nate was.Then yesterday I noticed a little sore right below his bottom

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-13116017471794214872009-05-30T15:10:00.003+08:002009-05-30T15:39:06.514+08:00

Today we went out to survey the effects of the recent dip in temperature and to our surprise, our carrots and turnips/beets are sprouting. Also some lettuce seems to be poking through as well. It's nice to see that after last Wednesday's snowy/windy/rainy weather. Hopefully the cold spells and frosts are behind us and we can get on with growing our little crops. So far, we are looking

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-38181540616871634652009-05-23T11:37:00.004+08:002009-05-23T12:01:17.477+08:00

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

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-62364791069574236172009-05-19T09:39:00.003+08:002009-05-19T10:08:20.833+08:00

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

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-22308752950133189182009-05-17T08:28:00.002+08:002009-05-17T09:20:17.036+08:00

Mothers' day, and all the handmade presents and drawings I got. And the massage! Thanks Babe!Window shopping for maternity clothes onlineFriday 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

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-22525752502004898882009-05-15T22:17:00.007+08:002009-05-15T22:42:05.731+08:00

Yesterday the weather was so nice and hot that we broke out the kids inflatable pool. The boys enjoyed a good 2 hours of strong sunshine in the pool. Abi was at grandma and grandpa's so she missed out this time.We also planted our peas...Then, this morning we watched in dismay as the weather plummeted to negative 3 degrees F...So much for the peas. Or maybe not. That's weather for you in

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-16865069899014542052009-05-15T21:49:00.007+08:002009-05-15T22:16:06.996+08:00

Yay!Thanks to mom and her sewing machine (and her generosity for the material!), I have new kitchen curtains!It took a lot of time for me to complete this project, since I had to work at mom's on the other side of town. But it was worth it to get exactly what I wanted. =)Take a look!Here, Abi, Kenny and Nate are enjoying arts and crafts time with some goodies they received recently in a care

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-8028403793666432022009-05-15T07:19:00.002+08:002009-05-15T08:04:34.955+08:00

Yesterday I came across a story that I thought was pretty neat. It was about a young bride during the time of WW2. Her new husband had been assigned to an Army base in the dessert of California and she insisted on going with him. Her family tried to convince her she'd be more happy at home back east but there would be no changing her mind. The only place available for them to live was in a run

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-31539776373299203762009-05-08T09:06:00.004+08:002009-05-08T09:39:23.909+08:00

I just passed 13 weeks and am slowly starting to feel a bit more energetic. However, one thing that's been sapping my energy lately (and I promised myself I would not complain about this!) is not having a car. We had to sell our car a few months ago and we have been using taxis and walking a lot. I don't mind walking, especially now that they weather has warmed up. It's actually quite

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-86402620710113521662009-04-30T08:15:00.004+08:002009-04-30T09:53:11.832+08:00

The last few days have been filled with pensive moments for me. On the church front, we have been experiencing many changes, most of them sudden and quite unexpected. Some of our leaders and members have decided to leave us. Some for reasons out of their control and not related to sin or rebellion. Others, because of rebellion and a lack of will to submit to our leadership. It's a sad thing

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-72805922365943383862009-04-17T21:03:00.002+08:002009-04-17T21:34:11.540+08:00

My new "imaginary" friends, Hutch and Aagii, who read my blog all the way in Hawaii! Aloha, guys!Kenny got a much-needed hair cut today and exclaimed, "I look new!"Spending the day at mom and dad's eating Gumbo and napping. And teasing mom for being so organized. (She has so many reminders and post-its stuck everywhere that if she got amnesia she might not remember her name but she could slip

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-21726699546588943752009-04-16T08:00:00.004+08:002009-04-17T20:34:34.728+08:00

I started counting and recording my protein intake today. The reason I hadn't before is because of the nausea. I knew I wasn't eating enough and I didn't see the point in trying to count it. But this week I'm feeling a lot better. It feels so good to be hungry again. I am now able to enjoy most of my food. Yay!My stomach is already expanding, or maybe it just feels like it is. I've gained

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-67705995412474732902009-04-10T14:31:00.003+08:002009-04-10T14:46:48.501+08:00

I'm not sure I like all this "big boy" business. I'm pretty sure I was conned into something, I just haven't quite figured it out yet. Everyone is happy, but what did I get out of this deal? A pair of hand-me-down Spider Man underwear my big brother wore when he was being duped like me. Next thing you know they'll be telling me I have to wash my own dishes and start first grade. It's not

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-5311465603615345642009-04-08T10:34:00.004+08:002009-04-08T11:04:32.237+08:00

As promised, here are some snapshots from Abi's party. Not as many as I would have liked; my computer is really slow today. We had a good time, although I was feeling really nauseated and couldn't really play any games or entertain our guests. The Birthday Girl! Blowing out her candles! I had originally planned to make a red velvet cake for her big day but the oven is still thermostatically

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-51544602276597611742009-04-06T08:07:00.002+08:002009-04-06T09:12:23.542+08:00

Abi and her new Leapfrog. Thank you Jenna!I've gained 9 lbs so far despite morning sickness and lack of appetite. (Those of you who know me know I have a hard time gaining and keeping weight on. So this is good news!)I have not developed any Rh negative antibodies! Also good news!Nate is reading and writing in Mongolian and English, although he prefers Mongolian. English grammar is

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-32846706689639478142009-04-03T19:13:00.004+08:002009-04-03T20:24:47.863+08:00

These days I've been doing a lot of thinking about effectively passing on lessons of faith to my children. Not just the ones we read about in the Bible, but the ones I am learning myself in every day life. I was praying recently and asking God to help me to share more of my learning moments with my kids. God showed me that I needed to automatically teach them and pass down to them what He was

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-71684520209032735362009-04-02T20:03:00.005+08:002009-04-02T20:17:02.931+08:00

(in November)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-20410255025209193632009-03-28T18:12:00.002+08:002009-03-28T18:39:13.491+08:00

Abi's birthday was on the 22nd but since we weren't here we decided to postpone the party till we got back. Her party was fun; full of friends, cake and many, many pink things. Again, I'm lagging behind on the photos...10 things I love about my Abi Girl:She's patientShe's thoughtful and considerate of others' feelings. She almost never says anything mean to anyone.She's quick witted and a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-32262201846484806772009-03-26T14:07:00.012+08:002009-03-26T20:39:56.194+08:00

We had a chance to go snorkeling along a coral reef; something neither of us had done before. It was so much fun and before we knew it, we had been swimming about the open sea for nearly an hour. That and the heat totally exhausted us but we had a great time. We explored the Marine Park Centre on another part of the Island and there were monkeys! We couldn't get any pics though because they

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-19921273128129089082009-03-26T00:20:00.005+08:002009-03-26T01:04:57.784+08:00

We made it home last night around 7 o clock, and went straight to my parents' to pick up the kids. To say we missed them would be an understatement. We were all so happy to see each other that we clung rather than hugged. It sure is good to be home. We ate a quick meal at mom's then headed home to open presents. The kids were so excited to get some great toys. =) Since it's hard to find the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-31333855174071025862009-03-14T23:54:00.005+08:002009-03-15T00:16:59.021+08:00

2 of my g12 girls, Oyuka and Ogii Tseegii and I, cooling off in the shade.Me, baby boa, and a nice Indian man. Me and my Baby (in the bright SUN!)Holding a starfish...Horses! The Underwater WorldGreasing up at Palawan...I have never been so white!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-9095748016290849712009-03-13T23:49:00.006+08:002009-03-14T00:17:23.583+08:00

That's how they talk here, they put "la" on the end of everything. Kind of like how Americans say "ya know?" ya know?We visited Sentosa and had some fun at Palawan beach. We swam and played on the beach for a while and then headed over to the underground aquarium to cool off and look at the incredible marine life they had displayed there. We got to touch stingrays and feed them. I got to hold

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-64263208082846861122009-03-13T23:27:00.006+08:002009-03-13T23:49:28.369+08:00

We arrived at 9pm on Tuesday night and were greeted at the airport by our friends, Pastors Melvyn and Linda Mak and by our hosts, Stephen and Cynthia.Since the time we got here we have not had the chance to feel hunger-- our hosts have been feeding us and feeding us. =) We've had some pretty interesting foods, all of them very delicious and I'm not just saying that because they might read my

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-63510673568124893152009-03-13T23:14:00.007+08:002009-03-13T23:27:45.450+08:00

Here are some pics and updates from our trip. We hope you enjoy!On the plane to KoreaMy first Burger King meal in 5 years. Strange, the things you miss.We had a great flight to Korea, despite the fact that I'm not a fan of flying. It was fun watching our team members who had never flown before during take-off and landing. They got the hang of it after a while. Then they weren't fun to watch

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-25966573483344352162009-03-07T09:29:00.004+08:002009-03-07T09:34:45.644+08:00

Someone tagged me for this on Facebook but I decided to post it here just for fun. Feel free to copy this idea and post it on your blog so we can all join in the fun!1. What is something I always say to you? I LOVE YOU2. What makes me happy? That you got me3. What makes me sad? When we have disobedience4. How do I make you laugh? When you tickle me5. What do you think I was like as a child?

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-85292854448210380592009-03-05T18:56:00.003+08:002009-03-05T19:11:17.771+08:00

These are just some of the leaders who were blessed by Lydia, our friend in the US. She sent us about 40 planners and calendars at the beginning of the year and everyone was thrilled to receive one!"Bayarlalaa!"(Thank you!)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-75802578821680240872009-03-02T21:11:00.003+08:002009-03-02T21:28:52.077+08:00

Finding out the hard way that your green card has expired... $130.00Finding out the hard way that you've put the wrong spark plugs on your car... $50.00Comfort food and coffee while you sit down and fill out a pile of papers and try not to beat yourself up... $20.00Walking away from life's experiences much, much wiser... PRICELESSThere are some things you can't buy. For everything else

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-49854385564871367662009-02-27T23:01:00.005+08:002009-02-28T08:18:20.588+08:00

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

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-38394373854646101812009-02-24T13:54:00.002+08:002009-02-24T13:58:14.935+08:00

Abi: Nate, what's a "graveyard"?Nate: It's where they plant gravy.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-45491191515039046962009-02-24T13:04:00.002+08:002009-02-24T13:30:54.369+08:00

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

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-39528223520346050792009-02-19T19:19:00.003+08:002009-02-19T19:34:28.351+08:00

These days I've been under the weather with a nasty sinus cold. Today, as I was making myself comfortable to check email and do some computer stuff, Nate came and prayed for me. He then piled 3 pillows behind my back and brought my favorite camel wool comforter and draped it around me. I said, "Aw you are so thoughtful, thank you". To which he replied, "What else am I here for?" So sweet!Abi

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-33651413530602509282009-02-15T22:21:00.004+08:002009-02-15T23:35:22.507+08:00

That's the name of our dear friends, Brad and Sara's new baby girl, Mia. She was born last week into the hands of a surprised daddy who was hoping and praying that the midwife would make it in time. The midwife was M.I.A. and he had to go it alone. I'm told he did a fabulous job. And now the midwife can be happy they named her baby after her. =) (I love you Brad and Sara! You know I'm just

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-87610571179971635482009-02-02T09:03:00.016+08:002009-02-02T21:31:18.697+08:00

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-20048048323040542852009-01-31T16:27:00.003+08:002009-01-31T21:02:13.321+08:00

I've never liked the "Growing Kids God's Way" series or the methods they teach. I've known a few families who swear by them and have tried to influence us in taking the Ezzos' advice but it just never sat well with us.I hesitate to say that I have learned nothing from the Ezzos. Some of their discipline methods have worked with our children as they got older. But mostly I can say that I've

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-91096524748802761542009-01-30T08:05:00.003+08:002009-01-30T08:37:06.846+08:00

Walks in the snow with my lovely children and soaking up the warm rays of the sun!Teacher's Day today! Yay!Kenny talking and talking and talkingMeeting Charlotte, Les, and Skyla, our new friendsThe way my kids and husband devour my homemade version of Ezekiel breadMy 3 babies, all freshly bathed and asleep in their bedsNate's double-wide front tooth gapAnother set of twins saved from abortion!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-91273793745957655122009-01-27T16:11:00.004+08:002009-01-27T17:01:31.894+08:00

I came to Mongolia when I was 16. Before then I had never heard of ABBA, George Michael or these guys:Modern TalkingIt didn't take me long to realize that Mongolians love these musical gems (and to start humming along to their songs!). My friend Amanda and I roll our eyes because every year around Christmas the "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" song (by George Michael) makes it to every

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-23368555608125276472009-01-25T22:46:00.009+08:002009-01-25T23:42:50.105+08:00

Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. Prov. 24:11 In keeping with the theme of "Sanctity of Human Life" week, I've put together a little post

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-65474937202291743332009-01-23T18:58:00.007+08:002009-01-23T21:36:50.024+08:00

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. PROVERBS 31:8With the "sanctity of human life week", approaching, I've been doing some reflecting on what it means to be pro-life.For me, at least.I've been involved in pro-life and anti

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-29764598408993674952009-01-20T20:08:00.004+08:002009-01-20T21:30:08.802+08:00

Today I had one of those days where everything felt like a dream. Not in the good sense of the word, but all day I just felt like I was in a daze. I think all those late nights staying up reading, typing and translating added up and decided to gang up on me. And I was out of coffee.I kind of mulled around the house, putting the finishing touches on my lesson (I'm tutoring 6 kids this week)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-12723298010649293242009-01-17T22:45:00.004+08:002009-01-17T23:24:58.676+08:00

The above picture and lolcats.comOreos and cream instant pudding and cheesecakeA successful PTA meeting at which I was able to meet the parents of most of my 3rd and 4th graders. We had some important conversations about their kids' progress in school and with learning English.Molly's purringProgress with translation. It's. a. slow. process. My Sweetie is good at it, though so that helps.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-59487076776395692752009-01-16T09:31:00.003+08:002009-01-16T09:43:05.156+08:00

The other morning as Nate and I rushed out to catch the bus, we forgot Nate's hat. Tuesdays are self-proclaimed half days, so after school we had to walk instead of take the bus home at 3 pm. As we were walking to a street where we could catch a taxi, I asked him if his ears were cold. He said "yes". I took off my ear warmers and put them on his ears. He said, "But Mommy, you're going to be

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-71553141669153241972009-01-13T23:30:00.009+08:002009-01-14T10:48:32.430+08:00

The long awaited Christmas packages have arrived! The first one (contents pictured below, is from Lydia, a new Cyber friend who read my blog and decided to bless us. This is the second package she has sent and it contained 2009 planners and calendars-- about 40 to bless our leaders, and a stocking chocked full of goodies FOR ME! Also included were candy canes, Oil of Olay products (an answer

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-32718989715505766602009-01-10T08:14:00.002+08:002009-01-10T08:55:01.097+08:00

A couple years ago Hetee and I began talking about taking a vacation. We'd never really had any sort of vacation apart from our 2 day honeymoon we spent roaming around Ulaan Baatar. We were able to take 3 days off last November at a Mongolian tourist camp and it was nice. Then last summer we visited another similar place and took the kids with us. It was a working trip, though so we really

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-73150082848996811932009-01-07T21:40:00.003+08:002009-01-07T21:54:27.569+08:00

Tonight Abi cracked me up a couple times.After bath time, I was combing out her long hair and I asked if it was ok if I practiced French braiding it. She agreed and after we slipped on the scrunchie she ran her hands up and down her long braid. She had a quizzical expression on her face so I showed her in the mirror and asked what she thought about it. She replied, "It feels English". Get it

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-19115484470433097252009-01-02T22:49:00.004+08:002009-01-03T00:02:41.918+08:00

Thank you Marnie, from Life More Abundantly, for thinking of me! What an honor and a surprise. A great way to kick off the new year. =)You may remember that I was awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award, a few months back. It turns out I'm in the hot seat again for this award. I'm supposed to list 6 things I'm thankful for. I can't remember what I listed before when I did my first award and I'm

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-15443465835744529852009-01-01T09:30:00.003+08:002009-01-01T09:47:35.497+08:00

Happy New Year to all our friends and family!We wish you all blessings, health, and prosperity in the coming year.We love you!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-20071445996744141752008-12-29T00:09:00.002+08:002008-12-29T00:49:19.994+08:00

Receiving a much anticipated package! (chocolate chips, yummy smelling bath things, 2 kitchen timers, puzzles, and, best of all, York peppermint patties and cheesecake!Having my oven back to almost normal. I can bake again, yay!Today someone paid me a compliment. They said I was patient. Christmas service at church today. Place was packed!Only 2 more months till SINGAPORE!!!Being chosen to

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-3481139493004818852008-12-27T18:54:00.005+08:002008-12-27T19:41:32.866+08:00

It's seems like forever since I've written anything of substance on this blog. The lack of time combined with my seeming inability to concentrate on anything these days is definitely to blame. I have been thinking a lot about things and reflecting on everything and nothing at the same time. My brain is constantly on the go.There are times when I go to write but things just don't flow as easily

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-67929033627450723612008-12-27T10:03:00.002+08:002008-12-27T10:12:59.642+08:00

And witness THE cutest little bunny EVER!(that means you're supposed to click on the above sentence.)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-90147807509767359412008-12-24T09:04:00.002+08:002008-12-24T09:10:49.962+08:00

Wishing you the best, all the way from snow-covered Darkhan, Mongolia!Hetee, Melanie, Nate, Abi, and Kenny

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-30828985951050903902008-12-19T19:36:00.006+08:002008-12-19T20:41:35.325+08:00

And the next thing you know... well, here I am!Pictured here, besides myself are my fellow teachers and teammates. I could tell you their names but I'm having trouble figuring out how to spell them in English right now. =)We had a great time playing volleyball and basketball last weekend despite the fact that we lost. We managed to win our first volleyball and then later, basketball games, but

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-1904624037999816392008-12-12T20:41:00.004+08:002008-12-12T21:16:51.146+08:00

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32902105.post-1299856974257826232008-12-12T19:21:00.002+08:002008-12-12T19:47:36.058+08:00

Being invited to represent my school in volleyball and basketball tournaments tomorrow. (We won our practice game today! My right wrist is swollen and blue but I don't care!)Watching Tom and Jerry with the kidsAdventMy hubby fixing the computerAlone time with NateSewing days at Mom'sAbi and her new skirts (thanks mom for making skirts in the middle of winter just because Abi asked you to)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06779417840305200797noreply@blogger.com1