Memories...

Within our first 2 weeks in East Asia we were invited over to Alex & Jenny Swem's apartment for dinner. Alex grew up there as a missionary kid and Jenny, at that time had been there 7 years.

If you know me at all then you know my love of good food. A lot of my memories of places involve food. Jenny had made for us one night enchiladas with sour cream (home-made) and a salad. Keep in mind the ingredients. I remember the tortillas were home-made as well. She's hardcore! I'm pretty sure we even had lemonade that night too. It was an awesome meal and I was super impressed that you could assemble something like that there!

Tonight I am making enchiladas for the first time. They smell amazing!!! I can't wait till they're out of the oven. We also are having salad with our dinner, hence the memory of the Swem's.

The new baby giraffe at the zoo

Baby giraffe

Powerful

Parents prayed for 4 hours after receiving a text from their daughter that she was overwhelmed and wanted to come home. The long-time former youth pastor's daughter at Manoa (Dave's church growing up) was in Baltimore's projects on a mission trip. This was the first year the security of her dad wasn't there. Two minutes after her parents finished praying they received another text saying that she was trusting God and wanted to stay. Powerful.

Their daughter shared from upfront at church yesterday that she had learned to trust God that week. I talked with the mom after church and she told me how it took so much restraint from the father not to drive down there and get her. I guess he learned to trust God more too.

In the spring I asked a much respected, older co-worker some tips to raising kids that really love and follow God whole-heartedly. Her only response was prayer. There you have it!

"Did you know..."

This falls under the "quote of the day" category.
Lilia has been playing a lot with a small figurine of a giraffe and a zebra (Madagascar mindset). The last 2 days she has involved the 3 ft wooden giraffe she got for her birthday.
As we were playing an "eminy" (enemy) came. The tall wooden giraffe (the mom) had to scare the eminy away. Lilia explained to me how that happens.
"The giraffe pees out a bully man. And then they be scared."

"Get your bear"

Alex has a bear that he Loves! When I put him in his crib I say, "Alex get your bear." Then he buries his face in the bear and bites it, lovingly.

He took a short nap and Lilia took no nap so instead of being mad at my lack of down time I decided to have fun!

Lilia got in the crib and was jumping

Then it led to this...

Both kids were in the crib and I was throwing stuffed animals in. When I would hit Alex with one he would crack up.

My favorite...Alex tackles Lilia

Crumbelievable

http://inpraiseofleftovers.com/2010/08/11/breakfast-crumb-cake/

My friend Jenny informed me of her friends blog, "In Praise of Leftovers." It's pretty amazing recipes. I made this crumb cake this morning for Dave's meeting. It was pretty good. Check out the website to shake things up in your kitchen.

Mouse. House. Mouse in House.

So we live in the city and I guess it's inevitable...we have a mouse in the house! My friends have talked of mice in their house.

Lilia is great in these situations. She keeps reminding me that God is bigger and God is stronger. Her plan for the mouse is as follows, "Let's put on a mean face and then the mouse would be scared."

This for me is terrifying. Dave is away all day working; visiting another church and then meeting up with someone in West Chester where there is an East Asia connection. Oh boy, what to do???

Much empathy

We have a book about the rainforest. It's in cartoon form. Lilia picked it out to read tonight. The last page talks about an enemy of the rainforest...people. It shows construction vehicles and them logging trees.

She tears up when we read this page. First she prays and asks God to kill the construction and save the rainforest. Then she comes up with a plan.

Tonight her plan is to ask the jaguars to come and kill the construction. However she knows there is a problem, "I just wish jaguars could talk." "Mom you're big, you can ask them."

Trip to D-town

Yesterday Dave, the kids and I headed out to Downingtown to spend the day with the Manni's. We wanted to serve Katy in whatever way needed since Pete is now back to work. I know many of you were curious as to how she's doing. Yesterday she said that she feels much better and that she almost feels herself. She has no more headaches and isn't throwing up any more either. They are having a baby girl in November and the baby is also doing well.

Lilia had an awesome day with her "best friend Ava." They played so well together. We played games with the kids and they had a ball.

I miss West Chester/Exton so much!

Get me somewhere green

The longer I live in the city (it will be a year next month), the more I feel the need to get out into nature.

God created me to LOVE nature. I love it so much that I watched a documentary about sheep that took place on a ranch in Montana...and enjoyed it. I love trees, mountains and rocks. I would have loved to be a geologist.

Anyway, we headed out to Valley Forge last Saturday on that really beautiful day to hike. It was a great morning. Lilia does awesome on the trail and Alex loves the outdoors like me. Need fulfilled.

Valley Forge, awesome tree

Morning glory flowers

Our first sunflower has a friend

My handsome hikers at Valley Forge

Up for an adventure

While hiking at Valley Forge I asked Lilia if she wanted to walk in the creek with me. She didn't hesitate in saying "Sure."

The water was chilly, but it felt good. We walked for a bit and then collected a couple of stones to remember our time by. I love that Lilia is always up for adventures!

Me and my girl

Guess where?

Another napless afternoon led us to the zoo on Friday. At the zoo we always have to see the zebras, but the tigers are my favorite. They are always prowling around and doing something interesting. Don't waste your time on the lions though.

Hanging out with Grandpop

Lilia's quote of the day

Sorry ahead of time if this offends you, but it was pretty funny...

Lilia pooped and looked down into the potty, "Wow it looks like a giant tootsie roll. You can just roll it, roll it, roll it up."

Two things at once

Jenny put out the sprinkler to water our gardens. It also made for a fun time for the kids. They loved running under it, trying to drink from it and splashing in the puddles the sprinkler made on the sidewalk. Good times!

Aunt Karen putting Lilia in the sprinkler

Our ghetto city pool...a puddle

My Alex

Wedding bouquet

Lilia picked these flowers outside of church yesterday. She told us they were her wedding bouquet. I asked her if we could take her picture with the bouquet. Doesn't this look like a glamour shot? (because of her smile)

We brought them in the house and they are in a vase next to her bed. She is so full of personality!

My silly willy

My baby boy

Our first sunflower in the back yard

Baby Alex the Lion (From Madagascar 2)

Lilia's version

Lilia's quote of the day

"My blood hurts." -Lilia, attempting to find an excuse to get out of "time out". She scratched open a mosquito bite.

Owlbert the owl

We headed out to the zoo yesterday afternoon for my favorite time to go...the last hour. Alex was in the backpack so he could actually see the animals.

The workers had brought out this 9 week old owl. I forget the details of where it's from, but it was magnificent to see! It's eyes were so big and vibrant. I loved getting to see it up close. Unfortunately I only had my phone so this is as good of a picture as I could get.

Click on the image to get a larger view. (You can do this w/all blog pics.)

Owlbert the owl

Highs & Lows

Highlights:
- Yoga
- An afternoon with the Lord; it was a good one

Lowlights:
- Finding out one of my best friends isn't doing well...Katy Manni, who is 27 weeks pregnant, is in the hospital with spinal meningitis. They find out tonight which one it is, but it's looking like viral.
- Neither kid has taken a nap at the same time all week. If you're a mom, you know where I'm out. If not let me explain...NO DOWN TIME FOR ME! SUCKS BIG TIME!

Lilia's Quote of the Day

As Lilia was getting ready for bed tonight she got undressed and said to me,
"Mommy I'm just going to wear my boobies."

Cousins

We had a family picnic at my Aunt Cheryl's. My cousin Leigh was in town so everyone stopped by. It was great! It was like a family reunion.

My cousin Sherri is on the left.

Leigh lives in GA.

Jill is in the middle

Jaimi is next to me.

(leigh, jill & jaimi are sisters)

1st & 2nd cousins (missing my brother Matt & cousin Justin)

Hawk eyes

I was driving home from my parent's house Sunday evening when this hawk flew right out of a tree and landed on the grass. I pulled over, got our the camera and zoomed to get a close shot. I was pretty far away so the shot isn't real clear, but it was super awesome to see!