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