I so need to add a few links to the list at right of blogs I read. Today went from mary demuth's blogs from one blogger to another, finding encouragement from some awesome women who are willing to write transparently about their lives and their struggles. What sticks with me most? Ann's reflections on how a mother duck lines her next with her own feathers. NOT ones that have just fallen out on their own, though, oh no. Not the oldest or most frayed or most convenient. No.
Here's an excerpt from www.aholyexperience.com:
"Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”
I pause and the children gaze thoughtfully at a clutch of plump white, blizzard of feathers fallen down. But it’s those words that mesmerize me: “pick feathers from their chests, to line their nests.”
Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?” With leftovers. With feathers discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact. But no. (Is that only the way of human mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft.
She lines the nest with bits of herself.
The best of her, from the deep spots.
She cups her young in her sacrifice.
What a challenge. How often am I lining my nest with leftovers? Leftover time, leftover energy, leftover me... I don't want to be giving the most precious souls in my life LEFTOVERS. No, I want to at least WANT to give my best, my first, my softest, my warmest downy feathers.
Not the angry words that bubble up when the kids won't stop running through the apartment while I'm trying to wash the dishes.
Not the sigh of reluctance when Josiah asks to play a game when I've started reading something on my Kindle.
Not the harsh words that come so easily when Yvelle is losing it because of something small (in my eyes) hasn't gone the way she has wished... (like leaving a new coloring book at school--she was close to hysterical yesterday, so angry and upset!).
Lord help me to have wisdom and patience, grace and also strength, to love and teach and discipline in healthy and effective ways...
Here's another section that spoke to me:
What to Do When You Want to Give Up and Stay in Bed (again, from aholyexperiement.com)
Shadows of depression can ride up like a highway man in the night and and steal away all the silver linings.
I wake on a Sunday to his cantering away.
I lay in the bed a long time.
The legs, the spirit, too heavy to move. The sun’s high already, the sheets warm. I make a point of not looking at my watch or the bedside clock’s hands ticking, vainly trying to nudge me out.
Maybe I can bury myself deep under covers, a bunker, escape today and no one will notice?
I don’t bother moving today because I already know I’ll lose.
I know I can’t get the laundry caught up this week and I know I can’t make deadlines. I know the bedrooms I tidied through last night will be dumped out by nightfall, the sink I left empty last night will be piled high by noon, the floors I washed yesterday will be tracked dirty by supper.
I will definitely lose today, tomorrow, all week. I roll over, smother my face in the pillow...
I know there are some days when everything feels so overwhelming, and the thought of making one more meal, just so I can wash all those plates and cups and pans and forks and spoons yet another time, or let the kids play just so the neat and tidy room can turn into chaos after 3 minutes... doesn't it just feel easier to eat cereal and crackers and cookies and tomatoes cut in half, or just put another movie on? (not to say that there's anything wrong with breakfast for dinner, or watching Tangled sometimes...!) ;)
Lord, help! ...and thanks for the reminder that I am not alone.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Those links (see post above)
(here are links to what i read this morning): :)
http://www.marydemuth.com/2012/10/knit-together-awesome-guest-post-by-gillian-marchenko/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MaryDeMuth+%28Mary+DeMuth%29
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-A-Special-Needs-Child/483916
http://mandymianecki.com/
http://aholyexperiment.com/
http://www.marydemuth.com/2012/10/knit-together-awesome-guest-post-by-gillian-marchenko/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MaryDeMuth+%28Mary+DeMuth%29
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-A-Special-Needs-Child/483916
http://mandymianecki.com/
http://aholyexperiment.com/
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
autumn is here, winter is coming...
Such a nice weekend we had. Saturday was beautiful and we all walked together to take Yvelle to her (3rd? 4th?) ballet lesson. I was glad to be outside and in the sunshine. Javkhaa dropped us all off and headed for the first of 2 meetings that took up most of the rest of his day. (I saw him briefly, in between, but the kids were sleeping.) Josiah and I hung around, outside and inside, until Y's lesson was over. Then we all headed back home for lunch and NAPS. (I should have slept...) ;)
Grades were due this past weekend. Well, Friday, officially. I finished posting mine on Monday. Whew! Always a good feeling to be done. I get so stressed about it, actually; especially the first time during the year. Glad my school posts grades once a month--makes it a little easier to keep up (I hope). :)
Time to pick up the kids from kindergarten (read: preschool). This isn't much of an update, I know, but wanted to take the chance I had to try and get back into the swing of things.
Hope we get internet at home SOON!!!! :)
(hm... and why aren't my paragraph breaks showing up??)
Thursday, April 05, 2012
April Fool's--the mumps! (no joke though!)
hey there,
been a while. between 2 busy kiddos, teaching, and life in general, besides internet challenges, i haven't been writing much lately. just taking this brief window of time to post a little note that we are doing fine (pretty good, overall) and SOOO happy it's a little warmner now. whew! we made it through our first winter back! spring is here and it feels "warm"... though i remember a friend who came to visit in May way back when, and thought my idea of warm was pretty crazy. ;) anything above freezing feels warm after so many degrees below zero!
so yes, i have the mumps. hoping no one else in the family gets it. kids had their vacc (i'm one of those 'let's take it slow' moms), and javkhaa may have also. i'm hoping so, b/c no one seems to think he had mumps as a kid. we'll know for sure in another week or so i guess. anyways, i'm holding up okay, but this is dragging on longer than i'd hoped. so much for a spring break.
thanks for your prayers, and Happy Easter!
been a while. between 2 busy kiddos, teaching, and life in general, besides internet challenges, i haven't been writing much lately. just taking this brief window of time to post a little note that we are doing fine (pretty good, overall) and SOOO happy it's a little warmner now. whew! we made it through our first winter back! spring is here and it feels "warm"... though i remember a friend who came to visit in May way back when, and thought my idea of warm was pretty crazy. ;) anything above freezing feels warm after so many degrees below zero!
so yes, i have the mumps. hoping no one else in the family gets it. kids had their vacc (i'm one of those 'let's take it slow' moms), and javkhaa may have also. i'm hoping so, b/c no one seems to think he had mumps as a kid. we'll know for sure in another week or so i guess. anyways, i'm holding up okay, but this is dragging on longer than i'd hoped. so much for a spring break.
thanks for your prayers, and Happy Easter!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Reflections near the beginning of the year...
Hey y'all...
I wrote the following a couple of weeks ago for our newsletter... but seems like it's too long to include in the email. So, in case someone clicks over and is interested in this, I'll post it here. :)
(January 2012)
Today we had an old friend over for lunch after church. She is my age, and called to one of the most closed countries in the world. When I last lived in Ulaanbaatar (which would be about 2002-03), I was part of her life-group at our church. She reminded me of that today. Since then, she has faithfully and consistently been serving the Lord and keeping the vision He has given her for this group of people He loves in a very tough place to reach—let’s call it the Hidden Land.
How did He prepare her? She served our church here in Ulaanbaatar and also served in a very rural, countryside fellowship in Mongolia. She studied and graduated from the Bible School here. She has ministered to street children and hopes to work with orphans in the Hidden Land. She followed the Lord to another country, where she had to learn 2 new languages (English, to communicate with team members, and the language of that country, to minister there and to take care of daily life) while planning and preparing to move to the Hidden Land, and also studying that language as well. She has been living there, by faith, for some years now, and finally it seems the Lord is opening the door for her to move to the Hidden Land… may it be so, Amen!
And just what does this have to do with us?
Oh, it just encouraged me so much to see my beautiful, full-of-faith Mongolian sister leaving all that she calls home for the chance to share the good news with those who so need to hear that there is hope, there is Someone who loves them with a powerful, gentle, Father’s heart love… She also blessed us by saying that visiting us was also a blessing for her.
It was also a message to me from the Lord, underlining the promise of His provision and faithfulness He reminded me of over the last few days. Friday night was one of those nights when, despite being tired, sleep would not come. My mind was racing, thinking of so many things: things to do, things to prepare for, things left undone. I tried to put all into God’s hands, but still, it was a long time before I finally drifted to sleep. Saturday morning came early—seems like it’s always after a night like that that one of the kids wakes up super-early, cheerful and raring to go! ;) Anyway, bleary-eyed, I think I put on a video (I admit it) and, bleary-eyed, opened up the old copy of Daily Light I’d just come across a day or two earlier. What verses do you think I found? Any fans of Daily Light out there? January 28 morning (here’s a sample): As thy days, so shall thy strength be (Dt 33.25). Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Mt 6.34). The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God (Ps 68.35). My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12. 9-10). Thank you Lord!
We are doing well, overall. I am just at the end of winter break, so have had a delicious taste of what being a stay-at-home-mom is like. I say “delicious” because I do love being with my kids! But they can wear me out, too. It’s especially hard, I guess, in cold climates since it’s difficult to get out of the house. But we enjoyed our time together; now, when I’m finally figuring how to make the day run a little more smoothly, we have to get used to our old routine of going to school again. ;)
The other night, I watched part of a movie—the Descendants. Not sure if I’d recommend it or not. It seemed rather depressing to me. At the same time, though, it reminded me that most of us go through really, really difficult seasons at some point in our lives. Right now, Javkhaa and I—we’re still in a season of adjusting, I’d say. But my heart was just tuned in to the fact that people we love, friends and family here and all over the world, are going through a really tough time. Some things we know about. Other situations I’m sure we have no idea about, but I just want to say that if you’re in that kind of dark, lonely, or desert place, that God is right there with you. And my prayer is that you will sense His great love for you, His tender Father’s heart reaching out to enfold you and cover you with His wings. Again, from Daily Light: I know their sorrows (Ex 3.7), A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is 53.3), Jesus, being wearied from his journey, sat… (Jn 4.6), When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path (Ps 142.3), In their affliction He was afflicted (Is 63.9). Our Lord is not distant, nor was He immune to trials, grief, or sadness while He lived in our world. He knows exactly what you are going through, and I pray that His great lovingkindness and mercy will supply all that you need, by His Spirit and through His children too.
Looking back at 2011, it’s been quite a year of seeing God’s provision and trying to figure out where He was leading us. We're still listening and watching but it's exciting to begin to see where things might lead...
I wrote the following a couple of weeks ago for our newsletter... but seems like it's too long to include in the email. So, in case someone clicks over and is interested in this, I'll post it here. :)
(January 2012)
Today we had an old friend over for lunch after church. She is my age, and called to one of the most closed countries in the world. When I last lived in Ulaanbaatar (which would be about 2002-03), I was part of her life-group at our church. She reminded me of that today. Since then, she has faithfully and consistently been serving the Lord and keeping the vision He has given her for this group of people He loves in a very tough place to reach—let’s call it the Hidden Land.
How did He prepare her? She served our church here in Ulaanbaatar and also served in a very rural, countryside fellowship in Mongolia. She studied and graduated from the Bible School here. She has ministered to street children and hopes to work with orphans in the Hidden Land. She followed the Lord to another country, where she had to learn 2 new languages (English, to communicate with team members, and the language of that country, to minister there and to take care of daily life) while planning and preparing to move to the Hidden Land, and also studying that language as well. She has been living there, by faith, for some years now, and finally it seems the Lord is opening the door for her to move to the Hidden Land… may it be so, Amen!
And just what does this have to do with us?
Oh, it just encouraged me so much to see my beautiful, full-of-faith Mongolian sister leaving all that she calls home for the chance to share the good news with those who so need to hear that there is hope, there is Someone who loves them with a powerful, gentle, Father’s heart love… She also blessed us by saying that visiting us was also a blessing for her.
It was also a message to me from the Lord, underlining the promise of His provision and faithfulness He reminded me of over the last few days. Friday night was one of those nights when, despite being tired, sleep would not come. My mind was racing, thinking of so many things: things to do, things to prepare for, things left undone. I tried to put all into God’s hands, but still, it was a long time before I finally drifted to sleep. Saturday morning came early—seems like it’s always after a night like that that one of the kids wakes up super-early, cheerful and raring to go! ;) Anyway, bleary-eyed, I think I put on a video (I admit it) and, bleary-eyed, opened up the old copy of Daily Light I’d just come across a day or two earlier. What verses do you think I found? Any fans of Daily Light out there? January 28 morning (here’s a sample): As thy days, so shall thy strength be (Dt 33.25). Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Mt 6.34). The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God (Ps 68.35). My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12. 9-10). Thank you Lord!
We are doing well, overall. I am just at the end of winter break, so have had a delicious taste of what being a stay-at-home-mom is like. I say “delicious” because I do love being with my kids! But they can wear me out, too. It’s especially hard, I guess, in cold climates since it’s difficult to get out of the house. But we enjoyed our time together; now, when I’m finally figuring how to make the day run a little more smoothly, we have to get used to our old routine of going to school again. ;)
The other night, I watched part of a movie—the Descendants. Not sure if I’d recommend it or not. It seemed rather depressing to me. At the same time, though, it reminded me that most of us go through really, really difficult seasons at some point in our lives. Right now, Javkhaa and I—we’re still in a season of adjusting, I’d say. But my heart was just tuned in to the fact that people we love, friends and family here and all over the world, are going through a really tough time. Some things we know about. Other situations I’m sure we have no idea about, but I just want to say that if you’re in that kind of dark, lonely, or desert place, that God is right there with you. And my prayer is that you will sense His great love for you, His tender Father’s heart reaching out to enfold you and cover you with His wings. Again, from Daily Light: I know their sorrows (Ex 3.7), A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is 53.3), Jesus, being wearied from his journey, sat… (Jn 4.6), When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path (Ps 142.3), In their affliction He was afflicted (Is 63.9). Our Lord is not distant, nor was He immune to trials, grief, or sadness while He lived in our world. He knows exactly what you are going through, and I pray that His great lovingkindness and mercy will supply all that you need, by His Spirit and through His children too.
Looking back at 2011, it’s been quite a year of seeing God’s provision and trying to figure out where He was leading us. We're still listening and watching but it's exciting to begin to see where things might lead...
Friday, July 22, 2011
We're Going! (We're Coming...!) :)
...back to Mongolia!
Lots to do, not much time left...
We'll fly out of Norfolk on the 5th of August. So, in the next couple of weeks (I'm not counting the days!) we need to go thru all of our stuff, and sort into take, give, sell, ship, and discard piles. whew! hoping that this sunday afternoon can be a massive sprint thru everything in a garage, and then we'll tackle the house. ;)
pray for us!
but besides all that, we are excited to be heading back.
you can read our recent newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/eTmJg
we'll miss folks on this side of the world but are looking forwad to seeing friends and family on the other side!
Lots to do, not much time left...
We'll fly out of Norfolk on the 5th of August. So, in the next couple of weeks (I'm not counting the days!) we need to go thru all of our stuff, and sort into take, give, sell, ship, and discard piles. whew! hoping that this sunday afternoon can be a massive sprint thru everything in a garage, and then we'll tackle the house. ;)
pray for us!
but besides all that, we are excited to be heading back.
you can read our recent newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/eTmJg
we'll miss folks on this side of the world but are looking forwad to seeing friends and family on the other side!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
more steps!
Josiah has taken a little step once or twice before, but this morning he's taken a few baby steps a few times! :) First, between a toy and Yvelle's bed; then, when he was playing with his big beach ball, he stood up, bounced it and then took a couple steps to follow it...
Fun! and Daddy saw over Skype from DC! :)
Then, when J was in in the pack n play and I ran upstairs, i could hear Yvelle saying, "I'm here Josiah, I'm here." When I came back, she sang him "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and he was dancing to her song. SO cute! :) (I love their happy brother and sister moments..."
Fun! and Daddy saw over Skype from DC! :)
Then, when J was in in the pack n play and I ran upstairs, i could hear Yvelle saying, "I'm here Josiah, I'm here." When I came back, she sang him "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and he was dancing to her song. SO cute! :) (I love their happy brother and sister moments..."
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Yvelle wore her Christmas dress today for the St Paddy's day party at her school ^.^and... Javkhaa finished the first draft of our prayer letter... yay! ;)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Radical, Crazy Love
Our lifegroup is reading Radical. I haven't finished yet, but enjoyed the read. I'm also reading Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. They're actually kind of similar--both about God's awesomeness and how we should really be totally abandoned to Him... He's worthy of everything, and His amazing love for us assures us that He will take care of us. They also talk about what the Bible really says and whether we take God at His word, or try to explain away certain passages...
Kids got up a while ago; gotta go!
Kids got up a while ago; gotta go!
Over the Flu & a Sunny Weekend
Wow, this year we sure did get hit with it... kids had it for about a week. :/ Poor them. Thankfully, they usually felt pretty well in the mornings and after taking their medicine. Then in the evenings they were more uncomfortable.
Now other than runny noses and a little coughing, they are a lot better. Yay!
Friday was BEAUTIFUL and Saturday and Sunday were sunny too. We actually went to the zoo yesterday; Yvelle enjoyed seeing the animals and Josiah (hopefully) was enjoying being outside too.
Javkhaa and I enjoyed the sights but we were hoping the "Asia" section was open; no, we have to wait until April to see the new exhibit, which will have orangutans, some kind of noisy apes, and tigers (from the Cincinnati Zoo), among other animals.
I took the zoo train with Yvelle and she had a blast--she did NOT want to sit on my lap, but wanted to sit in her own spot. She certainly has a mind of her own. ;) Sometimes at school she joins in playing with the children, but other times she just sits on the sidelines with a teacher. I'm not quite sure what that's about but when I ask her, she said she likes to watch and listen...
April will mark 2 big events: Josiah (Bilguunee) will turn 1, and we will have been in Virginia 5 years. Javkhaa is more than ready to be back in Mongolia, and I am fully on board with that. So Lord willing, before Christmas, we will be living back in Ulaanbaatar. Not quite sure how the transition will look, but we are at this point appointees with an organization (Interserve) which sends people to work in their professions in a variety of countries around the world. It seems like a good fit for our bi-cultural family. :)
Appreciate your prayers!
Now other than runny noses and a little coughing, they are a lot better. Yay!
Friday was BEAUTIFUL and Saturday and Sunday were sunny too. We actually went to the zoo yesterday; Yvelle enjoyed seeing the animals and Josiah (hopefully) was enjoying being outside too.
Javkhaa and I enjoyed the sights but we were hoping the "Asia" section was open; no, we have to wait until April to see the new exhibit, which will have orangutans, some kind of noisy apes, and tigers (from the Cincinnati Zoo), among other animals.
I took the zoo train with Yvelle and she had a blast--she did NOT want to sit on my lap, but wanted to sit in her own spot. She certainly has a mind of her own. ;) Sometimes at school she joins in playing with the children, but other times she just sits on the sidelines with a teacher. I'm not quite sure what that's about but when I ask her, she said she likes to watch and listen...
April will mark 2 big events: Josiah (Bilguunee) will turn 1, and we will have been in Virginia 5 years. Javkhaa is more than ready to be back in Mongolia, and I am fully on board with that. So Lord willing, before Christmas, we will be living back in Ulaanbaatar. Not quite sure how the transition will look, but we are at this point appointees with an organization (Interserve) which sends people to work in their professions in a variety of countries around the world. It seems like a good fit for our bi-cultural family. :)
Appreciate your prayers!
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