Lots of Pictures...

I must be getting back to my old self because my blog posts are becoming more regular.  However, unfortunately, my internet is not, and so pictures and stuff just start to pile up in my "for blog" folder.  So anyway, at 5 in the morning, my internet at home is working fairly well so I better post while I have the chance.

I'll start with yesterday.

Now let's just say that yesterday was not the best day I have ever had.  I went on a field trip with Caleb's class (which went great). 

It was after the field trip that things started to go downhill.  A fun day in town with just me and my boy turned into a very stressful and frustrating day. I will know to never hire that driver again. Ever.

Anyway, after I got home I wasn't quite sure to unwind from the stress I felt.  It was not about my family at all and yet I knew they would have to deal with the effects of it.  I wanted to do something, anything, that might make me feel a bit better.  Going into town wasn't an option (I'd had enough stress for one day), I didn't feel like getting everyone ready for the pool, I just felt like there must be SOMETHING we could do as a family.  Jason walked in (after honoring the ten minutes of absolute quiet I had asked for) and said, "Wanna take a walk?"  YEP! A walk sounded heavenly, especially since he wanted to go down some paths we always see around where we live but never go to. I grabbed my camera and some jackets and we were off!

It turned out the be the perfect plan.  So amazing, so inspiring, and so touching to my heart.

Here are the kiddos as we walked out of the house

Then the big kid decided to step in

Then we started off into a field right by our neighborhood.  The views of the fields, mountains, and rice paddies were gorgeous!

And for some perspective, you can see our school in this picture.

It's weird...usually when I go through our little development on the way to school I just see houses and stores and a few other random buildings.  But look at the school from a different angle and everything changes. 

Here is Alaina, my gorgeous and oh-so-sweet-almost-six-year-old

And my little Beaver...

We followed the pretend-trail for a few minutes and realized we were walking into a kampung (and Indonesian village).  Once we got in there, our kids were a big draw (as always).  Everyone was so happy to see them and little miss Katie was the star of the show.  I can't wait for my language skills to improve so that I can actually talk with people rather than answer basic questions.

And Alaina as we walk out.  It took a long time to get out of the kampung..the kids were much more interested in chasing the chickens, baaahing back at the goats, and finding stray kittens.

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Next up is some photos from the last few days...just little things that are making me so happy right now.

The clear mountain view from the balcony off the master bedroom/my office. The mountains around us are really beautiful.  It is just usually too foggy to see them.

Getting my hands and desk messy playing with fun things like paper and glue.  This was for a 25th Anniversary Party last weekend

The other day I went over to the hotel to use the internet and get some work done. I forgot that my battery had no power so I got about 3 minutes of use.  I decided to come home and get some other work done...this time, finishing organizing all my scrap/craft stuff.  It makes me happy just seeing it all around me.

And three of my very favorite things...my family, my Mac, and a coffee cup

And, since I was taking pictures around my desk anyway, I thought I would show you this brilliant idea from Lanne.

She bought these cool ice cube trays from IKEA and uses them to hold loose CD's.  LOVE it...it keeps the CD's and DVD's from piling up all over my desk and keeps them clean.

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So there you have it...a few peeks into my photo folder. 

I don't know if I will have the chance to post again before Thanksgiving or not.  We are cooking and eating lunch here at the house with our helper and her husband and then we are headed into the mountains for the weekend.  We are all so, so excited! It feels like forever since we got away as just a family.  We are staying at a cottage (with a fireplace!) and going to a safari park.  Walks in the tea fields, feeding zebras, and lots of coffee by the fireplace are all on the agenda. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

(P.S.  i will refresh the link for the template freebie later today when I go to the hotel...it won't work from the house).

Comments

[Shabby Miss Jenn]

OH awesome! I love the ice cube tray for cd's! Clever oh so clever! I use a tupperware small dish for our kids' cd's at their computer but still..love the ice cube tray!

[Lanne]

Ohhh I can't wait to show this to my husband (who thinks the ice cube tray is crazy!) - He does however have a red one on his desk - my fathers day gift (and little joke!)...

IN all seriousness tho... SO pleased my idea is working out for someone else too :) I do like how it protects them and makes them readily available!

[Margie S]

Love all the pictures! It's so great to see the people you are serving and how God uses your kids to bring such smiles to these ladies! What a joy!!! Great idea for the ice cube tray-thinking a trip to Ikea is in order :)
Thanks for the template!