My Favorite Place

We took a few days of rest at the beach only a couple hours away from our home here.
We are so blessed to have places like this right here, in country, to just be able to relax, get away from electricity, phones, internet etc.

As we were enjoying our time together with a friend, over a lunch of Thai curry, she asked Thomas where his favorite place to go was.
After a moment or two he answered, "Hyderabad and the Cockroach (the nickname for a restaurant up in Murree)."

This is the doing of our Father, that he has given my son a love for this country. He has experienced so many places and the blessings that each one affords, yet his heart is at home when he is here, right where God has called us to be.

I am so thankful to our Father for giving Thomas this love and contentment for right here. What a wonderful reminder to us to be happy right where God has placed us, not looking to somewhere else, or someone else's life, house, family, job, education, or experiences.  God knows what he is doing and he is working for our good always, that we might become more and more like Jesus.

"Happy are the children whose God is the LORD."

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 Andthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4: 4-8

Thankful,
m

Thankful for Dirt?

Thankfulness seems to be a lot about perspective.

We recently flew back across the Atlantic "home" to Pakistan.
Several times throughout the journey I teared up, knowing I was leaving my daughter back in the States and moving back to life without libraries, clean and priced shopping, parks with open wide spaces to run in without anyone ever staring (except me, my husband or my son who have adopted this South Asian habit the of unabashed stare) etc.

Thomas, our son, however, saw our landing in the dirty, dusty city of over 17 million (maybe closer to 20 million) people in a very different light.
As we walked up the ramp from the airplane into the airport we were hit by, what I would describe, a warm blast of VERY dusty air.  Thomas took a deep, loud breath in, "Yup, it smells like Pakistan.  Dusty. I love it here!"
"Hmmm" I thought.  "Really?"
30 minutes later as we sat in the car headed to Hyderabad he continued his thankfulness, "The air in America is so wet (I would chosen the words fresh, clean, etc).  I like the air here so much better.  It's so, well, dusty.  Mom, what vitamins are in dirt?"
Really?  We know we need to get our daily dose of vitamin D. But no, this is not D for Dirt.
Vitamins in dirt?

I may not be thankful for the dusty air but I certainly am thankful for my son who has a heart of love for this nation and it's people and culture and even the dirt.
What a gift it is to have a happy and content child!
What a gift the Lord has given to his heart to be thankful for the very things that others despise. May God use him for his glory and the expansion of his kingdom.

We are so glad to be home.

thankful,
m

God Makes Diversity

A couple weeks ago we were talking about diversity.
For years now I have said to my son when he tried to tell me our skin colors were both white, "No, baby, God gave you beautiful brown skin.  God makes us all different.  One is not better than the other.  But your skin and my skin are not the same.  My is sort of pink. Yours is a light brown.  Some people have dark brown.  Some have really, very white, like your sister."
But, as is only natural, he wanted to be like his Mom and Dad.

Till three weeks ago when out of the blue he interjected in our 'adult discussion' on diversity, "I'll be your diversity!"

He's finally got it.  God made him the beautiful brown color that he is.
God's got it under control.
God makes beautiful.

m

O To Be Found!

I lost Thomas.
We miscommunicated.
I stopped. He kept walking.
I turned round and found everyone but him.
My heart stopped. My soul raced to the Savior. My mouth moved.
"Where's my son?"
Louder, "Where did my son go?"
Culturally inappropriate?  I don't know. I only knew I had lost my son.
"There." "He is standing there."  "He went on that way."
My mind racing, "Do they know? Should I leave this spot? Do I go right or left?"

A boy the size of Thomas but probably close to 15 years old pointed.  He was standing up on a step so he could see further than I. "He's there."

I think I may have ran.
I know I shouted.

There he was, face as white as his little face can go.  Looking left. Looking right. Looking down the alley behind and in front.  He was terrified.

"We'll cry when we get home." We decided.  "But we can thank the Lord now."
We did.  Walking through the mass of black burqa's and chadors (large cloth I wear covering my head and much of my body).

"All I could see was black women everywhere," he said, "I didn't know which one was you."

I think I should buy a bright, sky blue chador to wear next time we are in the masses of black together.

A day later I am still thanking the Lord for his safety.
We have said "thank you" to the Lord over and over.
The story, when re-told to dad, grew in proportions!
We have looked at each other and said we love one another.
We have talked about the reality that Mom won't always be there, but the Lord will.
How glorious the feeling is to be found!  How good it is to be together!

Isn't that how it is with the Lord?  The moment we realize that we are lost, that's when we can be found.  When, in God's incomparable grace, he reveals to the depths of our hearts the horrible, death-saturated understanding that we are lost and that then leads us to the greatest, most life changing news; through Jesus, we can be found.  Just like the Prodigal Son, we must return to the feet of the Father, where we belong.  How good it is to know that we who were lost can be found.
Hallelujah, I am found!!!

Rembrant, "The Return of the Prodigal Son"

m

Sick Day

My little guy is sick.
He has moped about for the past couple of days.
He has complained off and on of a head ache.
Life changes so quickly.
One moment you are wondering what you are going to do next with the energetic, rambunctious, pushing the envelope character your little boy has and the next you wonder what you will do without it.

With Thomas there is no question whether he is sick or not.  He only ever stops for two things in life: to sleep and to be sick.  The rest of life he is in full motion, full go, full enthusiasm.

I hate to see him this way.
I hate that there are days I have complained to the Lord about the energy he has.

God gives us each different strengths/weaknesses.
How I pray that one day all the energy, enthusiasm, love of life that comes so naturally to him will one day all be used towards the building of God's kingdom and not his own.  How I pray that I would grow into the mother God has called me to be that can help channel Thomas in that direction.

For now I will sit beside him in bed, books in a pile ready to be read when he wakes up.

I will continue to lay my hands on his body and ask my Jehovah Rapha to heal my baby by his grace and power.
I will give thanks in all circumstances knowing that that is God's will for me in Christ.

Thankful for my unique, precious, God-given children,
m

My Kiddo's

Praising the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, all that is seen and unseen, the Sustainer of life, the Giver of all things, the Healer, the Redeemer, the All-Wise One... for my kiddos.

 Isn't he handsome???

Check her out... a local wedding beauty!!!

 o... well... some days they look like this!

 

 

Thank you God for my kids.
You did a good job!  I praise you.

m

Vote for Amina, Vote for Toffees

Recently at T's school they had election for head girl and head boy. Signs hung on the school walls, speeches were made and a rally was held to announce the winners.
As the election week progress I watched my son evaluate who he would vote for:
"Assif gave me one rupee.  I think I will vote for him."
"Rosie says she will give the whole school money if we vote for her."
"Amina told us we would all get a toffee if she won."

Wow!!! At seven years old the age old game of empty promises and bribery has begun. But at seven there's no hiding the truth.  The poster's themselves honestly describe the bribery to be given out if votes are cast in their support.

So, my son came home with ink on his thumb, having cast his vote for Amina.
He didn't get any toffee.
But he got to vote.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all,  

1 Timothy 2:1-6a

My vote is cast.

I choose the one who fulfilled all the promises of God.

He gets my vote, today and every day after!

Happy to be a citizen of another kingdom,

m

Traffic Police

One of the ways I am continually reminded that I am raising children in another culture and they inadvertently are creating a new culture of their own (hence: "Third Culture Kids" TCK's) is when I watch my little guy play.  When he plays with other TCK's they visit places that kiddo's would never go, "My car is going to the Taj Mahal."  or instead of "school" like most first graders play it's, "let's ride in the airplane" and hours of an airplane journey.
The latest reminder was when Thomas lined his toys up on my kitchen counter as I prepared lunch.  They looked like this:

Then he said, "Look mom!  It's the traffic police!"  
What?  Has your kid ever called the local roaming animals in your neighborhood traffic police?  O... you don't have roaming cows, buffalo, donkeys, goats, chickens, dogs, etc?  Well, we do!!! And the traffic graciously gives way every time.  


Life is just different here.
My son sees things differently.  
Not better, not worse... just different.
I love different.
Praise God for creating different.
May Christ in me make me "different." 
Because of Christ may other's want to be different too.


Always been a little different, 
m

Growing Up

Well, it finally happened.
Thomas lost his first tooth.  We have been waiting for some time and were so glad to see it happen.
Here are the before and after.


Before the tooth fell out:

After:

And another close us just so you can see the tooth that came in BEHIND the first set of teeth.

Craziness.  Who knew that growing up was such a messing venture!


m

"Typical" Scenes Around the House

Tonight I realized how funny our life must look to the outsider.
When I came out of the kitchen after washing up from dinner this is what I found my children doing.


Exhibit A: 
This is school for Bliss.  Four nights a week she attends live classes at 9am EST.  So this is her evening activity.  To someone on the outside she might look anti-social and withdrawn but this thought is quickly dashed when you hear her laugh aloud, answer questions, ask questions and engage with the other students and teachers, even if she can't see them

Exhibit B: 

The noises escaping this one's mouth is what surprised me.  He had taken my recorder from Sindhi language learning and was multi-tasking, loudly repeating the phrases in a foreign tongue while burning a little extra energy.  I think he was copying his parents, only we do it to burn fat and get more energy!!!

What a blessing it is to have such beautiful, resilient children who go with the flow and adapt to life so well, even if they do appear a little odd!  I guess that's what makes them TCK's (third culture kids).

Thankful for the oddities in my life, 

m

An Honor Worth... Eating?

Recently we were welcomed and honored as is local custom by having a string of roses put around each one of our necks.  The smell of the freshly cut roses was delicious, the honor slightly embarrassing but very welcoming, and the fellowship was great. 


The smell of the roses must have been beyond delicious to one individual who pluck a petal off of Thomas' necklace and delicately proceeded to nibble it down, much to the surprise and delight of Thomas.  I'm glad Thomas didn't follow his lead!


What a joy it is to be in a different culture and enjoy the way God has made us all different.

The man on the right of Thomas is our new rose eating friend.

I love living here!
m

"DO NOT FEAR WHAT IS FRIGHTENING"

1 Peter 3:6b "And you are [Sarah's] children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."

Do you ever read the WORD and think, "God, is that just for me? Did those people 2000 years ago need to hear this or did you just throw them in there for me?"

Living overseas brings so many challenges and so many blessings.  God has been exposing lately how easily my heart is giving into fear.  My initial response to my fear has been, "Well, maybe it's not really that scary, I just need to trust God more."  But God had an answer just waiting for me!!!

God has freed me in the last couple weeks to just call what is fearful exactly what it is: fearful, frightening and sometimes downright terrifying.  As I sat in the back of a ricky old rickshaw flying down one of the smoother roads here,  Thomas turned to me and asked, "So mom, if the wheel falls off, will we just fall out or will we die?"  I looked him in the eyes and said, "We will probably die or get really hurt."  Because the reality is, I had just been thinking exactly the same thing, confessed it to the Lord as something frightening and been able to release it to him.  I then began to wondered, "When did I get so old to start thinking a rickshaw ride as potentially dangerous?"

I know that God has us here because he wants us here for our good and for the good of the Kingdom.  The dangers may be more apparent here to the Western eye, but that only makes God's power, tender care, and presence all the more apparent to us. It just makes the task of getting the Good News to as many as possible that much more urgent.

So, as I head off to the bazaar this afternoon, who knows what the Lord will bring as far as "frightening" is concerned.  But at least I know that God holds me in his tender care and that he has given me and will give me all I need to respond without fear.  By God's grace he will continue to bring me to a place of rest and peace even when things around me are frightening and use me effectively for the sake of the Kingdom.

Yes to Jesus!

On February 20th, Thomas said, "Yes" to Jesus.  
We are excited to see where the Lord will take him and how Thomas will continue to change and grow as he understands more and more deeply the love of Jesus.
We rejoice in God's provision of salvation through his Son Jesus!!!
Celebrate with us Thomas' new life in Christ.

Die Like a Gentleman

We were blessed to have my dad visit for a few days just last week. It was such a time of encouragement and strengthening for our hearts.  The kids were thrilled to see their Grandpa and to get all the goodies Grandma sent.  My mom certainly knows how to pack a suitcase!!!


Thomas and I got to make the 2 hour trip to the city where my dad was flying in. Thomas had dressed with care, wanting to wear his Topi (hat) like Grandpa would have on too.  


Our taxi driver several times on our trip down made the ride more interesting (at least for himself) by racing with other cars.  He seemed to get a thrill of pulling up close behind them, riding their tail, honking, passing, and then as he passed, staring them down with a cunning grin.


As Thomas and I held hands during one of these episodes he turn to me and said, "Well, at least I am dressed in my best clothes and will die like a gentleman!"


Be careful with these homeschool kids.  They learn what they read and then repeat it when you least expect it!!! Thanks to one rendition of the "Titanic" my son at least knows what it would look like to die dressed as a gentleman!

Urdu or Sindhi?

After having studied our second language (Sindhi) now for about 2 weeks, I was feeling a little more confident to try out some of my memorized, rote phrases. 
So, yesterday I went to a store, just to "look" and to get in some good practice.  I thought it was all going well until the shop worker asked politely in Urdu (our first, second language), "Do you want me to explain this in Urdu or Sindhi?"  I guess he could easily decipher my inability to ask anything more than, "How much is that?" in pure Sindhi.  Everything else is coming out with mix and match.  Praise God that the people here are loving and patient, willing to let me not just slaughter one language but two and simultaneiously!!!


Thomas is confusing himself too.  Today he was riding around in circles in our our very small car port repeating over and over again in Sindhi, "What is MY name? What is My name?"  I'm not sure if I have been wandering around the house saying it wrong or if he is just combining the phrases he is hearing being said over and over and over again!


Who knew language learning could be so entertaining!!! Praise God he understands them all!


"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Bible: Rev. 7:9-10

Thomas says goodbye to Mia the Lizard

Saying goodbyes isn't easy for anyone. For Thomas one goodbye he had say when we moved from OR was to two good friends, Lily and Mia. Some of us find new friends quickly, others try to keep close contact with old and add on the new. Thomas just finds new friends and gives them the name of his old!!
Thomas found "Mia" at the edge of a lake not long after our move. Mia has been Thomas' pet/friend lizard for the past 6 months and today was the day for her to return to her natural habitat away from the cage.

Here is a foggy closeup of Mia...



Thomas tried to find Mia's perfect new home....
a place where she can "find a husband and children."



One last kiss goodbye....




Mia's new home where she belongs...

Happy Birthday, Thomas and Happy Father's Day!

Thomas is growing up!

It is exciting to see how he is learning how to bike and swim.


He can also drive a jeep....