Happy New Year

Some quick thoughts on the New Year and resolutions!

I have several friends doing 365 projects. Writing and posting pictures each day of 2010. What I think is crazy about this is that I am going to KNOW these people better than some of my closest friends. These are all "blog-friends" and when you have them plugged into google reader, they pop up as to say, "Good morning, here was my day yesterday." When in reality I don't even know how my best friend, parents or sometimes even husbands day was yesterday! Weird. But I continue to check, right? A few of my favorites (not necessarily daily blogs):

For great musings and story telling I love Lawerish.

Family fun with Amy.

For ALL things Crafty.

Life in Vietnam.

And a host (but more could be added!) of other beautiful families that I so enjoy their lives.

My mom's theme: "Fit and Thin in Two Thousand Ten." I am convinced that I will see this slogan on TV very soon, by someone like Denise Austin. She coined other special catch phrases, such as, "If you don't squeeze it, no one else will."

Some friends are pressing themselves to do new things. Like the Daniel Fast, becoming vegetarian or training for a marathon.

And other general things I have heard this last week: becoming more balanced, saying NO more often and being more generous with our time, talent and treasure.

I will start off by saying that I have done resolutions every year. I went to look for my 7th grade journal where I wrote my first New Year's resolutions, but could only find back to 1998. I think those before that are in the attic and its just too cold for searching! But I remember that was the first year I heard about this type of thing. I pulled out a notebook, jumped on my bed and wrote ten things down to work on that year. I am sure it was things like, make up a dance to Salt n' Pepa or get a spiral perm.

This year was EASY. I am narrowing down on life and what I am passionate about.

1. Getting the novel in my head out on paper. I know this will not be completed this year, but it is going to start this year. I have several novels in my head, but one is on my mind the moment I wake up and throughout my dreams. I heard that out of every ten people who want to write a novel (or as Adam has been teasing me from American Idol auditions, a novella. Which is longer than a noveletta but shorter than a novel) only ONE actually writes the novel. I have decided this will be me.

2. Continuing to learn Vietnamese. I am going to start saving for the, gulp, very expensive Rosetta Stone. I do NOT want to stop lessons for three months in the summer and have the desire to keep exposing my brain (and ears) to the language. Along with this I would like a Vietnamese bible and some children's books.

3. Planting a garden. Yes, in my backyard there will be fruit and veggies. I want to plant, tend, grow and eat what God makes. I am SO excited and know absolutely nothing about how to start, but the passion is there so I am going to do it. I also would like to can. So my grandmother can be expecting a call from me when tomatoes are coming out the wazoo.

Well, that is it.

I could go on and on about adoption and other desires. OR that I need to continuing to work on freedom from fears and anxiety. Or making sure I am a great wife and mom who always has dinner on the table and a clean kitchen... but those things are ever evolving and never ending areas. The Lord has His own areas that He prunes and to Him I am beyond thankful that what does not bear fruit in my life is pruned. I want a life to glorify Him first and foremost. Without His guidance, I am truly nothing.

The word of the year will be Faithful.

The scripture of the year will be Romans 8:28:

"And we KNOW that in ALL things (good, bad and otherwise) God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Quote of the year: God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.

Have a wonderful 2010,

Natasha

Send off to Africa

I had the greatest college experience and it is mostly due to my wonderful roommates. We lived together for 2 years in the dorms then 2 years in an apt. They met in high school and we all met the first week of college. We were all 18 years old.

We had a couple other gals that lived with us for a while, but we three were a cord that has not broken. We have watched each other grow up in our faith, cry over break-ups, share our deepest hurts without condemnation and truly rejoice in blessings.
Here we are all youthful looking- atop of bad haircuts, bushy eyebrows, outdated clothes and as you can tell from Shannon on the right- she didn't learn how to smile in a picture until like yesterday. But that is just one of her quirks that we like.
The girls came over this weekend along with their husbands and children. We celebrated our last meal together as the Jones' are heading off to Africa for two years. (I also just noticed we are in the same order as the pic above.) Vanessa is in the middle and their family has committed their lives to God's service and to His people in other countries.
Kyle (top right) is a doctor and will be working at a hospital in Kenya. Vanessa and their 3 boys (all under four) will be doing school at home and ministering to the women of the village.
They also came bearing gifts...
They are all from Amani Ya Juu. All the items on their site are handmade by African women who are in need. The words Amani Ya Juu in Swahili means, "higher peace," which they are learning comes from the Lord. The women made our family an angel, a purse and a kickball. The ball is made of grain sacks from relief agencies. The refugee's in Kakuma make everything from curtains to roofing from these sacks.

We had a wonderful time eating delicious food, letting the kids play and spending time in prayer. Their family has been attacked in many ways, especially in forms of sicknesses, and it was time the enemy knew they have a whole army behind them sending them off to Africa. I look forward to the letters sharing how Kyle was able to pray for someones healing and they were healed and how Vanessa's househelper notices this home is just a little bit "different" because the Lord lives there... you will be missed, but are exactly where you are supposed to be!

RANDOM LANGUAGE THOUGHTS:
We talked about learning Swahili in Africa and I wanted to share a statistic I heard:
To become fluent in a foreign language requires 800 hours of conversation. OH My Word.

As you know we started Vietnamese lessons in August. I REALLY LOVE learning the language and can tell that I am actually learning something. I can say short sentences (like my name is..., hello friend or thank you very much), I know individual vocab, numbers and introductions.
My favorite website for basic instruction is everydayviet. Donna's tones are awesome and you can actually hear the slight tonal differences when she teaches! And of course we love our teachers at language school. We would not be where we are today without their kindness, patience and one-on-one instruction.
I did have my first dream in Vietnamese. I was buying a purse at the market in HCMC and I started talking to her in Vietnamese. "How much Dong is this purse Miss?" I woke up happy!
My next thing to figure out is how to write on our computer in Vietnamese. Like with the accents an everything. I can go to a language converter and do it word by word, then paste it, but yuck! Adam says they have Vietnamese keyboards. I don't know, I want to be able to type... we will see.
Mrs. Anna, Avi Joy's Vietnamese teacher, sent us a Christmas card this year. I loved what it said... "Wishing you a beautiful Christmas season. May your New Year be showered with blessings and steps closer to God's dream for you." Is that NOT precious!

"I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples." Psalm 57:9

Natasha

Spreading a little Christmas cheer...

Its was Christmas morning... in the early tween years.
I combed my Sun-In'ed hair, got dressed and went into the living room to open all my Christmas presents. Little did I know that it would be the BEST Christmas ever!
This was the year I LOVED every single gift I received...

I put on my new 1, 2, 3 sweater from my aunt and uncle.
My new watch-ring and locket necklace.
Put on my gold, black and white pearl dangle earrings.
Painted my nails with my new Streetwalker Red nailpolish.
Opened my new Estee Lauder make-up kit (which my grandma always got me) and bathed myself in Hot Pink Porsche lipstick and Sunset blush.
I posed next to my frilly lamp and my see through neon colored phone (remember those?)

I am sure I had to make sure that my bangs were just right, my non-plucked eyebrows were not hanging in my eyeballs and everything looked perfect for my Christmas night photo showing off all my new gifts!

Oh yes it was a grand Christmas.
NHP

Advent Adventures Part Hai (2 in Vietnamese)

Please see previous post for Days 1-10.
I also have a friend who posted about her Advent box for 2009 and she posted her complete 25 day Advent from 2008 (it is SO awesome- check it out!)

We mostly use Avi Joy's "Read with Me Bible" for these stories. They have great pictures and the amount of text is age appropriate.

So on with the show:

Day 11. Heart: Psalm 119:11. I have hidden Your Word in my heart.
12. Nail: Unless the Lord builds the house- Psalm 127:1. Then build and decorate a gingerbread house. (Without nails of course... you may have thought it was for Jesus's hands- we are not ready for that yet!)
13. Candy: Psalm 34:8. "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him."
14. Map: Mark 16:15. "Go into all the world and preach the good news."
15. Bar of soap: Having a clean heart. Psalm 24:4-5 (she loves taking baths with actual bar-soap, so she will get to use it next bathtime.)
16. Key: Paul and Silas locked in prison and then released. Acts 13 and 16
17. Cotton ball: Psalm 100:3. We are like sheep.
18. Ring: Isaac and Rebekah get married. Genesis 24.
19. Torn piece of paper: Ecc 3. A time for everything. It is torn and she will get to mend it with tape.
20. Net: Matt 4. Called to be fishers of men. (I am using an avocado net)
21. Two silver coins: The good Samaritan gives 2 coins, Luke 10.
22. Little wash cloth: Jesus washes his disciples feet. John 13
23. Empty: the tomb is empty, so nothing will be inside. Matthew 28.
24. Sugar packet: Bake a cake for Jesus.
25. Star: The star of Bethlehem. Matthew/Luke's story of Jesus' birth on Christmas morning and we might even let them eat cake for breakfast- ahhhhhhh!

Again, hope these ideas spur you on in your parenting. I know many of my ideas come from watching and listening to others- the rest come straight from God!

Natasha
P.S. Our Advent box came from Target. I searched many places last year for the right one. Target had the most selection, so many beautiful ones. I leave mine up year round- I love it.

Advent Adventures...

We are counting down our Advent box this year. We started tonight, December 1st with the first door... Twenty five days until Christ's birth, Christmas Day.
I have seen this done by my friends in many ways...
Some put treats inside.
Some teach scriptures.
Some give their kiddos missions (like bake cookies and give to neighbors)

As I see it there really is no wrong or right in starting an Advent tradition. The goal is to focus more on Christ for Christmas other than shopping and Santa.

My goal (because I am cheap) was to find things around the house for free and tag them along with a story.

I have come up with half and will post the rest in a few days.
I hope you can take this and run with it!

1. Band-aid: Jesus is our healer. Read Jesus heals the 10 lepers in Luke ch. 17 (p.s. this went over really well since she got to put her band-aid on before bed!)
2. Pecan nut: God taking care of animals. Matthew 10 & we have a book with kids thanking God for nuts to feed the animals. (Then she will get to eat the pecan)
3. Leaf: Noah's ark. Dove went out and brought back the olive branch, new life.
4. Butterfly: Read story Hermie and Wormie. Transformation, we are like the caterpillar to the butterfly. (we have a butterfly hair clip)
5. Light bulb: God made the light/dark in Genesis and Jesus is the light of the world.
6. Rock: David and Goliath (her favorite story right now)
7. Hay: Jesus born in a manger. Story of His birth in Luke.
8. Cup: the wedding feast where Jesus turns water into wine for His first miracle.
9. Bread: Give us today our daily bread. Prayer in Matt 15.
10. Q-tip: Sit and listen to Jesus. Mary and Martha with Jesus in Luke 10.

Please share your traditions,
Natasha

construction.

My life has been under some serious construction. Isn't it just when we think we have mastered an area of our lives it comes back again to bite us where it hurts???

The road I live on is under serious construction. It is being widened from 2 to 4 lanes. God has really been speaking to me about this in relation to my life.
Construction:
1. Takes a lot of workers to accomplish this change
2. Lots of detours
3. The look changes daily
4. Slow signs posted
5. Stop, Bump, drop off signs everywhere
6. New speed limit
7. Double the fines if you go too fast
8. Bull-dozers, jack hammers and shovels required
9. New power lines are going up
10. Traffic is backed-up

IS THIS NOT LIKE US?? This has SO been ME!!! I cannot do it alone. I need God, my husband, family and friends to accomplish changes. It looks different daily and I am constantly having to slow down, stop and take detours to healing. I have to use my "tools" to make the changes. I could GO ON... This construction has been applicable to my life.

Recently on a bad night my hubby said: "You are having a runners stitch. Push through."
OH how I needed this thought. I have been having those a lot. I want to quit or cower in fear. BUT I must press on past the stitch.
In Romans 7 Paul talks about for what he wants to do, he does not do, and what he hates he does. YUCK. I understand this and choose to trust God and freedom.

Other things helping me...
Putting on the armor of God and letting God fight for me.
Going to war, "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

Knowing He is faithful (Chapman's song You Are Faithful is amazing!)
And the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Not perfect. Stop striving. Just rest. He provides a way.
NHP
perrymanadoption

So You Think You Can...

...DANCE!
My cousin Jansen and her boyfriend Brian, Adam and I all have birthdays within 3 weeks of one another. Three of us in the same week! Well us girls wanted to celebrate with going to So You Think You Can Dance. While all my friends were out seeing Wicked or attending the U2 concert, we were out with the other tweens watching the best dancing and choreography ever!

So you think you can?? YES WE DO!
Here are some of our favorite things from the evening.
Kupono's plug for the SYTYCD Workout DVD. So funny I cried. Because the next day was Halloween they all came out in costume as well. Jeanine sucking her thumb totally got me.
Adam's favorite Philip doing his solo. My favorite Janette. I LOVE the whole group water dance. Super hot.
Everyone gave Brandon a standing O for his solo. Amazing.
The closing of the show. It was a super time and our seats were awesome.
We stayed after to take pictures with the top 12 dancers. Kupono is Jansen's other boyfriend so she was thrilled to give him a kiss. Just kidding, she wishes.
I will say they were all so beautiful in person, but truly Jeanine surpassed them all. She was BEAUTIFUL beyond words really.
With Philip...
She took over 200 pics inside and I took tons after... I don't want to completely bore you with all of them. The other dances that stood out for me were The Ballywood number, The Butt Dance and The Disco- if you are a fan of the show you will know all these. We so love Mia, Wade and Sonya. They are our favorite choreographers.
Happy Birthday to us!
Natasha