Week in pictures

Before we left the states, a friend of mine gave me her old Iphone to use over here. I had never had an iphone, so even though i've been using it for a few months now, I still forget how many cool things it can do.

Like take pictures. I always usually bring my camera with me, but as of yesterday have realized how much more convenient it is to use my phone.

Here's my week!

Earlier this week I made a strawberry-pineapple-orange-spinach smoothie. It tasted really good!!

sidenote: i need to get some glasses that are big enough to hold my smoothie!

Yesterday, I went for a walk. I like to take walks to try and get lost and to explore new things around our house...which isn't too hard to do. I truly believe that there are little treasures just waiting to be found, I just need to look.

Case in point:

I found this cute store that had lots of beauty products. They actually sold the regular bottles of OPI, but they were $13, and seriously? But I love that no matter what country I'm in...Texas is representin'!! Also....you know when you buy make up from a department store and you get the free gift with purchase? They had tons of the little free sample things. But again...each was about $10. And I know these were originally free!

Our complex is really sprucing up the place for spring. It makes me happy! I love seeing all the flowers!

Last night I made lasagna. I was totally planning on doing vegetarian, but it was a long busy day and I didn't want to take the time to try a new recipe. And my regular meat lasagna is way easy to make, and I hate to brag, but oh so good! So I sauteed up some spinach and we called it a meal!

(i feel the need to clarify, this is Daniel's plate)

This morning I went to a local orphanage. That will be a separate post. I'm still processing everything. It was hard to see. The kids were so excited to see us and to have us play with them. But I had a hard time dealing with the conditions and care they receive. More on that later.

But...ya'll know I was all sad about Easter this year. And I told Daniel this was going to be the first year I wouldn't have an easter basket. Shocking, I know. But seriously my mom has always made sure I had one...even mailing it to me last time I lived overseas. Lame, maybe. But still. I thrive on tradition. So guess what I saw when I came home today?

Ya'll, he really is the best!!! Not sure if you can tell, but he made me a basket out of a planter, and filled it with lots of really good yummy treats!!! I never buy peanut m&m's because i think they're too expensive. So I am so excited to eat these soon!

That was my week! Happy Easter!

love

laura

Easter Confession

I am embarrassed to actually write this post, but it's been on mind.

This morning is Good Friday. I got on Facebook this morning and read some status updates that people were excited about their 3 day holiday weekend. My first thought was "wow, I wonder what holiday is going on right now in the states."

I wish I was kidding.

Honestly, Easter has really snuck up on me this year. I was talking to my sister and she was talking about easter egg hunts and sunday services, and she asked me if we had any plastic eggs at our house or how we were going to celebrate.

I was like "ummm we're going to have lunch with some friends."  I felt lame for not having an Easter basket to give Daniel on Sunday morning. I had a mini pity party that my house doesn't have a single easter decoration. I'm sure I could have found some craft or something on Pinterest, but again, Easter has completely snuck up on me and hasn't really been on my mind. And I don't say that passively, I'm so sad that it hasn't been.

Not to throw out blame (ha), but as I was thinking about it and talking with my sister, I realized that in the states, one is easily bombarded with easter reminders everywhere you go. I'm pretty sure that if I walked into any store in the states right now, I would be instantly reminded of what holiday was coming up next. Is it weird that i miss that? I miss seeing all the cute decorations, coloring eggs (yes we're the family that does that every year even before sarah had the boys.....i'm sure i was the only person in college who still colored eggs with my parents and grown sister), and getting an easter basket from my mom filled with candy and little treats.

I know that is not the point of Easter. And that's where I'm headed with this.....just because I don't have all the cute "stuff" to remind me doesn't mean the meaning is lost. You would think that without all the media hype and distractions of the easter bunny, it would be easier to remember the reason we celebrate. And it should be that way. But this is my honest truth...it hasn't been that way this year. I don't know if it's because things are busy and I really try to take each day one at a time, and that has kept me from looking forward.

My hope for today is to know His nearness. I want to be in awe of His saving power and the new life that He has given to me. I don't want Easter to come and go and the only thing I remember is that I need to make the jello salad for our Sunday lunch. I want to be caught up in Him. And only Him, my risen Savior!

love

laura

zumba-asian style

So i joined the gym I told ya'll about. I got an AMAZING deal and i'm pretty excited about it. My incentive for joining was 10 free passes to give to friends. One of my friends has been wanting to try the spin class, so we met up last night to go.
Come to find out, spin class was cancelled for 3 days because of "t he holiday." I use that word loosely because it's not a major holiday-Daniel is out of class and some banks and businesses are closed, but guess who is still in class this week? yep, just call me an over achiever, ha!

Anyways....spin was cancelled but they asked if we wanted to go to the other group exercise class. We live on the edge so we said of course. It was actually a Zumba class. Now, I have never attended a zumba class in the states, so I didn't know what to expect. Let's just say it had an Asian twist for sure!!

My friend and I were sweating it all off for sure, but it was so much fun! The dance moves were interesting....but oh so much fun!

I say, if you are ever lacking entertainment in your life....please try any work out class in Asia. It's so much fun!!

Maybe all the spinning and zumba is getting to me. I have been having what I would classify as "excessive thirst," lately and feel like i am drinking water non-stop, and just can't get enough. So I tried to self-diagnose and came up with diabetes or iron poisoning. I really don't see how either can apply to me, but seriously non.stop.thirst. ideas??

also, random...but I had a root beer today. I was at an import store, and seize the day i did.

love

laura

Weekend Rewind

We are experiencing beautiful weather here! We have had sunshine for several days in a row and I am so happy! Look at these pretty flowers and trees!

(this was actually taken a few days ago when it was pretty cloudy)

This past week was spent mostly in language study. March and April are months that we knew we wouldn't be doing much travelling, so we're really trying to focus as much on language as we can right now, before the busy summer.
It's April, ya'll. Seriously where did the time ago?? I'm almost 30 and 1/4. Way too close to being 31 for my comfort.

Friday night we go to a weekly english corner to help locals learn english. This week we talked about wisdom, foolishness, and making good decisions. It was a great reminder of who is the giver of all wisdom.

Saturday was a weird day.

We got a text message from a friend who lives in our apartment complex at 7:30am that we were supposed to be without electricity from 8am -6pm. I was still in bed, so Daniel came and told me so we could hurry up and prepare for the day. We plugged in phones and computers to get as much charge as we could, got everything out of the fridge that we would need, made coffee, and then just waited. And waited. Finally, the power did go out about 10am, but came back on at 12 and stayed on. Hear me, I am NOT complaining, but it was kind of funny to prepare for a day without power and then not be inconvenienced at all. Pretty anti-climatic.

What wasn't anti-climatic is what happened later Saturday afternoon. Daniel heard what sounded like water running. Yes, water was running. In fact it was pretty much gushing from our hot water heater onto our enclosed patio/laundry room. We are SO thankful that a) we were home to catch it before it went too far and b) our electric plugs and things for the washer/dryer were high enough to not be effected.

So.........we get a repairman to come and he says there are many problems and we need a new one. We totally believe him because we've had problems in the past with it. We call the landlord who argues with the repairman that we probably don't need a new one.

Long story, short our landlord is planning on coming Monday morning to assess the situation. I'm really hoping he sees hot water as a necessity.

Also....because ya'll know I'm not a regular shower-taker (unless I work out), I hadn't showered since Thursday night. I don't mind my body not getting a shower, but my hair can get oi-ly! Thankfully, it is pretty common to just go get your hair washed at the many nearby hair salons. So I paid $4 and got a hairwash and dry.

Here's me this morning.  My eyes are kind of squinty because my eyes are just kind of squinty.

I need a haircut, and I'm actually thinking get a few inches off! We'll see......

Oh...i forgot to tell ya'll..... last weekend I watched my FIRST Star Wars movie! They really aren't that bad, and kind of entertaining. Last night we watched the second one, Empire Strikes Back. I want to watch them all in the order they were originally released.

And.....I'm trying to cook vegetarian this week. Because veggies are cheap and healthy, and why not I say? We'll be eating eggplant bake, vegetarian lasagna, and fish. Does fish count? I think some vegetarians eat fish right?? And i'm still trying to find a good recipe for veggie lasagna, so hook a sister up if ya'll have one!

love

laura

Reflection

This morning, in my quiet time, the study I'm using asked us to think about where we were spiritually, a year ago. Now, I would usually go get my old journal, read up, and figure out what Father was teaching me about this time a year ago.

But, all of my old journals are still in the States. So I did the next best thing.....and checked the ol blog!

About this time a year ago, I was spending the weekend in Arkansas for my friend's wedding. I remember feeling completely encouraged and filled throughout the weekend. It was a such a sweet time to reconnect with some wonderful friends that don't live close by.

As I was looking through old blog posts from this time a year ago and from two years ago, it just kept me thinking about how important it is to do a spiritual inventory every so often.

Looking back over this past year, I can clearly point out the tough times and remember what I was feeling and fighting against. I'm thankful that right now i'm looking back on the hard times over the past year, and don't feel like i'm currently in one. I mean to say, I'm loving my season right now with our Father.

Each day can bring a new challenge or setback, but it can also bring the most unexpected blessing as well. And lately I feel like I've been experiencing the blessings. does that make sense?? (Sorry, it's late and my mind has been functioning in another language for most of the day.) But what I mean to say is, this past year has had it's tough moments. I can tell you about them in detail. But, right now.....where Father has me, feels like a wonderful season of blessing.

I came across this verse a little over a month ago, and i am constantly going back to it.

It's Psalms 119:54 

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.

I not only feel like a sojourner right now because I'm not living in the States, but also because I know that I will be spending eternity in Heaven. This life on earth is so temporary. I don't want to get caught up in the troubles of life we face while on earth. I want to remember that this house, is a place I sojourn. I know my time here is temporary.

And no matter where I might call home, I want the Father's commands and statutes to be my song! I want my home to be filled with songs that speak of Him.

What season are you in right now? Is there a verse He has given you lately?

love

laura

Spin Stuff

Sorry, it's been a while.......no good excuse really.

So I've been keeping up with my running once a week, ha....I really do wish it was more. When I lived in the States I loved being a member at 24 Hour and attending their spin classes. I loved spin! I loved that I could sweat so much, get a great workout in, and burn some good calories!

I've been looking around here at some local gym options and what they have available. I tried a spin class at a gym not too far away last Thursday nite. I couldn't understand about half of it, but I really enjoyed it! I haven't spinned in over 4 years, and I forgot how much I really do enjoy it. I'm thinking of joining and going on Monday's and thursday night, when Daniel is teaching. Have I mentioned this...Daniel teaches english twice a week to some local children.

Friday night we had fish, so I tried a zucchini tomato gratin recipe I found on Pinterest. I ended up changing it up a big because it was a pretty vague and an easy to change recipe.

I didn't have a lot of time, so I sauteed the zucchini and onions first in oil in a skillet, then layered onions, zucchini, tomatoes, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese. Then I just threw on some basil and other spices that seemed to make sense. I baked it for about 30 minutes and it was pretty good!

The weather here has been just lovely so Saturday we went for a walk and I found these lovelies for a steal....so I just couldn't resist!!

THEN.....my mom mailed us a package...and it was delivered today. I have to say, I have never seen so much packed into a package before! She spoiled us!!!

 I took the pic after I had put most of the stuff away :(

The candy bowl in the back is filled with Cadbury eggs (YUM!!!!), Andes crunchy something, and Hershey's Reeses eggs. oh my gosh I can't stop eating them! Then sweet Sarah, sent us that huge red tin and the bag next to it of Teavana tea of new flavors to try.

Seriously, we got a cookie mix with Peppermint frosting!, Splenda Brown sugar!!, dinner mixes, candy, clothes, Sharpies, letters, medicine, BodyGlide, soup mixes, spices, and lots of yummy teas and chocolates! I seriously just sat and looked at everything for a while in amazement. Ohhhhh packages!!!

This week is pretty busy but I'm trying to not think about it too much. We had a great weekend, so I might blog about that later on too.

We just started KungFu Panda (daniel's fave movie) and I'm going to get some tea and chocolate!

love

laura

do you understand me?

I can't stop thinking about what happened less than 2 hours ago.

I had a 30 minute+ conversation in a langauge other than English. I walked into a new shop near our house and talked to the manager. We went past the normal how long have you lived here-do you like the food questions. And I was able to do it in my second (or third or fourth depending on how you look at it) langugae. I'm still in disbelief.

The manager works in a dish store. He has all sorts of plates, bowls, serving pieces, and other random home decorations. I talked about flower pots, cake stands, pets, cooking mexican food, jewlery boxes, and much more. And he understood me......that is mind blowing!

Where we live, we study the main language, but there is a common dialect that is used by locals that is very hard to understand, and different from what we learn in the classroom. I was so thankful that the manager spoke the host language!! Not only did I understand him, but he understood me!! ME?!?!? I'm still in shock.

Daniel and I spend hours everyday studying language-both in and out of class. Everyday we struggle through language...not struggle in a bad way, but struggle in a this-is-not-my-first-language kind of way. Learning language can be hard. It can be discouraging. Especially when you feel improvement in the classroom but step outside and someone doesn't understand a single word you say.

I share this not to pat myself on the back. I share this because I'm so thankful. So incredibly thankful for Father's grace in allowing this opportunity and His mercy he showed me tonight.

When I walked home from the man's store tonight, I had the biggest smile plastered on my face. I couldn't have frowned if I wanted to. The joy that filled me was too much to keep inside. It had to come out.

love

laura