In the blink of an eye, twelve days have passed...

I can't believe how quickly our time in DC is going. I am so thankful for time we've had here and the experiences we are able to be a part of.

Last week we took the kids for authentic Mexian. Tim and I love Mexican food but the kids have never really enjoyed it. Our compromising point with Sam was that he could drink (lemonade) from a margarito glass. He is facsinated by what he calls 'fine things' and never hestiates to ask the waitress/waiter for his drink in a wine glass. Julia is the best kid to take out to dinner. The girl will eat anything and she's willing to try any new food. She destroyed her taco's and then polished off Tim's dish. This night was also the first time we let Anna try a booster seat instead of a high chair. She seemed to like being at the table beside the kids. All in all our Mexican experince was a good one. Aside from the food, this restaurant also allowed the kids to take a tour of the kitchen with the manager. What a great teachable moment as we took the 'behind the scenes tour' of a restaurant kitchen.

Living in Washington DC has provided us with more cultural diversity than we have ever experienced. Even having grown up in Canada's Capital, I have never interacted on a daily basis with such a melting pot as I have this past month. I've often reflected on how easily children make friends. It doesn't matter where you come from in their eyes, as long as you are willing to run around and play Superman or Tinkerbell, you are a friend. Last week Sam met a boy in the playroom at Chick-fil-a, and this week we have a playdate with them. The mothers name is Preet and she is from India. Honestly, I've never really had a friend from India. But our nationalities don't seem to matter when we're talking about kids and family life. My eyes are really being opened to the world outside my front door and I am loving meeting people from all over the world.

We've become close with another family that is staying here at the hotel. Ryan and Jenny have two kids the same ages as Sam and Anna. Ryan is in training for the DSS (Diploamtic Secret Service) and they are looking to head over to Africa once he graduates. I've talked with Jenny at length about taking a young family overseas. This idea fascinates me as well. As Tim and I have wrestled with the idea of homeschooling, we have always felt that life experiences are so much a part of education. To have the chance to expose your children to the world while they are young and receptive is an incredible opportunity. I have to admit, as I hear Jenny talk about their plans, I do have a twinge in my heart as I think of the possibility of Tim taking a Legat position overseas. But, then my indecisive nature kicks in again and I feel myself retreating to the safety of my house back in Victor. I love my house, I love my neighbors, I love my church and community. I feel blessed and I am so grateful that my heart is content.

Today was a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree day and we spent most of it around the Tidal Basin and at the Monuments. I am cherishing our family time these days. We had three kids in three years and we are just now beginning to be able to do some tourist things with relative ease. I love the ages my kids are at now and they are a pleasure to take out. The planes fly so low over the Lincoln Memorial and everytime one went by (about every three minutes)

Anna would get to so excited, point and say 'what's that? oh boy!" She is our blonde, curly haired, blue eyed gift and she is coming into such a nice age.

The countdown is on now - four days until Grandma arrives!!

He kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile...

Tim found an old Johnny Cash CD in his car last week and has been playing it for the kids whenever we're driving.  Sam's favorite song is 'Boy Named Sue'.  I remember listening to those songs with my dad when I was a kid, too.  There are many similarities between the man my father was, and the man my husband is.  The gentle demeanor and loyalty to family are traits that I hope my son takes into his marriage one day.

This past week has been full.  We are exploring our surroundings more and more and each day we discover something new.  These things aren't always good.  Up until this point, Doogan (our puppy), has remained a quiet, non-barking animal.  One afternoon when I was taking him out for a walk he turned from quiet puppy to yappy, barking, out-of-control dog!  He went crazy when he saw a young boy playing basketball and I couldn't get him to shut up.  Here I am trying to jockey two preschoolers and a wandering toddler, and this stupid dog is going crazy.  Whether it was embarassement, or sheer frustration, I took everyone back in to lock the dog up in his crate and gather my wits.  No sooner were we in the room when Anna made a dash for the open door.  As I scrambled to get her back in, yep, you guessed it, Doogan ran right out the open door and down the hotel hallway.  So, you can see my predicament.  Do I chase the barking dog, chase the running toddler, or help to preschooler crying "Mom! I have to go pee".  All that to say, Doogan will be beginning dog obedience training Wednesday night.  I will take him each week from now until we leave to go home.  I hope for his sake he's a quick learner.

I've been thinking a lot about the importance of effective communication.  One area of personal weakness for me, is lack of confidence.  I can all these great ideas in my head, but I hesitate to move forward with them.  I would rather avoid confrontation with people and I fear that often prevents me from achieving things.  Most of the housekeeping staff here speak very limited English.  After I discovered that they really don't know what I'm saying most of the time, I stopped engaging them.  Sam, on the other hand, has no idea that they can't speak English.  All he cares about is that they are willing to listen to him.  And they do listen, the listen with their eyes, their smiles, their nods.  Like the old saying - communication is 90% listening, 10% talking.  I am being challenged to be a approachable person.  I don't want to be so wrapped up in my own world that I miss those around me.  I need to make a conscience effort to look beyond my table of three little faces to those that I might be able to minister to in some way.  I know the Lord has us here for a season, but also for a reason.

Good-bye Tyson Corners...

Last Friday night we threw in the towel at our first location and moved everyone again.  The two story loft unit was just not working with three small kids and a dog.  We've moved to a great first floor, two bedroom unit about five miles from where we were.  This is working out so much better.  There is a great courtyard just outside our room and the laundry facilites are a mere two doors away!  We have underground parking and kids love the staff here.   The main manager is named, Robert.  Every morning Sam asks if he can go see Robert and 'hang out'. Yesterday Anna broke a wine glass and, of course, that was the first thing Sam went running down to tell Robert in the morning.

Sunday we took the kids on the Metro for the first time.  I find it facinating to see my kids personalities develop in public situations.  Sam had no hesitations whatsoever about standing beside a large ditch with train tracks among many, many complete strangers. He talks to everyone and gives them every piece of information possible.  We weren't on the Metro two minute before he'd told some rather 'sketchy' passenger that Tim sucked his thumb till he was twelve.  Julia took it all in from the safety of being next to Tim.  She didn't want to get down and certainly didn't want to interact with anyone. Anna quickly found that she could scream in the tunnel and it would echo -- Anna is really into screaming these days.  It's an annoying little phase that the older kids think is funny.

The Smithonians were good, the best one being the Natural History Museum where we saw the Hope Diamond.  However, the winning activity of the day was running up and down the grass at the National Mall.  We hope to head down to DC again next weekend and take in a few more sights -- what an incredible city!!

We Made It!

It only took eight hours, four stops, two sick kids (one of which was sick all over the floor of a public rest stop) and a busted windshield wiper --  but we made it!  I've decided to blog our eight week journey in an effort to stay connected with friends and family back home, as well as have something concrete for my kids to look back at.  I already miss my house back home, or maybe more the familiarity of it, but am determined to make this experience the best it can be!


Our unit is great and everyone is settling in well.  Sam has already introduced himself to the staff and has become quite friendly with 'Rosa' (an older Italian lady) who works down in the foyer.  I love the way that children can really brighten up someone's day.  Even after being here only a short time, Rosa looks for my kids and makes sure to pay special attention to them.  She's never too busy to talk about jewels and treasures with Sam or repeat the word 'hi' with Anna.  I feel as though she will become very special to us in the weeks ahead.

I have purposed in my heart that this time away will be a time of complete dedication to my God, my husband and my children.  It is such a unique blessing to not have to worry about the regular obligations I have, I am free to invest in the things that matter the most to me.  That's the reason I've decided to name the blog 'trust and obey'.  I sing that song every night to my children and pray that, if nothing else, they come to a genuine faith in Christ and that they will trust Him with their lives.

I'll post pictures once Tim shows me how to do it!!