Rootin 2-tin....

We had a birthday on Sunday! Jace is now 2--we can't believe how fast time is going. I know every parent says that, but I feel like it's going faster with #2 than it did with #1!! I felt like we were able to enjoy every single step of Luke's first couple of years. But with Jace's, time is going faster. It must be because wehave two (as in, we can't really just focus on, soak up Jace as much as we would love to). I love, though, how our two brothers relate to each other--it is so special to see Jace laugh at Luke and do EVERYthing Luke does...

So, our little wild and funny man is 2. He really is such a gift; he's quiet, alittle busy--we have to go behind him cleaning up in his wake--he's really funny, and loves to run and play outside. We celebrated his birthday cowboy style kept things simple: Jace with 3 little cowgirl friends. It was so fun, and so unlike anything else we do in our house--CALM! We spent a couple hours at our favorite play place in town before the party; hence, the pictures of the boys in the ball pit and trampoline...

In other news, Johnny has left for the mountains today. We will miss him, but we're so excited for him to get to be out. It's nice to be out where our people are...

And the Lord has really been speaking to our hearts over the past couple of weeks. We are really so thankful for His touch, and a little overwhelmed at His blessing, but we would really love prayers, too, as we go forward (in baby steps) toward what He wants us to do...

things I've learned...

I've had this post in my mind for a while, and I thought now is as good a time as any to write some of the things I've learned while being a wife and mom here in this country across the world from America.

It is definitely worth it to pay to park a bike here. It's much more expensive to have to buy a new bike after the old one is stolen than a mere 3 cents every time we park. (A hard lesson for a penny pincher)

It is okay for me to only plan ONE big outing with the boys per day. More than that and I don't really like who I become sometimes.

We really ARE called specifically to the people that we spend the most time with.

I tend to make goals that I can't keep--and I'm learning to go with what I can do (and be a joyful mom) instead of the to-do list especially if the to-do list makes me a stressed mom. And play is important--see Luke-osaurus Rex and Mr. Soccer...

I like to create things and it's okay to make time to do that. And I really like planning a party (this is a new discovery!)

I HAVE to expect things to take longer than I think they should. For example, going to the post office--having to fill out forms more than once and going to 2 or 3 different lines. If I expect it to be that way, I'm a lot less likely to start crying in the process!

Have snacks and activities for our boys at all times when we go out. That would be the same in America, but even more here without activities at restaurants...

I have learned how to make yogurt and ricotta cheese all by myself. I had no idea those could be made from scratch, pretty much! And it's so much cheaper to do it myself! My friend has a blog called market2meal that is amazing for making things that we can eat wherever!

I WILL be scolded when I go out. If it's because I'm carrying too many things on my bike from Metro OR because my children are too cold (I'd really love it if they could TEACH me how to have my children keep their hats and gloves on!).

Sometimes I'm not scolded or meet someone who is really so wonderful and helpful, and that is such a blessing. I don't take that for granted. It's the simple things--a reasonable price, holding the elevator door. I have started saying an immediate thanks in my heart to the Father.

It is a gift to be able to live over here. Always.

Happy New Year. 2011 is already so exciting for us, as the Father is speaking some new things to us. I asked Him yesterday what he wanted our 2011 year's word to be, and He spoke the word "Soar". Let's see where it takes us!!