We're back!

More to follow as soon as I find a quiet moment! So happy to have access to blogging again!

Reluctant Speaker

Jason: Emily, will you please give a talk next Sunday?
Emily: Dad, don't you remember what happened last time? (Hours of tantrum, from Emily)
Jason: Yes, I do.
Emily: Do you REALLY want to go through that again?
Ha!

BFF!

I think that having "best friends" and girls go hand in hand. Colbie has missed her "Kikiamy" and we are so happy that she is finally feeling at home here in Atyrau. She is pictured here with her two favorite friends Adele and Chloe. They love to play dress up, dance and play at the park.

I'll take mine to go

Dinara and Kama were surprised that I got up from the table at lunch, poured my herbal tea into a thermos and went to the kids school. I had to explain that in American culture we like everything "to go". We don't sit for long. We even get our food at the drive through window.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DRIVE THRU WINDOW HERE!! They actually sit down to eat and find it amusing that we will eat while watching TV, walking, driving, etc.

There's food for thought!

Eees My Wusband!

I was talking with Dinara and Kamazhai over lunch while Colbie was quietly playing with her playdough. Every once in awhile she would imitate something that we said.

I told them that I was 20 when I married Jason and 22 when I had Lauren.

Colbie: No, Mommy! I twenty two!

Me: Oh, really, you are twenty two?

Colbie: Yes, I twenty two and I marry Daddy.

Me: No, I am married to Daddy.

Colbie (Standing on her chair and yelling): NO, MOMMY! I MARRY HIM! EEEES MY DADDY AND MY WUSBAND!

Well, can't argue with that.

Bananas in Pyjamas and Joy

Tonight we (the parents of DIAS school) were treated to a writing workshop given by Richard Tulloch. He is an Australian author and screenwriter and is famous for a children’s television show “Bananas in Pyjamas” that was popular in Australia.

I felt incredibly thankful to the school for bringing him in. He spent all week with our children in groups and also one on one to encourage and help them in their writing process. When I met him tonight he said, “Now, which child is yours?”.

I replied, “Lauren, Emily and Zachary Carroll.”

“Oh, little Emily did a play with us today. She did a wonderful job!”

Wow. Just, wow.

I am not sure these kids understand how blessed they are to have someone like him come in and spend a whole week at their school (of 50 students) to teach. Now when they read his books they can remember him and the things he taught them. I hope it sticks!

He had us do our own writing exercises and really sparked something in me that I felt strongly that I needed to write down.

The exercise itself was simple. We picked a place we knew well, a very specific place. We had to describe the place, sights, sounds, smells, etc. Yada yada yada, that wasn’t what struck me. I picked the Chemo room at Allison Cancer Center. As I was going back there I realized many of the memories I have are not horrific. On the contrary, they are wonderful.

As I was contemplating my time going through surgery and chemo I realized I was much happier then than I am right now. How on earth could that be? I am enjoying good health and doing all the things that Jason and I have dreamed of doing since we got married. I realized that when I was going through chemo I was close to the Spirit, close to my family and close to my friends. I am not saying that I am not close to the Spirt now but I’m not nearly as close as I was when I was going through the biggest trial of my life. I think of our missionaries, preaching the gospel every day then coming home and having to adjust to “normal” life. That is how I feel now. I haven’t adjusted to normal life.

I realized that being in a position that I needed help, being served by all the wonderful people in Midland (my heart will always belong there) and getting to know the beautiful, amazing, strong and compassionate individuals suffering in far worse ways than I was at the cancer center was one of the the biggest blessings of my lifetime. Heavenly Father can make any trial a wonderful experience.

Having said that, I hope I never have to experience that again. I am so thankful that my life is richly blessed as it is now and hope that I have the strength to be diligent in the things I SHOULD be doing so I can enjoy these blessings without being “compelled to be humble.”!

There are few things that bring us true happiness. I have found that lots of things bring me temporary happiness but they tarnish and fade. It is my Savior, my family and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost that has brought me the most joy. Having gone through a time when I felt stripped of everything, possibly even my life, I still felt intense joy.

How wonderful life is!

It's Official!

This cute little babe is POTTY TRAINED! Congrats, Colbie Belle!