To the Ends of the Earth

Few can truly understand what the ends of the earth really look like. We hear that phrase a lot and probably have some sort of picture in our minds of what that may be....but there are many times where I truly believe I have experienced this first hand! In fact, we always say if there is a major terrorist attack where we live, we know places we could go and disappear for the rest of our lives! When we thought of coming overseas almost 5 years ago, we pictured ourselves in those areas. We were right! Though we don't live in these areas, we get to travel for weeks at a time into these areas and it never fails to take our breath away. That we have the opportunities to go across the world, then hrs. into the middle of no where to meet a family that has never heard or experienced the love of the Creator...it brings me to tears. No greater joy, no greater joy in all the world than to bring the love of the Giver of Life to those who had no idea that love even existed.

Raising Kids Overseas

We came overseas alone. We knew we were called to be here and we had to be faithful to that. We didn't picture our life with kids. We didn't have any intentions on having kids any time soon so they really didn't play a factor in any decision we made. Now we have 2 precious little men in our lives with a passion for more and it takes me to a new reality: life looks a lot different now! Now I have to think about them in every way...so I've decided to write 10 ways life overseas looks so different with them.

1) Before kids, Levi and I were still seen as children ourselves. Now, we have respect and the ability to speak into way more situations than we ever did before. It is as if children gave us instant wisdom! (I honestly feel that children has taken 50% of my brain cells instead of adding to them!)

2) When we left for the village, we packed all of our needs for a MONTH in 2 backpacks. Now we are lucky to get out the door with 5 bags!

3) We struggled at times to get people to open their doors to meet us before kids. Everyone seemed very cautious. Now we walk into an area and have to fight off the mobs that surround us to meet our fair skinned, blue eyed, light haired kids!

4) Before kids, we could live out in the middle of no where for weeks and never feel a longing for home. Now, after 3 days of the kids waking up all night, getting eaten with misquitos, and having no space we are desperate to get home again!

5) I never thought about running out the door to pick up an item I needed to cook with. Now, it takes at least 15 minutes to get everyone dressed, shoes on, and get everyone on board to go for a walk. After getting the item, I have to hold it, hold a child, while holding hands with another one to make sure we all make it safe on our road back home. Overall, a trip that took less than 5 minutes now takes a good hour!

6) sleep...well, we all know how that has changed! ;)

7) Before kids, I wanted the airline that had the best movies for the 16 or more hr. flight back to the U.S. Now I look for the airline with the most patient stewardesses!

8) I was very good at language before kids. I feel that I have regressed leaps and bounds because I only think in simple phrases and words now.

9) Before kids, I never had to wrestle with the idea that being overseas could be selfish. Now I wrestle with it all the time. Just surrendering to the Lord all that I know my kids are missing out on and remembering what is most important.

10) Before kids, I had no idea what I was missing and no true desire for that lifestyle. Now our lives are fuller, richer, more complex and difficult at times, but worth every second of it. Having kids is so wildly amazing, so humbling and so challenging. It makes us more dependent on the L*rd and truly makes me so much better as a person.


I know there are so many more ways life looks different, but maybe they will come in another post! ;)

Easter Pictures

Two boys are not the easiest to corral into taking pictures, but we did our best (with the help of some M&M's for bribery!) 

The pic above may be my favorite of all!

Can't you just feel the love? :)

Yes, this mama takes off the "nice clothes" as soon as I can!

 I have learned that they can get ruined in a split second!

Our New Pet Bunnies

We wanted a pet that would not run away, would be quiet, would travel easily, could easily be fed, and that others would want. We drove 8 hrs. to Delhi, and returned with 2 sweet bunnies! We love them so much! Wyatt is so sweet with them, Tate is so rough!

 Wyatt loves taking care of the bunnies. He feeds them, and helps me clean up after them!

 They are so sweet and easy to take care of!

Tate can't leave the bunnies alone. He keeps sticking out his finger and today he finally got bit! Hopefully soon it will teach him to leave those poor bunnies alone!

Tate cries when I take him away from the bunnies.

This is just one more example of how rough Tate is with our poor bunny!

This little light of mine

I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE!!! I sing this with the boys at night and though many times I feel as if our light is very dim amidst all this darkness, I am convinced that "a city on a hill cannot be hidden". 

Just about the boys

Wyatt is now way 2 and 2 months and he always blows my mind! He loves to count to 10, knows simples shapes like circle, square, triangle, heart, and stars. He can't figure out colors and asks me about colors all the time. He also can't get letters yet so in every book we read, he wants to know the word, but also the letters of the word...needless to say our reading time gets old to mommy real quick! He's really into flipping these days and loves to try to roll on his head. He is crazy about people and thinks that everyone should be crazy about him as well. When he sees anyone, even if they are miles away, he yells hello to them in Hindi. If they say hello back he says, tk? which means "are you ok?" and they say, "tk. Ap tk?" and he bobbles his head and replies, "tk." When our helper leaves he says, "phir milinge" which means, "see you later." He normally says thank you and if you tell him thank you he will reply, "you welcome". He spends lots of time with me doing art projects, cooking, ect. He loves to help. Before we go for a nap or to bed at night we clean up all of our toys and he loves to do it. He Hates to sleep (always has). He's always afraid he is missing something and as soon as he wakes up he says, "I sleep all night mama". He loves Tate with all his heart and has taken his big brother role seriously. He bosses that poor baby around worse than anyone else! He wants to feed Tate, to hold Tate, to get Tate up in the morning, to sing Tate songs, read him books, and to kiss all over Tate all the time. Sometimes we will look up and see them sitting on the floor hugging. It is awesome!

Tate is such a mess! He is shyer towards people, but seems to be much more loyal. It takes him a minute or two to warm up. He still loves to be held and only likes one book in our house right now. It is about animals at the farm. He loves balls and loves to hit balls with sticks, hammers, ect. He laughs all the time at nothing! He has the ability to make me laugh so hard I cry. He still likes to hold things and walk, but is moving all the time. He no longer likes to cuddle or sit for very long. But he surprises you with these random moments throughout the day where all the wants to do is hug you and kiss you. It won't last long, but it happens and makes your day. He is very happy and loves Wyatt. His whole face lights up when Wyatt walks into the room. Tate loves to eat...anything, anytime, anywhere. He has no problem eating until he spits it all up. If he is having a bad day, just feed him and it will get a whole lot better. He still cries loud enough to wake up the mountain when he gets upset, but that is not too often. He gets mad and scrunches up his little face when he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it. He is so much fun to be around.

These boys are showing so many different qualities already, but so many that are alike. I see Levi shining through both of them so much it scares me sometimes! It is as if he created two little mini me's and I was just the deliverer! Blows me away!

His Light in Darkness

We are living in a VERY Dark area and there have been many times that I have been overwhelmed, but I have never really felt depressed here...until we returned from our quick surprise trip back to the US to surprise our families. Last time we were home, I was having a baby, and then dealing with a colicky newborn for 3 months so I really didn't think too much about myself, my needs, desires, ect. This time, I found myself longing to have good talks with girlfriends, I wanted to go shopping, I wanted to be selfish and drive wherever I wanted to go. When we returned from the states, I started reading our newspaper that we get here. The crimes against women are so frustrating and then my Indian friends and I have been talking about all the bad things that have happened to us here....it is overwhelming at times.

I have always loved people. Trusted them, believed the best...until now. It is a matter of protection here. If you are a woman, you dress in long shirts and baggy pants to go places, you don't look at men, you never stop to chat, and you NEVER go alone. I think the freedom I had in America really killed me this time. Before kids, Levi and I did everything or I could easily run around with all the American girls that were here.  Now I've got two little ones and life has changed a lot. Most would say that it is the weather. Because of the bad winter, I'm unable to get out and meet people where I live. This will last until the end of Febuary.

I have been feeling so lonely, so trapped, so bogged down with the lostness in those who come to my house every day and stay for hours. Why can't they understand the truth, the way? For the first time in my life, I was beginning to feel some weird form of depression....

THEN...we had several random visitors in a row...most were men, but one of the men decided to come back with his family. His wife and two boys. They live in a village that is not easy to live in and they are awesome. His wife was sent by the Lord to speak to me. To remind me why we are here. To show me His truth and His freedom. That night we stayed up to the wee hours as I poured out my brokenness  in a different language to a friend I had never met, who hardly spoke English... that night she listened, loved me, and we spoke to the Father together. I've never needed a girlfriend like I did that night. He sent her just for me. As they spoke of all that He is doing in their village, in that area of the state, I remembered that He is moving...despite my frustration, my hardships....He is alive and I can trust Him to always provide....even if it is not exactly how I thought!