Arwynism

A: "we did something troublish "
Me:"what?"
A:"jumped off the shelf into my bed..."
Me: i got the look of discipline in my eye...
A: she got the look of "why did i just tell on myself?"
Malachi: "well, nice trouble..."
turing to go before something bad happened to him...
Malachi: "lets go get into some more nice trouble"

Vange is 1 1/2

 

Over a week ago our littlest turned One and a half.

She loves to dance and sing in to the microphone. She brings laughter and smiles to us daily.

She is very passionate about food. She runs around the house saying "Pookh! (hungry) or "bread". Which is why I have to keep a stash on hand of bananas, mini bread rolls, and "biscuits" (cookies). Recently Josiah figured out the trick to lowering my stress level while trying to meals together. He puts her on the counter with a bowl of some kind of treats and she happily sits and munches while he or I cook in peace.

She is the "spice" of our family. Currently we are working on her not hitting her brother and sister, spitting, and saying "no" to mommy and daddy. But when she is reprimanded she is SO remorseful colapsing on you and crying her heart out. As soon as she is forgiven she is back to her defiant behavior.

She melts our hearts with her requests for hugs and abundant cuddles. Cracks us up with her dancing and singing.

The other day I was laying her down for her nap and she said "pray mom". So we prayed. She has just started saying her own "thanks God " prayers, so cute!

She loves spicy food. I just started getting her to drink milk. Mainly because she wants to do what her sibs are doing.

When I am holding her and talking with someone else she takes both hands and turns my head towards her. She demands full attention most of the time.

When she feels like "hot stuff" she spreads her fingers out and rubs her thumbs against her sides and struts with her head up high.

She is always pushing the limits. And we can't imagine life without her!

What do I love...

When we first arrived in this city I was overwhelmed by the dryness. The dirt, the dust, EVERYWHERE. I instantly, desperately missed the ocean. The cool breeze, fresh air, blue water. I challenged the Lord to show me an ocean here that I could grow to love. Little by little I get to expereince a new ocean, each time it feels like a fresh wave has washed over me.

Seeing a bright green tree on my rickshaw ride. The shape was like that of a Cypress tree reminding me of the coast. It was a stark hello from Him amidst all the dark dusty trees here.

While having my friend over and her 10 family members, I served an american dish. "Pepper? Salt?" and I went back in the kitchen and smiled at some complete opposites between hosting in America and hosting here, The Lord reminded me that I could just enjoy that I had this great friend to come to my home for a visit and she feels comfortable enough to correct my cooking. For that I smiled.

The warm breeze that has settled on our city makes every rickshaw ride enjoyable.

The afternoon sunlight that comes through our bedroom window.

Hospitality is unmatched here. Dropping by anyone's house whenever I want, I will always be greeted with a smile and cup of chai.

The patient people in my life that are willing to see past my limited speaking ability and invest in a friendship that will only deepen with time and fluency.

My new friend that was right under my nose all this time. She is tenacoius enough to still talk to me even though I dont understand much. She is willing to take me places and teach me how and where to get things. She just brought by a cute little outfit that her daughter made for Vange (pictured below), and when leaving invited herself over for chai tomorrow. I loved it! There is no other word that I can think of to describe her than jovial. I suspect that she will have much to teach me about the joy of the Lord.