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Secret Agent Man and I are spending some time in Southeast Asia visiting some missionaries for pastoral care. Our first stop was a 24 hour layover in Korea.
After a 15 hour flight we arrived in Incheon, Korea. We checked into a hotel and then headed out to dinner. It’s always about adventure so of course we went to the most local place around. Which really was not hard, as we were not in a tourist area. The food was good and the experience better. Trying to order from a menu you cannot read and a server who does not speak the same language added to the fun.
It was only 8:30pm when I crawled into bed, but I had not slept in over 24 hours, and yes it was the best sleep ever.
We woke this morning at 5:30am, had breakfast, packed up and headed out to make the most of our time in Korea; our plane leaves at 4:30pm – so off we went.
We took a 45 minute subway ride to Seoul. It was a nice way to see a bit of the country, which at times made me think of South Texas. Coastal with business all about and trees that looked like mesquite trees.
When we arrived in Seoul it was very Western looking, even similar stores you would find in America. As we walked a few blocks we found more places that were more Asian and less Western, which we enjoyed.
Lunch was more of the same experience as dinner was last night, good food and better experience.
From what I’ve seen of Korea, which isn’t much, it looks a great deal like any American city. The parts of the country I’ve encountered is very clean and the people hospitable and accommodating.
Almost 24 hours later and I’m at the airport again waiting to catch a 6 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We will spend a few days with a missionary family that are near and dear to us and well as our church body.
Who’s watching the kids while we are away you ask? That would be Big Brother, who will turn 19 while we are away, and intern extraordinaire, Cory Kirkland. A big job, but great young men taking care of the home front! (Cory, water my flowers!)
Until the next country or the next time wifi is available, carry on!
This morning on the way to school we were listening to the radio and the question of the day was, "What would be the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?" And you know Jacob has a response…..
He said, "I would buy a riding lawn mower, a shot gun and a tarp."
So then I think " A riding lawn mower – duh! Riding lawn mowers are his passion, weird – but okay…should have named him John Deer, A shot gun, well he is being raised in a rural red neck community as well as a gun owning/ proud to bare arm republican father and a military minded/COD playing brother, of course he wants a shot gun. But wow… that tarp makes me nervous, I’m pretty sure there is chapter in each mafia bosses memoir’s that tell of the need for a tarp for a quick clean up.
Seeing that it is career week at his school, I thought it would be good parenting to ask about the tarp, it’s my duty as a parent to make sure my 10 year old son is not considering a career as a crime boss.
"Jacob, why do you want a tarp?"
"To put over my fort to keep the rain out.’
My heart started to beat again, my sweaty pits began to dry, all is right with the world – Jacob is not considering a career in crime.
Carry on.
“For you bless the righteous, O LORD: you cover him with favor as with a shield”. Psalm 5:12
On Monday morning before I woke the kids for their first day back to school I read this verse and it was my prayer for each of my children for the day, as well as the school year to come. “you cover him with favor as with a shield”, this spoke to my mother’s heart as I see so may ways the enemy seeks to destroy those the Lord loves and calls his own. I rest assured knowing his favor is shielding them.
Seeing as this is Big Brother’s senior year and I spent all summer teary-eyed, I figured I would be a boo-hooing mess when the first day of school rolled around. Strangely enough, I was good…. get back with me in May…..
Big Brother turned 18 this summer, has big plans for his future, loves the little siblings, plays too many sports, makes me super proud on most days, and on rare days I want to punch him in the face. I love this kid and I am so glad he is my kid!
Little Brother turned 10 this summer and is now a 4th grader, ask Little Sister not to acknowledge him at school, request to do his homework this year in the fort he built this summer, was a crying mess when he was supervised by Big Brother this summer in lawn mowing skills, which made me want to punch him in the face. I love this kid and I am so glad he is my kid!
Little Sister is 7 and started 2nd grade. She is still letting me hold her hand and walk her to her class on the first day of school, cries for Big Sister when she gets really tired, taught by her older brother’s that farts are really funny (ugh!), and has become too picky about her clothing which makes me want to punch her in the face. I love this kids and I am so glad she is my kid!
Big Sister is 19 and is half way through a three-month stay in Cambodia. Currently recovering from Typhoid, ate frog then decided not to eat anymore meat while in Cambodia, has increased her mad photography skills, and still get frustrated with my advice (over Skype even!) which makes me want to punch her in the face. I love this kid and I am so glad she is my kid
These are my kids, they do so many things to make me proud that I over-look the things that make me want to punch them in the face. I love these kid, I am glad these are my kids and I am so blessed to know the Father’s favor shields them each day.
Because I know you are all dying to know what a 9 year old Little Brother give his Big Brother on his 18th birthday I will tell you.
Please note: all contents in this box were bought with Little Brothers hard-earned money (yard work for a neighbor and a recent visit from the tooth fairy) or found in his drawer that hold all his most valued treasures.
Item #1- a large, old nail. I have no idea where this came from. Clearly one of his treasure found on one of his treks through the woods.
Item #2 - A jawbone to a deer - This was just given to Little Brother, but he found it so super cool he had to re-gift it.
Item #3 – The New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs - Little Brother knows the immeasurable value of the Word of God and hopes Big Brother treasures His Words in his heart. (Okay …. that may have been a little more of my hope than Little Brother’s purpose – but a mom’s gotta hope!)
Item #4 – Cranberry Mandarin scented candle - This would be the gift Little Brother purchased with his own money. Big Brother has a thing for a nice smelling candle burning in his room. I would say it was a well thought out gift. Big Brother said “it actually smells really good”.
Item # 5 – A miniature fart machine - Because Brothers think farts have got to be the funniest thing in the world. 
Happy 18th Birthday Big Brother! I hope you treasure these gifts from Little Brother, they came with a lot of love to you, because he thinks you are so stinkin’ cool. I do too.
These are my feet, that just spend 5 hours in a very lovely pair of shoes, at a very lovey wedding, for two lovely people, but my feet are not feeling the love.
While vacuuming the living room yesterday, I stepped away from the vacuum cleaner and left it running while I moved a piece of furniture, But I did it quickly because I did not want to leave the vacuum cleaner running in one place for very long so I did not burn a hole in the carpet.
That is one of the things I remember my Grandma telling me when I was a kid. Obviously, it is not true; however, as a kid I always wondered, but feared burning a hole in the carpet to test that theory. Still to this day when I step away from the running vacuuming cleaner, I do so quickly!
So yesterday as I quickly got back to the vacuum cleaner I laughed at myself as I still deep inside hold to that little bit of silly theory, which made me think of another thing my Grandma taught us….
If you sing at the table you are feeding the devil. I do remember one day when my older cousin Joey was sitting at the table singing she told him “Joe! Stop that! You are feeding the devil!” His reply was “Grandma, he’s got to eat sometime.” The other grandchildren and I sat in silence and fear. I was scared for him; not sure if I feared that Grandma was going to reach across the table and take him down or if it was for his mortal soul I feared.
At last my theology has advanced in years and I do not fear that I would aid the enemy if I sing a song at the dinner table. I do recognize that my Grandma was trying to instill eternal damnation if we did not practice good manners – HA! It is very tempting to use such tactics with teaching manners to my own children.
With tongue in check I tell my kids “Don’t lie – lairs go to hell”! I don’t think I am putting the fear of God in them – they laugh at me; but I do let them know it is sin, and sin separates you from God.
I wonder if my Cousin Joey still sings at the table….
