Alive

I think there are different parts of us that "come alive" depending on where we live. For example, living overseas in a developing country really tapped into my sense of adventure. Of course, after 7 years of living there, many things felt normal, but I always loved the challenges of overseas living. I liked that my life there required resourcefulness and thinking outside the box. In order to have fun, we had to work for it. In order to have yummy American dinners, we had to scavenge the city for ingredients and diligently execute our furlough packing list as if our life depended on it. In America I am rarely challenged in that way. Fun is way too available and my cheese is pre-shredded and pre-measured. The only thing my grocery store doesn't do for me is cook my meals. (though Publix is coming really close with their "Aprons" meals-they give you a new recipe each week and they have all the ingredients for that meal in one little section, on sale, and often times the veggies are pre measured and sliced. They even have a cute old lady cooking up the meal every weekday from 4-7 so you can try it and make sure it's a winner. Last week the loaded french toast and crockpot hashbrown casserole were amazing.) Anyway, that was not my point. My point is that my love for "challenge and adventure" is not nurtured here like it was in China.

But there are other areas, I am now discovering, that are beginning to come alive again-areas that couldn't be fully alive in China. I think we all have them. I am pretty sure that my friend Marianne will return to her role of Music Connoisseur now that she is back in the US and has access to a music scene. So glad about that Marianne, my music selection has suffered terribly since you stopped recommending albums to me! I imagine that part of her coming alive again as she listens to some local St. Louis band. And I know Alisa would be one heck of a family member if she lived in the US. That girl was made to be a part of a big, close family. I imagine her planning the fourth of July cookout every year and loving every second of it. I imagine her thriving in her role as oldest sibling.

I was made to create. Much like my little Emma Grace, I need to make things. Yummy desserts, colorful dinners, scrapbooks, homemade decorations. It's just how God made me. And I feel alive when I create beautiful things. How like our Father, the one who created the peacock, (our family bird), and the one who placed all those stars in just the right spots so they would look like a dipper. He loves to create and what he makes is beautiful.

Most developing countries don't have the luxury of creating beauty in everyday life. They are too busy getting up at 4 am to push their potato cart up the hill to the market just to earn a day's wages. I did have opportunities to use my creativity in China. But it was often so hard to even find the right supplies so that part of me sort of went dormant for a while. (except for those 25 lbs of scrapbook supplies Andy lugged over the ocean for me more than once.) That part of me is coming alive again and I find myself constantly wanting to make things beautiful. I am simultaneously sad and thankful. Sad for all the people in China who God has given those gifts but they can't use them because they are too busy making ends meet. Oh the frustration of living in a fallen world. And I am thankful. Thankful that God is allowing that part of me to come alive again. And I am thankful that he knows the right season for each part of me to be made a little more alive here on this earth. He knew that this little chapter of my life would have Beauty and Creativity in leading roles. And he intimately works those details out in all of our lives. And most of all, I am thankful for heaven. I know that in the New Heavens and New Earth we'll be fully alive. Every part of us, all at once. And more alive than we've ever been here. I wonder what that Chinese potato cart lady/would-be artist will create when she gets there? This was a family creation-Andy and I made the wreath yesterday while we were on a walk and then my kiddos and I picked out all the goodies for it around our neighborhood today. Tomorrow we'll be delivering them to EG's teachers for Christmas.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The Year of the Rooster

Each year we buy our children a Christmas ornament. My hope is that when they have their first Christmas tree of their own, they'll have lots of ornaments to start with. I hope that each one is a reminder of God's faithfulness to them, and to our family throughout the years. My sweet Jack is celebrating his 4th Christmas in a different house. He was born in West Virginia so his first two week old Christmas was there, accompanied by a WVU ornament. And then at one, I bought a really fun very Chinese-looking ornament for him, not knowing that it would be our last Christmas in China. And last year, we bought him a flamingo, in honor of our move to Florida. I never intended for each ornament to represent the place we were living at the time, but it seems we have a theme here. I am hoping this year's ornament is a last of that theme. Lord willing there won't be anymore moves for us in the next few Christmases! But I couldn't resist this little guy...
The town we moved to is known for having roosters and chickens roaming down town. I'm not sure how long they've lived there, but long enough for the Rooster to be on all the signs for our town. It's sort of the town mascot. There's about 6 of them and they usually hang out behind the consignment shop, right in front of the town fire station. Our kids love seeing them. (There are actually two peacocks that live on a side road downtown and we see them from time to time as well)

So it just felt fitting to buy a rooster for our little ones this year. Jack and Emma Grace, we are praying that you would grow to deeply know and understand the love of Christ in this town. We are praying that your roots would grow deep here, both in our fun little town and in the Lord. We are praying for lots of happy days filled with peacock spottings, tree swings, and long bike rides in 70 degree December! Would this little town would be the place where God meets you and shows you himself in ways that cause you to marvel and worship at who he is. Merry Christmas Jack and Emma Grace!

Turkey Intimidation

I have suffered from Turkey Intimidation for several years now. I've learned A LOT about cooking over the past 8 years. I can even make homemade gravy now, which according to my Paw Paw, is a requirement for "wifery" in our family. But Turkey...now that's a different story. I've entertained thoughts of cooking my own turkey over the years but it felt like so much pressure. Living in a country where we pre-ordered our Turkey a month in advance and paid a steep price for this rare bird, it felt like the stakes were too high.

And last year I was in no place to roast a Turkey. I am not sure I had cooked more than freezer pizza in my oven at this point last year.

But this year, I had the perfect opportunity to go for it! We had a group of international friends over for thanksgiving, and since it was my American holiday, the cooking was all up to me! It was the perfect chance to just go for it. I LOVE cooking for people from other cultures. Why? Because it's really hard to mess up. First of all, they are always so gracious when they are in our home. Hospitality is such a large part of most other cultures so it seems natural to them that we would have them over. And that our house would look "lived in." I love the overall feeling of no pressure when I entertain non-American friends. And they don't know what it's supposed to taste like anyway, so even if it's not "right" by our standards, they'll never know! And finally in most countries, MEAT is a love language. We've been loved with meat more than once. I remember Xiao Li's parents slaughtering and cooking a whole chicken for us when we visited their home. I remember Wang Shu Shu gifting us a giant hare and two bunnies to raise and slaughter and eat. (We delegated the raising and the slaughtering to loving neighbors who were better with this kind of thing...but we did eat them!) So I knew that cooking up a big turkey would speak lots of love to these friends.
And after I got going, I realized it's just like roasting a whole chicken which I've done more than once...only bigger! We used Alton Brown's "Good Eats Roast Turkey" recipe that called for the turkey to be brined for 16 hours. It was the best Turkey I've very tasted. Way to go Alton. You were right. So I'm over my Turkey Intimidation and we liked the recipe we used so much that I am planning to use it to roast a chicken soon.

Last year, we were thanking God for his abundant clear provision for us as we lived the whirlwind of relocating our entire life. Just making it through a day was something we thanked him for. And in many ways it feels like we are still in the process. It feels less chaotic for sure, but we still feel like tress with very few roots here. We are thankful for our house, for kind neighbors, and for a wonderful preschool for our children. We are thankful for the new friends he has provided for us here and our church, which week in and out points me to rest rest rest in who God is and all Jesus is for me. And I am thankful for the way I relate to him now. I've never experienced the grace of God like I have this past year. Emma Grace was thankful for heaven and cookies and a brother. Jack was thankful for Mommy and Daddy, dinosaur vitamins and cars to play with.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Huffmans!

Happy Thanksgiving Xiao Li!

We have a Love Cup Explosion on our hands

We had a wonderful visit with my parents this past weekend. WONDERFUL. I am marveling more and more at God's perfect design for the family. Children need parents. And they also need grandparents. They need the delight of two adults who aren't worn down for the daily grind of raising children. They need to feel special in a way that only grandparents can offer. Every time we spend time with either set of grandparents, my children come home full to the brim with love. After my parents left I told Emma Grace that I thought her "love cup was full" from spending time with Mamma Nette. Her reply, "yes, it exploded!" Way to go Mamma Nette and Pappa Dan exploding your grandchildren's love cup. We are so grateful!

The Pilgrims have arrived!!

Can you guess who was the Mayflower? Pilgrim Emma Grace with one of her closest friends (and possibly Jack's favorite person in the world right now) Kaelyn! Thankful for Thanksgiving parties with friends, for cardboard boats carried by cute little ones, and for the sweet potato casserole I ate too much of!

Sunday Dinner

The last thing I want to think about on Sunday nights is what to eat for dinner. So I found a solution that everyone likes-Roasted Marshmellows. It's simple, quick, and everyone is responsible for cooking their own! Not super healthy, but I'm just thankful not to cook. (OK, I only fed them marshmellows for dinner once, but we are really enjoying the fire pit we built in our back yard and we've made way too many s'mores for dessert lately!

the sneak factor

According to Andy, having all this candy around is "increasing the sneak factor in our house fourfold...all four of us are sneaking to get it." It's true. Everyone around here knows the top shelf is now home to quite the stash of candy. Some of us just reach up there while little ones aren't looking and others of us get stools and climb shelves while big people aren't looking. I put Jack to work and he really enjoyed sorting the candy and stuffing his birthday pinata with some of it. I enjoyed throwing away a 10 lb bag of it. We now have a very small stash of the best candy located at an undisclosed location for when big people want to sneak or when big people think the little people around here need a treat! Mom, I saved the Almond Joys for your visit!

Thankful

Thank you Brooke, Nikki, Alex, Erin, Laura, Bridgett and Sharon for providing lots of fun and snacks! for me and our kiddos while Andy was gone. so sorry I fell asleep during our second girls night.

Thank you Little Caesars for (finally!) having your grand opening while my hubby was gone. Your 5 dollar Hot n' Ready went a long way for this non-cooking mom.

Thank you Lord, for intimate moments with my Emma Grace, laying on the grass looking to heaven.

Thank you Bryan for coming over at 11:00 pm when I was sure someone was knocking on my door. Darn Ice Maker.

Thank you Friendship Park for hosting us several times. We never tire of you.

Thank you Marianne and David for all you have done for us. Andy's trip to Lubbock was so helpful. Our hearts are eternally bound to yours for all the years God has allowed us to know and be blessed by you.

Thank you fungal infection for going away so that I can wear my wedding ring again. So not comfortable bopping around town with no ring all week .

Thank you Alex for the BOGO coupon to Pei Wei. Our family enjoyed an almost authentic Chinese meal when Andy got off the plane!

Thank you fun craft paper and balloons for giving us something to do and bringing some color to the front of our brown house!

Thank you time change for giving us an extra hour to snuggle this morning. For once I was happy Jack was up at 5 am!

Thank you Lord for all your graces to me these past five days. And thank you Lord for bringing this man home to us. And for using his absence to make us remember what a blessing he is to each of us.

A stirring in our hearts for Heaven

There are moments when I am amazed at God' work in my children's hearts. This week was one of them. While playing outside EG told me, "Mom, there's nothing I want to do here. I don't even want to play with Sarah and Colin. All I want to do is go to heaven and see God. I really want to go right now. Everything here is stupid. I want to climb up in a tree and fly right up to heaven and see God."

Emma Grace, I am right there with you, sweet one. Things here are not OK, and even a four year old can see that. Sin rages in our hearts, our world is fallen and broken. People get cancer and die. Marriages fall apart. Buildings collapse. We were made for so much more. We were made for a world where righteousness rules in our hearts and people love God and each other. A world where there is no death and no pain. EG, you are right, things here are stupid. Yes, we get glimpses of the goodness we were meant for and we savor and enjoy them. But our hearts know things aren't right. We were meant to be with God, all the time, and to be in perfect relationship with him and others.

She and I prayed and lay on a blanket in the grass and "looked to heaven." She sang a little song she made up about climbing a tree and going to heaven. And we read this passage from the Jesus storybook Bible.


Even my four year old feels in her heart that we were made for this. Come quickly Jesus.

COME HOME SOON!

Andy has been out of town for 4 days now. One more to go! Our kiddos have missed him more this time than any other time. "It feels like forever" til he comes home. I agree with you Emma Grace! We've kept busy while he's been gone. We tend to do better with activity than just sitting at home. So we've been to a birthday party, the library twice, to three parks, to a friend's house, and I've had two girls nights at my house after the kids were asleep. I've been really blessed by these times with other women. WE DON'T DO WELL without the leader of our family around, so it takes a lot to keep us afloat-thus the flurry of activity. We all need him in different ways and we all feel the sting of his absence. I'm especially feeling it at 5 am when Jack is up due to the time change! I am reminded of what a servant leader he is-he usually gets up with our early bird. And I just need him. Things just feel off inside my soul when he's not around. So I'll be breathing a big sigh of relief and we'll all be offering big hugs when this man's plane lands tomorrow afternoon. As our sidewalk chalk says, "COME HOME SOON DAD!"

Halloween Festivities

This year was our first "real" Halloween in America. Last year we did venture out into our apartment complex and the kids got a few treats. Actually-5 apartments was just the right amount of candy for our little ones.
But this year, we really experienced part of American culture that we forgot existed. Halloween has taken over this country in the last 7 years while we were gone. Seriously, our neighborhood came alive over the last few weeks with decorations, lights and anticipation! And I understand why now-last night was a blast! Everyone was out, spirits were high, candy was overflowing, and people were talking and getting to know one another, something kind of rare in the "single family dwelling" culture that we are now a part of. Halloween brought our neighbors out and we really enjoyed the community of it all.

We hosted a pumpkin carving-cookout the weekend before Halloween. Down here is hot Florida, you have to wait until 2 days prior to Halloween before carving your pumpkin. Otherwise the pumpkin faces all look like wrinkly old men with a few teeth. Everyone got really into it and some of our neighbors even brought power tools to use! WOW!Smurfette, Ninja, Mermaid, Aerial, and one cute cowboy! We enjoyed trick or treating with some of the kids from our street.

EG and Jack were a little timid at first, but they got the hang of it really quickly. (and after they realized they got candy at every single house, they were leading the charge from house to house!)
Mr Brian, our neighbor who has helped us a ton on our foreclosure-of-a-house, with his buddies. Jack the lion is the newest addition to our street!
Now I am just trying to figure out what to do with the 20 lbs of candy we collected. To eat or not to eat???
Happy Halloween from the Huffmans!