Thursday, September 4, 2014

teary Summer farewells & the joy of unpacked suitcases


We had an amazing summer with you all. We felt spoiled in every way between amazing meals in your homes, so much loving on our kids, sweet gifts, and special opportunities just getting caught up in your lives. It is so special for us to become a part of your worlds and just be with you. It means so much to have such supportive family. Loaning us cars, providing us with warm clothing for our children for those cool summer days, planning special events and memories for us to enjoy together, preparing rooms in your own homes for us to stay for weeks on end while we just veg on your hospitality. Every day we took as many photos and video clips as we could: our nourishment for those days when we just ache to be with you again. We talk about you every day, breathe in the memories, and ache with the fact that so much time must go by before seeing you again. Returning back to Cambodia was with mixed emotions, especially as Wes continues to ask to go back to grandparents' houses, play with cousins, and go on his favorite "jumpoline".




However, returning back to our home has been energizing. Unpacking suitcases and setting up our home to better suit our needs has been wonderful! Wes and Bria now share a room, and we're working at better sleep-training both of them. The first night was a nightmare! None of us got much sleep at ALL. But, gradually it's been improving and we're to the point now where Wes actually is sleeping in his own bed again! (it's been over a year!) Bria is still waking up so.many.times. through the night, but I haven't lost hope yet. SOMEday I will get a full night's sleep again. I will!
We've also moved our TV upstairs to the master bedroom to better monitor how much is viewed throughout the day. Wesley's question yesterday: "Daddy, why is the TV upstairs?" "So you don't watch so much TV." "But why?" He has definitely entered the WHY? stage! It's so funny/cute!

Both Wes & Bria seem to have jumped into new stages since we've come home. 
For the first time, Wes has discovered a love of stories. He will ask to have books read to him and he actually sits still to listen to them, repeating words, has cute expressions like, "Oh, wow!" and "but why?" His vocabulary has sky-rocketed over the summer and he keeps us laughing with the things he says, often with a British accent (thanks, Peppa! ha!) 




The neighborhood children have been happy for our return, too. We better organized our toys to avoid our previous problem of toys just "walking away" and still welcome children into our home to play. Wes was especially happy to see his favorite boy, Bictu, again.


Soon after our return home, at 13 months and 1 week, Bria started walking!!! She did it for her Daddy, who caught it on film! She is SO cute as she tentatively toddles around the house, trying to stay clear of her over-zealous big brother who often tries to do everything she does. He likes to pretend he is also learning how to walk! Seeking our praise and falling down. Bria isn't sure what to think of him sometimes! haha 

She is also learning how to feed herself! Making rice cereal is no longer necessary. She dives into regular rice, eating it by the fist-full, like it's the last bowl on earth! I've started stripping her down to her diaper to eat, often having to wash her hair AND the floor after each meal. But she is having FUN experimenting with feeding herself! Super cute!


She adores her big brother and does her best to keep up with him.
I snapped some cute shots of Bria enjoying a Popsicle with Wes at their little table. She seems to have left a baby and returned a little girl over the summer! Amazing! 



Wes was so happy to see our housekeeper, Kim again! He often talked about her while we were away, and called her almost every day on his play phone. She was equally thrilled to have the kids back again! She couldn't believe how much they'd changed, and wondered how they could grow so much since she knows they don't each as much rice in America. :D
We moved our laundry drying racks downstairs, since we've been getting glorious downpours almost every day. PTL for the rainy season!! The kids do their best to "help" Kim with work around the house. 


We were invited over to our friend Davis' house for dinner! (he's from Hong Kong and was in our small group the past year) It's so special to reconnect with friends again!

A major highlight for us the past week has been seeing Wes develop interests in movies! (We're so happy to have him move past Curious George!! haha) Over the summer he watch Cars with his Canadian grandparents and Planes with his American grandparents...over and over and over. Since Planes 2 (Fire & Rescue) was showing in Phnom Penh when we got back, Joe & I treated Wes to a little daddy/mommy/son date! It was in 3D and it was SO CUTE to see Wes, hunched over his big bag of popcorn, glasses on (some of the time), jaw dropped in awe of the reallyreallyreally big TV. As soon as it was over, he wanted to watch it again. (that's why he doesn't look very happy in the last photo)





We left Bria with our friend Katherine and her son Khemrin. She had a fun afternoon, too! 

We are rejoicing with our neighbors who had their baby just as we came back! This is their second. Their first, Soboa, is exactly Wes' age to the day. So we have often had times of play together. It was special to meet their new little baby boy!!





Over the summer we told you about how there may be doors opening for us to also work with Chinese here in Cambodia! We have been especially interested in these opportunities, since it is a link, for us, between our experience in China and God's placing us here in Cambodia. We were able to meet some students this week and have lunch with 3 girls (English names: Wendy, Mary, & Yolanda). Since my Chinese was better than their English, I was able to muster up a bit of rusty conversation; however, I was grateful for Joe & the director who served as good translators when I needed it! These students are hoping to receive training as missionaries, since they cannot receive that training in China, they are coming to Cambodia. We are praying that the Lord will make it clear to us how He wants us involved with this unique and special group of students! In the meantime, we'll just hang out, develop relationship, and be open to His leading. Thank you for praying with us about this!



Tomorrow we have a faculty meeting/recreation/dinner day together at the Bible College! We are excited to reconnect with the faculty, pray over the coming school year, and make plans together. We are praying for God's blessing on the Bible College students as they prepare to return to their studies here in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for your prayers for us, your time spent with us this summer, and your constant love for our family so far away from yours. We love & miss you!

hugs from Phnom Penh,

Joe, Nica, Wes, & Bria
(below photos taken in Canada, America, & China!)