Serenity Prayer

Please read my Dreaming of Home post to understand this post better.

The Serenity Prayer and Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

have both been constantly running through my head lately.  

They are my mantras.

Living in India has been challenging for me as my anxiety and depression have been very hard to keep a handle on.  It's also been hard on some of our kids.  Back in February, our kids' school gave us a deadline to pay next year's tuition by April 15th.  We had to pay by that day to keep our kids' spots, however it was also the last day to get a full refund if we changed our minds.  With ASB being one of the MOST expensive international schools in the world we could not afford to pay Canada back for the 10% refund fee if we changed our minds after this day.  After months of praying, fasting, studying, and discussing we decided that the kids and I will stay in Las Vegas with my parents for the next school year when we go home this summer.  Even though we're a couple of weeks late, we finally officially told the school today.  They told us if we changed our minds again, they would find spots for our kids, but they wouldn't hassle us to pay the tuition now.  That was kind of them to say, but we've got to stick with the decision we've made.

It's been so hard to stick to this decision though, as I've been changing my mind weekly, if not daily.  However, I do believe we made the best decision for us, as all I feel is sadness, my anxiety has completely gone away.  When Leonard and I were first married we promised we would never live apart from one another.  I am so sad to not live daily with Len for the next year.  I'm sad to be a single mom.  I'm sad my kiddos won't live with their Daddy for a year.  I'm sad Len will be living all by himself.  Also, I love to travel.  Living in India we get a yearly vacation bonus.  Next year we were planning on going to Malaysia during Christmas break and France during summer break.  I'm also sad to give up those trips.  However, I do feel peace about going home and I do plan on seeing a naturopathic doctor after I get there.  Luckily, Leonard will still get his vacation bonus, so he will use it to visit us at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.  We are looking forward to spending the holidays with our Reil, Lee, and Pittl families!!

There are so many things I'm actually going to miss about India too!  The first is the people that I've met.  I've met some wonderful natives as well as expats here at church, the kids' school, and Leonard's work and I am going to miss them!

I'm going to miss looking out of any window in our apartment and seeing the Arabian Sea waves break at the Haji Ali Dargah Mosque.

I loved Indian food before we moved here, but I have eaten even more amazing things here!  I am going to miss the delicious tandoori paneer, dal makhani, pani puri, and almond kulfi, as well as their delicious fruity drinks, just to name a few.

I'm actually going to miss the noise!  All day and all night I can hear car horns blaring; our local Muezzin calling Muslims to worship; street parties complete with DJ's loud speakers as well as musicians banging on their drums; and fireworks for every holiday.

I'm going to miss swimming in our outdoor apartment pool year-round.

I'm going to miss our morning routine.  Almost every morning, Leonard and I wake up at 5:00.  We go down to our garden floor to walk and talk, then come upstairs to do our 5 Factor Fitness exercises.  At 6:00 we wake up the kiddos for our family devotional time.  We sing a hymn or primary song, have family prayer, and read from the scriptures.  Then we start breakfast and get the kiddos off to school and Len off to work.

I haven't lived in America though for SIXTEEN years and I am quite excited to live in my own country again!  There are many things I am thrilled to get to experience again.  First, I will be near most of our extended families and my childhood friends.  How great is that to be surrounded by the people that I love most?!

I can finally make all of the delicious recipes I keep finding on Pinterest, because I can finally buy all of the ingredients needed.

I can drive myself ANYWHERE I want to go, and I can teach Kaleb and Noé how to drive (or sign them up for Driver's Ed).

We can play outside all year, go on walks, and I can teach the kids to finally ride bikes!

My kids will get to experience a full schedule of church activities- seminary, mid-week youth activities, Cub scouts, Friday night dances, youth conferences, and Ali can go to nursery again.

I can serve in the Las Vegas temple as often as I am able.

Plus, if Len and I decide to grow our family, I can give birth in a country that will be safe for my babies' and my health.

This will also give us time to do more long-term planning for our family.  Again, I am so grateful for my husband's work as a Canadian diplomat.  However, if we want to pursue different careers we'll have the time to do that.  I still dream of us running a honey farm.  Len can put the 500 years of family beekeeping skills to good use!  We can have land for our kids to play on, and we can all work towards a common goal.  Or, Len can finally get the novel out of his brain and on paper.  Or, Len can look into teaching at a Community College with his Master's degree, or going back to school to get a PhD to teach at University.  Or, he can look at working at other international organizations.

I am trying so hard to trust in the Lord with all of my heart and I am trying to trust that He will direct our paths!

8

Teague turned 8!  Len had to work until midnight on his birthday and the whole weekend after (another visiting minister from Canada was in town), so we went out for his birthday dinner the night before.

Teague chose TGIFriday's, just like his older siblings did.

He picked out this chocolate fudge praline cake for dessert.

(We had it at Thanksgiving, and it is SO good!)

Make a wish!

With preparing for our move to India and now life in India, I haven't thrown birthday parties with friends for a while.  My kids don't seem to mind though as their siblings are their best friends!  Although, I hope next year to have some friends parties for them again :).

Yum!

Here he is EIGHT years old!

He took red velvet cupcakes to school to share with his classmates and teachers.  One little girl gave him a picture of an emoji blowing a kiss and on the back it said, "Happy Burthday Teage.  From, Sofia."  She also drew hearts and more emojis on it.  So cute!

After school I took all the kids swimming, then we came upstairs to watch movies.  Teague asked if he could snuggle me, um YES!!  I don't get to snuggle my big kids much.  Ali looked at me though like her heart was broken.  She then found she could snuggle my legs.  At one point, Teague got up and Ali quickly jumped up and snatched his place.  Under her breath she said, "My spot."  She is a sweet and feisty girl!  I snuggled Teague, Ali, and Hiram all throughout the night.  I just wish our couch was the size of a bed, so I could snuggle Gavin, Noé, and Kaleb too.

We told him he could go shopping at the toy store here to choose a birthday gift, order something online, or go shopping when we arrive back in the States.  He chose to go shopping once we're back home and he already knows what he wants!

Next weekend, we're going to Water Kingdom as a family for his birthday outing.  The weekend after that he is getting baptized!  Woo hoo!  It's great to be eight!

Extraordinary Easter

I love Easter weekend!

And so do my kiddos.  It makes my heart smile when we do our traditional activities and they love it so much!

Leonard's colleague, Vanessa made these yummy and pretty treats for us.

The Easter Bunny also brought lots of candy bars to the kiddos on Saturday morning.

They may not have gotten any chocolate bunnies or peeps, but they did get some Mars,

Bounty,

Snickers,

Milk Chocolate Kit Kat,

White Chocolate Kit Kat,

 

and 5 Star bars!

We went swimming for the second day in a row (I love swimming year-round!  And I love having my family home on Good Friday!).  I snuck back upstairs a little earlier and hid 150 eggs around our apartment.

Ali was so excited during the hunt.  She told me, "I love it.  I love it!"

I couldn't find jelly beans, but the kids loved the Skittles inside!

Next we colored eggs.  We didn't have any dyes, but I think we loved using markers so much more!  I challenged the kids to color all of the white on the shells.  Check out the hot pink one, that is some of Ali's work!  All of the kids did a great job!

We finished the day watching It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!

All throughout the day Teague told me he made a list of all the activities and after we did each one he'd say, "Check!"  Leonard's response was, "He may look like me, but he is so your son."  Yes, he is!

Sunday morning we got dressed up in our fancy Indian clothes to go to church.  Unfortunately, Noé started feeling sick so we had to leave after Sacrament meeting.

Our dinner was a lot simpler than the Easter feasts we're used to, but it's probably the closest holiday meal we've been able to have here.

We finished the meal with some cupcakes from the bakery.  Little birds nests, carrots, and red bunny bums, ha ha!

We also had our traditional Family Home Evening on what Easter is all about.  I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  His death and resurrection means that EVERYONE will be resurrected someday.  He conquered death!  His atonement means that EVERYONE can be forgiven of their sins.  Repentance is a privilege, not a punishment.  He conquered sin!  Hallelujah!

Spirit Week

Kaleb and Noé had Spirit Week at school and dressed up each day.

Pajama Day-

(Noé's shirt says, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~Albus Dumbledore)

Sports Team Day-

We're not really sports jersey wearing folks, or even sports watching folks for that matter ;).  The kids wore their school shirts, Go Eagles!

Twins Day-

These guys have twins day every day, but they're fraternal...

Noé and her friend Metha dressed alike with their hair down and wore silver hoop earrings, gray shirts, and black pants.

You can't tell from this picture, but Julius could be Kaleb's German doppelganger!!  They dressed alike, but didn't get a picture together.  I've asked Kaleb to take one before school's out though.  Their friends call them twins, and even the office staff gets them mixed up sometimes!

This day was Formal/

Casual Day-

They dressed up "formally" up top, but then kept it "casual" down below, ha!

After school one day they had a water fight and played Holi.  Noé participated in the water fight, and Kaleb came home quite colorful after playing in the water and Holi powders!

With his friends Rianka and Jason.

And another one with Ria.

I had so much fun in High School, I'm glad my kids are too!

Arts Festival

The kids' school had a celebration of the visual and performing arts.  It was a fabulous event!  I LOVED seeing all of the paintings on display, but I was completely drawn to these selfies inspired by the work of Sandra Silberzweig.

Here is Kaleb with the statue Bolt that he made with 4 of his friends.  It is inspired by Ju Ming's sculptures.

Here is a mini sculpture, Kaleb made to keep as well.

As an art student, Kaleb got to submit multiple pieces to the exhibit, including Tina (a sketch of his friend Tina).

An experiment in light.

For the Things They Carried exhibit (inspired by the refugee crisis) Kaleb drew his baby blanket and said, "I have traveled a lot, moving house to house; new place, furniture, the like.  However, I have always had this blanket with me.  A piece of home."

Noé worked with 6 friends to create Nana, based on Niki de Saint Phalle's sculptures.

She also made a mini one to keep.

Bolt and Nana became fast friends.

Noé is also an art student and got to display more of her work.  Here is her Lipstick painting inspired by Michael Craig Martin.

She drew a necklace charm for the Things They Carried exhibit and said, "This is my Young Women medallion.  I got this necklace when I turned twelve.  The motto that goes with this is 'Stand for Truth and Righteousness.'  We (my church) believe we are daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love him.  I would take this because it reminds me of the promises I have made."

Here is Gavin with his Sandra Silberzweig inspired selfie.

I want to have each of my children make one!

Here is Teague with his Vincent van Gogh inspired vase of flowers.

Hiram had fun making his snail and caterpillars.

Ali loves making artwork at home.  I can't wait for her to paint an elephant like this one day!

Kaleb performed with the band; Noé performed a black-light skit with glowing ping-pong balls and her drama class; Gavin sang with his grade; Teague sang with his grade; and all of my boys performed in the big fabulous ending- three songs from Les Miserables!  (Hiram performed in an assembly for the pre-kinders, kindergartners, and first graders earlier in the week.  They sang Castle on a Cloud complete with hand motions, so precious!)  With the tunes of Little People, One Day More, and Do You Hear the People Sing? in our heads, when we got home we watched Les Mis and bawled our eyes out.  It really was a fabulous day enjoying the arts!