Kermit the Frog

Okay, so we've finally finished these insane days of module classes... which translates to Todd and I are each down to one class a piece, one day a week for three hours (plus the seminars for World Missions which are about 20-30 hours a week), so we're REALLY excited to have some free time on our hands.

That being the case, we finally took up another missionary's offer of a Baby Einstein bouncy-walker-thing. Walked down to get it (which is no small task when people drive on your street like they're racing to the hospital because, well, they're racing to the hospital!), cleaned it up and put Emme in it.

Now Emme is only 15 weeks old today and still slightly small for the chair. So, being the resourceful mom that I am, I shoved towels all around my precious girl until the chair worked (probably not the safest thing to do). Now, this is one of those chairs that doesn't walk around. It stays in one location (great for Mom) but the chair spins around so that Emme can have a 360-degree view of the room, or in this case, the room and a wall. There are four stations with things that move, a piano keyboard that lights up, etc. Of all these gadgets and gizmos, my daughter decided that a small green frog was the lucky recipient of her undivided attention.


Two things you need to understand about my daughter. One, she does things her way, in her time, and on her terms. Period. Two, she has discovered the ability to stick her tongue out in the last two days. So back to the new-fangled toy. Emme has chosen to like this frog. She made a few friendly noises at Kermit, but when no friendly noises were returned, the staring contest started. She started low, she stared straight on. There were stares from tip-toes and stares at close range. She tried everything in her power to goad that frog into an argument. When she realized that Kermit wouldn't bite for anything, she stuck her tongue out and yelled at me, as if I had control of that evil green monger who eats flies.

Cross-Cultural Training

For those of you who have spent more than 3 seconds with my, you know I am a people-oriented person. Right now, my culture is academically-oriented, thus leading to some cultural clashes. Let me explain...

Todd and I have class from 8am until 12:15pm; five books, three diapers, two homework assignments and one Boppy (oversized pillow for Emme) in tow. Then, we go home to work on homework until 4:45ish, at which point, two gals come over to the house (one missionary intern like us, and the intern coordinator) to watch Rosie, 3 and Paul, 4 (their family leaves for Peru in a few weeks). We then head to class until 10ish. Now, Monday night, I left Emme with these two sitters and was a nervous wreck the entire time, so now she goes with mom and dad to class until 7:30ish, when she gets picked up to spend the rest of the evening with the other kids. We come back from class to do homework until one of two things happen: a) we fall asleep or b) we run out of cereal and/or Cup-O-Noodles.

I was feeling this difference in cultures, but I didn't think it was that extreme until last night. Standing in my 'dining area' after class, looking at the two sitters finishing up bath time with Rosie and Paul, their parents waiting with pj’s in the 'livingroom,' Todd with Emme talking with the husband of one sitter, I had two major epiphanies. First, it was 10pm and I had almost a dozen people in my tiny rental house... a DREAM come true for this people-person. Secondly, I needed to shove them all out because I had a book to read and paper to write before class the next day.

I've never been more aware of how fully I'm in the middle of God's plan for my life, but it's hard to describe how no one, save the other ten people who are going through this with us (and even then, not to the same degree because of the kid-factor), understands what's going on. Pray that God will give my family patience. We are tired, which can quickly lead to crankiness. I know that this is only for 'a season' (trust me, I counted down the last 100 days of my pregnancy, I'm counting down these 10 days!) but that doesn't make that season any shorter. Pray that my family comes out of this still knowing one another... and have some friends to boot!

Update

Many of you have been asking in the last few months if Todd and I are excited to be going to South Africa. Our honest answer? We're so busy right now, we haven't thought any farther into the future than the next few days for months. Currently, we are living in interim housing across from Nazarene Theological Seminary. The house is being painted (they started two days ago, much to my dismay as I looked out the front window to see two burly men staring back at me!) and we're trying to get stuff settled. Most of our things are in boxes with detailed lists of what is inside of them, but the things that are left are trying to find homes... therein is another challenge since the house is furnished by people who have been leaving for the mission field and have left things. We're in the land of what didn't make the list of "necessary" items to take to the field. So, Todd and I are sharing one dresser and we're getting creative with boxes and shelves. All this fun in the midst of writing papers and reading books. I've come to the conclusion that part of the reason why this is so challenging isn't because I have divided loyalties between my husband, my daughter and the work needing to be done (although that is a factor) but the greater forces at work? The Olympic Games. That's right. They're on and for another little bit, I will have to fight the urge to watch Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and the other incredible athletes, thinking of the days when my waist was that small (back in the 3rd grade... ah, those were the days!). So, pray that we get our papers done, that I am able to concentrate in class (can anyone say ADHD??) and that Todd doesn't kill me for wanting to skip our morning classes because swimming is on.

Rain drops on roses

In the crazy world of packing everything that will fit in a 200 cu.ft. box, selling everything else that won't, and moving to another state with a 3-month old, there is something to be said for things that make you happy. I have come to realize that there are certain universal things that, just the thought of these, make me happy. The sight of Target in an unfamiliar world... or, in this case, city. That special color of green that sets the mind to fresh-cut grass the first warm day of spring. Having a paper written, revised and sent to a professor, thus, taking it off of my plate... and my daughter's huge smile that makes her eyes disappear into what Todd calls her "smiley eyes" first thing in the morning.

There are many things to complain about, like the insane number of papers to write, books to read, and bags to be unpacked when all I want to do is play with Emme because she's recently started giggling and rolling over... But God is good, it's Friday, and we found a Chick-Fil-A. We'll make it... or come really close to it!