As we wait for our money to arrive
What are our days like?
Mom writes a daily list so we're not kicking around bored
Things like math review, a JAM hour, sweep the floor
JAM means working on animation for Jasmin
Sweeping the floor should happen every day if we don't want black feet
Music for everyone: piano and violin
And now beginning explorations in flute and guitar
A fend-for-yourself breakfast when ever we wake up
Early for Aiden and Mom; late for Jasmin and Grace
Tidying and cleaning in the morning
Maybe a world-wide "earthquake" and repair on our coffee table world map puzzle
Eager electronic message checking for news from Canada
Normal morning list routines beginning to fall into place
A somewhat late lunch
Cool, fresh fruit and veg - or supper leftovers
Computer hour, these days a server "game" of Minecraft
While Mom and/or Dad nap
An afternoon outing to Dalat school to spend time in their new library
An aircon cooled treat time, and time for Aiden to play with others on the playground
Or An afternoon swim, or a precarious indoor soccer game
Or maybe a shared lego city scenario played
Or maybe an exploratory outing
Trying out Chinese classes or music teachers
An early evening run for mom, and maybe Grace too
We all might go - Aiden to learn to ride a bike, Jasmin to be our biking water station
A later supper, experiments in Asian cooking with a ½ set up kitchen
Showers and prep for the night, darkness falls fast
Bedtime Bible time, goodnights
A sing-song time Grace and Mom, reviving choir songs or trying guitar-easy songs
Late-night conversations: jiggering things around to suit our waiting for money status
Or cross-world calls chasing our money down
It's the weekends that are more interesting:
Friday night we go to cell group
Saturday morning Aiden has AWANA
Saturday afternoon will come Chinese lessons
Saturday evening is Youth Group for the girls
Sunday has Sunday School, Chinese church, English church, lunch at church...
And then we need a rest!
Today Dad is at his school getting ready to start next month
Friday Dad is teaching at our cell group
Saturday we have to shop for Aiden's birthday beach party
Monday we go to try out violin and voice teachers
Tuesday hopefully is special with our money arriving
Thursday is Aiden's birthday
We'll have a Skype party with NiNi and YeaYea and Imma and go to the beach too
That doesn't sound like holding pattern any more
We hope not - we're quite ready to start this new life
Rather than sit waiting and preparing some more
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Remarkably Unremarkable - yet
Normally considered a special day to mark
A 40th birthday
This is what it looked like for Mom so far:
Barely begun (as in just after 12 midnight)
We learn our visa application has been approved !!
Very big news, indeed
And sets in motion a string of must do's
To get those precious passport stamps
Rather awkward, as we still don't have access to our money to do anything yet...
A "sleep in"
Meaning the inevitable 7:30 sunrise waking is followed by more snoozing
(even two sets of curtains on the window doesn't seem to dampen the dawn sun much)
And Aiden not getting up until nearly 9
(he was up to 11 last night too)
And the girls don't stir until noon
(such is the result of Friday night small groups here)
A slow morning spent with the week's laundry and housecleaning
(can't be lax here if you don't want black feet and permanently smelly clothes)
Aiden and Dad off to AWANA by bike
A Skype call with NiNi
A brief lunch interlude of a full house
Dad and Aiden back from AWANA
The girls finally up and around
Tuna cracker lunch
And exchanges of arrangements
Then Mom is off with the kids via Grab
A trial Chinese class lesson for Grace and Aiden
A discovery of a local pet store for Jasmin
Sugar gliders, gerbils, and hamsters are on the short list of wanted pets
Though both of us would like to rescue birds, puppies, and fish from their crowded, noisy environment
The girls are picked up for Youth Group from there
A careful count of money means a purchase returned
Money needed for Youth Camp final registration tomorrow
A bus ride and walk home for Aiden and Mom
And creative thinking for the meals of the next few days
Come on, money, get here soon!
The girls'll get home about 8 tonight from Youth Group
We'll have supper together - an attempt at Koay Teow soup
Maybe Mom'll share her one slice of cheesecake Daddy bought her
And maybe she won't :o)
We'll celebrate better later, maybe joint with Aiden in two weeks
A 40th birthday
This is what it looked like for Mom so far:
Barely begun (as in just after 12 midnight)
We learn our visa application has been approved !!
Very big news, indeed
And sets in motion a string of must do's
To get those precious passport stamps
Rather awkward, as we still don't have access to our money to do anything yet...
A "sleep in"
Meaning the inevitable 7:30 sunrise waking is followed by more snoozing
(even two sets of curtains on the window doesn't seem to dampen the dawn sun much)
And Aiden not getting up until nearly 9
(he was up to 11 last night too)
And the girls don't stir until noon
(such is the result of Friday night small groups here)
A slow morning spent with the week's laundry and housecleaning
(can't be lax here if you don't want black feet and permanently smelly clothes)
Aiden and Dad off to AWANA by bike
A Skype call with NiNi
A brief lunch interlude of a full house
Dad and Aiden back from AWANA
The girls finally up and around
Tuna cracker lunch
And exchanges of arrangements
Then Mom is off with the kids via Grab
A trial Chinese class lesson for Grace and Aiden
A discovery of a local pet store for Jasmin
Sugar gliders, gerbils, and hamsters are on the short list of wanted pets
Though both of us would like to rescue birds, puppies, and fish from their crowded, noisy environment
The girls are picked up for Youth Group from there
A careful count of money means a purchase returned
Money needed for Youth Camp final registration tomorrow
A bus ride and walk home for Aiden and Mom
And creative thinking for the meals of the next few days
Come on, money, get here soon!
The girls'll get home about 8 tonight from Youth Group
We'll have supper together - an attempt at Koay Teow soup
Maybe Mom'll share her one slice of cheesecake Daddy bought her
And maybe she won't :o)
We'll celebrate better later, maybe joint with Aiden in two weeks
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Running Contrasts
Last year in Canada This year in Malaysia
40-50% humidity average 80-90% humidity average
Temperature mild spring/early summer Temperature hovering near 30C
Between 6-7am start to beat the heat 5:30pm or later start time, once the day is cooling
(and to make sure it gets done!) (can't do the mornings as I often have to go to market)
Usually alone With Grace
Don't usually meet anyone Share the road with fair number of walkers and runners
Run in one big loop of 5 km Run laps on a bit of dead end road behind our apartment
Listen to morning bird song Listen to evening monkey chatter
Less than ½ my run uphill More than ½ my run is uphill (much steeper too!)
5km came pretty easily 5km comes with complaining hamstrings from the uphill
I was reasonably aiming for 30min I'm a loonngg way from 5k in 30 min right now...
I end with a completely red face I'm completely red-faced by the 1km mark
A time to sort the day out A time to review the day
40-50% humidity average 80-90% humidity average
Temperature mild spring/early summer Temperature hovering near 30C
Between 6-7am start to beat the heat 5:30pm or later start time, once the day is cooling
(and to make sure it gets done!) (can't do the mornings as I often have to go to market)
Usually alone With Grace
Don't usually meet anyone Share the road with fair number of walkers and runners
Run in one big loop of 5 km Run laps on a bit of dead end road behind our apartment
Listen to morning bird song Listen to evening monkey chatter
Less than ½ my run uphill More than ½ my run is uphill (much steeper too!)
5km came pretty easily 5km comes with complaining hamstrings from the uphill
I was reasonably aiming for 30min I'm a loonngg way from 5k in 30 min right now...
I end with a completely red face I'm completely red-faced by the 1km mark
A time to sort the day out A time to review the day
I miss the cooler running environment and the morning starts.
I'm happy to have the weather consistency to run regularly.
I miss having a long route to run - more interesting.
I'm intrigued to be able to observe monkey family habits and new birds.
I miss running alone with my thoughts.
I'm happy that Grace is interested and wanting to run with me.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Aiden's Unfortunately - Fortunately
Fortunately, today is the day we move to our new house
Unfortunately, we woke up to a new government and an unexpected national holiday so all the deliveries were canceled and we can't get the keys.
Fortunately, this meant Mom and Dad took me to market for a breakfast date
Unfortunately, many stalls were closed and we couldn't get everything we wanted.
Fortunately, we still got yummy fish ball soup
Unfortunately, Dad put hot peppers in his big bowl so I had to share mom's small bowl.
Fortunately, we got to play a family game of Forbidden Island
Unfortunately, Mom and Dad had an operation to do in the afternoon so I didn't see them a long time.
Fortunately, we went swimming when they were done.
Unfortunately, only Dad came, Mom had to sleep.
Fortunately, I almost know how to swim
Unfortunately, my tooth fell out and it hurts there now.
Fortunately, Dad taught me to swim the front crawl
Unfortunately, it made me very hungry.
Fortunately, Mom was awake and had supper all ready for us
Unfortunately, Dad decided to go for curry and Grace takes a long time in the shower so we have to wait to eat anyhow.
Even though it started with a big disappointment, today was a pretty good day - medium for me.
Unfortunately, we woke up to a new government and an unexpected national holiday so all the deliveries were canceled and we can't get the keys.
Fortunately, this meant Mom and Dad took me to market for a breakfast date
Unfortunately, many stalls were closed and we couldn't get everything we wanted.
Fortunately, we still got yummy fish ball soup
Unfortunately, Dad put hot peppers in his big bowl so I had to share mom's small bowl.
Fortunately, we got to play a family game of Forbidden Island
Unfortunately, Mom and Dad had an operation to do in the afternoon so I didn't see them a long time.
Fortunately, we went swimming when they were done.
Unfortunately, only Dad came, Mom had to sleep.
Fortunately, I almost know how to swimUnfortunately, my tooth fell out and it hurts there now.
Fortunately, Dad taught me to swim the front crawl
Unfortunately, it made me very hungry.
Fortunately, Mom was awake and had supper all ready for us
Unfortunately, Dad decided to go for curry and Grace takes a long time in the shower so we have to wait to eat anyhow.
Even though it started with a big disappointment, today was a pretty good day - medium for me.
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