Parks of Prague

Marvin was busy all day in class for 4 days of our vacation so the boys and I explored some amazing parks in Prague. 

Oh my goodness I had some serious park envy.  I love the park culture of overseas life.  Honestly it's been sad seeing these beautiful parks in the states deserted, no one playing in them.  I love how they are gathering points for moms, grandmas, nannies, etc.  Living in apartments it's so nice to have spaces to let the kids run around, and honestly walks are expected part of being a little kid.  There are times I would love to have my own little back yard playground, but love the social element of engaging with neighbors at the park multiple times a week.

Petrin Park (top of the hill)

Petrin Park bottom of the hill

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My favorite park in our city is about a 20-25 minute walk from our house that has been such a blessing and break from our usual park we frequent the most, but oh my goodness these parks had some pretty fabulous equipment.

Just look at it.  My monkeys were in heaven.

Petrin Park (Top of the hill)

 Petrin Park (Bottom of the hill)

In the middle of a francisan garden

We thought these were pretty fun bikes

Children's Island Park

 The water fountain was a big hit with Calvin, despite how cool it was that day.

It was nice how this park separated the big kid stuff from the preschool toddler areas.

It was on a little island, which added to the fun factor.

And it had a pirate ship, which made both my pirate loving little boys happy.

Up, Up and Away part one {Prague}

In the midst of a busy time of year, we had the opportunity to take a family vacation.  We are so glad we could get away for a couple weeks.  It was nice to get away from the stress of living where we live and just enjoy family time, while being in some pretty fascinating places.  

This spring brought some unexpected heaviness on my heart.  I felt like I was in a good place in this grief journey until we got closer to Seth's first birthday.  So even though our vacation was timed during a BUSY time of year (i.e. prepping to go to the states for 6 month and moving) it was such a gift to have some time to step back, reflect, grieve and spend some extra time with the Lord.

Marvin was already traveling through the capital and had been gone for a week prior to the trip, so the boys and I hopped on a plane and met him at the airport up north for our connecting flight.  It was the smoothest flying experience ever.  Thanks to be to a gracious God and whoever invented the kindle fire.  New shows always lead to quiet kiddos, that and snacks I never buy for the boys which make their day.

We met up at the airport a little earlier than planned, I abandoned the plan to let the boys play for a while in the airport playroom due to some tired grumpy kids and we surprised Marvin a couple hours earlier than planned (because I was done with the single parenting, tired and figured it was best not to subject other little kids to Micah's possessive toy hoarding when he's exhausted).  It was good to be together again.

We went a couple days early so we could check out the major sites, although not inside most places.  (We decided museums are much better explored with older children who know a little more about history and with longer attention spans.  After seeing that bribing Calvin with ice cream was not going to work during our first museum it became apparent our family was not ready for museums.) So we just enjoyed the beauty of Prague and had fun while we were at it.

Calvin did learn a bit of history while we were there.  The one museum we went into was in the Jewish Quarter and I explained a little bit about WWII and a little bit about Hitler, i.e. a very bad guy who didn't have Jesus in his heart and wanted to hurt people he didn't light.  We saw a star and several pictures of Jews who had to wear them.  He remembered that quite well especially as we made our way to our second city asked more questions about why he would hate people like he did and why he was so mean to them.  I'm sure with his incredible memory he'll remember that little piece of history.  What a gift to be able to step food in such historical places of the world.

My Favorite thing in Prague:  Prague Castle, so charming

Calvin’s favorite:  The crazy climbing webs

Marvin’s favorite:  Architecture and atmosphere

Micah’s favorite: Trains {metro and trams}

American Soil

Hey friends.  Our feet are now on American soil.  It was a whirlwind of a June, which can explain the silence on my blog, which I hope to update soon.  I don’t ever recommend moving right before heading to the states for 6 months.  However as we were packing up Marvin mentioned that it was the longest place we had ever lived in our almost 11 years of marriage.  I am so thankful to not have had to move for 3 ½ years.  We just moved our stuff to our temporary one bedroom apartment, and we hope to find something a little bigger when we get back.

Right before we left I jotted down a top 10 list of things I’m looking forward to while we are in the states.  Here’s my list………

1.       Seeing Seth’s Stone.  It’s been really tough not being able to physically visit the cemetery.  I’m not sure what to expect, but my heart truly longs to just sit by his stone.

2.       Grandparents.  Having our parents close enough to watch the boys for a couple of hours every now and then is amazing.  It’s one of those things that I really miss living so far from them.  I am thankful for the times we have a nanny, but it’s something different when they get to make memories with their grandpas and grandmas at the same time.  ***We’ve had more dates this past week in America than we had in the last year in Nineveh.  Thanks Mom and Dad, we needed it.

3.       Meeting family members we haven’t yet met.  Can’t wait.

4.       Almond milk & Sweet Potatoes.  These two foods top my list of things I plan to eat plenty of while in the states.  This whole lactose intolerance thing sure is a pain, but for 6 months I can just pop on over to the store and buy almond milk vs. making it.

5.       Seeing the doctor. I’m not sure what to expect.  My only birth in the US was filled with a room full of doctors and I didn’t even have a regular OB, only saw a perinatalogist.  So I have no idea what to expect but thankful to have regular care starting in my 3^rd trimester.

6.       Being able to buy strawberries past June!!!

7.       Spending time with sweet friends.  We’ve missed hanging out with you.

8.       Cooperate Worship.

9.       Target/Grocery stores

10.   Parks

Approaching

This week is one I’ve been dreading for the last two months.  My heart has been extremely heavy.  Tears well up as I even think about it. 

How do you celebrate a first birthday without your child?

That question has been haunting me.  It’s led me to the cross with such intense brokenness lately.  The Lord has reminded me that, he’ll never leave me and I have felt his comfort in allowing me to breathe through the heartache I’m currently feeling.

As we’ve approached these life changing dates I close my eyes and relive the fear, desperation and fear that accompany them.  The pain is just as real today as it was a year ago.  Maybe it’s made more real by the little feet kicking in my belly this year, making it every easy to remember Seth’s movement in my womb.  Yet this year all I have are memories and the space he occupied is where his little brother’s growing and not Seth.

A year ago I was praying that the Lord would heal and save our son.  Today I’m praying for the strength to breathe and to praise him for Seth.  To be thankful for the gift Seth continues to be.

We are hoping his birthday will be a day we can remember a sweet gift he is and extend it to others.

So we invite you if you feel led to love on others on Seth’s Birthday, Saturday June 1^st.  Pay for a stranger’s meal, leave some money with a note in a vending machine, give some encouragement to a young mom or friend, take flowers to someone who needs a little cheering up or a complete stranger at the hospital, bring a box of donuts to the hospital waiting room, hid or give away free bottles of bubbles at the park, send a letter to someone and tell them how much a blessing they are to you….  The possibilities are endless.

I made a little printable that you are free to print and attach.  If you do something we’d be blessed to hear about it and even more blessed to see pictures.

Thanks for loving us through a really hard year.

a morning captured

We had some talented college girls come and spend a semester in our city, and one of them took some pretty fun family photos of us.  I was just hoping for one good one out of our morning, because Micah isn't exactly the easiest little one to photograph (which is why the last family photo we have he's upside down).

But not she was able to get a lot more than one good one, she's a talented one.  Thanks J!!!  Here are some of my favorites....

This one perfectly captures Micah's independent spirit.

It was at this point where we were all trying to convince Micah to come and hold Calvin's hand, we started walking and Micah stayed put.  A couple seconds later Calvin pipped up and said, "Umm, I don't think it's working."

oh Boy

Another little boy!

I guess we're on a roll.

4 boys.

I love it!

Mother's Day

I've never put much significance in Mother's Day.  Sure it's nice to be honored, because this job is hard and one that is navigated with much prayer and patience, which I'll confess I need more of.  However this year I was dreading it.

I'm thankful for the gifts I receive on a daily basis.  The surprise behind the back hugs I get from my Micah man, his little voice that says read books as he climbs into my lap.  Random "I love yous" throughout the day from Calvin.  Giggles, stories, car sounds, yet there's a third voice that isn't a part of the three boys I have welcomed into the world and sometimes that silence is deafening.  I often wonder what the decibel level would be like in our house with Micah and Seth so close in age.  What the dynamics would be between them.

So on days like Mother's Day it's hard to celebrate fully because a piece of what defines me as a mother isn't physically present.

This morning I saw this on facebook and perfectly summed up how I was feeling.  What a beautiful Portrait of a Mother she painted.

Exploring Childhood

Sometimes I wish my kids get to experience a childhood like I did.  Growing up close to family, being close friends with their cousins. It continues to be a grieving experience living so far away from my idea of childhood.  But what I love is that God always shows me how rich he’s blessing my kids when I might have a day when I just would love to go to our nieces or nephew’s school plays, games, drop by our parents’ houses, etc…

This is the childhood the Lord his blessing them with.

Zip lines.  Rock climbing.  Throwing rocks into the river.

Mountains are in our backdoor and my boys love to explore them.  (I have learned to enjoy them more through sniffles and sneezes.)

A boy’s dream.  What a blessing.

A Girl's get-a-way

A few gals and I were able to head out of town on an overnight trip recently.  I had so much fun.

We picked a nicer hotel, which was actually affordable.

The hotel offered a lot of spa services.  As I looked over the list I had to chuckle because Botox was the cheapest option at $10/injection.  We decided to go for the pool instead.

It was relaxing.  They even brought us tea.

We had dinner out without having to cut anyone’s food up.  Or clean up the floor.  Or wash any dishes. Beautiful.

We enjoyed some sweet girl time later in the evening.

The next day we explored a new city.  Which was so cute.  Seriously can’t believe this is only an hour and a half away.

We had fun browsing the line of vendors, stopping to check out jewelry and souvenirs.  I love some of the pottery they sell here.

But not all of it.

And the park…wow.  I want to go back.

It was a refreshing get-a-way.  I’m thankful for the little break and for a great husband who took care of the boys while I was gone.

Paint

My boys love to paint. I always wonder why we don’t do it more often but then last week I had few paintbrushes loaded with paint, fly across the kitchen and then I remembered as I was scrubbing paint off the wallpaper......

  

Micah + Paint= a BIG mess.

But I guess the rarity of painting increases its appeal so we'll stick to that until Micah knows how to handle a paint brush better.

I am glad I was able to capture a little of the joy painting brings to them.