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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Is it Friday yet??

Before we got here I once had this hilarious idea that Kate and I would get out of the house at least once a day. I think back on that ambitious idea and just laugh. Even as I type I'm thinking of ways to "bend" this so I feel like I still nailed it- and we do get out of the house at least once a day, just not in the same way I had envisioned. I thought we would go grocery shopping, on walks, to the pool, to visit other people- you know stuff like that. But instead we mostly stay home, unless we're feeling adventurous, it's not naptime, or have the energy to gather up the heaps of stuff a small person needs for survival outside of the home.

That's why we love Friday. Each Friday a group of moms get together to hang out while our kids play. It's right after K's morning nap, so she's ready to play. It's refreshing to meet with ladies and chat about life, ask "mom" questions like where to find things, how did you do that, or seriously, you've kept them alive this long so in my eyes you're an expert so tell me everything you know right now!... we also have a peek into the hearts of moms who serve the Lord by loving and caring for their family. It's a beautiful thing.



The kids play and then they eat lunch together. K and I usually leave around that time. She takes a killer nap after the playgroup. She's happy. I'm happy. She's making new friends. I'm making new friends. It's fun to be doing that together, both with K and just sharing life with other mommas.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Polomo Graha

Polomo Graha is the name of the neighborhood we've lived in the past four (almost five) years. It's a middle class neighborhood where many work hard at various jobs in the city- hospitals, internet/phone company, pilot, and others. The community has always been very sweet and welcoming to us- especially the kids.

When we first moved here the kids ranged in ages from 4-8, some younger and some older. Here they are back then: 





 
Life was simple then. Riding bikes, making up dances in the fields, laughter echoing down the streets, games of tag happening daily right outside our windows... that was the life.
 
Today it's different. Now four years later, the same kids are practicing riding motorcycles. They are only allowed to drive around on the three streets that make up our neighborhood. Kate and I will sit at the window and watch them drive by. Around 4 o'clock we go outside and sit on a tire that is filled with cement and watch. We watch the kids grow up. It's happening right there. We watch them as they become more confident in using a motorcycle. We watch them sit around and play with smart phones, listening to music that was popular a few years ago. They still laugh and play, but it's just different. The older girls have moved to a different island or city for schooling. I miss them, and I can imagine how their family miss them. Here are a few of them now.
 
 

 
The other shots I have are all videos. I love watching them play with Kate. I'm re-learning names and being intentional about going outside every day.  I'm not sure our family will ever be able to live in another neighborhood, we've got roots here. We're invested.

 
Images by Freepik