Transition

A well loved word by me right now. I shouldn't complain, It does challenge me in ways that I wouldn't chose to be challenged, helping me to live out what I say I believe. It forces me to be a bit humbler than I would normally, and it puts me in a needy place, whether for emotional stability or just physical needs, pushes me to confess my pride, and get help from God or others. So, I'm trying to embrace this state where God has me, if you cant tell:)

After moving home from Asia, living with my parents for a month, and now living with a family of 6 for 5 months, we are:
1. Going on vacation with some beloved friends for a week
2. Spending time with Marks family for a week
3. Moving in with a family of 5 for June
4. Flying to Kentucky to find housing (leaving the kids:)
5. Visiting some churches
6. Moving into another apartment in July( this one is people free!)
7. Moving to PA for a few weeks end of July
8. Moving to Louisville, Kentucky early Aug.
Ok, are you tired yet?

Ha. I'm actually looking forward to it. After a challenging month, I'm ready for some change! And I'm looking forward to Mark having a little more freedom and for the relational time with loved family and friends.

Yes, we are now headed to Kentucky so Mark can study at Southern. Not my first choice, but I think it is the best option for us at this time. Have any of you, my friends ever even been to Kentucky? Didn't think so. Let us, your dear Collins', give you a sincere invitation to come visit us and check out the beauty.( so I hear).

Caroline is so capable. She is almost potty trained, and she (when she wants to) can do almost anything on her own. I can't believe how much I can talk with her and how much she can help me. What a difference 3 years old is to 2 years. AND, Lawrence. Ahh, the cutest. He is changing so much too. I'm so enjoying him. More than ever. He sleeps through the night now(well, most of the time). He says words, bebe(pacifier), yucky, dada, mama, etc. He is at the stage that he will come give you a kiss.

AHHH, that brings back fond memories of Asia and Caroline when she would give everyone a kiss when she went to bed. Remember that?

Ok, I'm digressing. A few pics and a hearty hello from a needy girl in transition.

Time with Grandpa Clarke in NC(great grandpa that is:)

Lawrence on the stairs!

Great Grandma Caroline

Lawrence tries to drive the truck!

My athletic daughter catching bubbles

OOOOOHHH COLD:)

Hey friends. Long time no blog. We've been to NC to see my grandparents and just got back from PA to visit with my parents while Mark was out of town.

Kids are good. I looked at picture books of the kids from when we left Asia, and they look so little! I can't believe its been 5 months!

We have decided not to attend Westminster due to some hard things that are going on there. So after my depression over not being in PA with my good friend Allie and being close to family, I'm really just ok with whether we end up at Southern in Kentucky, or at RTS satellite in Northern VA. I think we'll be deciding soon, as our internship is over May 23rd.

Root Canals

Well, many of you know of my root canal tooth. 3 root canals, gum surgery and passing out in a dentist chair while prego, the same tooth loves to give me trouble. I was flossing Sat. night and this famous tooth of mine(by the way, my dentists nurse(is that what you call those ladies?) told me there might be something to my thoughts of hereditary teeth going bad. Does that make any sense? My father, and brother, and aunt all have the same tooth missing as my trouble tooth!!! They saved money in having theirs pulled. I'm honestly just too vain to have that done. I'm going for a tooth implant next time this baby needs something(save up your money honey). Oh, I never finished my story, my tooth came out!! AHHHH, I had bad dreams that night. However, I went to a great dentist today who took an xray and showed that everything was fine, the crown just came off! WOOHOO, its glued back in and I'm eating swedish fish(maybe I should have waited for those?)
The following are some pictures from our month.

Birthday, dress-up, and a dog

Hey there,

We've been busy here. Caroline turned 3 on the 1st. Marks mom came for a visit and then my folks came for her birthday. Both kids have had the flu, and runny green noses. That keeps me at home:( We all seem healthy now!

Baxter the dog, loves Lawrence. They have a mutual friendship. Its fun. Lawrence has started to understand more and more. He points at what he wants, is making more and more sounds, and throws a good fit when he doesn't get what he wants. I always thought I'd never have a pacifier kid, oops. He loves it and it keeps him quiet.

Mark and I have been running! Its a great place to run. And it sure is good for me as America has lots of too much yummy fattening food, as well as the fact that I've been at home too much!

I'm off. Dinner for 10 needs to be made.

Meg

Everything new

Well friends, (there are about 3 of you) :)
After a few weeks in our new home and job and place, we are settling well. I'm still in major adjustment as Mark is way more busy and not available. I told some friends yesterday, "this is the first time I've ironed my husbands shirts, and the first time in a while that I've hand washed our sweaters". I miss ayi. And I had to chop my own veggies:) HA.

Mark says Caroline has grown up 5 months just from hanging out with the older kids we are living with. She does go off with them for half hours at a time and we don't hear from her!! She has some new girlfriends. What to say. It sounds like a good thing to have little girls who are the same age all play together right? A fun, easy good thing? HA. THats what I thought but its really a lot of work for the mommy! We live with a 4 year old, and our neighbor is a few months younger than Car. Well, they get together and you should hear the screaming. Its good sancification for me and them!! We have 3 guinea pigs(well, not us but our hosts). Car gets to feed them every once in a while:)

Law on the other hand is a handful as this is a house with many stairs. He has learned to go up them(which is a problem). And he loves Baxter the dog, tho I'm not sure Baxter loves him!! HA.

Glad it is the weekend. More of Mark and lots of good input into my soul. I need it!

Meg

Firsts

First. . . time on that long flight with a sad, sick girl. Though she was happy here, and not throwing up, when she saw gramma and papu!


First. . . time Car has seen snow and made a snow angel!




First. . . time Law eats jello. . . mmmmmmmmmm good.

To blog or not to blog

A few years ago a friend of mine sent me a link to his blog. I went and saw really cool pictures of a trip he had taken somewhere. Later, after having Caroline, a few people told me I should start a blog so others could keep up while we were overseas. I kinda laughed and thought about it for a few moments when reality of who has time to figure out what a blog was hit me and that was the end of that. Well, here I am, my first post on my first blog. What has motivated you Megan, you ask? Relationships. We are moving in a month, and that has me thinking about current and past friendships and family. The older I get the more I realize it is so hard to keep in touch. I really do wonder where some friends are, and how they are doing. I know that its not reality now to keep up with everyone, but it is pretty cool to be able to get a glimpse of others lives on their blog. My friend Gina has inspired me from her blog. Thanks Gina.
Here's to relationships. If you're reading this, I probably like you, and want to be in touch with you, so enjoy:)

Love,
Megan