Everyday life

Life is back to normal - which means we're busy!!

Mark is working, and preparing for retirement. We've been looking at houses online for about a year now and found the PERFECT one. The only problem is, we can't afford to buy it now. :( Yes, we thought about renting it out, but - who wants to rent a house for less than 11 months? So, onto more fun things. Mark has started playing badminton with the local staff at the embassy. He really enjoys it. I know, it looks like a wimpy sport, but it gives you a great workout! He also helped the local staff raise funds by cooking at their breakfast. He makes a mean egg - in a giant wok!

Me - I'm crazy busy but crazy happy. I'm still working at the post office about 30 hours a week. I get to meet lots of people, with all the new people moving in I get to take some out around town too. I am doing an internship for my school, helping edit a Crisis Management Plan. I'm doing a price survey for the embassy (paid job that determines our COLA allowance). I'll start 2 classes in October. (I will graduate in March/April!!!!!) I'm planning our Girls Camp in December. And I'm writing this blog!

Marcus - got the lead in the school play! This year he's a "triple threat." He has to act, sing AND dance! We're so excited to see him develop his talents! (The play is "Kiss Me Kate" Mark calls it "Lock Lips with Lucy") He is also still working on a cartoon (with Casey and Jordan) for Disney Asia. (Bola Kampung or Football kids) We are also gearing him up for college applications, SAT and a mission!!!!!!!! Right now though his focus is on his girlfriend that's leaving next week.

Casey - Is super girl! Cute, sassy and talented. She got her camera (we lost the last one at Youth Conference) and is happily taking awesome pics. She is also on the yearbook staff (you have to be picked for that!) and happy with that. She is enjoying working out after school but most of all is stoked because she doesn't have to take Spanish this year! (Colorado schools only require 1 year. She had that last year.)

Jordan - Is so cool. A freshman this year, he is handling highschool like a pro. No bounces or rough spots, it's just old-school for him! He actually likes Spanish! He's also happy that he got a part in Casey and Marcus' cartoon. That gives him more cash to soup up his laptop that he bought with his last job.

Benjamin - A fourth-grader now, he's not a baby anymore! He regularly helps with dinner preparations (along with the older kids) and has his own night of dishes! We just went to his school's open house and he actually had dishes as one of his Favorite Top 10! What a surprise! I guess he's learned from his older kids that whining does not work. Plus dishes is a time when they can shut the kitchen door and turn up the music! Since they've discovered this my kids don't complain about dishes anymore! A miracle!

So - that's our life these days. When we get more interesting stuff I'll let you know. Maybe soon I'll have an article in one of our Church magazines about our Youth Conference. If so I'll post it here too!

Selamat Jalan! (See ya!)