Starbucks :)

2 year old hide and seek

One thing I love about a two year old is how they are so easily fascinated with the smallest things, much like myself :). I enjoy playing hide and seek with Zachary because you don't even have to move. He will hide and you just have to talk about where he might be and he will tell you if he is there or not. Eventually he will just show you were he hid.

Recently, hide and seek has become more hilarious in that now Zachary hides by closing his eyes! If his eyes are closed and he can't see anything, it is obvious that he is hiding and you can't find him. :) Don't you see that he disappeared? Life is so much fun with Zachary around.

Christmas 2007

Hard to believe that our first Christmas in Korea has come and gone. The day started out early at about 7:15. Matt and Blanchard spent the night with us and our friend Ellen came over shortly after. We enjoyed our time of opening presents and then sat down for a delicious Blanchard Christmas tradition of egg casserole with, of course, a side of extra bacon. We got to watch some of the Christmas Eve service from our church in Raleigh thanks to Skype and some wonderful friends back home who set it up for us. Between Skype and our vonage phone, the house was very busy. Matt was put in charge of controling all of our skype calls. I can say that I am sooooo thankful for technology even if it doesn't work perfectly sometimes. A little is better than nothing.



Zachary's favorite presents were his new keyboard on a stand that includes a working microphone and of course now a REAL Lightning McQueen, no more pretending!



We hoped to have a Christmas dinner with Matt and Amy again but Amy came down with a yucky stomach bug so we had to postpone our dinner. Though being away from family is hard, I am thankful that God has given me friends here and most importantly a loving husband and an amazing little boy to share this day with.



We hope you all had a very merry Christmas where you could spend time with your loved ones and celebrate the birth of our wonderful Lord and Savior!

Our little musician
The fire hat looks better on Matt
It's Lightening McQueen!playing Elmo video game from Grandma
Our delicious breakfast spread
The Skype Master

We got elfed!

Check out our Christmas moves! Enjoy!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1469328486

Peace Villiage Orphanage

Today we went with our church to the Peace Villiage Orphanage. Many of the kids there have parents but are not able to support them. Others do not have parents at all. Our school and church does a lot to support the orphanage throughout the year. This visit was to celebrate Christmas. Individuals or classes sponsored a child to buy them a gift and Santa delivered the presents to the kids. The kids ranged in age from 3 years old to 20 years old.



First we ate pizza with the kids and then it was time to hand out presents. The kids were so excited to receive the gifts. Many of them didn't even want to open them, they were so excited about the box and wrapping paper. We bought gifts for two 13 year-olds and a 3 year-old boy. He was so excited about his one gift that he didn't understand when we tried to give him the second half. He actually wanted to share the second present with Zachary! What a humbling thought that kids who have nothing were willing to share the little they had, one was enough for him. Once we finally conviced him that they were both for him, he carried them off to his room so excited and protective of his new treasures.

What a blessing to spend some time with these children. We need to go more often. I wish I could give each of these kids a home for Christmas.

NOW it 'smells' likes Christmas!

As I wrote before, Christmas in Korea is beginning to have new traditions and is very different from back home. One thing I was really missing was 'snow' on the Christmas tree. This is snow made out of Ivory soap not the spray on stuff. To get my house smelling like Christmas, I decided to make some snow and we would create with it instead of putting it on our tree. Check out our Blue's Clues snow house. We didn't intend for it to be Blue's Clues, it just happened to turn out that way. At least now my house smells like it should :).

Blue's Winter Wonderland

Blue and Magenta and a snowman

Sorry for the glare- Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper, Pail and Shovel

Mailbox

Zachary says "Steve and Joe together"

All Wrapped Up!

Zachary wrapped a present for you. What's inside?

Merry Christmas!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord

I have shown up how Zachary dances to the worship music but we have been trying so hard to catch him singing on video. He tends to clam up when I get the camera out or becomes very silly. I finally got a little bit the other day. Please forgive us for shirtless Patrick but enjoy the music. The song is "Come now is the time to Worship".

Christmas Bazaar

Saturday was the Christmas Bazaar at school. It's purpose was to raise money for our OCKs (Out of Country Kids) who are at our school. Most of them are missionary kids. The money goes to help them buy presents for Christmas as they are not as financially stable as the full paying students at our school.

The celebrations included a brunch with Santa, craft booths, a bake sale, book fair, and a talent show. We had a good time. Zachary would not go see Santa so that was a no go but lunch was delicious! He enjoyed making the crafts but I think he enjoyed running on the stage with 'buddy Seth' more than anything. Here are some pics of our day.

Making a puzzle piece wreath

Making a marshmallow cornflake wreath

Decorating a Christmas cookie

Making a pine cone Christmas tree


Mommy wanted to make Christmas cookies when we got home but Zachary wanted to use the car cookie cutters instead. The airplanes almost look like angels :).

Paichai University

Last Friday I had the opportunity to speak to university students at Paichai University. I was very honored to be asked to speak at their International Teachers Conference. I was the only American in a group of about 150. I spoke in a concert hall with a huge screen behind me with my powerpoint. My presentation was translated into Korean. I spoke on Learning Disabilities and ADHD.

The participants were art therapy, music therapy, and counseling students. I was nervous speaking but I think they were more nervous about speaking to an American. Many of them were too shy to speak to me but would relay information to my friend to give to me. I got to hear a Japanese professor speak as well. She spoke in Japanese and it was translated into Korean so I still don't know what she said :).

My presentation seemed to go over well and I even was surprised I got paid 300,000 won, at little more than $300. It was a great experience and hopefully I was helpful. I at least made some good connections.

Entrance to Paichai University- It is a Christian university of about 10,000 students.

Ms. JinAh and her friend Sunny- JinAh invited me to speak. She works with one of my students and Sunny is her friend who drove us there.

Building on campus that was built to look like a grand piano. I though this was pretty cool.

The hall where I spoke before everyone arrived.
speaking with Ms. JinAh as my translator
don't I look so little?
The Japanese professor and the professor in charge of the day who is translating.
Japanese Professor, Ms. JinAh and Myself in front of the piano building

Korean hair cut

I got my first Korean haircut last week. I had my hair highlighted as well. My haircut and highlights cost 40,000 won which is a little over $40. What do you think?

2 Samuel 6:14 "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might"

So often, dancing is a big controversy with Christian churches. I don't agree with crude and vulger tyupe dancing but I do believe God has given us rhythym and created us as musical beings. I have even started to look at things differently as I have watched Zachary become a musician and dancer. I know David danced in praise to God but I now wonder if Zachary, in his innocence, is doing the same thing. There is nothing inappropriate about how he dances just pure joy. I know he must be so thankful that he can move because he moves all the time! :)

Last week, Zachary and I were home sick and we put on a Veggie Tales Worship CD. He was offly quiet and his room while I was trying to do some school work. When I checked on him, this is what I found. Zachary dancing before the Lord in his innocence and enjoy every minute of it. Not for show or someone else's enjoyment but his own and the Lords. At least I like to think that way.

Baby it's cold outside!

Winter has arrived in Korea. Time to bundle up!

Twas a month before Christmas

Twas a month before Christmas, our apartment was bare.

No Christmas decorations could be seen anywhere.

It was time to break out the tree and lights

and make our new home look outta sight!

Out comes the Christmas tree from a big box

Not from a tree farm but from Cost - co

Stand it up tall, the braches all flop

Our job is to spread them from bottom to top

For Jennifer this expereince is new

No live tree or 'snow' as Ervins usually do

But she's learned to be thankful for the tall scratchy tree

A fake tree is better than deocorating nothing.

While Patrick and Jennifer set up the tree in a snap

Zachary woke up from his afternoon nap

With eyes spread quite large and a smile oh so wide

He could not believe what mom and dad brought inside

The tree was all sparkly with beautiful lights

It looked just like the stars twinkling at night

Special ornaments from home in one small plastic bin

Place them onto the tree, it's time to begin

Zachary soon found Elmo and friends

He hung them side by side like little book ends

Our tree feels like home with the memories we brought

Gifts from friends, family, and students we taught

Our home and our tree is now far away

But it reminds us of you, and then we're okay

The stockings are hung on the bookshelf with care

No chimney in this apartment anywhere

Patrick's done a great job filling our house full of cheer

In hopes that our friends and St. Nick will come here

Christmas will be different that we all know

No family, no 'old' friends, and no special tree snow

But no matter where we are on Christmas Eve night

We will still celebrate the One True Light

Our Savior was born so that we might have life

Abundant and full, but not without strife

Our God is still good, even far from home

He always goes with us where e'er we roam

Jesus is the reason we celebrate this year

For He is the one who has brought us out here

Our apartment is home and our new friends will hold dear

We can't wait to celebrate with them this year

It is now time to end this poem I write

So 'Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'

Spreading the branches

Our 'full' tree- I don't think I have ever had a real tree this full :)

Zachary giving instructions where to hang the ornaments

Isn't he handsome?

Zachary decorating the Christmas tree