THANK YOU!!!

I love writing thank you notes. I am one of those people who still loves snail mail and still writes letters that require an address and postage. It's just so fun to get a letter in the mail and I love the option of providing that simple joy to someone else. That being said, I simply do not have time to get a card in the mail to everyone who has sent us cards and gifts since Emmett's birth. I would like to use this space to say an enormous THANK YOU to every single one of you who have been so very thoughtful. We hardly bought a thing for Emmett (diapers, a pack of gowns and a mesh sling - that's all - oh, and some pacifiers) and have been so touched by all the gifts, donations (my coworkers on 7N rock! Also my moms' Bible study - amazing), hand-me-downs and things that have been leant to us. We have lacked nothing. From onesies to snowsuits, all the bases have been covered. There's also been the emotional and moral support with the addition of a second child, to moving to a foreign country and all that entails. I truly think we have to be in the top 1% of "most blessed and fortunate people to exist." So sorry for a generalized message, I would have preferred to send cards, but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

This Laugh is Addictive

Hannah's laugh is addictive. When we hear her laugh, we just want to make her laugh more. Joy is the perfect middle name for her. We joke that she also could have easily been named Hannah Fun Bettinger, but Hannah Joy sounds so much better. We had a great visit with my sister Shannon and after she was here for a few days, she took Hannah back up to Seattle to hang out with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Steve and Aunt Sammy so Rees and I could do our garage sale. Well, we didn't get our garage sale organized in time, so we are using the time to get all the stuff sorted so that next weekend we can set it up quickly. So much stuff!!! As crazy as it is to be getting rid of all our stuff, it's also pretty cleansing. And let's be honest, it's so easy to accumulate stuff that when we live in the states again we'll probably have enough stuff to do another big garage sale within a year. Anyway, thanks for your incredible help, Aunt Shannon!

Aaaah Chelan

Here are a few pics from our latest, and one of our last, trips to Chelan. Hannah loves going to "The Pine Nest" as it's called. She went swimming, to the beach, ate chips, swung on the swings and drove around in the golf cart (well she didn't drive it, but she rode shot gun) and, of course, got lots of attention from Nanu, Papu, Leesy, Uncle Tony (one of her favorites), Aunt Jilly, Uncle Rick and Auntie Meegs.

We also got to see Cody and Carmen and their new baby, Adeline, who was born 10 days after Emmett. Hannah liked playing in the water with their 2 yr old, Jackson.

Rees and I got to go to the Prayer Center in Winthrop for 24hrs and let Hannah stay with Nanu & Papu. It was beautiful, refreshing and so encouraging to be there after 8 yrs of having not visited. "Peaceful" takes on a whole new meaning there and catching up with old friends (especially without a toddler - you know, uninterrupted conversation and all) was food to our souls.

It was so nice to get away and rejuvenate (even with a newborn) and we came home feeling ready to tackle our stuff and get ready to move to Central Asia.

Also of note was getting to spend the 4th of July with my family - all my siblings were in one place! Shannon did a seafood boil and jambalaya and my mom made blueberry pie - mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm! We are an eating, drinking family and had a great time together. Here's to good food and great company!

Kickin' and Laughin'

Myles' laugh is infectious - what baby's isn't?

But his is particularly adorable. He has to be the

sweetest baby around. I thought Hannah was sweet

(still do) but Myles has shown us that there's a whole

other realm of sweetness. We love you Gooey!

Readys are gone

Troy, Jenny & Myles left for Central Asia June 30th. We are planning on joining them in mid-September. We miss them terribly! They are in the midst of their month long homestay so we won't be hearing much from them (they're in a rural area) but we know they arrived safely, Myles is doing great, they are really enjoying the team that's already there and they are trying to adjust to the dramatically different way of life (their guts in particular). Please pray for their transition. Hannah keeps asking where Myles is and I'm so thankful that when we are finally on our way there, having said goodbye to so many people we love, she can look forward to seeing Myles, Troy and Jenny.
I've been so touched by so many people reaching out to me after reading my last blog entry. Thank you so much for helping keep me from feeling isolated! I definitely felt my toes hanging over the precipice of depression and feel like I've taken a step back (or forward, depends how you look at it). Which is good for a number of reasons - one of which is we have so much packing and purging of our earthly possessions to do, there's no time to be paralyzed by a dark cloud hanging over my head! Our house is crazy right now with piles everywhere - garage sale piles, Goodwill piles, storage piles and tons of stuff to just toss. Troy & Jenny were an inspiration (as they always are) in valuing simplicity as they packed and sorted and such. Just a side: they traveled all the way to Central Asia with 9 month Myles as a lap infant, having stayed within the two 40lb bags per ticketed passenger limit. Wow. I think that would be impressive even if they were just going for a visit but they/we are planning on being there for three years! Anyway, we are all surviving, can't say we are doing a whole lot more than that, but I'll take surviving over drowning any day :) By the way, my sense of humor re-emerged today (at least for a little while). Rees and I were really happy to discover that it hadn't vanished forever :)

Officially On Our Own

Well my mom left Sunday after being here for two whole weeks. I cried. It was also my birthday and the day that we had a T-stan fundraiser evening at church. Troy & Jenny are leaving the 30th of this month! I felt sad, hormonal, and exhausted all day - especially at the thought of having Troy & Jenny and Myles gone in two weeks. It's funny because we will be joining them in September - long before anyone else from the states gets to see them - but we've become so accustomed to living life with them and can honestly say that they are like family (the wonderful kind of family) to us. Two - three months seems like forever to be without them. In light of that and my mom leaving (who, once again, couldn't have been more loving and helpful to us while she was here) I have to say - I was feeling depressed about how this summer would go. By the way, thanks to all the ladies who have been so understanding and supportive and who have given me permission to let the tears fly :) 

I'm happy to report that we've survived the first 48 hrs "on our own." All of you with multiple children (Cooks, Wilburs, Andersons and Dodges - wow) are inspiring. It's actually not been too bad, either. It may help that Hannah's been sick since yesterday evening - one of the only things that slows her down - so I can actually keep up with her. I'm increasingly aware that if I thought parenting one child was a full-time job, two somehow makes it more full-time and there probably isn't a word to describe the 3+ children work of parenting.  I say "job" and "work" because I've been feeling convicted to think of it as my main vocation and purpose at this time of life. The weight of that responsibility is startling all over again. But God's help is even more impressive to me at this time too. I was convicted yesterday to let go of the hour of whiny, confusing, can't-be-pleased behavior from Hannah to appreciate the following five minutes of sweetness. It's too easy to let a bad spot in the day negate the good spots and I don't want those hard times to be what determines how I perceive my child(ren). The reality is - I'm very blessed. I have had no trouble getting pregnant, had completely low-risk pregnancies and great birth experiences, have two healthy, sweet kids and a husband who is a great partner (not just a helper). So for today, I'm trying to take one moment at a time. I know in the whole scheme of things, these are such precious, fleeting days. 

Our First Days Home

We are so blessed with the kids we were given! Hannah was born a pure extrovert and still is fun, funny and ver relational. What she challenges us in will is balanced by her sweetness, resourcefulness and laughs - though in the midst of a tantrum or particularly obstinate behavior, I have to remember all those wonderful things :) Emmett is a very sweet baby. Only cries if he's hungry, gassy or needs a diaper change. At times he'll even lay in his Pack 'n Play looking around, perfectly content. He's a good nurser too, much to my relief.
My mom has been here taking care of all of us - what a gift! She'll be here through the 14th and I'm sure I'll cry when she leaves. She's been cooking great food, doing laundry, dishes, chasing Hannah around and always has fresh coffee brewed when I get up in the morning. Hannah loves her baby brother, but has been a handful to us. I'm just trying to take one day at a time, asking God for wisdom and sensitivity in picking my battles and helping her adjust. My mom assures me this is just "transitioning" behavior and that we really will eventually get in the swing of things. Now she didn't say if that was while Hannah's still a toddler or if that's not until she's 18 :) I appreciate all the words of wisdom and advice you mothers of more than one child have offered. I'm sure I'll continue to need it.
Well, Hannah's taking a nap and Emmett's about to, so that means I should too.