Gone to the Market

Well, we got to go to a flea market of sorts to complete a homework assignment. Good times. We got together with two other families and off we went. It was somewhat crowded but not so bad. Our ultimate goal was to interact a bit with the venders and also eat something foreign. So here I go up to the gal at a food counter. I didn't recognize what food she was selling so in my pitiful Spanish I ask what is it? She says in English pork. Now I'm looking at this food and I know it isn't pork but she offers me a bite and I try it. It was pretty nasty and slimy and I'm starting to think to myself, "If I were in another country and this were offered to me I would hope they don't offer me more than one bite." Well, I decided it would be a good food for the whole group to try so I buy one big Chicharon con something and everyone tries it. Mark realizes right away that we are eating pig intestines and so that explained how it was pork but didn't look like it. Wow fun times. Well, there are many things I am looking forward to living in another country and experiencing new things but I have to admit the food ISN'T always good and I've heard stories about having to eat food that is still moving! Well, at least I know it is fresh!
Here are some random pictures having nothing to do with the market. I felt too touristy to take pictures while we were there so I refrained. Here are pics of us hanging out in our apartment.

Waxhaw, NC

Well, I am so excited about what we are learning here in Waxhaw. The most encouraging thing is that I (Jess) have had a desire to know and build relationships with people of other cultures since I was a sophomore in high school. The more people I get to know from other cultures the more of God I see. It is a whole new world view with each new friendship. The only reason I bring this up is to explain this. Mark and I may be going overseas to serve bible translation through aviation but there is more than that that is hard to explain. We are also going to learn a new language and through this build friendships and relationships with people. God is taking us to another country not just to fly but to be a light in their world. We are so excited! We have a lot to learn about other cultures and how to learn about them so that we can effectively communicate and not offend in their culture. We want to learn about them so we can be a light to them. Please pray for us as we are learning new things about who we are and who God is not just through our cultural eyes but through other peoples eyes.

Our fabulous neighbors

Yes it's true we are claiming them!
We love taking really great pictures of Chris doing wacked out things. He was wearing Ali's goggles here.

King of the mountain

Tee Hee Hee!

Parenting styles

Let's be open minded here. There are many different parenting types and styles and this provides diversity to our world. In other countries parents may do things that we never would have thought of and never would do. But even here in America I've come to realize there are so many different but good ways to parent. I would be driven nuts and hate parenting if I did it like some of the people I know and love and they'd be nuts to do it my way. All that said... Let's embrace our family styles! Our kids! Our parenting styles! And Us! Here are some pictures that may horrify some of you if you were in the room as this was happening. I love my kids to be independant in certain areas and I am willing to pay the consequences. On a side note. My sister in law Niki has shown me a really cool bib that would cut my laundry in half. I have thought about it and I realize that if I had a wipeable bib those of you who know me well know it would sit on the counter unwiped because I'd be off and running to the next fun thing. Oh well, I'm doomed to extra laundry. Niki is wonderfully organized so if anyone needs advice on that sort of thing she's the one to ask(she can show you her cool bib. I hope someone got a raise over that one cause it's the coolest bib I've ever seen) Some day I will see the light. Maybe when I'm a granny :) I do know however that my house was very clean before I had kids and I don't know if I look forward to the days without my litte messes when people can eat off of my BATHROOM floors again. I'd love the clean but I'd miss the fun. Okay all that being said here are the pics! I'll try to add more pics in the future of our parenting stlyle.

The Chelsea Hudsons!

Okay so here are some awesome family pictures taken by our friend and professional photographer Chelsea Hudson. No one has ever made us look this good when we haven't showered for two days :)

Caleb walking

Ok here is the story. Ali walked right before she turned one. Micah walked when he was 10 months and here Caleb (14 months old) is not having any interest in walking at all. He has all the coordination and balance to do it he just refuses. It's really funny. The joke amongst friends was that Caleb would just start walking one day and we may not even notice. Well, that day arrived my friends. True story: I was playing Wii with my nephew Dalton and Caleb came walking into the room. I saw him out of the corner of my eye but for some reason it hadn't struck me yet that he was walking. He walked past us and turned towards the TV. When he got close I looked at him and said, "no no Caleb" cause I didn't want him to turn it off and that is when it hit me that he was walking and Dalton and I started laughing! He turned around and walked back to me and so I started yelling with excitement for anyone to run in here and see this sight. I was afraid it could be another week before he'd walk again. You never know with this kid. If anyone knows Caleb they know he sure does things in his own time but when he does it he is pretty darn good at it. I'm not sure what this means for the rest of his life but so far he sure pulls things off well.

Some pic of our trip!