First World Solutions

Having lived overseas for an extended period, I've done culture shock. Having returned from overseas after such periods, I'm also familiar with its cousin reverse culture shock. But this week, seeing the U.S. through the eyes of our Bolivian guest, Teolinda, I'm experiencing something different from both of those. What's the word for viewing your own world through new eyes? I think maybe the word should be "grateful."

Here in North America, we gripe about ridiculous things so often that our friends have to give us a reality check by reminding us of our "First World Problems." But what if, at least for a little while, before the Thanksgiving glow wears off, we didn't dwell on our First World Problems, but appreciated some serious First World Solutions. I don't flatter myself that #FWS is going to become a thing, but for a moment, I'd like to recognize just how good we have it. 

Here are the things Teolinda has experienced for the first time this week:

Dishwasher - In the developing world, a dishwasher is a person with a sponge, and the water is so limited that it's only used to rinse the dishes. I'm still working on getting her to use it.

Clothes Dryer - When her sisters used to live with us in Bolivia, they washed their clothes by hand, a washer was a luxury, a dryer was unheard of. Now, she's intrigued by both commonplace appliances here. Not only, does the dryer save the time and effort of hanging things to dry, but she recognized right away the softness she'd been missing all along, and I'd been under-appreciating.

Self Check-Out - Do whaaat? She was pretty blown away by this First World Solution to long grocery store lines.

Expressways - Just days after Teolinda arrived in the U.S. we loaded her up in the car for our first road trip, to add Georgia to her list of the states she's visited. She was mesmerized by the roads. "Are all your roads like this? Where is the dirt?" Then with a chuckle, "All our roads have cows and chickens meandering on and around them..." Oh man, do we take our interstates for granted!

Heated Car Seats - Cause it is way too much to ask to wait 3.5 minutes for the rest of the car to heat up, we need our buns warmed immediately!

Crock Pot - I threw some spaghetti squash in the crock pot one of her first nights here, and totally forgot to tell her what I was doing. It wasn't till we were eating hours later, that I realized how confusing cooking by plugging a pot into the wall and leaving it all day, must seem.

Thanksgiving Dinner - Possibly the culinary definition of excess. We had 25 mouths to feed with our Thanksgiving feast, and afterwards, you could barely tell it had been touched. I tried hard to find a translation for "feast" in Spanish, but I don't even think Teolinda could wrap her head around having so much extra food, we never came up with a Latin equivalent.

Apple Pie - Appropriately, we introduced her to two of the most American things her first week here; Thanksgiving and Apple Pie. Apple Pie is definitely the solution to the first world problem of not having enough desserts to binge on after the most gluttonous meal of the year!

Pretzels - I don't even think she knew she needed a savory alternative to potato chips, but now she probably doesn't know how she lived so long without them.

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels - As if pretzels didn't rock her world enough, then we introduced her to the peanut butter filled variety. #mindblown

Candy Corn - Turns out candy corn is not an acquired taste, Teolinda took to it straight away. Unfortunately, she's gonna have to wait almost a year to get another fix. #FWP (Never mind, Jon just reminded me you can get candy corn all year long. #FWS)

Ping Pong - Because we have dryers, dishwashers, crock pots, and paved roads saving us so much time, we have room in our schedules (not to mention our houses) for such a treat as table tennis.

Black Olives - Black olives may not fit perfectly into the first world solutions category, but they are certainly a luxury I am thankful for when reminded that Bolivia only has green olives.

Golf Carts - Not that walking around golf courses, or retirement communities is a struggle in developing countries, but a tiny car to get you to the grocery store, or the next tee, is an invention that should not be overlooked as an innovation that has saved many well... steps.

So, seriously, guys, let's quit our bellyaching and look around, we've got it pretty good. Let's look for things to rejoice in this season, and maybe like Teolinda's amazement at all our treasures, it will be contagious...

Angie taking us for a spin around Peachtree City in Jon's grandparents' golf cart.

Teaching Teolinda the art of apple pie baking.

Luxuriating in the gorgeous lake views and a peaceful paddle boat ride.

Thankful for 9 Months with This Guy

I just read over Zy's 6, 7, and 8 month blog posts and it looks like I better start encouraging him to move soon, so I'll have something new to share. He's pretty much the same happy go-lucky little guy he has been for the last couple months, smiling a lot, sleeping very little, and entertaining everyone from the dog to the entire Social Security office. His big sissy is trying to encourage him to walk, and in turn I'm coddling him as best I can to keep him still. We just put the Christmas tree up last night, can't we enjoy it for at least a couple weeks before he pulls it down??

At his 9-month check-up this morning, he took the toe prick with a laugh, and his lab work proved we're not letting him eat too much lead paint. He's settled down comfortably around the 85th% for both height (29.5 in) and weight (22 lbs). But his head continues to soar off the charts, he's probably gonna cure cancer with that brain. :)

His first top tooth just busted through, right in time to help him chew some Thanksgiving turkey and fixings. His Spanish accent will be better than mine any day now, as he soaks in everything our new Bolivian house guest has to say.

We couldn't be more thankful for this precious gift God has given us. Here are few things Isaiah is thankful for:

Loving some exercise time while sharing some of his Cheerios with the dog.

He seems to have skipped baby food and moved onto solids, and I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever learn to drink.

After making messes in his high chair, bath time is more fun than ever now that he can sit up and enjoy his toys and be cleaned by the octopus his Bula made him.

Helping Mommy brush her teeth with the Sonicare is a highlight for him every morning!

And in his biggest news this month, he's using the potty like a champ almost every time we put him on!

The Ministry of Mothering

The other day, as I was gently wrestling 8 month-old Isaiah's nine arms to suck the snot out of his wiggly nose before putting him to bed, I tried to convince him this was for his own good, telling him, "You'll thank me later." But then it struck me, I'm 35 years-old and I've never thanked my mom for sucking the snot out of my nose.

This morning, Angie came downstairs with perfect double french braids, and I silently praised the Lord that I taught her to braid her own hair so early on, or I should say, taught her to watch Youtube videos and learn how to braid her own hair. I never thanked my mom for all the French braiding in the days before Youtube either...

I never thanked her for the endless shuttle service to and from practices and games, night after night, weekend after weekend. And she did it without ever telling me how she had other things she could be doing, as I too often remind Angie when she's particularly ungrateful for my time spent taxiing her. 

I can't remember thanking her for all those meals she slaved over, and the foods she likely gave up for decades to keep us picky kids from complaining. Now, in her shoes, I can barely breathe some days, paralyzed by the fact that these people in my house want to eat 3 meals every day!!

I know I've never mentioned my gratitude for the over 3,650 times she probably changed my dirty diapers. Honestly, I've never even thought to feel gratitude for that.

I took for granted the never ending laundry to keep us presentable, the agonizing school projects to keep us from failing, the grocery shopping to keep us healthy and growing, the budgeting to keep us afloat, the awesome snacks to keep us energized, content, and knowing we were loved.

I doubt I ever once thanked her for praying with me at bedtime all those years. She surely doesn't know how much it meant to me to see her reading her Bible and journaling all the time.

In my last blog post, I wrote to adoptive parents and said this:

"I believe in the ministry you're doing 24 hours every day, I believe it is the most holistic ministry anyone can do. And because you probably haven't heard it enough, Thank You. Thank you for serving with your whole self, ALL the time, with no end coming."

And the same can be said to biological parents. The only job that lasts longer than adopting a child is birthing one, because it starts sooner but lasts just as long; forever.

I have a dear friend about to have her fifth child and she's feeling the weight and length of parenting. She's recognizing the sacrifices she'll be continuing to make and the ministry she'll be missing out on while she doesn't have the margin to lead Bible studies, serve in homeless shelters, or do missions around the world or in her community.

But what she can't fully see is the impact of the ministry she's doing right now. Moms, your job is the most full-time ministry anyone could ever do. Those little disciples you're raising will change the world, and every day you influence whether they'll change it for the better. Teaching them to be brave and kind in the face of bullies will change their schools. Giving them chores around the house, money to spend, save, and give, and expectations now will help them change their workplaces later. Demonstrating repsect, patience, forgivness, and fun in your marriage, will impact their families when they're grown. Training up those kiddos to love their enemies is the best thing anyone could do to fight terrorism. 

Mom, thank you for...well, EVERYTHING! Living and loving like Jesus day in and day out.

And mamas, you may not be honored with volunteer banquets now, but the cumulative effect of all the tedious tasks will be incredible! There are no vacations, few restroom breaks, and no salary, but your service is soooo invaluable.