A Visit From Papa and Mimi

This weekend we had a special visit from Mike and Mary Lou / Papa and Mimi (Ross' dad and stepmom). While they were here they rented a house that was big enough for all of us to stay in, so it was like we were on vacation too (except the school and work thing :-). Two days were spent skiing -  one at Blacktail Mountain (our local mountain) and one at Whitefish or "Big Mountain"(about 45 minutes away). Both days were super fun. At Blacktail, the kids skied with us, so they got to see Selah's skills on the blues, Kiera's skills on the greens (all the way down without any falling!!!) and Mason working the learning slope. Selah and Papa went off skiing together for a while, because Mimi and I were too tired to keep going :-)  Big Mountain was fun too, and it named that for a reason! You can go to the "summit" and ski down 3 different faces! I was so tired after that full day of skiing that I wasn't good for much of anything that evening.  The weather was great - it snowed all day and there was untracked powder at least 2-3 feet high back in the trees. That might sound nice to some of you - and it was for Ross - but it wasn't for me. I tried to follow Ross and just ended up having to dig myself out of feet of powder every minute or so :-) Bright side? I was super warm after all that digging!

Also while they were here, we toured Whitefish, Bigfork, Kalispell and Lakeside. They took a campus tour of the YWAM base, dined in the YWAM cafeteria :-), cooked us a super yummy Sunday night dinner, did a big puzzle and just enjoyed being together. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

First morning at Glacier Perks Coffee - Kiera, Papa, Mimi and Mason

Mason holding one of the Hudson's bunnies

"Dapper Mason" - Papa helped him get dressed and combed his hair,  he knew he looked good!

Family picture

Mimi and Kiera snuggling one morning

Mason trying on boots at Murdoch's

The kids acting like bears with the big bear

Mason with his leash on about to go out for a test run with daddy

Ross at Big Mountain

Classic ski lift picture

Ross' icy beard

You can take dog sled rides and the dogs were out for promo. They were so sweet! Made me want to go for a ride.

So, I realize I didn't do a great job taking pictures while they were here, but you get the jist - skiing, coffee, snuggling - it was a great visit. We were all sad when it was time for them to go home.

Prayer Requests - 3/20/13

Prayer Requests 3/20/13
1. This weekend. I'm going to Atlanta for a wedding, Ross is here with the kids and he is considering moving us this weekend while I am gone. While I think that would be great for me, I think Ross will need prayers and help to do this with just him and the kids :-)

2. Housing - that this place we are moving into would work out well AND that a base house would open up quickly so we can move back to the base and have a more permanent home.

3. God - that I would make time with God a priority.

4. Kiddos - that I would spend more intentional time with the kids. Now that Selah is in school most of the day and Kiera goes to preschool and then sometimes a playdate, I feel like I don't see them much. Also, that I would be consistent with them, I've been slack lately and it is only hurting me :-)

Thank you to all who are praying. Please send me your prayer requests too! (lane_lackey@yahoo.com)

From 3/6/13
1. Housing - that a place would open up, wisdom in knowing what the right housing solution is for us as a family. We have a place to live!!! I'll post pictures next week after we move in, but for now I will say that it is a small 3 bedroom cabin about 20 minutes away from the base (bummer), but it is on 8 acres of land in the middle of the woods and at the top of a high hill - it should be an amazing place to spend the summer.

2. Potty Training - I just found out that Mason can't go to preschool until May (3 years old) AND potty trained. So, praying that by May, he will be fully potty trained!!! Also, that I will have patience through this process. This boy is potty trained!!! I'm still a little nervous when I take him out in public with his (Thomas the Train) underpants, but he hasn't had an accident in a week and he is doing so well! Yeah! 

3. Patience - for me :-)

• Patience with potty training Mason - YES!
• Patience living in a dorm - Only a few more days.
• Patience not getting to work at 100 Fold as much as I would like - not until May - So busy right now that it isn't an issue.

4. Anxiety - I can get completely overwhelmed and consumed with the little things and then I am ineffective with my kids, my friends and in my marriage. Please pray that God would show me how to deal with a list of things to do - that they wouldn't define me, they wouldn't consume me, they would simply be a guiding tool. - These prayers are working! A few days ago I felt the anxiety creeping in, but it didn't grab hold - YEAH! I keep thinking that things will settle down in a few more weeks, but knowing us, I don't believe that anymore :-)

Life As Usual / Prayer Requests

Hello Friends!
I don't have any new pictures, so I know the blog won't be as interesting today, but I just thought I'd write and say hello! Ski lessons this weekend went really well. Selah is skiing on her own, she just needs help with the lifts, Kiera made amazing progress by staying for her entire lesson and then skiing down the main slope and going on the lift with Ross multiple times. Mason even got in on the action and went down the main slope and lift a few times with daddy. It might be my turn this weekend, but I feel so limited when on my snowboard, that I'm not sure if I'll go with them or not.

We are still trucking along in the dorm room, but making the most of being on the campus with our friends, the cafeteria, 100 Fold and the gym super close.

I wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us. We've felt the love :-) Also, we would really like to be praying specifics for you - would you send me a text or email with any prayer requests? God ties us all together as brothers and sisters in Christ and we feel that especially when we are praying for each other - understanding each others struggles and needs and celebrating as God faithfully answers.

Thank you for your prayers. I am so encouraged to already see how God is answering prayers, even when it feels like nothing is changing, this is a good exercise to be reminded that He is working, He is present, He is good. So good!

Prayer Request Update:
From 2/24/13
1. Housing - still a need. There are one or two places in Lakeside that are $200-300 more a month than we feel comfortable paying. There are places more in the price range that we want, but they are 25 minutes away from 100 Fold and the kids school... So, we need housing, but we also need wisdom in choosing a place.

2. Heath - Ross is healthy!!! YEAH!!!

3. Health - Mason's belly is better! Lots of Pedialyte and probiotics and his is so much better! Which means that potty training has officially started - AGAIN!

From 3/6/13
1. Housing - that a place would open up, wisdom in knowing what the right housing solution is for us as a family.

2. Potty Training - I just found out that Mason can't go to preschool until May (3 years old) AND potty trained. So, praying that by May, he will be fully potty trained!!! Also, that I will have patience through this process.

3. Patience - for me :-)

• Patience with potty training Mason
• Patience living in a dorm
• Patience not getting to work at 100 Fold as much as I would like - not until May

4. Anxiety - I can get completely overwhelmed and consumed with the little things and then I am ineffective with my kids, my friends and in my marriage. Please pray that God would show me how to deal with a list of things to do - that they wouldn't define me, they wouldn't consume me, they would simply be a guiding tool. 

SKIING!

We live at the bottom of a ski mountain, so we figured we should take advantage of it. This past Saturday the girls started their ski lessons. There is a great deal where kids their age can get rentals and a 2 hour lesson for super cheap. They both did great! Kiera liked it okay, but she got cold and lost interest quickly, I will give her a little credit and say that it was 19 degrees on the mountain. But the cold didn't slow Selah down. She loved the lesson. As soon as it was over she came inside, ate half of her lunch and was back out on the bunny slope. She quickly learned how to use the tow rope and spent the next 3.5 hours practicing on the bunny slope. She didn't get cold or tired. That girl has determination! She is so excited because this Saturday Ross is going to ski with her in the afternoon and take her on the lift.

Mason also got in on the action... Because I didn't know if Mason would really want to ski, I didn't rent him skis or boots, but once he saw his sisters getting their equipment and out in the snow he wanted to be part of things too. Once Kiera had her lesson and was done being cold for the day, Mason put on her boots and skis (both were too big for him, but he didn't mind) and went out to ski with our friend, Melody. She was the girls instructor also, but for Mason, who has a special place in her heart, she gave him a 30 minute lesson later in the day for free. What a blessing! Mason loved skiing, so when we go skiing again in a few days, I will get him his own boots and skis and Mel and daddy will work with him.

I'm a snowboarding bum who can't teach my kiddos how to ski, but I can pick them up when they fall down and cheer for them as they are learning to turn and stop.

Selah being silly.

Kiera posing with her scarf and matching hat. She got this set a few years ago and has always liked it, but now she understands better why you would want a hat and scarf :-)

Prayer Requests - 2/24/13

I think I'll try to have regular prayer requests that 1. list our prayer requests and 2. update you on fulfilled prayer requests. I think it will be fun and encouraging to watch as God answers us - with Yes, No or Wait.

On Dec 3, 2012 I posted a few prayer requests:
1. That Kiera and Mason wouldn't get strep even after Selah had it and all those around us seemed to be getting it. ANSWER: They didn't get strep. The kids didn't have any more sickness before we left or even while traveling. Well, Kiera got sick on the flight home, but other than that - the kids were all healthy! 

2. For God's plan for housing upon our return. ANSWER: God provided 2 more months for us to live in the dorm upon our return. That meant that we didn't have to pack up our dorm rooms right before we moved and when we got back from Thailand, we got to move right back into our rooms and beds. 

Today's prayer requests:
1. Housing :-) While we are thankful that we have the dorm room until the end of March, the end of March will be here soon and we need somewhere to move to. So far I have looked into all rentals in our area and called each house that is for sale to see if they would be willing to rent. I've also called property management places, talked to realtors, looked in the papers and craigslist and asked locals if they know of anywhere to rent. Can you tell I don't know what else to do? I'm sure this is exactly where God wants me. Where He can show Himself so much bigger than I understand Him to be. So, my request is that God would provide the housing in a way that gives Him all the glory, not me and my searching abilities. Also, that I would not be anxious as I wait expectantly for our next housing solution.

2. Health - Ross has been sick since we got home and is finally feeling better, but prayer that he wouldn't get sick again.

3. Health - Mason is having lots of digestive issues and it makes it hard for him to know when he needs to go potty. Plus, he tummy just hurts a lot. Pray that he starts feeling better and that everything he eats doesn't flow right through him.

Last Week in Thailand - Part 2 (traveling home)

So... Before you think we drugged our children, let me explain. Our flight left Bangkok at 1:20 am - which meant that we got to the airport at 10:30 pm. Our kids were wiped out! They fell asleep in the song taew on the way to the airport and they were picked up, carried, then placed on carts full of luggage, driven through the airport and they slept until we checked in our bags and had to pick them up again. Selah managed to stay up until after the plane took-off and she now thinks she should stay up till after midnight all the time :-)

We had a 10-hour layover in Seoul that somehow included a super nice hotel (thank you, Asiana Air). Here are a few pictures from the hotel. We all napped multiple hours, then we had lunch in the hotel restaurant (complimentary), followed by the best shower I had had in 2 months. A little slice of heaven.

The Seoul Airport

Last Week in Thailand - Part 1

We went on an accidental hike through rice fields and construction sites (we were taking a "short cut") and had to find our own way. I asked a local Thai man if we could cut through his construction site and then climb over the fence (this was all in charades, because he didn't speak any English), he nicely said no and showed us that we could go around the fence. I then acted out that the grass was really high, he seemed to understand and was our guide through the first two rice fields and over the creek, then he went back and we kept picking our way through the fields and more construction sites until we got back to our hotel. The kids picked flowers along the way, here is a picture of a flower that Mason picked.

 

the kids walking along the edge of the rice field

Kids posing for a picture at the end of the hike 

Here is Mason with an umbrella hat. It belonged to the grandma that owned the hotel and a few convenient stores. Mason liked to go in the store because she or her husband would give him bags of chips and lots of hugs.

At our favorite restaurant - 7 Sisters. The owner, the one holding the kids, lives in Florida half the year, so her English was great and she and I bonded over talking about Florida. I hope to go back to Chiang Rai to visit her and her restaurant.

So, we met a Thai university student named Peanut. We all loved Peanut. She played with the kids and loved on them and bought them Thai treats - all ways to their hearts! She and Kiera bonded the most. See them below?

Kiera, Peanut, Mason

Kiera, Peanut, Selah

Our last 3 days in Thailand were spent at a beach called Kosamet. It is a few hours south of Bangkok and you can only get to it by boat. Here are some pictures from the boat. I don't actually have any/many from the beach. Not sure how that happened.

The girls getting their hair braided at the beach

And here is Kiera a few weeks later once we took the braids out. This is actually tame, she looked like she had a lion mane for a day!

I would like to clarify - we met quite a few wonderful Thai friends - at the university, at restaurants, at the ministries we worked out. I don't want any of our friends to be left out - we just had lots of pictures of Peanut, so I thought I would share them with you!