I think I've bitten off more than I can chew... (Part One)

This is what happens when you go for months without blogging and want to catch everyone up on your life in one massive post.  Well, there were too many photos for one, so we'll make this a two part photo entry to take you on a quick journey through our summer.

June

This is the grassy area we are so grateful for just outside our new home.  Lots of grass and lots of buildings full of people we are hoping to get to know.

We celebrated Father's Day on Ada, an island in the middle of the river.  It is a really cool place.  Lots of green grass, lots of good food and even a 9 hole golf course.

Brooke in her newly decorated bedroom.  It is such a blessing to be living with stuff we own for the first time in 18 months.  The wall decorations are cool sticker things we found at a store in Novi Sad just before we moved.

Nana and Grandaddy came to visit in June.  This is their first authentic Serbian meal.  Our friend Snezena cooked more that we could eat.  The food just kept coming and coming.  Nana and Gradad were real troopers.  We had a two and a half hour meal and it was all in Serbian on a very HOT July afternoon.  We love this sweet family and are so grateful for their generosity and hospitality.

Trey and Grandaddy got to play at the golf course on the island.  Mike drove in from Novi Sad to join them.  It was an experience from what I heard.

July

The crew ready to head to the states for three weeks.  

My three with Cooper...my sister's little man...I am so sad that I didn't get to hug on him.  He is growing up so fast.

This is the mural on the wall in the Mexican restaurant where we ate in Budapest.  It was the first "real" Mexican we'd had in a year and a half and it was good.  Good enough for the angels as it seems.

While the kids were gone Trey and I went to Budapest to meet Jason and Christy.  I somehow didn't get one picture of our time together loaded onto this computer, but it was a huge blessing to have time with them.  We laughed a lot and ate a lot.  Great memories with great friends.

August

.Our new colleague Amy arrived in July and we explored part of old Belgrade with her one afternoon in early August...I need some better pictures of her.  (If only she weren't so evasive. ; ))

KK and Pop Pop brought the kids back in August.  Here are a few photos of our fun in Belgrade:

 We went on a ROAD TRIP while KK and Pop Pop were here.  Seven countries in six days!

Sebia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and back home.

Driving directions and toll booth tickets
The Swiss are the most proud of their roads.  It cost us 40 Euros to drive there and we were only in the country about 5 hours!  

Nice nap on the road

More napping

Connor never sleeps on trips.  It would be hard with those big smelly sister feet in your face I guess.

Killing time on the Austrian highway while things were shut down for about 45 minutes.  It was a beautiful place to be stuck.  We sang our way through the entire Sound of Music soundtrack while we waited.

The Night the Lights Didn't Go Out in Belgrade

So, if you found a notice taped up in your building stating that your power would be out for 13 hours on Sunday what kind of things would you do?

I'm sure you'd start thinking about what was in your frig and freezer; trying to come up with a plan for all that food not to ruin.  You'd call your friend Amy and ask to stash your stuff in her freezer.

This the only picture that I could find quickly of Amy who I used for her refrigeration potential.  Clearly, I need more pictures of her.  This has nothing to do with food, but you can now put a face with the name.

This is the food that I wanted to save.

I'm sure you'd also look at the weather forecast...Will it be hot?...Too hot to stay at home with no fans or klima?  You'd find out that of course it will be hot...one of the hottest days in the last couple of weeks up to about 93.  You'd then check on the budget and the movie schedule to see how and where you'd be spending your afternoon.

You'd, of course, plan to go out to eat since there is no way to cook.

You'd spend some time charging all your electronics and phones.

You'd try to decide whether to relocate the kid's AWANA meeting that is planned to be at your house at 4:00.

AWANA cuties

You'd remind everyone to take a key with them because you can't get out of the building without a key when there is no power and it's a LOOOOOOONG way back up to the 7th floor with no elevators working.

You'd plan to only come and go one time if at all possible because you've calculated the distance up and down said stairs.  It's nine flights when you consider the garage is at level -2.

You'd talk to a friend and find out that there might be no power anywhere in the city!!!  WHAT?!?!?!?

You'd panic because if this is true...

Why did you take the time to cart your groceries across town?  Just so that they could spoil in Amy's freezer and she would be the one throwing it all out?

Where will you eat?  McDonald's will not be serving Egg McMuffins with no power.

What will you do?  The movie theaters can't run air conditioners (or movies) without power.

You'd call a Serb you've recently met who lives nearby and completely confuse him because he's not heard about this.

You'd talk to another friend and check the electric company's website.


http://www.edb.co.rs/


You'd actually figure out what that website says (well, pretty much figure it out) and know that your address isn't included in either of the black boxex on the map.

Here's the map from the website.

You'd have no idea what to expect the next day, but you'd make sure everyone showered, just in case there is no hot water.

You'd go to sleep wondering; but not really, because that's kind of how life is around here.

You'd be thankful when you wake up to find that you do in fact have power and go downstairs to find out that your building decided that even though your block wasn't included in black boxed zones "It's better to be safe than sorry."

You'd eat at McDonald's anyway because like you they have power, but unlike you they have real sausage and hashbrowns.

You'd collect your food from Amy's place and have a pretty normal day.

Then you'd be really glad it all turned out like that because you didn't know what you were going to blog about.

Well, I guess that's what you'd do.  It's what we did.

Too Good Not to Blog It...

After a long absence there have been some recent events in my life that have made it clear that I must return to the blogging world.

Let me start with a great story...

Many of you know the infamous Israel stories such as "I tried to do that to a dog one time", "The golfing explosion", "The bubble gum mishap", I could go on...

This one may surpass all the others...

It all began on a mountain top overlooking Kraljevo, Serbia.
We were having a great time looking over the city with great friends.  It was a really cool place that we look forward to visiting again.  We went to "The Cross" as they call for a quick drink and to take in the view before we left town.  As we headed back down the one lane road we met a monk in a Yugo...seriously...he had to back down the road a ways until he could pull over enough for our two big vans to screech past him.  About halfway down Trey and I looked at each other with that, "Oh no, I think something is wrong" look.

Yes, something was wrong...a flat tire on a one lane two way gravel road with barely enough room to get the door open.  We continued on down...very carefully, praying not to damage the rim.  We made it to a flat place and pulled over.  Josh and Kristen turned around and came back to help us.  After about and hour and a half of fighting with a tire, the help of two guys on a motor bike, a hammer and chisel, and a really nice man from the Hyundai place down the road, we were back on our way.  All the kids were disappointed because we were thinking we were stuck and might have to have the car towed (or spidered as we do it here in Serbia) and some major work done on the wheel.  They all wanted to extend the visit, and if we had been stuck it would have been a super excuse to hang out longer with the Hepners who we just don't get to spend enough time with.

After a quick stop on the way out of town to air up the spare and buy some drinks for the road Trey looked at me and said, "Well that sure was crazy".

My response was, "You don't know the half of it!"

He looked puzzled and asked what I was talking about.

And the real story begins...

Just as we realized we had car trouble I was becoming aware of my own trouble.  Immediately upon stopping the car I was in urgent and immediate need of a toilet.  As I reached into the glove box for some of the emergency toilet paper and began heading down the dirt road away from the car, Kristen saw me and asked if she needed to drive me back up the hill.  All I had time to say as I walked away was that there wasn't time.

I kept hoping to find a nice little secluded area for my first ever squatting in the woods experience, but alas, time did not allow, and as I was situated about six inches off the path I prayed that the people who lived in that little house would not need to walk into town or have any visitors in the next few minutes.  Just as things were getting better and I felt like the trauma was over I felt it...a HORRIBLE pain in the butt!  I had been stung!  By some terrible creature who, when I reached back in shock, got my finger too.

I couldn't see the site of the sting, nor did I ever see what had gotten me.  I just knew my left cheek was on fire!

I headed back up the road, telling no one of the injury that had been added to my insulting situation.  I mean really, what could anyone do?

Kristen and I were walking around with the kids and chatting as the boys were fighting a losing battle with the lug nuts.  Her little one reached down to pick up some rocks and she said, "Oh no, Josiah, be careful.  That is fire weed.  It will hurt!"

Hmmm.  I thought, fire weed..."Kristen, what is fire weed?", I asked.

"Well, it's this terrible plant that if you brush up against it will cause great pain." she replied.

I asked, "Does it feel like you've been stung, and then like you are on fire, and then does it tingle and make you want to cry?"

"Yes!" she said, "Oh no, where did it get you?"

I said, "On my booty!"

We both died laughing.  She told me it would feel better in a few hours and not to put water on it, even though it might seem like it might help.  It did feel better a few hours later.

There is nothing like a three hour ride home sitting on your firey fanny.

I shared the story with a friend on the phone as we drove and she told be she'd pray for my hiney.  I've never had anyone say that to me before, and I've never been so grateful for a friend who will lift up your every need.

You'll all be grateful that there are no photos to go along with this post. ;)

Oh...regular school days...how I miss thee...

This is what it looks like when we go to school…

What you can't see is the mom smiling on the other side of the camera.

We work hard and have plenty to do.

This is what it looks like when we don’t…

No explanation needed.

These are potato chips for the American Girl doll made out of dried glue...yes, we have time to sit around and watch glue dry.  They are quite amazing though...only my Brookie could come up with this.  

Mice up our sleeves.

Time to experiment with the hair.

I truly love my new life here in my new home.  I live in a beautiful city with generous and hospitable people.  We are surrounded by amazing foods, a rich history, and new experiences.  As we’ve learned about our new language and culture, God has taught us a lot about ourselves and about Himself.

Here’s what I’ve learned about myself…

I LOVE making schedules and lists and having a plan.  Okay, I already knew that about myself and you did too if you’ve been around me for more than 42 seconds.  (I also love the number 42 by the way.) 

What I’ve actually learned is that I have a sad and alarming dependence on schedules. 

The school schedule here has been the hardest thing for me to embrace.  I’m an old dog and can’t seem to learn this new trick.  I love the school the kids are in.  It is filled with wonderful people who love education, and more importantly, love my kids.

The teachers have been on strike here…full and partial strikes…sometimes no school, and sometimes shortened days.  If I can just complain for a second here…when they are only in school for three and a half hours anyway, when you shorten it you’re left without much time.

I’d love to have a full understanding of all the reasons behind this strike and I’m sure the teachers deserve what they are asking for, but I don’t have enough time to learn the language that will help me understand the reasons behind the strike when the kids don’t go to school long enough for me to study and practice. 
Samo kažem…(Just sayin...)

Okay…so that’s what I’ve learned about myself…

that I am weak and tired…

that I need a schedule too much…

that I depend on my need to control things more than I’d like to admit…

that I cry when the schedule that I’ve neatly written out gets changed three times in an hour….

Clearly, I have issues.

Here’s what I’ve learned about God…

His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

He wants me to need Him most of all,

  and depend on Him for everything,

  and cry out to Him.

He knows my issues and loves me. 

He knows your issues and loves you too. 

A year of firsts...

This is a picture of us the morning we left Carrollton, January 25, 2010.

We left Carrollton for a long time, for the first time.
We met some amazing people for the first time, who we will always have our hearts tied to.
We saw snow that was more than 2 inches deep and lasted for more than 2 days for the first time.
(It was in fact 2 feet deep and lasted for the better part of 5 weeks!)
We were without a car for the first time.
We were without a TV for the first time.
We came to Europe as a family for the first time.
I blogged for the first time.
We stepped foot on Serbian soil for the first time.
We got long term visas in a foreign country for the first time.
We enrolled our children in foreign schools for the first time.
We began living life on about a 10% level of understanding for the first time.
(I am happy to say that we are now tottering between a 42% and 59% understanding level.)
We live in an apartment building for the first time.
We have ridden cabs, sleeper trains and city busses for the first time.
We have ridden in ambulances for the first time.
We saw the church where Jill and Grozio got married for the first time.
We have sent 2 of our 3 kids on international trips without us for the first time.
We have eaten meat from a tube for the first time.
We have seen Roman ruins for the first time.
We buy fresh bread from a bakery daily for the first time.
We have made friends who speak no English for the first time.
We buy fresh produce from the market for the first time.
We celebrated birthdays and holidays away from family for the first time.
We saw the Black Sea for the first time.
We've been mistaken for Russians for the first time.
We have said things like:
     "I don't know why they hate for me to pull out a thousand when I go to the store."
     "That graffiti was really cool."
     "Tomorrow is second Christmas, so don't be alarmed by the sounds of things exploding outside...it's just the fireworks."
     "Yes, I did make the sausage from scratch."
    "Yes, that was my family that you saw on the news."
              ....for the first time.
As well as things like:
     "Ućim Srpski jezik.  To je težak."  (I am learning Serbian.  It is hard.)
     "Ja sam iz Amerike, živim u Novom Sadu, i imam troje dece."  (I am from America, I live in Novi Sad, and I have three kids.)
     "Štetali smo na park"  (We did damage in the park...I meant to say we walked in the park...I was only one little letter off.)
     "Volimo naš zivot ovde."  (We love our life here.)
              ...for the first time.

We have, for the first time, learned what it means to miss what you had while, at the same time treasuring where you are, what you are learning and who you are becoming.

A Three Week Holiday and Three Great Trips

On Christmas morning our kids opened up three surprise gifts...well, two of them were surprises.  Connor had asked everyone to send money for his Christmas gifts so he could go on a trip with his soccer team.  We decided that we wanted to give Brooke and Kyle each an "experience gift" rather than a "thing gift" also.  Brooke got to go to Macedonia to visit with some great friends for a week and Kyle got to have some special Daddy time on an overnight "you are the boss of what we do" trip to Belgrade.

I think we'll go with the ladies first idea and share a little about Brooke's trip:

Spencer, Janae and Kate came to visit with us for a few days between Christmas and New Year's.  Brooke was able to ride back to their town of Prilep, Macedonia with them for a fun filled week.

Here are the highlights:

Brooke put some of her "mad cupcake decorating skills" to use when she and Janae made cupcakes for friends in Prilep.  Chocolate with mint frosting....yummy!

They had a movie night when she enjoyed some pop corn and a very special Dr. Pepper.  I think that can has been from London to Bulgaria and on to Macedonia...an invaluable treasure that her generous hosts shared with her.

Janae taught her to make hairbows.  She loved all the creative fun she had on her special trip.

Brooke was able to do some shopping, play with her favorite two year girl friend and have some extra special girl time.  She started her own blog and is looking for followers...

http://briineurope.blogspot.com/

She spent some time with another dear family who brought her home to us, safe and sound, 8 days later.

Kyle got to go on an overnight trip to Belgrade, our capital city, where he got to choose what he and his daddy did for two days.  He was in heaven...he's very seldom the only kid.

Even though this is blurry I had to include it.
The guys slept on air mattresses at our company's office and made one of the conference rooms into an indoor soccer field.  This was (strangely enough) one of Kyle's favorite parts of the whole trip.  An empty room, a soccer ball, and his daddy's full attention.  What a blast!

They went to the military museum at the fortress in Belgrade.  Kyle LOVES the fortress but this was the first time he'd been able visit the museum.  Happiness is...a boy and his gun.

Kyle got to pick what they ate for every meal too...
They ate 5 meals in Belgrade.  Kyle ate pizza once and McDonald's FOUR times!!!  I'm sure this will never happen again.

They went down on a Thursday morning and came back Friday night.  They got to eat a lot, play some games, go to a movie in a real movie theater, go bowling and meet the cutest little strawberry blonde bundle of joy that Belgrade has ever seen.  (Our new friend Wilson had just come home from the hospital.  I'll always be jealous that Kyle got to meet him before I did.)

And finally, Connor's "super great awesome once in a lifetime trip"...

He was able to go with his soccer team on a whirlwind 10 day 6 country trip to play ball, sight see and watch some professional games.  The went through Croatia, Slovenia, France, Italy, Monaco, and Spain.  He spoke a lot of Serbian, got to see some really cool stuff, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Here is a picture of his teammates walking around the stadium in Fiorentina, Italy on their way to watch an Italian league professional game.

This is a picture of the Mediterranean coast taken in Lloret de Mar, Spain.  It is a city near Barcelona where they stayed.   

Here is C man in front of one of the sites they visted while in Barcelona...a church that has been under construction for over 100 years.  (and some of us thought our churches had long building programs).

We are all back in town now and back in school.  The kids got a three week break and Trey and I had two weeks off from language study.  We loved our "odmor" (rest) and are are happy to all be under one roof again and getting back to "real life".
We hope you all had a happy new year.  Blessing to you all.

Santa Comes to Serbia

Well, we've just concluded our first holiday season away from home.  It has been bittersweet.  We miss our friends, family and traditions from home, but were blessed to share some of this with our new friends and family here in our new home.  The last post was about a favorite tradition that we brought to Serbia...the Gingerbread House competition.  Today I'm sharing pictures of our Christmas Eve and Christmas day as a family.

Kyle wanted to leave carrots and water for the reindeer out on the terrace.

We frosted cookies for Santa and left him some milk just like we've done every year since Connor was one.

Sure enough...Santa found us here in Serbia...just like the tooth fairy did.  Kyle was never worried because we sent him a letter.  

Kyle got a new bicycle...It started snowing the day after Christmas and hasn't stopped yet though, and so he hasn't been able to try it out yet.

Brooke got a cake/cupcake decorating kit.  I can't wait to see all that she creates.

Connor got money for the trip he is taking with his soccer team...They will be traveling January 8th through the 18th and going to play and watch games in Italy, Spain and France!

The boys busting into the Lego love.

Brooke practicing on parchment paper.

After the fun of the morning our American friends joined us for Christmas dinner.  It was a super day to share with friends and family.

Amy's YUMMO yeast rolls!!!

All our favorites...dressing, greenbean casserole, mac and cheese, broccoli, cheese and rice...we had roasted chicken instead of turkey...it was just as good, and much easier to get ahold of. 

Trey's favorite "Anna Potatoes"

The crew around the table...Trey took the picture and Kyle looks a little drugged, but this is the best one I've got.  

Although we missed our loved ones (that sounds like something an old Baptist preacher would say, huh?) it was a blessed day.  We know Jesus is the same in Texas and in Serbia.  He loves Serbs and He loves Texans.  He came as a baby for Serbs and He came as a baby for Texans.   He is fully in both places.  The joy of His gift of salvation is the same wherever you are...Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.