a day of decadence :)

did you know there are 48 hours in every day here?  neither did i :)  time is moving at sloth speed, but truly no complaints other than that.  we are making the most of our year here (okay, 18 days.  whatever).  esther continues to settle into her oddball family.  we all think she is going to fit in perfectly actually.  a week ago, i was sure it would never happen.  could somebody please shake me or something next time i exhibit such little faith?  why can i not look at His past faithfulness and remember?  i drive myself nuts.

the timing of adoption appointments are s-p-r-e-a-d over days and weeks.  to say the process could be shortened and more efficient is umm... understatement!  it leaves you with a crazy amount of open time.  as someone who doesn't like (AT ALL) open-ended screen time, you have to get creative in alternatives.  today was a perfect reason to splurge :)  food is very inexpensive here, like really really cheap, so there were extra funds to indulge ourselves.  manicure, pedicure, french bakery time - oh yeah!  and then we watched mulan in hydrating facial masks.  it's what happens when five girls hang out :)

the separate pictures of esther and i were taken upstairs at the bakery while we were waiting on our treats and drinks.  phoebe took the one of esther, and esther took the picture of me, unbeknownst to me.  but that made me happy because she is seeing me :)  it looks like my mind is back at our little farm.  it probably was.  it has been so surprising to me how well i have managed the homesickness.  as the kids would say, "way to brag, mom!"  but really, while my thoughts are never far from home, i have been able to be fully present here.  fully present is a phrase that speaks deeply to me because it is hard for me to do.  a ginormous part of being able to reign in the sad-i-just-wanna-go-home feeling is knowing the home front is well under control.  abi sends daily communications of the comings and goings of people and animals.  it gives my heart an enormous sense of peace.  and the Bible study book has also provided material that is soaking in and taking root.

the days are a blur but one night this week we sought out american food.  oh, a cheeseburger and fries sounded soooooo good.  after consulting mr. google, we landed at S & L.  oh my.  i eat fast, and i set a new record i am sure.  we saw more americans and europeans there than we had seen in all the days combined.  an older guy from philadelphia invited us to come back thursday for a traditional thanksgiving meal!  we are very excited for a taste of home as we count our blessings here and 8,000 miles away.

included a traffic picture hanoi-style.  you ain't lived until you've snaked through it crossing the street.  we were in a cab and an old man was riding a bike the wrong direction.  we got laughing so hard that that would be me.... saying 'i'm sorry, excuse me, i'm so sorry, sorry...!" as i continued on my course going the wrong way.  my kids know i can be ditzy.  that sounds so much better than stupid LOL!

i've looked back at the lengths of my posts.  my gosh, i am full of... words (knew what you were thinking :)  thanks beyond these words for my friends who come here to read and journey with us in vietnam.