Fun with the Fam

(Be warned...this is a long post! I just didn't want the Estes fam to miss out on picture downloads!!) (We can file this one in the "for grandparents" category!)

We had such a great time while Jon's family was here! Jude caught on to their names weeks before they came, so he was fully prepared to run around the house saying, "Paw-Paw, Tce-Tce, and Def". Yea!

A fun fam pic from Carthage (minus Jude).
(Yes those are ancient ruins we're sitting on. ...from the Martyrs' days.)
(This pic really has a HILARIOUS story. We took 3 of these pictures and then disbanded. After reviewing them, we realized we all had our sunglasses on. So we regrouped to take yet ANOTHER photo (Jon was so thrilled). But SOMEHOW Jon missed the memo of WHY we were taking ANOTHER picture and kept his sunglasses on!! After this, we gave up. Mostly bc the boys thought I was being ridiculous! ;0)
A well needed shot of Ray & Carol!

I'll let you guess who this is!

The original Estes clan.
(Jon doesn't like photo shoots...and this was photo #6, I think.
He's just SO hard to read, isn't he?)
The Estes Dudes together. Jude's excited!!

Here are some of Ray and Jude playing together!
The horse in the book was "biting" Paw-Paw's finger. Jude just thought it was hilarious!!

Jude was kind of Paw-Paw's shadow (and CeCe's too). If Ray sat in a chair and got up, he'd go sit in it and say "Paw Paw". Or after CeCe napped on the couch, Jude laid down in her place and said "Tce-Tce". So fun! He just so enjoyed having them around! And it wasn't just Jude that enjoyed their time here!

You can see now why Jude likes this guy!

The first night Jeff & Ray (Carol came a bit later) were here, Jude got acquainted quickly! Here he is just laughing and laughing with PawPaw!!

Jon's brother, Jeff, was along as well! Because Jude is a little picky about who shares a room with him (aka NO one), Jon, Jeff, and I shared the living room! It was a slumber party every night and we stayed up past midnight talking TOO many times! I was so pooped by the time they left!!Me, Jon, and Jeff resting after walking thru the a museum in Carthage.
Jude playing with Jeff.
...laughing together...

But really. It sounds INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS to say this, but Jeff's turned out to be a great guy. I know, yes, I am younger than him...but for goodness sakes, I was NINETEEN when I met he and Jon and would hope that we've all grown up a little since then. It was great to talk about life stuff and to see where he's headed and all. And yes, ladies, he is an ELIGIBLE bachelor. (He'll hate me for saying that!) (Maybe I haven't grown up!)

Jeff also brought Jude some cool "unkie Def" style clothes. Here he is showing them off.

I think he's trying to pull off the laid back
(it doesn't bother him that he's drooling),
emo style.
Bein' Cute.
(Those Chuck Taylor's he's wearing are from Unkie Def too.)

Does anyone else think he looks like he's conducting??
(You can notice in the background that I finally
got my pillows covered for my couch! Hooray!)

I know it's blurry, but he's totally dancing in cool clothes! This Uncle will make sure our kid is well-dressed!

We got to see a good bit of the touristy areas around us, which we hadn't done before. We both agreed that we wouldn't pay lots of money to come visit this place JUST to see those tourist sights. Spend your money on another cool country, if that's what you're looking for... Unless of course you're coming to see US! In that case, there's lots to do...like talk, and hug, and love on us!

A few cool places though...like... Bardo Museum (it's in our neighborhood)
where there are TONS of restored mosaics and cool ruins.
Here's Jeff, Jon, and Ray (Jon's Dad) together.

Jeff. Um, being funny.

The U.S. World War II Cemetery
There are over 3,000 soldiers buried here.
In our entire country, this place reminds me of the U.S. the most, which I guess makes sense. Anyway, there was GRASS...and it was GREEN, and everything was CLEAN...no trash, no dirt, no grime. The bushes were groomed and flowers were PLANTED (instead of weeds flowers).
It felt like home!

Here we are enjoying the national dish of our country...Couscous! If you haven't had my neighbor's couscous, you just haven't had good couscous!!

Ok. Jude was just a total hoot this night! He was just so wound up, we laughed and laughed!! Enjoy the video!
I had to throw in one of me and Jude!
And last but not least, Jon and Jude enjoying a fun book my parents sent Jude way back at Christmas! How appropriate! This kid loves him some Daddy!!

Here's the deal. My b-day was last Sunday, but after this crazy long post, I'm just too pooped to do another. Pics will come later. :0)

P.s. Get ready to hear about our new baby's name. I'm so excited!!!

This beautiful Something

I’m standing in my kitchen
crying.
Wondering how
I got here.
Wondering what this means
for my family
my marriage
my children
my sisters
my parents
my kindred fellowship.
Wondering if anything will ever happen
here
in this broken land
with these hearts
and God.
Wondering if there’s any purpose
really
in me being here.
Wondering what
good
will come of this.
Missing home
Missing who I could be
so comfortably
back there
and wondering if I’ll ever get to be
that
again
before heaven.
This move has taken me
It’s shaken me
It’s turned me inside out
Now I am
without a doubt
changed.
And something has sprung up
in me
A different sort of depravity
that’s made me cling to all I know
of Him.
The whys
the hows
the hurts
the longing
the hoping
for something I cannot today
and may never see
this side of eternity.
Yet this beautiful Something I’ve come to know
This beautiful Something causes me to hope
This mysterious gift of
faith
that first brought me here.
Now I am in my kitchen
crying
questioning
hurting
missing.
Yet I can see
from this place on my knees
that
faith is believing
that the
great
dark
chasm
between
flesh
and glory
is not too vast
to be crossed by a God who
longs
to bring people to Himself.
He is doing something
not nothing
here.
Though I am not who I say I am
most days,
He is
who He says He is.
And to that I will cling.
He’s given me
this beautiful Something
To believe He is enough
for them
for me.
I have assurance
here
In this mysterious gift of faith.

Aunt Amy, Fun Pics, and Something to Look forward to!

We were SO thrilled to have my sister Amy come visit us this past week!!! We had fun exploring the city and playing together with Jude! But when we left we were SURE worn out! We stayed up PAST midnight EVERY night she was here!

Jude didn't sleep while she was here either. He woke up several times a night and at or before 6am every morning! He just wanted to play with Aunt Amy!!
It was so fun how Jude seemed to remember her. He just knew she was kin! They connected instantly and laughed and played and laughed and played and laughed and played....Here are some VERY fun pics of our time together!!

After a few blog posts, you may begin to notice that we aren't far from the Mediterranean! Here's Amy & Jude by the water.Trying SO hard to get a good picture!!! But this child was in all out rebellion to the camera!!
Too bad this is so far away (I was keeping an eye on our purses!)! Jude is looking up at Amy with delight and she's telling him some sweet thing! As you may notice in the background, that's right ladies and gentlemen...a real life Dodge Ram Truck! That is surely a rarity around here!Near the water there's a yummy Lebanese restaurant! Mmm!

Not only did they play, Amy & Jude read and read and read and read and read!! Amy sat down with Jude in our new hammy-down GLIDER (check it out, it's bright orange...don't ask me why) and I handed her (the norm) four books to read to Jude. She was like, "FOUR??" Haha. Then Jude kindly welcomed her into the book-a-minute world of Jude!!

So, you may think it's weird that we ate sushi in Tunis with Amy, but you must know that she came not only to love on Jude, but also to bless us! So Amy treated us to sushi TWICE! Amy and I had a date there, and then Jon wanted some too! It is a bit pricey, but it's nice to have some food that's familiar! The year before we left the states sushi became a regular treat for Jon and I...esp since you can buy it at HEB!
Amy & I on our date! After months of talking on the internet, it was a great time of sharing...in PERSON. It's amazing what a little eye contact can do to enhance communication! What a gift!

It's so nice to have someone with us to take family pictures!!!
This is the clock tower in the center of town. It was a quick shot out the window of a taxi! Woohoo!! (although I don't remember who took it)

And, I know you've all been wondering if the blue doors ACTUALLY exist in this country or if it was just my advertising! Well, here's proof!
After long days of play and travel, Jude was finally pooped. For the first time in almost a YEAR this child fell asleep in my arms! What a special treasure!!

This was the night Amy left. Jude sat on her suitcase like he didn't want her to leave!!

I was really surprised at how MUCH it hurt when she left. I guess I didn't see it coming, I was just enjoying the time together! She also left two surprise notes from my parents on the bed in Jude's room for us. Oh my. Jon took Amy to the airport (cause I can't travel alone at night here) and I went to put Jude to bed. When I walked in the door and saw those notes I literally fell apart. There were no words. I was already a wreck, but then those letters!! So Jude sat, quite perplexed, with me as I cried on the floor. It was a hard, hard night!!

While Amy was here, I gave Jude (and Jon) a haircut! This is the "before" pic (opening our special gifts from Grammie, Pops, and Aunt Amy!)And, well, you'll see the "after"s in a sec.

I definitely prefer it long (ok maybe not as long as in the first pic (he was starting to look like a precious little girl!)) but this new cut saves me from having to cut it for the next four months!!

After she left I realized we'd been depriving grandparents of some fun photos! So I pulled out the camera and decided to catch Jude in action! Here he is doing a few of his favorite things!

Um...reading.

Who needs toys from Target??
It's amazing how a little bit of water will entertain an 18 month old! This was my first experience with this Mom trick because it's been too stinking cold here (and without a heater) to let him get all wet! But he sure did enjoy it! At first he cried when the water spilled, but then, you know, he got used to it and even spilled it on purpose for fun!!
You can see his very "focused" look (JUST like Jon's).
I just love how this (very out of focus) picture shows the precious shape of his eyes and his flat Asian bridge. He's the perfect blend of TWO! (but he totally has my lips)

No words!! Haha!! There are tons of captions I could put with this picture!!
One of the only times my son is still enough to look almost picturesque!

We're so excited about sharing Jude with Jon's family (uncle Jeff too!!) in a week and a half!!! It will be a tight squeeze getting us all into this two bedroom place, but that's how we like it!! We CANNOT wait!!!Look closely and you'll see that Jude is looking at pics of Grandpa ("Paw-Paw"), CeCe ("Tce-Tce"), and Uncle Jeff ("Jetf")! We're getting ready!!

"Can You Even Picture Yourself with a Daughter??"

"Nope. I can't. But I'm willing to try!"

This was the conversation my sister Kaye and I had a few days ago.

Well...no trying necessary! We found out today that Jude's getting a little BROTHER!!

YEA!!!!!

I must say I was neutral. I really could have cheered either way. No preference. Really.

But about a week ago Jon started saying at random moments throughout the day, "I hope it's a boy."

Can I tell you that after our appointment I caught Jon dancing in the grocery store???

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

This is the man that doesn't even like to ask what aisle the canned tomatoes are on!!!

Stay in line.

Don't laugh too loud.

Don't ask too many questions.

Don't be too friendly with the cashier.

And this man was DANCING!!

I love it!!! I love that he's thrilled!!!

And I'm thrilled too.

And I'm sure one day Jude will be thrilled as well. ...maybe when he's like 8 and he's glad he doesn't have to play dress up or "be gentle" with his kid sister.

We'll see.

Now...the name hunt begins!!! We only had a girl name, so any help would be delightful!!

Glory Glory!

Since I last wrote, we've been busy busy busy. Between a stomach virus and a visa reset trip, things have been crazy around here!

Here's a few quick pics of a pretty, pretty place called Malta! It's nestled away on the Mediterranean between Europe and N. Africa. I'm sure you recognize the name...it's where Paul was shipwrecked! And I must say, he picked a great place to be stranded!!

We spent 3 days in Malta and finally got to see some GRASS after living for almost 4 months without it!! Jude also experienced his very first Happy Meal from (you guessed it) McDonald's! I must say he didn't really enjoy the confinement of the play gym! He preferred running around (seemingly) chasing the wind!

This trip was built into the program here in a sense, but we were sure thankful to have break from the culture and language studies! It was so nice to speak English!! (Malta was a British colony or something like that.)

Talk about a family picture! It's ones like this that don't matter what the people look like or if their eyes are closed, etc...it still gets framed!! All that matters is that the three of us are in front of such a beautiful site! We accidentally stumbled upon this view at the Dingli Cliffs. I seriously think they should change the name!! How unfitting!

Somewhere along the way, my husband, Mr. "I Have no Creative Talent", turned into quite the amateur photographer!! This is a pic Jon snapped of Jude and I. It's definitely my favorite! I know it's foggy, but that's the Mediterranean behind us!! My hair is crazy from the wind!

This is a lovely lean-back-and-snap-it photo! It's taken right next to the famous Blue Grotto (see below).
Sweet Love!! Here's another jewel Jon took. Only I would know this, but Jude is giving me sweet kisses in this picture!! He's looking right into my eyes! I love that Jon captured such a precious moment!

Again, Jon's skill at work! Another shot of the Mediterranean! That's an island way out there!

This is the famous Blue Grotto! You may recognize it from movies like "Count of Monte Cristo", "Troy", and "Alexander". Interesting note: There are two smudges toward the top right of the picture (don't worry you won't be able to see them)...but those are PEOPLE. How's that for a lesson in HUGE!? I just wish this picture did justice!

Delightful eh? He makes us look so serene. This pic reminds me of the photos that come in the frame when you buy it! ...except of course much more beautiful!!!Glory!!! Look at these beautiful colors! What a gift from Heaven! I love what my friend Joanna says, "Can you believe we're all under the same BIG sky??" Our God is so BIG!!

Ok. So I just HAD to add this one. We should be all cute and smiley. We should be taking the family photo of a life time. And Jon gets this call...on an island far, far away from who knows who!! Ha! You could just add so many hilarious captions below this picture!! Like... something about the lottery or becoming president. Something funny.

So two items of note:
Mr. Trombley! I hope our picture taking was satisfactory!! We didn't JUST take pictures of the scenery!! People too!!
Kaye/ Aunt Tay-Tay! Thanks for encouraging me/ manipulating me into posting these pics! Enjoy! We love you!