Coffee Shopping it!

Hello world.

I am back. Out of the clouds of dust and spider webs. I laugh, because just before moving in, I was having this incredible desire to clean. I just couldn't wait to know that every nook was done to my standards. Well, good thing. It was awful! When the landlady said she was going to leave everything, she wasn't kidding. Her belongings were still in closets and drawers. So first we had to pack her stuff up. Whew, glad it's done. It's so pretty. I think it was the best birthday gift ever...to finally have a house (happy sigh). Our 4th of July here was hardly recognized. Well, we did celebrate our "freedom" by unpacking all those conticos. You know those big plastic black trunks that I love to hate and hate to love. I use them no more and its wonderful!

Just want to thank everyone for the many many birthday wishes. I haven't checked email in a week (yes, it was hard). Just didn't realize how much I use the net for until I had no ability. My inbox had never been so full. Not only with b-day greetings but with people encouraging me about homeschooling and saying over exaggerated things about me like...that I was amazing and stuff. thanks. God's grace is sufficient. I am sure you are all doing things that amaze me too because I really am not called to do anything but be here right now. I have never had such peace and enjoyment about life. Praise God.

The house we live in had an altar at the top of the stairs in the hallway. We took that down as well as some obvious buddhist things. If anything was even questionable...it was packed up with the rest of the landlady's things. BUT we do still have a spirit house out front. John and some friends have prayed over the property and the house and I believe that once the spirit(s) knew we were coming, they couldn't wait to leave. So right now, to me, that spirit house is only an oversized birdhouse and doesn't bother me at all. BUT I do see how it may be confusing for new believers who may come over. I am wanting to put a sign that says both in English and in Thai..."As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord." Then there should be no confusion to any person or any spirit.

I didn't realize just how much Thai Brayden was learning at school. Some conversation but mainly the letters and sounds that he is already trying to blend into words. We plan to bring him in on our language lessons and continue to stoke the fire of desire in him. I do think he can teach me a thing or two. :)

Aslan is sweet and so easy going. I couldn't have asked for a better two year old during this transition. He knows the way to the house and whenever we pull in to the the new neighborhood, he says," We're home!" His favorite bible story is Jonah (Donah) and both he and I have memorized the rhythm of the story and he reads along with me.

Now that we are settled in our own place, it's time to get our own car. Bill and Julie will need theirs when they return. Pray that God's direction and favor will be upon that transaction as well. Nothing fancy, just something dependable. Hard to keep things clean and/or scratch free around here. :) Not because I am a bad driver!!! ...just so ya know.

I do feel like we are home. We now know our way around the city. It helped that we have lived in now 3 different places. We are ready for Bill and Julie to come back. We miss them, our times of fellowship, worship and prayer. Just days after they get back, we have a missions trip coming form Hawaii for a week. Looking forward to it. Should be lots of fun.

Blessings to you. Waiting on the internet connection to be installed at the new place. For now I am coffee shopping it!

Khon Kaen Christian Tokays

For a handful of reasons, we decided to put Brayden in to bilingual school when the Thai school year started in May. We wanted him to have some structure, feel settled here, know some friends, learn some Thai. It could have worked out beautifully but unfortunately we have encountered some drama and issues with the school just about every week since day one.

Little things at first, things that the school just needed to work on since it was new, like making sure he had his own desk and making sure the bus didn't forget to pick him up. Then it was issues with him not learning anything and being bored. He is at the highest grade level for the school and it seemed like they were not even ready to teach where he was already. Education standards vary greatly here compared to the states. Then the drama continued with his teachers saying inappropriate things like "You are a bad student.", even if he just got one answer wrong. The teacher's limited English was the cause but it affected Brayden to be called bad over and over. Some issues were cultural, like the Thai way of discipline. It is normal for them to scare children in to obedience. But telling a very aware missionary kid that if they don't do this right, then they will have to go to a darkroom with devils and ghosts(??)...well,it is not acceptable. Every week there was something we were working through and it only got worse. Our trust in the school was fading, with the academics, with the discipline, and Brayden wasn't enjoying it like he was. The manager called us one afternoon because Brayden didn't want to go to back to class. Turns out that Buddhist monks visited his classroom and wanted to bless the children by sprinkling water over them as the knelt down on the floor in front of the monks. Still after knowing our preferences regarding such things, they still were confused at why Brayden did not want to be with his class that day. Things kept arising, like Brayden being selected to compete in a speech competition for his school and he began preparing to find out just days before the competition that someone else was going to represent the school instead because the rules say that Brayden was not eligible because he was American. Major detail that would have been helpful to know before you get a six year old excited. Over and over, there was disappointment and tears. Then last week, we had to deal with why the DVD player on the bus plays horror movies on the way to school. We were wondering if this choice was the right one for Brayden. So, on Monday when Brayden came to me upset because a teacher said "This class sucks." and it made him feel stupid, we knew it was time. It just seemed that our goals for him going to school were not being met and we saw no hope of change in how the school handled things. The tuition was too much for what we were getting and I wasn't willing to babysit the school and see Brayden continue on the way it was. So, tomorrow is his last day and it is also our first day in our new house. So, it will be two changes at once.I hope it is a smooth transition.

Homeschooling is necessary for me now and I must admit, it is not my specialty. But I will make it work. I just have to get my mind wrapped around it. Maybe we just need a second chance. I introduced homeschool to Brayden in the midst of our preparation for Thailand. We homeschooled on the road at all twenty something locations over this past year. It was an unsettled time for us and at times it was a a little to a lot stressful. Maybe once we get settled I could do it better and make it more exciting and fun for Brayden and for me!

Me, John and Brayden talked about naming our school, giving it a mascot, and school colors. I thought it could be fun to create something together and let Brayden feel like maybe he was apart of something even if it was just him and soon Aslan. My idea was pretty basic...Lambert Academy (Lions). Brayden hated the word academy. He was wanting Lambert Family School. We wanted the mascot to be a snake, but mommy (me) said no. John peeped in and said since Khon Kaen doesn't have a christian school, we should name it Khon Kaen Christian. Brayden loved the idea. His next suggestion was for the mascot to be the lizard. (when people ask Brayden what his name is in Thai, he usually answers "Phom chuu Jingjok."...My name is lizard) People here have long beautiful birth-given names but most people go by a short nickname like "Nueng", meaning "one"..because he was the first born. Or "Gung" because she likes to eat "shrimp". So Brayden calls himself "Jingjok" because he likes to catch lizards.) Springing off the lizard idea we mentioned "Tokay". The Tokay lizard is a big blue with red spotted lizard that is known for biting and it lives in the tree tops and makes a the sound of its name..."To-kay". So, it's offical. Brayden's new school, the one that John is the principal of and I am the teacher of is called... Khon Kaen Christian Tokays!...and it's colors are turquoise and red like the lizard! we plan to make id cards and t-shirts! It was a fun night.

Let's hope the excitement continues for everyone. I can do this because I have to. Just wish I was a few more people. Harder housekeeping with no ac, studying Thai myself, homeschooling Brayden with an inquisitive two year old running around. Whew, I need lots of grace!

Bath Tub Baptism

Today our bath tub was used as a baptismal tank! Yes! I love it. Our friend, MaeGaan has been ministering to her friend MaeYen and today she took the plunge. Who knew a party in the bathroom could be so much fun! I love baptism pics!

Later in the afternoon, me and the two ladies drove out to MaeYen's village to pray with her husband. He can not walk or see. He sits all day in the shade in a hut of sorts with a raised floor so he is not on the ground with the bugs. He knew a little English and sang a song for me. Ironically, it was "I just called to say I love you" by Stevie Wonder (who is also blind). I think about how long his days must seem as his wife takes a long songtaew ride into town to work as a housekeeper all day, but she does this since she is the sole provider.

As I was driving in the village, I saw Thai people everywhere just meandering around without much to do. There is no church in this village. MaeYen may just be the first and only Christian. It's places like these that we desire to see a church planted. It's people like MaeYen's husband that we desire to see healed as a testimony of God's love and power.

Today was one of those days when I feel overwhelmingly blessed to be living this life. I can't imagine being anywhere else. Thank you so much for everyone who supports us to not just live here but to work here.

Blessings, Jacq

Another Miracle

Well, as you all know, we have been searching for a home. We are in need of one for July. It has been a much longer and much more difficult process then I anticipated. Since we have been with out a home for so long I expected to be satisfied with just about anything of our own. But we had some desires, like a safe neighborhood since John intends to go out to village for days at a time and leave me and the boys back home. And since Brayden got bit by a dog in January and hasn't overcome his fear altogether, we also desired a place that did not have disease infected dogs just wondering around. And then we were trying to find something that had an indoor kitchen that was furnished with some needed basics. Not easy to find.

As a last desperate attempt to find something, we had our language teacher write out index cards in Thai with our desire to rent something and our phone number. We put them in mailboxes of houses that looked vacant in hopes that they might be available for rent. Listen to what God did! Someone saw us, took the card out and gave it to her friend who was needing a renter. We didn't know that when we pulled up. When I saw the house, my first thought was..."Um, we didn't put a card here. This is way too nice." When we went inside to look at the house, I was speechless. It was fully furnished and decorated with built in real wood bookshelves (pretty amazing when you live in a land that loves pressed board furniture). It only got better as we looked out back to see gardens and fountains. After our tour, we sat down and discussed the details. Turns out the woman was wanting about double what we intended to pay each month. It was no surprise after seeing her home. But we had our desired price range on the index card with our phone and she still called us! I probably would have said, "Oh, thank you for your time but it's not possible for us. You have a lovely home. I hope you find great tenants." and walk out the door. Thank the Lord my husband led the conversation and had the boldness to ask her if she would take "x" a month per month (nearly half of what she was asking). We learned that she wanted to leave this home to move to one of her other homes. I think she has four. She was just going to lock the doors and leave but thought having someone in the home to look after her belongings might be helpful. She mentioned the thought to her friend but never posted it or put a sign out.

She said she would consider the offer which is a miracle in itself. We waited for her call, it seemed like forever. We were so ready to end the search and have peace of mind that we had somewhere. And if God wanted to bless us with a miracle, we wanted it. Finally she called and agreed to the monthly rent!!! Ahh! Amazing! BUT she wanted 4 months rent as a security deposit! What? We weren't expecting that. So for the last few days we have been on the phone with her trying to come up with a reasonable solution. She is leaving everything in the home, so in some ways I understand.

Well, TODAY we finally agreed!!!! Today is June 19th, exactly one year to the day, that we had people sign a contract on our home back in NC! And it is the tenth day of being in contact with this woman. Ten being the number of testing, I agree that we were being tested in our peace, patience, our ability to trust. Whew! Sure glad it is over! I want to rejoice 100% in a super big way but I will contain myself until the lease agreement is signed. What has happened is a miracle! When John and I sold everything to come here, we did it fully willing to live in any condition. And I could have lived in any one of the houses we saw but something wouldn't let me. I just believed that after all this time, God had something really good for us. After having so many people praying for us, I didn't want to say, "Yeah, we settled on this place over here." I wanted a story. I wanted a testimony, to be able to say "Look what God did!"

There was one house that I really liked. It was cute and just the right size for us, I decorated it in my mind, I saw us there. It was do-able for us. And I was really beginning to want it bad. I was a bit sad when I found out that the timing of it's availability wouldn't work for us and because we were foreigners the price increased mysteriously. :) I am so thankful for unanswered prayers (which really are answered prayers). I wanted something that was in the realm of our possibility, but God showed us that He wanted us in the realm of His possibility. He had someone call us. We were the only people she spoke with, she dropped the rent considerably, she is leaving everything!!! Furniture, decorations, tv's, washer. It is making our start up costs nearly nothing. I might have to buys towels or something. :) I think I can mange that!

Getting this home is so meaningful to me, not just because it is more beautiful than anything I ever expected and I get to live in it every day. It just feels like a personal gift to my family after being homeless and living in 27 different places in the last year. It shows me what an amazing Father God He is. He loves to give good gifts to his children. It teaches Brayden so much. It is such a testimony to him that after we have given up so much (willingly), God gives us so much (also willingly). We were looking all over but He had the owner search us out. I want to say things like "This is unreal, unbelievable, this doesn't happen." but I can't because it is real and it is happening so I need to believe it.

So many of my wonderful girl friends back in America have been praying. Thank you so much!!! No words can express my joy of being confident I have that people who care about us and pray for us when we are way over here on the other side of the world. Look what God has done because you prayed. I am so grateful.

Little Boy Wai

The Future Miss Khon Kaen (haha)

When John and I were first married, I worked at a bank and as a dance teacher. No, I am not a dancer. I went in to preschools and daycares to teach an educational dance program (ballet and tap.) Loved that job. Any time John and I would go to the mall or out to dinner, it was always certain that I would run into at least one person. Fairly good odds, when you are connected with a ton of bank customers and 100 sets of parents. John used to laugh at me. I guess he was surprised at how popular I was. HaHa! He would call me "Miss Myrtle Grove" (the section of the city we lived in) I liked that. :) But I loved knowing people, not all of them in depth, but enough to ask a few questions about what was new with them. After spending most of my life in New Jersey, finally knowing names and faces out and about in Florida felt really good. Being an active part of the community made me feel that I was at home.

I am beginning to feel a bit of that here. Not enough to call me "Miss Khon Kaen" though...yet. :) Last week, I ran into some friends at the plaza (which is the closest thing we have to a mall). Then this past weekend, we met up with one of Brayden's classmates (he only has 4). A little girl named "Fah" and she was all dressed up after a wedding. Brayden and her kept staring at one another and waving in a shy way from across the restaurant. It was cute. I was able to meet her family and it felt so good. I know my way around the city. I run in to people. We have been here for 3 months but now I am starting to feel like finally I live here. (All we need now is a house!) Sorry John, had to mention it! :) It's the obvious missing piece.

House Hunt Thoughts

If the neighbor of the house you are looking at feels the need to have 4 huge guard dogs…then maybe that is not the best neighborhood for your family.

If the set up of the house and the strange middle aged white guy inside has you wondering why he is in Thailand and what goes on in his house…then maybe that is not the best neighborhood for your family.

It’s not unusual to find a sink with one cabinet underneath and "an" electrical outlet for the refrigerator on the other side of the room in a “kitchen”.

Do you take the 3000 sq ft house in an “ehh, not so great, kind of bad” neighborhood, or do you take the 500 sq ft house in the nice safe neighborhood?

Can you pretend that smaller house is bigger if it has a fairly functioning kitchen with a DISHWASHER? Oh, this is a tough one… I am still in debate mode.

Our ten suitcases have no need for the 3000 sq footer but our family of four needs more than 500 sq ft.

There is a difference between mouse poop and rat poop.

Not sure of the reason, but some houses have had their driveway tiled in colorful and very ornate ceramic tiles. Maybe they just think it’s pretty or maybe they love to mop so much that in addition to mopping inside the house once a day (because having the windows open makes things pretty dusty) they also wanted to include “Mop the driveway” to the daily chore list. :) Mmm, you will not be finding me mopping a driveway.

Most houses do not come with air conditioning units and if they do in at least one room, then they move quickly up the “If We Had To” list.

When there is a house listed on-line without a picture, there is a reason, so save your gas money and don’t bother driving out.

Why is it that the first five houses your find on a google search have already been rented out…like 6 months ago? I guess updating info isn’t that important?

There are a few very nice recently developed neighborhoods that have a dozen or more vacant houses…but these are not for rent…only for sale. A frustrating concept to a foreigner who can not buy!

If something is way below the range of your budgeted rent, there is a reason.

I don’t think it would be challenging to find something nice and safe rather quickly and easily if we looked at homes that were 4x out of our range. But that goes for any country, not just here.

If something sounds too good to be true, it is.

Words like “nice”, “neat”, “clean”, and even “garden” are defined differently by different people.

Knowing a house could be for rent is not known by the sign posted outside, because there is none. You can tell by the overgrown yard and lack of furniture inside.

Getting in touch with owners is very challenging. So, leaving notes in English and Thai in their mailboxes, knocking on neighbors’ doors to inquire, having your Thai friend take a look at the individual’s name on other letters in the mailbox and later research for a phone number are all acceptable ways to hunt down an owner.

Leaving an add stating…”We are an American family looking for…for between X and Y per month…” may generate calls from people who think they can fool the foreigners into paying more baht each month than it is worth.

When a sweet woman returns your email immediately with a dozen pictures of the house for rent, you want to rent it from her for the sheer fact that she was helpful. But unfortunately that is the itty bitty house. So sad.

Well, this was my attempt at making light of a very time consuming, frustrating and so far fruitless process of finding our family a home here. I am thinking about giving up completely on the search as if I can trick God in to the idea that I am surrendered or something but I know that won't work on God. Man, what else can I do to make this happen! Well, it can’t be blamed on our lack of effort, that’s for sure! I hope it comes soon because I am tired of questioning myself after every time we see a house, ..."Ok, was that home not suitable for us or am I being too particular?" There have been times in my life were I may have been guilty of being too particular, but not now! How ever could I have managed to get here sanely if I was!

Need house…must find house. Ahh!

We had a miracle to get out of our last home, so we need a miracle to get in to our new home.So, now you know how to pray!

My Project Runway

Our plane was getting ready for take off exactly one year ago. We put our house on the market June 1st and it was sold June 19th.  Still an amazing miracle to me! We had just weeks before we had to sell ev.er.y.thing. July 26th, 2008 our plane took off and we have been on an incredible journey ever since. We began our descent March 4th, 2009 when we finally arrived in Thailand. But since then we have been in a bit of a holding pattern waiting for the clear to land. We have been here but we are not yet settled in a place of our own. So we are still somewhat in transition. I am very ready to get this plane back on the ground again. We need to rent a place by July 1. We have been looking like crazy for a while in every possible way. On-line, driving around looking for signs, putting notes in the mailboxes on vacant homes. Not much has come of it...yet. So, now that we are in June, the countdown is on. It is stretching to my faith. I feel my ears pop as we continue to descend. But I still do not see the runway. I know it's there. Probably just some clouds blocking my visibility. I have no idea what I will be landing on. Some houses come fully furnished, some partly furnished, some come with absolutely nothing. I have heard of occasions where people had to furnish the kitchen including the sink and even a water pump! I am hoping that will not be the case. Finishing a kitchen can be costly so I am praying that the place we get has at least that. I have been mentally preparing as if we will have to do it all. I have shopped around, saw what was out there, did my price comparisons, and today I made the project...My Project Runway. John laughed at me. I felt like a little girl making a collage. I cut out all my choices of furniture from the catalog and organized them into rooms. I may not need to purchase it all, but just in case we need something... I will be ready. What store? Which one? How much? It was really fun to put that project together today. Once I get past the initial overwhelming-ness of starting over, I get kind of excited. Ahh. I haven't had a home in just about a year. It's going to feel so nice even if it is with other people's furniture at first (if I had to). I am ready to recreate a home for my family. We just need to see the runway so we can finally land. So clear up clouds and let us see.

Fear Management

Through confessing where obsessive fear was birthed in my life, I have seen up close all my weaknesses. But God still loves me and uses me anyway. PTL If you would have told me a few years ago of some of the things I would be encountering now, I would not have believed you. That is why I am so incredibly amazed that I am here as a missionary in Thailand. It is such a testimony to the work God has done in my heart and in my mind. That I am here and LOVING it! I hardly recognize myself and I am so glad. I think back to how God led us and guided us through each step and I am so thankful. It only strengthens that we are certainly meant to be here and with that my faith grows and my ability to trust God for protection increases and those fears that used to consume me are manageable. They still come around but they don't stay long.

Like one day last week, I noticed that for some reason, I was unusually fearful all day. I was nervous when John went out on the motorcycle, I was nervous when it took Brayden 2 hours to get home on the bus, I was nervous with Aslan going up and down the stairs. It was a day of annoying paranoia. It was also just as I was fighting allergy stuff and day before I came down with the flu. I am starting to be aware to the timing. Those extreme fears like to try to revisit when I feel weak physically or vulnerable emotionally and not at my normal alertness. But I still recognized it and was able to have John pray with me. I like seeing that I have grown in this area. It makes me feel strong to discern it and deal with it instead of feeling weak and weary by giving into it. I could have missed being in our calling and missed all this joy if I let myself always be fearful.

A Never Ending Battle

When Brayden, my first son, was just hours old, he had several apnea episodes. It was pretty alarming to see your newborn change color in husband's arms and then watch the nurse swiftly take him and rub his back until he started to cry. Brayden, at just 6 hours old, was transported to another hospital with a NICU. I was discharged from the hospital 14 hours after delivery to go be by his side. He was there for 8 very long days. I thought it would be a relief to finally have him home but it was more assuring to have him on a monitor making sure he was still breathing right. I don't know how I survived on such little sleep back then. I pulled the bassinet right next to my bed and slept with my hand on his belly so I could always know he was breathing. Once he got older and was in his own room, I would startle at the slightest grunt or wonder about the long silence on the baby monitor. I was so fearful still that something was going to happen and he was going to stop breathing. About five or more times a night I would wake up suddenly, jump out of bed and run to go check on him. John, very aware that this fear was consuming me, would sometimes hold me down in bed and force me to not get up like I was wanting. It helped me stay in bed but didn't help me not be scared. 

When Brayden was 8 months old, John was away on a missions trip to Germany. I was up late making baby food in the blender (oh, the things I did for the first that I did not do with the second). I remember thinking, "Oh, I am surprised this noise isn't waking up the baby." Just after that a voice that was so clearly demonic said, "He is not waking because he is not alive." I ran down the hall, opened Brayden's door and listened for the sound of his breathing but heard nothing. I walked closer and tried to see his body move in the darkness but I saw nothing. I was so scared. I grabbed my son to make sure he was alive and I woke him out of his peaceful sleep. He started crying, I started crying. It was a breaking point. I remember praying so sincerely, "God, I need you to help me get rid of this fear. I can't live with it anymore." 

I remember something changing after that. I can't say that no longer feared again. But what changed though was my ability to recognize that this battle was not of God and that my faith, although small at the time, could fight against it. I realized from that night, that this fear (although it was my fear), was not just effecting me. It caused me to disturb my husband's sleep, my baby's sleep. My issue messed with my family's peace...and that was not ok. Fear is an annnoying bothersome thing, it doesn't just go away for good. Even now, well, especially now with being on the mission field where there are more dangers, I still battle it but now I know how.

P.S. Like right now (about 10 minutes after I posted this) John and Brayden were running an errand on the motorcycle and then it starts to thunderstorm!! I call John's cell phone, and it rings in the other room! ugh! 

Unexpected Rain

The other day I had a beautiful sunny day in my heart. I was walking in faith and peace and joy. Then I encountered some cloudy skies when a friend began conversing with me. Soon those full clouds began to let down the "rain" of  hopeless, unbelief, and negativity. I saw the storm coming in time, so I was able to hold up my umbrella to shield myself from the rain.  A little while later, the storm clouds floated away. The sun began to shine again. I was so glad to have had my umbrella handy. I could have been drenched from only a half hour gloom. I did get a little wet though, so I had to go inside and dry off with some quiet time. 

But God Never Sleeps

It's 3:30pm my time and Brayden is in school, John left early for a ministry trip far away and Aslan is still napping. I just checked facebook and very few people are on and if they are are they are the people in America who can't sleep 3:30am or the people on this side of the world, which are a handful of missionaries. This afternoon people were commenting on village outreaches in Ukraine and baptisms in Malaysia and children's ministry in here in Thailand. So much happens over here when you are asleep over there in America. But God never sleeps. So while I am sleeping, what is going on over there on your side of the planet? 

Village Church Meeting

Last night we hung out with some of the members of a village church here in the Isan region of Thailand. First, everyone went around in the circle to share about what God has been doing for them. A lesson was taught out of 1 Timothy 2 then we prayed and had communion together. MaeGaan was our hostess, the very happy lady you see in the way back. She prepared a meal of sticky rice, fish, and chicken. It was so nice to be there with people who were once Buddhists, then new believers, then disciples, then leaders training others. Many villages are still without churches in this area. Please add NE Thailand to your prayers.

Ooooo! Happy!

Aslan has a signature saying whenever something happens that he thinks is just wonderful. "Ooooo, Hap-py!" If I put on a favorite movie, or watch Elmo on YouTube, or give him a scoop of ice cream or let him ride his tricycle outside, I can guarantee his response. "Ooooo, Hap-py!"

I had an "Ooooo, Hap-py!"moment the other day. I was telling a fellow missionary friend, Susan, of the few little things I miss from America. Things that I didn't expect to miss.

1) Sudafed. The kind you have to sign for, you know, the kind that actually works. This allergy to mold is going to make the rainy season seem so much longer.
2) Dawn dish detergent. There are no dishwashers and no hot water to wash dishes, so I miss Dawn and seeing the grease run away at one drop.
3) Degree deodorant. I have found sprays, I have found roll-on, and gels but I can't find a solid deodorant anywhere. Since deodorants can be about $6 or so here, I expect it to work especially in this heat. Well, we have been missing our Degree.

When Susan was in America last, she picked up a year supply of Degree!!!! And she shared some!!! I now have 2! So that was my "Ooooo, Hap-py!" moment. I never thought I could be this delighted over deodorant. :) It's the little things.

What makes you happy?