It has officially been 6 months since Donovan and I got married in May! Since then we have seen/done/experienced many crazy adventures...
I cannot believe that 6 months have already flown by. I honestly feel like it was yesterday when we even met at Nyack College. And I am more then happy that we did because I am firmly convinced that no other man on this planet could stand to be married to me. Im way to moody/crazy/spontaneous/weird/outgoing to have a serious, pensive man. God knows what He is doing when He plans marriage. It's all in His timing.
Well we are T-minus 20 days till we head home. Now that its under the 3 week mark, it's weird to be planning on going home. I have mixed feelings about being back in America. With Christmas coming, I cannot help but feel the "normal" nostalgia of the holidays. I love the music, food, decorations, lights but what I don't love is the superficial mindset of all the materialism. I know there are many people out there who don't get sucked into the materialistic Christmas and for that, they deserve respect. Because I know its difficult. I just wish the 5+ billion dollars that America spends on Black Friday every year was put in a different area. Considering there are people all over the world, even America where people don't have food or warmth. Yet, most of us cuddle up next to our fires and our cups of hot cocoa and enjoy the "joys of the Holidays." But what sets us apart from the people without food to snack on? Or the people who don't even have a home to put lights up on, or a tree to set up? What about the people who don't have a closet full of winter jackets to choose from? Or what about the people in Africa, India, Cambodia, Thailand that live everyday just trying to survive, as they ask whatever god they believe in to just provide enough food to keep their families alive. Is it just that these people were born in a different place and time as us "fortunate ones" and all that separates us, is just where God placed us? So, we are blessed. And I know I take advantage of that blessing everyday, especially during the holidays, but I hope this year, where I have experienced a culture not built around "living richly" but "richly living" that I have seen true happiness isn't all that you can buy, eat, own, or wear, its about family, love and faith. I want to be a person who sees life as a chance everyday to live my life in love. To love all those around me, to letting my faith in the true God expound to everyone I meet.
I hope when my husband and I return home we take a bit of third world with us. So early on in our marriage, we have seen parts of the world where others choose to shut their eyes to. I hope Donovan and I continue to search out people and cultures that live lives of true thankfulness and beauty. These are the people that are indeed truly blessed with their hearts of content and spirits of gratitude.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
1 Month till Oregon
It's hard to believe but in 1 month Donovan and I will be heading home. We are excited to see family and get some cold weather...but yet we are sad to leave here too. So we are cramming as much stuff as we can into these next 30 days.
This week, Donovan and I went to the Tropical Spice Gardens and it was beyond beautiful! The smell is what first captivates you, mixtures of cinnamon, curry, jasmine, coffee all filter around the whole garden. Jungle wildlife sings above you as you hike the trails exploring all of Gods fragrant creation. There was even a hut where you can see how they crush the spices and flowers to make things such as perfume, flavors and coffee. It was awesome! We saw some waterfalls, huge palms and some little creatures. Even turtles! There was a giant swing that you could sit on and swing out over the jungle, it was fun!
Last night there was a International Food Fair at Calvins school. We went with the Perkins and ate our hearts content! There was such yummy food from all over the world! The delicacies came from Japan, Taiwan, India, Thailand, America, Italy and beyond. Donovan got some pizza (finally) and I got the best orginal spring rolls ever! They were made fresh for you from two small Taiwanese women. They took like a crepe wrapper and put, peanut sprinkles, raisins, cabbage, carrots, apples and lettuce and wrapped it up. It was sooo good! Wesley got a ice cream cone and was quite content! After the food fair, Donovan and I saw a play at the high school titled "Romans on the Couch." It was very interesting. Very much a high school play with the dropped/rushed lines, but it was cute and the kids look like they had a fun time! So that was fun to see :)
Today Donovan and I are going to relax, get some lunch and get ready for the week ahead. We are excited to explore more of the island before we have to leave back to America!
This week, Donovan and I went to the Tropical Spice Gardens and it was beyond beautiful! The smell is what first captivates you, mixtures of cinnamon, curry, jasmine, coffee all filter around the whole garden. Jungle wildlife sings above you as you hike the trails exploring all of Gods fragrant creation. There was even a hut where you can see how they crush the spices and flowers to make things such as perfume, flavors and coffee. It was awesome! We saw some waterfalls, huge palms and some little creatures. Even turtles! There was a giant swing that you could sit on and swing out over the jungle, it was fun!
Last night there was a International Food Fair at Calvins school. We went with the Perkins and ate our hearts content! There was such yummy food from all over the world! The delicacies came from Japan, Taiwan, India, Thailand, America, Italy and beyond. Donovan got some pizza (finally) and I got the best orginal spring rolls ever! They were made fresh for you from two small Taiwanese women. They took like a crepe wrapper and put, peanut sprinkles, raisins, cabbage, carrots, apples and lettuce and wrapped it up. It was sooo good! Wesley got a ice cream cone and was quite content! After the food fair, Donovan and I saw a play at the high school titled "Romans on the Couch." It was very interesting. Very much a high school play with the dropped/rushed lines, but it was cute and the kids look like they had a fun time! So that was fun to see :)
Today Donovan and I are going to relax, get some lunch and get ready for the week ahead. We are excited to explore more of the island before we have to leave back to America!
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Busy Busy Busy
So we have been busy!! It definitely feels like we have settled into a new home. The weird thing is, we are leaving in about 4 weeks...where has the time gone?
Good news, is my boss, Trudy is pregnant!! They are expecting their third child due around June. We are all excited for them! I cannot imagine being pregnant in a place like this with the heat, and constant fish smell. But she is a trooper and amazingly handling it well!
The Perkin's will be leaving in a week for Taiwan to spend the Thanksgiving holiday week with Trudy's family. Donovan and I will stay here and do some sight seeing around the island. I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner for us two all by myself. It should be interesting! I have been gathering things I need to make it as "American" has possible. I found some cranberry sauce, and canned pumpkin! So Im excited to try out my domestic skills here in Malaysia! I gotta whip up some mashed potatoes, candied yams, stuffing and some green bean casserole! The turkeys here cost about $32 for a small turkey. So we are going to just get a roasted chicken :) Im bummed we can't actually watch the parade on Thanksgiving though, but we can on Friday and eat leftovers! My family tradition is to watch Home Alone on Thanksgiving, so Im super excited that Donovan got that for me!
We haven't done to much sight seeing since our epic hike last Sunday, but there will definitely be more to come. We will be checking out the beaches soon. Everytime we head out to them, it starts to rain, so we are waiting for a clear day. Apparently, the ocean here has stinging jellyfish! Eek! So we got to be careful bout that!
We have been trying to get some things done here for when we get home, like apartment hunting and getting in contact with PSU. Please pray that all our school stuff gets all figured out! Its weird to already plan being back home, but we dont want to put off stuff till the last minute!
Well, Im off to go to dishes, Malaysian style! Got to boil the water first before you start :) Takes longer, but I don't mind! Have a blessed pre-Thanksgiving week everyone!!
Good news, is my boss, Trudy is pregnant!! They are expecting their third child due around June. We are all excited for them! I cannot imagine being pregnant in a place like this with the heat, and constant fish smell. But she is a trooper and amazingly handling it well!
The Perkin's will be leaving in a week for Taiwan to spend the Thanksgiving holiday week with Trudy's family. Donovan and I will stay here and do some sight seeing around the island. I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner for us two all by myself. It should be interesting! I have been gathering things I need to make it as "American" has possible. I found some cranberry sauce, and canned pumpkin! So Im excited to try out my domestic skills here in Malaysia! I gotta whip up some mashed potatoes, candied yams, stuffing and some green bean casserole! The turkeys here cost about $32 for a small turkey. So we are going to just get a roasted chicken :) Im bummed we can't actually watch the parade on Thanksgiving though, but we can on Friday and eat leftovers! My family tradition is to watch Home Alone on Thanksgiving, so Im super excited that Donovan got that for me!
We haven't done to much sight seeing since our epic hike last Sunday, but there will definitely be more to come. We will be checking out the beaches soon. Everytime we head out to them, it starts to rain, so we are waiting for a clear day. Apparently, the ocean here has stinging jellyfish! Eek! So we got to be careful bout that!
We have been trying to get some things done here for when we get home, like apartment hunting and getting in contact with PSU. Please pray that all our school stuff gets all figured out! Its weird to already plan being back home, but we dont want to put off stuff till the last minute!
Well, Im off to go to dishes, Malaysian style! Got to boil the water first before you start :) Takes longer, but I don't mind! Have a blessed pre-Thanksgiving week everyone!!
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Into November
Well here is November! While many of you are putting on cozy socks and sweaters, I put on shorts and a tank top every morning! Sure does not feel like fall here! The sun shines bright every day and with it comes 80+ degree weather. But it's not all that bad, the morning is also greeted with exotic birds singing and the smell of jungle rain in the air. Its quite a refreshing start to the day!
Today Donovan and I went on a hike at the Penang Botanical Gardens. What we thought would be an easy hike, turned out to be the hardest hike ever. It was a 5 kilometer hike, and we made it a quarter of the way. Took us about 30 seconds to realize we were way out of our element. The entire hike is uphill, and very very steep. You practically have to walk sideways to keep from slipping. The people passing us, had legit hiking gear and were ready to push to the top. We however, with our 1 water bottle (already half gone) and 2 small apples were not. We realized, that this "small 5k" takes most people around 4 hours to accomplish, because of the steepness of the climb. We laughed at our stupidity but decided to hike as far as we could. We made it about a fourth of the way there, drenched in sweat and turned around to face the slippery slopes back down the mountain. We plan to do the whole hike before we leave here though! Next time with all the proper gear, and clothes! It was fun to say the least, we got a butt kicking workout...and we got to see a family of monkeys in the trees!
After our hike, we walked around the Botanical Garden and saw beautiful trees, flowers and more monkeys! They were everywhere! Donovan tried to pet one, and in return it hissed and chased him! It was so funny! Then we headed back home, into the crazy rainy weather of Penang. But we got some local pineapple from a old lady first! Yum!
To keep up with traditional fall festivities, I actually baked in the apartments oven! I made some banana bread with the islands local sugar and apple bananas, its super yummy! Most people never bake here, because it makes their houses so hot, that is if they even have ovens, but I couldn't help it! I just love making goodies!
So enjoy fall my friends!
Today Donovan and I went on a hike at the Penang Botanical Gardens. What we thought would be an easy hike, turned out to be the hardest hike ever. It was a 5 kilometer hike, and we made it a quarter of the way. Took us about 30 seconds to realize we were way out of our element. The entire hike is uphill, and very very steep. You practically have to walk sideways to keep from slipping. The people passing us, had legit hiking gear and were ready to push to the top. We however, with our 1 water bottle (already half gone) and 2 small apples were not. We realized, that this "small 5k" takes most people around 4 hours to accomplish, because of the steepness of the climb. We laughed at our stupidity but decided to hike as far as we could. We made it about a fourth of the way there, drenched in sweat and turned around to face the slippery slopes back down the mountain. We plan to do the whole hike before we leave here though! Next time with all the proper gear, and clothes! It was fun to say the least, we got a butt kicking workout...and we got to see a family of monkeys in the trees!
After our hike, we walked around the Botanical Garden and saw beautiful trees, flowers and more monkeys! They were everywhere! Donovan tried to pet one, and in return it hissed and chased him! It was so funny! Then we headed back home, into the crazy rainy weather of Penang. But we got some local pineapple from a old lady first! Yum!
So enjoy fall my friends!
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