Category: A Thoughtful Life
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Often running a small business in a foreign country is similar to peeling layers of an onion. Just as one obstacle is overcome, another is revealed. And each layer is often accompanied by tears.
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There are so many wonderful moments that have taken place in our family since Hanissa arrived home, but I wanted to write a more serious post and hopefully answer some questions that several friends have been asking. Most of us don’t have to think about what makes a family; we grow up with one and…
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There are so many foreign places I would love to visit. History engages me. Architecture and ruins amaze me. Nature inspires me. DIfferent cultures captivate me. But above all else, it is the people of the land that give it character and beauty. On a trip outside the city, we got to see not only…
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We took a trip to the other side of the world; to a distant land unknown to most. It is a land full of natural beauty. A land with hard working people and strong family ties. A land where questions are abundant and answers are few. A land of uncertainty but also a land of…
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Our local park is not something foreigners get excited about. At first glance it seems pretty pathetic and it doesn’t improve with closer examination. There are patches of grass and small groves of trees. The zoo section holds one camel, a few sheep, deer, and the occasional tiger. There’s a dozen or so old amusement…
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This year the first of my babies received a diploma. When I look at her, I see so much more than a high school graduate.
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It started out as practice to help a teenager with her graduation project/test for Cosmetology school. What it became was 3 practice sessions(at the school with the teacher observing and offering critique), 1 test session, and1 dress up/photo/modeling session (which included a wedding dress).
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Orphans. Those the world has cast aside and for the most part deemed a scar on humanity. They are all around us, parentless and often homeless. Africa, Korea, China, Mexico, and even in the US. No country is exempt. No one questions their existence, but we often find ourselves questioning our ability to get involved…
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One year ago, I met K and M. I held them and kissed on them. I played with them and made plans to bring them into my home. One year ago, I thought we were almost at the end of our adoption journey. I bought clothes that were just their size and packed a suitcase…
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We’ve lived in Asia for 19 years and bowing is a natural way of life. But in this area there is still more for me to learn. There’s the bride and groom, on their knees before their parents, who lower their foreheads to the floor. Children, dressed in traditional clothes, bow deeply before their elders…