Have we already had 23 days of the new year?

I have been living in Malaysia for 75 days. In the past 23 days, we've celebrated New Years day, 2 birthdays and MLK day and a new president. I was watching CNN here in Malaysia and they are closely watching the 1st 100 days of his presidency. I'm so glad I'm not the president.

The changes for the new year, I now have one child in TX and one in Vienna, Austria. We will be able to travel to different regions this year because Steven has 6 weeks of leave to take this year. Our first trip is during the 4 day weekend for Chinese New Year. We are planning to visit the highlands in the region.
Steven just returned from the Phillipines so too much travel isn't on the ticket for the rest of the month. It's hard to believe I'm already thinking about the end of the month.

I'm trying to keep in touch with friends that I left in the US. It's not too easy when the internet doesn't work very well.

The kids are getting a little worried, I've now started using some of the Malaysian manuvers in order to get around. It's a little crazy.

Happy New Year!

It's now 2009 and we've gotten almost all of our furniture. We only need our new loveseat and sofa that will go into the kid's entertainment area and we will have all our furniture.

I REALLY thought we had gotten rid of 19 years worth of junk before we left. As we are in the process of unpacking the boxes with our sea shipment, I think "why didn't I get rid of it all?" I am now throwing away a lot of "junk" before we have to pack again in 4 years. Thinking about having just 4 years here really gives me incentive to keep my acquisition of "things" down to a minimum.

I really enjoyed last night, we stayed close to home because of major highways were shut down for the festivities. We heard the fireworks, sounded like some were coming into our living area. We walked out onto our balcony and watched the grand display. I love fireworks and the Lord brought them to me!!!

I pray that everyone is safe and start the new year surrounded by love and good fellowship.

Being Obedient

Today has been an interesting day. It started out like any other Sunday, got up, got ready for church, went to breakfast. Our oldest son is in town for the holidays so he went with us. Nice breakfast and company for breakfast. We came home and we gave our rent money for the 6 months we had to turn over to our agent. I hadn't accounted for it in our checkbook, which is really my laptop, because I didn't think about it until this morning. I go to our account and see a charge that shouldn't be there. I tell my husband and he, being the man he is, wants it resolved right there and then. I forget sometimes that when dealing with anyone in Malaysia you have to, remember that they don't always understand english and sometimes your call gets dropped even if you haven't moved from the location you started your call. Both happen and I'm in the middle of finding out what exactly the charges are for. I get the second person from the bank and she is intent on getting ALL her security questions answered in order to give us information on charges on our account.

Of course when I started the call it would have been prudent to have my own atm card handy because the charges are on the atm useage. I don't my husband hands me his and I tell the woman that it is not my card, she insists I give her the number, asks my name and then proceeds with asking all the other information that is the same for both of us. She soon realizes that my name is not the name on the atm card I gave her, I then have to hand the phone over for my husband to give her all HIS information. He wasn't happy about it and then he got the answer he was looking for, it seems that when you purchase fuel with your atm card there is a charge to your account until they get the exact amount, the charge is then refunded about 2 to 3 days later. In the US it's hours. But, we're not in the US.

We then take off for church and it's a great service. Today we had a visitor from the Gideon Society, he wanted to share what they have had the opportunity to influence throughout the world with just placing Bibles in every city they can. The testimonies were so powerful. I was ready to give my offering but the Lord told me to wait for the Gideon offering.l So I did and then was so inspired to give them more than what I usually give. As I was getting my ringit from my wallet the Lord told me to give it all. I looked in my wallet and I had a little over 200 ringit. I thought I'll just give 200 because that was a big donation. The Lord said to give it all, so I gave every last one that I had.

The message today had 3 parts, it was about Joseph-Mary's husband-how he was obedient and how his obedience cost him and he was an example for us to be obedient. As we drove home, my husband asked about lunch. I told him I couldn't buy lunch because the Lord had told me to give all my ringit to the Gideon Society. He said "You gave it all? I'm gonna have to stop giving you ringits, you give them to the orphans and the Gideons." I told him that pastor said that my obedience would cost me. Hee, hee He was joking but I have found, when the Lord asks my all I need to give my all. I know there will be something special this week from my obedience. I'll let you know.

It's been a long week!!!

I posted last time that we wouldn't be moving in until Monday, the 8th of December. I found out later that we would stay another night at the hotel. That was great one more day of internet, having used it to keep in touch with family and friends in TX. We made our move a week ago today. It was nice and leasurely, the kids and I enjoyed the house right away. The telephone guy came the next day-great now we can get internet. He came and "checked" if the line was working-about 2 minutes. He then tells me I owe him 30 ringit. I give him the 30 ringint and then he tells me I have to have another guy come out to turn on the phone lines. I then call the office manager and she tells me that he won't be out until maybe tomorrow, Friday. I'm ok with that but then again that delays the internet. He came out in 30 minutes. Steve got back the night we moved in and went right back to work the next day.

In the mean time, the kids and I explore the shopping center near our house, walking distance, and find a great place to have lunch. The fact that is also has wifi free isn't too bad either. We wander around glancing at the different shops and we find a place for them to take art classes. We get them signed up for Saturday, but then we have to find canvas, paint and brushes. The canvas and brushes were in the stationary shop. You don't go to an art supply shop, you go to the stationary shop.

Sunday was less stressful and we had the pleasure of attending The Bridge International Christmas program. It truly was an international event. I enjoyed all the different cultures represented and most of them have only lived in KL for a couple of months or maybe a couple of years. My favorites were the Nigerians. They had some moves that reminded me of some friends in the States.

We are now in countdown to Christmas mode. It's our first Christmas in KL. We plan on visiting Singapore on a short trip and don't know what else we will see while Steven is on vacation. I'm thankful that we will have some time to just enjoy where God has placed us. Merry Christmas!

We're moved in...almost

Today was the day that our new landlord handed over the keys. It's a wonderful house and we are going to enjoy it. We aren't moved in all the way because the kids and I won't move into the house completely until Monday. Steven leaves for the Philipines tomorrow and will be back on Wednesday.

Our home in Friendswood was inspected and there are some issues. Please pray that the issues will be resolved and that the sale will continue as planned. I'm believing the Lord has it all worked out. He worked out the situation here in Malaysia!

Week 3 1/2

We've been here now 3 weeks and 2 days. Not really half of a week but close enou2gh. I've attended 2 ladies parties in the last 2 weeks. The first was a luncheon at my husband's bosses home. His wife wanted to meet the ladies. Today it was a Festive Coffee. I had never been to a Festive Coffee so I decided to go. I met many lovely women. One husband, I'm sure he's used to being the only male in the group. I was surprised at how many times most of these women had moved around the world. I'm just starting out in this world of different postings. Term for new job locations. Everyone reassured me that I would figure out the road system, and I would begin to get the hang of it. I guess if I don't they'll tell me I did anyway. I've been able to hail a taxi, get the taxis to take me where I need to go and not pay too much for the ride. I know sounds like a pretty staight forward occurance, but you have to remember, just because they seem to understand english doesn't mean they do.

We move into our new home on Saturday, we signed papers today that should get us closer to selling our house in the US. Our sea shipment won't arrive until the 19th and has to process through at least 10 days, that means we shouldn't see our stuff until the 29th of December. I talked to someone today that said it shouldn't take more than 6 weeks to get our belongings. We'll see. Now to pick a tree and decorate for Christmas since we have a home to decorate.

2 weeks in Malaysia

We've been here 2 whole weeks. My how time flies. We've seen 16 houses and narrowed it down to 5. We've made an offer on one and are waiting to hear back from the owner. We've gone car shopping, It was only one dealer..Steven had to lie down from the difference in price from the internet and the dealer. We will head out again. We've got the children enrolled in the school, although they will not start until January. Side note, I think the Malaysians have the right idea about the school years. They have back to school sales twice a year. They prepare for the fall term with back to school sales and offer the uniforms on sale again in late November early December for the January semester. How many moms have noticed that their child has grown since the beginning of the school year and doesn't have the benefit of a sale price come December? If most kids grow like mine did and still do, it's an advantage to the parent to have another sale come December.
Zachary has taken his first piano lesson and will have another come next Wednesday. He hasn't had the chance to practice but the teacher is aware that we have other obligations and is willing to work with us. The girls took a jazz class and Kristen took a tap class. I think that we will wait until we are in our house before we go on with dance classes.

Our stay at the Lanson Place is comfortable, our air shipment came in finally. We now have a bunch of boxes in the main entertainment room but we're not here for very much longer.

The best thing about today is that we finally got to attend a worship service. The people were very nice and the service was very interesting. The pastor taught from 2 Chronicles the story of Jehoshephat and his army against the countries that were coming against Isreal. It's a wonderful testament to the power of God. The assistant to the youth pastor came to meet us got mine and the kid's cell numbers and wants them to come to a semi-retreat that the church is hosting for the youth. It's a 3 day trip to the beach, it runs 150.00RM which is about 50.00USD. I'll see if it turns out that the kids will be able to go.