Family Christmas Celebration

South Padre Fam Vacation

Our Pumpkin Venture

The Bates clan decided to go buy some pumpkins but were a little late in the game. Still on Asian time I guess. Most of the pumpkin patches were too far away and places that were selling them were almost out of pumpkins! But a little place around the corner of our house still had some left. So we enjoyed a family outing and Emma picked out Mommy and Olivia's pumpkins as well as her own. It was a sweet time getting to experience an American tradition together as a family. Ok, except when Emma plopped Olivia's pumpkin right on her lap, not realizing it was heavy, unlike her stuffed caterpillar that she always gives her!! Don't worry, Olivia is fine and didn't even get upset. Thankfully she had a rather think blanket over her legs to soften the pumpkin plop!

The Nomadic Life

(from K) Well, we are off in just a few weeks to spend 4 1/2 months in the States. We've are already experiencing the mixed emotions that come with parting from friends and then greeting friends and family we haven't seen in a long time. It doesn't get easier. It really is joy and sorrow mixed all together. Sometimes I'll be on a high of happiness because I am so excited to see loved ones and then minutes later, I will feel this ache in my gut thinking about how long it will be until I see the friends I'm leaving.

Since Todd and I have been married we've lived in 9 different homes, 2 States, and 4 islands in SE Asia. In her 21 months of life, Emma has lived in 2 homes, 3 other places for longer than 1 month, been to 5 countries, and taken around 20 flights. I truly never thought that I signed up for this type of life when God called us to this ministry. Wow. What is "normal" in our life is simply, change. For someone who does not like change and grew up in the same place as her father, mother, grandparents, and great-grandparents, it has been quite a whirlwind.

Although the pains of being away from friends and family is real and will probably never go away, in the end, the truth is that God is our home, and wherever He wants us is the place we will be most content and satisfied. As Christians, we truly are nomads, waiting for our true home in heaven. It's easy to long for heaven when you no longer feel that any place is "home" anymore and you don't fit in in any one culture. We are so thankful for this challenge as it has really helped us to be more dependent on God and less on things that don't last or matter in the end. Our identity doesn't rest in where we are from, what material things we have, or what we do for a living, but rather in the One who has made us a new creation and extended His unconditional love to us. Thankfully HE will never change.

Trip to Singapore

The World Cup is Here!

We had a fun small World Cup opening party and all bought soccer shirts/jerseys, including Emma. I (K) had to get a bigger size to cover the growing belly. ;)

Vacation with Mimi and Nana

It has been over a year since Emma has seen her grandmas and they came to see us! It was a wonderful memorable time. Thanks for coming half way around the world to see us Mimi and Nana!

Beach time

We spent a few days relaxing on a beach 3 hours away. It was a much needed time to be in nature as life in a city can feel a little cramped and too industrial. It was the first time Emma really understood what the ocean was. She loved it!

Trip to Singapore

Family Vacation in KL

We had a blast on our family vacation we took just after the holidays to Kuala Lumpur. It's a fun city with lots of great activities for kids. I guess one thing about becoming parents is that your vacation activities change! I was most looking forward to the butterfly and bird park just to see the reaction of little one year old Emma. :) It was worth it!

We ate great western food that we missed, saw exotic and rare birds, visited an aquarium, shopped, slept, watched Numbers episodes, and spent time in parks and in nature...many of which we are not usually able to do. Emma enjoyed some new things she has never experienced too...see more on her recent blog entry.