We Have Lift Off.

I don't know where summer went but now I am a day away from taking my son and 2nd child to college.   I had 19 years to prepare myself for this and it still sneaked up on me.

I am hoping that we prepared him for life...that this day will prove that he has the form, stamina and power to launch into this new world on his own.   Whatever the case this bird wants to fly, the rocket is ready to launch whether I am ready or not to see it happen. I think he mentally left a year ago and has been coasting to this day ever since.
Whatever motherly demands he puts to me, my response has been, "19 years is my limit now its time to make your own food!"   I am somewhat joking but seriously, when its time it's time.  My sentimental sappy mom side wants to get all Hallmarky but honestly, I know it's time and I couldn't be more thankful that he is excited to go.  That makes me excited for him and for all the new experiences he will have.  So I guess I can, somewhat, pat myself on the back that I am not pushing this bird out of the nest but he is jumping...it's much easier that way on everyone.
So..
What do I want him to know as he leaves?
1.  I will always love you no matter what. No grade, accomplishment or path you decide to go will change my love for you.

2. Sometimes college and life is not so fun.  We all remember the best times but...loans have to be paid back, relationships can be heartbreaking, and the cafeteria food will definitely be disappointing.
Hopefully you will have enough sense to work hard when you don't want to, remember that there are other fish in the sea, and your mama's food will taste better than you remembered when you come home.

3.  Kindness, forgiveness, and love go a long way.  No amount of talent or cleverness can replace good character.  Be kind. Love big. Look over an offense.

4. Don't be a push over but do listen and hear people out because even though you think you know everything you don't and listening to others will help you learn and help you make a well informed opinion.

5. Your opinions do and will change but don't compromise the absolute truths you have learned and know from experience.

6. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and His name is Jesus.  Keep close to Him and share Him with everyone.

Here is a tip for mamas who are crying into their coffee mug every morning because their babies are gone.
1. It's okay to cry.  Raising a child to adulthood is the most important and difficult job you will have and maybe somewhere in the middle (some of us at the beginning) we wanted to quit but somehow, in the end, we just feel so sure we can't live without them. Going cold turkey from the addiction of motherhood is tough, it takes time to get used to our new normal.  The truth is they will be back and we will be able to adjust but it's okay to cry, you earned the right.

2. Stop crying. Keep it together for their sake and save the blubbering for the long ride home.  I know the scene that you keep creating in your mind of the long and emotional goodbyes...driving away waving and blowing kisses as you watch your son/daughter become a dot in the distance as they wave and watch you pull away.  This is it mama's we have trained them and they are ready to launch don't interfere with take off by making them responsible for your
feelings. Trust God to be with them when we cannot and if that scene you created in your mind doesn't happen, its okay, just remember when they were difficult and you wished them to grow up and thank God they did.

3. Celebrate. This is a great day!  Our kids are doing it!  They are embracing their future and walking into the great unknown.  It is good to rejoice in the passages of life.

4. Enjoy your new life.  Find the good and embrace the new things God can do in your life. Don't feel guilty about doing things that you never had time for, I am sure God has some great opportunities planned for you...after you stop crying. 

I hope these days of change will be a way to trusting a Love that is bigger and better than yours for your children's future and yours too. 

" O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me. 

 You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 

 You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do. 

 You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head...

If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me. 

 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night— 

     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you."

Psalms 139:1-5, 9-12

"The day you were born..."

Noah on his 15th birthday (this year) in WI Dells. It's not a crown but close enough.

Living as we do in perpetual transition and settling; back and forth; here and there, has created many traditions.  I know that you would think the opposite true but I found that the more I put into making certain things a norm while living at Grandma's or somewhere on the road, is important to my kids.
One thing the kids almost always ask for is my cinnamon rolls for their birthday breakfast. Years ago I found this great overnight cinnamon roll recipe and since then it has been the only recipe I will use.  It makes cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls, or both, if you choose, and I do most of the time.

Jonah this year, on his 11th birthday.

Another thing that I do for birthdays is make my kids a crown, well, until they say, "Mom, I don't need a crown anymore."  and then I go off to hide and cry because all my babies are growing up way too fast!

So far the only "mature" one is Noah.  Haillie adheres to the Peter Pan motto, "I'll never grow up!  I am going to be a child forever!"

Haillie, sweet 16, 2011. Wearing a fairy flower crown.

Silas, this year on his 9th birthday.

As they eat their cinnamon roll while wearing their crown I tell them about the day they were born.  I sometimes get choked up before the end but it always ends with laughter, as we talk about the time Dad made me labor in the car while he drove through the McDonald's drive-thru because he obviously needed his energy to get through the birth (Yes, that was sarcasm.) or how Haillie thought Noah was her baby from the day he came home.
Yes, I have been known to throw over-the-top kid parties with cakes to match, and homemade pinatas, because Russians never learned the skill of pinata making, but those days are slowing down each year my kids get older *sigh* and not always practical when you are driving to Moldova.
So even if we are riding through Hungary and singing Happy Birthday while going through the border, we always find a way through old traditions or making new ones, to celebrate the lives of each of our children.

What traditions does your family have for birthdays?  What crazy or fun globetrotting birthday stories does your family have?

2008, Silas's 5th birthday at Ice Rink Palace, Budapest, Hungary.  On the road to Austria to renew our Russian visas.

Jonahs cowboy birthday

In honor of our beloved country of origin we had a cowboy birthday party for Jonah, (who is now 7) with all the favorite American fixin's , grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and settlers baked beans! The young cowpokes enjoyed our tribute to the pride of America and well... I enjoyed the priviledge of creating a fun party with the help of my tried and true side kicks, Haillie and Noah. After years of studying under my expertise... my older pups help me out with all the preparations, which makes the whole thing much easier for me and fun for them too.Mark helped me make this lasso game.




























The kids brought there swim gear and we played a few water games. The weather was perfect for this.









Noah helped make this squirt gun game. Here they are ganging up on the bad guys.




















The cake was made by Noah, with Haillie's help and decorated by me, also with Haillie's help (that cake decorating class she had is sure paying off!). It was a horse for the birthday cowpoke who only has a very uncooperative Labrador.
















He got more gifts then he should have. Most came from his generous siblings that gave him some of their own things plus bought him new things!




















This is Jose, who is wanted for stealing candy! The cowpokes are ready and very willing to retrieve the candy! I gotta say I enjoy creating these pinatas, how sad when I don't have reason anymore. Ya, I know Jose is smoking!...I do not promote smoking but, doesn't the cigarette make him look bad??.. he is a bad cowboy... and we did hit him with a stick!




















Here is a picture of the candy stuffers. He was very heavy! I love this tradition! I will have to pass it on to my Russian friends:)



















Well the end to a great day! Give the kids candy and send them home just as the sugar is hitting there systems. As for our kids?? We just locked them outside until bed time:)
Yep! that is our life, full of creating together and enjoying the simple life
Jonah, we love you! You are a fun loving, sensitive, compassionate, passionate, little boy that keeps us smiling mostly because if we aren't you make us!

noah

My boy turns 11 today! I just can't hold onto time, I would like to sometimes, just to savor it. This year Noah has really taken off in his reading. I find him at night and in the morning reading his bible or some great book. I am so thankful for Noah! He is witty and clever, compassionate, loving, adventurous, God-fearing, tough, tolerant, and obedient. Some fun info about him is that he is very clumsy but seems to always land on his feet. I remember one time when he was 2, we were walking through the mall and he walked right through 1 of those advertisement displays that was sitting in the middle of the hall, the cardboard insert lay on the floor and he just got up and kept going! Everyone around were very amused with that. Just recently while we were in Hungary ice skating, if you can imagine Noah traveling as fast as he can and doing flips and getting up while bystanders stood in disbelief laughing. My favorite quote from him was when he was 4 and said, after we had just read out of our bible story book about Moses, "Mom, pray for my ears." Me: "Why, do they hurt??", Noah: "No, I just can't hear God talking to me." He has always been so sensitive towards God and towards others. Always willing to give the best to someone else, to share what he has, to help when someone is in need. One more story. When he was in 1st grade, the teacher said at one of our parent-teacher meetings, "When I imagine Jesus as a kid, I think of Noah."!!! Wow, that will be hard to live up to but a good goal for all of us:) He of course is not Jesus and can get into some good arguments with his siblings but in the end they are best friends, what more could I ask for!
For his birthday we had these boys from school over. It was a sleep over and so it got pretty rowdy at times. Mark played Dragon Raid with them. This is a christian, discipleship, role playing game that makes them work as a team. They loved it and Mark got to share with them in the game about prayer.

School is Out!

Last week was the end of the school year. We had a year full of adjustments including a huge move from St. Pete to Krasnodar and from being home-schooled to attending a new school that was just started last fall for ex-patriots and English speaking Russians.
There were many hi-cups through the year, which was to be expected for the first year and so with grace we endured,and in the end the kids came through with more knowledge and character growth which is always our desire. I am proud of their accomplishments and captured a few pictures of the last day of school where they were presented with awards.

Noah is seen here with the famous, Mark Broberg, downward grin, as his teacher, Mrs. Williams, praises him for the most improved in penmanship, saying, it was really something beautiful!


















I couldn't help but add in these other "Broberg" faces..biting his tongue and making a funny face because he is a little embarrassed at the attention. He also got awards for most tolerant, because he is always accepting of everyone and takes what discipline is given even when misunderstood. He is a sweet boy to the core! Way to go, Noah, we are proud!

























Haillie got awards for A,B honor roll for the quarter( which wasn't her first time), most improved in bible, and most responsible. I am so proud of her hard work and efforts to do all her work well and get it back on time. She is obviously a first born and takes her tasks seriously! Good job Haillie, keep it up!
Mr. Williams, presents my beautiful but camera shy girl, with her award.















This is the junior high girls leading worship for the service. We are so thankful for the friends that have been made through the school and the support we feel from our ex-pat community! I also want to thank the Staff at KIS (Krasnodar International School) for all their time and hard work to make the year a success.