North Korean orphans

"An estimated 20,000 North Korean children are orphaned and adrift in other countries because their parents died while escaping the North or because they were abandoned by their North Korean mothers and fathers from third countries, mainly China. Only 100 of them have been brought to South Korea and recognized so they can receive medical and educational benefits. Neither South Korea nor the countries of their fathers are interested in caring for them."
~ from an article taken from the Chosun Ilbo (a South Korean daily) on March 11th

Many of these children flee North Korea through China to southern countries only to be sold into slavery or the sex trade. Others are captured and returned to North Korea shutting them essentially into concentration camps. At this point in time there is no legal way to adopt one of these children, and no country seems to be taking responsibility for them, passing them off or shutting them away in pitiful orphanages.

You can read the full Chosun Ilbo article here. It breaks my heart to know that so many children, and adults as well, must feel like there is no hope for them.

While the pain I've felt for these children has been ongoing, I've also recently started to learn more about how they are susceptible to the slave trade. Last week we had the privilege to listen to David Batstone discuss modern day slavery at our church in Seoul. His organization, Not For Sale, has a lot of information on slavery in the world and what we can do to stop it. I really think it's worth a look ~ and I've just started reading his book, which I can't wait to discuss.

Here's a note: more than 70% of slaves are female, and %50 are children.

So to those of you reading this, I ask you to take a moment to pray for North Korea and its orphans and that South Korean people and government would really agree on a way to help and accept these children. Also check out the Not For Sale website. If you have some time, it's worth it to listen to or watch to the sermon from OEM's Freedom Sunday ~March 14th.

rest

It's 9:30pm. The company has gone home. The kid is sound asleep. The dishes and laundry are done and the toys are put away... I've forgotten what it's like to have free time... what do I do now?!?!?

We've fallen into a wonderful and well organized routine, and life has become predictable yet still fun again! I'm very happy with life these days and still feeling refreshed. Which is odd, because I've had quite a few rough nights recently with PH sick and teething. I think the major difference is that we rested up and really let go of a lot of stress while on vacation ~ Praise God, eh?? Now stresses come and go, but don't really linger.

Psalm 62:5~8 says,
"⁵ Yes, my soul, finds rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^c]">;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."

Often I would allow fear, anxiety, or stress to take over. I would be consumed by it, and though I rationally know it's not healthy, I could not easily give it up. People would tell me to let go and give my worries to God. Cast all my cares on Him, right? He gives me strength. But often that feels more like a theory than a reality when you really don't know how to actually do it! Honestly, I don't have many answers, but I do know that real rest starts with belief and trust.

I believe there is a God who created me. I believe He created me, with all my flaws and weaknesses for a purpose and that when I let go He guides my life. I trust that He will lead me in the path I should go.

Now when stress comes, I know that I can find rest when I begin by trusting God. And these days I am very thankful that I'm able to experience such lovely rest after such a hectic and stressful year.

I'm now happy to put the kid to bed, finish up the chores and take some time to really rest, and I hope all of you out there can find some of this wonderful rest as well.

New Beginnings

Today is the hub's first day at his new job ~ YAY!!

While I'm sad to have him out of the house longer (still a short day by Korean standards) I'm really looking forward to settling into a nice, new routine. We've also just returned from a month in Canada and are trying to adjust to the time change ~ which I imagine will actually help us to start a new schedule rather than try to change an existing one.

The beginning of this contract year allows me to indulge some of my inner "crazy." I love making lists, so let me share some of what's on my mind today...

Some of my goals for this year are:
-getting on a better sleep/ wake cycle (going to bed earlier, waking earlier)
-eating healthier
-getting more exercise and getting PH outdoors to explore more

To eat healthier, I'm planning to write a dinner menu for the month, then a grocery list according to the planned menu. This will help me to prepare healthier meals because there won't be any last minute "hmmm and haas" about what to make, resulting in last minute, bad food choices. I'm also happy to be more prudent with money and not waste food. For breakfasts, we already have our routines ~ I eat cereal, hubs eats toast. Everyday. Simple, eh? And for lunch, hubs has lunch prepared at his new school's cafeteria (SO jealous!!) and I can make simple things or leftovers.

Now I've just got to prepare a menu. Having PH starting to eat what we eat is a real wake up call. I knew we didn't always have well balanced meals, but I'm a little surprised at how many things we eat that I'd never dream of giving him... I want to model healthy habits, so time to start them! But what to make?!?!?!

Off hand, here are some options:
-Roast chicken, hot chicken sandwiches, chicken soup...
-tuna casserole
-couscous with feta and tomato
-lazy beth's cabbage rolls (ground pork cooked in V8 with large chunks of cabbage, onion and carrots over rice)
-curry and rice
-spaghetti and meatballs
-vegetarian chili

I also am stealing an idea from my MIL ~ cheeseburger casserole: seasoned ground meat, mushroom soup, grated cheese and potatoes served with a veggie. She uses tater tots, so I think I'll try small "hashbrown" sized potato cubes instead.

Hmmmm, what else???? Anyone have any other ideas??

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." - Dr. Carl Sagan

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! I can't believe it's half-October already!

Last week my mother came to Korea ~ YAY! Both the hubby and I agreed we never thought this day would come. haha! But she's here! We actually asked her to come so that I could go work full time for a few weeks on an annual work project I didn't want to miss out on.

Having my mother in the country is exciting! I get to show her where I live, and the people I'm sharing my life with. I get to teach her about Korea and let her bond with her grandson. But at the same time, let's just say it's interesting living with my mother again. ^.^ Still I'm grateful for this time ~ not only my time with her, but the time for her and the Pumpkin Head to get to know each other!

She arrived last week, and we've yet to do anything touristy or Korean! The morning after she arrived, the husband got food poisoning and spent the day in the ER! I then hurried off to work and left her with the baby alone. On her first day. With no prep. >.< Then our weekend trip to the sea was canceled, but we did enjoy a nice Sunday morning at church and lunch with friends after ~ Western-style lunch at that! We did finally pause for a moment and got a family photo though, so all was not lost!


This week I'm reminded to give thanks. Daily I struggle with stress and worries, and I fear I spend more time on things that haven't happened than what I'm thankful for. So my October resolution (sure, that can be a thing!) is to dwell in thankfulness and not in worry.

Tonight as I sat around our living room with the husband, the Pumpkin Head (not to be confused with the pumpkin pie!), my mother and some good friends I couldn't help but feel fully blessed. I honestly feel like God knows the desires of my heart and provides what I need. And I'm reminded of a verse in Colossions, which says,

"¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

As I go back to work this week, with my mother here, and I'm away from my baby, and my body grows weak and tired it will be too easy for me to let the stress sink in, but instead I choose to be thankful this week! The husband has recovered from his sickness, my mother is here and helping and I surely could not ask for a more awesome little boy! And while I'm working, or sitting in a bathroom stall and pumping my milk, or rushing home to spend time with PH, or waking up early and staying up late just to get a few more chores done ~ I will remember I'm doing all this in the name of Jesus and I am thankful! ^.^

because sometimes you really need a moment...

I'm not a fan of allowing babies or even kids to watch TV, but we all need a moment to use the toilet or eat our lunch... so here are some of my fav. distracting videos that keep PH occupied.



#1) Yo Gabba Gabba's Party in My Tummy ~ totally addictive! You'll find yourself singing this around the house. Also PH's favourite!




#2) Wee Hands' Alphabet Song ~ I LOVE this song, and the video is colourful and not too fast, and cam help you learn your sign language alphabet! At 2.5mins, it's good for sneaking a quick potty break when your little one is fussy or experiencing separation anxiety.



#3) More Milk Please! Quick but catchy ~ this one helps you and baby learn the signs for the three words!



And finally, at 10 mins, this one is slow and not ADD-inducing, which is better for when you need more than a minute or two to eat lunch...

Making Baby Jook!

So I decided that my little Pumpkin Head had tested enough store bought baby foods that it was really time for me to make my own. I'd intended to do it from the start, but things are always a little daunting at first. Plus, it's time to make a conscious effort to save money, and provide a healthy start for my little PH!

So yesterday I decided to make some home made Jook (juk/ Korean rice porridge) from what I had around the house. Rice, chemical free carrots, broccoli and squash.

So I began by making up a pot of rice. I then took some of the rice and put it into a pot with extra water to make it softer.

I peeled and chopped chemical-free carrots with my food processor. I then added the chopped bits of carrot to the rice and water. I did the same with broccoli and squash.

Next I added the veggies with rice and water mixture to heat and soften.

I left the mixture to cool, then pureed it adding water until it was a good consistency.

Finally I put the food into sterilized baby-food jars, sealed them, marked them with the date and froze them.

Finally I gave some to PH to try... gotta love his reactions to new things! >.<

the Pumpkin Head in a few years!??!

so I did this picture morphing thing, with two poor pics... and this is what came up...

creepy, eh???