Cutie Pie in her new home!

Jillian says:

"I see people when I look out this window. They are walking and speaking Spanish and Basque. They are riding bikes, they are riding scooters, they are pushing strollers, they are driving cars. The kids are playing, and most of all the are having fun!"

Jillian enjoying the view from our flat

Jillian and I have been people watching like crazy! There is so much activity going on outside our window. It keeps us entertained for hours.

Hanging Laundry

We've made it! Our entry into this beautiful country has been so good. Here I am hanging laundry outside our flat. No dryer...talk about conservation!

Jenni and Igor

See Jillian in the back!

At Phoenix Airport - Saying Goodbye USA & Hello Basque

Headed out

Bags at the door

Almost at the door . . .

a last goodbye...the sign Jillian holds says Basque and the blue notebook Gerald is holding represents the ocean and Simon is holding the sign that says USA. ....all this to mean that we are crossing over (the big blue ocean) from one country we love to a new country we love.

And We Are Off!!!

Well, the day has finally arrived!!! Our bags are packed, and we are off to the Basque Country today! We are full of excitement and nerves. We said goodbye to the things we know: English, familiarity, our beds, the grocery store, our family, the kids trampoline, and so much more. We are getting ready to say hello to the things we do not know: Spanish, Euskera, directions, culture, shopping places, and so much more that we don't realize we didn't know!!! The next post I add will be in the Basque Country! A journey of 13 hours awaits us! We feel God's Peace. Thank You!
....and we are off!

First Class

My parents are flying with Simon and Miriam 2 days after Gerald, Jillian, and I. My mom is very bold. She likes to ask God for things...things I don't even dare to ask for. She has been telling the kids for weeks that she is asking God that they can fly first class, even though they already have their tickets. Their tickets are the cheapest you can get. I have cringed everytime she said it. I have told them each and everytime when they have gotten excited about it that there is NO WAY the airline would just GIVE first class to people..especially people with little kids.
Well, yesterday...I came home to a house of screams. Gleeful screams. Jillian announced as I walked thought the door that God answered Nana's prayers. She told me that they were all flying FIRST CLASS. I said...NO WAY. And then, I got the full story. As my parents were going over their tickets, they noticed the airline had scattered them and put my mom on the last row. When they called to get their seats adjusted and put together, there were no more seats available. Except row 5...First Class.
And this is the story of how my mom likes to ask God for BIG things, and how He often likes to give her them. Anybody have a prayer request?
And...one more thing. This morning, Simon's teacher emailed me to tell me that he told her how they would be flying First Class to Spain. He said his Grandma had been praying that God would give them First Class....and He did. And that is proof that God exists! :)
Needless to say...I had NOT been praying for First Class and Gerald, Jillian, and I will be flying coach. Jillian is a bit unhappy with me.

On our way!!!

Well...We are really going! Gerald and Jenni and Jillian have tickets to leave for San Sebastian on Sunday Sept. 9th. Jenni's parents will fly Miriam and Simon over on Sept. 13th!
We are so excited for this extraordinary opportunity. He is good!

What Simon Hates...

Yesterday, Simon came in from outside where he had been waiting for Gerald. He was patiently waiting for at least 20 seconds while Gerald who was on the phone-the cell phone. He found me getting dinner ready:
Simon (disgruntled): "Mom, let's examine the wickedness of cell phones."
Me (perplexed): "Oh, okay Simon. Let's examine them."
Simon: "Point Number 1: You don't have time to talk to your Father or Mother. Point Number 2: It wastes money and your time with your children. By the way mom...how much was our cell phone?"
Me (stifling laughter): "Um, considering we bought it like 5 years ago, Maybe 50 or 100 dollars????"
Simon (outraged and agahst): "100 dollars??? MOM!!! We could have used that money to move to the Basque Country."
Me (silent and ashamed.)
Simon: "There is only one good thing about cell phones....911. Emergencies. That's the only thing."

picture THIS!!! mundaka awaits...

picture this...

A family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children), 10 suitcases, 5 carry-ons, lots of noise, lots of plans, lots of emails, lots of phone calls, a house of 7+2, a temperature of 112 degrees, 2 weeks till take off!!!!!!!!!! No puedo esperar!

Little Sparrow

Lately, I've realized I am fascinated by tragic lives-people who had so much potential, so much going for them...and yet lost it all.

When I was in Jr. High I listened to The Carpenters, and I was nearly obsessed with them. So much so, that when I got in trouble with my parents, their way of punishing me was to take away my Carpenter tapes. And believe me, it was punishment!!! I was so moved by Karen Carpenters beautiful, haunting voice. She had everything, and then died by abusing her own body.

I've poured through every book and article about Anne Boleyn. She stole the King's heart, had influence in changing the religion of England, and yet she was beheaded by her own husband.

Most recently, I have been moved by a "Little Sparrow"-(check out this link to see a new movie about her life) Edith Piaf. They said her voice was the soul of Paris. And her life was just as tragic as the above mentioned.

Sometimes, when I am lying awake at night in bed, I am reminded of a beautiful gift I have been given. It is a gift that I often take for granted and am so accustomed to that I don't remember what it is like to not have. It is peace. The life that Jesus lead teaches me how to live. His way is perfect and right. He was filled with compassion and mercy and truth. And then, He gave Himself up for me...for us all.

I am filled through with an undescribable, soul-satisfying peace. And it is because of Him.

simon's first day of soccer

simons says . . .

soccer is nice. . . because it's so much fun and etertaining.

this picture is about me when I was the goalie. it was so much fun blocking the soccer ball.

Table Talk

Miriam has the kissiest lips. Sometimes, when she is talking to me, I am overcome by a strong need to be kissed by those little rosy lips. She is used to me suddenly and without warning, demanding she place those little things right on mine! She is always happy to oblige, and I am pacified for the time being.
The other day, the kids and I were sitting around the table when I got the urge. After we exchanged kisses, it sparked a thought, and then a conversation with the kids about our upcoming life in the Basque Country:
Jillian- You better get used to it Miriam. That is how we are going to kiss in the Basque Country. Every day. Well, maybe.
Simon-And play soccer. You have to be good to play soccer. Sweet!
Jillian-And we get to have cookies and milk for breakfast EVERY day! (it is typical to eat a "biscuit like" cookie with a cup of milk in the morning-we've told the kids this.)
Jillian- And we get to come home for lunch everyday.
Simon- And stay up LATE everynight. Till like eight o'clock.
Jillian- It's the goodest of goods!
Me (Jenni)-It's going to be awesome!
Kissy Lips- Yeah

An Interview with the Griffin Kids (inspired by elisabeth and candace)

SIMON
1. "If you could have any other name, what would it be?" Simon, but spelled differently....S.I.M.E.N.
2. "Who is a favorite friend?" hmm...that's a hard one. It's Dylan. Wait, Oryan. Actually, both of them, yeah. And Zane.
3. "Favorite game to play?" video games
4. "Favorite color?" orange, I mean...black and white
5. "Favorite food?" sushi
6. "Favorite book?" Narnia..all 7
7. "Who do you love the most?" uh, daddy. well...daddy and mommy. :)
8. "Favorite Bible character?" Jonah
9. "Favorite place to go?" Chuck E. Cheese
10. "How do you feel about moving to the Basque Country?" Okay...well, scared, mad, and a little strange too.

JILLIAN
1. "If you could have a different name, what would it be?" Hannah Banana....maybe, well...probably-Heather. Okay, um, it might actually be Laila-maybe, maybe Laila.
2. "Who is a favorite friend to play with?" Okay, um...it is probably, maybe Madeline. Probably Madeline.
3. "Favorite game?" Okay, that ones probably um...maybe Little Pet Shops. Maybe.
4. "Favorite color?" pink. that one's easy. Pink. And light blue.
5. "Favorite food?" Oooh! Okay, mac n cheese, pancakes, waffles, and probably Salmon. Probably. And I think peaches...well I THINK peaches. And I think nectarines.
6. "Favorite book?" Hmm...it might be the book you were just reading to us about Abraham Lincoln. I think that...well, I might not think that, but it MIGHT be my favorite book.
7. "Favorite movie?" Well, maybe...it's probably High School Musical. Probably. I am not saying it IS, but probably.
8. "Who do you love the most?" Well, thats probably easy. I think it is you.
9. "Favorite Bible character?" You know..I think my favorite bible story is...it might be about the rich king, at least I think he's a king...and he dies and goes to hell. And the poor man goes to heaven and he is so happy and so thankful for the little bit that he has.
10. "Favorite place to go?" Desert Ridge Marriot. Or...well....playland, or pretendland. It is probably everywhere, when you pretend you are somebod and your whole body shrinks into your head. Well, it might do that. Well, maybe you can pretend you are a real person and pretend a real world.
And probably the waterpark where we went today.
11. "How do you feel about moving to the Basque Country?" Oh, you know that. I feel...like scared, and sad. Or maybe none of these or maybe just one. Or both. Or maybe happy. Probably not happy.

MIRIAM
1. "If you could have another name what would it be?" Minnie Mouse
2."Who is your favorite person to play with?" Banna (her cousin Ivanna)
3. "What is your favorite game to play?" Cinderella
4. "Favorite food?" Chocolate
5. "Favorite book?" Cinderella
6. "Favorite movie?" Cinderella
7. "Who do you love the most?" Jillian
8. "Favorite bible character?" Moses
9."Favorite place to go?" Church
10. "How do you feel about moving to the Basque Country?" I feel about moving...mommy can you turn the light off now?

Part of our "training" this summmer was white water rafting in CO. At first Jenni was mad at me for making her go...but that didn't last long.

We are at Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado for 5 weeks of cross cultural trianing. This is the veiw off the porch of our "little cabin in the woods."