I Have a Dream

Dean has never thought much of new year resolutions.  He feels that goals can be set at any time.  I do like the idea of starting anew, and always seem to have the same "goals".  We had a family council to discuss family goals, namely to get to church on time.  Dean can get himself and all the kids to church when I'm not around.  Hmmm.  

Couples often wear matching clothing in Korea.  Now they can match everything!

Our big accomplishments for 2011 were to: finally decide on Dean's career path, pay off the student loans, and have a baby girl!

Man muffin anyone?

It has been a huge struggle for years to determine what Dean should "do with his life".  It is funny how when we have so many options, it can actually be harder than having no options.  I often ponder some of our trials in life, and contrast them with the trials of merely trying to survive that so many people in the world have.   I marvel at the humility of the little elderly people here in Seoul who scratch out a living by pushing big carts loaded with cardboard on busy streets - with no sidewalks.  Or the security guards who work here on the base for (rumor has it) about $700 a month.  I don't know how they can begin to support their families on that in such an expensive city.  Or the folks who sit, squat or stand outside all day long in this bitter cold trying to sell fruit or socks...  I really can't imagine that being my life, and I feel so blessed.

The symbol is actually a Buddhist good luck symbol, and is different from a Swastika, for your information.

The Army was the right move for us when Dean joined, for a number of reasons.  One of which is that his student loans were paid off.  There was still a big chunk of interest left for us ($22,000), but being here in Korea allowed us to save up and pay it all off last year.  We are totally debt free.  Of course, we have no house... but until we do, it feels really good to have no payments of any kind.

From a modeling shoot.  Her fourth is next week.

And then there is my Lady Cambria.  I absolutely love having babies.  Pregnancy is hard.  Labor is atrocious.  But then the reward is a sweet little angel who I get to take care of.  I've adored all my babies.  The Korean birth rate is about 1.1, meaning their population will be shrinking if they don't step it up.  They often marvel at all the kids we have, and tell us how blessed we are, or how they admire me for it.  They LOVE seeing (grabbing, taking) babies, and are instantly attracted to ours.

Sexual harassment is alive and well in Korea, apparently.

It melts my heart every time I watch Cambria sleeping, or when she lights up, smiles, and jumps up and down when she sees me, and when I feed, hold, and love on her.  I love all the baby stages, and am sad as they pass through them, but then it is so fun to see them hone new skills and enjoy life.  I've been blessed with good-natured babies, though Kryler didn't pick up his nickname for nothing.  My babies have been an absolute joy, and I certainly want more.  I ran across this essay, which spoke my heart.  I can't count how many times "old ladies" have stopped me in public to admonish me to enjoy my little ones (generally the toddlers who are trying to single-handedly knock down the store and all its contents), because they grow up so fast.  Apparently they didn't take the time to enjoy their own, so they feel the need to harass me? 

It changes on a weekly basis what we may do when we leave here, literally.  Truly there are so many options and opportunities.  Things could get exciting!   On a different note, did you know that veterinarians are up there in suicide rates with dentists?  Tragic.  This offers some explanation.