Realization of the day

So today I realized something. I'm not a blogger. Maybe I'm just not a writer. Whenever I do think of writing a post, I can't think of anything to write. Even now, I feel like I have nothing to write. And I think the gecko outside my window is laughing at me. At least it sounded like he was laughing. Or something.

I'm distracted. I just wandered into the kitchen looking for something to snack on. Now I'm back and I still don't know what to write about. I remember having this same problem during college whenever I tried writing a research paper. I'd turn the TV on, listen to music or play a game for a distraction. Then go back and try to write some more. Sometimes I wonder how I ever wrote 12-15 page papers.

Well, let's see. What did I do this week? Something there must be interesting. Well, Monday I went to the market to get a few items. While there I came across some of the Rugby boys from our Wednesday night ministry. One of them yelled my name, so I went back to say hi and shake their hands. Most of them had been at the youth camp the other week (which reminds me, I never wrote about that...I'm a terrible blogger). I was only able to communicate a little bit with them. I could tell them what I was doing and where I was going, but I could not respond to whatever it was they said because I had no idea what they said. I was able to ask about Wednesday night, and they said they'd be there. And then I said goodbye because it's rather awkward being a white guy in the middle of these Filipinos in a public market.

Youth Camp

So what's going on? Well, this month sees the completion of 4 years of marriage for us. It's a bit strange to realize that nearly 40% of our married lives have been spent overseas. That's 2½ years living back home in the States and 1½ years in our current home in the Philippines. I wonder what it would feel like if the day comes when more of our married years have been outside of US borders than within its borders?

In celebration of this momentous occasion (our 4 years of marriage), last week we spent a few days away from the city. We stayed at the same place we did last year on our anniversary. It rained one day, but we really didn't care. It was just really nice to get away and unwind a bit.

So are you starting to wonder what this has to do with the title of this post? Well, nothing. I just felt like writing a little bit about the most exciting of our recent endeavors.

Do you want to know why I this post mentions a youth camp and what in the world I have to do with it? Well, keep on reading!

Highlight & Lowlight

So I want to tell you about the highlight and the lowlight of my day yesterday.

Highlight:

Walk to the market: Free

Fresh, whole, mature coconut: 20 pesos (≈$0.50)

3 potatoes: 40 pesos (≈$1.00)

8 pieces of bread snacks: 40 pesos (≈$1.00)

6 pinkish-red roses: 120 pesos (≈$3.00, that's right, 50¢ each!)

Pedaled tricycle ride home by a guy who remembers me and knows where I live: 20 pesos (≈$0.50)

A happy wife: Priceless!

Life musings

Life musings:

I keep encountering a common theme in the past couple of months. The concept of missionary self-care. Before coming here, I don't think I really appreciated what that could me or the importance of it. I mean, I've seen how excited missionaries are to serve and get to their intended destination. I, too remember the sleepless nights I had before coming here. I was so overcome with joy and anticipation of what this new chapter would hold. Now, I wish I would have just slept more {and stored that sleep time in my 'short on sleep' tab}.

But self-care really applies to anyone who meets this criteria.

1. must be human {sorry I don't do animal self-care}
2. must interact with living humans on a daily or very frequent basis
3. proceed below :)

You can just change the title and fill in the blank (nurse self-care....mother self-care etc.) You get the idea.

Newsletter now available!

The newest edition of our Filipino Martins newsletter is now available for your reading pleasure. You will find the newsletter here. There is also a link on the left sidebar, along with previous editions of our newsletter.

When God's blessing exceeds our worth

Ya'll must think I've fallen off the face of the planet.

Well I am 13 hours of ahead of the States, but somehow manage to stay behind in proper communication. I've still got Christmas thank you cards I'm waiting to make.

But this post isn't meant to be full of excuses. Let me 'show' you some of my recent life happenings.

Happy New Year!

So it's the new year, and it's time for a new blog post. Yes, it has been a long time. Life has been a little out of sorts for me recently, meaning that I've been knocked out of my routine. I'm still trying to get back into the groove. So here's a brief rundown of what's happened in recent weeks.

We celebrated our birthdays in October because Christina had a busy schedule in November. We stayed at a resort on Samal Island for one night. The water was just okay, but the surroundings on land were nice. So then in November, we had two special Thanksgiving meals. The first was with the other girls at the clinic. Christina was in charge of games, so we did bobbing for apples. Some of the girls had never heard of it. Others, like myself, had not seen it done in years. I think I'd last done it when I was like 12 or something. But most of these girls are in their 20s. Honestly, I didn't think it would go over well. But I was wrong. I think only two people did not participate. It was a hit. So much so, that two days later, when we had a meal with the families, we did it again for the kids.