Things I Liked (or Didn’t) This Month

We returned from our fundraising trip to the USA just over a month ago, which makes this a much overdue update!  The month since we returned has been filled with lots of both re-settling, and planning.  We’re fully into the process of obtaining quotes and filing for building permits, and so the building project has become very real, and very imminent. 

We’re also fully engaged in the process of preparing for a newborn.  It’s been 7 years since we had one of those little people in our home, and this will certainly be a big transition for all of us.  With his little kicks now being felt from the outside, this is also becoming very real.  It’s really happening, ya’ll!

Anyway, this month I liked our missionary community’s Easter Egg hunt:

I liked watching Elijah read his first chapter book on my Kindle.  I think it was the coveted use of electronics that was the biggest motivation.

I enjoyed this Mother’s Day (and the fabulous banner below,made with Love by Milena).

I liked the warmer weather and sunshine!  The kids have started baseball, the windows have been open, and the apartment has been spring cleaned. :)

Apart from missing absolutely everyone we saw on our USA trip, I guess there hasn’t been too much I didn’t like!  Hopefully I’ll do a better job keeping you all in the loop this summer. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Things I Liked (or didn’t) This Month

So, apparently this column is evolving into a monthly feature rather then a weekly one.  My blogging hopes have fallen behind as we have gotten busier and been dealing with year end events like tax preparation (fun!).  But today I am here with a few observations from around the blogosphere. 

I like our new church building!  Having a place to call our own, that we can use all week long, is a huge step in the right direction for the budding congregation of the Church of the Nazarene in Sofia. 

I like that our kids have friends at church and look forward to going to service each week. 

I liked watching my first-time skaters take to the ice last week.  Even Don was a first timer, though he managed to not fall.  Can’t say the same for the kids!

I didn’t like the latest news about the Syrian Refugees and the situation here.  Please pray for these families.

I didn’t like this flu epidemic that has spread across Sofia.  Please pray for our health and that of our teammates!

I liked the countdown to our trip to the USA and the kids excitement!  48 days!

Things I Liked (or didn’t) This Week

Ok, so it’s been a few weeks, but I’m back with a new list.  Share your lists with me in the comments. :)

I liked putting up all the Christmas decorations.  I know it’s early, but we made them all ourselves (mostly the kids) and we wanted to see our work on display. 

I didn’t like seeing all of the news from the tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana last week. So many of our friends were affected, and it’s heartbreaking to see.

I liked watching from afar as our home church responded to the needs and opened the church doors to the community.

I liked seeing so many doors open in our ministry here and so many fun things in the works.

There you have it!  It’s a short list this week, but it’s definitely worth sharing.

Things I Liked (or didn’t) This Week

Here’s a few of our highlights and blurbs from around the web this week.

I liked that we are now residents of Bulgaria!  Woo-Hoo!

I liked spending time with new friends and getting to know them better.

I liked the Lego Bash party at the Mann’s and the excitement of my kids before and after.

I didn’t like the exchange rates and the way they affected our weekly budget.  Praying they stabilize.

I liked the way This Article made me think.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Alyssa~

Things I Liked (or didn’t) This Week

I liked getting our Visas!  Whoo-Hoo!

I didn’t like being sick, and having sick kiddos, all at the same time.

I liked the start of fall.  So far, the squash and the sunrises are my personal highlights.

I didn’t like the news this week.  Stories of increasing violence, unrest, and more.  Praying for peace. 

I loved having 3 hours to myself this week, and having a husband that takes the kids out occasionally to make that possible.

I liked having coffee with a new friend.

I didn’t like all the construction noise next store.  Thankful it’s a short term project due to be complete next month.  I will like having our favorite grocery store across the street.

I like that we’ve completed almost 20% of our school year. Time is flying by!

What did you like, or not this week?

Things I Liked (or didn’t) This Week

Time for an almost weekly assortment of things I liked and didn’t, from the web as well as everyday life.

I liked taking time to have a coffee/milkshake date with this beauty.  I love this young lady.

I liked this article for it’s simple explanation of recent events in Syria.  I didn’t like (at all) that it was necessary.  The situation is terrible, and needs our prayers.

I liked that Sofia is starting to feel like home.  Or, more accurately, like one of two homes.

 

I didn’t like how little time I have had to keep this space updated.  I liked that we’re settling into a schedule and getting involved in more ministry opportunities.

I liked seeing the kids playing baseball this year on a team with other expat and missionary kids. 

I liked finding that squash and apple season has started.  We bought this big guy yesterday:

I didn’t like seeing friends here and abroad hurting this week and not being able to be there, or do much to help.

Thanks for coming by!

Weekly Mash-Up

Time for another selection of things I liked and didn’t like this week!

I liked (loved) celebrating this precious girl’s 8th birthday.  I didn’t like the fact that she is 8 (!) already.  Where does the time go?  I am so proud of her and the young woman she is becoming.  She is compassionate, devoted to obeying Christ, and is receptive to correction.  What more could a mother want?

Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

I didn’t like this news.  It broke my heart and made me sad. 

I liked (a lot) our Expat playgroup and the new friends we are making there.

I liked Skyping with our home church last week.  It was so amazing to be connected to our church family in this way and feel their support.

I didn’t like that I got powdered ammonia mixed up with baking powder and made some truly awful corn bread.  (We discovered it before trying to eat it, thankfully!)  When made without the powdered ammonia, this recipe is really amazing!

I didn’t like the construction noise outside my bedroom window at 7am on Sunday, and every other day.

I liked (kinda) the Mariachi music the night club across the way plays on Tuesday nights.  It makes me wonder what kind of dancing is happening inside.

I liked seeing God’s provision for our family in the form of this car:

What did you like (or not) this week?

Things I Liked, or Didn’t Like This Week

The idea for this post is completely copied from Rachel at Djibouti Jones. I (Alyssa) enjoy her posts each week, and thought I’d give it a try here.  Let’s call it a weekly mash-up of our lives in Sofia and what we’re checking out online.

I liked the encouragement and influence K-Love has on our family.  We play it all the time, including when anyone is having trouble sleeping.  It sounds like home and is comforting to all of us.  The kids even make K-Love appointments with their friends- both of them listening at the same time, from different continents.

I liked this post from Rachelle Wright.  It made me think, and I enjoy this type of “digging deep” post.

I like/don’t like the struggle we are having with feeling like we need to earn our financial support.  I appreciate the accountability, and the need to make sure we are fully engaged and active in ministry here.  I dislike the tendency I have to focus on pleasing supporters, rather then pleasing and obeying God.  I like the way this forces me to consider my motives and challenges my level of obedience to God.

I didn’t like the struggle this week to both find our niche here in Bulgaria and choose the right places to jump in and get involved. I didn’t like the feeling of being here, but not really fully HERE yet.

I liked seeing my kids make new friends, and meeting families from around the world at our new Expat play group.  Praying for ministry connections there.

I liked the new possibilities that presented themselves this week.  We have multiple ministry avenues we’re exploring, and it’s exciting to think about what God will do.

I liked having our first guests in our new apartment.

I didn’t like waking at 4am to the sounds of some random stranger puking under my window.

I liked how Pinterest makes it easy to find recipes.  Like, for example, what to do with the ground ham I bought while trying to buy ground beef.

I liked the encouraging posts from family and friends.  We have a great support network.  I love you all.