August

We spent half of August in Cambodia.  For more on our time there, please visit Journey Towards Justice.

Mike is making me post this, but I don't want to. He made me re-write the story five times until it was right. (Seriously. He's on the couch behind me, cracking up.)
The girls and I went out today, and around dinner time, we headed home with take-out. As we rode through town in our tuk-tuk, we passed by a widow begging on the side of the road. I see this all the time here, but this one was particularly heart-wrenching. Her head was shaved, and she looked so sad. We were stopped at a light, and she held her bowl out to me. Everything in me wanted to give her some money. However. . . my lap was filled with one bag of pizza and one bag of ice cream. She looked at my food, held out her bowl, and I couldn't move. I couldn't reach my money because of the two giant bags of pizza and ice cream in my lap. As the tuk-tuk pulled away, I was sure I had lost my salvation.
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger, and did not help you?' Mt 25:44

The girls made up a new song. It's called, "When I Eat Cheese Pizza, it Makes Me Toot."

A bit awkward relaxing in the living room while the housekeeper irons your laundry three feet away. I'm sure I could get used to it, however.

While riding in a tuk-tuk, Abby held Hannah close and said, "I'll protect you. They love your hair so much here, they might try to kidnap you and make a wig out of it."

Is your husband having trouble listening? Take him to Cambodia, where several hair salons advertise, "We clean ear holes."

We ate tarantulas in Cambodia!

 
While we were stuck in LA while trying to fly home, Hannah started crying. "I just want to be in America!" We told her, "California IS in America." She said, "No, Texas is America!!"

Still waiting for our flight home. Just noticed that we have seats in different places on the plane. One in row 12, one in 15, and two in 33. This should be interesting. They are offering a $300 voucher for anyone who gives up a seat. Would be so tempting if we had not been traveling for 30 hours already. I think we're at our limit.

Abby had her 9-year-old pictures taken yesterday. When we saw the proofs, Mike complemented her on how beautiful she looked. I was surprised when she complained that it had been a huge waste of time. She finished (with attitude), "I smiled for all those pictures, because I thought Mom was going to buy them all. Then she was saying she didn't want a bunch of them. Why did I waste my time smiling, if she wasn't going to buy them??"

The girls surprised me today by cleaning the bathroom. . . with glitter shower gel. The counter, sink, floors, and cupboards are so sparkly!

The girls tried to distract me today while we were cleaning their rooms. They had me lay down and gave me a full body massage. It bought them 15 minutes.

Hannah was very excited as she stepped off the bus today. "Mom! Today, I found out the name of my bully!"

Hannah had me watch a Lysol commercial with her. "Mom, this works gooder than bleach. Do we have it? It kills 99% of germs. It even cleans the mirrors!"

Abby got a stuffed penguin for her birthday. Now she has two, and Hannah has none. Hannah thinks Abby should share. Here's our conversation while Hannah is holding the coveted penguin.
Me: Why don't you ask for a penguin for Christmas?
Hannah: I don't always get what I ask for at Christmas.
Me: Ask Mom and Dad for it at Christmas.
Hannah: How about I keep this one and Abby asks for it at Christmas?

Hannah and a friend were playing at the park.
Hannah: Come climb this tree with me!
Friend: No, I'm afraid of heights.
Hannah: That's okay. At least you're not afraid of lows!

Hannah: (in a panic) MOM! There's a SPIDER in the hall!!!
Me: Hannah, you ate a spider! Kill it!
Two minutes later, she calmly says, "It's dead."