Mom, is it my birthday yet?

Being programmed to stand and smile when he heard his name, Justice still struggled to obey.  "Mom, they always laugh at me" was his response when given the 'evil eye' from Mom.

His sisters, each in their own varying degrees of pre-teen drama, stood and smiled.  One, quickly and meekly.  One with the flip of her hair and a cock of her hip.  One that actually curtsied.  The last, waving with her presidential smile.

Each week, another church...usually 3 different ones.  He was tired of everyone looking, poking, hugging, and laughing at him.  Why was it always funny when he stood up?

His Daddy, as always, introduced our family.  Starting with his wife, then the oldest child to the youngest.  By the time the congregation had seen the display from each of his sisters, and Daddy made a 'short joke'..."Son, are you standing?!  I can't tell!!" ...Justice was mortified.

Giggles erupted, his face reddened.

Mom, pushing on his backside..."Son....stand up!"

After a lightening speed 'stand up-sit down', his Daddy would say "Justice is 4...almost 5.  His birthday will be on the airplane."

How could folks not giggle at him....he's so darn cute.

But he doesn't understand that.  All that mattered to him was his birthday.

We threw together a quick party for him on the last Saturday we were Stateside.  Surrounded by my family to watch the season opener, we sang, ate a big cookie with an Alabama "A" on it, and he opened gifts and cards containing green paper.  -  "That's done."  I thought.  "Mark that off my Mommy to-do list".

 

But to Justice....it's wasn't done.

The next few days were filled with much stress.  Packing, repacking, unpacking, packing again.  What goes back to Portugal?  What stays.  Do we have room?  How much does this weigh?  What is most important right now?  Pictures of my childood, or pictures when all the girls were babies?  Both can't go.....

Justice played, watched American cartoons and enjoyed the last minute attention from grandparents.  All the while counting down in his head....thinking....."on the plane will be my birthday!"

We arrived at the airport in a whirlwind of last minute plans coming together.

Is Bro. Calvin here?  He's supposed to take our van.

Where is Pawpaw supposed to meet us?  We can't go through security yet, he's not here.

Gramps and Toni made it.  Gramps is never late.  (Like his oldest son)

Do any of our trunks weigh more than 50 pounds? "Lord, please no....I want everything that's in them!"

Deep breath....

Oh look, Bro. David came to say bye...but we're already in the security line.  Run, leave bags, quick hug.

Inconsiderate people.  Only concerned about themselves. Not offering to help a family of 7 with stuffed carry-ons, and help 5 kids remove their laced up, double knotted tennis shoes.  They pass us by in a huff....

"Patience, Nina......we don't have to do this for another 3-4 years."

Security alarm goes crazy....I look up...Lib is standing, eyes wide....."What did I do?"  She, my 'collector of little things' has an old, worn out cell phone in her pocket....Daddy takes it out roughly, tossing it into a tote going down the belt...frustrated....Lib gets a tounge lashing.

Justice still thinking...."It's about to be my birthday!"

We get on the first of three planes.

"Where is everyone sitting?  Who's scared?  Who's more scared and needs Mom or Dad next to them?  She got a window seat last time!  That HAS to go under the seat in front of you, for the 6th time! My stomach feels queasy and nervous.  Did you even eat breakfast?  I left my picture at Mimi's!  I'm SO ready to be home...."

These are random phrases floating through the air of the 4 rows our family takes up.....

We take off and I try to leave my stress and anxiety on the runway as we ascend.

The seat belt light goes off.....Justice looks at me....."Mom, is it my birthday now?"
"Not yet" I tell him.  "On the next plane, the really big plane that takes us over the Atlantic ocean.  On that plane you will turn 5!"  I try to sound excited for him.  My head pounding.

5 Hours later........

On the big plane, he sits in the row behind me.  With his biggest sister, surely she can handle him and let Mom and Dad sit together.  The flight attendant arrives, "Um, excuse me mam (In terrible English) "you have to stop your son from pushing the call button.  He keeps calling the flight attendants."

Deep sigh...defeated......"Come up here son...sit with me."

He's seated, buckled, playing his new video game.  I start dozing off.....

"Mom.....Mom....(poking me)...Is it my birthday now!?!"

I look at my watch, foggy headed trying to think what timezone we were in...."Yes, son.  In Portugal, it's your birthday."

Anticipation in his eyes, he starts looking around.  Almost in a panic.

Then it dawns on me...

He was expecting a PARTY on the airplane.



Exhausted I explain that's not what I meant and not what his Daddy meant everytime he heard his Daddy tell churches that he was going to turn 5 on the airplane.

Brows furrowed, he frowns.

"You are NOT the nice Mommy right now." he says.....

At that point, I didn't care.

I giggled, kissed his head and went to sleep.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A Very Happy 5th Birthday, to my One and Only Son!"

I Love You Justice!

It's Strange Really.....

I'm nearing 40 and I'm falling apart....body doesn't work right anymore.  Areas are hard to move, or crack when they finally do...I don't move as quickly as I used to.  I can't see, but hate to wear my glasses.  Headaches come quickly when you're stubborn like that.

I find myself confused at times.  Wondering why I feel like I do....19, 20, 21 year olds aren't supposed to feel that way, right?

Please, those of you a little older than I am...or possibly even younger....please tell me when I will finally accept that I'm getting old?

I still see myself (in my head, certainly not in the mirror) as a young bleached blond in love with a West Point Cadet dreaming of our wonderful life together.  Wondering what exotic place the Army will carry us after his graduation......

Somewhere along the line kids started popping up in my house....weird.....I fell in love with them too.....and I did end up in an exotic place, only it wasn't the Army that sent me there.

So.....in my confused state, this is what I know....(not much!)

I know:

I'm 20 in my head
40 in my body
hate glasses
live with headaches
in love with a handsome cadet
live in an exotic place
in love with 5 rug-rats
but still wondering where they came from
not enough time has passed to have 5 kids
I'm in denial that I'm getting older
I love my life as a missionary wife
God is Good!


Thankfully and Confused-fully yours,

Time is Winding Down - Help!

Time is flying by.....seems like just yesterday that the school year was beginning and we were struggling with Justice going to Kindergarten without understanding very much of anything and speaking even less.

Now, with only three months left of school, he's not only surviving in our precious little Portuguese Kindergarten in our village, but he is thriving!  He speaks fairly well, has many friends and is sort of the cult hero of the small school being the only foreigner with a goofy Mom and really cute older sisters.

Next week, the school will be closed for three days for Carnaval. (Mardi Gras)  Then at Easter they get another two weeks off.  School is out for summer the middle of June but we will leave for furlough at the end of the first week of June.

When I start to consider that time is winding down...school is almost out and we will be leaving VERY soon....I get overwhelmed.

This will be the first time that our family has returned Stateside in 3.5 years.  It will be a shock for most of us, especially the younger kids that don't remember much of our time there.

I need advice.

Any of you veteran missionaries reading this.....any information that you can share with me will be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking forward to spending some time with friends and family, but there will be extensive traveling done to raise some much needed funds.  We have a lot to accomplish is a very short time.

Advice...Anyone?

Oh No!

You've got to be kidding me.....Blogger is telling me that I can't upload any more pictures.



My husband tells me I don't really have a blog anyway...more like a photo album and that I should actually say something from time to time. 

Fringegirl commented on my last post about my boring blog......

"Ha! You going to group therapy?

It wouldn't be boring if you would write something every once in a while. ;-)

Have a happy weekend!
-FringeGirl"

But those are easy words coming from literary geniuses.

 
Off to see what's up with Blogger.  They've got to give me a break.  Maybe there is a clause that will allow more photo space to those of us who don't know if 'realize' is spelled with an 's' or a 'z'. 

Because, if not....we're all in trouble.

One Step Closer

One of the many things a missionary needs to do in preparation for furlough is get an updated picture made for a new prayer card. 

We can cross that off our list.

Only 1,698 other things to do.

Furlough will be here before we know it.

My Sweet Babies

This is my little Sunday school class that I help with.  I'm the craft lady more or less, but we sure have a good time with these sweeties.  Aren't they cute?!  

December in a Nutshell - Part 2

  This was Christmas Eve night, after all the kids were in bed.  All the gifts to the right side of the tree were sent here by a precious supporting church in Alabama!  Unity Baptist certainly spoils the Andrzejewski family! ;)

Church Christmas dinner in our home.

Some of the desserts, including a Bolo Rei (King Cake).  A traditional Portuguese Christmas dessert.

The kids are allowed to open one gift Christmas Eve night before bed.  Brooklyn chose to open a book she had picked out.  She wanted to lay in bed all night and read.

Christmas morning

We've been dealing with a strange virus around our house this week.  As well as having two of the 5 kids on antibotics for infections in their throats.  The rain and winds have set in.  Umbrellas offer little shield from this type of a rainy day.  We stay wet and cold.  Lots of soups, hot teas and of course coffee help keep us from freezing.  I'm waiting patiently on the nice firewood man to deliver more wood so I can try to dry out the house.  The floors and walls are staying wet and if they don't dry out soon, mold and mildew won't be far behind.

I'm thankful for a routine again.  I loved having the kids at home for two weeks straight, but the confusion of no routine gets the best of me.

Michael has begun to work on our mini-furlough this summer.  There is a lot to do in preparation.  We're praying the Lord will bless and we can get everything accomplished in the 12 weeks we'll be Stateside.

Prayers from Portugal,
Nina

December in a Nutshell - Part 1

So.......The month of December was a whirlwind of activity.  I loved every minute of it and recorded most activities with my camera.

Now that the new year has rolled in and things will be going back to their comfortable routine starting tomorrow, I thought this was as good a time as any to try to catch up on my blog and let you guys know what we've been up to.

Thanksgiving dinner was such a blessed event.  It was relaxing, spent with precious friends and co-workers.  Filled with thankfulness and good food. 

Kids Table

Ms. Dawne's Apple Pies

Blessed Friends

A few days after Thanksgiving, I received tragic news that my paternal grandfather had passed away.  My dad arranged a quick flight for me to return to Missouri and attend his funeral.  It was a blessing to see family I'd not seen in 10 years, even though it was under such sad circumstances.  

My Dad (far right) with his sisters and Mom.

Dad, Me & Grandma

Back in Portugal 7 days later brought very cold weather, but kids happy to see their Mom!

Justice 4 and Me

Me, Lib 8 and Trinity 6 (Yes...we wear coats, gloves and hats inside!)

J-Dude and Trin

New hair cut

Surprising my Aunt with a quick visit while I was Stateside

My Uncle Bill cooked me supper!

And it was delicious!

My cousin Steve and me

My cousin Danielle and me

Christmas Program at church

Michael preaching after program

Surprise Christmas packages from the States

happy kids

Decorating Christmas cookies

Blogger is driving me crazy......Part 2 of this post will follow very soon.

Happy New Year my Bloggy Friends!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Several years ago, I went on a hunt.

For the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Nothing fancy, just a moist, chewy, thick cookie.  I didn't want cookies that spread out across the pan when they baked.  And I didn't want one that was crunchy the next day.  Finally, after trying various recipes, I found this one.  My friend Heather in Tennessee gave this recipe to another friend, Taunya....and it eventually made it's way to me.

Without further ado....

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oil
2 eggs
1 T vanilla

Cream together.  Then add:


2 cups all purpose flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
2 cups old fashioned oats


After mixing all ingredients well, add in how ever many choc chips you want.  (I usually use an entire regular size bag of chips)

Scoop out by tablespoons and place rounded balls on wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for no more than 10 minutes.  The key is to remove the cookies from the oven when they still appear 'not quite done'.  This helps ensure their chewiness for several days to come.

Cool on cookie sheet or paper towels.

(Another fantastic thing about this recipe is that you can substitute the chocolate chips for raisins and have oatmeal raisin cookies....my fav!)

I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season...one more week!
Merry Christmas!

What are the Chances....

...I can not show up for Thanksgiving dinner this Friday...


even though it's at my house?


Maybe I can just bring the Dixie plates and cups...


if I could actually buy them here.

How many grocery stores do I have to go to....


before I find some sweet potatoes?


How do you spell potatos..potateos...potatoes..anyway?


Could the weather be any drearier...


and is there any chance Alabama will beat Auburn this Friday?


I answer yes and no to those questions.


My precious friend Pat is bringing 'stuffing' to our dinner....


my family always made 'dressing'.  

Sweet Potatoes/potatos/potateos are supposed to be orange inside....


but here they're white.

Makes for an unattractive casserole.  


Did I mention that Pat's husband is an Auburn fan...


what are the chances I can skip Thanksgiving dinner?



(Seriously...I'm very excited about Thanksgiving and celebrating it with some of our American friends this Friday.  My casserole won't be pretty and orange, and I'll have to wash all the dishes since Dixie won't export to Portugal but I'll enjoy every last bite of Ms. Pat's stuffing and watching the Alabama/Auburn game....even if it's with Auburn fans.  All is well in my little corner of the world and I have MUCH to be thankful for.)

Website Update

Click here to read the latest with our family and ministry.

It's been easy to slack on my blog when I have a hubby that does such an amazing job with updates on our website!

:0)

Bom Fim-de-Semana!