This is for Asher, my boy around the world.  Ok actually, I have three boys around the world from me at this moment.  (pause to weep)  This is for my boy in Korea who tends to skim through my blog saying to himself "blah blah homeschool, blah blah food, blah blah…. Hey! 7 Quick Takes!"  

(more links at Conversiondiary.com!)

I have to add an 8th take here.  I cannot connect to the net reliably to save my life here so I uploaded the pics for this post to Instagram if you'd like to see them. (I can compose these posts on the phone but not add pics)  I am starryskykim over there. Come join us! I hope we can fix the net at home, but it may not be meant to be. Solves the whole excess surfing danger! 

1.

We got a second car – this one British specs.  Which means I am on the other side now.

Can I say to all the people who said this would be easier – you were right. WAY right.  We only lost one seatbelt in capacity but it is much smaller making maveuvering the back roads much easier.  Visibility is much better over near the center of the road.  And yes, after a certain number of weeks habit does kick in.  I still hit the windshield (wind screen) wipers occasionally instead of the turn signal.  I missed a fairly high percentage of exits on roundabouts today while driving friends to a larger city.  But all in all – it's going better.  

2.

We visited the ENT/Audiologist to discuss options for Brendan's ear.  He was born with a mild microtia and we have been weighing the pro's and con's of surgery.  (Still weighing.) But while he was in the audiology clinic I was  fascinated by the decibel chart. Did you know that ranked right below the level at which you should not be exposed for more than 15 minutes you have "baby crying"?  Ranked right by motorcycle and just below jack hammer and rock concert.  

I knew it. 

3.

Random British grocery factoid: 

Eggs are not refrigerated in this country.  They weren't in Germany either.  This may totally wig out American friends.  No one seems worse for wear however. 

4.

Random British grocery bit #2:   PG Tips come in cereal box sized packages here.  They are not playin'.

5.

While shopping today I saw this awsome art work.  It was a series of framed prints, the design created from reducing pages of classic lit and fitting every page of the book into the frame.  Colin would love this. (do check this on Instagram because I have no other link.  If you know where to find this to buy online please share!)

6.

I mentioned we have made a lot of pie this week.  We have eaten a fair amount of pie this week but we also gave some away.  Friends were moving into their new home this week as well and I wanted to bring them a meal.  Great intention, but often requires more than one take around here. The afternoon of the planned dinner I realized the chicken had been frozen rather than in the fridge. After calculating the window of time I had to make the delivery I knew we weren't going to finish in time.  We rainchecked til the next day which always makes me feel bad.  

Next day we had the appt for B above.  I traded kids back at the house and took others to the Shakespeare class, while moving food into and out of the oven.  Then traded them back again for the football practice kids and grabbed the dinner Alannah had helped finish.  We pulled it off.  By late that evening I was a little tapped but happy.  I woke up in the morning to find a neighbor at the door bringing cinnamon rolls.  The circle of hospitality continues.  It is so good to be part of it both in the blessing and being blessed. 

And a PS to my neighbor: when I see you next I hope to have run a comb through my hair, be wearing an outfit with more redeeming attributes besides "4 Way stretch," and maybe even have waved a wand of mascara. No promises though. ; ) 

7. 

On that note, a loaves and fishes story. 

The other appts we had this week involved the Red Cross.  Alannah has been doing her own discerning and determined that her biggest priority right now was not income but service and experience.  All she ever wanted to do was help people.  She is getting her chance.  She is training with the Red Cross.

This whole thing got me thinking.  For so many years I have had my hands more than full at home and physically just wasn't able to push any harder than I was. But God knew my heart. The children did too.

My scope has been necessarily home-based.  It was not to remain there however because home is a training ground for future citizens of a bigger world who have now gone out to give back in the unique ways they are gifted. One has worked in a soup kitchen, one is coaching inner city kids, one is serving in the military, one in the Red Cross.  Many small hands here with us are shaping pie crusts, making cards, saying prayers, and preparing for bigger things.

Moral of the story. You can multiply your efforts many times over.  This is how. You give them your all, they pay it forward.  You don't "spend" time with your kids.  You invest it. It reaps major dividends.

So a big thank you to my big kids for taking your candle out into the world.

Light it up.    Love you.   : )