Finished!

Before I left Indonesia, I was able to finish my tree, I just haven't gotten around to putting pictures of it up!

We decided it would be more fun if we put some birds in there:)

So there you have it!

Goodbye...

This is the last post I will be writing you from Indonesia, It's bittersweet for sure! it's only 2 days before take off, and I'm already fighting back tears as Ruth and I talk over what needs to be done before leaving! I've so enjoyed being able to spend so much time with Ruthy (and the family too:) the past couple of months.

Tomorrow we are going to celebrate Easter a day early, as I leave mid-day on sunday. If you think of it, you could be praying for safe travels, and also the fact that it's gonna be hard to say goodbye:/. The next time we see each other will be about 3 years from now, and though Skype calls help make it go a bit faster, it's still a long time!

AND I wanted to say thanks to all who have been praying the past 3 months I've been here, it's been encouraging to hear from you, and know you are keeping us before the Lord in your prayers!

A trip to the mountains...

Last week, we were able to go on a little outing to the mountains! One nice thing about the mountain atmosphere is that it's "cold". Ok, so cold is a bit of an overstatement lets just say, it's the only place where you feel the need to wear anything heavier than a tank top.

When you have grown up in New England, the cooler weather (like a nice fall day, brisk breeze, the sugar maples blazing:) is something you learn to appreciate, enjoy, and miss when you are away from it. All that to say, the coolness was much appreciated!

I don't think that you can see in this picture, but there is a smoking volcano in the background of this picture. Apparently there isn't a threat of eruption, but still...there is a smoking volcano two mountains away from where I'm standing:).

Here is Ruthy making Isaiah laugh and enjoying making use of her sweatshirt:)

This is where we had lunch. It's on top of a mountain in the middle of some beautiful landscaping! My favorite thing about lunch was the fresh mango juice, it's been a fun treat to enjoy some fresh tropical fruits these past couple of months.

These flowers where my favorite, I think it's because they don't come from a little plant, but from a huge tree! The top of the tree is covered with these guys, it's SO beautiful. I asked what the tree was called once, and was told that they don't know what it's called, but it's very common and just grows like a weed tree, some weed tree!

The flowers around the yard where beautiful, it was fun to take pictures and just relax!

Chloe was my shutter buggin' pal, she liked pointing out flowers and things to me, as well as sneaking in a few pictures herself:)

Potty training in Indonesia...

I was just looking at my blog, and I realized I had made this post up while in Indonesia but forgot to post it! so here you are:

Well it's about that time for Addie, she has decided she wants to be done with diapers. No joke, she tears them off whenever she gets the chance! And so her potty training days begin, although it looks a little different in Indonesia than in the US...

Introducing the "Squatty Potty"!

This is the traditional Indonesian bathroom, for info on how it all works, you'll have to check out the Kane's blog, Ben made a video on there somewhere explaining all the ins and outs.

Though Addie thinks its funny to squat on this one, she prefers the western toilet version!

Bugs!

Ok, so as I have said before, there are ALOT of bugs here, most of them being of unusually large size. Well, Indonesia also has it's own little natural bug killer, called a cicak (pronounced chee-chuck)! It's a little lizard that lives on the wall close to the ceiling, just waiting for a bug to fly in. In my room I have two that have decided to take up residence. At night they sort of chirp like a cricket, warning other cicak's to stay out of their section of ceiling:).

They do their job well, and aren't afraid to attack things their own size!

This is a grasshopper we found on our ceiling, and snagged it before our wiggly friends got the chance.

And this is the result of a hornets visit one afternoon, I guess he decided the dvd case was a good a place as any to build a nest!

I'm sorry to tell you, that I don't have any pictures of the big fuzzy spiders. You see every time I see one, their presence is just so overwhelming I can't seem to stay in the same room long enough to snap a shot!

Surprise Trip to Surabaya!

Two weeks ago, we were going about our daily duties when we got a phone call informing us that our consulate consultant wouldn't be able to make the trip to Manado as she had planned. This meant that we had to make the trip to Surabaya (a neighboring island, where the US consulate is located) ourselves, and we had to leave within the next few days. So two days later, we "hopped" on a plane, here is how our journey went!

I sat on one side of the isle with the girls...

Ruth and Ben sat on the other with Isaiah...

This is the first time I have used an "infant" seatbelt! Addie was not a fan, and tried to crawl out whenever she had the chance:) once we were airborne she sat over with Ben and Ruth. But for take off and landing she had to sit with me, as you can have a maximum of only 4 people in one row.

I think you can tell by this picture that both Ruth and I (and Ben) where very tired during, and after this trip . We all stayed in the same hotel room (thats 7 people in the same room, 4 of those are under 6!) , had some sick kiddos, and lots of flight delays!

On the bright side, the girls loved it! Mostly because the hotel has a pool and cartoons on TV:) and there is just something fun about getting to ride in an elevator every time you go out! On one of those occasions, we found a great import store that had chocolate chips and Lindt chocolate! That is such a fun treat to find here, and it is far and few between!

Also, The Kanes were able to accomplish all the paperwork they needed to, in one day, Praise the Lord!

So even though definitely ready to get back to Manado, it was a fun tiring adventure!

Painting, again!

Now before I started working on the girls room, I painted Ben and Ruths room. Why all this painting? Well, simply to help it feel like home! The house is painted, but every room is the same color, like a minty green. So now it's nice to walk down the hall and have a change of scenery in the back rooms:).

I know in the picture below it looks like I'm painting the room purple, I promise it's not! it's a slate blue once it dries, and very easy and fun to look at everyday!

Chloe is usually my main cheerleader while I paint, she comes to check on me and says "oh Auntie Leah! it looks SO good! you're doing such a good job!" She is a such sweet little girl, and loves to be an encourager and a help where she can:).

Toddler + Cornstarch = Snowstorm in Kitchen

One day, while I was working in the kitchen, I turned my back on Addie for just a couple seconds too long, and this is what I found...

A Snowstorm in the kitchen!

Who needs snow when you have a box of cornstarch, for real?

What me? I didn't do anything!

Ok, fine. Maybe I knew that was a no no!

Isaiah Update!

Ok, here are some up to date pictures for all you Isaiah fans!

This month he found his tongue:)

And his smile:).

Wall Art

I realize it's been about a month since my last post, but in the next few weeks I intend to show you some of the reasons my blogging has been slacking! Pictured below is one of my recent projects and reasons for slacking:).

This is the Kane girls room, and the start of their new wall art! Ruth wanted to decorate their room to make it look homey and came up with this idea from a website she saw. I have never attempted a wall painting before, or painted anything this large for that matter. it has been fun to put together, and I'm excited to put the finishing touches on!

I outlined the whole project in watercolor first, and today I just started putting in some color. The girls are very excited, they wanted to watch the whole prosses, Chloe even did her math with me while watching the progress.

Isaiah wanted to see the action too, but decided to hang out with his Mum instead:)

This is as far as I got today, don't worry, I'll be sure to update and show you the final product!

Curtains and Natural Disaster!

One project I have been working on while I'm here is making curtains for Ruth and Bens room and the girls room. This has taken my sewing skills to a whole new level, not that sewing the curtains is difficult, but its in the manner they are created that the trouble arises!

In Indonesia, just about the only type of sewing machine available is the type pictured above, pedal power!

You have to rock this thing back and forth while trying to keep your seems straight, and material in order! It takes a little bit to catch on to and gets jumbled every now and then, but for the most part it works pretty good. But hey, look on the bright side, you get your work out while you are at it!

If you think of it, keep little Addie in your prayers. She has been sick, runny nose, fever, a good wease (sp?) in her chest, and just wants to be held :/. Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, comments and correspondence theses past couple of months, it really is so encouraging! I also wanted to let everyone know that we are safe from the tsunami, we are far enough inland that it did not and will not affect us at all, and as of yet has not hit this island.

It has made me think once again though, just how quickly things can change in life. How I have to take one day at a time, and trust the Lord for the future. Because even though I may think I have it figured out, I don't! And God is the only one who knows what the future holds!

Sprouts Anyone?

I have come to another conclusion here recently, not only doesn't everything grow abnormaly large here, but things also seem to grow anywhere! this is a picture of my bathroom drain, which is used daily; but is apparently just as good as anywhere to sprout some vegetation! who would have guessed it?!

Isaiah

Due to popular demand (Mum:) here are some up to date shots of little Isaiah! He's a little cutie pie, his favorite things right now are his bouncy seat and being held on his belly!

He also makes good eye contact and likes to just watch you:).

There you go Mum!

A Not So Itsy Bitsy Spider...

In the past few days I have come to the conclusion, that I don't really care all that much for bugs. In general, they are fine, like regular little bugs, its ok, they crawl around and don't bother much. BUT... when I bee the size of a humming bird flies in to join dinner, I start to get little bit nervous (Indonesia is the home of the largest bee in the world). Then there are these spiders, spiders aren't my favorite fuzz balls to begin with, I guess they don't do too much damage hanging out on the porch. BUT... when they grow to the size of a desert dish and hang out on my bedroom ceiling fuzzy as can be, I call in the reserves (Usually this is my brother-inlaw, Ben:). Now to put the creepy crawlies aside, I just found out that Indo is home of the largest flower in the world, and who doesn't like flowers?! and with big flowers, I have also noticed that butterflies grow to unusually large size; today one fluttered by its wing span reaching 10 inches easy.

All that to say, life here is for sure different than the states, with fun little surprises around every corner. I haven't managed to capture these guys on film yet, but I will do my best:).

Yesterday Ruth and I decided to take the kiddos on a walk, and I happened to bring my camera along.

This is in front of the Kane residence, the car you see is right by the local church, it's nice to be able just to walk there on sunday mornings!

Addie has really been enjoying Isaiah and is always trying to make sure he is doing alright:)

The building right next to us is the church, it kind of looks like a lean-too, with open sides all the way around for ventilation.

Chloe and Gwen always stick close together, Addie tries to keep up, but usually ends up just running back and forth in front of Ruth and I.

This is Addie enjoying the neighborhood puppy, Sparkles, he is a favorite among the girls!

Isaiah is here!

A little over week of my arrivial here in Indo., Feb. 8th, Isaiah Michael Kane was born! Ben and Ruth left in the middle of the night to head to the birthing center, and I stayed at the house with the 3 girls. The next night we traveled with another missionary family to see the little guy:).

This is him when he is a couple of days old, and a lot more alert, he's cutie!

A Long over-due update!

Well, I have been in Indonesia for a little over 3 weeks now, time has flown for sure! This fact makes me very thankful that I am staying here for 3 months, instead of 1. It seems like the first 2 weeks are always spent adjusting to the climate, time change, and a small portion of cultural differences.

You may be wondering what in the world I am doing with my days here, and so, I thought I would share some of the things I have been able to help with. For some reason, there seems to be an over abundance of dishes to be done (but it always seems that way when you are the one washing, doesn't it?:), I've also been doing some cooking and baking, and squishing of unusually LARGE spiders!

In the mornings I usually do school with the girls, Chloe is in kindergarden and Gwen is in

pre-K. Below is a picture of us on "art day", the girls really wanted to paint a picture. So we did a big one together and plan to hang it in their bedroom, after we add some coyotes, a request of Gwen :).

The Kanes have recently moved, and the house they moved into was completely unfurnished, and has some construction work that needs to be done. The next picture is some shelves that the Kanes had a local Indonesian build for them. I worked on painting them, and let me tell you, paint here is NOT the same as it is in the states!

Here's a picture of Addie, just cause she is cute:), she gives me this face a lot, she has quite the personality!