River Fun

During this 5 week school holiday we've just stayed home.  It's been relaxing and we've enjoyed the slower pace of the non-school days, but I have to confess that when most of my friends have gotten to take off on a holiday somewhere, there have been moments when I've been a tad jealous. 

But on Saturday we decided to go have a play time at the Bae river that borders a good portion of Ukarumpa.  The weather has been pretty glum lately, but for the past several days while it was grey, cold and drizzly in the mornings, the sun would finally break through in the afternoons.  Until Saturday of course!  Then, it was beautiful in the morning, but as noon drew near, the clouds rolled in!  But we had made plans and we just decided to go ahead and hope it wouldn't rain.

We headed down to the Bae river, through a small waist-high gate in the back of a friend's house.  It was a short hike down the trail past some gardens until we got to the river. 

Then it was time to play!  The kids didn't seem to care that the water was freezing cold!  They jumped in and had a blast.

They also found that on the opposite bank, there was a patch of ground (clay, really) that when wet was unbelievably slippery.  I know my kids at least spent a great part of the time sliding down it like a waterslide!  It was so slippery that it was hard to stay on one's feet on it. 

 Nathan, after an unintentional slip!

Kaitlyn and her friends got covered in mud and had a blast doing it!

My Love-Hate Relationship with Facebook

I love Facebook!  I mean, how else could I sit down in the morning, with my steaming cup of coffee and in ten minutes, get caught up on everyone's lives.  I can see how my friend's kids are growing like weeds.  I can keep tabs on my nephews and niece.  I can enjoy the pictures of vacations and family get-togethers that have been happening.  With Facebook, it's so nice to feel like I'm not entirely cut off from family and friends around the world, who, with my living over here, I basically AM cut off from. 

In my busy life as Mom of five, I just find it super hard to be good at communicating by emails.  On a good day, I can get maybe one or two personal emails written.  But more often than not, they are written in my head and I never get the needed 20 minutes to sit down and type them up.  So when I can send a friend a short message or keep in touch via Facebook, I go for it!

But I HATE Facebook.  Every time I get on (especially during this time of the year!) I am reminded over and over of what I can't do.  Of what I've given up.  I see pictures of family get-togethers to celebrate birthdays, holidays, life that I've not been able to be a part of.  I see pictures of nephews and nieces who will be 2, or closer to 3 years old before I get to meet them.  I see beautiful pictures of camping trips friends have gone on, or trips to Disneyland, or hikes in the mountains, or playdays at parks and beaches, or plans for big 4th of July barbecues and parties.

And to be completely honest, sometimes I get jealous.  And discontented.  I wish I could take my kids and show them the beauty of Yellowstone.  Or go on the family camping trip to Yosemite.  Or be at the family reunion with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins who I haven't seen in 6 years.  Or take my kids to the beach on a warm, sunny day.  Or just go out and buy an ice cream cone.  But I can't.

I actually once saw an article that was saying how people on Fb do tend to be more discontented.  They see all the vacations and new cars or houses or whatever that their friends have, and they feel unhappy. 

And it's true.  When we allow our focus to shift from the present, to the 'what if's' or the 'what I am missing out on' mentality, we will be miserable.  And truly, I'm NOT miserable.  But it's so easy to see that when I allow my focus to shift to the wrong place, I do start feeling jealous and..... sad, I guess.... and really, I'm sinning.  I'm coveting the things I don't have, and that's wrong.

I truly DO love my life here in PNG.  And I have so very much to be thankful for.  I have been abundantly blessed with dear friends here.  A loving and supportive family back home.  The most fantastic, amazing husband ever.  Five incredible kids.

So I'll continue to enjoy browsing Facebook and I will be happy for the vacations and activities that my friends and family back home are getting to enjoy.  And, honestly, from time to time, I'll wish that I could go to the beach too, or be at the birthday party or whatever.  But I will also strive to be content in my life and where God has put me for this time.