I love IBC!

I haven't said it in awhile and I don't say it enough... so here I go... Thank you God for giving my family IBC here in Singapore. IBC stands for International Baptist Church.

I have had so much fun getting to know some of the ladies at the church and they are such a blessing to me. You got to see all the picture of VBS and now I am involved in a group called MOPS... mothers of preschoolers. We just had our second meeting (actual third but I did not get to go to the first one) and I am the DGL (discussion group leader) at our table (imagine that me having to talk... I finally found a good use for all my babbling... other than blogging... HE HE HE). Today we talked about all the different roles there are being a mom as it would pertain to a circus. (The Family Circus was written by Nicole Johnson) She summarizes as so:

Our lives as moms and wives are equated to that of a job as the Ring-master in a circus, but we also have all the starring roles in the circus as well. While we might not feel like a glamorous performer, most of us can relate to the idea that our lives feel like a circus - a show that perhaps never ends or seems to be out of control at times.

Some of the roles that we have:
Harried Mom - Dealing with Chaos
Brahm's Boppie Ballet Dancer - Sleep Deprivation
Helen the human target - others demands/expectations
Mom of the Midway - Fat Lady+bearded lady+tattoo lady (from all the spit up and mashed peas/carrots)
The Repetitionist - Seemingly meaningless monotony
Runner of the stroller derby
The food magician
The ring master

I found this very funny and very true to my current role... there are days that I feel like I am the food magician, there are days that I feel like the Harried Mom and most days I deal with the repetition of my day... but all in all God is my Ring Master... YEAH!

Praise God for motherhood and praise God for churches like IBC that allow moms to get into a room and share there struggles, share their joy, share their experiences and share their love of Christ.

There were about 7 women at my table... and three of us were crying at different points... I know that God is smiling when His moms (that would be us) of His children are leaning on each other on how to be more Christ like and how to love our children in His image. Praise Him!

Thank you Jesus for IBC.


There are so many gracious giving women at this church... last Sunday when we arrived one of the ladies, Janet, that works there said she had a special gift for Pierce to come see her afterwards... and she gave him this turtle from VBS... it made my day and Pierce has yet to put it down... I think he is happy to... don't you.

He loves it... Thank you Janet.

Formula 1 in Singapore!

Blake got Formula 1 tickets ... This is a three day event, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and he has been thrilled about it. Him and two other buddies from work were going and then they got together and wanted to share there tickets with the wives... so I was able to go on Saturday.

These are the tickets that they gave out... cards around your neck like we were VIP or something... but no every one's tickets were like this... pretty snazzy.

As we arrived they had some of the streets shut down due to all the people traffic and there were some characters lying in the street.

He smiled just for me.

As we were walking to our Gate... I saw this sign next to a local church that I thought was pretty cool and was touched to think about all the people that were walking by this same sign and praying that is struck a cord.


Finally arrive to our gate and this is what we found... a long que.

People selling ear plugs... and yes you need them.

We finally made it over the overpass and we entered the land of the Formula 1 fans.

I thought this was a pretty cool pic of the map for the race and the skyscrapers in the back.

We had grandstand seat but they also sold walk around passes where people could sit on the lawn and watch it on screen... this was probably a better seat bc you could see the whole thing.



Here we are waiting for the race to start... in our grand stand. I went on the Saturday which was just the qualifying races... Sunday was the final race.

We got our earplugs and we were ready to go.

This is Robert... a coworker of Blake's.

Just another cool shot of all the people waiting and with the skyscrapers in the back... I could not believe they were having this race in the middle of the city... the logistics of this race just amazed me.

OK... before the race I watched a show where a famous F1 photographer was being interviewed and he was giving tips for taking pictures... I wanted to take some good pictures so I listened... he advised to have a slow shutter speed and move the camera quickly with the cars and try to capture the shot at the exact moment when your camera is traveling at an equal speed with the car (ok... remember these cars are traveling at 200+ mph speeds... is he crazy... no just good)... well this was one of my first shots... not so bueno.


Having a hard time getting the entire car captured while I am moving my camera back and forth.

Getting better...

Oh... getting better.

Clearer but still having a time getting the entire car.

I did it... sign me up I might be a F1 photographer.


When it was time to leave we were all suppose to get in this horrendous line and exist through that small staircase at the top of the picture... a nightmare and talk about a fire hazard.

Here was the line behind us... guess it could have been worse.


Singapore just amazes me... so many people... so many cultures... so many things to do... it is never a dull moment here.



This is what a fire truck looks like here in Singapore... pretty neat.

Now for the videos... make sure you stop my blog music first.

Ok... trying to video cars that are traveling at 200+ MPH is crazy... so I thought you could at least get to hear the sound... make sure you turn down your volume on your computer... it was crazy loud.


In between races there was entertainment through out... I was able to capture some of it on video... I thought you would enjoy!
This is what they call rapping in Asia... I think we could teach them a thing of two.
P.S. I think there are cuss words in here but I really can't tell... it is that bad... sorry if there is.



Now this kid can B box, this is 100% vocals... and check out those break dancers.

Phrase of the Night!

On Friday night we went to a comedy club with our friends Rita and Geoffrey. It was alot of fun but the purpose of this email to tell you that most people I have met here have no idea what A&M University is or where it is... so I had a chance to show my Aggie pride. Here at the comedy show they have a Phrase of the Night that you can put on the board (on the main stage) and all you have to do is give them some money... most of you know I am cheap... but I spent $6 dollars to show my love for A&M.

I did give them $6 but they did not erase the $4 that I beat out... here is how it started:

$2 - I wrote - "Gig'em Aggies"
$4 - She wrote - "I can not believe there is another Texan in the room, Hook'em Horns"
$6 - I wrote - "Gig'em Aggies"

That is all she wrote... I left at midnight and it still said "Gig'em Aggies".

Got to love those church outfits!

When my parents were here they brought Pierce this cute little church outfit... I just love these and I think they stop making them after 24 months... and you can tell the 24 month one is almost to small... but we still love it and doesn't he look so cute.

Look at those thighs... I could just eat them.

He would not sit still (just like a 20 month old)... so this is the best shot I got of this outfit... I will miss these clothes... thanks Vivi and Grandad!

Where am I?

I saw this posted on Renee's blog today... and just as she thought I think this is definitely blog worthy!

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."

She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a Republican."

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct , but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."

The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, now somehow, it's my fault.

In one week!

Sweet Baby Brooklyn and her parents Mark and Lisa will be here in exactly 1 week... we are so excited to see them, hang out, have a play mate for Pierce, go shopping, eat lots of good food and go to Bintan, Indonesia. Hurry Up!

This picture is of Brooklyn at 6 mos. when she came to visit Pierce when he was first born.

Here they are... almost the same size... Pierce was 1 month old and Brooklyn was 6 mos.

Our little caretaker!

This past week Blake was really sick (he is going to hate these pictures but I thought this was priceless)... Blake was a trooper and he tried to hang with us as much as possible and Pierce just wanted to sit by him... it was like he knew his daddy was sick... I sprayed the couch and Pierce with Lysol every 5 minutes (He He He). Blake is better and so far Pierce and I are ok.

So cute...

In this picture you can see what happened when Pierce got his hands on a pen (see his left arm).

My two boys... I love you both so much!

Take out the paper and the TRASH!... Yackidy Yack... don't talk back!

OK... my efforts are finally paying off and I had to share them with all of you... I have taught Pierce how to throw away his trash... I of course had to show you all the stages in the pictures below... but now all I have to say when he has trash in his hand is "Where does that go" and he walks to the kitchen, opens the door, and throws the trash away. Sometimes he stares at all the other trash in there like "do I need any of this or I wonder if I could still eat that or that would make a good toy"... but he has learned not to touch anything and quickly shut the door.
Open the door and check it out.

Toss in the trash.

And shut the door... see how he is looking inside the whole time... he so wants to play with all the trash but he is withstanding the urge... good boy.

Care package from the Fischers!

Wow... another amazing care package at the perfect time... We miss you John, Mandy and Madison Fischer... Thanks for all that you do... checking in on us, emailing, sending pictures and sending goodies... Thank You!

Here is a card that Madison wrote to Pierce... and their cute little family picture... Mandy said that I could throw darts at the picture... but I think not... it is going on the frig.

Pierce playing with this new toys and sporting his new outfit... Thanks for the home reminder of the Texan football team.... Go Texans (and Astro's)!

He things the submarine is an airplane... I think bc of the wings, pilot and the propellar (on the back)... but he walks around saying Airplane... Airplane... Airplane.

I just love this smile... I love him!


I asked him to pose and I put his hand up on his head and this is what I got... Strike a Pose... there is nothing to it... VOGUE. Should I be scared.

Here Pierce is looking at the picture they sent... I was telling who everyone was... and he walked around with the picture for awhile.

One of the toys was a "Billion Bubble Blower"... and let me tell you it is not false advertising... that thing can produce some bubbles... he loved it.

Trying to pop some and them trying to put his sea shells in the bubbles.

Some got in his eyes... but he moved on quickly. I guess the sting does not last long.



Pierce had the most fun playing with the bubble wrap... so cute and hours of entertainment for the whole family!




Here he is playing with the bubbles.