My 7th grader. Wow! How did this happen?! It dawned on me while preparing for this school year, that I am halfway through the school years with her. A little bit about her: she loves anything outdoorsy - climbing trees, hiking, catching snakes with dad, and so on. She wants to be a missionary when she grows up, and has a burden for Africa. On her own, she has been studying Swahili. She helps us with church services on the Indigenous community, and is chomping at the bit to teach Sunday School. She also enjoys drawing and writing stories. 
My second grader. He is definitely a momma's boy, but loves doing "man" things in the garage with daddy. He recently got his first tool box and has organised it just so...hmmmm...wonder where he gets that from! He loves cars and planes, shooting his bow, racing his RC car around the yard, riding his bike, and cuddling to read a book. He's a bit of a homebody like his mum. 
Seriously, where does the time go? My baby turned 6 today, that's my warning for a weepy mommy post. I love this kid so much, and it makes me a bit sad thinking another year has passed. I tell him every year that this is his last birthday, no more growing for him. I love just watching him play by himself, or watch him interact with people, or watch him when he doesn't think I'm around like at Scouts or at a friend's house. He's a good kid, he still loves to give cuddles, he's a bit shy, and a bit more sensitive than his daddy would like, but I'm ok with that!
Today after his party, he asked me if we had any more presents for him. I told him no, and that we gave him all his presents. And he says, you're forgetting one, and he comes over and offers me his cheek to kiss. He's always doing things like this. Reminding me if I've forgotten to give him his good morning hug or bedtime hug. When we're sitting on the couch he will snuggle up to whomever is closest and put his arm around them.
Today we had a little birthday party for him. He loves Disney Planes, so we did a plane theme. I had someone make his cake for me (what a stress reliever!). The kids had a blast throwing water balloons, swimming in the pool, making paper airplanes, and then sitting and watching the Disney Planes movie. It was a great afternoon.
I've heard people say before that missionaries are making sacrifices. Missionary kids, even more so. Oh, those poor missionary kids. I recently read this quote by David Livingston, "If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice." Yes, my kids live 13,000 miles away from their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. But we are exactly where God wants us. I remember when I first told my dad that I was dating a man that had been called to Australia's Outback. I asked him what he thought. He said, "I would rather you live in the middle of Australia's Outback in God's will, then live next door out of God's will."
Some days it is difficult to not have family living close by, to not go to Cracker Barrel with my dad and brothers Sunday after church, or run to Wal-Mart and get everything you need in one trip. But, oh how the blessings outweigh those little conveniences! My kids have seen more of this world in the last few years than most adults have seen in their entire lifetime. They have opportunities everyday to serve the Lord and serve others. I do not want my children to feel special because they are missionary kids, I want them to feel honored that God chose us. I've met some grown missionary children that have a sense of entitlement, like we owe them something. This may be because people were constantly telling them how much they had to give up, and how sorry they were for them to have to grow up on foreign soil. Not all missionary kids are like this, but I have met some that are.
I want my children to grow up with a desire to serve the Lord, whether we were living in America or here in Australia. We were given a special call to come here to Australia, we are blessed. There are children here in Australia that have lived here their entire lives. No one thinks they're making a great sacrifice. What sacrifices did we make to come here? To live the American dream? Well, we're living the Australian dream! The Lord has blessed us with a nice home, my kids each have their own rooms (something they didn't have in the states, they shared a room), we have a nice Jeep (something my husband loves), and we have a dog (another thing we didn't have in the states). So, if anything we were sacrificing while living in the states! I am blessed. My kids are blessed. God has been so very good to us. 
So, I said all this to say this...don't feel so sorry for my kids...be jealous! Ha! Just kidding, well, a little. :) Seriously, my kids do miss their friends and family. They get homesick. I get homesick. But like Paul said in I Timothy 1:12, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." The times I do get homesick, I think of Heaven. What a short time we get here on earth to spend serving the Lord and "sacrificing" for Him, but I will get all eternity to worship God and spend with my family in Heaven. It's only a brief moment in time we have here on earth, and I pray my life will be used to further the Kingdom of Heaven for His name's sake.
