Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

September 25, 2010 Pictured: a traditional German housewarming gift from my friend: bread and salt Elisabeth and a few friends ready for cake! walking in our neighborhood Elisabeth turned seven yesterday. I ended the day in bed with a few tears. While we are gaining much in this move, I am feeling the losses as well. I miss extended time at home with Elisabeth and look forward already to homeschooling upon our return to the U.S. I fear that she will resist, just as she resists being friendly to me or Henry when she returns from school each day, having spent her energy traveling to and from school, cavorting with her friends, and learning, so I presume. But after thirty minutes or so--usually time alone, sometimes with a scolding, sometimes without, she is ready to enjoy her family again. I eagerly await her fall break which is two weeks in October which corresponds nicely to my mom’s visit. Today John took Elisabeth into Hannover to explore. Henry and I have spent a lot of time ...

Sunday, September 12, 2010 There were many questions from you all this week as to our sleep. Yes, thank you, we are sleeping better! After moving to his own room, each night Henry continued to complain that he wouldn’t sleep, and he still got up multiple times at night, but it gradually got less and less until one morning last week we realized he had slept from 7:30 PM to 6 AM. Yes! He gets a nap about every other day, depending on our schedule, and he usually could sleep for three hours. On the no nap days his weariness really starts to show around 4:00, but somehow we survive. The highlight of last week was a visit from my cousin Peter, who turned 21 on his last day here. He was on his way home from building water wells in Kosovo. We were delighted to have him as our first visitor, especially since he was willing to visit us in our crowded place and had his own sleeping bag. He was here from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday evening and I think we showed him our daily lif...

September 5, 2010 Being in a new place and a small apartment has shown me what I value. For better or worse I value sleep for myself and my family, pleasant conversation with each other, alone time, sunshine, alone space, food, and extended conversation with other women. Certain of these things are in short supply, while some can be remedied easily. I am so grateful for two friends I’ve made at Elisabeth’s school and realize that God has answered our prayers for preparing friends for us ahead of time. Regarding space and sleep: If all goes as planned, we have 10 more days until we move to our “suburban Hannover” home. John and I joke that we are moving from the wooded suburbs of Houston to the wooded suburbs of Hannover. We had the chance to move to the city, but we just couldn’t see ourselves in a flat. I am so excited about not having to tell Henry to stop rolling a ball on the floor or jumping on the floor for fear that it will disturb the other residents. Our new home wi...