Let's press the pause button....(or did I already do that?)

Obviously this blog has been on pause in my life. There are a few reasons/excuses for this being the case:

1- In our one year stay in Vietnam I (and two little boys) have managed to break 4 cell phones and 2 cameras.  Our second camera broke the day Monika left...hence the posts stopped coming. What is a blog about Vietnam without pictures? I could wax poetic about what I am seeing and feeling...but pictures really speak a thousand words. Troy refuses to buy me any phone that is not free!

2- I am pregnant...4 months to be exact. My brain has completely shut down. Nights have been the worst with being sick and fatigue is an all day symptom for me. Needless to say, pregnancy and blogging have not been a good combination.

3 - I am maybe just a smidge checked out of Vietnam and ready to be coming home :) We are heading home on July 8th. It's possible that our bags have been packed since June 3rd.

I have loved living in Vietnam, but there truly is no place like home. Every time I go out I look around me and see sights that I hope will stay burned in my memory forever. I wish I could describe the sound, feel, and smell of Vietnam to all who have not experienced it for themselves. It's amazing in good and not so good ways, but definitely a time I hope to never forget.  Troy and I have said many times that Vietnam has been a blessing and a necessity for all the lessons we have learned. We have cherished our time living here with just our little family.

I'm not sure what the future holds for this blog, but for now the pause button has been pushed. Thank you for the support to anyone who has read this blog over the past year.  xoxox

The Wrap Up....

Ok, I have totally dropped the ball in keeping this blog up to date over the past few weeks...excuses will only make me digress. The bottom line here is that Monika lived the life of a rockstar while visiting  Vietnam and I felt like Old Mother Hubbard living vicariously through her :)

Sadly, Moni is back in Utah now.  The pictures below are just a brief look at how she spent her time and the friends she made during her VN visit.

fresh pressed sugar cane drink....a delicious treat before heading to the salon...  

....and getting your hair wash, facial, and deep condition treatment.

Waiting the rain out...

This picture may only be funny to Monika and me, but it had to be posted. I was mopping the floor and Enzo was standing next to me. I didn't want him to come any closer and slip so I asked Troy to come pick him up. I think the picture describes the rest. Troy fell flat on his back without any warning. Drey followed Troy and smacked right into his head. A sad but very funny sight. I have since sworn off cleaning my floors....for safety sake :)

Enzo pointing to the pig....yum1

night market

Moni, Van, and friend

Monika and Troy were invited to the White Palace for a special wedding event.

inside the event....awesome!

there was traditional Vietnamese and modern wedding attire showcased.

Phu & Qu owners of the White Palace. These two were very good to Monika and provided her with a personal driver for her three week stay in Saigon. I was just a smidge jealous :) 

Moni's driver to take her anywhere she desired.

Historic buddhist landmark in Sai Gon

Enzo loved his Auntie Moo's shoes...

Pappa Roti buns are seriously the best buttery rolls ever!

SinhTo drinks

Troy: "okay, let's start FHE with an opening song"
Drey: "HOLD ON, let me grab my flute"

Morgue?....No, just a salon where Moni got her eyebrows done.

very brave

Moni and Ha

traffic at 5:32...lucky she's in a car :)

Heidi, Eric, Moni, Yen, and friends

My Lan and Ty

We refer to My Lan as Monika's wife since she took such good care of Moni and was so kind.

Moni and Thao at the office

Street Salon, just pull up a lawn chair and they start working on you. It's located down an alleyway near the markets and it was packed! 

mmmmm....mochi ice cream treats.

Thuy, Moni, and Yen at Ben Thanh market on her last day.  It only took 1 month for Moni to become true Vietnamese...she actually dared to eat Viet style at the market.

Moni snuck this picture in. Drey giving his first scripture in primary. All he could say was "no mom, no mom" when I asked him to repeat what I was saying. 

Sunday

I love Sundays. It's been a little bit of a crazy week, going out more with Monika in town, so I love a good Sunday to slow down and rest. We had a great Sunday with a very nice invite to dinner by a wonderful Vietnamese family in our branch. Monika was unable to join us due to her busy social schedule :)

Drey getting ready to drive his friends home from church...

Getting my hair brushed as I sleep.  I have to say that the 3 years of cringing through my sensitive hair issues are now starting to pay off.

Enzo fell asleep on our ride to Co Niem's house. 

Co Niem,  Cassie (her daughter in black shirt),  and Loan (niece). These three women live together, no men in the house.

Bathroom and laundry are located outside.

Huyen coming in through the back gate....she didn't want her picture taken.

Co Niem and Drey. Drey loved the macaroni noodle soup.

Noodle soup and cabbage with beef soup, both very good.

Potato salad which was delicious! I almost ate the entire bowl myself :)

Huyen and Drey watching cartoons.

Loan serving up the brownies and ice cream.

Huyen and Loan are sisters.

So the reason this family is so special is because they are amazing members of the church. Co Niem and her daughter Cassie were the first to be baptized into the church in Vietnam....literally Cassie was the first in the water. On the day they were baptized, 28 other Vietnamese were also baptized. Some had waited years for the opportunity. That was in 2006. Today 20 of the 28 are still active in the church. Co Niem has dedicated all of her time and funds to building the church in Vietnam. She is an amazing missionary and very inspirational.