Our blog has moved...

Check out gotthewillies.wordpress.com.

We started a new blog because we cannot access blogger.com from our current country.

Enjoy the new site!

A word from the Willies

Above: Derek, dancing to "Stayin' Alive," per request of his students during a game at a gathering in our apartment. (SE Asia)

Above: Who would've thought 4:45 a.m. could be this much fun? A jet lagged toddler who thinks it's 8:15 a.m., that's who! (Bulgaria, at the company conference we just returned from)

Above: Stacey enjoys sweet fellowship with some good, good friends. (Bulgaria, same conference as above)

We've been living in SE Asia since early June 2008. For those of you who've been checking up on us thru the blog, sorry to disappoint you!!! Our time at the internet cafe has been limited; but we are still optimistic that we can occasionally add posts that can keep you involved in our lives!



Here's a brief synopsis of what life's been like and what we're anticipating:

Derek is an English language consultant at a private center. He's only with his class part time, but due to the location of the school and the timing of his two classes, he was gone 10 hrs a day M-W-F during his first term. T and Th were days off, so that's when we did language study and other things to try and settle into our new home. This next term his two classes are closer together in the day, so HM and I will be very happy to be seeing more of him.



We've learned to readjust our expectations of how quickly "settling in" happens in a new country. It's a whole new system of transportation, shopping, and communication. Since we can't hop in our car and drive to the mall to pick up most of what we need, we've learned to expect the process to move slowly. If we work all day to accomplish one thing on an unending list of things we need to do, buy, or find out about, then we can consider it a successful day. And, even if we don't accomplish that one thing, if we've learned something about how the new (to us) system works in the process of not accomplishing anything... well, then we've accomplished something! This is easier to say than it is to live, but we're learning.



HM has done extremely well and settled in marvelously. She's picked up some Burmese mannerisms and has even taught us a few Burmese words in the midst of her ever expanding English vocab. This is definitely her home, and we are thrilled to see her thriving. We are so blessed by how well people love her.



Finally, the big news... we're expecting our second baby to be born in mid April! I'm feeling better and am hoping that this pregancy will follow the textbook and offer me complete relief from morning sickness during this 2nd trimester.



Hope to post more soon. Check out more pics: www.picasaweb.google.com/dshwilliams

Moving ahead

We have heard from our friends in the country to which we are moving. They are all ok and encourage us to get there as soon as we can, so we are still planning on moving to Southeast Asia. We hope to be leaving around the end of May. We really appreciate your prayers and encouragement!

What's new with the Willies? and Where in the world are the Willies?

New with us? H is a walker! Edit that, she runs!!! She started walking sometime around April 1 (no fooling) - I know, I'm not a very good "first child" mom to not even know the exact date.

We're all done with all of our training. Derek and I are both certified to teach English as a foreign/second language. Yay!!

We've also started uploading pics to picasa web albums. It's a slow start, but we'll try to get more on there as we can. For those of you who have had us share snapfish photos with you before, this is replacing our use of snapfish (although we'll probably leave the pics on there for now, just no new ones). This allows you to check at anytime to see if we've uploaded any more, and you can still order pics that are on picasa through snapfish. But it means we don't have to send an email to you in order for you to access them. Do let us know if you have any trouble - we're just trying to find the easiest way to get pics to everyone who wants them! Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/dshwilliams

Where are we? Right now, we're in Fort Myers, FL. We've sent off for our visas and begun saying our goodbyes, and hope to soon be in SE Asia. We are working on raising the support we still need to be able to move - please contact us if you're interested in helping! We're packing and doing what we can to let people know of our remaining need, and waiting for our Father to provide in His perfect timing. We're loving this time of celebration as we get a chance to reflect on all the wonderful relationships we have here in the U.S., and we're loving the anticipation of some beautiful new relationships on the other side of the world. At the same time, we're sad and full of longing for the day when "on the other side of the world" doesn't mean all the separation and grief that it means for us today. Thank God for that hope!

Mid-March Madness

H swimming in Daddy's sweatshirt as she "helps" with the laundry

That's Mommy's wedding shoe, which H was prancing around with while donning the lovely flower forehead that is all the rage these days.

Two cute babies & their cute Grandmas

H shows off her Grandma Williams while baby R shows off his Grandma Pederson. The two Grandmas (and families) are close friends from the Williams family days in Oregon. Roger Pederson, R's Grandpa, officiated the ceremony and was the only chap outside of family who was lucky enough to wear a kilt. Maybe next wedding, Derek. Keep your dreams alive.

Grandpa and H in matching outfits

The father of the groom, H's grandpa, also got to wear a kilt for the wedding. So he and H matched!
She loved Grandpa's flower!

She had a great time walking with Grandpa Williams.