South Korean Adventures - Week #1

Annyong haseyo! So, I'm finally here in South Korea visiting my parents with my son, who is almost a year old. :)

I'm going to write this in short bits, since I'm so tired from the trip and everything I've been doing. So, let's begin!

The Flight:

I had never flown before in my life, so traveling twenty hours to the other side of the world was a rather large undertaking with a baby in tow, but we managed to survive. We flew from Augusta to Atlanta, Atlanta to Washington DC, from Washington to the Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea.

My son was amazingly well behaved  and cooperative. I got lots of complements about his good behavior. He had his tired, I want to get down moments, but he didn't scream and cry like other babies did at various parts of the trip.

Seoul, South Korea: 

The airport in Seoul was amazingly huge, with more people than I could have ever imagined. Everything was in Korean and English. It took me a while to find my parents, but when I did find them, I came up behind them with my luggage cart to surprise them.

In the parking lot, all of the cars were different. Their trucks are called "bongos", with beds that can lie flat on all sides for easier loading. Planes were taking off and landing everywhere...Incheon Airport was a whirlwind of excitement. But of course, we had a four hour drive ahead of us to Waegwan. 


The Drive: 

It was getting dark as we were getting back to the apartment, but you could still see the outline of the mountains in the distance. We drove over a bridge that was several miles long, going over part of the ocean. The fog was pretty dense, but you could see more when we got closer to the city. The toll gates were quite interesting, as I had never been through one before. 

The rest stops are really strange...they're right off of the "IC" or Interchange (Highway/Interstate). They consist of several stores, eateries, coffee shops as well as a gas station, bathrooms, and a room specifically to nurse your babies! You don't see any Korean formula here. 


The Apartment: 


My mom, dad, sister and brother live in these cute five story apartments near downtown Waegwan. There are two apartments on every floor...and no elevators. That's a lot of steps with a 26lb child on your back! There's a special room in which you took your shoes off when you entered the house. The windows and doors were very different from those in the states. The doors to the balcony/clothes drying/gardening area were almost like a puzzle the way they slid to open. Standing on the roof of the apartment was to die for; the panorama view of the mountains was absolutely breath taking when we went up there in the morning.


Daegu, South Korea:

The next day, we hit the ground running as we headed to the train station to buy tickets for the train, which is about 2000 won or $2.00. While we waited on the train, we went across the street to a cafe called Yogger Presso! This is the home of the world's best cream cheese stuffed pretzel. After consuming this delicious bit of food, we boarded the train and zipped over to Daegu, the second largest city in South Korea. 

The streets were packed with people all dressed in almost a business casual as their street clothes -- no baggy jeans and revealing clothing here! Everywhere you looked you saw several story McDonalds (which delivered), multi-story Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. Even their Dollar Stores were multi-storied with amazing prices on anything you could imagine. We went to a resturaunt called "Italy Italy" in which you could pretty much design your own pizza (shape included...my sister and I had ours made into a heart). 

Even with the jet-lag, my son and I made it through the entire day. At about 6:00pm (5:00am state-side) we crashed for the night. 


Home Plus:


A few days later, after acquiring my base-pass, we traveled back to Daegu via car to visit a store called Home Plus. It's essentially the Korean equivelant of a Target or a Walmart, except it's several stories tall and much larger. You have to pay 100 won (or 10 cent) to get a buggy/cart. This cart also is a pedometer which tracks your steps. 

The escalator was flat, as in it didn't have any steps, but it was magnetized so your cart couldn't move. Escalators were essential in navigating this store, since there was just so much to see, you could get tired from just walking around one floor. 

The inventory included baby ware, groceries, clothes, quilts, music...you name it, they had it. My sister introduced me to a popular fast-food restaurant inside of Home Plus (although you can find it outside as well) called Lotteria. I didn't partake of the fast food itself, but their pop-rocks milk shake is absolutely delicious. My son wanted more and more...the pop-rocks in his mouth fascinated him.
 

Waegwan Market:


Two days later, we visited Waegwan Market. It wasn't an official "market day", but there were certainly lots of vendors lined up to sell various fish, fruit, vegetables, and sweets. You could find various foods, such as dried eel and squid (don't worry...didn't eat or touch!), sticky rice balls with brown sugar and peanuts inside, chicken hearts and kimchi, the nation's staple food item besides kim (seaweed) and bap (rice). 


Post-Sabbath Nose Piercing and Zombie Attack: 


A strange heading, I know, but after the sun went down to end the Sabbath day, my sister and I went to downtown Daegu to get my nose pierced! I've wanted to do that for a long time, especially since nose piercings are spoken of positively in Scripture and looked upon favorably by Yahuah (contrary to popular belief). 

The shop itself was small but well lit and very clean. I was quite impressed by the difference between this small shop and the various piercing places back in the states. The Persian man running the shop directed me to several small diamond-esque studs that he recomended. He gave me a green "diamond" to put in for the piercing and a white one as a back-up.

As I sat down in the chair, I looked up at the man who was donning gloves and opening the nose-ring packet. I asked him what it would feel like. He didn't say anything as he was rubbing the skin cleaning solution onto my nose. 


Then he pushed the nose stud clear through my nose. 

"Kind of like that," he said, smiling, as he secured the stud.

It bled. And hurt. But then it was over and I absolutely adored it! 

Oh. And then there's the zombie attack. As we were heading back to the train station, we were crossing under the street to get to the other side. We rounded the corner and lo and behold...there were fifty to sixty people in full zombie attire, blood, guts and all, staggering and moaning and reaching out of us. I was scared out of my wits for just a moment and then realized.....this is an ACTUAL zombie walk! My sister and I began taking pictures immediately. 


The first week was absolutely amazing, and I'm sure I've left something out, but this about sums it up. Seeing as it's rather late here, I'm going to wrap this post up by saying annyong haseyo and wishing you a great week! Shalom! More to come soon. :D

I'm Glad I Married Young

Ahh, marriage. The most perfect, sacred, wonderful union between a man and a woman, instituted by Yahuah Himself. 

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." - Bereshith (Genesis) 2:24

By today's standards, it is looked upon most favorably when young women finish college, date around, get married, invest in a career and then have maybe two or three children.

What about those of us who decide to get married young and not wait until we're 25-30 to get married? Yeah, we're not really liked very much.

But that's okay, because I'm going to spell out exactly why I feel that it is best for women to marry and have children at a younger age than what the world tells us is acceptable!

1. "You Don't Know What You Want In A Husband So Young!"

Oh, really? I think Scripture makes it pretty clear what we are to look for in a husband. 

"Likewise, urge the young men to be sensible. Show yourself to them an example of good works in all matters. In teaching, so corruptness, seriousness, soundness of speech beyond reproach..." Titos (Titus) 2: 7 - 8

"In the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving respect to the wife, as to the weaker vessel..." Kepha Aleph (1 Peter) 3:7

Know what you want from your future husband before you begin dating. Keep your standards high, and you won't be heartbroken over and over again.

2. "You Should Experience Life First."

As a young wife and mother, I truly do feel like I am experiencing life. My life is given to the loving servitude of my family, not to selfish gratification of wasting my time in a government institution to get a degree I'm not even going to use. 

I have practical life experience, such as how to keep a home in order, how to keep my family healthy by providing nutritious meals three times a day, how to soothe a child in a loving manner, and how to be a responsible adult. 

I don't need to go out and party and "get it out of my system" before I "settle down". 

Read Proverbs 31 for an accurate description of how a young woman should behave, especially when it comes to living her life as a homemaker.


3. I Have More Energy For Various Things


Who wants to be 30 or older and only begin having children? Wouldn't you be tired? I'm so glad I have all of this energy to keep up with little ones. I am more muscular, balanced, calm, and flexible than I've ever been in my entire life.

And think about childbirth -- it's for the young! Your bodies are completely developed for childbearing at a young age, so why wait another ten years or so before actually using your body for what it's built for? Birthing was a breeze, and I attribute it to my youth.


4. I Have More Childbearing Years

I feel sorry for those women who have purposefully cut off their childbearing years. Those are some of the greatest years of your life. And the act of giving birth and nursing keeps you young! I thank Yah that I have a lot of time to bring more children into the world, for His glory. 

"Children are an inheritance from Yahuah, and the fruit of the womb is a reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of one's youth.Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They are not ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gates." - Tehillim (Psalms) 127:3 - 5 

5. I'm Not Set In My Ways 

As a younger adult, I am not bound in the way I think things should be. I get to grow with my husband, experience new things with him, and fail or succeed with him. We can communicate more openly. We learn from each other. It is truly a blessing. 


I don't feel like young women need to wait forever to get married and have children. Trust Yahuah. Trust your husband. Trust yourself, as a capable woman. The rest will fall into place. Other people have told me that when I get older, I'll regret having married young, but I don't see how anyone could do it any other way. :)

Sukkot: It's In Tents!

This week, my family and I are observing Sukkot, the last fall feast of the year. It's an eight day festival in which we dwell in tents and rejoice. It's a rememberance of the time the children of Yisre'al wandered in the desert as well as a foreshadowing of  a future time in which the Messiah will tabernacle with men upon His return.

Because of tight budgets for all parties, this year, instead of going off to a camp site to observe this wonderful feast, we are camping in the pasture adjacent to my husband's family's home.

On 1st Day (Sunday), it rained while the men were setting up the tents and us women-folk scurried around (myself with my son on my back) situating tables, chairs, beds and whatnot. Mattresses were scrubbed down, various food boxes hauled and bed-frames put together.

All was well, even if we were a bit soggy.

And then there were the ants.

At this moment, I probably have about twelve ant bites in various places all over my feet. Unknowingly, we situated the food tent right over various small ant piles. So, while standing around chatting, looking at the progress we made, we all got bit.

Thankfully, my husband is a professional bug-killer and within a day, all of the bugs were gone. But the bites weren't, which made for a very uncomfortable night.

The Sabbath has just started as I am typing this now. It's been a full week with two days and one night left of this wonderful feast.

Erev Shabbat (the day before Shabbat, "Friday"), we spent the entire day preparing. Four loaves of Challah, a beautiful Menorah-lit feast outside under the camoflauge, and a trip (mid-day) to the local thrift store. During the Sabbath meal, my three sister-in-laws, my mother-in-law and I sang the "Sabbath Song" by Zemer Levav. It was truly beautiful.

We enjoyed making kosher-smores over a roaring fire and gathered for coffee and conversation in the food tent every morning.

I'm so happy to have been able to share this special time with my family and my son. :)

For now, here are some additional pictures of our camp (more to come):



Our Food Tent/Coffee Station

 

The Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and shall not blow with the shophar, and the people shall not be warned, and the sword comes and takes any being among them, he is taken away in his crookedness, and his blood I require at the watchman's hand."

Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 33:6

As the Feast of Trumpets approaches next month, I thought I'd write a little bit about this day, the next Set-Apart Day to be fulfilled by Messiah at his Second Coming.

"And Yahuah spoke to Mosheh saying, "Speak to the children of Yisra'el, saying, 'In the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you have a rest, a remberance of Ter'uah, a set-apart gathering."

Yayyiqra 23:23-24

This particular feast day is very special, because it is the first of the last three that has yet to be fulfilled by the Messiah. What a lot of Christians don't realize is that these feasts are so important. The ones who are observing these feasts will be blessed.

A depiction of the Feast Days.

Yom Teruah is the day of blowing the shofar, the shadowing of the last "trump".

Teruah means "nine blasts of alarm; to awaken the soul".

Why is our soul "awakened" on Yom Teruah? Why is it so important? Could it be that Yom Teruah signals our need to be prepared for the Coming of the Messiah?

"For the Master himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of Elohim, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air."

1 Thessalonians 4:16,17

----

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

1 Corinthians 15:51,52)

----

Psalm 81 is written in honor of this Feast Day:

"Shout for joy to Elohim, our strength;Raise a shout to the Elohim of Ya'aqob.Lift up a song and beat the tambourine,The pleasant lyre and with the harp.Blow a shophar in the New Moon,in the covering for the day of our festival.For this is a law for Yisra'el,And a right-ruling of the Elohim of Ya'aqob.He appointed it in Yehoseph for a witness,When He went throughout the land of Mitsrayim;I heard a language that I did not know.He says, "I removed his shoulder from the burden;His hands were freed from the baskets.You called in distress, and I rescued you;I answered you in the covering of thunder;I proved you at the waters of Meribah.Selah.Hear, O My people, and let Me warn you,O Yisra'el, if you would listen to Me!Let there be no strange mighty one among you,And do not bow down to a foreign mighty one.I am Yahuah your Elohim,Who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim;Open your mouth wide, and I fill it.But My people did not listen to My voice, And Yisra'el would walk in My ways,I would subdue their enemies at once,And turn My hand against their adversaries!Those who hate Yahuah would cringe before Him;And their time of punishment be forever.He would feed them with the finest of wheat;And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

But aren't we not supposed to know the hour of his coming? That is true. But Yom Teruah is a foreshadowing of the Coming. Like a rehearsal. 

This year, according to our calendar, the Feast of Trumpets starts at sundown on the 15th until sundown on the 16th. 

We pray that Yahushua Messiah comes soon! Shalom!

Take Back Your Home, Ladies!

This is for the young wives starting out in their new lives with their husbands. This is also for the older mothers who often feel discouraged when faced with "model housekeepers" and their "perfect homes". 

Stop making excuses for yourself. Don't well all always seem to have an excuse for everything that comes up? "Oh, I can't do this because of my _____." Or, "I don't have time for _____ because of ____ and ____." Another one I hear is, "Well, I was going to do ____ but who can do that with children?"

Stop making excuses! Young wives, are you frustrated because you weren't 100% prepared for your housekeeping duties because you weren't trained properly? And older mothers, are you pretty much in the same boat, only you're older?

Take those worn out and tired complaints and put them away. Looking to "I don't know how" or "I was never taught" or even "my children make such a mess" is no way to get your home in order. When you begin to take full responsibility for the state of your life and home, wonderful things happen.

Look at your house -- can everything be found with ease or are you still sifting frantically through piles of paper to find that lost birth certificate or car title you swore you set down at some point? What about those dishes in the sink? The ring in the tub? All the receipts in the bottom of your purse or diaper bag? We all have those days from time to time, but does that need to be the story of your life? No, it doesn't!

Then stand up and take control. You are the Keeper of the Home. You hold the keys to your family's happiness in your hand. Say "no more" to your husband coming home to a mess and no dinner. Say "goodbye" to clutter, but also say "farewell" to perfectionism. 

There are three things I want to share today:

1. 

FlyLady.net  This website has changed my life. I am now 100% clutter free by following her easy scheduling and wonderful encouragement. http://www.flylady.net/

2. 

How A Foolish Woman Destroys Her Home:

- Complaining

- Being Discontent

- Being Disrespectful To Her Husband In Thought and Action

- Being Lazy

- Allowing Worldly Thoughts To Control Her Life and Decision Making

- Not Submitting To Her Husband

- Not Obeying Yahuah In All Areas of Her Life

- Trying To Dominate Her Husband

- Not Seeking And Listening To Wise Counsel.

- Not Putting Yah First

3.

Go read Proverbs 31. Live it. Every day. No matter what.

Now, get off the computer and go bless your home, your husband, and your children! Remember, busy hands are happy hands!

Thrifty and I Know It

So, I've been pretty motivated recently as far as making things from scratch goes. I'm working hard on making a braided rug for our sun-room. Who really wants to go out and spend a whole bunch of money on a floor covering when you can just make one? The process is really simple as well, especially for someone like me who has very little sewing skill (and I mean very little...)

When uncoiled, its about four of my hands wide. I'm pretty excited about it. Since I've started doing this, I've been thinking -- what else can I make myself? The DIY-er in me is beginning to come out.

I've been pretty thrifty in the kitchen...I make all of our food from scratch. This summer I grew most of it. I even make my own chocolate chips to go in our cookies (and they taste so much better too.)

Of course, I took to Google to see what other kinds of things I could add to my project list...and lo, and behold...I found something on making your own mattress!

Essentially, its make of straw. I know, right? A straw mattress! You take about a bale of hay and stuff it inside of a mattress cover (or make your own). And there you have it...and comfy mattress. For about 30 dollars.

Here's the link to the website: http://small-scale.net/yearofmud/2009/09/11/how-to-make-your-own-35-straw-mattress/

There really is so much we can do on our own -- why rely on a flawed system to have what we need? Do you really need a several thousand dollar mattress? 

This is the kind of mentality I'm trying to instill in myself and eventually, by my example, in our children. :)

Preparing for Shabbat

A Simple Shabbat: How I Prepare

August 9th, 2012 - 5th Day

Hello. :) Today is the day before Preparation Day...just wanted to write a little bit about how I prepare for the weekly Sabbath.

First things first, I try to wake up at least a few minutes before dear husband. As a follower of the FlyLady system of keeping your house in order, I start my Morning Routine which includes:

• Making the bed -- provided your husband isn't still in it...lol.
• Getting dressed -- down to your shoes.
• Wiping down the bathroom while you're in there -- it really helps when you've got at least one thing "clean" before you get on with your day.
• And taking your laundry basket into the laundry room to put it in the washer. 

The breakfast routine ensues with unloading the dishwasher, starting breakfast and coffee, as well as feeding the chickens. Dear Husband goes off to work and so do I...to the front porch to water the ferns, sweep, and wipe down the rocking chairs. It really does help to have the outside clean before the inside, it gives a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when you sit down to watch the sun set and you find that the porch is clean!

After a bit of yoga and taking a little bit of time on the computer (blogging, uploading pics, etc) its time to get the Preparation Day work started!

Since we should "bake what you bake, and cook what you will cook" the day before the Sabbath, I cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the Sabbath on Preparation Day. It takes a long time, but I really try to keep it simple.

• Breakfast - Cereal, Bananas, Pre-made Biscuts or Pre-made Blueberry Pancakes
• Lunch - Sandwiches, Home-made Triscuts, Cookies (it's a feast day, remember?), Pasta Salad, etc.
• Dinner - This is usually something that can be re-heated easily, maybe leftovers from the Sabbath Meal. Soups are easy, as are casseroles. Crockpot meals are excellent too. 
• Snacks - Lots of easy things like carrots and ranch, grapes, and challah! It wouldn't be Shabbat without challah!

My menorah happens to be broken at the moment, so I try to have six small tealight candles on the table at dinner with one larger candle in the middle. I'm about to start a "make your own menorah" project out of clay...we'll see how that goes!

I like to watch the sun go down as it signals the beginning of the Sabbath day. Here's a pretty good article explaining why a day actually starts at sunset: http://www.eliyah.com/sabbathbegin.html

I hope this helped some understand what goes into preparing for the Sabbath. It truly is a special day and we should welcome it as such! :)

Shalom!

- Mrs. Sloan