Over the river to the International Postal Service we go - Part 2

If you have not read part 1 yet, click here.
....So I hopped a bus and headed to the post office (I literally crossed a river by the way).  This was a huge post office, it's where all the international mail arrives.  There were about 6 entrances.  The third time was a charm and I found the right entrance.  I found a great security guy who read my letter and escorted me to the the fifth floor - The International Postal Service.  This office consisted of two worn out desk, a terrible blue carpet and three ladies who do not enjoy their job.  I showed the least unfriendly looking of the three my letter.  She read it and pointed to a chair and said - Sedite! (you sit). I must admit I was kind of worried at this point.  Had we been sent contraband, was this package really not for us and full of drugs?  I quietly and humbly did as I was told and created more crazy scenarios that would result in me living my life out in a Serbian prison.  After many rounds of Angry Birds on my phone a much nicer lady appeared and asked me if I was a diplomat or worked at the embassy.  I said I did not and we launched into a long conversation about why I was here, what I was doing, why I was living in Belgrade.  The nice lady then vanished after telling me to sedite!  A few minutes later she returned with the customs slip.  She explained that there was a very big box waiting for me and a very small value on the customs slip.  Because of this they had taken the liberty to inspect the box and found that I owed a rather large customs tax.  YIKES I thought.  Then the very nice lady explained that today I would not pay, next time I would pay.  Then in English she said "You get box, you go home". Not only was I going to get the package, I was going home, therefore avoiding Serbian prison!  A different security guard escorted me downstairs to a postal window where I showed my passport and got the box.  Describing how big it was would be pointless so here is a picture of Miki sitting on the box. 

 So the moral of the story is please keep sending packages.  WE LOVE THEM!!!!   If you keep the customs value  "under" $60 we avoid customs.  The value in the box could be more but the box can't look like a $300 box with a value of $47.50 on the customs slip.... just sayin.

Over the river to the International Postal Service we go - Part 1

We love getting packages!  They are one of our favorite things in the whole world.  There is nothing like the love expressed in a box of goodies from the U.S.  The girls treat each package like Christmas all over again.  Whether from family or friends or a church group, each package gives us a chance to remind the girls about people back home who are praying for us and thinking of us.  As we have been here over a year tracking down packages has become much simpler (most are delivered to our door and if not they often go to a post office about a block away to be picked up).  However we do live in Eastern Europe so you can expect some changes and challenges to surprise you.  About two weeks ago Jen's sister, Julia, told us she had sent a package three weeks earlier.  Usually they arrive in about 20 days, so we figured no big deal, Christmas hangover etc.  Well a week later no package but we were not to concerned.  Then last Wednesday the postman knocked, we knew this was the much anticipated Arizona Christmas/Valentines Box (ACVB).  It wasn't. It was a certified letter from the postmaster.  Jen and I combined our Serbian skills (which means she translated the letter and I agreed)to determine that the postmaster had something for us at an unknown location.  We assumed it was the ACVB, but assuming can get you in trouble here.  On the letter was a number to call, which we did, which went straight to a fax, which did not help.  I realized that the letter was from the main post office near the visa office (click here to read my love for the visa office and resulting PTSD http://lovegrowslovegoes.blogspot.com/2010/04/adventures-in-visaland.html)  I decided I would trek across town and see if I could start the process....
Part two coming soon!

Willfull Disobedience

Like most parents we have your typical disobedience issues with our girls (Wilson is to young to disobey but he will learn from the best).  We spend a lot of time repeating our directions, saying stop etc.  Alot of our time is spent correcting.  This is not abnormal, they're kids and learn by our correcting.  We don't correct to be mean, we correct because we care.  I want my girls to grow up and have a great life.  I want their life to glorify God.    Walking home from school everyday with Miki is a test in patience.  She likes to run ahead of me as we head home.  The problem is we walk through parking lots, cross streets - in short it's dangerous.  Miki can't see the danger, I can.  I can see over the cars and around corners, I see danger she can't.  I am running to catch up with her, telling her to stop.  I just want her to walk beside me and hold my hand, so she will be safe, so I can teach her.
This afternoon it hit me... this is how we act towards God.  We run ahead, we ignore direction, we don't hear all God is telling us.  We do what we thin is best, what satisfies us.   We are alot like Miki, but God sees the danger ahead of us and he wants to protect us, but we have to obey.  Christ says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." God wants us to live a full life, a life full of enjoyment in him.  This requires our obedience.  My prayer is that as I as the girls to obey me I can become more obedient to the one who gave his life for me. 

Valentines Day

This is a two part post, the first part fluffy and the second part a little more serious Enjoy:
Part 1:
Valentines day kind of sneaks up on you here.  The greeting card cartel has not taken over all advertising in Serbia so you don't have a month of reminders about candy, roses, cards and what happens if you do not provide these things to your significant other.  There is no valentines isle set up in the store the day after christmas, as a matter of fact know isle at all.... it's kind of refreshing.  That being said my wonderful wife made pink heart shaped biscuits for breakfast today (her homemade biscuits are the best in all the world).  Jen and I have never made a big deal out of Valentines day, but we have made an effort for me to make the day special for the girls.  I think its important for them to know that their dad loves them.  I also try to impress on K and Miki that they are loved everyday by me and most importantly have been loved by God since the beginning of time.  After the Pic's a more serious take on Valentines

Pink Heart Biscuits.... I expect nothing less from Jen

Some Guys have all the luck

My beautiful Valentines

Cupid's Sisters

Cupid shoots his arrow

Part 2:
Valentines is about love, but what is love.  The apostle Paul has a great description in 1 Corinthians 13:3-5, most of us know it, Love is patient, it's kind, it does not boast, it is not self seeking.  In short Love is focused out, Love is not about us.  So that leads to the next question, what does love look like?
To see the perfect expression of love we have to look to Christ, the one that lived a perfect life.  The bible is full of examples about Christ's love, and how he expressed that love.  For me the best example comes from Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. What a powerful expression of love.  God, knowing I would sin, knowing I would spend my life wallowing in my sin.  God knowing you would sin, out of his love for us sacraficed himself.  That is love, sacrafice, that is what love looks like.  Giving up yourself, something you want, whatever the sacrafice for you , that is how you show love.

Visitors from Louisiana (also known as Grandparents)

Wilson's arrival brought our first family guest, Grady and Linda, Jen's parents, from Louisiana.  Linda came on Dec. 23 to spend Christmas with us and get as much Wilson time as a grandmother can (unfortunately Wilson was a week late and cut into that time).  Linda was a great help as we added another Stevens to the mix. The girls loved having Grandmother with us.  A few weeks after Grandmother arrived Grandfather joined us for a short time.  Unfortunately the weather was terrible so our sight seeing was limited.  The last week they were here cleared up and we were able to get out on the town. We went to the airplane museum, the walking street, the fortress and of course the mall.  Miki was super happy to have them here for her birthday, that was really important to her.   It was a blessing to have them here with us.  The girls (all three of them) enjoyed all the hugs and kisses they got during this visit.  We look forward to the next visit from Grandmother and Grandfather.

Miki Turns Five

Today was Michaela's 5th birthday but we had been celebrating for several days already.  Because Miki's grandparents were here in Belgrade we wanted to have a party and give them a chance to celebrate with her.  We invited our team as well as a few friends from Belgrade.  It was great party - Miki chose Barbie Island princess as the theme so we played games like pin the tail on the monkey and feed the jungle animals.  Of course Jen went above and beyond and created an amazing Barbie cake, with some help from her mom.  We had a great time and were blessed by our friends driving in from Novi Sad to celebrate with Miki.  On Tuesday Miki had a party at McDonalds with her school friends.  She had a great time and enjoyed being the center of attention.  Its still hard for me to believe that my little girl is five.  Seeing how much she has changed since we arrived in Belgrade is amazing.  Miki we love you and are so proud of who you are. 

Barbie Cake!

I think shes pretty happy about being 5

The party crowd

Birthday Girl

A Serbian Tradition

One of the great side effects of having Wilson in Serbia is getting to participate in some of the traditions that surround the event.  One of the big traditions here is during the birth, the men meet and have a huge party.  As one of my friends put it "while the woman is in the pains of labor, the men are partying."  We wanted to participate in this tradition with a little modification - we would do it on Friday, after Wilson came.  I had consulted with friends and decided we would have the party at a restaurant near our house.  On Wednesday night, while at coffee with some friends, I was told my restaurant was not a good choice and was whisked off to a new restaurant.  This was a traditional Serbian restaurant in the old synagogue.  Great food and great atmosphere, so we decided to do the party here. We had a traditional dish of roasted lamb and veal, with the best bread in Serbia.

The Party

Restraunt Sač

Thanking my guest (in Serbian), that's why they are all laughing

Traditional Serbian Music

lamb and veal

One of the big differences here is when you celebrate you treat your friends, so this party was all on us.  The big tradition during the party is for the men to tear the shirt of the new father.  They take pieces home as a memory and to be part of your blessing.  It was a great party we had 33 people come, all friends we have made here since our arrival.  We were so excited to participate in this cultural celebration and share with our friends.  Here are some pics of the night.