A   woman, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office, was   asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated,   uncertain how to classify herself.

“What   I mean is, ” explained the recorder,   ”do you have a job or are you   just a …?”

“Of course   I have a job,” snapped the woman. “I’m   a Mom.“

“We don’t list ‘Mom‘ as an occupation ‘housewife’ covers it,” said   the recorder emphatically.

I   forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in   the same situation, this time at our own Town   Hall. The   Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a   high sounding title like, ”Official Interrogator” or “Town   Registrar.”

“What   is your occupation?“ she probed.

What made me say it?  I do   not know. The   words simply popped out.

“I’m a Research Associate in the field   of Child Development and   Human Relations.“

The   clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.  I   repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on   the official questionnaire.

“Might   I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your   field?“

Coolly,   without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,

“I have   a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn’t) in the   laboratory and in the field, ( normal lie I would have said indoors and   out).

I’m working for   my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most   demanding in the humanity, (any mother care to   disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging   than most run-of-the-mill careers and   the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just   money.”

There was an increasing note of respect in the   clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and   personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed   up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages   13, 7, and 3.  Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing   out a new vocal pattern.

I   felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the   official records as someone more distinguished   and indispensable to mankind than “just another   Mom.”

Motherhood!  What   a glorious career especially when there’s a title on the door!

Does   this make grandmothers “Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human   Relations?”

And great   grandmothers “Executive   Senior Research Associates?”

I think so!!!

I   also think it makes Aunts “Associate   Research Assistants.”

P.S. I received this story from a dear friend of mine that has three credits and works for her Masters with all her might!  I believe she also received it from another “RESEARCHER”… but I want to post it here because there might be out there a mom that needs a little bit of encouragement!

Have a blessed day dear FELLOW RESEARCHER!

Make a Smilebox postcard

We've been "on the road" for the last 4 months and 1/2. It's been a wonderful experience with lots of challenges and more blessings than we have asked. God's grace has been soo good to us.

I have not been able to post much from where we were. But God willing, once we return to Korea  I will be able to put up ore thoughts and experiences from our experience in Middle East.

We are grateful to God for the wonderful Christmas holiday that we were able to spend with our family from Romania. I am still in Romania with Isaiah. Chris had to leave earlier because he tought a course.... but we hope to see eachother on Sunday afternoon.

Please keep us in your prayers as we have one week of travelling and packing ahead of us.

I will try to post a few pictures - it might not work - taken here in Romania.

Be blessed and rejoice always,

For those of you that check on us… we just want to say that we are all well. I will try to write a short note later on today. Right now Isaiah Is playing with some markers on Chris’ books so I have to watch him.

Blessings and joy from around the world.

Hello everyone! I apologize for not posting anything since we arrived here. We do not have Internet access at home – so I have to come to school if I want to check e-mails or any other Internet search.

After a long trip from Korea we arrived here – tired but safe. Isaiah was very good through the trip. He surprised us how well he behaved! Indeed God listened our prayers and yours! Thank you so mush for praying for us.

If you wonder how life is here… let me tell you that as far as now we like it. We live in an apartment close to the school. From our place to the school it’s about 15-20 minutes walking distance.  Same distance to a SAFEWAY ….

I will try to post a few pictures… and write more tomorrow or Saturday. Tomorrow is Friday + we are during the Ramadan holiday. I will write some impressions on this later.

May God bless you you!

Ica & CO.

If you are looking for a good book to read about family, here is one that i strongly recommend. We received this book from a very dear family from California and we knew even from the beginning that it must be good… because of the person who gave it to us!

But once we started reading it we realized how simple and practical it is… how deep are the truths presented and at the same time how personal they can be.

The book I am talking about is called DISCIPLINE OF A GODLY FAMILY by Kent and Barbara Hughes. They talk about their blessings and about their struggles, but they also they admit their failures. They speak out of hearts that seek to glorify God through their families. The book more than others I read on family life is very much Bible oriented.

One thing that i really like about this book is that here and there they place stones of remembrance of God’s goodness toward them. Which makes you think of all the blessings and miracles that God has preformed in your life!

They also have lots of funny personal even silly stories about their lives as parents! They give lots of good advice and they encourage the reader to seek to cultivate an atmosphere of joy and love within the family… The end of each chapter has FOOD FOR THOUGHT with questions from the chapter….

READ IT and I promise you that your life and your family life will be richly blessed!

Hello there to everyone! It’s been a while since I posted news from far away… I have been kept busy with certain activities and appointments. As you might know – we are back to Korea. It’s good to be back home. Well not for long because in about three weeks from now we will hit the road again…. but I am very excited about the trip we will make to Jordan. God willing we will be in the area for a few months. I hope I can have internet access there.

Back to the main idea – the blessing of not knowing the language. Most often we think that it is actually to your disadvantage not to understand the language of the country you visit…. but on certain occasions it is better not to understand….

Let me explain myself. I have some dental problems ( cavities) that should have been fixed a while back but they weren’t…. so the doctor had to do a root canal treatment. If you have ever had one you know that even though the doctor might do a great job (NO PAIN) it’s still scary when you see all the needles that they use.

Well in my case – I HAVE A GREAT DENTIST doctor… She does the best job ( come and get your teeth fixed in Korea)…. but seeing and hearing what she ask her assistant gives you goose bumps…. not in my case…. I heard everything BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND ONE THING! YAYYYY!

I am grateful for my dentist (she does speak very good English with me)… because she does the work and I close my eyes and my ears are deaf to all she says during the treatment! I am grateful to God for her for her kindness and willingness to fix my teeth before we leave to Jordan.

Mostly I am grateful to God for all the blessings that He bestows upon our family every single second!

GOD IS GOOD AND HE BLESSES US IN SPECIAL WAYS EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES WE MIGHT SEE ONLY THE CLOUDS THAT COVER THE SUN SHINE!

HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY!

LOVE IN HIM,

Ica