POT Trail

I know what you are thinking and "NO" that is not this kind of POT. "Pot" can be translated "path" in Slovene. This trail is also known as the Path of Rememberance and Comradeship. In 1942 Slovenia was occupied by Italian forces during WW2. In order to keep there from being any resistence, the Italians put up a barbed wire fence around the entire city to keep everyone in (almost 33 kilometers). Thi

s was a thick line of wire, complete with watch-towers and bunkers so that anyone coming in or out was thoroughly searched. The Germans kept it up when they occupied Slovenia after the Italians, but in 1945 when the Liberation Army came, the fence began being dismantled. So that they wouldn't forget, they have left posts and a few buildings to remind them of that occupance. There are posts with the dates 1942-1945 written on them along the path, where there were bunkers of the occupying army. As we rode our bikes along this path I couldn't help but think, that in America we know political/religious freedom like no other. We have never been fenced into our own cities, we have never been occupied, we have never been fearful to own a Bible, and we really have never had to live in the fear of any of that happening. While taking those freedoms for granted, I realize we HAVE been bound in different areas though. Fears, addictions, thought processes can all hold us in spiritual bondage. As my eyes begin to open, I realize how big this world is that we live in and how important it is for people to understand freedom. Not just freedom in our lands which I know I have taken for granted, but more importantly freedom in Christ. The freedom that erases all those fears and breaks those bondages. The only access to that kind of freedom is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! I pray you know Him as Saviour and Bondage Breaker! May He tear down the barbed wire fences in all of our lives.

Autumn Delights

Saturday was a sunny, cool, crisp fall day with leaves falling elegantly to the ground. Of course, we couldn't say inside, so we rode our bikes to a small local Pumpkin Festival. It was at a local farm market that sells bedding plants, herbs, and of course, in the fall, pumpkins. Slovenia does not "do" Halloween, so it was all about the harvest of the pumpkin crop. There was nothing for sale except what they normally sold (pumpkins, herbs, plants, etc). They had all kinds of free food made from different kinds of pumpkins. There was a pumpkin slaw made with shredded pumpkin, garlic and pumpkin oil. It looked delicious, but was gone by the time we got there. They were roasting slices of pumpkin, onion and tomatoes and serving them with pumpkin oil drizzled on top. So yummy. Pumpkin Oil is a local Slovene product. Picture olive oil, but much darker with a nutty taste. It is served with bread or drizzled over salads and is definitely my favorite find here so far. The kids could buy a pumpkin (only 2 euro) and carve/decorate it and they even had a table where Alex made a doll out of corn. It was so rustic and non-comercial, it was literally a breath of fresh air. To top it off we found the local moste (pronouced mosht) which is only found this time of year. It is the wine that has just begun to ferment, but is very sweet. It tastes to me like the sparking apple juice we get for the kids on special holidays, but with just a tad (1.5%) alcohol. It is sold in large plastic 3 liter containers that they fill up, literally while you wait, from a giant tapped keg in the grocery store. Definitely a new experience for us. This all made for a beautiful autumn day filled with all the sights, smells and tastes of Fall. How I love the changes in seasons (not just in the physical sense, but in the spiritual as well.) I know I occasionaly need to shed some old leaves and move into a new season in my life spiritually. I can get so comfortable and stagnant after a bit of time. I love that our God is never leaving us where we are, but taking us into a new season, even when it stretches us beyond where we think we can go. I pray you are enjoying the season He has you in right now!

Perfectionistic Procrastinator

Ok, so here it is, months after my last post and promising friends I would update from Slovenia. Why do I not blog? It is because I want it to be perfect. I have things to say, stories to tell, but worry it won't be just right. I am realizing I do this with a lot of things. Getting out of our comfort zone and risking being less than perfect can be a scary place. Well here we are now in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (It has taken me until now, to spell it correctly without looking it up...I still fumble as I say it though.) I have had to go beyond my comfort zone in many areas and of course, I am reminded I am not perfect and never will be, but each time I am stretched a bit more, I grow and learn. That is what life is isn't it?
If you don't know we moved to Slovenia in July as Layne is stationed here with the Embassy. There is no military base here, like we are used to, so we are living as true locals (with the support of our embassy here). Luckily most people here speak English, so it is easy to communicate. The kids are at the British International School and are loving it. They are having discussions that are truly life expanding for them. I will have to let Bec do a post on all of her conversations with her classmates on what Americans really are like. (She is the only American.) They have a hard time believing Mtv is not a real representation of American life. Scary huh?
The pics from this post are of our new city.
I am going to do my best to update this frequently so you can join us on this adventure. There is just so much to share. You have my permission to hold me accountable on this, so email me, facebook me, whatever it takes. I will NOT let my perfectionism cause procrastination any longer. (in this area as well as many others.) Ciao! (CHOW...goodbye!)

Week of Tragedy and Celebration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUVr9c8mdHw

As I reflect on this last week, I stand in awe of my God. I have watched a dear friend loose her husband tragically. I have watched a friend be reunited with her daughter that was missing for a month. I have celebrated my son's 12th birthday and am watching him turn into a young man. I have celebrated my daughter's 5th birthday, remembering how a year ago, we were just hearing about a possible referral. Life is so fast paced at times. Things are going good, it seems to fly by. Then something tragic comes...a loss of life, a loved one lost and everything seems to stop. But life doesn't stop, it keeps going. At times, very difficultly. I praise God that we don't have to do it alone. I heard a song tonight that reminded me my God never lets go.

No matter what we are walking through, He is there. He is hugging us in our victories and holding us in our pain. Even when we don't "feel" it, He is so faithful. Even when we are not faithful, He is. I am reminded that nothing comes as a surprise to Him. On our adoption journey there were many times I felt forgotten or felt like I was being punished. As I listened to this song, I was reminded how during those times, He was working things out exactly according to His plan. His timing has been perfect. He never let go, even when I felt forgotten. He was growing my and my family's faith and trust in Him. My prayer for my friends and for you is that they and you feel his loving arms never letting you go! That is the love He has for His children. Can you call him Father?

Oh my!

A friend of mine posted something about the blog today and it made me realize it had been a REALLy long time since we have updated! Where do I start? I figured a good place would be with this weekend. What a blast we had celebrating Easter through the eyes of a 4 year old! Everything was so exciting and there were so many questions. We are still working on getting it across that the wise men were not the ones to discover Jesus wasn't in the tomb, but I think she is getting the general idea! We did attend an Easter Egg Hunt on base this year and had a great time. Unfortunately we missed the 3-5 year old hunt and made it in time for the 9-12 year old hunt. We figured she could run out to the edge and grab a couple of eggs and she would be happy. Little did we know there were "planted" workers along the side rolling out "new" eggs as these 9-12 year olds scooped them up as fast as they could. Before Alexandra knew what hit her, there was a mob coming at her to get to those eggs. As quickly as it swarmed in, it swarmed out, leaving Alexandra awestruck standing very still holding her basket up. She didn't seem too phased and quickly began digging in her eggs checking for candy. She is a chocolate girl and she just knew there would be some in there somewhere.

On Sunday, we went to church and she had a wonderful time and said she felt beautiful. A wonderful neighbor of mine had an adorable Easter dress in her yard sale that was just perfect for Alex. She really did look like a doll and felt like one too. While this family knows that Easter is about so much more than eggs and getting dressed up, it was so nice to see her enjoying it all and making wonderful memories as a family! We did the Resurection Eggs with her Sunday afternoon (if you have never seen these, you HAVE to have a set...go to www.familylife.com. I wish I could remember all the comments she made about each piece, but it was so neat to see someone take it all in as if for the first time. I know we are planting seeds and watering seeds that were already planted and we can't wait to see God's plan for her wonderful life unfold. We pray you had a blessed Easter and know Jesus as your Resurected Redeemer!

One more Easter Memory!

You never know what a day in the Trosper house is going to bring. After a delightful Easter Day, my wonderful husband finds a lizard stuck between the window and the screen. Of course, he saves it and gives it to Luke our insect loving, habitat making son, who quickly makes an entire "home" for this poor lizard in his critter cage. After about an hour (and my request stemming from my fear that this thing is going to die in the Critter Cage and be forgotten about) the kids decide to let it go. Alexandra is beside herself and wants to keep recatching it and "holding" it. The poor thing (the lizard) is tramautized I am sure as he isn't scurrying away too quickly. The next thing I know, the kids are yelling..."Grab the camera, Alex has the lizard on her face!). I am getting hot thinking the kids are tricking her and scarring her for life, until I realize SHE put the lizard on her face and thought it tickled as it ran up. YUCK! The kids (ok, all of us) were laughing so hard that we about all passed out, when the lizard climbed up onto her head and she freaked out. So, she didn't mind it close to her mouth and eyes, but freaked when it was on her head. Luckily, we got a quick shot. I am sure these will be some that we pull out for her fiance one day! No deep message with this story, just a good laugh! Gotta love our Alex!

Comfort

After traveling to Houston for Thanksgiving and to Missouri for Christmas, we had noticed that Alexandra was having trouble sleeping through the night again. Most nights she would wake up scared and want to sleep with us. After two weeks of this after Christmas we were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get our full night's sleep back.

One night as she woke up after only being asleep a couple of hours, she was screaming "Mommy" repeatedly in a terrified tone. I wondered if this was a night terror, but I remembered them with my oldest and knew Alex was too responsive for it to be a terror. Yet, she was crying inconsolably. As I held her I began to ask her what was wrong. She just stared at me with a look that told me she didn't know. I asked her if she missed her care giver in Peru and her friends. With the mention of their names, sobs began to flow out of her and I just held her tightly and cried with her. After about 20 minutes of rocking, crying and holding, we wiped our tears and held each other a bit longer. Alexandra then looked up at me with a peace in her face and said "Yo no scared mommy!" She had been feeling anxious and related that to being scared. I realized what a long process grief can be especially if you can't vocalize or even recognize all those feelings. That night she slept through the night for the first time in weeks and has been more settled ever since.

I share this because I realized Alexandra had feelings she didn't recognize and just needed a good cry with comforting and reassurance from her mother. How often would the anxiety and confusing feelings I feel at times melt away in the arms of my Father. As I seek Him and cry out to Him, allowing His loving arms to hold me and comfort me and letting His Words reassure me, His peace washes all over me. That peace that surpasses all understanding. It was a good reminder for me that night to call upon Him daily despite the business of life, before the results of trying to deal with things on my own turn into unidentified anxiety that affects those around me. I know that God put Alexandra in our family for her to have her forever family, but more and more I realize how much God put her in our family to teach us how He feels about those adopted into His family! Oh the love and acceptance He has for us!

Ceviche

My Peruvian friends will be so proud. For our family Christmas Dinner, we decided to have an international dinner. It ended up being German Roast and Peruvian Seafood Rice and of course ceviche for our appetizer. It was so good and we were so proud. I just had to post a picture. We all remembered just how much we loved ceviche when we went to an authentic Peruvian restaruant, The Lemon Tree, in Houston when we were there for Christmas. Of course it tasted so much better with Inca Cola and Chicha, two things we didn't have here in Alabama. We did find Inca Cola in Houston grocery stores, but of course it is harder to come by here in Alabama. Can't wait until we learn how to make even more yummy Peruvian food!

Snow Play

Oh friends, let me start by apologizing for not updating this more often. There are so many Christmas stories to share, I don't know where to start. We so enjoyed our first Christmas as a family of 6. We headed to Missouri to spend time with Layne's folks and had a great time. The Lord blessed us with waking up to a white Christmas which blessed these Alabama children. It was a toss up as to whether to play in the snow or open presents. (The snow we get in Alabama is gone in an hour or so, so they were worried it would be gone.) Since it was about 18 outside, we talked them in to presents first in hopes that it would warm up.

After presents were done though, we bundled up and headed out (it had warmed up to a balmy 21. Drake, Luke and Grandpa had scouted out a good sledding hill the day before, so we headed there. The first thing Alex wanted to do was make a snow angel, though there really wasn't enough snow for that. After we showed her the sled, she got excited and didn't hold back. She hiked up the hill just like a trooper and slid down on the sled with her brother, screaming "rapido" the whole way down. She was hooked. She loved it and the cold didn't seem to affect her until her glove fell off. Just a minute in that cold and she was done. I am sure her little body had never felt cold like that. We headed back in and enjoyed some HOT chocolate.

All 4 kids had a blast and it was a Christmas Day they won't forget.