Our Summer Update

I suppose I've taken a "summer break" from any writing; maybe it's the heat that's making me a little sluggish! I must say the weather here in Korea is definitely the most intense and miserable of any place we have ever lived. They say it's been a record summer and I sure do believe it! Luckily, it is starting to subside, maybe. Sorry, that's my little tangent for the moment as I sit in my air conditioned house (okay, life is really not so bad!).
Probably the biggest thing in the Walker household lately has been Noa's new job of taking a Company Command. Normally, I'm all about NOT bragging or talking about 'what my husband does' or 'what his rank is', but I'm going to break my own rule just a little for the sake of updating current events! Of course, it doesn't hurt that there are some good pictures to share to go along with this. :)  In simple terms, this just basically means that Noa is now the officer in charge of a 85 Soldier company with many different "departments" and "missions"; in every day terms, it also means that he will be (and has been) receiving calls in the middle of the night if anything happens to his 'employees' or their families. For me personally, it also includes the opportunity to become a "Team Mom" to the Soldiers and families.

(Left to Right) My handsome husband, the incoming Company Commander, the current Battalion Commander and the outgoing Company Commander.

Passing the guide on

NJ watching Daddy. He wanted to stand for most of the ceremony so that he could see Daddy!

NJ getting to cut the cake with Daddy's saber (hey, he was born a CAV baby--it only seems right!)

Our Family!

 In other news, NJ is growing and learning so much lately. He is at the age where friends are becoming an important part of his life and has made some really great play mates since we've moved here. Of course, this also allows me to make some Mommy friends too! At preschool, he is learning Korean and English. Even though I don't often get to see his progress with the Korean language, his teacher has told me that he seems to understand everything she says to him. Also, he has a good buddy who is bilingual; when they play together they actually speak to each other in both languages! He is a very perceptive little boy; only around friends and adults that look Korean will he even speak the language. But, I still hold out hopes that before we move from here, I will be able to take him to the market and he will be the one who barters for me! It is very exciting to see his developing love of knowledge. At home, we have started practicing letter recognition and writing. Just today, he wrote his name all by himself! Last week, I had the pleasure of volunteering with our church's Vacation Bible School. This was also the first year that NJ was able to attend. We are both still singing all the songs that got stuck in our heads! It is such an exciting time to see little seeds planted about God. He came home one day and told me about Joshua and the Battle of Jericho; at another time he told me about The Good Samaritan and said he was going to be like "the friend who helped the man who was hurt".

An ice cream break on a hot day with NJ's friend, Jacob.

NJ at swim lessons

Practicing the letter A with Daddy

All by myself!

Dinner date with friend, Abby, chaperoned by Dad.

Singing VBS songs at church