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Tag: MKs

#alt=The Christmas Candy House, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Christmas Candy House

The Christmas Candy House

Comments 10 comments

“Christmas will be here soon,” my first-grade teacher said. “In a couple of weeks, you kids will fly back to your parents on their mission stations for the holidays. Today you’ll make a Christmas craft to take home.” Twenty happy faces beamed around the sunlit classroom at the boarding school for missionary children in Nigeria, and cheery voices called out. “Yay! It’s almost Christmas!”  “Crafts are my favorite subject.” “I can’t wait ‘til we go home.” During the next half…

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#alt=Rock Ministries International, debbiejoneswarren.com
ROCK Ministries International

ROCK Ministries International

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Do you have a heart for orphans? Have you ever wanted to travel to Kenya? Today I’m delighted to share the ministry that my sister, Cindy, and her husband, Kyon Yi, have taken on. Come with me to Kenya–a beautiful country I haven’t actually seen–but through this blog post, we’re both visiting virtually! Twenty-two years ago, Kyon’s mom, Elaine Yi, witnessed the plight of street orphans in Kenya when she visited there with World Vision. Previously, Elaine had partnered with…

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#alt=The Proposal, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Proposal: He Asked and She Said …

The Proposal: He Asked and She Said …

Comments 14 comments

Today our daughter, Heather, contributes to this blog post for you as this month we celebrated Chris’s 65th birthday with his dream golf vacation in Scotland. All of our adult kids, including Andrew, his wife, Sarah, Heather, her boyfriend, Aaron, and Robby, joined us. We took in the sights, visited friends and relatives, golfed, shopped … and enjoyed much excitement around a surprise proposal, which Heather shares here: STORY TIME! Aaron proposed on Princes Street with Edinburgh Castle in the…

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Shower Troubles, debbiejoneswarren.com Nov 2018, bathroom sink
Shower Troubles Revisited

Shower Troubles Revisited

Comments 20 comments

Jutting out from the green-painted walls, three shower heads loom dark and shadowy under the single lightbulb that lights the bathroom. I’m scared to take my first dormitory shower in this open room with a dozen other first-grade girls…. I’ve rewritten this story using the present tense, and I would value your honest feedback. Does this tense flow well and bring you more deeply into the story? Or does it sound awkward? What other thoughts do you have? Shower Troubles…

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#alt=Happy Valentine's Day, debbiejoneswarren.com
Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

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I stared out the window of the second-grade classroom at the tall mango tree and listened to the birds tweeting in its branches. The drone of the teacher’s voice faded quietly into the background at the boarding school for missionary children in Nigeria. My racing heartbeat slowed for a moment. Then the chalk screeched on the blackboard, and I quickly turned my head toward the front of the classroom. I don’t want to get yelled at again for daydreaming. I…

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#alt=Happy New Year to You, debbiejoneswarren.com
Happy New Year to You

Happy New Year to You

Comments 18 comments

Each one of you, my dear readers, is extremely important to me! I cherish your comments, your support, and your ongoing friendship. Writing my short stories has been therapeutic as I’ve faced the joys and trials of my childhood at a boarding school in Nigeria. Today I’m happy to share with you the exciting news that one of my stories was recently selected for publication in Chicken Soup for the Soul. Yes, that iconic association is still printing several books…

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#alt=I'll Be Home for Christmas, debbiejoneswarren.com
I’ll be Home for Christmas

I’ll be Home for Christmas

Comments 12 comments

While I stood at the kitchen counter chopping veggies for a salad, I tapped the icons on my phone to call my mom. She and I often feel lonely at dusk, so I’ve started calling her around suppertime while I prepare dinner. Mom’s voice sounded weary. “Hi, Honey.” I was a little concerned but began with my usual question. “How are you doing today?” “Well, right now I’m feeling depressed. I don’t like that the radio station plays Christmas music…

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#alt=Fear in the Dorm Office, debbiejoneswarren.com
Fear in the Dorm Office

Fear in the Dorm Office

Comments 16 comments

The dorm Auntie kissed each of us four girls goodnight and turned out the light in my bedroom in the boarding school dorm in Nigeria. “Good night,” my roommate said, a little too loudly for the Auntie’s liking. “Good night. No more talking after your light is out. You’re the last room in the hall, and I don’t want to hear another peep from anyone.” The short, dark-haired lady’s voice was firm. Her skirt swished as she turned, and her…

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#alt=The DNA of a TCK, Part 2, debbiejoneswarren.com
The DNA of a TCK, Part 2

The DNA of a TCK, Part 2

Comments 2 comments

In July, I posted a short article about the MK/TCK reunion Chris and I attended over the July 4th weekend. It was wonderful to see so many people with whom I had gone to school as a child in Nigeria. The group was made up of MKs, TCKs, Nigerians, expats, and their spouses. (*Terms are explained below.) As in any school reunion, we chatted, got reacquainted, and shared familiar stories of bygone days. On Saturday morning we had a large…

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#alt=From Tears to Tea Parties, debbiejoneswarren.com
From Tears to Tea Parties

From Tears to Tea Parties

Comments 24 comments

While standing at my kitchen counter, I chopped lettuce for a salad for my husband and me. The late afternoon sun streamed brightly through the window, but my thoughts were gloomy. Why does Chris have to fly away again? This time he’ll be gone for two weeks. My eyes filled with tears as I reached for the green onion and started dicing it. Because he’s a pilot, life has been like this throughout our marriage. I brushed my cheek with…

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