More Intruding Fingers (see previous entry reference)

Today our doctor quickly returned my email with a phone call and asked me to bring Kathryn in to see her again. When I took her in, she said that Kathryn just has hives, possibly spurred on by?? a virus? stress? her mother? This was great news! So our guests need not be turned away from our home...

...But our guests are not able to come. Boo hoo! We have swapped no less than 30 SMS's between us as their plane was delayed over and over and over... and finally canceled. They waited at the gate for 7 hours, and on the plane for 3 hours, (with a 3 year old and 4 month old) before the airline delivered the bad news and sent them home. A thick fog, such as I've never seen here, is blanketing the city...I cannot see across the road to the building next door. Why today of all days? Most of all, I'm bummed that my morning coffee shop date is canceled.

But not to be all grim, I must share a Kathryn quotable for the day...

"Mommy, when you ask me to clean my room, it hurts my f-e-e-l-i-n-g-s."
(When you read that, make sure you say it outloud with a dramatic and sorrowful frown.)

At least the day has not been without humor.

Peanut Butter Revelations

Last night as Jim and I were meandering over a late dinner after the girls had gone to bed, I noticed a blob of peanut butter on my plate. In true kid-fashion, I started dabbling in the peanut butter, something for which I would surely scold my children. First I made shapes, then spelled things in it, ultimately ending in a smooth ribbon. Just as I was done with my masterpiece creation, Jim reached over and stuck his dirty finger in my blob and messed it all up. Driven by internal compelling forces to make peace from chaos, I carefully smoothed it out once more. And again came the intruding finger.

This feels a bit like life this week. Driven to make a peaceful, smooth, yet effective paths, circumstances beyond my control come along and dip their messy fingers in my plans. You have weeks like that too, you say? This week, Kathryn has (three times!) broken out in a strange rash/red bumps, strange as it may seem, minutes before it's time to go to school. I'm not kidding. (As much as she struggles with school, I don't believe she could pull that off on purpose!) And in only 3 days time, I see how dependent I have become upon her being in school to maintain the delicate equilibrium of life in this culture. In addition to the normal errands undone (no bread or peanut butter in the cabinet), tonight we canceled fun dinner guests, and one of my dearest friends (whom I get to see about once a year!) is arriving for the weekend with her family (including her newborn) on our doorstep in 36 hrs. I can't bear the thought of sending them away from our possibly quarantined home.

"Ah-- but these are minor things", you say. "Can you not rise above your temporary circumstances and emerge joyful and triumphant"?? Sorry to disappoint-- I am a grouch.

"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
I would not be the poster child for this campaign this week.
Will you pray this for me??
If you let me know, I'll pray it for you, too!

Kathryn has been a bit under the weather the last several days. Just your general pink eye, with cold symptoms, complicated by asthma troubles that seem to have flared up here with the pollution. So I took her to the Dr. yesterday just to be cautious. She said she thought all the symptoms were a related virus. Her eyes were clearing up and she wasn't running much of a fever. "Should I send her back to school?", I asked.
"Sure. Why not?"
"I mean, is she contagious?"
"Well probably, but not more than anyone else!"

Hmmm....

I always base my decisions about "should I send her to school?" on this premise: If I were another kid's parent, would I appreciate you sending your kid to be around my kid? You know those days when they aren't THAT sick and you just REALLY want to send them but you KNOW you shouldn't?? I try to stick to my gut here. But after doing a little investigation spurred on by this conversation, I discovered Chinese parents don't have this philosophy. They more you expose them to germs, the more their bodies will become immune to them. I think I'm OK with this to a degree, as long as you're not talking about flu, chicken pox, and other such highly infectious and nasty bugs which land you in bed for weeks... I mean if Kathryn's classmates are sick just like her, then why not just send her with pink eye just to help their immune systems grow?? It's a wonder any of us ever make it to adulthood!

'Real' China

Last night walking home from a fun date, Jim and I decided to take the 'back alley' way home. We live in a local apartment community, and it feels like we live among 'the people'. But taking that route home felt like we were in 'Real China'. The China of 1996 when we lived in student housing on a university campus. The China where my roommate and I used to visit in the dark while we baked a cake in a toaster oven because any more electricity would trip the breaker. The China where hot water was available from 6-7am, and 7-8pm, maybe. The China where your heater in the winter was the glowing orange, open flame kind where is was hard to sleep because it was so darn bright. The China where I learned how to assemble my own toilet parts, rewire an outlet, and bring the clothes in from the drying line before they fired up the coal factory at night. And it felt kinda reminiscent.

There were crowds huddled together watching television outside in the dark... A community Monday night football sort of thing I suppose, except this was Chinese drama. So maybe more like a LOST or a 24 neighborhood party? There were pool tables every 10 yards... There were one room units where people sold their vinegar, or veggies, or automotive parts; and one meter removed in the same room are their beds and rice cookers. There were noodle huts, meat-on-a-stick stops on the street, and already baked sweet potatoes for sale. There was the aroma of coal burning stoves, rotting trash heaps, and barbequed lamb. There were mommas singing their babies to sleep. There were many stares from curious faces wondering what our white faces were doing walking down their streets. And it was the most visionary 20 minutes of our first 3 months back here.

Fragrant Hills

This is an outing I've been planning for 10 years-- the site of the original red leaf! If you don't know this story, you'll have to wait a bit longer for an explanation... These leaves hadn't turned red yet. But it was still a fun outing!

Yes, these are wooden men playing "ma jhong". Don't you see this at every park?



















See? Very pretty, but no red leaves.
































































This girl LOVES collecting sticks.














Useful for slaying dragons, patronizing sisters, and sword fights with daddy.
















Time to get serious-- let's climb up this mountain!
About 50 meters up, we wondered... do you think we are close to the top?
Better be safe--for the kids' sake--better take the ski lift.

NO, I'm not kidding. Doesn't every major touristy mountain have one?

A few of the interesting pagodas in view on our way to the top...




















No, I don't know what kind of temple this is.














We finally arrived at the top-- the long awaited (30 minute) journey. Do you think we would have made it walking?

You wouldn't think China, would you?














Ah, this is more like it. We live in the blanket of pollution down below.















With such beauty, what draws our children's hearts to rejoice??

Ah, yes, the elephant-shaped bubble blower.




















Another reason we headed for the top is because it seemed pretty crowded down below. So we thought, (do the math with me), let's go to a spot with even less surface area, and surely we'll find less people...














Our stay at the top lasted a whopping 10 minutes before we exhausted the bubbles, the crowds, and quickly determined there were no lunch venues.


































What day at a park would be complete without a picnic?
Yes, this is how we normally feed him.














A successful day, don't you think?? :)

On Soup, Clouds, and Ladybugs

It's a bit dangerous what you might write when you are feeling sick and a little loopy. I have spent the day sick in bed. Sinus head, sore throat, fevery, achy... It was a "good" day to be sick, because Jim was planning to spend the day with the girls today, though I certainly didn't accomplish my "to do" list for the day. Since Jim and I had a date planned, we still went out despite my better judgment. We tried a new soup restaurant (that sounded about all I could handle) but the "soup"--even to the sickly--tasted like weak water. We cut our losses and went across the street for some cheap noodles and headed for home 2 hrs. early. What I wouldn't give for a packet of Lipton's Chicken noodle soup right now! That and a glass of sprite is all I crave when I'm sick. Now since I spent most of the day lying aimlessly in bed, though I still feel lousy, I'm not sleepy either.

During my short snippet of sanity this afternoon, I read a bit more of a new book I'm enjoying, "Life Space", written by a former DTS professor and his colleague. This chapter was talking about looking for the divine breaking through in daily life. I walked over the window and looked down on the smog-filled streets. There was a blanket of haze covering the lower third of the atmosphere. No divine to be seen down there! So I plopped back down on the bed. And then I noticed that when I looked UP at the sky, there was actually some bits of blue breaking through the hazy clouds; even a twinge of pink on the way towards a hint of a sunset.

Then I remembered the lady bug. It's a shame that such an object of curiosity and affection couldn't have been captured on film. I caught sight of this tiny science project the other day when we were at the park. The girls were delighted and astounded by watching this tiny creature crawl up my arm, spread her wings and fly to freedom. Their priceless expressions of delight were of course more entertaining than our little lady bug friend.

Where have you seen pieces of His creative beauty in your daily routine this week?

Chao Yang Park

Yesterday we set out on our first family fun day since moving to our new home: A visit to Chao Yang Park. Because the week of travels from Guo Qing Jie had just passed, it was FABULOUS-- there was barely anyone there! It was a huge park full of fun kids amusement rides, but also natural beauty--lakes, fields of flowers, and lots of professional kite flyers! Here are some fun pics from our outing.

You can see it's just set in the backdrop of the 'big city'...














The girls loved these "rainbow steps"














The first fun attraction was these electric riding animals.
















Ellie thought it was fabulous!















I love the tongue action.
















Then we moseyed (is that a word?) down to the lake, and here is the sign: We're not in Singapore anymore!













Aside from the sign above, this was the only scene that felt like we were in China.













Jim and K raced back and forth over the bridges. Kathryn kept saying, "Daddy, you NEVER win our races! You are really slow!"



















Love my girls!














The best part for me was watching Kathryn with this kite. An elderly gentleman helped her get his in the air and then let her hold on. She loved it!

























































Kids' favorite pic would have to be the ferris wheel. It was 1.50$ US to ride for 2 minutes! That's pricey for China! But worth it.



































One more fun family outing to come later this week!

More Thoughts for Molly Piper

Last week, (see below), I related a conversation that Kathryn and I had about a mother who had lost her baby. I have been chewing more this week, and wanted to add a few thoughts.

Firstly, a confession of sorts--the conversation didn’t go exactly as I quoted. It was more a summary of the conversation. The “hug” for Molly was Kathryn’s idea, and suggesting “Jesus will take care of you” was my addition originally.

Yet the purpose was to demonstrate something clear—Kathryn is a different person because of her sister Hannah, and Molly will discover the same for her children.

Why bother clarifying?

Firstly, so that I do not give you the wrong impression that I have a super-spiritual four year old who (or that I am one who!) floats on the clouds above the normal fears of life. Kathryn and I do have had tremendously fruitful conversations resulting from Hannah’s life, and yet Kathryn also struggles with fears of death, tragedy, and loss… don’t we all?

And secondly, because I felt almost right away that I wanted to retract my addition. Will Jesus take care of Molly and her family? Most certainly. But do I want to say that to her at this hour? Certainly from my own experience--No, I don’t. It is something for her to testify of her own story in the months and years to come. And so I think Kathryn’s first instinct is right-- hugs are best. Many tears, few words.

The Good that Winnie the Pooh Can Do

About a week ago, a young girl working at a tea house approached me and asked for my help. She told me a long story about how her mother and father sent her away (she is 16) , and how she is desperate to find another job, learn English, and be adopted by a foreign family. (I am thinking-- Does this girl really think that we could adopt her?) I wrestled with how to help her, because I have been in these situations before. A little something turns into a very-big something that spins out of control. So I prayed, and I talked with various friends. I decided "Start small. Under promise, over compensate." I decided to lend her one English children's book per week. I felt embarrassed when I was explaining to her that I didn't have time to personally meet with her. But when I handed her the book, she gave me an infectious smile, and then leaped across the table with a great big bear hug! Then she told me, "Not even my mother has ever been this kind." I gave her a $3 Winne the Pooh book. She gave me a heart-felt hug and a high compliment. I have a feeling I'll be telling you more about her in days to come.

Delightful Deception

I felt so delightfully deceptive. "Come try the new applesauce mommy made, girls!" They ate it-- every bite! For my dear 2 year old, who will endure loss of dessert, time outs, and spankings all to avoid the horrors of vegetables, this is a score! It was about 1/3 apples, 1/3 peaches, and 1/3 carrots! I added a little cinnamon and one packet of Equal... they love it! Have any other vegetable success stories? Do tell!

Sorry to Leave You Hanging...

WE GOT THE PACKAGE!

Time I Updated Some Fun Book Selections...

Check out some more great picks on the right!