Leaving for Thailand

I've been feverishly packing... everytime I do, I say to myself, "I need to have a master packing list, and then I can methodically check off the list, rather than randomly trying to remember everything..." Still have never made that list. But I'd like to make another list-- things we would love you to pray for us! We'll be away Jan. 17-Feb. 9.

Until you see another post here, each time you log on, would you quickly pray these things for us?

I will likely be offline for awhile...not sure what our internet capabilities will be while we're away.

-Please pray for Jim as has many responsibilities during our conference, especially Jan. 27-Feb. 2 when he is teaching a class and also overseeing the administration for all classes that week. Pray he would have energy and enjoy himself too!

- Pray we will remain healthy. The pollution has been rough on all of us (my sinuses, Jim & Kathryn's asthma) and we pray for clean air and rest for our bodies in the warmer weather.

-Pray the girls will adapt quickly to childcare and find fun little friends -- my participation in the conference events is dependent upon it! :)

-I have been a part of planning some of the mom's events; Pray for significant connection times and that God will lead me to connect with those moms who need encouragement.

-Please pray that we would find refreshment in the Lord, leading others to Christ and being led afresh to Christ ourselves.

THANKS!

"I Don't Like It"

As is typical with many 'babies of the family', Ellie has grown accustomed to, at times, whining and groaning as a preferred means of communication. Though she is just 2 and we often cut her a break, I've been trying to teach her lately to identify and tell me how she feels about things. We've particularly zoned in on the phrase "I don't like it."

She has taken quite fondly to saying this, yet was VERY disappointed to discover that it doesn't get her what she wanted. If I could only add a sound clip so you could hear her say it. It is defiant, but at the same time sounds so CUTE that it just makes you want to giggle. Just put on a sad pouty face and you can get the gist...

Ellie, clean up your game... "I don't like it."
Ellie, eat your broccoli..."I don't like it."















On a related note, yesterday I decided to see if Ellie's hair had grown long enough for piggy tales. From a completely objective standpoint, she looked absolutely adorable. She was so proud of them she flitted about the house for an hour swinging her head from side to side and smiling at herself in the mirror. But unexpectedly, mommy put on a pouty face and said "I don't like it." A baby with hair long enough for pig tales...well, that's not a baby any more :(

K's performance

I had another opportunity this week to observe Kathryn's class at school, and it was very enlightening. I suppose in many ways it's just like any other pre-school anywhere in the world. Just like in every other country of the world, proud parents (me included) waited with charged camera batteries excited to see their little ones don the stage.













Kathryn was given front-row, center-stage in the "English class" portion of the performance. Of course she didn't need a lot of encouragement to state her English alphabet, various fruits and vegetables, and modes of transportation. She rather enjoyed acting like a HAM with all eyes upon her as they danced their little English drama.













The mood shifted a bit on her face as we shifted from English to Chinese class. They pretended to be visiting a zoo, stating the names of various animals and other zoo words in Chinese. When the tables were turned, the star of the English performance sat back and chatted with her little English speaking friend. But even for mommy, after having the vocabulary drilled for half an hour, I still can't remember how to say "giraffe" and "aardvark" in Chinese.














You know that little game on Sesame Street where they sing "One of these things is not like the other"? I kept wondering if K feels that she looks much different than the other children. And yet, despite all odds and oddities, somehow she danced right alongside them and didn't think twice about it. You go girl.

A Terrible Snake

We have a guest in our home this week and so Ellie's nap time pack n play is in our bedroom. I kept waiting for her to fall asleep so I could go in the bedroom, but she never did and at 3:30 I finally decided to set her free. When I went in the room, I said,

"Ellie, what are you doing?"
"Not sleeping". (pretty accurate, I felt)
"Why not?"
"Mommy, there's a terrible snake under your bed."
"Really? Where is he?"
"Right here, under your bed."
"I don't see him, Ellie. You show me."
"You get me out, mommy. I'll show you."

I turned on the light and we bent down together to look under the bed.

"Hmmm...He's not there now mommy. I bet he went out there. Come! We'll find him."

We trudged into the living room with our detective hats on, and walked around on hands and knees searching for his mysterious whereabouts.

"He's gone mommy. He's really gone. I don't know WHERE he went. But let's go play!"

Hoodlywinked by a two year old!

Our friend Lily

I have the privilege of writing from a Starbucks tonight during "date night". (Why, do you ask, did I bring my computer, and what am I doing writing a blog during date night? Well, it's a 'working date'. It's OK-- we have a big conference coming up and I don't feel ditched by my husband's work load.) Back to Starbucks. I think this company is poised to take over the world. The napkin by my drink informs me that there are 52 locations in the city where I live. By the milk and sugar counter they have a map to all 52 locations, telling me which are located most conveniently by which subway stops, as well as how to say all the drinks I may want to buy in Chinese. My only beef with Starbucks in Asia is that I cannot buy a Toffee Nut Latte one moment past midnight on January 1st. But I will recover.

Today we had lunch with a couple from a couple who leads worship at our church. They are English (which they clarified is the same thing as British, unless you are Welsh, Scottish, or Irish and want to make a point of the distinction.) They work in a Chinese foster home here, which takes in orphans who have significant medical needs requiring surgery. They find these children the medical help they need and care for them until they are well enough to be adopted. I LOVED hearing about what they do! There is something in my heart that really resonates with this type of ministry even though it is so different from what we do. It was a delight to get to know this couple and I was again drawn to thank God that we get to meet so many different people from all over the world who are serving the Body of Christ in such gloriously diverse ways.

One of the programs they helped organize through our church is similar to "Operation Christmas Child" that you have in the US. The only difference is that we bought presents for a particular child from a particular orphanage here in China. Now we have "Lily's" picture on our refrigerator and the girls and I often talk about what life must be like for Lily. I love that my girls don't just know about the concept of orphans in a country far away, but that they know and pray for one little girl who in many ways is just like them. One day after we began these discussions, I went into Kathryn's room after rest time. She had all her stuffed animals lined up in rows with blankets and pillows. I asked her what she was doing, and she informed me that all these animals didn't have mommies and daddies, and she was taking care of them. Then she asked me, "Mommy, do you think that might be something I could do when I grow up?" My jaw dropped. You can't buy this kind of education! After we get back from our conference, I'm hoping to put a plan in the works to go visit Lily!

Fisher Price Theology

I just started reading through the Bible again this year, and so far, I'm on track! Today rereading the flood account, I'm thinking that our Fisher Price Noah's ark set just really doesn't cut it. Here's a couple of thoughts/questions for the engaging kind.

-We think he was on the ark for 40 days-- NO! He was on there for a year and 17 days-- yes, that's 382 days. And a whole week before the first drop of rain! If the rain was the exciting part, Noah and the fam called the ark home for another 10 months after the rain stopped. And, he waited another month plus after the earth was totally dried up... until the day God said, "Go out of the ark." Can you imagine? What do you think they did about the waste problem alone?

-Why do you think God destroyed the animals too? I suppose that means that fish survived?

-Seems there were possibly no carnivores until after the flood. At least God doesn't tell people they can eat meat until after the flood. Hmmmm...I'll throw that one in for free.

The other day when we were playing with Noah's ark, we inevitably had some of the manger scene characters mixed in. (The Fisher Price manger scene was a gift from Aunt Julie when we first moved to Singapore--amazing we still have all the pieces!) The baby Jesus, Mary, the camel, and wiseman or two, were thrown in alongside the two zebras, a lone parrot, and Mrs. Noah. I thought "Hmmm. Baby Jesus in the ark... " I made a comment as Jim walked in the room. And then he added, "Well really, Jesus IS the ark." OK, he trumped me. Who says Fisher Price can't promote good theology?

Happy New Year!

"But mommy, those treats are so little and my tummy is SO BIG!"
--Kathryn, on why she should be allowed unlimited goodies at the New Year's Eve party

We just had the most spectacular impromptu fire works display out our window. Not on New Year's Eve, but the Eve of New Year's Day. Now you in the US have long ago been restricted from such close-up views of dangerous explosives by law suits and other such legalities. But not here! Across from our apartment building is an open field--almost continually zero humidity and perfect grass fire conditions--and also ideal for setting off fireworks. The girls were so tickled as even Ellie belted out rounds of "WOW! and "Amazing!" There was a fun kind I had never seen before. When they exploded in the sky they spun like spinning tops. Kathryn wanted to know, "Why is the "work" in the fireworks? Is it hard work to light them?" Do any of you know the answer?

Last night we had a fun night with friends where, shockingly, even the girls lasted until midnight. I kept thinking they were going to crash and Ellie kept meandering around like she was tipsy, but they both lasted long enough to ring in the new year. On Chinese television there was no ascending ball. At the stroke of midnight, they hit a big GONG. They proceeded to hit the gong 108 times, for the year 2008. When I asked my Chinese friend why they didn't hit it 8 times instead of 108, she wasn't sure, but did feel that would be a lot less 'ren nao' (exciting). I personally felt that 8 times was plenty.

Happy New Year to all!