Be On Our Tree

I'll make you the same offer I did last year-- You see, we have pictures of people we love up on our tree. The girls love looking at them all throughout the month. Send me a picture of your family (jimandtracie@yahoo.com) and we'll put you up!

Feeling Loved...

My sweet friend Amy flew up to BJ for the weekend to surprise me! She is about to leave for the US for the holidays and we were about to break our pact to see each other once a semester. Jim told me not to make plans, but I assumed there was no way it could be her-- who would make a trip like that, 4 days before leaving the country? Someone who loves her friend! :)

Review your Thanksgiving History

-Of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower, 47 died by the end of the first winter.

-In the Spring, the Pilgrims met Squanto and Massassoit, who spoke to them in perfect English.

-Squanto's history: He had been captured and spent 9 years working for a British captain. Then he was allowed to return and was soon captured again and sold as a slave in Spain. There he was freed by some Monks who shared the message of Christ with him. He spent 5 more years earning money to return to his homeland. By the time he came back, his entire tribe had died from disease. The pilgrims landed in the spot of his former tribe.

-If Squanto had not helped the Pilgrims, they would not have survived. He taught them to plant corn, hunt for wild game, make nets to catch fish. This began a 40 year friendship and mutual respect between the Pilgrims and Indians ... Not the usual story of American Indian relations.

-The holiday didn't become recognized beyond their own community until George Washington declared it so. Here was his proclamation:

Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1789:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Even then, Thanksgiving was not a nationally recognized holiday until President Lincoln declared it so. This was the year of the greatest loss during the Civil War. Lincoln writes,

Lincoln's Thankgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1863:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

-----

Today is almost 150 years since Lincoln's words, about 390 years since the original Thanksgiving. Do we carry on its original spirit? Joining with brothers and sisters of different nations, in the midst of heartache and loss, yet stopping to thank God for His blessings & promises?

What I'm Breathing

I just found this really interesting website that has great info about China air quality. I'm sure none of you are as interested in this as I am, but there is a great 6 minute video with fabulous photography that gives the best treatment I've come across. There is also a daily measure of pollutants.

And I kept wondering--how do they measure the pollution? Question answered:

Air pollution index (API), published by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, is derived from measurements of five pollutants: Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10, Carbon Monoxide and Ozone. The average concentration for each pollutant is calculated daily and the concentration of the pollutant with the highest API (0-500) will become that day’s major pollutant, recorded as that day’s API figure. In Beijing, PM10–particulate matter 10 microns or smaller–is the major pollutant most days.

The only part I don't know if I buy is the part that claims 246 "blue sky days" recorded in 2007!

Missing Rings, Pretty Pots, and Sleeping with Momma

Jim has been gone this week. Sometimes when he is away, I blog more; sometimes less. This is a 'blog less' season. I think when I am finished mid-Dec. with my current writing project, I will get more into blogging again...

For now, here are some highlights of our week:

-Today, Ellie took my friend Agnes' wedding rings out of her jewelry box to play with them, and hid them in a duck-mobile. After shaking her within an inch of her life (Ok, not quite that hard, but it was a stiff interrogation), she confessed. But she didn't remember where they were. She described the rings with perfect accuracy so I knew she'd seen them, but thankfully, Agnes found them inside the duck. Whew!

-Today, my friend Agnes (owner of rings from same duck incident) watched the girls so I could do a bit of grocery shopping and stop in Starbucks for awhile! :) And this week, Starbucks started serving the Christmas-time Toffee Nut Latte. My favorite! In the US, you can ask for it anytime of year. But here, on Dec. 26th, you're out of luck.

-In the Starbucks, I met a college student. She works there every weekend so I can maybe see her once a week. This may not seem very exciting, but its been so long since I've met one! You would think that with our work, I would run into them all the time. But when you move up the ladder, sometimes you lose the feel of involvement on the ground. (Or maybe it also has something to do with stage of life.) Anyhow, we have lots of other guests in our home, but I felt--a real college student! Oh, how fun it would be to get to know her, and tell her about Jesus!

-Yesterday, we went with some friends to "Happy Land Pottery". It was AWESOME, if you are 5 and 3. You can make pottery, have it fired, paint it... You can make sand pictures, make soap, necklaces, and the list goes on... for about $6/hour. I took the camera, Nana & GG, but when I got there, it didn't work. But you can imagine, Ellie with an adult sized apron, sitting in front of a pottery wheel. Very cute. The only issue is that now we have several "creations" that you look at and wonder, "How long do we have to keep this?" Is that mean? I felt it even more strongly when our friends' daughter gave Kathryn all of the pots that SHE made. Now you might love your own kid's pot. But that's taking it a little to far in my drive against clutter.

-Our babysitter and her family went away for the weekend, so we've volunteered to feed rabbits, hamsters, and a bird. The girls have loved that. Fiesty little critters, those rabbits. Kathryn wanted to know why the boy rabbit has to stay in his cage. After I explained it, she thought that perhaps maybe we could let the boy and girl rabbit hang out for just a little bit, and make just a few more rabbits.

-This week, I promised the girls they could sleep with me on Friday and Saturday. (Why did I offer 2 nights?) Well, not really with me, but on the floor next to me. Even down on the floor they keep me awake! Even with earplugs! It's just something about the mommy radar... you just know they are there. Kathryn has had a beef with me for some time because she knows that when Abigayle and Alathia's daddy is out of town, they sleep in their mommy's bed every night. There is just something wrong with that! So last night at bedtime, I forgot that it was Friday. (No, I really DID forget :)) And just as I was walking out the door with the last goodbye, Kathryn belts out, "MOMMA-- It's FRIDAY! WE HAVE TO SLEEP WITH YOU!" What could I do? Can't go back on a promise. Just one more night to go!

-We have talked with Jim, GG. Has he called you? He seems to be doing well-- no fainting spells!

OK, that's all my random thoughts for now...

Freedom

I love this picture. I captures that sense of abandon that we want to characterize our lives but sometimes fall short of. We look at young children and think, "I was like that once." Exhaustion, skepticism, sickness, crisis, fear, concern over others opinions of us, self-protection...there are a whole list of reasons we lack the zeal we desire. What about you? Are you free? Sometimes I ponder this question too... What would my life really look life if I was totally free to be the way God made me, with no sin? I'm not sure that I know!

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free!" But what kind of freedom is this? Not the kind we often imagine...free to do anything we want, any way we like, with no restraints. But free to live a life full of His Spirit, with overflowing spontaneous expressions of God-given joy! Freedom to love others without concern for our own welfare. Free to give and keep giving and give some more and find abundant resources always at our disposal. Free to be the voice and life of Christ outpoured into our needy world. Want to be free? Join me in praying that He will lead us on the path of freedom.

And then go outside and throw some leaves in the air! :)

Scribbly and Dibbly

I must say I haven't felt much like writing this week as it seems lately like I spend every free moment just keeping up with the essentials.

Kathryn said to me this week,
"Mom, can you help me? I'm trying to draw a city but it's all scribbly and dibbly."

"What is the difference between scribbly and dibbly?", I asked.

"Don't know you, mom? Scribbly means lines that are messed up. And dibbly means dots that are messed up... It means the whole picture is yucky!"

I thought, "I know just what she means. All my lines and dots seem all out of order this week, too."

Please do pray for the girls and I this week as Jim is leaving tomorrow for the US for a conference and I do feel another sinus infection coming on... compliments of the coal heating plants which have kicked up in the last week. Either you freeze your buns off, or your breathe coal-saturated air. Which would you pick? Seems to me like both the dots and the lines in that equation are all messed up.

Not to end on a sour & grumbly (grumbly is somewhere on a continuum between scribbly and dibbly) note, I do have some beautiful pictures to post from a trip to the Fragrant Hills a few days ago... I will post those soon:)

Write a Psalm...

This week in our study we looked at rejoicing in the Psalms. A mammoth topic to cover in one week! Our application point? Write a psalm of rejoicing! It was good for my soul. It's not something you whip out quickly...you have to be in a certain meditative frame of mind, which comes rarely for most people. So-- maybe it would be good for your soul too? And if you write one, would you send it to me? I would love to rejoice with you!

Here is one shared in our group that I enjoyed...

O Lord, you are unfathomable, majestic, exalted over all.
Who knows the vastness of your great power, unrestrained but by your infinite wisdom?
You crafted the Himalayas with a word, humbling the strongest of climbers to stand in awe.
It is your footrest.
You crafted the human cell, baffling the most brilliant of scientists with its complexity.
It is a drop from your paintbrush.
A mama whale in the ocean depths gives birth; An ant crafts a labyrinth; A desert flower blooms at midnight only once a year...
You are their only audience, laughing with your Son, "Remember when we crafted that?"
Rejoice mama whale, tiny ant, desert flower, son of man--We are beautifully made!

O Lord, you are infinite in knowledge, upholding nations, guiding good and evil for your purposes.
Who can fathom your ways, your workings in time and history?
A corrupt dictator believes he holds the world in his hands, but you destroy him in a moment with one flick of your pinkie.
There is nothing you do not see. No act of injustice unnoted, where you will not bring about your perfect will for good.
The hearts of all peoples hunger for a king for all the ages; Just and good, selfless, bringing peace.
Millions upon million do not yet know; It is you--You are that King!
Rejoice, oh people of every nation, rejoice and be glad--He is our King!

O Lord, you are excellent beyond comprehension.
You rule over all your vast creation, and you see the newborn guppy.
You guide all of history towards its ultimate end, and you hold the mysteries of the single heart.
Who can hold together the diversities of your person?
Your vast intentions for the human race, and your personal stamp on one life?
We strain to see a glimmer; We fall down and tremble in fear.
You turn your face towards us, the face of your Son.
He bends down, bruised yet exalted, and says, "Come little ones, come!"
Rejoice little ones of every land; He invites us to come!

O Lord, what do you see in my one little heart?
Steady and wavering; Praising and doubting;
Passionate and forgetful; Concerned and indifferent
Pursuing my only hope and seeking other comforts;
Hungry for rich fare and filling up with junk food.
Running unencumbered and constantly tripping;
Full of your strength and full of my pride.
What do you say to that fickle little lamb?
You are mine and I love you. No condemnation, no guilt, no anger.
I am your shepherd who bought you; Your debt is paid.
You are safe in my fold; forever secure.
So run, little lamb, run and be free! Run Home to my arms forever.
Rejoice, little lambs! Rejoice and leap! Rejoice for He makes you run free!

Trip to the Apple Orchard

This week we took a trip with some friends...someone told her that if we just drove north of the city, we'd find orchards where you can pick apples, and they were right!

Here's the only pic that is unique to China...















Look at all 'em apples!















It didn't take us long to get to work. But our picking didn't last for long... Only until we realized that everything we picked we had to buy! Do you know fast a group of 6 zealous kids can pick??














Ellie had a bit of trouble pulling them off the stem but she worked HARD!



















Our picnic afterwards... Do you know we came home with a total of 45 pounds of apples!?














On the way home we also came across some cotton fields. They pretty much feel like a bag of cotton balls, just with a few leaves mixed in!



















Ellie wasn't happy to leave...but her pouty face is so cute :)

On Election Day...

This semester I am writing a study on joy. If you've followed this blog for awhile, it is the fruition of the thoughts I began writing about last summer. The fun part is, I get to have immediate "field testing" with our study group. We're having a great time! Here was our topic last night...

As I began to compile mountains of verses about joy and put them into categories, there was an overwhelming majority attributed to one theme. Over and over again throughout biblical history, people rejoice over the downfall of evil rulers and the instillation of righteous ones.

Every generation since the close of the biblical canon echoes that same theme. God has put a distinct thumbprint in history--All peoples of all times long for an ultimately good leader.

I'm not talking "good" in the since of "so-so" or "better-than-bad". I mean good. Upright. Promoting justice. Caring for the oppressed. Doing everything in the best interest of the people. Shunning evil with the power to back it up. Bringing peace. Really and truly good.

So remember today: No matter the outcome of the election, THE King is ON His throne. His name is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". And His "dominion is from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth".

"All you nations, clap your hands!

Shout out to God in celebration!

For the sovereign Lord is awe-inspiring;

he is the great king who rules the whole earth!

He subdued nations beneath us

and countries under our feet...

God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts;

the Lord has ascended his throne amid the blaring of ram’s horns.

Sing to God! Sing! Sing to our king! Sing!

For God is king of the whole earth!

Sing a well-written song!

God reigns over the nations!

God sits on his holy throne!

...for God has authority over the rulers of the earth.

He is highly exalted!" (Psalm 47:1-9)

Ever feel like this?

Barely hanging on by a petal?








Bearing a heavy burden?









Teetering on the edge of a cliff?












Backed into a corner?














Enemy laughing in your face?



















Get down on your paws and beg for His enabling grace...



















He who commands the flight of the birds,
will He not direct your path?












He is able to do more than we can ask or think,
filling you with His abundant power.













He can make you to stand triumphant before your foes,














...before 1000 enemies unscathed.













Despite the onslaught of forces against you,
He is committed to bring you safely Home,











...to rest secure in His arms forever.

As Promised

Here are the pics from our party last night. We started carving at 3pm...













Here I am with my future son-in-law. This began innocently enough, but Kathryn & Benjamin are quite determined! Unfortunately, our dear friends are moving in December :(



















How do you think they turned out? Ours is the one in the middle. You may notice they are not orange. Funny thing--you can only buy little orange ones here. There is a man who has been selling them outside the subway for the last 2 weeks. I asked Jim to pick one up on the way home from work, and he said when he arrived, the police were loading all his pumpkins onto the back of a truck! Illegal gourds, I'm sure. Later I asked my helper about them, and she said we didn't want to buy those anyway. She said they were the ones grown out in the farm plot in front of our apartment--only the ones they didn't want to use in their restaurant. I have no idea how she knew that, but she was right. All my other friends bought their pumpkins from him, and theirs were super thick and tough to carve!














We had 4 games. Well, 3. We cut off the last one when all the little ones started to get restless. Here is Kathryn in the cotton-spoon relay. Don't ask me how that game has anything to do with Halloween.



















In the end, the party was a success--though there were stressful moments trying to yell instructions to 20+ kids, ages 2-17, with a hoarse voice. Kathryn asked me if the next party we planned could have a bit fewer people... (Between all the kiddos and the parents and other friends, we only returned home with 8 out of 60 cupcakes!)