a weekend to remember - no, not the marriage conference

This past weekend was probably the BEST one we have had since arriving here in K-Town. It was FULL of friends, fun, food, and fellowship. 6 months ago I would have never imagined myself spending the majority of my weekend speaking another language with a sweet family that lives just steps away from our apartment.

We had our friends J and S over for dinner on Friday night. I decided to cook a traditional american meal that was simple and easy - roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes, carrots and yeast rolls; chocolate cake for dessert. The moment they arrived at our front door David decided to ask me what I was serving. When I told him he said, "Aren't they muslim?! Muslims don't eat pork...!" What could I do?! As far as I knew their parents and their grandparents were muslim but they had told us they were not practicing muslims - I assumed that meant they could eat whatever they wanted. I held my breath as we finished praying and passed the food around the table. To my relief they both took ample helpings of everything, including the pork.

Hannah and their little girl.

We ended up spending most of the evening speaking in their language since S does not speak english. It was a big stretch for David and I, but we had fun and decided just to take chances and enjoy this opportunity. Our time with them was such a success that they invited us to join them on Sunday for an afternoon at the park! We of course jumped at this chance! With all the rain we have had we've been aching to get out and enjoy the sun - esp with new friends who need Him....

A beautiful mess!

Sweet gifts from our friends - tea!

On Saturday we spent a lazy morning at home before heading out to get haircuts for the boys and spend a little time at the local playground.

Hannah and I snap a picture once we realize we are dressed alike...

We met some American friends (whom we just HAPPENED to run into a few months ago and learn that they live in CANTON!!!) for lunch at Chicago Coffee, and then took Hannah to a birthday party in the afternoon. At 5pm our house, scratch that, APARTMENT filled up with 23 foreigners as we hosted Game Night!!! I've been really missing this part of my life - being able to host friends for a night of fun and games. We had SO MUCH FUN!!!!! As a matter of fact, the cool crowd stayed until after midnight....! We played Settlers and Cashflow. I didn't win either one, but I had a great time just being with my friends. The kids played together ALL evening, munching on sugar and snacks. We had three different games of Settlers going at once :)

On Sunday we joined our friends a a local international fellowship where the kids actually got to go to their own separate classrooms with David and I sat in with the adults. We rushed home after that to change clothes and head over to J and S's apartment for lunch. She served us a fantastic meal of noodles and wild mushrooms. We left for the park shortly after that.

The park was about a 30 minute drive north of town. They have a car so we piled in and made the trip very easily. It's basically a huge park with lots of beautiful trees, plants and flowers. It was over run with people today due to the nice weather, but we were able to find a nice, quiet, partially shaded spot to set up "base camp" (as they called it). They literally rolled a huge suitcase up the hill and opened it up to reveal a tent, blanket, two pillows, ground covering, 6 tea cups, a tea pot, loads of snacks and two liters of water. Serious stuff. We knew we would be staying a while.....

Heading home from the park

The mountains that surround our city

You can wear whatever you want to the park - esp if you are on the wedding photo express van that drops off about 6 brides and the husband's-to-be for a full day of wedding photo extravaganza!

more brides

one more bride....

...and I'm not exactly sure what she is wearing....surely not a bride.

Family photo op!

Hannah made a tee-pee

More mountains

part of our city

Watching S make tea

Beautiful baby.

This little girl helps out the family by carrying her sibling in a traditional baby carrier

beautiful leaves

our friend S taking pics of the leaves

The park was the first sign of fall that we have seen here. Leaves were falling and crunching under our feet as we walked. Many of the trees were turning bright yellow and red. People we taking pictures left and right. Apparently there was a photography club picnic happening in the area we were in. The photographers were captivated by the beautiful leaves and focusing entirely on them. That is until these two blonde haired, brown eyed american "piao liang" kids walked in. Suddenly it felt like the papparazi had followed us in! They were everywhere! And they aren't shy about it either. Seriously, this happens all the time. People will just jump in next to our kids, wrap their arm around them, put up a peace sign, and snap a photo. There's no telling how many shots of our kids are floating around this great country....I'm sure we'll see them in some advertisement someday.

Jacob

At this very moment you are climbing up into this big chair to sit close to me. You have your "scratchy night-night" folded just so and your lower lip tucked under your two front teeth. As much as I worry about that habit and want you to stop, I just can't enforce it. It tells me you are tired, or scared, or nervous, or worried. I know it brings you comfort and in your little world that is spinning so fast around you - you need that. You are holding a candy in your hand, walking around saying, "I want wunch (lunch)!" even though it's only 8:57am and you just finished breakfast. You're not hungry - you just wanna eat that candy and mommy told you not until after lunch.... You are still wearing your green Christmas footie pajamas, the ones with the snowman. When I see you in footies I think about how big you are and how you probably shouldn't be wearing them anymore. But then I wonder how you will stay warm when you kick your covers off at night and wake up so early in the morning to play with your trains. And I decide that no matter how big you may LOOK in your footies, you are still my little boy who feels so snuggly and warm when you cuddle up with me for story time each night. Your brown eyes know how to flirt and play and your blonde hair is irresistably touchable. I keep shaving it off for convenience sake, but it keeps growing back, begging me to run my fingers through it as you fall asleep while I sing Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children and Mommy Loves Her Little Jacob..... You are smart. You surprised all of us the other day when you lined up your precious trains and began to count them off: "yi, er, san, si, wo, liu...."! And then you randomly told me that a "shaozi" was a spoon. Soon you will surpass your mommy and daddy in language. You love your sister and always ask, "Where is Hannah?" if she is not around. When she is hurt or sad you run to find her George and "night-night" - you know they will ease the pain and sadness. You always call her "my best friend Hannah". I know one day that will change and I should get it on video while it's still true, but I pray that it will always stay deep in your heart.

Jacob, I don't know what God has planned for you. I have to trust that His plans are perfect and that He created you for a purpose. I have to trust that He holds you in the palm of His hand and that He loves you even MORE than I could possibly attempt to love you. I want you to follow Him. I want you to love Him. I want you to serve Him. I want you to be like your Daddy. I am blessed beyond words to be your mommy. When you were born I wondered if I could love another child like I loved our first. Amazingly enough God made a special place for you in my heart and filled it up with a love I could never explain. I love you, my boy.

What to write....?

I'm sitting in my office - a.k.a. the corner chair and ottoman in the family room. There is a small side table to my left with a glass of water on top and a tall floor lamp to my right, just purchased this week.

The lamp is what makes this spot so cozy. I've spent the last 3 months sitting in this very spot, studying, reading, listening to music - all under the ever glowing effervescence of a florescent light. I hate (yes, hate) florescent lights. There is not one redeeming virtue about them.

This past week I went out on a mission - to buy a lamp. I ended up buying three. When you go shopping in this fantastic country you have to know what you are looking for. You can't just go to Target and see what's on sale and in style. If you want a sweater, you go to sweater street. If you want a computer, you go to the computer market. And if you want a lamp, you go to the lighting store. Unfortunately the options for lighting are a bit extreme. I literally saw a lamp that doubled as an end table, complete with a functioning water wheel, mosaic glass base and victorian lace shade. No kidding. If I had my camera with me I would have posted a picture for your viewing enjoyment. Since I didn't you will have to use your imagination, which I promise is probably nowhere near as crazy as what the reality was.

After my unsuccessful trip to the lighting store I found myself back at my old standby - Eleven Furniture (or as we like to call it "Fakekea"). I ended up with three lamps - identical except for size and lamp shade color. It's not exactly what I pictured in my Better Homes and Gardens imagination but it works. I know I commented previously on how carpet can make such a difference in my home. Well, lighting does the same thing! It's amazing how I actually WANT to get up out of bed now that I know I have a lamp waiting to light my way through the Word and not that glaring object shining so blazenly from the ceiling.

I've been wondering why it is that small things like carpet, candles, music, fragrance, and lamps can change my attitude and outlook on life. Why do these things bring me comfort and joy? Would I be okay without these things? Do I feel that I am I entitled to them?

I've come to the conclusion that although I am NOT entitled to them and I WOULD be okay without them, I am SO THANKFUL for them. They are like the icing on the cake. The cherry on top. The things that make my house a home. Everyone needs something different to make themselves comfortable and at peace. I need my family, first. I need my home, second.

I never really considered how much I needed my home to feel like a home until I moved here, to a place that feels so much unlike home that sometimes I want to just scream and hide. There is one place and one place only that I feel totally comfortable and at peace - here in my home with my family. In America I could go to Starbucks, the mall, Target, the school, the park...almost anywhere....and feel fine, at peace, normal. Here - it's a different story. Every time I leave the house it takes planning - is it going to rain, how long will I be gone, do I need to get cash, which bus do I take, or should I take a taxi, do I need to look up words that I might have to use, am I going to see anyone I know, do I need to bring bags to carry purchases, will I be able to get back home?????????? It's SO much easier to just.stay.home. Where there is peace.joy.harmony.english!!!!!

But I can't stay home. That's not my job. It's not my personality. And ultimately, even though I LOVE to be home, it's not what I want. I want to be out. I want to be active. I want to be involved in my world. But I also want to feel comfortable and at peace in that world. Right now that world brings chaos and stress. That is why is nice, and necessary, to have the carpet, candles, music, fragrance and lighting to make me feel at home in my home.

What makes you feel at home? What brings peace and joy to your day - the little things you might take for granted or never really consider? Celebrate those things! Go make some brownies. Go light a candle (or plug in your Glade plug-in). Go take a bath and use your good smelling lotions. Go to Starbucks drive-thru on a rainy night! Go hug your kids, kiss your husband and scratch your dog behind the ears. Celebrate home!

A Little Bit of Everything....Catching up!

We have been enjoying some days off recently. Unfortunately, Hannah spent the first 2 days of her vacation with a stomach bug - she's beautiful anyways, huh?

Here she is sacked out on the couch, with the very necessary bucket close by.

Jacob at school with his teacher.

They had a performance on this day which is why he has a red dot on his head and silver christmas tree tinsel on his wrists. And this was TAME compared to the others....

Here he is performing his song and dance with the others in his class.

Walking onto the "stage"

This is Jacob's class. Aren't they So cute?!

Somebody wasn't too happy about this whole performing thing..

Getting all made up - lipstick, blush, glitter for all!

Another class waiting for their turn.

One of the classes had all the boys dressed in these toy soldier outfits - a little like the Nutcracker....

Here is a sampling of our GPA class - all (or most) of the vocab we learned over the last 8 weeks.

Getting a good foot soaking - this stuff is kinda like jello

taking a picture of the menu of our favorite noodle shop across the street. We used this picture to translate the whole thing!

Our kids being silly at a local restraunt

Our Sunday morning club meeting at our house

Enjoying a local park that has amusement rides!

SO much fun for our little ones

This nice guy was kind enough to buckle our kids in (for safety of course) and give them lung cancer from second hand smoke, all at the same time

These kids LOVE to be outside! Esp when there is nice green grass and beautiful shady trees to enjoy.

Jacob enjoying one of the benefits of living here - a good head massage with your haircut! They wash, massage, blowdry, cut, wash, massage, blowdry and style. It takes about 1.5hrs, even for the little guy

This is a performance happening for the MidAutumn Festival right in our backyard.

Our living room with our NEW carpet!!! It's AMAZING what carpet can do for your heart....

The kids are so happy to finally have carpet to catch their runaway marbles.

Jacob snuggling with George after a bad fall from the couch (pre-carpet)

It looks bad, but it actually healed up completely!