Thanksgiving 2011

We had a wonderful, fun, full of people Thanksgiving here on Saturday! Above the ladies kicking me out of my kitchen! They were busy frying up a whole fish and making corn soup.

Pies!!!

The ironing board is out! Filled with deviled eggs and muffins.

Fruit, drinks and bread

Here is some fried shrimp paper thing (really have no idea what to call it- but it is good) then some beef , tofu dish in the bowl and and in the pot some mashed potatoes. We also had all the traditional stuff, turkey, stuffing etc. But I got too busy to take any pictures of that!

Before we ate we talked about what it really means to be thankful. Also, everyone had to go around and share something they were thankful for. It was just great to hear everyone share.
Kids all decided to eat at one table!

We took all the desks out of the office to make the office into a second eating area. Here is the adult table and kids table is above. We did have two kid tables- but kids refused to eat apart! So all 10+ of them squeezed into this space! At first I thought I would not have enough room for everyone to sit. We have some amazing neighbors and with all their extra tables we were able to make it work!

Miriam playing Simon Says with the kids.

The weather was amazing this weekend! We took the kids outside post dinner to run off some steam. This is a waterfall (which they never turn on!) in our complex.

We have a friend here who translated the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving story into Chinese! We had fun with the kids telling this story again. Here are all the Native Americans and Pilgrims!

And the gifts! Our friends were so kind and gave us A LOT hostess gifts! Some are included above. From left to right they are: a case of coconut juice (which is now half gone as Asa and Salome can not get enough), homemade wine from a friend's Mom who makes this up in her kitchen, dried fruit dates and grapes, a whole bag of 'hometown' eggs that my friend swears are the freshest in town and lots and lots and lots of fruit. Also pictured (this is Joab's idea) is a Husker napkin because they beat the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend in football!

We are THANKFUL for friends to celebrate here with.

Count your Blessings

Today as I biked my three kids, in the smog to school, I reflected on two big things I am thankful for.

One is the family I came from- the Franks.

Thanksgiving at our family was never really the same year after year. Sometimes we would make the whole thing (Dad usually grilling the turkey) sometimes we would buy the whole thing made (Lunds Grocery store). Sometimes we would pack the whole family in the car and drive eight+ hours to my Grandparents in Iowa. Here we would be put at the "kids" table for the big meal and usually we would complain that we were not grown up enough to eat with the adults. But no matter how we "ate" the meal it was always so fun to just be together. It was always wonderful to laugh, play outside, visit with people, watch TV and generally be a family. I am truly blessed that my family just loved to BE together.

The second is the family I married into- the Meyers

My first Thanksgiving with the Meyers I ask my Mom in Law how I can help. She opens the freezer and put two frozen packages of cranberries on the stove. She then tells me to "make some cranberry sauce". I look up at her- thinking it only came from a can. She says- just add sugar, boil and you will have cranberry sauce! I had never thought this is HOW you make it! So, as I stood there watching the cranberries explode and make amazing cranberry sauce I also learned the ins and outs of how to make a whole Thanksgiving meal. I am truly blessed to have been taught how to make so much from scratch from Christy Meyer!

So this year as I plan and prepare our Thanksgiving meal I am so very thankful for where I have come from. Our meal this year will be mostly with all Chinese people. Most of whom have never tasted a turkey, cranberries or gravy. Most of whom never think about being thankful. Most of whom don't come from very nice families. Most of whom are thankful for our family who loves them here in China. Perhaps that is why I love Thanksgiving best of all- to show love to those who need it the most.

Happy Thanksgiving blog faithful!!!

Lesson I learned yesterday...from Miriam

Picking Miriam up from school each day is...well...and adventure. In the past few months I have discussed/debated/been lectured about the following while we (mostly Grandparents) wait for the school gates to open so we can get the kids:

- What fish you should buy only alive. Some you can buy dead- but others I guess are really dangerous to buy already dead.
- How much money the government pays me per year for my children.
- If I speak only Chinese at home with my kids
- How much the groceries I am carrying in my hands cost.
- How much I pay in rent
- How long have a lived here and am I from France?
- Why I don't take the month long rest after having a baby and are you not so scared when you get older your body will be crippled from not resting enough.
- Do I hit my kids if they do not do their homework
-Why can't you speak Shanghaiese (local dialect)
-Why do you wear so many clothes when it is not even cold out
-Why do your parents not live in China to take care of your kids
- How much does your husband make a month?
-How much is a plane ticket home to America?
- Do you perm your hair?
-Why do your kids have red hair and you do not

I am pretty good at the above questions. They may sound very direct to you- but that is kind of how people talk here. They will not come up to you and say "Hi, nice to see you ! How are you and the kids?" but they will say "You look skinnner- why are you not eating". You have to translate in your head what they REALLY mean is the first sentence but say the second.

Well, something happened yesterday at school that totally threw me for a loop. I was a little late so everyone has already gone into the school. Once I climbed the three floors to Miriam's classroom I noticed all the kids were still at their desks and one lone Grandpa was waiting in the back of the room. When he saw me he yelled across the classroom "Why is you daughter writing with her left hand. Don't you know that is really bad and in China we do not do that".

I did not know what to say. His tone of voice was not the normal "how much does your government pay you for your kids" tone. It was meaner and nastier. I bee lined to Miriam and with my head down just told her to get her stuff and we are OUT OF HERE. Then the Grandpa comes over to me and starts in that Miriam should not be allowed to eat with her left hand either. Thankfully, Miriam's teacher (who we love) spoke up and basically said to leave Miriam alone she is from America. Grandpa then realized I was mad and started saying things like "But Miriam is so pretty" ect. His sweet words were not going to make me any happier! So we said our goodbyes to her friends and teachers and we were out of there.

Once I kind of gained my composure I told Miriam I was sorry I did not defend her more. It is true that 99% of kids that are left handed they force to change to right hand. Writing Chinese with your left hand is really, really hard. But Miriam seems to be just fine! So have not really thought more about it. Until Grandpa showed up...

I asked Miriam what she thought I should of said to him. Thinking that she would know from a cultural perspective what would be best. Miriam then said this to me:

"Mommy, you just need to pray for him. Pray that God would change his heart about being left handed in China"

Her words first shocked me. She was the one that was wronged! But then her words convicted me to the core. Indeed it is only prayer that can change anyone.

I am thankful for a little girl who can teach her very stubborn Mommy.