Christmas Greetings - 2014

2014 has been a blessed year for the Meyer Family: We began the year in Shanghai, China and will close it out in Minneapolis, Minnesota - where we moved in June.  While we miss so much about our life in China, especially our dear friends, we are thankful for God's faithful provision to return to the U.S.  We are still adjusting to life here, including Joab looking for a new job after being laid off in September.  Overall, we have been encouraged to see how everyone is building more connections here.

Adjusting Well to the US: A lot of people ask us how the kids are adjusting to life in the USA. Truly, they are doing great: School, Church, Neighborhood and Time with Family - they love it all!
- Miriam and Asa: Our big kids attend a local Chinese Charter Immersion School - Ying Hua Academy.  This has been an amazing way for Asa and Miriam to continue in their Chinese studies. They both have made some great friends and love being a part of such a great community.
- Salome was fluent in Chinese when we left this summer and now has forgotten most of her Chinese. This makes us sad, but hopeful she can gain it again next year when she goes to Ying Hua for Kindergarten.
- Silas is talking more and more and when you ask him his name he replies "Elmo" just to see you laugh! He brings a lot of laughter to our home.

Prayers Answered and Fulfillment Awaited: I (Emily) had three prayers for our move to the USA: That we would find a house that feels like a home, a church that feels like a family and a job Joab loves. Truly the first two have been met as we are renting an incredible home in North Minneapolis near the kids school and in November become members of Sovereign Grace Church! Now we are just waiting on God for the job! God has answered so many prayers and we are eager to see Him do so again!

Leaving China: Leaving the place we called home for seven years was probably the hardest thing we have done as a married couple. It was not easy to leave a land and community that we loved. But have learned a lot, grown a lot and by God's amazing grace have seen God provide time and time again.  Below are some highlights from the last year.  As always, we would love to hear from you - either through posting on the blog below or e-mailing us (joabandemily@gmail.com)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cutting the Christmas Tree

Halloween Costumes

Carving Pumpkins

First Day of School at Ying Hua Academy

Exploring Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis

Moving Into our New Home in North Minneapolis

Leaving Shanghai: Boxes and Goodbye

Summer Trip: Visiting Our Friend's Family in the Anhui Country Side  

Final Party with Local Chinese Friends

Spring Trip with American Friends (the Bowmans) to Nanjing

Ringing in the Chinese New Year with Lights in Downtown Shanghai

Chinese New Year Highlights - 2014

One of the biggest holidays of the year here in China is always Chinese New Year.  Below are some of the highlights from our family's Chinese New Year celebrations.

The New Year's celebrations begin with great anticipation as decorations went up around our complex - including a carousel style horse - this year is the Year of the Horse - at the complex entrance.

We knew the New Year's celebration was close when we began to see the extra fruit boxes and fireworks being sold in our neighborhood. 

There were also some great displays at our local mall - including a three story tall red horse.

We also got a great family picture at the base of the horse, which we then climbed and shot an arrow off in hopes of winning a prize.

On New Year's Eve (Jan 30, 2014) Emily cooked an amazing meal, which included fish - an essential dish in a Chinese New Year's meal

After dinner we went to our neighbor's house to set off fireworks - the kids had a blast.

The fireworks climaxed at mid-night and here is a short video I shot from the 33rd floor of our building

 

On New Year's Day (Jan 31) we went across town to with our good friends the Bowmans where the kids had a blast - including setting up a "Kids Cafe" and serving the dads.

After time with the Bowmans we had a chance to take a short train ride to nearby Kun Shan with families who are part of our home school coop.  Miriam had a blast at the party with one of her good friends from coop - Haley.

We spent the next several days of the holiday at a hotel downtown in order to avoid the nosiest fireworks.  Near downtown in the Yu Garden area there were some impressive lantern displays with traditional Chinese New Year scenes.

Unexpectedly, there was also a "Garden of Eden" lantern display where Adam and Eve were standing next to Jesus with a white horse.

From our hotel room - on the 33rd floor - we had a great view of downtown.

This is the westward view of People's Square, which was the horse racing track during Shanghai's colonial days.

From the eastward view there was a nice view of downtown Shanghai - including the Pearl Tower (lit up in red) and the Shanghai Financial Center (lit up in blue).

One of the highlights of our time at the hotel was the great view of the fireworks that were lit off at mid-night to celebrate the arrival of the god of wealth.  The fireworks culminate about 2 minutes into the video.