Part Three of Four- The wedding

We had a lot of fun helping Anna and Dieter get ready for their wedding on August 13! We had prayed for nice weather and it was a perfect day! Above is Joab realizing some day his flower girls will probably be brides!

The stunning couple

Anna worked with an amazing costume designer to make this dress!

Cute Cute Cute

Now all the siblings are married!

Cousin Coby came. Our favorite Chinese Cowboy (he used to live here). I told them to act like cowboys and I would take their picture. Here is what they came up with.

For the wedding they roasted a hug hog. The next day Uncle David sawed open the head and took out the brains. This was probably the coolest thing Asa saw all summer! It was the grossest thing I saw all summer.

We love you Anna and Dieter! Happy Wedding!

Part Four of Four- Chicago

Salome plays in the sand for the first time!


Hello Blog Faithful!

WOW- this summer I talked to many of you who follow this blog! So grateful you would take the time to connect with what we are doing here in China Land.

Hoping this week to blog about this summer. Also: moving this week, training in a new house helper, finishing Miriam's summer school homework and connecting with many friends before school starts (on Sept 1). SO not sure how much time I will have! But to be sure- I will get it done sometime soon!

There were four "parts" to our summer. The first - two weeks in Iowa with my parents. The second- a week in Des Monies with friends and family. The third- a week in Minnesota at a family wedding. The fourth- a trip to Chicago!

Part Four Chicago.

After Anna's wedding (Joab's sister) we drove the 6 or so hours to Chicago Land. We love staying at Laura and Nate Jennison's house! The food, fellowship, kids (a total of nine when we are all together) makes for some crazy fun!

At Lake Michigan. We did take Asa out eventually.

Miriam's turn

We flew stand by out of Chicago. Joab and Miriam were able to get on the flight the first time we tried (and flew business class!!!). I stayed behind with Salome and Asa. Laura made it very fun to stay behind! We had a picnic at the park!

I call these boys the twins. They were born on the same day almost six years ago. I told them to stand next to each other so I could take a picture. Here is what they came up with!

I am a city girl. I loved this park as we played with kids from: Bosnia, Mexico, African American and mine from China :). Here is Laura making it fun with tag.

It is strange to call both China and America home. Truly we saw and felt that this year! More to come soon!

English Camp

I was very thankful this year to be able to host an English Camp at our house this week. We had two classes- the little boys and the second graders! We played games, learned about what makes a noun, verb and adjective and had lots of fun!

Two of my favorite quotes from the Camp:

Miriam- "Is God a verb or a noun?" I told her He was both. And the more I think about it the more I am amazed we have a God who IS and who ACTS.
Girl from the camp- We were talking about the book the Princess and the Frog. I asked everyone if they had ever kissed a frog . One little girl said "I have never kissed one, but I have eaten one!"


My dear friend Karen made teaching the boys a breeze! Also special thanks to the Bowman family who supplied great learning games for the whole week.

The last day we had a party. Including: gingerbread cookies, seaweed crackers, yogurt drinks, fish crackers, bananas and more!

Most of the kids had never played with water balloons before. It was a huge hit!

Temperatures were in the 100s all week! We were HOT HOT HOT.

Salome turned 18 months a few weeks ago. Seriously love this girl!

Funny things my kids say...

Miriam

What this girl does not lack is confidence! She says so many things that are funny- but sadly I do not write them all down! Her latest funny one is this:

"Mommy I am bi-bingo"
What? I said
"Oh, I mean bi-lingo"
OH! You mean bilingual
"Is that what it is called?"

Our joke now with her is that she is bi-bingo. And if you knew Miriam as a little baby/girl she could not stand anyone laughing at her or about her. This is slowly changing and she is actually able to laugh about being bi-bingo.

Asa

This dude was made to joke. In fact he seems to be the happiest making people laugh. Teaching him to read has been about 360 degrees different than teaching Miriam to read. I am now trying to make it more *fun*. We will see if it works...in the meantime here is a story from last week.

H and AT put that together and you get what?
Asa- blank stare
Okay, let's try again H and AT
Asa- Africa

I just about lost it. He I think, was more trying to make his very focused Mom laugh. It worked- the stinker!

Salome

This girl loves and I mean loves to communicate! Chinese, English and sign language she will use it all to make her point! She loves ice cream so much Miriam taught her a sign for ice cream. The other night I put her in her seat for dinner and she looks straight at me and does the ice cream sign. Then all the way through dinner she made sure she let us know this was all she wanted to eat!

I also have been teaching her the words and signs for animals. We got to lion and I just said ROAR and did not do a sign. Well, she can not really roar she more just hacks- sounds identical to a local Chinese person hacking up a cough! So, we will be outside and she will just start this hack! When she sees really big dogs she I guess thinks they are lions and starts the hack! Also when she wants to go outside and see dogs she will give me her shoes and start hacking. We are in the process to helping her roar and not hack....

Random Funny

At a restaurant this past weekend. The server lady greeted us and then said "Please go away". Pretty sure she meant "Please follow me" . I was with my Chinese friend and she thought it funnier than me!

Summer almost here!

On the way home from preschool yesterday Asa asked if we could buy a WHOLE watermelon. And when they are only about $1.00 for a whole one- who can refuse?

Perfectly sweet!

Our street corner. The baby is on Joab's back.

Before Church two weeks ago. Getting so big! Can't wait to see many of you very soon!

Growing up- Part Two

On Children's Day Asa's whole preschool put on a show for themselves. I think it is kind of funny on the holiday that is for them, they have to work so hard to put on a show for us!

Top photo was the opening number. Which was actually quite good. Flags, Chinese music, exercises etc.

This is Asa's class. He is the middle row third up. He would practice every night to get the moves just right!

No preschool performance is complete without a routine with plastic machine guns. Here are the boys and girls dancing in camouflage with their guns. Asa was seriously bummed his class did not get to carry guns.

I do have a really good picture of all three kids on Children's Day- but it in on another camera. Will try to get that on here soon.

Growing up- Part One

Miriam's Chinese tutor who lives right in our same complex and comes three days and week to help with homework is on the right. Miriam's second grade teacher on the left.

Today in China it is Children's Day. Kind of like Father and Mother's Day- but for kids. Also today Miriam got her red scarf and now is a member of the Young Pioneers. Think a club in school that promotes the values that make China China. It has been an interesting journey walking with Miriam as she prepared for this day. She was thrilled to be "growing up". Here is what she had to say to me at Breakfast today.

"Mom, you know I am growing up right?"
Why- yes I do honey
"Today you blinked and then I got the red scarf. And then you will blink and I will graduate from high school. And then you will blink and I will get married. And then you will blink and I will have babies"
I really did not know what to say! Except that I was very proud of her and what God was doing in her heart and life.

Then I take her (and Asa and Salome) on the bike to school this morning. Usually she hops off the bike and talks to me one last time before she heads off into the gate of the school. She will ask me to pray for her test, ask what time I am coming to pick her up etc. So today, she hops off the bike and does not turn around to talk to me. She heads straight for the gate. I start to tear up. Indeed I am blinking- and she is growing up. How can I feel sad she is growing up and she is only eight years old!?


Right after getting the scarf. THRILLED.

Her class. In Chinese elementary school you have the same kids in your class until fifth grade. We really have gotten to know and love these kids!

When we were on the bike today. Miriam said- Mom there are going to be so many kids on stage with me how will you find me? I had to smile. As she really does not see herself as different than the other kids- she is one of the gang.

Miriam's best friend at school. Cherry. Often they fight. But I think they love each other too.

Asa had a huge dance performance today too. I will blog about that tomorrow!