Asa and his swords

He decided to use all this swords at once. Asa truly enjoys himself!!!

Children are the future for the Motherland

"Mom, I can not breathe!!!" Miriam said to me as we sped home on the bike a few weeks ago. My mind was racing to what happened while she simply sat on the back of the bike! Asthma attack, bee sting, a gun pointed at her? I got home as soon as I could and said - "what in the world happened"?

Miriam explained she saw a picture of herself on a poster- painting! I had no idea what she was walking about- but Miriam was beyond excited (enough to take her breath away I guess!)! Our first year here Miriam was in an art contest and I guess it was pictures from that they were using for the banner.

So I finally went by this sign again and took some pictures. These type of banners/signs are everywhere here. Usually to cover up construction work (the wall behind this sign is a huge unfinished construction project).

The sign translated says:

Children are the future for the Motherland

After taking these pictures and looking more closely, I was really glad Miriam was not asked to play with birds for her picture! I also love this guy looking at me, as if to say "what in the world are you doing?!"

Children are indeed a blessing from God. Praying that Miriam would love China in a special way!

Birthday Boy

Having formatting problems. But wanted to share some pictures of Asa's sixth Birthday! First we started the say with some Krispy Kreme donuts with friends! Then had some Chinese friends over for cake, pumpkin donuts, fruit and games outside! Fun was had by all!

My friend Karen. Also behind me is a new clock. I love that it does not have any numbers. Joab thinks I am crazy. But I love it. It is fun (for me!) to have people guess what time it is!

She Shan Hike

China celebrates October Holiday every year! A whole week off to celebrate the founding of modern China. We took one day and went to a hotel about an hour away. Here are my kids when I told them to look "normal" for a picture. Salome goes into Chinese squat, Asa looks goofy and Miriam is telling Asa how to act. This picture pretty much sums up our lives parenting right now!



Then I told them I meant it "LOOK NORMAL". I also love the "ad" car in the background.

They call it the She Shan Mountain. It is just a really big hill. But being so near to the ocean here we do not have many hills...so we decided to climb it. Here is Joab with Salome in front on a pagoda as you enter the park on the hill.

There is a huge Catholic Church on the top of the hill. You can read more about it here

With anything on a National Holiday that is free to go to, you have a ton of people hiking up the hill and taking pictures of you hiking up the hill. Asa had enough and exited this picture- leaving Joab all alone.

Finally a picture! Oh October Holiday we loved you! Can't wait for next year! And for those (and I know you are out there!!!) who would love to come and visit us....this time of year is perfect for visitors!!!!

Happy at 13 Years

Celebrating your 13th Wedding Anniversary is fun- but it is not the special of your 10th of the landmark of your 15th or 25th! But still we are thankful to still be best friends and loving life at 13 years!

Joab is in America for two weeks now- for work. The kids and I are missing him A LOT. Not as fun (and a ton more work!) to do this alone here. Asa asked me today "Will Daddy get here everyday sooner or further away?". The dude has NO sense of time- but I assured him someday soon daddy will be home!

The many faces of Salome

You have your first little girl- you buy baby dolls, baby doll clothes etc. Your first little girl never touches a baby doll. You think,I guess little girls are not into baby dolls.

You have your second little girl. You don't even get out the baby dolls (actually you gave all the baby dolls stuff away) because you think she will not like them.

Well, I was dead wrong. Not only does Salome love baby dolls she prefers to have one strapped to her body in the form of a baby sling! She then sings to it, kisses it and tells it they are going to go outside to play. Beyond cute.

Telling Salome to "smile"

Can't wait to see what kind of mother she will really be like someday!!!

Home - Part Two

The above "DIY" table is a fun table for me. I saw this red old (a KTV bar was getting remodled) on the side of the road and Joab asked if we could buy it! They kind of looked at us funny but for about $3.00 they even delivered it to our house! So when our landlord decided to buy us this HUGE television (we did not say no!) we had the perfect table to set it on!

Master bath

v
view from bedroom

master bedroom

Home Sweet Home- before this home was ours it was our good friends Denise and Lisa's. We are thankful we got to take it over when they moved back to the USA. Joab and I both feel that this house feels more like home than our first place in Shanghai (which we were at for four years!). The space, the friends we live near to, the green spaces are all so much better!

Come see us soon blog faithful!!!!