tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51863395894331503382024-03-05T16:02:38.299+08:00The Other Side
Reflect & Record Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.comBlogger397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-1565410502231015662015-03-28T15:41:00.001+08:002015-03-28T15:45:55.433+08:00It's a....Gender Reveal Post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Thursday afternoon, I walked into the clinic for foreigners, wondering if I would find out the gender of our baby, but also really hoping that I would pass the glucose test. Man! I hate that test so much--it's the worst. I had resigned myself to not knowing whether the baby was a boy or a girl until the time of delivery because I am really quite okay with either another son or another daughter and it would be a happy surprise either way.<br />
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Yet, we have a lot of unknowns in our future right now, and sometimes the uncertainties feel heavy. So knowing at least one thing (i.e. should I keep Noah's baby clothes or sell them the following day when I had scheduled a kids' clothing sale) would definitely feel nice. According to my personality anyway.<br />
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The nurse asked me how many weeks along in my pregnancy I was....and I couldn't remember. That is how scatter brained and crazy I am right now. She had to count using their records to find out how many weeks I was. At least now I know that I am 26 weeks along. All the regular tests out of the way, she gave me a large paper cup of syrupy glucose and I chugged it as carefully as possible. Meaning, I was gagging in front of the nurses and doctor.<br />
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Then, with a now hyperactive baby bouncing around in the womb, we went to the attached Chinese hospital for an ultra sound. Apparently, they received an upgrade in machinery since I was pregnant with Noah and now have 4D capabilities. But it's still the same experience of laying flat on your back on a wooden table, while you can't see the screen, and everything is communicated in Mandarin. The technician was the same lady that did my last ultra sound and refused to tell me the gender of the baby. She also did most of Willow's and Noah's ultra sounds, as well as ultrasounds on my chest when we thought I might have breast cancer a few years ago.<br />
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She was strangely kind and friendly this time. So happy to see me, and saying she has done sooooo many ultrasounds for me in the past. She even hugged my legs while I was laying on the table. A little weird. She's an older woman, and I feel like she could be my grandmother. The nurse/translator asked me if I knew her really well....nope!<br />
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This was one of the longest ultrasounds I've ever experienced, and my back was really sore afterwards. I think it took at least 1 hour, possibly longer. I decided not to ask her about the gender, and just let her take her pictures and measurements. But occasionally we spoke, mostly in Mandarin. Something I wouldn't have been able to do as comfortably when I was pregnant with Willow. I told her some stories about Willow and Noah, and tried to tell some jokes in Chinese. We talked about my Korean heritage, since she was as curious as anyone else about it. I told her how I've been trying to teach Willow that she's 1/4 Korean, and how Willow becomes frustrated and yells, "I'm not Korean, I'm Chinese!" She was laughing....So I changed my mind and decided to ask her about baby #3:<br />
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me: Do you know if the baby is a boy or a girl?<br />
Lady: I know. But I won't tell you.<br />
me: oh....(awkward pause)<br />
Lady: Do you want a boy or a girl?<br />
me: Doesn't matter. I like both, both are okay.<br />
Lady: really?<br />
me: Yes. But my daughter really wants a little sister. She says she doesn't want another brother because she already has one.<br />
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More silence.<br />
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Hmmmm....<br />
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I looked at my nurse/translator and asked her, "So, does she know if the baby is a boy or a girl?" The nurse smiled and said, "Your daughter will get her wish."<br />
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Well, there you go! This roundabout way of finding out the gender is so typical here. I didn't hear it directly from the technician, and I didn't get a definite "boy" or "girl" statement. But, I think they were telling me quite clearly that the baby is a girl! This also matches the instinct I've had since the beginning of this pregnancy. This pregnancy has shared more similarities to my pregnancy with Willow than with the symptoms I experienced when pregnant with Noah.<br />
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The next day, I started selling all of Noah's outgrown clothes. Fortunately, I brought Willow's baby clothes (0 months through 24 months) to America two years ago. What a relief to know that I can leave all the baby clothes in China guilt-free, and have many girly clothes waiting for us in America! Willow is also thrilled to play with a sister in her near future and is wanting her name to be Masha. After a Russian cartoon she watches occasionally on youtube or youku.<br />
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Noah will be even more outnumbered, but I think he will have fun learning to be a big brother.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-73443497873699304062015-03-23T21:15:00.000+08:002015-03-23T21:15:10.333+08:00Paradox Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVcIYRrx3uwDPWEVAX8FjJ54UgtprehPTKS_Deu4R_mZaXCAxY37q8rUkSSL9qRSFxewdkHy08N8UM2aK7Lze1vKArQLraGE3CKg8EbUnnAT97e7FGeW4KQ1KDMv34xiG5iImpF6Jeg/s1600/Announcing+Move.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVcIYRrx3uwDPWEVAX8FjJ54UgtprehPTKS_Deu4R_mZaXCAxY37q8rUkSSL9qRSFxewdkHy08N8UM2aK7Lze1vKArQLraGE3CKg8EbUnnAT97e7FGeW4KQ1KDMv34xiG5iImpF6Jeg/s1600/Announcing+Move.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throwback to May 2014, when we were tourists in Beijing with Uncle Brad. <br />
We will truly miss China and the expat experiences we have enjoyed here. </td></tr>
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As the picture above announces, we have some significant changes coming very soon! Some of you may already know about this news, while others might be finding out for the first time. I am writing this post to bring everyone in on our plan: we will not be signing another contract with Leadership Development International and so will be returning to the United States in the very near future. You might want to know why this decision was made, or maybe you are wondering what is next for us. You might want to discover how we are coping with these upcoming transitions and how you can be praying for us this year. Well, this post will hopefully answer many, many questions and also help me to process this life-changing announcement. Please read this post, and if afterwards you would like to leave a comment or send me a message or email, I would love to hear from you! </div>
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Besides becoming a mom, I think this is the most crazy, life-altering, scary, uncertain, and terribly exciting thing I have ever done: move back to America. </h2>
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When I was a child, one of my favorite books was "Grandfather's Journey", a beautiful picture book written and illustrated by Allen Say. At the time, I was drawn to the nearly melancholy tone of the story, and its bittersweet message. As an elementary teacher, in a classroom full of Third Culture Kids, I once again fell in love with "Grandfather's Journey". Now, as a mother of third culture kids, it speaks to my heart profoundly. If you want me to cry on command, just hand me a copy of "Grandfather's Journey". It's about the author's grandfather and how he lived either in Japan or the US at various times throughout his life. A genuine TCK before the term was coined and popularized. Here is a quote from the final page of the story: </div>
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"But I also miss the mountains and rivers of my childhood. I miss my old friends. So I return now and then, when I can not still the longing in my heart. <u>The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other." </u> -Allen Say</h3>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This quote perfectly encompasses my feelings about leaving China. I can hardly believe our time here is coming to a close. It is a bittersweet time and I approach each day with hesitancy. Each moment is a paradox of loving and hating, grieving and rejoicing. But...more on that later! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLRyiSwLNM3SwT2m1eFxpU-LDVhKYlTwpdxAA4v7AAGUfgb73dfvPIKRbM3CWUsXJVltvahNr7UUnvUBxPFcK7vTYL9_Vi8JUeFyeE6shDyqvT8nyXl6QUbTilCLj3kbGnyNr81sXuA/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLRyiSwLNM3SwT2m1eFxpU-LDVhKYlTwpdxAA4v7AAGUfgb73dfvPIKRbM3CWUsXJVltvahNr7UUnvUBxPFcK7vTYL9_Vi8JUeFyeE6shDyqvT8nyXl6QUbTilCLj3kbGnyNr81sXuA/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will miss: the frigid cold of living that is living in China's Northeast. The fact that the government controls our heat, meaning they turn it on/off depending on pre-set dates. I will not especially miss feeling cold all the time and having to bundle up every time we go out since we rely entirely on either walking or public transportation. </td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Why We are Leaving China</h2>
In every way, the decision to leave China has been both the most complicated choice and yet easiest decision we've had to make together as a couple. Adam often thought we would be here for at least a decade, if not longer. There are many details to this story that I could drag up for inspection, however there is really only one reason that we are leaving. We believe the Lord is directing us back to America, and that He has given us permission to move on to the next chapter of our story.<br />
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We came to China because we both believed that God was leading us here. He clearly called us, opened the necessary doors, and worked in ways only He could to make certain we were in Shenyang in 2009.<br />
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In the following years, when we would discuss whether or not to sign another contract, the first question was always, "Does God want us to leave or stay?" As much as possible, we have wanted to live in a way that conformed to His will and not our own. If it had been up to me, we would have left years ago. As I watched my purpose shift from being an elementary teacher, to a part time drama director, to a full time stay at home mom, I have often wondered why God called me to China in the first place. Honestly, I am really pondering that question now. Why six years? Why not four or eight? What did I learn while I was here, and what am I supposed to do about it now?<br />
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We prayed. We waited. We prayed some more, and tried to hear what God had been so patiently whispering to us for some time. After over a year, we realized that there were only a few reasons we wanted to stay in China: we were 'safe' here and we were comfortable with what had become a familiar home. In all truthfulness, we did not want to leave our nest.<br />
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In retrospect, I see God shaking us in our nest. We were holding on to twigs and mud and clinging to our false sense of security with tenacity. So yes, things got a little rough. We spent months in uncertainty as we tried to discern if our situation was something we were called to persevere through, or a sign that it was time to move on. There are many things that happened in the last year that revealed our hearts desires were shifting...or maybe that the circumstances we were working in were no longer fitting God's call for our lives. When God starts to strip away all the excess, you can see the heart of the matter so much better. I think it came down to two issues for Adam....he might correct me later!<br />
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1. Adam felt a strong sense of loyalty towards serving the students here, and felt it would be difficult to leave when there's so much work here. Until someone pointed out to him that if God wanted us to move, then He already had a replacement in mind, did Adam let go of this desire to see for the sake of teaching the students here.<br />
2. Adam also worried about the uncertain future. But was convicted this past Fall by the Spirit to not worry about where we will live or work. Because God is faithful, and He provides, and to stay in a place because it feels comfortable and financially secure is not walking by faith. Any earthly security we build around ourselves to make us feel safe is false. Truly, the safest place for each of us is in the center of God's will.<br />
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After Adam shared how God was answering his doubts, we immediately agreed that it would be a sin to sign another contract simply because it felt familiar and safe. It would be a sin to stay if God wanted us elsewhere.<br />
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With that mindset, we saw that the only reason we would potentially stay was because we would feel financially secure. But it would be terribly false because we would be relying on our own strength, making decisions based on our own will, dictated by our own wants. Like Jonah, we could no longer run from the Lord's plan.<br />
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A big fish spat us up on shore... </h3>
We were shaken out of our doubt-ridden nest and ushered into a sense of overwhelming peace. True freedom is found in obedience to Him. The next chapter will be difficult, but it will be worth it. I do not know what He is preparing for us, but I do know that running towards the Lord is the only place I want to be.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will miss the adventure of living in China. The fact that any time you step out your front door (and sometimes without even leaving your apartment), you are thrown into new and exciting experiences. There are possible and unlimited adventures surrounding you at all times. They will make you shocked, angry, enthusiastic, or deeply touched. You'll laugh, or cry, and think for the thousandth time, "No one is going to believe me about this!" </td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Where We are Headed Next </h2>
We're not really sure what is next. That is the gist of it! Which is both scary and exciting! Here's what we do know:<br />
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<li>My brother is coming on April 28 to help us sell most of our belongings and pack our suitcases. He will also help us travel to America. Because of my pregnancy, I will be leaving three weeks before Adam. It would be impossible for me to travel with a load of approximately 20 bags, plus two little ones, all while eight months pregnant....I mean, I could probably do it if there was no other option, but thankfully my brother is coming to help!</li>
<li>Willow is having a Hello Kitty-Goodbye Willow party to play with her friends once more before we leave in mid-May. Brad is bringing a bunch of fun party stuff that she helped pick out on Amazon. The poor girl had to have something to look forward to in May! She is not happy about moving.</li>
<li>Noah needs surgery to separate his webbed fingers. I hope this happens in June.</li>
<li>Baby #3 is due on July 5. Wouldn't it be ironic if this little one was a 4th of July baby?</li>
<li>Sometimes I forget that I am pregnant. There's so much to do! My China bucket list, a trip to Korea over spring break, selling nearly all our earthly possessions, packing the rest, having a going away party for Willow (disguised as an early birthday party)....traveling to America, jet lag on my own with two kids, transitioning to the States, having Noah's surgery and recovery...and THEN, oh yeah, having a baby!</li>
<li>And then maybe moving somewhere else. Starting a new job. Finding new friends. Finding a home. Finding a Church....all while missing China, taking care of two culture-shocked kids, and caring for a newborn.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Did I mention that we will be missing China? It's a kind of grief that is hard to put into words, and maybe I never will be able to. When I think about leaving, I am a little sad but I am preparing myself for it and processing a lot. However, when I think about my kids leaving China, then I am nearly inconsolable. The pain is white hot in my heart.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTTLkdJ4QAyRS_uZ6zPgdFlD5AGBQKRpsbUT36NE1qGa0Lp4zCl_sJtq31RHmVB1wi-3OAwXbXbH_4Hf8piWN1fCAbYkViOiuJcj2Asx4oEZMDDTBDBl6ff5lu0S02ycKG4bGIGGDKA/s1600/IMG_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTTLkdJ4QAyRS_uZ6zPgdFlD5AGBQKRpsbUT36NE1qGa0Lp4zCl_sJtq31RHmVB1wi-3OAwXbXbH_4Hf8piWN1fCAbYkViOiuJcj2Asx4oEZMDDTBDBl6ff5lu0S02ycKG4bGIGGDKA/s1600/IMG_0258.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We will miss the complete chaos of fireworks during Chun Jie. But we will not miss the crazy pollution levels. Geneticists theorized that Noah's birth abnormalities were a result of the pollution I was exposed to while pregnant. I took this picture the morning after the Lunar New Year festivities...the Air Quality Index clocked out at 999. Which basically means the air is cancerous. Most cities in the US are under 100, and we rarely have days that "good" here. We stay inside so many days because the air quality is considered dangerous and will result in health issues. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
What we're Working on Now </h2>
<ul>
<li>Adam is applying and interviewing for jobs all over the US</li>
<li>Figuring out what to sell, what to give away, and what to pack </li>
<li>Preparing Willow and Noah for our upcoming transitions </li>
<li>Enjoying our last weeks (only 8 of them left!) in China as much as possible </li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzfMl0jShEpu97hwVDsiitJ8YRFRRRCnmp-sTG2_PIJ0AXSSaa34Bgbga8YtKGt6KJA4dISSHPDRfgHb3LLeUQu-sJVkZrnKzmFpK9DHdD1NVniI3-uMtPN031ogaysjg8dLBErjP8Q/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzfMl0jShEpu97hwVDsiitJ8YRFRRRCnmp-sTG2_PIJ0AXSSaa34Bgbga8YtKGt6KJA4dISSHPDRfgHb3LLeUQu-sJVkZrnKzmFpK9DHdD1NVniI3-uMtPN031ogaysjg8dLBErjP8Q/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
More things we'll miss: cheap fireworks that would definitely be illegal in the US. </h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkKjjOGOk6QH-k7GXkAcmB8CckPzYxubldVsTM8lU6QpC9sFWiisdvzhv-7GrLhKLaUZi9Q70JrAXVhYfF_NVGYlyaJtvb1utb6qPM9mwraFLRt-wUXlT2KdUBFG2OTc6Kox5k9gNUw/s1600/IMG_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkKjjOGOk6QH-k7GXkAcmB8CckPzYxubldVsTM8lU6QpC9sFWiisdvzhv-7GrLhKLaUZi9Q70JrAXVhYfF_NVGYlyaJtvb1utb6qPM9mwraFLRt-wUXlT2KdUBFG2OTc6Kox5k9gNUw/s1600/IMG_0339.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSj9a6kgTISijRrkFEKLUiPk0RjBbrjKSrpoedB-uVkewxGC4ANbXZhNYyqqNo7v8a-33cP4DodrIVUuZvHW8RpTOeriPGl867Rk_ZA3jh4olv268PhK3CI-Cw6Cma2h0LaglmYK6LA/s1600/IMG_0332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSj9a6kgTISijRrkFEKLUiPk0RjBbrjKSrpoedB-uVkewxGC4ANbXZhNYyqqNo7v8a-33cP4DodrIVUuZvHW8RpTOeriPGl867Rk_ZA3jh4olv268PhK3CI-Cw6Cma2h0LaglmYK6LA/s1600/IMG_0332.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Prayer Requests </h2>
<ul>
<li>That Adam would find a job teaching middle school science, math, or history in a place that shares his vision for education. On a semi-minor note, that the salary would be such that I could continue to stay home with the kids and not have to work as well. </li>
<li>That we would be able to live in the moment and enjoy the 'now', even as we look ahead to the future. </li>
<li>That we would not sow anxiety in our hearts, but that we would plant seeds of faith as we approach all the uncertainties and complexities of the future. </li>
<li>That we would have meaningful and memorable times with our community here and that we would be able to find a new community in America. That we would be able to take what we have learned about living in community and apply it to our new location. </li>
<li>That Willow and Noah would transition smoothly to life in the States. That Adam and I would have wisdom and patience and that we would grow closer together through it all. </li>
<li>For Noah's surgery this summer</li>
<li>For the safe arrival of baby #3</li>
<li>On a minor note, that we would be able to find out the gender of this baby! We've once again had trouble finding out (due to the culture here) at the hospital.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Mainly, we're just coasting on fumes and feeling overwhelmed. So the desire to finish not only the school year well, but also dealing with heartache of saying goodbye to our home is sometimes keeping me all night. </div>
<br />
I've been trying to post this blog for months, and it has been so hard to get it out! Even now, I didn't want to do it--I just feel that I HAD to do it because I only have 8 weeks left and I would like to start processing my thoughts on here and elsewhere online. Read the captions below for more things that I will miss about China! I have much more to write about, but even this post is overwhelming me...so I'll just publish it...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWCT4Eu_-rULawBNitkg8OEb7jbEW7hvjVNt6epZj7hIIy2z3COHhUwGz0imr4qcU6bGJJkKdhYX5tX996rLyo2gpXY0d4RAbJXKThKGOwdoZmlAss0L6gHlww4UAGMCUqqMstvF3pA/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWCT4Eu_-rULawBNitkg8OEb7jbEW7hvjVNt6epZj7hIIy2z3COHhUwGz0imr4qcU6bGJJkKdhYX5tX996rLyo2gpXY0d4RAbJXKThKGOwdoZmlAss0L6gHlww4UAGMCUqqMstvF3pA/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli2NuMoUBEsBmwer7rti6k8KmhSPjNsElFtw8PYBXtT_ySJLv4KoNg_ERRkaK_W00LmWyB6JLEDxroxP3TqnY1lNtTqSFiB94hriewBrI4Gc3FQCDTTsjBDxqadofKQaVW_ANDeOdkA/s1600/IMG_0359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli2NuMoUBEsBmwer7rti6k8KmhSPjNsElFtw8PYBXtT_ySJLv4KoNg_ERRkaK_W00LmWyB6JLEDxroxP3TqnY1lNtTqSFiB94hriewBrI4Gc3FQCDTTsjBDxqadofKQaVW_ANDeOdkA/s1600/IMG_0359.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSqPTZcjlqLGadGCt2wPgHBzgy-UOXShwoF2lPaLRNc4ROgb5b9d8fW6q39ESA1OHy7NGOIKhY_Ksq9Iq-gtpVSAkb2mU1jLKUuNsWtAlilimpCQNjWL4mSO_EhjQgfC3BaVM_WRXGw/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSqPTZcjlqLGadGCt2wPgHBzgy-UOXShwoF2lPaLRNc4ROgb5b9d8fW6q39ESA1OHy7NGOIKhY_Ksq9Iq-gtpVSAkb2mU1jLKUuNsWtAlilimpCQNjWL4mSO_EhjQgfC3BaVM_WRXGw/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, my little family is enjoying treats sent by Aunt Erica. We will miss all the wonderful care packages we have been sent faithfully through the years! Even Noah is ecstatic when his dad walks in the door with a US priority mail package!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRpCtMnzyVOtsP7jwqoryQxCPvE3n05hIYydA6ILe0cJ-5W5jNFmpsjhq3_mvxVZ0MJ0wHA245l_1bRCOHC7kgLQTU9BLP4itPtsHLhoHCQsZ2CalkIoj4Yr7Yb_hM4qguOF6-pJ8WQ/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRpCtMnzyVOtsP7jwqoryQxCPvE3n05hIYydA6ILe0cJ-5W5jNFmpsjhq3_mvxVZ0MJ0wHA245l_1bRCOHC7kgLQTU9BLP4itPtsHLhoHCQsZ2CalkIoj4Yr7Yb_hM4qguOF6-pJ8WQ/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We will dearly miss our community here! In this picture, we were making pizzas to eat for lunch with all the little friends in our play group. The kids have wonderful friends and will miss their play group time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fmBoJvg1yc3Dg4Kt-1M3RbCKEkhnzLn0neK3S61iC5aD2S5vnkB8u5BFoSYe-xLQ9nRd6gC2XhRid_eDK6fssBhDANs7TOuSkOSWTKiI-LYgHAuMnvgVjfRtQhdQuwLc-bMTePe4TQ/s1600/DSC_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fmBoJvg1yc3Dg4Kt-1M3RbCKEkhnzLn0neK3S61iC5aD2S5vnkB8u5BFoSYe-xLQ9nRd6gC2XhRid_eDK6fssBhDANs7TOuSkOSWTKiI-LYgHAuMnvgVjfRtQhdQuwLc-bMTePe4TQ/s1600/DSC_0720.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will sort of miss my little tiny toaster oven. Which I have learned to cook and bake with proficiently. The pizzas are the shape they are (in this picture) because that is the exact shape of my oven and the largest possible pizza we could make. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRBA9qGtJyprooRoZid6UR4dAWwSTyynk4-fJTW3k95IoQaLlYz1c9daFwOO92PEZoG08AgpbJrWJzSxi-7PryQ3_H37-R-BPhOdsElY2JWUWvBOS7qZbk2GHo5ZrUBQiFx1nuq2Kxw/s1600/DSC_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRBA9qGtJyprooRoZid6UR4dAWwSTyynk4-fJTW3k95IoQaLlYz1c9daFwOO92PEZoG08AgpbJrWJzSxi-7PryQ3_H37-R-BPhOdsElY2JWUWvBOS7qZbk2GHo5ZrUBQiFx1nuq2Kxw/s1600/DSC_0744.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We will miss hanging out with our friends! Here we are, all staying in the same hotel together, in the city where we all live...just for fun! Does this kind of thing happen in America? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm2L4v9b0RVlrW9GsTV-79ed-saMvMzu1_2eUMUbrDcPbCKZ8Z82XX8L8Xbo3dcsli_gY2S0xTeXSmQIe3_jRRIkaRqdhbrQBe3yJzlUkD45Cla93Xfgl5FK2a7ucpv0C9IXeewYHVQ/s1600/DSC_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSm2L4v9b0RVlrW9GsTV-79ed-saMvMzu1_2eUMUbrDcPbCKZ8Z82XX8L8Xbo3dcsli_gY2S0xTeXSmQIe3_jRRIkaRqdhbrQBe3yJzlUkD45Cla93Xfgl5FK2a7ucpv0C9IXeewYHVQ/s1600/DSC_0748.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-0EFTxlpxmu3MN9tF7wTn6CnAdbsfvp-017pI_WY-D6k5GtLwaEZKWZCyx201buxvUnfxR9PRvAN_HhBIJ5WQY4_9_4WrYUXUZ_GvfS2AlJu9gpUt80cZjEbu1fTrB4KSh1TFUP46A/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-0EFTxlpxmu3MN9tF7wTn6CnAdbsfvp-017pI_WY-D6k5GtLwaEZKWZCyx201buxvUnfxR9PRvAN_HhBIJ5WQY4_9_4WrYUXUZ_GvfS2AlJu9gpUt80cZjEbu1fTrB4KSh1TFUP46A/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have great babysitters all within walking distance. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JrGMTS-x_bKOXFT9v28fNo8CmHqVW4M8HPnLr2XX5aaGw21b06ZvSLWg1QI7n6_NCcUwx-TdA0qB_2gI0vDgTL8eNOWhCUCKZfSG_DuMZ4Q98GqyGE0MCYWObTMFvdc95Oq0M2t6sw/s1600/DSC_0800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JrGMTS-x_bKOXFT9v28fNo8CmHqVW4M8HPnLr2XX5aaGw21b06ZvSLWg1QI7n6_NCcUwx-TdA0qB_2gI0vDgTL8eNOWhCUCKZfSG_DuMZ4Q98GqyGE0MCYWObTMFvdc95Oq0M2t6sw/s1600/DSC_0800.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoy food like bacon (which Noah is holding with glee in this picture) and pop tarts because we rarely buy them. I will miss the novelty of food and the profusion of interesting food that we're surrounded by. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKi1gNO08FKS8GkQjGtGdIuUUbvx6LS97bua9f-GpTuJsGix0aEZVLZAN3zhQfNSnilILYgBVtnEsZaLuNtkf522VH_8m9yXEil98hemNn3jN-_zn6TohKazH7EEyntNeMm-KuX_UcA/s1600/DSC_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKi1gNO08FKS8GkQjGtGdIuUUbvx6LS97bua9f-GpTuJsGix0aEZVLZAN3zhQfNSnilILYgBVtnEsZaLuNtkf522VH_8m9yXEil98hemNn3jN-_zn6TohKazH7EEyntNeMm-KuX_UcA/s1600/DSC_0803.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really cheap and beautiful gel manicures. Just a few dollars! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8FroHzTQn3Ov_YsI5PO4XpJPvQu-ashXTU4YkIRnvbo7yqMr6Qnc6WWRPA0Aax1bVfFtLFloXfHCgKVe5LBWiUVI_X1FEwNS5LoNf-Ex2itsvNVn0Awds6OgC38vzrFrYNgcVIdU0Q/s1600/DSC_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8FroHzTQn3Ov_YsI5PO4XpJPvQu-ashXTU4YkIRnvbo7yqMr6Qnc6WWRPA0Aax1bVfFtLFloXfHCgKVe5LBWiUVI_X1FEwNS5LoNf-Ex2itsvNVn0Awds6OgC38vzrFrYNgcVIdU0Q/s1600/DSC_0805.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLynjGGdmuOUJDnqD1Ps3n1Ic6ClF3wuRdI-_0tQJhqGueU7wJXf5Gu6FKDpIminPmcfbaGvdUhzhTBhiMQ31OSRt887Zl32ZOMI0SUngNk5KwDXIp3jsQh3zZamounOkuSL4gMYxEwQ/s1600/DSC_0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLynjGGdmuOUJDnqD1Ps3n1Ic6ClF3wuRdI-_0tQJhqGueU7wJXf5Gu6FKDpIminPmcfbaGvdUhzhTBhiMQ31OSRt887Zl32ZOMI0SUngNk5KwDXIp3jsQh3zZamounOkuSL4gMYxEwQ/s1600/DSC_0810.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying our drinking water in large bottles because tap water is not safe to drink. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmd3u68GqJBkpOwpaCGq67CoijUF4QOiDzwpvBK5SIWVVL3OfRp1K8M_3d-5IjQJ9MJC7loBAHV6fmROy09ZydYtUeL4NyDlWRuwvQh4ef1dD7XbISjcNKlyG9w6LbS1QQLvSxf2-pA/s1600/DSC_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmd3u68GqJBkpOwpaCGq67CoijUF4QOiDzwpvBK5SIWVVL3OfRp1K8M_3d-5IjQJ9MJC7loBAHV6fmROy09ZydYtUeL4NyDlWRuwvQh4ef1dD7XbISjcNKlyG9w6LbS1QQLvSxf2-pA/s1600/DSC_0838.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting clothes custom made for just a few dollars.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoB-LEPOdYFD-fEilbBM93xP0jP82lbLkb6TINMLT63hb6YSp3e8N7hZLfTmrMMH1Qx-AiAfR6ASH0fbJDp2eLnzrYMmYC6v13agTibocpHa7_aPjf9201WW4awML__lcTkMQb8dAkiw/s1600/DSC_0846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoB-LEPOdYFD-fEilbBM93xP0jP82lbLkb6TINMLT63hb6YSp3e8N7hZLfTmrMMH1Qx-AiAfR6ASH0fbJDp2eLnzrYMmYC6v13agTibocpHa7_aPjf9201WW4awML__lcTkMQb8dAkiw/s1600/DSC_0846.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will miss sharing China with these two cuties. I think they will forever be shaped by their early experiences here, but I wonder how much of their time here they will actually remember in their minds and hearts. </td></tr>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-58373399099284505312014-09-26T16:09:00.000+08:002014-09-26T19:44:58.588+08:00Frozen Birthday Party: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What I love about hosting is that Jesus calls us to open our home to both friends and strangers. It is a discipline in our walk with Christ. It pushes us past pride and towards contentment. God is the very author of hospitality. When we give of our time, provisions, and service by welcoming others into our homes, we are walking in obedience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not saying I am perfect on this front. Believe me, I see how difficult it is to be hospitable. But in the last year, as I was studying through the New Testament, I was struck by the number of passages that encourage and exhort believers to show hospitality. The introvert in me wants to spend all my free time reading. The shy person in me wants to spend time with just my family. The exhausted person in me longs for rest and an evening of leisure. The selfish person in me wants to horde all of our material and immaterial gifts to myself. The lazy person in me doesn't want to clean before and after people come over. The type-A person in me doesn't like to see the wear and tear that hosting 4-5 times a week brings. Yet, my spirit acknowledges that hospitality trumps these self-centered reservations. When I try to push myself through the steps because of a sense of a obligation, I become weary and resentful toward being a hostess. But when God grants me the grace to see hospitality through His eyes, I am confronted by my sinfulness and aware that there is joy in obedience. That joy only is born out of obedience. That joy is found in serving others, not because I have to, but because I want to please the Lord. If this is the case, please, let my front door NEVER close. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we exercise hospitality, we can consider that which truly matters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To foster true fellowship, to help those in need, and to show love in a tangible way. All the while putting others before ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Peter instructs us to show hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9). Ouch! We do this, he says, because of love, and because we ought to be good stewards of the gifts God has given to us. This is not an obligation, but an extension of the grace that has been given to us. The purpose of these gifts is to serve one another! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Rom-12-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text Rom-12-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Let love be genuine. <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28239V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28239V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Rom-12-10" id="en-ESV-28240" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28240W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28240W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Love one another with brotherly affection. <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28240X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28240X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Outdo one another in showing honor.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Rom-12-11" id="en-ESV-28241" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Do not be slothful in zeal, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28241Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28241Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>be fervent in spirit, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28241Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28241Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>serve the Lord.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Rom-12-12" id="en-ESV-28242" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Rejoice in hope, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28242AB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28242AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>be patient in tribulation, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28242AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28242AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>be constant in prayer. </span><span class="text Rom-12-13" id="en-ESV-28243" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><b>Contribute to the needs of the saints and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28243AE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28243AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>seek to show hospitality.</b>" -Romans 12:9-13</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Rom-12-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Rom-12-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Especially to those within the faith, be </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">hospitable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as Titus' spirit was refreshed by the hospitality of the Corinthian Church, we can encourage fellow believers by welcoming one another into each of our homes (2 Cor. 7:13). Hospitality may be a spiritual gift that some exhibit beautifully, but it isa discipline all Christians are challenged to obey. It is not easy, and sometimes it is quite ugly. But there is often </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">ugliness in refining processes, and God can surely use hospitality to refine His children. I think this is why He encourages us so strongly not to neglect hospitality. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Heb-13-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"Let <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30226A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30226A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>brotherly love continue.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Heb-13-2" id="en-ESV-30227" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30227C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30227C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>some have entertained angels unawares."</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> -Hebrews 13:1-2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, even if you never host an angel--we are called to care for those around us. Read this parable and be encouraged to continue showing hospitality to whoever you can, whenever you can: </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Matt-25-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24036AK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24036AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24036AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24036AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>then he will sit on his glorious throne.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-32" id="en-ESV-24037" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Before him <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24037AM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24037AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>will be gathered <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24037AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24037AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>all the nations, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24037AO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24037AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24037AP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24037AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the sheep from the goats.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-33" id="en-ESV-24038" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-34" id="en-ESV-24039" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Then <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the King will say to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>those on his right, ‘Come, you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>who are blessed by my Father, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>inherit <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AU" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the kingdom <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AV" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>prepared for you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24039AW" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24039AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>from the foundation of the world.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><b><span class="text Matt-25-35" id="en-ESV-24040" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">For <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24040AX" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24040AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24040AY" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24040AY" title="See cross-reference AY">AY</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>gave me drink, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24040AZ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24040AZ" title="See cross-reference AZ">AZ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I was a stranger and you welcomed me,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span></b><span class="text Matt-25-36" id="en-ESV-24041" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b>I was naked and you clothed me, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24041BB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24041BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I was sick and you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24041BC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24041BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>visited me, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24041BD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24041BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I was in prison and you came to me.</b>’</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-37" id="en-ESV-24042" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">37 </span>Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-38" id="en-ESV-24043" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-39" id="en-ESV-24044" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Matt-25-40" id="en-ESV-24045" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24045BE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24045BE" title="See cross-reference BE">BE</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">the King will answer them,</span><b><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24045BF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24045BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-24045BG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24045BG" title="See cross-reference BG">BG</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">my brothers,</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">you did it to me.'</span></b><span style="line-height: 24px;">" -Matthew 25:31-40</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-40" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Okay...this rabbit trail on hospitality started because I was looking at the first picture in this post. As I was deciding on whether or not to delete it, I couldn't help but feel blessed by hospitality. The loving hospitality that has been shown to me by friends and family, and the times I have been able to show hospitality towards </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">others flashed through my memory</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">. It is all worth it! It is better to give than to receive; and I often feel that way about opening my home to others. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">It is a blessing to be surrounded by many friends. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tnc1dH0ulJwQDC0reYXXbgYl9Ey890NpbAnyrPRez8kPCp_LBYbmGA33NZ9tEdFGEj9JUwkox0n8d7l8VbvgeBVjF-pXu51kPBPx4i42H5A-y502-AD7glmRqFu8luN39ufn7LcJMQ/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tnc1dH0ulJwQDC0reYXXbgYl9Ey890NpbAnyrPRez8kPCp_LBYbmGA33NZ9tEdFGEj9JUwkox0n8d7l8VbvgeBVjF-pXu51kPBPx4i42H5A-y502-AD7glmRqFu8luN39ufn7LcJMQ/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> It was difficult to settle on a guest list for Willow's birthday party. As you can see, our apartment is on the small side and we could not invite everyone we wanted to! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8TL8JrraVw_7QdcmSunE5uQhkJuTg3tR6mXx7UXh3-kM-H13Fb1_Kfu0w30Byqd2KEMq7jvAxm4ekK99ct51woZidJ9KSBbmyjKVrRxO7dHzLC3I2ETG5ITYss7Nw5BvIHYF5hpRXg/s1600/10255001_847546085635_2835418259221751340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8TL8JrraVw_7QdcmSunE5uQhkJuTg3tR6mXx7UXh3-kM-H13Fb1_Kfu0w30Byqd2KEMq7jvAxm4ekK99ct51woZidJ9KSBbmyjKVrRxO7dHzLC3I2ETG5ITYss7Nw5BvIHYF5hpRXg/s1600/10255001_847546085635_2835418259221751340_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Brad's iPhone camera...the dessert table was set up at such varying stages that there are really so many versions of what it eventually looked like. </td></tr>
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On the right, playing the snow ball game where kids had to knock over a tower of cups with 'snowballs' made from felt and...wait for it...toilet paper stuffing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Singing happy birthday to the birthday girl! </span></h2>
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Willow did a much better job (compared to last year) opening gifts with appropriate levels of enthusiasm and expressed thankfulness. <br />
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Our crafty friend, Lauren, made Willow her very own "Elsa cape". Willow was very excited about the matching headband!<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-89791325684476468732014-09-26T14:58:00.002+08:002014-09-26T14:58:58.176+08:00Frozen Photo Booth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the activities at Willow's third birthday party was a Frozen themed photo booth. Here is some of the fun had at the photo booth! Pictures taken by Miss Rachel, Willow's awesome babysitter. </div>
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More of Willow's babysitters, and her summer Chinese tutor. Thanks for coming, ladies!</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Shake it like a polaroid!!!</span></h2>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-31658135467099331232014-09-22T22:33:00.003+08:002014-09-26T15:00:03.797+08:00Frozen Birthday Party <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorations were as inexpensive as possible. My brother brought the snowflakes from America, so I didn't have to cut anything up. I bought lace and fabric at the Fabric Market. We poured sugar in vases and placed figurines inside as well. We printed off free banner printables and hung those as well. </td></tr>
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I really am <i>serious</i> about blogging again. Why is it so impossible to find the time? So...I've been meaning to blog about Willow's 3rd birthday party--which was three months ago! Finally, finally, <b><i><u>finally</u></i></b>, I am staying up late to do so. During the first half of 2014, Willow was incredibly obsessed with Frozen. It seemed natural to throw her a Frozen themed birthday party. Here are some pictures from the dessert table. Later, I will post more pictures from the photo booth and candid shots taken by a friend during the party! </div>
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The first decision that had to be made regarding Willow's birthday party was when it should be held. If we waited until her actual birthday, most of her friends would be out of the country for summer break. If we waited until they all returned, it would be a hectic time since school would be resuming and everyone would be very busy with that. So, we decided to have her birthday a month early. This way, most of her friends were able to attend. As we would later discover, it was a good thing the party was in June--since we were unknowingly destined to be in America from the end of June until the beginning of August. If we had scheduled the party for July, we would have had to cancel it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The invitation I made for Willow's birthday party </td></tr>
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The cake decorations were a spur of the moment thing. I had these lofty plans originally, but when I couldn't find a vital ingredient in time, ideas needed to change. So, as I was frosting the cake, I decided to use some Frozen toys, paper snowflakes I had in my scrap booking cupboard, and marshmallows to make Willow's cake more Elsa/Anna themed. There were also sprinkles involved, and the frosting was a wonderfully sweet and fluffy buttercream. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6zXTZGrrPIcK_ZN7lhEcrDHWhBx_NDaLp3v_iGPSYz3gZC0yE22EIOp93KMGRWSYZLAm4Eg6nRDYH-aenPzyTd7_dBF-82dTCG1tfBb1ZVFI2P5dnD077yX9BLgaCTEYg2iWivl3yw/s1600/Frozen+Party+4_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6zXTZGrrPIcK_ZN7lhEcrDHWhBx_NDaLp3v_iGPSYz3gZC0yE22EIOp93KMGRWSYZLAm4Eg6nRDYH-aenPzyTd7_dBF-82dTCG1tfBb1ZVFI2P5dnD077yX9BLgaCTEYg2iWivl3yw/s1600/Frozen+Party+4_Fotor.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We worked so hard making everything 'just right'. I turned my back for one minute, and that was long enough for Willow to finish decorating her cake. She thought that her addition of Olaf-on-his-face was awesome and was completely proud. I had trouble knowing how to react. Laugh? Cry? Correct? Leave it? Remove it? Stand it up? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Served on the dessert table: carrot sticks and ranch, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, snowflake sugar cookies, blue jello with whipped cream, white chocolate pocky sticks, white cake, cupcakes, chocolate dipped marshmallows, chocolate covered strawberries, ice candies, blue sprite, and melted snowmen (water). </td></tr>
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The laden dessert table would not have been possible without a lot of help from friends who came to help bake and decorate. Thank you, ladies! Yet another advantage to celebrating Willow's birthday in June was the fact that Brad was still visiting us. So Uncle Brad was able to represent Willow's extended family. He was also a huge help in decorating, setting up, taking care of the kids while I worked, and cleaning up. He is the guy responsible for the cute photo booth props and the pin the nose on Olaf poster. It helps to have a resident artist who knows how to use photoshop.<br />
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There is very little I can take credit for in this party. My friends helped with decorating and baking. My brother hauled supplies to me from the States. My husband blew up the balloons. Pinterest lent me some cute ideas and inspiration, as well as free printables...But I DID bake and frost the cake. So I will bask in the knowledge that even in China, I can bake something in a tiny toaster oven and use imported ingredients that are hordes year round, so that my daughter can blow out three candles on a proper birthday cake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9xWk0jvJWFCHA1sKvmLlWBhD4qCmTbiGZYJIGGqvxP_DBz2WQDesiRwjs7MtgHbGU5O2EOCICS7oIYb3p97j53OjcZpMcL6pBsX52qg_4IhQJ5z4PTygsKMtw6xhbKSk1ndDzN1GTA/s1600/Frozen+Party+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9xWk0jvJWFCHA1sKvmLlWBhD4qCmTbiGZYJIGGqvxP_DBz2WQDesiRwjs7MtgHbGU5O2EOCICS7oIYb3p97j53OjcZpMcL6pBsX52qg_4IhQJ5z4PTygsKMtw6xhbKSk1ndDzN1GTA/s1600/Frozen+Party+7.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't have a cake decorating set at the time, so the cupcakes looked a little strange...</td></tr>
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While we waited for all the guests to arrive, we listened to Frozen music and the kids could make reindeer antler crowns or Elsa/Anna tiaras. Besides eating way too much sugar, party activities included a wintry photo booth, pin the carrot nose on Olaf, and a snowball toss game. After the kids were hyped up on sugar, Willow opened her gifts and read her cards. Then, we let the kids loose outside and played at the Aqu playground until dinner time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought the "Wanna build a Snowmen" kits were a brilliant idea I snatched from someone on Pinterest. Marshmallows, chocolate chips, orange mints, and pocky sticks. </td></tr>
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During Willow's party, I had a friend take pictures so that I didn't have to worry about 'capturing the moment'. I could simply concentrate on hosting, and had the ability to more closely observe Willow enjoy her special day. I think 90 minutes was long enough to hit all the compulsory components to a little girl's birthday party without overly draining her in the emotional department. Every day, I look at Willow and wonder in disbelief that she is three years old! I can hardly remember what it was like to live without Willow--she adds a lot of drama and sparkle to my life and I look forward to many more birthdays celebrating her life. </div>
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Speaking of which....I wonder what Willow's 4th birthday party will look like? </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-38299830056945958232014-08-14T16:24:00.002+08:002014-08-14T17:11:54.546+08:00Perfection <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukxBiGlWdUQxo_ksqtiSxs4Pi4U2OmrWLIZfeGLfB0XHuHTOw8JwjYD7vUfMUgGg8Ba7rRQoNSAFn7qQ2_mLvi5q1iiZD4gLi5LXh-g5qe57DbSi1XCmPVnAZ_EdNkNos9PidbG4ubA/s1600/Noah+1+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukxBiGlWdUQxo_ksqtiSxs4Pi4U2OmrWLIZfeGLfB0XHuHTOw8JwjYD7vUfMUgGg8Ba7rRQoNSAFn7qQ2_mLvi5q1iiZD4gLi5LXh-g5qe57DbSi1XCmPVnAZ_EdNkNos9PidbG4ubA/s1600/Noah+1+year.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It could be this elimination diet we're on right now (more on that later), but when I typed the title, "perfection", the first thing that popped into my mind was "confection". I would like some sweet confections, yes please. Thank you very much. How considerate of you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry, Noah. You're birthday post is so not starting the right way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are some pictures that I took of Noah on his actual birthday. Hey. I'm glad he's wearing clothes. My originally intent, however, was for him to be in this cute little four piece suit that I bought for him. Complete with a four inch clip-on tie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's still in a suit case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqN-DpbNbXQ9FzHVcmKvYm_qkRdxegboiEAGLAk618q3boCB8FspG5k3KO_T7y3wKh8zHW5FpwV2LXgpclQB63TxrzY042u3ADKFRDERITzXaDVsiFqxDK3ryFdjGIM10QhdSEmZDJA/s1600/DSC_0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqN-DpbNbXQ9FzHVcmKvYm_qkRdxegboiEAGLAk618q3boCB8FspG5k3KO_T7y3wKh8zHW5FpwV2LXgpclQB63TxrzY042u3ADKFRDERITzXaDVsiFqxDK3ryFdjGIM10QhdSEmZDJA/s1600/DSC_0855.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBORngQwEThXlQbTaEkzFzJU7YADJWP82VQNdoJnYIlZS9WFE2fPwFTQOCP2lCE5o-QrlRYo8k2G2LATQgqclhzkXt6_Gx9J_0SWXx0nMfzzHB3oQ_GGP0PVhquclgqfV5nyTUw0AS0w/s1600/DSC_0856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBORngQwEThXlQbTaEkzFzJU7YADJWP82VQNdoJnYIlZS9WFE2fPwFTQOCP2lCE5o-QrlRYo8k2G2LATQgqclhzkXt6_Gx9J_0SWXx0nMfzzHB3oQ_GGP0PVhquclgqfV5nyTUw0AS0w/s1600/DSC_0856.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I literally had three minutes to take these pictures. If these pictures had audio, then they would be video clips. No…I mean, if these pictures had audio, you would hear Willow and me screaming at each other the whole time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Willow! Get off the chair! I need to take a picture of just Noah because it's his birthday today!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"No, Mom!!! Take a picture of me too!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Later, Willow" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Now, Mom!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">….Noah: continues to chew on toy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Noah, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On your first birthday, we had only been in China a day and a half. We were still terribly jet lagged. We forgot to give you birthday presents. We slept a lot. We didn't eat dinner. We ate instant noodles in the middle of the night. We tried to order McDonalds, but apparently they had no chicken or beef because there was some scandal with selling expired meat in China. Since we didn't want to eat a "fish burger", we ate spicy ramen instead. Dearest little boy, I love you tremendously. If you see any goodness in our love, it is because of Jesus. When we make mistakes, I hope that those instances will turn you towards God's perfect and unconditional love. And I hope, with the deepest of hopes, that you will love your Creator above all else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy first birthday, buddy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Noah is 24 pounds (50-70 percentile). He's 30 inches tall (50 percentile). He's running, climbing, walking backwards, dancing like crazy, singing, speaking (mom, dad, Willow, ball, dog, hi, hello, bye bye, that, baby), eating table food, uninterested in baby-food, loves to play outside, obsessed with animals/balls/dolls/cars/stroller rides/iPads/phones/food, loves to give kisses and hugs, sleeps through the night (finally!), enjoys playing with Willow, and likes to be around other children. Noah is definitely a people-pleaser and a very happy little man. He likes to look at books, listen to music, and look out the window. His main bane at the moment is biting. When he's angry, hungry, excited, or jealous--he bites people! He is very entertaining with his copy-cat ways--he enjoys observing someone's action and trying to replicate it (talking on the phone, hammering nails, playing peekaboo). While we were in America, he enjoyed all the rides he received on the farm. He likes to swing, pet dogs, and eat ice cream. The biggest temper tantrums usually involve food, and not being allowed to partake in said food…such as Starbucks frappecinos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Noah has been 1 for one week. I'm not too late in this post, right? I feel like a bad mom today because I was distracted again. It is very easy for me to get wrapped up in whatever activity occupies my interest at the moment.I want to share a portion of a blog post written by Alyssa Welch on resolved2worship.xanga.com. This blog is no longer online, but I have kept this excerpt saved on my computer to remind me that my life is not about being a mom. Being a mom is not a job, though it often feels like a dauntless marathon. When I focus only on being a 'good mom', I often fall short of my true purpose in life: to worship and obey God. Ironically, when I lose sight of my identity in Christ, I lose the ability to be anything that resembles a 'good mom'. As I was trying to help Noah take a nap today, I desperately wished for a reboot button. I'm tired of living on the edge of frustration and feeling like my self-control is in shreds. Here's what Alyssa Welch wrote: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">“It's frightful not to live, consumed with that
which isn't lasting. Don't miss out because you think everything has to happen
perfectly, or on time, or when and how you think it should happen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Life isn't measured by whether you pursued all
your dreams and made them happen. It's not measured by what you did that made
you feel successful. It's not measured by talent or ability. Or by a blog,
business, beauty, or babies. I don't want to follow a generation of mothers who
idealize perfection when it comes to motherhood. There is a huge relief and
healing that comes when I let go; let go of perfection, expectations, or
measurements I've put on myself possibly by comparison with other mothers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Let go and find balance; bravery to feel undone,
unmade, un-accomplished. Then always, my eyes are opened more to what is
important because I am less distracted with making everything happen just
right.” –Alyssa Welch </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I wish that I had more of her posts saved, because she has encouraged me greatly through her posts over the years. I want to let go of my idea of perfection, my desire to control, my longing to be have a spotless image. These things are nothing. </span></div>
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<br />
So, in line with giving up perfection, here comes a confession: because we didn't have any plans for Noah's birthday on his actual birthday, we decided to let him eat a chocolate instead. So Adam gave him his first candy bar. How's that for perfection?<br />
<br />
While I fully acknowledge that I am not a perfect mom, being Noah's mom is the closest thing to perfection I've ever felt. What a privilege and honor to spend time with Noah Silas Johnson. He may grow up to be a heart breaker, goodness knows he's already broken mine in a million little ways.<br />
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<br />
This Noah look. He kills me! I'm just in love with his chubby face and big brown eyes. Never change, Noah. But also, I need you to grow up. I don't know how to wrestle these emotions!<br />
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What is perfection anyway? Is perfection having two messy, noisy kids that drive you crazy? Perhaps. I think God meets me in this chaotic cacophony and reveals a little more of what real love is. I fail, but He prevails. I stumble, but He remains. I sin against others and Him, yet He forgives me. I forget how to live in grace and in love, but He is faithful . And in the heart of a child, in the eyes of an infant, in the ache of a mother's heart--you find a sort of perfection, because you catch a glimpse of what God created us for. It was for love that He made us.<br />
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Perfection is in the center of God's will for your life. Whatever it is that you do, do it as if you serving the Lord. Worship the Lord. Obey His commands. This is His perfect plan.<br />
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Willow did a pretty good job 'reading' this book to Noah. I hadn't realized she knew the plot to this story, since she never pays attention when I read it. I guess I was wrong!<br />
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<br />
At this point in Noah's short picture session, you can see the exhaustion on his face. I don't know if he is tired due to jet lag or Willow and mom arguing about who gets to be in the pictures.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-78870721465515351952014-07-04T10:35:00.003+08:002014-07-04T10:35:37.065+08:00Amber Waves of Grain <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;"><span style="font-size: large;">[i carry your heart with me (i carry it in]</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;"><span style="font-size: large;">by e.e. cummings </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;">i carry your heart with me(i carry it in</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;">my heart)i am never without it(anywhere</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;">i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;">by only me is your doing,my darling)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -1em;"> i fear</span></div>
<div class="poem" style="background-color: white; margin: 25px 0px 0px;">
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
and whatever a sun will always sing is you</div>
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<span style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
here is the deepest secret nobody knows</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)</div>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
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Guess what.<br />
I took these pictures yesterday.<br />
If you couldn't tell from the scenery alone, we are not in China at the moment.<br />
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This is something we had not planned, but apparently it was in God's plan. For here we are, summering in Illinois, though we had planned to stay in China through the long, hot summer months.<br />
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It is refreshing to be surrounded by family, clean air, and air conditioning. Not to mention the delicious food, the convenience of America, and surfing the web without a VPN.<br />
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But we still miss China! Willow is experiencing a little culture shock; more than she has ever dealt with before. She has asked everyday if she can go home. Not yet, girl. When we were crossing the street in town today, she asked if we were trying to catch a taxi. No taxis here! She didn't like the craziness of US Customs and declared, "I don't want to go to America anymore".<br />
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But she traveled here in the best of spirits. She was so excited to see her family in America! Ecstatic is putting it lightly! She didn't vomit on either flight, slept 11 straight hours at the hotel during our layover, and managed to take a short nap on our long flight. She watched the "Lego Movie" five consecutive times, and ate her meals without complaint. She didn't have a potty accident, and never cried. Noah was also a champ during the whole traveling process. Which is amazing! We didn't know we were going to be in America until a few days before we left. It was a crazy few days, as we finished up some projects, cleaned, packed, and tied up loose ends before we departed. We're planning to return to China next month, but for right now, we're enjoying our bonus summer in the States.<br />
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As I've said before, I do not pose Willow. She has some sort of inherent disposition towards the art of posing. She likes to be in front of the camera, and she likes to be a ham. Yesterday, we were walking past fields on our way to Willow and Noah's great grandparents farm, and I had fun taking pictures along the way. There's quite a lot of photographs in this post, but I wanted to include them all. These kids are growing up so fast! I can hardly believe that Willow will be 3 years old on Tuesday and Noah will be 11 months the following day!<br />
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You can see Noah's syndactyly on his left hand. We are going to see if he can get his surgery while we are here. But, considering the time frame we have to work with, his current age (not yet 1 year old), and the fact that he's still crawling…I wonder if it is entirely feasible.<br />
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Pretty flowers at Adam's grandparents' home.<br />
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The Asian in Willow, as she flashes her peace sign. One sad part about leaving China is not studying the language. I had planned on taking lessons through the summer, and Willow was also being tutored three times a week.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-8599262136998452642014-06-16T00:00:00.000+08:002014-06-16T00:00:51.145+08:00Summer in the City: Day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l33dUo2yiT6epH8WZxam0-cjnrllDy2fqR59XnSrPK63DDoDU0OsV6QKIqlRDYWMMjg6hdJqilMxJcPl8Nq1NQVXGsOyQ3m1XQDl-gmrD5fgNuadTZrYH54ViDU1SKYNwVQAMtcHFA/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3l33dUo2yiT6epH8WZxam0-cjnrllDy2fqR59XnSrPK63DDoDU0OsV6QKIqlRDYWMMjg6hdJqilMxJcPl8Nq1NQVXGsOyQ3m1XQDl-gmrD5fgNuadTZrYH54ViDU1SKYNwVQAMtcHFA/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the hotel in the morning--it was nice and cool in the lobby, but already hot and humid outside. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also known as the day we walked around some hutongs, ate old Beijing style noodles, looked at some high rises that Brad was interested in, and finished the day at the Silk Market. We spent a lot of time on the subway, walked through Tianamen Square, and noticed again that the city had a lot of law enforcement and military police around every corner.<br />
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I think it was the anniversary of the incident that occurred on that square not too many decades ago. It was also a holiday, so the influx of vacationers was fairly intense--what a crowded day in Beijing! We were shoved into train cars by public transit employees. The major plus side of being this squished in a subway car is it is absolutely impossible to fall down. There's no need to hold onto any hand rails because if the train jostles at all, you will be held upright by the ten people who are surrounding you close enough that you can practically hear their hearts beating. It's like some crazy trust exercise.<br />
<br />Actually, it makes riding the subway while holding a baby or toddler really easy. Or not. I can't decide. It is rather embarrassing when your baby repeatedly whacks random people on the back, and the person turns around to see what you want every single time it happens.<br /><br />
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Walking to the subway line from our hotel was actually my least favorite thing to do. We had to walk past some little restaurants that were selling stinky doufu. It is basically fermented tofu that smells like raw sewage. I will never eat it. Brad was gagging.<br /><br />
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A touristy hutong area, complete with a Starbucks. Or, as it is pronounced in Chinese, "xing ba ke". I was a little turned off by all the tourism traps--it was more like Disney's epcot center than real China. But it was still fun to look around.<br /><br />
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The Emperor's Street.<br /><br />
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A lot of breakfast street food being sold in the alley ways. Bread twists, soy milk, and little packets of steamed rice or dumplings.<br />
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Ordering our noodles at this small but extremely busy and efficient restaurant. The kitchen was on the second floor, and the stair case was more like a very steep ladder, which the waiters would run up and down very quickly--while holding huge trays piled high with noodle dishes. It was impressive just to watch the crazy-fast-risky service. Yes, they do trip and spill occasionally, since that is what happened to our food the first time it came down the ladder-staircase-thingy.<br /><br />
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The home-made noodles arrive in a large bowl, plane and delicious. You add your toppings and sauce into your bowl according to your preferences and mix it up like crazy. Just looking at these pictures is making my stomach growl.<br /><br />
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Peking Duck. You can barely see the reflection of Willow and I in the window pane.<br /><br />
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All these hole-in-the-wall restaurants and snack shops were spread across the narrow alleys. Some alleys are only wide enough for people to walk through on foot. The window pictured below was a very small bread selling place...they were making the food in a small closet-sized room and then selling them right from the window. The window was positioned right up against the alley, so actually, my camera couldn't get further away to capture a larger picture of what was happening. Things like this fascinate me.<br /><br />
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Restaurants cooking their dishes in large communal pots, outside on the road. They use huge paddle like spoons to stir up their recipes. It smelled good and bad at the same time. I can't explain it better than that.<br /><br />
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<br />Whole fish heads in this spicy red sauce.<br />And I like this weird scooter that was enclosed in some weird bubble of glass. It was so crazy looking.<br /><br />
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Noah is a trooper. He's miserably hot, but still easy going and no problem to take care of. I don't know why he's such a happy baby, but he is.<br /><br />
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Willow next to a duck....<br />The buildings near Tiananmen Square are huge and ostentatious.<br /><br />
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The building where Mao's embalmed body is displayed. You can go in and see his body, but you can't take any belongings with you. The line moves continually and you are not allowed to stop. You have to keep walking, even as you pass his body. It can sometimes take quite a long time to see his body, but if it is not too busy, you might only have to wait about 15 minutes. It is visited by many Chinese people every year; I think it might be the most visited place in China. The entire building, which looks bigger than a city block to me, houses only Mao's body.<br />
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Ahead is the Forbidden City, which we had already toured.<br /><br />
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Noah fell asleep. So tired from all the noise, heat, and too-friendly people. Everyone wants to talk to fat babies; it's hard to be a cute and fat in China.<br /><br />
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Brad wanted to see the CCTV building too. We took the subway again, and walked a bit as well. It took awhile, but we finally got close enough for some pictures. Brad said, "Here's the city, finally". There's just not a lot of sky scrapers in Beijing.<br /><br />
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Buying more water at this little snack stand. We went through so many water bottles during this trip!<br /><br />
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Apparently, this strange shoe type building is being constructed currently. It already looked dirty and old to me. Brad said it was significant, so we tried to get a better look--but temporary walls had been placed all around the building to screen it's progress from the public eye. This practice is very Chinese and I've come to expect it: out of sight, out of mind. But Brad was sad that his view was blocked. This was the only place we could get a view of the building.<br /><br />
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We ended up eating Mexican food for dinner, shopping at the Silk Market and returning to our hotel at a late hour. We were so exhausted, and I for one was ready to return to our home in Shenyang. The next day, we packed up, ate breakfast at Starbucks, and found taxis to the airport. But I'll save my few stories from the return trip for the next post. </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-65779181342863703132014-06-15T00:34:00.000+08:002014-06-15T00:34:11.344+08:00Summer in the City: Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's only been 6 years, but the sign is already in pretty rough shape.<br /></div>
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Oh dear.<br />Growing up with an architect for a father was very interesting. At times it was entertaining. It was always educational. And family vacations or school field trips frequently became "business trips" because Dad was checking out every structure we encountered, commenting on it, photographing it, and learning from others' designs and methods.</div>
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How many times have I seen my Dad....</div>
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<ul>
<li>taking pictures of obscure pieces of trim, molding, beams, artful ducts, or whatever because he likes it</li>
<li>pound on walls to check for...actually, I don't know what he was checking for...</li>
<li>say, "what a bad design", as he walks through a building and notices major flaws or general ugliness</li>
<li>say, "wow, isn't that cool?! How did they do that?" in reference to any kind of awesome structure or beautiful design </li>
<li>post some crazy example of architectural excellence or beauty on facebook </li>
<li>say, "I want to design and build one more home before I die" </li>
<li>Start a house renovation or addition and come up with unique ideas like a slide to get off the porch or a second story on top of the shed so that we could have a playhouse when we were little. </li>
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I have a pretty cool Dad. He's an architect through and through. </div>
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I have a pretty cool brother too. He's also an architect. </div>
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Apparently a lot of our Dad rubbed off on Brad. He likes to go around to all the places we take him here, but as soon as he notices something that intrigues his architect's mind, his heart gets a little excited. </div>
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So, we went to see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Though it's not my top choice of something to see, I'm glad that I checked it off my bucket list. It was also interesting to go there with Brad. He doesn't look at it merely as a historically important place, or even as a major landmark in China. He notices things like trusses and ingenuity, and comments on the designers who he has studied. </div>
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He says things like, "It's smaller than I imagined". "It's dirtier than I expected". "They'll probably tear it down in a few years, it already looks older than it actually is". And he remembers facts like how long it took to build and that construction workers built it around the clock to complete it on time. </div>
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<br />Can you see the construction workers fixing those artificial shades/lights? They look so small way up there. The statue was weird, and a little shocking. Brad appreciates modern art.<br />
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We were too cheap to pay to go inside. Or maybe we were too tired and hot. I can't remember which was the reason why we just looked at the structure from the outside.<br /><br />
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Just getting to this place, we had to take four different trains. And walk a lot. More stairs. More escalators. Bought more water bottles because we ran out of water again. We were exhausted and so miserably hot. This is becoming redundant. It's also a recipe for crabby people. The kids were super resilient though and bore everything quite well.<br />
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We journeyed next to Weird Food Street. It was a short trip, because we were out of patience and way too hot and tired to go on further. But the guys were wanting to eat something weird before we left. They decided scorpions were the safest bet. Brad said, "If I die, don't worry about shipping my body back."<br /><br />
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Willow was disturbed on a deep, nearly existential, level. She has just started to fear large bugs.<br />Why on earth would her Dad and Uncle eat them?!<br /></div>
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At this point, the scorpions were still squirming rather frantically, despite the fact that they had been impaled by kabob skewers. After we paid the price, the guy chose a stick, dipped in something, seared it on his grill for a moment and then handed it to <i>ME</i>! I could barely hold the stick, I was so grossed out.<br /></div>
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Noah passed out. Silk worms and grasshoppers I think. </div>
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Adam says silk worms taste like bacon. I am not willing to test this claim.</div>
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They were still squirming around--some were fighting each other. </div>
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I am not even trying to look like that. This is my natural face when holding scorpions on a stick. </div>
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They bravely shoved the scorpions in their mouths. Said it didn't taste bad at all. Then chugged water.<br />Brad said it was too fibrous. Adam said he'd eat more in a heartbeat.<br /></div>
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Saddened by all the tourist market stalls selling idols of every kind.<br />Many graven images, yes. But we have our own weaknesses and idols that we bow down to and worship.<br />Where do you invest your money? How do you spend your free time? What do you think when your mind is idle. What do you worry about or obsess over? We can discover what our 'idols' are when we look at our priorities and discover what is usurping God's place in our hearts and minds. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Technology<br />Entertainment</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Social Media </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marriage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Friends</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Family</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Selfish Ambitions </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Career </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sex</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vanity </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happiness<br />Marriage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stability </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Possessions </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Money </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Convenience </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Education </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lust</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Licentiousness </div>
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Whatever it may be--we all have vices. Looking at these idol stalls, I am reminded of that which distracts me from Jesus. To cast aside my idols, to die to myself, to surrender to my King is a daily battle. How much easier it would be for me to throw away a graven image like this than to remove the idols of my heart from their high places and worship God with my whole heart. Unhindered. Uninhibited. Unburdened. I look forward to heaven, when there will be no distractions, no sin tainting creation, and no daily battle to surrender to God. The fight will be over and I will be completely free from the snares of this world. </div>
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Willow bought some jewelry from some pretty aggressive shop keepers. They would not take no for an answer and Willow is only too happy to acquire new bracelets.<br /><br />
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On the way down to the subway, we stopped at Dairy Queen. It was the best tasting ice cream in the world, at the very moment.<br /><br />
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After naps, swimming, and showers, we went out for dinner and a shopping trip to the Silk Market.<br /><br />
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Willow makes friends wherever she goes. Every shop keeper wanted her to come into their stall, sit on their stool, look at the merchandise...and sometimes they would give her a little trinket. One time, the shop keeper ladies she was hanging out with while Brad was buying shoes, painted her nails. She is a rockstar. Noah is a celebrity because of his very fair skin. They love his chubby legs and ready smile.<br /><br />
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Noah and Willow getting their names written in Chinese calligraphy. Her work was so effortless and beautiful. I think these will be special gifts that they can hang in their homes even when they're adults. Can anyone say 'family heirloom'? Now...just watch as I lose them or something.<br /><br />
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Hand carving chops.<br />
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Some kind of crazy glass etching going on here. He was doing it all free hand and the etching looked like a xerox copy of the photograph his customer had give him. Insane!<br /></div>
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Noah's had enough. </div>
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Shop keepers playing with Noah, taking pictures together, and painting Willow's nails.<br /></div>
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Eating at Grandma's kitchen. I hadn't had a Western style breakfast served at a restaurant since I was in America. My omelet and hash browns were amazing. Adam was totally himself and order biscuits and gravy.<br /></div>
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After dinner, we had only been walking for a few minutes when a torrential down pour started out of nowhere. We ducked under an awning outside of a bank (the bank was closed so we couldn't go inside, much to Willow's confusion and utter distress). We waited and waited for it to stop. There were 9 other people under the awning with us. They were very polite, however, and didn't mob us or try to talk too much. But somehow, we felt a sense of community with them. Adam kept trying to catch a cab. When he finally got one, he motioned for us to run out in the rain and get in. As I grabbed our stuff and the kids, the other people under the awning cheered us on and gave us 'thumbs up'. I wonder how long they stood there after we left? Even now, I feel affection for this strange little group that we shared the bank awning with. How strange.<br /><br />The wind was howling, and Brad was worried the large oaks were going to topple on top of us. Willow was a bit frightened of the wind, and I was worried that Noah was freezing in the sudden temperature drop. I didn't have any blankets or sweaters with me, since it had been over 100 degrees all day. But I did have a dress of Willow's with me. So I put Noah in Willow's dress, which effectively covered his whole body. And that's how Noah ended up wearing a dress in a tropical storm in Beijing!<br />
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We aren't used to thunderstorms, since the rainfall isn't very significant in Shenyang. Willow was scared of the thunder and lighting (which were quite loud, sitting outside), and kept referring to it as "fireworks". Yes, I suppose thunder does sound a bit like the Chun Jie firework craziness.<br /><br />
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This picture is comical because it makes the situation look a little worse than it actually was.<br /></div>
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Once back at the hotel, Noah was checking his new look out in the mirror. We paid our taxi driver twice as much money as we owed because we were so thankful for the ride. It is such a rare thing to get a taxi in inclement weather and he was a true answer to prayer. Adam basically had to risk getting hit by him, since he couldn't see Adam standing in the road trying to flag him down.<br /></div>
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Adam was soaked!<br />
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I forgot to take pictures of our hotel room. But this was the connecting living area between the two bedrooms. It was a pretty nice hotel, and I was glad we had so much space. It was actually larger than our apartment.<br /><br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-60968675709439755472014-06-12T23:09:00.000+08:002014-06-12T23:09:06.362+08:00Summer in the City: Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post could also be entitled, "Why We Lost Noah's Hat".<br />
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I remember hearing a speaker at one of Moody's chapel's who said that before making a decision we ought to HALT. Are you feeling Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired? When feeling any of those particular descriptives (or perhaps situations), it can affect one's decision making abilities. Looking at my own life, I definitely see how making decisions when I'm really hungry or angry or lonely or tired has not been the best idea. It is far better to wait, and try to act with wisdom than to rush into something regrettable.<br />
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I suppose when we are relying on our own strength and struggling against the flesh, we are far more likely to act in dishonorable ways, sinning against God and man. Obviously, this simple acronym isn't the answer for all decision-making scenarios. And I could argue that when living through culture shock, it's nearly impossible. You're almost always operating on hunger, anger, loneliness, and exhaustion.<br />
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It's been five years in China, but we still experience culture shock. Whenever we're brought to stressful situations, all our frustrations are brought to the surface and our patience is worn thin. This does not make for very restful vacations. I wonder what it would be like to just sit and do nothing and be perfectly relaxed on the beach. Ha!<br />
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I feel the need to make a China version of HALT.<br />
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When living overseas, experiencing culture shock, trying to vacation in a densely populated city, caring for little kids, trying to be a good spouse, trying to be both a tourist and host, and all the while trying to do these things in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees...it can be a recipe for disaster. If you are experiencing this type of family vacation--remember to give others extra doses of grace. Remember to HALT, but I suppose the China version would be:<br />
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Frustrated by cultural differences<br />Overwhelmed by crowds...as in millions of people<br />Lost geographically, linguistically, culturally<br />Exposed to the elements (e.g. we were caught in a huge storm, and struggled against heat strokes)<br />
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FOLE<br />
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uh. Fole doesn't make any sense. Scratch that.<br />But, if you are out and about in China, you will probably experience a semblance of FOLE.<br />
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I feel like the whole time we were in Beijing, we were walking up and down stairs, riding up and down escalators, and just walking, walking, walking. I was really tired of public transportation. Although subways are nice, I was so exhausted of the push and shove, the intense underground heat, and just the madness of public transit in Beijing. It is cheap, however. And fairly convenient. </div>
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It was like we just went from one stair case to the next. Up and down and up and down. Over and over and over again. </div>
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On Friday, we started the morning with being reunited with Adam! We quickly got ready, ate breakfast and got on the subway so that we could see the Forbidden City. The heat was insanely miserable. By the time we were through the first gate and buying tickets to enter, we had drank all of our water supply and were buying several more bottles of water. </div>
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Willow was so desperate to be with her dad, she stood in the hot sun to buy tickets--though she could have stood in the shade with me. She didn't want to let Adam out of her sight. Here, Willow is proud of the tickets she helped purchase.<br /><br />
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Noah looking lethargic from the heat. He drank a lot of water while we were out. At this point, we misplaced his sun hat, which we had only just procured. I was fairly disappointed, and Adam went out in a huff retracing our steps to look for it. Surely, it was snatched up by some other tourist since it was no where to be found. So sad.<br />
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Though Willow doesn't look 100% non-Asian, she is still photographed quite a lot by Chinese bystanders. Sometimes she has a whole posse of smart-phone wielding denizens following her around. This guy took several pictures of her while she sipped her water. Then his family tried to take a group picture with her. She ran away from that situation.<br /><br />
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Trying to stay cool on this hot day. It was miserable. I can not think of another way to describe it. By the time we were 3/4 through the Forbidden City, we had met our max. Brad didn't want to see the remaining buildings, so we high tailed it out of there and then started the process of trying to get back to our hotel. We needed to cool off, to eat lunch, and to take naps. What an exhausting morning! The Forbidden City is a massive place, filled with so many tourists.<br />
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There were not may people near these doors because they were not the center entrances. There are usually three sets of entrances at each gate or building. The center door or entrance is always for the Emperor, and only the Emperor had access to it. He was only permitted to walk down the center of the palace--down a clearly marked path which still runs through Beijing (even through the Olympic stadiums). The sides were everyone else. I believe all the Chinese people walk through the center gates because it is quite a big deal to them. About a century ago, that would have been impossible for them to do, let alone visit the Imperial Palace. We were walking through the less populated side gates, though streams of thousands were walking through all the center gates. I just try to imagine what a symbolic and culturally significant tour they are on as Chinese citizens. It is now called the People's Palace.<br /></div>
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Brad, remarking upon how difficult and time consuming it would have been to carve each of these railing sections out of stone.<br /><br />
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The Emperor's bedroom</div>
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subway tunnel<br /><br />
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Riding the subway. Brad snapped this picture on his iPhone. Everyone in the car was looking at us, sitting on the bench. Willow and Noah attracted all the kids that were in the train car, and soon there were three little kids sitting next to Willow. With the one child policy, children lose the benefit of sibling relationships. Thus, pretty much every child, whether friend or stranger, is considered your child's brother or sister. Just as everyone adult is your Uncle, Aunt, Grandma or Grandpa. Everytime we see a toddler or baby, we are expected to stop, say hello, shake hands, and say little pleasantries to our "small friends". Willow has to learn to call her chinese playmates, whether friend or stranger, big brother/big sister/little brother/little sister. </div>
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Anyway, this has both advantages and disadvantages. I think it teaches Willow to have a strong sense of community and openness for making new friends. But if you are going somewhere in a hurry, it can be a time hindrance. It can also be awkward at times, but mostly the interactions are sweet. If the other children are naughty, I sometimes worry about negative examples being set--but then, my kids are not perfect either, so it goes both ways.<br /><br />I think it's a lovely facet of Chinese culture, and I truly miss it when we're in America.<br /></div>
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After swimming, naps, showers, etc...we went out for dinner at one of our favorite Beijing restaurants: Peter's! We ordered burritos, enchiladas, tacos, guacamole, and sweet tea...so delicious! </div>
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On our way back to our hotel, we ran into this interesting plaza that had a water show going on. The lights and fountains were choreographed to different musical selections that were blasted across the square. Many people were standing around watching the show, taking selfies and videos. Willow loved it. Noah hated it. The water occasionally hit our faces because of the breeze--and though Noah loves his bath time, he decidedly hates being splashed in the face with cold water.<br /></div>
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Seriously, escalators and stairs everywhere. Can't even walk on the side walk without having to go up and down several times. Can you spy Adam? He's really good at taking the stroller down the escalator, backwards. If I spun the stroller around, while walking, while being pressed from every direction by crowds, I would surely fall down the escalator. But Adam is amazingly coordinated with things like this. Jealous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6W4RvKqVOqpVcIju51dJVRgQm-WGtAssNaaraLc8mxq-_OEMEA-uXrmXdqIL6UGbYncYEy1symSf6mNkBd_jpgpByb0pZS48eDQ2j36uMYWiv_wX_2RAieFFr5yLLh-n9s_Z7yv4uw/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6W4RvKqVOqpVcIju51dJVRgQm-WGtAssNaaraLc8mxq-_OEMEA-uXrmXdqIL6UGbYncYEy1symSf6mNkBd_jpgpByb0pZS48eDQ2j36uMYWiv_wX_2RAieFFr5yLLh-n9s_Z7yv4uw/s1600/22.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We slept really well that night. Even the kids, who usually wake up at the crack of dawn, slept in until 9am the next morning. It was wondrous. </div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-40653986684774785232014-06-12T00:00:00.000+08:002014-06-12T00:00:04.626+08:00Summer in the City: Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, dear reader. <br />It has been far too long since I've clicked 'publish' on this site.<br />My brother, Brad, has been visiting us for about 4 weeks, so we've been very busy hanging out with him and showing him around Shenyang. We also went to Beijing for a few days, and I wanted to at least blog about that trip. There's so much I'm behind on. Willow's 3rd birthday party, Noah's 9 month post AND his 10 month post...so many other things here and there along the way. I don't know why it has been infinitely more difficult to keep up with this blog lately! </div>
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Ok, so we went to Beijing.<br />Adam was already there because he was touring the city with the 8th graders on their spring adventure trip. Instead of returning to Shenyang at the conclusion of the week-long school field trip, he met us at our hotel. We decided to fly to Beijing, though it would have been cheaper to train. I was worried about the convenience of taking the train, or rather I should say the inconvenience of it. And since my dad had funded our trip, basically, paying a little more to fly on a Chinese airplane was totally worth it. I just couldn't figure out how we'd take the train, since Willow would need to use the toilet on the train (which is basically a hole in the floor, and you can see the train tracks whizzing by) and I predicted she'd freak out about that. Also the train station in Beijing is insanely busy. Tens of thousands of people shoving each other and pushing through large halls as everyone pours out of the station like an evicted ant colony. I wondered how we'd navigate that with two little kids, someone who has never experienced that sort of press of people before (brad), and luggage. I'm so thankful we were able to fly. Taking the train would have been an all day event, whereas flying gave us time to get to the hotel, check in, go swimming, explore some shopping areas, and eat dinner. The kids were also able to take naps at the hotel, and we had a relatively nice day settling in. We were so excited to meet up with Adam in the morning--Willow was especially eager to be with Adam again since he'd been gone all week. </div>
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<b>Read on for: </b></div>
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Some stories from the flight.....</div>
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Some stories from the commute to the hotel....</div>
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Some stories from the shopping mall...</div>
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Willow has fairly glorified airplanes and air travel over the past year. But she hadn't flown since September, so she could barely remember the actual sensation of take-off and landing. She also had forgotten the less pleasant parts, such as turbulence, which makes her feel ill. Anyway, as we were going through each process of checking in and security, she was so excited! I mean, she was excited to get in the van that was transporting us to the airport, and the fact that we had packed suit cases. But as we were waiting for the plane to take off, she was super happy. She had her own carry-on, her little owl backpack, which she had packed with snacks and toys and coloring activities. She got right to work, with her tray table. "Ok, now I need to eat a snack!" "Ok, now I need to color a picture!" and so forth.<br />
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When the plane took flight, she sat back in her chair, a little shocked at the butterflies in her stomach. She gripped her arm rests and yelled, "Ahhhhh!!! Whoa!!!!" And then started giggling. Noah, on the other hand freaked out, nursed for two minutes, and then passed out. He coped fairly well, I suppose, by taking a nap. Willow struggled with the air pressure, but was mostly so excited to be flying.<br />
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As we were approaching the Beijing airport, Willow could see we were nearing the ground again. She saw many green fields and yelled excitedly, "It's rugby! Oh, there's another rugby!" Apparently this city girl thinks any large green area is a rugby field, since the only time she really sees large green fields is when Adam watches rugby games on tv.<br />
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The plane was just about to tough the ground, and Willow had buckled her favorite stuffed cat, Poppy, into her seat belt with her. The other passengers were very quiet, so I'm sure everyone heard Willow when she started belting out, "Oh no! We're falling!!! We're GOING TO HIT THE GROUND!!!!" I was trying so hard not to laugh at her.<br />
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When Noah woke up, he proceeded to flirt with the four women sitting in the row in front of us. He's such a flirt. I shouldn't say that. But he is! He's quite the charmer, and he particularly likes Chinese women. But perhaps he's not flirting, and he's just overly friendly towards Asian ladies. They loved him--the fashionistas were draping their long hair over their chairs so that he could play with it, and they were handing him their bracelets and phones...it was ridiculously funny.<br />
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When we exited the plane, we were on the tarmac. We had to bus to the terminal. It was so hot on the blacktop, I thought it felt like we were being cooked alive. Beijing was 15 degrees hotter than Shenyang, plus the heat from the buses and planes...it was pretty intense. We also had trouble finding our stroller, but eventually did find where it had been delivered. A man found us, somehow knew we needed a stroller, spoke perfect English and directed us towards the other side of the baggage claim. I don't know how he knew what we needed, since we had merely been standing there...but it was definitely the Lord looking out for our needs at that moment.<br />
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We decided to take the Airplane express train towards downtown. Willow made a friend on the express, a nice lady who knew a little English. Willow was so eager to talk to her, she took out her Buzz Lightyear and her Woody toys and played with the lady. At the end of the line, the lady gave Willow a sparkly pen as a gift.<br />
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Then came the part where we needed to catch a taxi to take to the hotel. We walked around quite a bit in the horrid, overbearing heat. We had so many carry-ons and totes. Willow was in a stroller, Noah was in the Ergo...they were both very hot and starting to act lethargic. Noah was as red as a lobster and I started to worry that they were suffering from a heat stroke. It was over 105 degrees and it was sweltering even in the meager shade we eventually stood in. At one point, we were in a bus transfer station that was probably 115 degrees inside. I think that the panic I feel that temperature is very unique.<br /><br />
We finally found a taxi that would take us. Though he used AC, it took the entire 30 minute ride for us to start to cool down. The kids drank all the water we had from the plane, and I promised Willow that we could go swimming at the hotel. We were so hot! And hungry. It was mid afternoon and they hadn't napped or eaten lunch yet.<br /><br />
Finally we arrived at the hotel, with our 7 carry-ons + stroller + two kids. We checked in. Drank some water, and decided to find somewhere to eat. We found a McDonalds in the same building as our hotel, and ate there since it was fastest. Willow ate a ton of food. Noah was a normal shade again. We returned to the hotel and took naps. After we woke up we explored the shopping malls around our area. The mall we walked into first was huge, and four of the ten floors were food courts and restaurants. Brad was intrigued by the architecture of the building. Some elements were cool, some were stupid, and mostly it looked like student projects, he said.<br />
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We did go swimming after all. It was freezing cold water. The "gym" was located around the poolside. Haha! It looked bizarre and oh-so-China. There were no locker rooms or towels, life guards, or any sort of safety equipment, and the lighting was mostly just two flood lights. But it was still fun to swim with the kids. Both Willow and Noah were both excited and terrified of the water. Willow did not like watching Brad swim, and Noah cried when Brad would swim under water.<br />Willow slipped on the slick tile, and I was very worried at first. But she exhibited no signs of a concussion, though she did cry a fair amount. We were so ready for bed that night. When we woke up in the morning, Adam was knocking on our hotel room door. Yay!<br /><br />Stay tuned for the actual site-seeing pictures!<br /><br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-5253358440936269432014-04-28T07:49:00.000+08:002014-04-28T07:59:05.503+08:00feast by the willow tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>The Word of Life<br />Only begotten son of God </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Born of a virgin</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Fully man<br />Fully God </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Experienced temptation, exhaustion, hunger, thirst, frustration, sorrow, even pain</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He knew no sin </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Showed us unconditional love, unbridled joy, fathomless mercy </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Was in communion with God</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He ministered, healed, taught, rebuked </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He prayed</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He suffered</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He died on a cross </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Our Redeemer<br />The Atonement<br />The Perfect Lamb of God </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He was buried </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He was dead for three days</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He defeated the last enemy, death </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He resurrected to life again </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He appeared to his followers </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>They touched his wounds<br />He promised them the Spirit would come </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He commanded them to spread the Good News </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He promised to be with us forever</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He ascended to heaven </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He sits at the right hand of the Father</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>His sacrificial, redemptive work is finished</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>He is coming back. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><i>Come quickly, Lord Jesus!<br />Come! </i></span></div>
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These pictures are from our lunch picnic along the river on Easter Sunday. After fellowship, we sat under a giant willow tree and shared delicious treats with each other. Willow even got to try hitting a ball with a bat for the first time. Baseball might not be her thing.<br />
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I love these pictures that I snapped on the way home.<br />
They are some of my favorite so far this year.<br />
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-20910955075747482412014-04-19T08:19:00.000+08:002014-04-19T08:19:15.053+08:00Brotherly Love <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span class="text 1John-3-1" id="en-MSG-12904"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What marvelous love</b> the Father has extended to us! </span>Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-2-1John-3-3" id="en-MSG-12905"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But friends, that’s exactly who we are: <span style="font-size: large;">children of God</span>. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, <span style="font-size: large;">with the <b>glistening purity of Jesus’ life</b> as a model for our own.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-14-1John-3-15" id="en-MSG-12911"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we <b>love </b>our brothers</span> and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-14-1John-3-15"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-16-1John-3-17" id="en-MSG-12912"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>This is how we've come to understand and experience love: <b>Christ sacrificed his life</b> for us. </span>This is why <span style="font-size: large;">we ought to live sacrificially </span>for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-18-1John-3-20"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My dear children, let’s not just talk about love;<b> let’s practice real love.</b> </span>This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>For God is greater than our worried hearts </b>and knows more about us than we do ourselves.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-21-1John-3-24"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-3-21-1John-3-24" id="en-MSG-12914"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>As we keep his commands</b>, <b>we live deeply and surely in him</b>, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>passages taken from 1 John 3 (the message)</i></span></div>
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These are some of my favorite pictures from the beginning of April. And now, the great news is, the weather is even warmer than it was a few weeks ago. No more winter coats, hats, and gloves for us! I think Willow is enchanted by the notion!<br />
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I'm not a huge fan of the Message translation, but sometimes, it is refreshing to read Scripture in the informal voice of our vernacular. The above passage was read at our wedding, and so will always be extra special to my heart. I've been reflecting a bit on what Christ has done for us by dying for our sins, resurrecting by the power of His Spirit, and ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Praise be to the Father, the work is done, and the Holy Spirit is with us now. It is an amazing story, and I'm excited to share it with Willow.<br /><br />
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On another note.<br />You think you are a patient person. And then you have a baby.<br />
That thought is quickly vanquished.<br />
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Then, you think you might be learning about patience, after two years in the trenches.<br />Then you have another baby.<br />
Now you know for sure,<br />You are not a patient person.<br />
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This morning was one of those horrible mornings where Noah wouldn't sleep, and I was crying out for some strength and patience. Seriously, I cannot be a mother on my own strength. I am failing by own power, constantly.<br />
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On this particular day, we went to visit the horses by the river. They were looking kind of depressed that day though. I would hate to be a horse.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-76010512653320263122014-04-13T15:07:00.002+08:002014-04-13T15:07:51.725+08:00Around the House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just some pictures from April, which also happen to be grossly out of order and mixed up. But who cares, except for me, and I'm too lazy to do anything about it. </div>
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Noah is obsessed with Willow's trike. He likes to play with the tassels, tries to push it around, and knocks it over so he can climb on it. It's pretty entertaining to watch him fall in love with his first set of wheels.<br /></div>
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Noah watching me blow dry my hair. He is a like a puppy dog, according to Willow. And I would have to agree!<br />
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This was the first day he started pulling himself up into a standing position. Earlier that day, we had been putting him inside the pink tub, to keep him contained. Later on, he flipped it and stood up on his own. The next day, he was onto more challenging terrain, using the couch to pull up on. Now he's onto the kitchen chairs, which are even higher.<br /><br />
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Getting a package in the mail is exciting for everyone. Willow screams in delight when Adam walks in the door with a package sent from family in America. She knows it means lots of yummy treats are ecoming her way.<br /></div>
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New shoes stuffed with candy.<br />
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This is Noah's "Rocky" pose, although usually he punches his fist a lot higher and looks up at it.<br /><br />
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Willow, the crazy-haired-diva.<br /><br />
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Ok, so just a simple update. I've nothing profound to share. Just some pictures from the month of April. </div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-9625849894301637162014-04-11T14:55:00.003+08:002014-04-11T14:55:56.999+08:00Spring, Sprang, Sprung <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's time to crawl out of the cement building, stretch our limbs, and breathe in deeply...though not too deeply, since the pollution is still an issue. </div>
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Here are some pictures from the beginning of April, that I've been trying to post. There were more, but blogger has stopped cooperating again, so oh well! </div>
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Willow is chasing some strange kid around. All of the sudden, I realized Willow was no longer playing on the play-set. Seriously, I look down at Noah for five seconds and she disappears. She followed a crowd of kids who were running home to their building that was on the other side of the district. I was worried, so I went after her, but she was so fast it was difficult to catch up with her darting figure while I was pushing the cheap-o stroller. Anyway, I saw all the kids run into the building, but one girl kept running. And Willow doggedly pursued her. What a weirdo!<br />Here, you can see her chasing the much older girl. When I finally got ahold of Willow, the neighbor girl walked home in relief. She was probably freaked out by the foreign toddler who wouldn't go away.<br /><br />
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And then she thought it would be nice to get soaked with polluted rain puddles on a 40 degree afternoon.<br /><br />
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But I still love this girl.<br />
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Cool reflections and lighting.<br />
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We love all the blossoms from the beautiful ornamental trees that are planted around the complex. I'm so thankful for the nature that we have in our complex. A rarity in our city, for sure.<br /><br />
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She's a stick-magnet. Willow is sure to find a stick and latch onto it.<br />In fact, she has some special sticks that she hides outside our building so that she can play with them whenever we go outside. They are particularly special since they are so thick and long--they're her walking sticks. You know, for when she journeys through Arendale during her "Let it Go" sequences. </div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-87194698271668763612014-04-10T20:40:00.001+08:002014-04-10T20:51:09.556+08:00Eight is Great<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Noah is 8 months old, and I feel the baby-days slipping through my fingers. I went back and looked at Willow's post from when she reached the 8 month marker, and enjoyed reading about what she was like two years ago.<br />
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Two years ago! How time is flying.<br />
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You might also enjoy 'comparing' Noah and Willow after reading this post. Read about Willow at 8 months here: <a href="http://johnsonsontheotherside.blogspot.com/2012/03/eight-is-enough.html" target="_blank">Eight is Enough</a><br />
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They are actually strikingly similar in looks and development at 8 months old. The only thing Noah is not doing now, what Willow was doing at 8 months, is trying to climb ON TOP of the couch. As far as I am aware, he has yet to attempt that feat for himself. But that's probably because Willow will hand him what he is reaching for.<br />
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Up until yesterday, he also wasn't standing up in his crib. Which meant he wasn't reaching his toothbrush, tooth paste, or the wipey container. Willow had been making huge messes with those items by the time she was 8 months. Well, as of yesterday, Noah has continued the tradition of making messes in his bed during nap times. So now I have to hide these items while he's supposed to be sleeping. It really isn't smart to put the changing table next to the crib. You'd think we would have rearranged the furniture by now.<br />
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Things I love about Noah at 8 months...<br />
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<ul>
<li>He's so chunky, thick, and tubby! Although it breaks my back to lug around a 24 pound baby, at least I get to burn some extra calories in the process. He's so huggable with all his rolls! As Willow says, while squeezing Noah's fat legs, "Noah is squishy-squishy!" </li>
<li>He's so happy! With an even temperament, and a propensity to smile at just about anyone or anything, it's amazing how content this little guy constantly is. I cannot get enough of his cabbage-patch-baby-doll face, his delightful smiles, and myriad styles of laughing. He thinks many things are funny, especially his sister and dad. </li>
<li>He's so cuddly! Enough said.</li>
<li>He's so mobile! Gone are the days of the 'butterfly-stroke-crawl'. He's full-on crawling and into everything. At least he hasn't discovered how to open cupboards yet. Not looking forward to that skill being developed. He's pulling himself up on everything--growing some more muscle mass along the way. He's cruising around the furniture, and determined to follow us wherever we go. </li>
<li>He's eager and curious! Noah wants desperately to play with Willow's more advanced toys (who wants baby toys, anyway?), or to get into the trash can, or the wires and cords, or technology. He wants to eat whatever we are eating--and I'm constantly telling Willow to not give him food. On a side note, I also have to save Noah's food from Willow--who thinks she should be able to eat the baby food that is just for him. </li>
<li>He's so excited! When Adam comes home, he's ecstatic. He flails about, waving his arms and kicking his legs, grinning like a little fool--ust waitng to be noticed. He usually is pretty silent though, and waits until Willow is finished shrieking and yelling and talking in her own excited way. Second born issues are real. </li>
<li>He's mischievous! He's already learning and enjoying his role of 'little brother' which he was born to fill. Willow can't stand water on her face during bath time. He makes sure she is repeatedly splashed in the face during their short baths. He pulls her hair, gnaws on her face, and breaks her toys. He puts up with a lot of crap from the sister too. Sometimes, I feel like I'm watching some strange version of mine and Adam's lives on replay. Of course, we were not each other's siblings, but I think it's funny when Willow is bossy to Noah and orders him around. Adam is appalled and runs to Noah's rescue frequently. Adam is Noah's advocate in many ways. </li>
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He's also teething again. The fifth tooth recently popped through, and he has probably three more close to surfacing. He's been waking up so often at night, I am more sleep deprived now than I was during his newborn days. Sometimes he wakes up as many as 8 times. I think he's in pain from teething, and also crawling around in his sleep and waking himself up that way too. It's been an exhausting life, lately.<br />
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I love this face, so wondefully and completely.<br /><br />
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Willow cannot stand it when I take 'milestone' pictuers of Noah. She HAS to get in on the action. We actually fought quite a lot during Noah's little picture session. It was a debacle.<br /><br />Noah also learned how to give kisses this month! It's so precious to be the recipient of his little kisses.<br />
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I think these pictures of Noah in his stroller with his sunglasses are hilarious. But maybe that's just me....<br /><br />
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Noah is eating a variety of food now. I'm making most of his baby food the old fashioned way, which makes me feel a tiny bit proud. Yet another thing that China has taught me to do.<br /><br />
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If you would like to pray for Noah, please lift up his nightly sleeping habits. I've literally tried EVERYTHING, and NOTHING is breaking the cycle. I'm praying too; I don't believe anything will change the course except for divine intervention. Also, pray for energy and patience on my part.<br />
You can also lift up Noah's upcoming surgery. We don't know when it will be or who will be the surgeon, at this point. So we are asking the Lord for guidance and wisdom as we seek out His plan for Noah's hand. In any case, we believe the surgery will be sometime this year.<br />
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Thank you friends.<br />Noah sends you a slobbery kiss!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-36861861186578289762014-03-08T11:55:00.000+08:002014-03-08T11:56:00.209+08:00five, six, seven <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The problem with being behind on these types of posts, is that I have trouble remembering what was happening two months ago. I guess it defeats the purpose of writing these posts, since I will be unable to write much about Noah's development. </div>
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Oh look, here's some text I wrote about Noah when he was five months old! Phew.<br />
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He started eating solid food towards the end of his fifth month, but like Willow, had some sort of allergic reaction to it. Lots of throwing up in a short amount of time, followed by complete exhaustion. It's very strange that both of my kids have reacted to rice cereal this way. The first several times he ate rice cereal he was completely fine, just like Willow. So weird. </div>
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He does like to eat food, however. I'm just horrible about making sure he gets to eat some solid food everyday. I really need to get better about that. </div>
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Noah started scooting hard-core around 6 months. It looks like he's swimming the butterfly stroke. He shows impressive strength with his version of crawling. Although, last night, he was crawling for real in pursuit of the vacuum cleaner. I guess machines are an adequate enticement for him. </div>
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In February, Noah had his horrible hospital experience.<br />
He also went in for his 6 month wellness check up.<br />
He's 23 pounds, and in the 98 percentile for weight.<br />
He's 26 inches long, and 50 percentile for height.<br />
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So: still short and fat.<br />
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He didn't cry for his vaccination, yet again. He's so tough! He had a little whimpering and a few tears when the nurse took the needle out of his leg, but that was all.<br />
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Happy Valentine's Day! </div>
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Then Noah reached the grand number of 7 months! </div>
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Yesterday, I was just in shock that my newborn baby boy was already seven months old. </div>
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It feels like he was just born yesterday. </div>
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I was thinking that he will be celebrating his first birthday soon. </div>
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I wonder what it's like to be Noah? He is almost always happy, and he never seems to be discontent. </div>
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"Thickness" is the nickname that Adam has given to Noah. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJUIIcHuh-NokqpsEfXOf7994Iw29BiKbUXXPAETqS4d_4bFY9ktSnUQDhlOz8c3kTzxjnth0IxYTR42R5nniFgGPylBsrPxkgvCe0K3BOq06VxkqjXVKZw11TyQKs8e_JkjL-vXiFw/s1600/baby+friends2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHUV-W-P0i8i0SH3KIL9XQCw6_9Q_c-7CdSl7VB5xiDYpJaEw3tLe1fGOxLXbza3QRAzR3hwiaTdEe6qWjg1Go2vVCc4zCtluB5mjq1ydhaTx9wkxNXlPvCIGbnZ5grB-hV4D2Rnw-g/s1600/Noah+7months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHUV-W-P0i8i0SH3KIL9XQCw6_9Q_c-7CdSl7VB5xiDYpJaEw3tLe1fGOxLXbza3QRAzR3hwiaTdEe6qWjg1Go2vVCc4zCtluB5mjq1ydhaTx9wkxNXlPvCIGbnZ5grB-hV4D2Rnw-g/s1600/Noah+7months.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqCxo-AVzkYckjWCew8Zl-s6RLVyFnFckbx2eLcislrpSRn71xVOF72Uehq_wj2M9sjN4sa6ScT1ctfFqxLvC8c-DEMcVE5zPXhTp6hVx9GT-MkRQ0pJX_G9fzBcQmeVkEJ_ekJaGgw/s1600/Noah+7+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqCxo-AVzkYckjWCew8Zl-s6RLVyFnFckbx2eLcislrpSRn71xVOF72Uehq_wj2M9sjN4sa6ScT1ctfFqxLvC8c-DEMcVE5zPXhTp6hVx9GT-MkRQ0pJX_G9fzBcQmeVkEJ_ekJaGgw/s1600/Noah+7+months.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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The play group that my kids are a part of every Friday is growing! Yesterday, everyone was able to come, so there were four babies and four toddlers playing around (not present were three school-aged older siblings, and three babies in utero).</div>
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This picture is significant because it is the first time all four babies have been in the same room together outside of the womb. There is a picture of all the moms together when we were still pregnant. There is a fifth baby as well, but he has moved to America with his family. </div>
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One of the biggest updates about Noah so far in 2014 is that we finally received that 'okay' from our insurance company for Noah's DNA to be tested. A few weeks later, we received the gist of his results. On February 15, I opened an email from our genetic counselor that said Noah's micro array results returned as 'normal'. No syndromes were identified, and we'll be scheduling a follow-up appointment to go over the official results the next time we're in America! Praise the Lord that all the waiting is over and we can move forward with a better understanding of Noah's overall health. </div>
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If you could hold Noah today, you would find him to be very smiley, chunky, and lovable.<br />
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I've titled many posts about Noah's physical health in a similar theme (His Ears, His Blood, His Hands, etc.). I wasn't really sure what I should title this post...His Poop? Or another less proper word for fecal matter? I mean, Noah's not even a year old, but boy do we have poop stories! This one, tops them all. This is the story of how we set out to get ultra sounds on Noah's heart and kidneys, and instead got covered in poop.<br />
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<b>An excerpt of something I wrote the day it happened 3 weeks ago.</b><br />
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Any day that starts of at 6:00 am, is not my cup of tea. Today, I had to rise at 5:30, since that's what time Noah woke up for his 'middle of the night' snack. Yes, 5:30 is the middle of the night for me.There are things that equivocate a 'bad day'. Like, waking up early, walking out to the main road with with a 22 pound baby in the frigid temps of Northern China. It's not a good day when you don't have time to drink coffee beforehand, you get stuck in rush hour traffic, and you can't find the nurse on the side of the road (the nurse wanted me to pick her up on the curb of a busy street--but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack!), not to mention you and the taxi driver are having a hard time communicating. But really, none of those things bothered me because I'm used to all that stuff. </b></span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Let me tell you the story of my horrible, no good, very bad day. </span></i></b><br />
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The morning was crazy. Things that would normally stress me out were hardly bothering me. I don't know if that's because God was protecting me, or because I knew I couldn't afford to be stressed with little inconveniences. Noah and I were headed for his second trip to the Children's Hospital where his heart and kidneys would be checked. I hopeful and optimistic about the results, but I also wanted to be realistic with potential results.<br />
<br />
The hole in his heart might still be there.<br />
His kidneys might have tumors.<br />
The hole in his heart might be healed.<br />
His kidneys might be totally fine.<br />
<br />
I kept thinking about these options as objectively as possible. Knowing that God would guide us whatever the results would be was actually the only thing that comforted me. I really was wishing that Adam had taken off of work to come with me. I hate being by myself in situations like this.<br />
<br />
So picture this. I'm physically weary, stressed by my environment (but pretending that I'm okay), and emotionally confused. I'm not just saying that God was helping me through this morning; I really would have been a wreck without His constant support.<br />
<br />
Like I've mentioned before in hospital posts---the medical system is so different in China.<br />
In America, our primary doctor would schedule an appointment with the appropriate hospital. We'd be ushered into a well-decorated, sterile, efficiently staffed hospital. We would check in, wait a reasonable amount of time before being taken into a private room by a knowledgable nurse. It would be clean. It would be professional. It would be mostly quiet, except for maybe some chattering people or a TV playing Soap Operas in the corner. There would be kid-friendly art work and ferns scattered about. We'd sign some papers, flash our insurance cards. The actual tests would be explained to us, performed without a hitch, and finished with a promise that a doctor would phone us with the results sometime that week.<br />
<br />
In China, I need a nurse to accompany me, because my Mandarin is not fluent enough. She will not only translate dialogue for me, but also navigate the system for us. I counted 9 different counters, in many different rooms and halls that she had to check-in at. I'm not sure what was happening at each counter. Sometimes she was registering, sometimes she was signing-in, sometimes she was paying, or getting a little medical spread sheet that would record everything Noah had done to him while at the hospital (like a running receipt, I guess). You have to pay for everything BEFORE the procedure is performed. You stand in lines. You don't make appointments. You can cut in line if you feel your case is more important than those that standing in front of you. You're surrounded by families holding their terminally ill children and babies. You don't understand how the building is designed or where to go, or how to read the signs. Even your helpful nurse, who has great English, stumbles across some translations. At the second counter she went to, she told me that the doctor behind that desk wanted Noah to be 'put to sleep'. The nurse looked just as confused as I did. She said, "He didn't have to do that last time, right?" No. They didn't 'put him to sleep'. I didn't even want to know what that statement meant--but my nurse said that we could try to get Noah's tests without worrying about that. He did get an ultrasound in the past without the hospital putting him to sleep.<br />
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Finally got into the color sonogram room (where we had pushed and shoved our way forward to keep our place in line) where privacy is a laughing matter. Anyone can walk into the room at any time. There's no clean tissue paper on the exam table. It's just a wooden cot.<br />
<br />
The technician took one look at Noah and demanded that he be he be given an injection so that "he will not move". Maybe this is a normal practice in America too, but I was feeling a little uncertain at this point. I couldn't call Adam to ask him what he thought.<br />
<br />
Okay..."be put to sleep" + "an injection so that he will not move". I was starting to think that the word the nurse was searching for was 'sedative'.<br />
<br />
The technician gave an extremely lackluster attempt at viewing Noah's heart and kidneys and then waved her hands saying that it was impossible to see anything--even though he was hardly moving. All I had to go on was when he was there at 3 months, and the guy who looked at Noah's kidneys did so without a sedative.<br />
<br />
My main thought was that I wanted Noah's heart and kidneys to be checked; the technician wasn't willing to do it without Noah being sedated; so I should let them sedate Noah. What if something WAS wrong with Noah and I hadn't allowed them to give him a simple sedative for whatever reason? I would feel so guilty.<br />
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To get a sedative, we had to go through 5 more counters. At one point, the nurse wanted to take Noah away from me and bring him to another part of the building without me. I was shocked, and absolutely unwilling to let that happen--so I grabbed Noah back and followed her. To a cluttered, dirty, crowded rooom where they 'weighed' Noah. First they weighed me holding him, then I returned to the scale without Noah. So precise, right?<br />
<br />
After the weigh in, someone at a desk gave us a slip of paper that announce how much of a sedative Noah needed. We walked to another counter--which was basically in the hallway. It was a very wide hallway, and there were chairs set up like in an airplane terminal. Behind the counter were four nurses, each with a medical cart, and a computer. Above each nurse, a medal rod was hanging from the ceiling, for IV bags. On the wooden counter that they were sitting behind, were small plastic cushions for babies/children to sit on. This is where Noah was to get his sedative. When we saw an opening, we walked up to the counter, where I was told to sign a medical release. I couldn't read the characters. The nurse told me of the side effects that might occur from the sedative. I signed in English.<br />
<br />
Side effects included child being unable to breathe well. What does that mean?!!!<br />
I asked how long it would make him sleep--the hospital worker said "Maybe 20 minutes. Maybe several hours. We don't know".<br />
<br />
Wow--we're just brimming with reassurances!<br />
<br />
The nurse brought out a large syringe with a long plastic tube attached to it. It was filled with a clear liquid. She had me take Noah's diaper off. We're in a hallway, in a relatively cold hospital with people all around. Babies and children are screaming because their sick and in pain. Some are getting blood drawn out of their feet, a meter to my right. Someone else is getting an IV hooked up to her head. Every kid seems to have their mom, their dad, their grandparents, a nurse, a nanny....And there's me, with the international clinic nurse.<br />
<br />
So I take Noah's diaper off, and watch as the hospital worker sticks the tube up my son's 'acne' (as the international nurse kept mistakingly calling it). The hospital worker then injects Noah with the sedative, and squeezes his butt cheeks together tightly. She tells me to squeeze his but together as tightly as I can for 20 minutes. Then she tells me to pick him, and sit over there, in the waiting section.<br />
<br />
What the heck? How am I supposed to hold a squirming, heavy, unhappy baby--while carrying him naked, while squeezing his butt cheeks with two hands? The international clinic nurse helped me as much as possible, and we shuffled over to the nearest seat--with my diaper bag and her big purse--and Noah's stroller.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is a bad idea.</b></span><br />
<br />
I had no idea how they were going to sedate Noah, but I thought it would be more like a tranquilizer dart or something involving a needle. Not a tube up his but. Not a liquid that I had to hold within his colon by squeezing his butt. Not something that had to be held inside of him for twenty minutes before it would start to work.<br />
<br />
Do you know Noah? He poops a lot. Every day, several times, huge explosions.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is a <i>very </i>bad idea.</b></span><br />
<br />
I was not amused in the slightest. If anything, I had forgotten how to even panic or worry--because I already knew that this story was going to end in a lot of poop.<br />
<br />
How badly to I want this ultra sound? I wanted it...so I waited. I sat there for about two minutes, with a very unhappy Noah--who wanted to move, and for us to stop bruising his dimpled butt cheeks.<br />
<br />
Then, the front of my shirt was soaking wet with pee, and I felt that my hands were full of something very smooth and warm. I looked at the nurse and said quite calmly, "He's pooping on me, can you grab a diaper?" With an audience of Chinese people looking on, we tried to clean up the mess. It was everywhere on me, on Noah, on the nurse....we used nearly all the wipes.<br />
<br />
She had some antibacterial soap, and we tried to clean up as best as possible. But my jeans were now yellow, and my shirt was beyond help.<br />
<br />
After we cleaned up, I looked up at the hospital worker, who was sitting behind her stupid wooden counter very dispassionately. "You have to do it again." she said so vindictively, as if it's my fault that injecting a baby through his anus makes them poop.<br />
<br />
At Chinese hospitals, they provide nothing as far as tissues, towels, bandaids, etc. As all the kids are screaming and crying around us, and I'm watching kids that have very serious illnesses walking away with multiple IV's that their parents hold on metal rods as they walk away...I was wondering if we should try again. I had one wipe left and one diaper. No one told me to prepare for this eventuality.<br />
<br />
The poor international clinic nurse who had been translating for me, and helping me to navigate the system is a single lady. And she had my son's poop on her. I slipped my poop encrusted wedding rings into my coat pocket.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, let's do it <i>again</i>.</span><br />
<br />
Which meant going to all the counters again. Paying again. Getting weighed again. Getting yet another prescription that was the exact same as before. Going back to the assembly-line-esque-injection counter. Having the same nurse tell me to take Noah's diaper off. Watching Noah's little face contort as she shoved the tube up his butt, for a second time.<br />
<br />
Being smart enough to squeeze his butt cheeks with a diaper barrier this time (even though the hospital worker protested and said I shouldn't do that--I am not THAT stupid).<br />
<br />
I could see that the line to get an ultrasound was now very long, stretch thing far down the hall. No wonder we had made such an effort to get there first thing in the morning.<br />
<br />
This time, Noah made it about 15 minutes. And then he pooped all over me for a second time. I was kind of relieved, actually, because my arms were shaking with the strain of holding him still while squeezing his butt.<br />
<br />
But I still wanted to cry. No one likes to be covered in poop, least of all me. I remember thinking with wonder, as I looked up at all the Chinese faces watching me, "it's amazing that I'm not sobbing right now". <br />
<br />
At this point, we'd been at the hospital for 4 hours. Standing in multiple lines. Being covered in poop twice. Having the humiliation of watching your son poop on someone who is trying to help you (i.e. the nurse). Paying for tests that you can't receive because of the uncooperative technician, and not being able to call Adam just made it worse. I didn't know how Willow was behaving for her babysitter, and that was another stress on my day. I didn't know how long it would take to get a taxi (it actually did take a long time). Noah hadn't been able to eat all morning. He missed both of his naps. I rescheduled his follow up at the international clinic for another day and decided it was time to quit.<br />
<br />
Later, when I finally got home, I put both kids in their beds for naps. I just sat on the couch and didn't move for a few hours. Wow, was I tired! Talk about an exhausting cultural experience, not to mention parenting adventure. Adam said that I shouldn't have even let them try to sedate Noah. Later, Noah's pediatrician said that we could wait until we're back in America next to get his echo-cardiogram.<br />
<br />
I had a friend who understands the system a little better explain why the technician wasn't willing to check Noah's heart and kidneys without him being sedated. She probably makes a very small amount of money a month (maybe less than $500 a month) and for her to go through the extra trouble with an un-sedated baby was not worth it to her. If I had handed her 100 kuai under the table, maybe she would have done it, because then it would have been worth it. I'm not sure if Noah will have to go through the same rigors in America or not--but at least I'll understand the system, the language, and the culture.<br />
<br />
One thing that shocked me the most while I was at the hospital was how little compassion I saw around me. Whether it was the worker/nurses at the assembly line counter who were so emotionally distant, it was disturbing. They would watch the babies and kids were in legitimate pain or great fear and offer no comfort or reassurance. Or the people shoving you out of place while you're standing in line. Or the uncooperative technicians or arrogant doctors.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I <i>really </i>appreciate having compassionate medical professionals.</span><br />
<br />
This is the best children's hospital in a city of several million people--and I am so thankful I have other options. I'm thankful Noah doesn't have to get his hand surgery there. And I admire all the families that travel from many cities and towns away to get the best care possible at that hospital. Life is different here, where a bribe can get you the test you need, and a shove can cut you to the front of the line.<br />
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On a spiritual level, I was reminded that when we knowingly walk into a difficult situation, we should prepare ourselves properly. Though I had forgotten to pack enough antibacterial-related items and diapers, I was still supported by the strength of God to get through those disgusting, humiliating, frustrating, and culturally confusing moments. There were many moments when I knew I couldn't survive that particular situation without Him, and I chose to obey Him with my words and actions. And there were many moments more when I failed to live in a way that would please Him. Fortunately, for reasons I cannot fully understand, His grace is sufficient for all those moments. If I had to choose between remembering to pack enough diapers or remembering to focus on God and His plan, I will strive to chose the Lord.<br />
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<h2>
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After all, diapers are made to cover behinds. </div>
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But God covers His children with saving grace.<br />
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-25968787291218753362014-03-06T12:19:00.002+08:002014-03-06T12:19:32.272+08:00No time, no internet, no motivation <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTitKs6bKLwLTY3f4eMPKKjlgbT7Z8PJ2zHCO5Su6XKw0PqoWq3Y1qpEthojhjqHP68Z4Pn-LmcKS09mGMbwl9LycTs3wRgp8GJPvVVJTi1zL8kprBkWvsAFYL6emWeVUOG6u-6dBPyw/s1600/jan14+chubby+cheeks_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTitKs6bKLwLTY3f4eMPKKjlgbT7Z8PJ2zHCO5Su6XKw0PqoWq3Y1qpEthojhjqHP68Z4Pn-LmcKS09mGMbwl9LycTs3wRgp8GJPvVVJTi1zL8kprBkWvsAFYL6emWeVUOG6u-6dBPyw/s1600/jan14+chubby+cheeks_Fotor.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Well, it's literally been two months since I've updated last. As always, there are lots of great reasons why I haven't been able to keep up...mostly, though I can blame the internet. It seems that China doesn't like my blog and has been VERY effective with keeping me off of it. I am so glad that I am able to get on right now, for however brief a time. I can still access many sites (like facebook, youtube, and even others' blogs), but just not my own. Grrrr...<br />
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So what happened?<br />
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January:<br />
-Willow turned 2.5 years old. I had intentions of throwing her a half-birthday-party. A plan that only existed in my head, and got stuck in brain matter.<br />
-Noah reached the 5 month marker<br />
-Celebrated another Chinese New Year. It was Noah's first, and Willow's third! Not as many fireworks this year, but enough to keep Willow equal parts fascinated and terrified. We bought a large box ourselves, and lit it off--much to Willow's horror. We have a video of us all freezing outside for the sake of gunpowder--and Willow is sobbing. Noah is nonchalant as usual. If our internet was faster, I'd upload it, because it's might entertain you.<br />
-Adam enjoyed (I think...) a two week break from teaching<br />
-Selfishly, I enjoyed not hosting anything during that two week break. I had a break from just about all my commitments, which was just what my introverted-self needed.<br />
-We didn't eat a whole lot of meat during Chun Jie, since restaurants were closed, and the market wasn't selling any. How is Adam still alive?!<br /><br />
February<br />
-Noah passed the 6 month mark.<br />
-We continued to endure the brutally cold weather, with a few teasers of an approaching spring mixed in there.<br />
-We received Noah's DNA microarray test results--which were normal! I hope to write more about this in the future.<br />
-The attempt to get Noah's heart and kidneys checked via ultrasound failed. I also will write about this in the future. It was, in a word, traumatic. And in retrospect, it's hilarious.<br />
-Willow became obsessed with Frozen, even more. She has most of the lyrics memorized, and works on the choreography. She would like nothing more than to have a single, thick braid draped over one shoulder.<br />
-Um...I don't remember what we did in Februrary.<br />
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Now it's March! Tomorrow, Noah will be 7 months, and if China will let me on my blog--I really will try to update about Noah's development, personality, and health....for like the past three months.<br />
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In the mean time, here are some pictures for you.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FkXsGaThbbTw2kRDpZ3eCrhQiuRYnzkbRnHG3rhCo29q80GRI1IJ7BvVXR6kNUPGscbJ8eADLtzS3VQb9V2T1tqjb1Fofi8DvyELzs0zOItK_-rdQRDlzddc1nPC9El_BokNj1hA-A/s1600/jan14+lego+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FkXsGaThbbTw2kRDpZ3eCrhQiuRYnzkbRnHG3rhCo29q80GRI1IJ7BvVXR6kNUPGscbJ8eADLtzS3VQb9V2T1tqjb1Fofi8DvyELzs0zOItK_-rdQRDlzddc1nPC9El_BokNj1hA-A/s1600/jan14+lego+tower.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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We spent the big night of Chun Jie at a nice hotel--where we had a suite (for less than $100) that was larger and nicer than our apartment. Super nice! We ate dinner at Pizza Hut, and stopped at Starbucks the next morning. Pretty much the only places that were open, in the usually very busy Tai Yuan shopping/touristy area.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcsmxq4UCg8-6zQPhslVZLjENu9irZ6xr02t4fvvZ74HWglfxsCzh9GlfCeHrjWkMoQ2OYALnKDNKOAqf3jginmEdfDm058G0hLECQNzX3mr09BSSN7VxnGTef81eVCk3rtOvHdxYw/s1600/jan+14+starbucks_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcsmxq4UCg8-6zQPhslVZLjENu9irZ6xr02t4fvvZ74HWglfxsCzh9GlfCeHrjWkMoQ2OYALnKDNKOAqf3jginmEdfDm058G0hLECQNzX3mr09BSSN7VxnGTef81eVCk3rtOvHdxYw/s1600/jan+14+starbucks_Fotor.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xQIn9lVwoYNRGgDjNQ-6jjOPTlrSafgUsPJYY-ztb4VjrUxiX5UgSvG5_vUXW7fZnEyLccEvMdZ7887J9gDr2SAtTCUrjc0eEpPq2KNWEtLbFnTY2ly4pIHfD9lPluQQlgwPbrELCg/s1600/jan+14+willow_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xQIn9lVwoYNRGgDjNQ-6jjOPTlrSafgUsPJYY-ztb4VjrUxiX5UgSvG5_vUXW7fZnEyLccEvMdZ7887J9gDr2SAtTCUrjc0eEpPq2KNWEtLbFnTY2ly4pIHfD9lPluQQlgwPbrELCg/s1600/jan+14+willow_Fotor.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-20541576135300059292014-01-02T14:56:00.003+08:002014-01-02T14:56:49.283+08:00Comfort & Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj_e1nHXeMlK-puTKhlnEH_qN4L6IEJufz7hCFU2P0hQSgq_bXhyphenhyphenv_nXAEPHvjsE6vW_dwiGOQ0V2PZAri1EZVVrJFhN0x0GTf7W1BKl-8lN7x44kVwx_MVetm1kDDQVKYxqowcP5vQ/s1600/Emmanuel+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj_e1nHXeMlK-puTKhlnEH_qN4L6IEJufz7hCFU2P0hQSgq_bXhyphenhyphenv_nXAEPHvjsE6vW_dwiGOQ0V2PZAri1EZVVrJFhN0x0GTf7W1BKl-8lN7x44kVwx_MVetm1kDDQVKYxqowcP5vQ/s640/Emmanuel+.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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Christmas traditions are seeming a little more important, now that Willow is an active participant. What do I want her to know about Christmas and how will we start filling her memory bank this year? Noah isn't far behind in this train of thought either.</div>
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Being in China, away from family can be hard during the holidays. But we still enjoy our own little traditions (such as opening gifts on Christmas Eve and eating tacos). We are still tempted to over-program our time. Like last year, it got a little out of control, and we ended up going to 12 Christmas parties. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqBlUx6FmwVg2ft79LTfuijMnBiH6DN6NzsWAvRnGiRh_AyrvhaDxbWILUPXnuIGLdof1y65Owfs0EMJMb3wwwqZIWHu9zBuskWAQ0gUH_kt_abI4Jv0LP9mAGjVyopYc-YdBx6c-7w/s1600/Big+Sister+Little+Brother+1_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqBlUx6FmwVg2ft79LTfuijMnBiH6DN6NzsWAvRnGiRh_AyrvhaDxbWILUPXnuIGLdof1y65Owfs0EMJMb3wwwqZIWHu9zBuskWAQ0gUH_kt_abI4Jv0LP9mAGjVyopYc-YdBx6c-7w/s640/Big+Sister+Little+Brother+1_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Christmas Eve we spent our time with just the four of us together. We watched a Veggie Tales Christmas movie with Willow, ate popcorn, drank hot chocolate and wore new pajamas. We ate mexican food for dinner and opened presents soon after. Opening presents was more like Willow opening everything. Actually, she had the most presents anyway, so it was no big deal to let her open the few others that were not intended for Willow.<br />
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Away from the major commercialism of Christmas (which is felt not as significantly here, though definitely still around), I'm tempted to start a new tradition of only buying each child one gift each. As it was, we bought Willow 4 gifts (and Noah none…poor dude…though he doesn't care). I felt a little guilty for even that much! I found a cute little tea set for Willow, some play dough toys we had been saving to give to her since the summer when we were in America, puzzles, and legos.<br />
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But after all the presents were opened, she had quite a bit more! That's probably because we received several boxes from our loving family members in America who sent many thoughtful gifts. And Willow definitely won the award for quantity of gifts! The pile of toys, clothes, books, art supplies, and candy was pretty impressive afterwards. Since our apartment is so small, we had to do a toy purge in order to find places for all the new additions.<br />
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I can at least rest in the fact that everything she received is very developmental and educational by nature. She will be practicing skills with all her imaginative and creative toys for months to come and it has been keeping her very entertained of the last week. She loves her new dress up clothes, backpack, and play-dough. She's been painting, drawing with magic markers, building lego towers, and giving tea parties. Not to mention all the lip gloss and chap stick she received….that has been a huge <i>hit</i> around here.<br />
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I think in a few years, when the kids are able to understand the principle behind the matter a little more, we might limit gifts to 1 per child from us. At least for this year, there were no major melt downs since Willow was completely entranced by the wonder of it all. The only time she grew upset was when it was time to go to bed and she couldn't play with her new toys any longer.<br />
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Willow helped me to make sugar cookies for our Tuesday group to decorate before Christmas. She was really into the whole process and managed to eat quite a lot of cookie dough (as in, I kept missing unbaked cookies off of the baking pans every time I turned my back).<br />
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We even made a W cookie--since Willow is currently obsessed with the letter W.<br />
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Christmas morning was spent with friends. Eating a delicious pot luck breakfast together and then exchanging stocking stuffers. Willow was once again excited about all the little treats she received.<br />
Noah thought the event to be rather lackluster and opted for a nap instead.<br />
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When we were decorating the house for Christmas, we realized that we could not find our Christmas lights. I thought that they must have burned out last year and so we were unable to decorate our tree after we set it up. Several days later, I was able to get to a market and ended up on a very 'mafan' shopping trip in which I had all sorts of inconvenient experiences (the definition of mafan, basically) transpire. At the end of which, I finally was able to purchase new twinkle lights and return home. Only to discover, almost as soon as I entered the house (without even looking for them) our bag of old twinkle lights. Oh the horrors!<br />
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Since we couldn't decorate our tree for a few days, Willow got to work hanging ornaments in other locations. I kid you not, she did this on her own volition and I am pretty proud of her creativity.<br />
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I was so happy to have our lights and ornaments up! One thing I do appreciate about all the tacky Christmas decor that is sold in China is that all ornaments are VERY cheap looking. They're all plastic or styrofoam which means that they are virtually indestructible--or at least not capable of harming a destructive 2-year-old.<br />
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We also spent Christmas afternoon sky ping family in America, and Christmas evening with more friends over a delicious pot luck dinner. As you can see, Willow loves owls. </div>
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She also loves her stuffed cat/puppet named Poppy (named after a friend's cat that Willow likes). Willow sleeps with Poppy at nap time and throughout the night. My hand is often sweating because Willow insists I wear Poppy for hours on end so that she can pretend that Poppy is real. She also likes to pretend that she is pregnant with Poppy. So weird.<br />
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This particular day, Willow tied one of Adam's neckties around her waist as well and asked for her picture to be taken. She insisted on standing side ways, because that's what one does when taking maternity shots, apparently.<br />
Later, she added some cardboard tubes in her shirt so that Poppy would have some toys to play with. The mind of a toddler is fascinating.<br />
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Willow also drinks coffee. She has for awhile, but not by an encouragement from me. Adam actually hates that I allow this. But, in all seriousness, if I leave a cup of coffee unattended it will be bone dry by the time I turn around. She slurps up every last drop of it. So I've started giving her either chocolate milk as a substitute (which does not fool her), or watered down coffee. If she's going to insist on a morning cup of joe, I would prefer it to be watered down and not the last few ounces of what is in my own mug.<br />
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Willow's hair is also growing longer! Still very short on the sides. Still baby-fine and very wispy. Still curly and wavy. But at least we can get some variety of styles now. These are not all legitimate hair styles. Most of these are Willow goofing around and telling me she looks like a beautiful princess named Rapunzel. I guess if you remember being virtually bald for most of your life, a little hair on your head is an exciting prospect. The poor girl has already experienced a receding hair line as she lost her newborn hair, baldness, a mohawk, and now is living through various stages of mullet-ness.<br />
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It's a party in the back, everyone.<br />
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So, this has been a very random Christmas/Willow update. I feel like I should write something about Adam or Noah now.<br />
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I am so thankful that God sent His Son, in bodily form--as a helpless baby--to grow and mature in wisdom and grace, that he would minister to the lost and save us all from the consequences of our sin. I cannot conceive of such a love, as God's sacrifice for us, that while we were still sinners, He gave us His only Son to die on the cross, so that we could be with Him forever. I cannot wait to fully understand the mystery that He has revealed to the nations. To have faith in Jesus is to know saving grace, to be assured of hope, to be redeemed for eternity.<br />
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Merry Christmas, friends!<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-39167346293343052602013-12-28T11:15:00.001+08:002013-12-28T11:15:27.178+08:003 & 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
3 & 4 month milestones…and technically almost 5, since I am so behind in blogging. I always have plenty of good reasons for putting this blog on the back burner. Besides the holiday busyness, getting used to two kids, trying to potty train Willow, and whatever else is going on--there's also our internet restrictions which have been barring me from posting for over a month. Our internet is also extremely slow, which means loading pictures takes hours, if not days, to achieve. </div>
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Anyway. Sorry again, Noah. </div>
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The cabbage pictures were taken on his 3-month birthday, however. And the pictures that say '4 months' on them were taken on his 4 month birthday. So, that's something, I suppose. </div>
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We took similar pictures of Willow at this time of year, two autumns ago. She even had a similar outfit on! Haha, aren't we clever.<br />
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I like this montage of Willow grabbing Noah's toy and giving it to him. She looks so grown up here. Noah is so entertained by his sister and their interaction is very sweet and usually funny.<br />
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These two babies are so funny together! I guess that they sensed they were near one another, and so they spent several minutes trying to hold one another's hands. It was hilarious and cute to watch them flailing their baby arms around and every once in awhile they would succeed.<br />
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The major milestone for the 4th month was that Noah's two bottom teeth finally popped through. He's still very restless at night and waking up a lot because, I think, he's in pain. I'll be so happy when he starts to sleep for longer than 1-3 hours again.<br />
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Noah also went to the children's hospital in Shenyang for an ultrasound on his kidneys. It was a very interesting experience. I brought him there by myself, never having been there before, I was at the mercy of the taxi driver. The international clinic had texted me the address, so I showed that to the driver. He dropped me off at a location I've never been around before (obviously), and thankfully the hospital had English wording on their sign otherwise I wouldn't have known which building to enter.<br />
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Once inside, I met a nurse of the international clinic who helped me through the process and did all the translation work. I counted 7 counters she had to go to before we were finally in the room where Noah received his ultra sound. The medical system is so different in China. You have to go to separate counters/rooms/floors within hospitals to register, pay, sign-up, etc. It would be impossible to do on my own without adequate language or knowledge of the system. The nurse lead to me several places where I mostly just sat and waited for her to do all the running around/paying/consulting. The one time I had to do anything was one we saw some doctor who looked at Noah's hand and asked some questions about his health (to determine if he did in fact need the type of test we were asking for). Her room was very small and very warm, while the rest of the hospital was cold. So many very sick babies were being carried around in faux mink blankets. There was vomit on the floor, and lots of loud talking on overhead speakers. Once we were in line to get the test, we had to wait for about a half hour.<br />
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There were several other little babies, and one preschooler who was very naughty. He went directly before Noah, and I couldn't help thinking that he was a little gross since he kept eating his boogers. When we were inside the ultra sound room, there was just a wooden table, very makeshift (not nice at all) without any sanitary paper on top. Fortunately, I had a receiving blanket for Noah to lay on. The test itself was very quick, and the technician said everything looked normal and good; no tumors on his kidneys. Noah was so good during the test, no crying at all! Even though the gel must have been cold all over his belly and back.<br />
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While I was re-dressing Noah, the technician (a young male) was talking about fat American babies. Apparently, because I had come alone (without spouse or grandparents or a house helper), Noah and I stood out as unusual. It was true, since all the other kids at the various waiting rooms had at least 2 or 3 adult family members with them. He said that Chinese kids were spoiled because they have too many adult caregivers in their lives and no siblings to share the attention with. He said that this was causing a generation-wide consequence and that these kids were not going to excel as adults. I feel like I shouldn't even be writing this down, but it was so fascinating to hear such candid opinions about child raising from a young, educated, medical professional of that same culture.<br />
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Anyway, I was beyond relieved to have such positive results immediately (something else that's different from one medical system to the other). I didn't have to wait for a phone call or a consultation days later. He will go again around 6 months to get another kidney check, and also to check the status of his heart hole. We are optimistic that it has closed up on its own at this point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhkjYTsNUMLHxCQhJlmDtUby4I4IeIHZJB5RplblvheGryJJbcAL9jtl44-_v5bpFkwJcvxhWSIs6nx3FILEPJp1C_lDxRiunsHcBziMtG_tx96tR8uzgi3eZGs_H7p02g_y_IzhyphenhyphenUQ/s1600/4.5+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhkjYTsNUMLHxCQhJlmDtUby4I4IeIHZJB5RplblvheGryJJbcAL9jtl44-_v5bpFkwJcvxhWSIs6nx3FILEPJp1C_lDxRiunsHcBziMtG_tx96tR8uzgi3eZGs_H7p02g_y_IzhyphenhyphenUQ/s640/4.5+months.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow is looking over my shoulder right now, and has titled this picture, "Noah is Barfing on the Carpet". </td></tr>
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Noah is teething fiercely. His favorite things to chew on are…everything…including my face. </div>
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Stay tuned for Noah's 5 month update…you know, since he'll be 5 months in less than ten days and all. Maybe I'll have that post on time actually! </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-77286682159861528592013-11-10T18:10:00.000+08:002013-11-10T18:10:09.907+08:00The Month of November <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The month of November is awesome because the heat---supposedly---turns on the first day of November. Our government controlled radiators are only a little warm this year--they are old and need some serious work or replacement--and only some are actually working. But those that are warm are definitely warm now...though it's November 10th.<br /><br />November 7, Noah turned 3 months.<br />November 8, Willow turned 4 months + 2 years<br />November 15, which is coming up, is Adam's 27th birthday</div>
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Yesterday, we were able to skype with family who was gathered for Emma's birthday. It was fun to watch her open presents (including a new bed--which she needed because no one knows how old the mattress she used to sleep on actually was), laugh over youtube videos, and since happy birthday to her. I can't believe she's 15! </div>
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These pictures were from a few nights ago when we went outside at dusk. The pictures aren't the most impressive since it was VERY dark. I turned the ISO up and tried to get Willow and her friends in focus. What an IMPOSSIBLE task since they were non-stop movement. I also got a few cute pictures of Noah for his mini-three-month-photo-shoot. But I'll post those separately.<br /><br />
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Willow, with her Buzz Lightyear and Woody action figures. She's pretty attached to them.<br />Noah, chilling in the double-stroller. It was a COLD night, maybe below freezing by the time the sun had fully set.<br /><br />
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The little girls on the right are siblings. They are also bi-racial; not to mention super cute and intelligent. The four of these kids (below) together are all approximately a year apart. Ages 3, 2, 1, and 3 months old! It's fun to have little friends! The little girls are part of the play group that Willow and Noah are in. <br /><br />
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These are all varying stages of blurry-ness, but I think their expressions are fun!<br /><br />
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The cool blue of twilight.<br /><br />
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The San Hao bridge outside of our complex. Seeing the moon, without smog, seems rare these days!<br /></div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-75940077314268870632013-11-06T17:10:00.001+08:002013-11-06T17:14:08.129+08:00His Ears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Pictures in this post were photographed by Kristi Witek when Noah was exactly one week old--nearly three months ago! We recently received the disc of pictures in a package--and I'm so excited to have them. I'm very glad we had a chance to get some family pictures, and then some of just the kids. </i></div>
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When Noah was first born, I didn't notice his ears right away. Adam pointed them out to me immediately, once Noah was finished getting checked out by the nurses. My first reaction was dismay. What in the heck was wrong with his ears? I have never noticed or heard of skin tags before. Alas, for my ignorance, I didn't even know what to google at first.<br />
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Within hours, we knew a little more about skin tags, having 'educated' ourselves with some online searches. By the time the pediatrician checked Noah we were prepared with some questions. The first thing that the doctor said was that Noah should have his kidneys checked for any abnormalities since ear tags on both ears are in rare cases connected to kidney issues. He ordered an ultrasound, and sometime during the night/early morning of his first day he was getting his first ultra sound.<br />
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The results were good, and I felt relieved. Who knew that skin tags were a sign of kidney abnormalities?! Over the course of the next month, we had upwards of 8 doctors tell us that Noah could have his skin tags removed quite easily. It would be the most convenient to do so during his hand surgery since he would already be under anesthesia. It would just add 10-15 minutes to the operation time. I took some level of comfort in knowing that Noah could have 'normal' ears in the near future. My confession for the moment is that I didn't love his skin tags at first sight. It has taken me nearly three months to get used to them. To not loath them as that 'first sign' of something not being right in Noah's body.<br />
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But somehow, I love them now. I'm even considering not having them removed at all unless he wants to when he's older. I've decided that I don't want to be the one to make that decision for him. Now, I think they are so much a part of who he is, I would be sad to have them removed at all.<br />
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This change of heart came about in several ways, but the most significant reason why is due to China. Which was completely unexpected! When we were flying to China, I had this dread in the pit of my stomach that the Chinese people would pick on Noah because of his skin tags. I know from my experience with the orphans here, that many of the orphans are children with disabilities or birth defects. I didn't want them to reject my son or to mock him for his physical appearance. Perhaps I was over dramatic in my anxiety, and I can acknowledge my wrong thinking.<br />
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The first time we went out in public as a family, all we did was walk to the market to buy some food. We took the stroller and enjoyed the feeling of being in China again. But as soon as we arrived at the market, my stomach twisted in knots because people started to gather around us. They can't help it! A foreigner, with an Asian-looking wife, and not one but TWO kids. Not to mention they are little kids--one being a 1 month old baby. They are drawn like moths to a flame and we had a crowd around us the whole trip. They ask questions and pick up on our story, and eventually they start to tell our story to others who join the crowd. I didn't want to explain Noah's story, to have to defend him in another language, to justify anything...It's hard enough to do in English, let alone across the divides of cultures and languages. It's something I wouldn't be able to do fully; and knowing I wouldn't be able to defend him against attacks was terrifying.<br />
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One enthusiastic lady pointed out Noah's skin tags and basically went into cardiac arrest because she thought they were so cute. She went on and on about how cute they were. At first, I didn't know if she was making fun of him or not--but it didn't take long to grasp the phrases she was giggling out.</div>
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I pretty much choked on my tongue, seeing that this was the exact OPPOSITE reaction I had been preparing the defenses of my heart for.<br />
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Thank you, Lord, for mercy in that moment. It was like balm, so soothing and wonderful to hear someone squeal with delight about my son's skin tags. She jumped up and down, clapped her hands, and made all sorts of baby-talk noises. It was a bit shocking, so I thought it was an exception to the rule. </div>
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The next time we went out in public, we stopped in a little accessory shop while in a mall. The ladies in the accessory shop went mental over Noah. They brought out their smart phones to take pictures and were literally screaming with happiness over his ear tags. I was so confused over their reaction, so I asked them why they liked his ears.</div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;">"Because they are so special. He has lucky ears." </span></h2>
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Almost every time we are out in public, similar scenarios happen. I feared Noah might grow up to the sound of ridicule, but now I think he might become the super-star of our neighborhood. If for the confidence factor alone, Noah is definitely living in the right place!<br />
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Even now, I feel wonder in my soul, mixed with guilt in my stomach. These strangers had more appreciation and acceptance for my son's skin tags than I had up to that point. Don't misunderstand me; I love Noah to pieces and I even 'liked' his skin tags...However, they symbolized abnormalities and birth defects. They were something that alerted doctors to danger. They were something that people told us to get removed. They were something to downplay and call attention away from. I'm his own loving mother, and I had start to buy into this!<br />
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Yet, these strangers were basically convulsing in excitement because they were so happy about his lucky ears. <br />
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Now, I've had a chance to ask around, and I've found out the cultural background to this: Chinese people, culturally, like skin tags. They are marks of luck--one is good--but having two is even better.<br />
<br />
So, it's an actual cultural difference that I had never known about before.<br />
<br />
....BUT STILL---Chinese people taught me how to love Noah's skin tags, and finally accept them completely.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For some reason, God gave Noah skin tags. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a cosmetic level, they are not the West's definition of 'beautiful'. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To the East, they are markers of 'luck' and prosperity. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But to me, they are a reminder of God's provision and plan for Noah. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>His deformed ears.<br />His lucky ears.<br />His blessed, specially created ears. </i></div>
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<br />
Those first two encounters really helped reshape my mind about having Noah's skin tags removed next year. There's no medical reason why they should be removed; it would be a cosmetic surgery. But is it my call to cosmetically change a baby boy? What would that tell him about body image and self-image. I know it's a common for girls to deal with body image issues, but boys can surely struggle with it too. He'll already have a full plate to deal with his his hands and arms being different sizes and needing corrective surgery for his syndactyly. I don't want to tell him with a few incisions that a surgeon can make on his ears, "you weren't good enough for me".<br />
<br />
Man...writing this is very cathartic, guilt wrenching, and liberating.<br />
God is surely find the deep places in my soul, where it's painful to clean, and redefining my ideas of beauty, sovereignty, and provision.<br />
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<br />
Because of these experiences, I want to teach Noah that his worth isn't based on how he feels about himself, or how others see or treat him (even if all that shakes out positively). Ultimately, his worth is established in who he is in Christ, a child and heir of the King. His physical and spiritual identify needs to be wrapped in the person of Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
If he can learn that at an early age, his ears can be a blessing to him and to others. I pray that he will grow to be thankful for who God created to be. And that he will be able to turn that mindset out towards others and love the least of those around him. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your words; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, everyone of them, the days that were formed for me when as yet there were non of them." </i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-Psalm 139: 13-16</i></div>
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When I look at Noah, I see glimpses of the man he'll become. I look at his ears and his hand and wonder what challenges he will face. Will they be internal battles, struggles against bullying, or physical hurdles to face? Will he rise above adversity and be shaped by a grace-filled life? Will he become a righteous man, like the Noah of old, a man full of character who was strengthened by trials?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love hasbeen poured inout hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-Romans 5:3-5</i></div>
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<br />
In this tension between East vs. West, I have discovered yet another fascinating bit of diversity: skin tags.<br />
<br />
To one culture, they are a sign-post of potential difficulty and a defect. To another, they are a symbol of luck and beauty.<br />
<br />
If Noah is anything like Willow, he will notice his extra bits of skin by the time he's two years old, and wonder what they are there for. I think I'll tell him that it's where God kissed him, so that he would have ears to hear the Gospel. And to remind him to be a good listener to those who are suffering.<br />
<br />
Not only has God redeemed my heart for Noah's skin tags, I believe he will redeem the skin tags themselves. Whatever challenges Noah might face on account of keeping the tags, I know God can use it for good. It reminds me of that passage in Genesis 50 when Joseph was reconciled with his brothers: people can intend evil against others, but God can use those same events and use it for good.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"And we know that for those who love Good all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-Romans 8:28</i></div>
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Enjoy the rest of the pictures. Thank you, Kristi, for sharing your talent with us! I couldn't really choose which I liked the best--hence the plethora.<br />
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Noah didn't want to wake up for any portion of this photo shoot. This was the extent of his awake time. He fell right back to sleep after peeking at us for a few seconds.<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-16054801020416635082013-10-25T16:06:00.001+08:002013-10-25T16:06:13.279+08:00There's Something About Willow She continues to make me laugh everyday. She also challenges me on a daily basis, so the joyful moments and the tear filled moments even each other out. I've been trying to 'collect' cute things that she has said or done, in the past few months, and remember them. I'm not sure how long I am supposed to remember these tidbits of cuteness...for my whole life? Until I can share them with her? I've actually been meaning to record them on this blog...and now I've probably forgotten most of them. I need to write it all down before I forget these stories! <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All photos in this post taken by the talented, Kristi Witek, in July and August 2013. </i></td></tr>
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From day one, Willow has had a strong attachment to her brother and can be very protective/possessive of him. She started calling his pacifier his 'medi' (aka: medicine) the day we left the hospital. She still calls all pacifiers medicine. I'm not sure if she thinks that pacifiers emit some sort of liquid medicine or what...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8eO0EXAFp5yMkoPqypFsI1j2yA31-cZDjv4kDw2_14UveXASqFz0YaryFx-_Au9Ix2b2dtsYkyDh_wOSIS9luDoDwN0JPyR-K9bpMkAg9X5Bd6tPJXXO2t0S_0CKHyCKqZYHSPO7Hg/s1600/the.johnsons-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8eO0EXAFp5yMkoPqypFsI1j2yA31-cZDjv4kDw2_14UveXASqFz0YaryFx-_Au9Ix2b2dtsYkyDh_wOSIS9luDoDwN0JPyR-K9bpMkAg9X5Bd6tPJXXO2t0S_0CKHyCKqZYHSPO7Hg/s640/the.johnsons-17.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div>
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She has started crossing her arms in front of her chest, or putting her hands on her hips. Such an adolescent already. Lots of sighing too. </div>
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Much to our surprise/amusement/horror, she has started using slang. When frustrated about dropping her special bunny on the driveway (during a road trip), she said "oh gosh" under her breath. Adam and I just looked at each other, with our eyebrows sky high. Last week, I heard her say "oh darn" when she couldn't kill a bug. The bug was actually just a light which she thought was a bug. She might have learned these from me, but she definitely learned "oh man" from her dad.<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jfUmMNVpgABvTPA7T-DphyVIIzQ2vM4PwT3epWy37se7MvbPgxLzxd1Z5FWSjC06mskzFinL6sc0wmi0MzFKOY81PIJ6N1JYo1AXzecFLScBMckh3ZxVI69z3fGH93v_cvVz99GCMA/s1600/the.johnsons-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jfUmMNVpgABvTPA7T-DphyVIIzQ2vM4PwT3epWy37se7MvbPgxLzxd1Z5FWSjC06mskzFinL6sc0wmi0MzFKOY81PIJ6N1JYo1AXzecFLScBMckh3ZxVI69z3fGH93v_cvVz99GCMA/s400/the.johnsons-18.jpg" width="400" /></a>She is terrified of her minion helium baloon that she got at the school carnival two weeks ago. I have to admit, it is pretty horrifying to walk into a room and feel like someone is watching you--only to look up and fine a large-eyed yellow freak floating in the corner of the ceiling. It's nightmare material and has freaked me out in the middle of the night when I'm soothing Noah. Also freaked me out today, when the almost deflated baloon was waiting for me on the other side of my bedroom door. Nearly lost all control of my bladder. Anyway, to help conquer her fear, she has started walking around the house, holding its hand. And then punching him repeatedly. Not sure this is funny or sad. Does it make me a bad parent?<br /></div>
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She learned how to say 'gummies' in references to her gummy vitamins. I'm not sure how she learned that word, since I've never called her vitamins gummies. She learns words like this everyday--not sure how or where, but she's a sponge for vocabulary. </div>
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When she wants something, she proposes her idea. When we repeat her idea back to her, she says "Oh yes!" with lots of up and down movement in the pitch of her voice. It makes it sound like WE proposed the idea and not she. Example:<br /><i><span style="color: #351c75;">Willow: ice cream!<br />Me: you want to eat ice cream?<br />Willow: oh yes! oh sure.</span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></i></div>
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Happens many times, everyday. She's pretty good at persuasion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rJ_DQs0drtw62Mlh1-Merg_UI1nsD_DnVa8YD1tNVW_qEE8h3xvASf5GoBCCBgOkH8D_ib4hcLqTvsSeF_PKpIvIBPXLqlK7Jge7wi7f2e6WC4iHPP6EUhtZuYkc_jPKxAuB1tpn5g/s1600/the.johnsons-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rJ_DQs0drtw62Mlh1-Merg_UI1nsD_DnVa8YD1tNVW_qEE8h3xvASf5GoBCCBgOkH8D_ib4hcLqTvsSeF_PKpIvIBPXLqlK7Jge7wi7f2e6WC4iHPP6EUhtZuYkc_jPKxAuB1tpn5g/s640/the.johnsons-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When a friend's baby spit up, but no one noticed except for Willow---she ran over to find the baby's burp cloth and handed it to the newborn's mom. </div>
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During bedtime one night, when I was tucking her in, she heard Noah laughing in his room. We had never heard him laugh before (Adam was playing with Noah). Her eyes lit up, she giggled, and then jumped out of bed so she could see Noah laughing for herself. She takes so much joy in his development, just like a little mom. Yesterday, when she came inside from playing outdoors with Adam, she heard Noah talking in his baby voice. It sounded a lot like "hi", so she was overjoyed and said "Noah's sayin' hi! Oh! He said hi again!" </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic79rg_eCnexmsTfxjYgdEZYhQvXt5jRV2upAe3sIZTnKNfDzhyphenhyphenSqmz3gb5EU_cxTojrEw8fbIOO-SB6CRgT-mHXu1ScTAqd1ertDZIHqIg6-Oepru_cyeUCMGRPyZlxfjW8UqCSVBA/s1600/the.johnsons-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic79rg_eCnexmsTfxjYgdEZYhQvXt5jRV2upAe3sIZTnKNfDzhyphenhyphenSqmz3gb5EU_cxTojrEw8fbIOO-SB6CRgT-mHXu1ScTAqd1ertDZIHqIg6-Oepru_cyeUCMGRPyZlxfjW8UqCSVBA/s640/the.johnsons-21.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div>
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She talks about "Horton Hears a Who" everyday and can talk through the major points of the plot. She started doing this on her own, and I have been so surprised by this skill. I need to take a video of it, because it is priceless--and the teacher in me is so intrigued that she can already summarize a plot. </div>
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She drops the 'g' in most words ending with '-ing'. It's pretty cute.<br /><span style="color: #351c75;"><i>Willow: What are you doin', mom?<br />Me: Sitting here, feeding Noah. What are you doing?<br />Willow: Playin' toys. </i></span></div>
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Instead of cereal with milk, she eats granola and yogurt in the morning. But she still calls it cereal. When we were making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies together, she called the rolled oats "cereal'. I thought that was pretty impressive.<br /><br />Willow is finally counting correctly. The whole summer it was, "one, two, nine, ten, five, seven" etc. </div>
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She can write a "W" and recognizes them in text all the time. She also says 'double-you'--which is pretty cute. </div>
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Willow is currently obsessed with the baby kangaroo from a stuffed animal set. She likes to wrap it up in a blanket and carry it around all day. She burps and shushes it, gives it rides in her doll stroller, and lets it sit in Noah's bouncy seat. She also nurses her stuffed animals, burps them, cleans up their invisible spit up, and changes their diapers. None of this have I encouraged or taught her to do. </div>
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The couch is actually an airplane or a boat, according to Willow. She is constantly navigating the sea or the sky in her vessel. </div>
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She calls soup, "soot". </div>
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Willow expects Adam to take her to the market everyday after he returns home from school. She brings little kuai coins in her coat pocket so that she can ride the mechanical airplanes and cars outside of the shop. She also expects to eat a snack on the way home (like bread rolls or yogurt), and throws away the garbage in the trashcan outside our apartment building before she comes back inside. </div>
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She asks for a drink every night, and places her sippy cup on the ledge of her headboard. It's the perfect sippy cup shelf, in her mind.</div>
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Willow loves to interact with Noah, and whenever his eyes are open she exclaims, "eyes ope!" That's right. No 'n' sound. </div>
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She has been known to cover Noah up with his burp cloths so that he isn't cold. She wants him to try everything that she can do. Her favorite way to hold him lately, is on her shoulders. Either Adam or I will hold Noah steady as Willow walks (or runs) around the apartment with her brother on her shoulders. She asks, "Hold Noah on shoulders" everyday. It's slightly annoying, but also funny. </div>
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The stool that I use in the kitchen and laundry room (because I'm too short to reach anything) is what she now considers her personal property. She's constantly tearing into the kitchen to retrieve the stool so that she can reach what she wants. </div>
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Willow can finally say Tommy's name--and doesn't have to call him TT anymore. She remembers that TT made her smoothies and that Emma made her coffee--and that the coffee maker was very loud. She remembers that she took rides on tractors, rhinos, gators, and combines. She remembers feeding Jake and Elwood treats and telling them to 'get down' or to sit. She remembers all her grandparents and aunts and uncles too! We talk about our memories from our time in America everyday. </div>
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One of her favorite things to do is put on excessive amounts of chapstick. All over her whole face. "I'm pretty, mom. OOh, pretty!" </div>
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Willow takes so much pleasure in playing with Noah. She likes to make him smile and thinks his little hands and feet are cute. Whenever she thinks something is cute or small she calls it a 'noah'. She also says "it's a tute little noah" and touches her fingers in front of her face while she squints her eyes.<br /></div>
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It's been fun taking care of a baby (Noah) and a toddler--who is somewhere between acting like a big kid and yet still my baby. She definitely keeps me entertained all day. She made a train with orange slices today and was jumping around saying "choo choo". She reviewed the principles of sharing this morning, before her friends came over for a play group--"sharing's nice. Kids playin' toys. My toys." </div>
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There's so many cute things I could write about. Like how she checks my ears very carefully in the morning to see if I'm wearing earrings or not. How she snuggles with me in the morning, or asks for a kiss and song before naps. I could also write about how she's sneaky, devious, and disobedient. How she can be too rough, or make huge messes without meaning to. How she struggles with sharing, and hates bedtime routines. I could write about how she's addicted to technology, and can do more on the ipad than I can. Or how she acts out with hunger strikes and refuses to eat more than a bite or two at each meal. She hates wearing baggy clothes and asks for 'tight pants'. What the heck?!<br /><br />No one can have a dance party like Willow, that's for sure. And her back massages are the hilarious. It feels like a mouse is running on my shoulders.<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhxslGGtoxQmEcW4zPmsU0RFGWWPfjLMU5F20kUEqF3SMhXitJPs4CApnO-5_duufiisqiP8Hk8YACyvtympuUWmg-Q3dF4w175i8n9iu-8LTu8wdX88IMYx3x92nAK4iy333Y1P2Vg/s1600/the.johnsons-254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhxslGGtoxQmEcW4zPmsU0RFGWWPfjLMU5F20kUEqF3SMhXitJPs4CApnO-5_duufiisqiP8Hk8YACyvtympuUWmg-Q3dF4w175i8n9iu-8LTu8wdX88IMYx3x92nAK4iy333Y1P2Vg/s640/the.johnsons-254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYfy_opJ6D_gdlyN7O3wwAjVvHxi8bnueTZAFwVuvZYDeK3DTAvAsigTic-PS1H3g8UfgepXRwtDK6wu8QRFJrLF-psm97we_SHfNWvuagIxY67AhyPQ1XPJ-npCDA1c6wkM0CnPe8Q/s1600/the.johnsons-262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYfy_opJ6D_gdlyN7O3wwAjVvHxi8bnueTZAFwVuvZYDeK3DTAvAsigTic-PS1H3g8UfgepXRwtDK6wu8QRFJrLF-psm97we_SHfNWvuagIxY67AhyPQ1XPJ-npCDA1c6wkM0CnPe8Q/s320/the.johnsons-262.jpg" width="320" /></a>If there is an art to being cute, crazy, and full of life--Willow is definitely learning to wield it's power. This is a long post...but I really love my little two-year-old and I don't want to forget her at this fun age! Some of my favorite things about Willow right now: when she looks at Adam, me, or Noah and says, "I love you."; when she sings "10,000 Reasons" with Adam at bedtime (hearing their voices together melts my heart!); her sincere hugs, crazy giggles, and her sass and energy!</div>
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186339589433150338.post-51486080237712574512013-10-08T21:30:00.001+08:002013-10-08T21:30:04.540+08:001 & 2 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Noah turned 2 months yesterday, and I'm finally getting around to his 1 month milestone post. Might as well throw in his 2 month post too. Actually, it's late, and I'm trying to make sleep more of a priority. Let's just let the pictures do the talking. Sorry, Noah. But sleep deprivation has really started to take its toll after 9 weeks of caring for you + the sleepless nights I experienced in the last month of pregnancy.<br /><br />You are so cute. We love you. </div>
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16152773785516040033noreply@blogger.com1