Christmas - The New Place

The author would like to apologize for the delay in updates to this Blog. It has been Christmas... and Christmas in The New Place has been at once familiar and all together different...

I will be doing several posts over the next few days replete with pictures and some anecdotal stories. We're currently enjoying the presence of our wonderful daughter "Butterfly" who after 30 some hours of travel, sleeping in airports, weather delays and lost baggage that just arrived last night...is finally here living life at The New Place with us! What a celebration that has been! Tonight we plan to go out for New Years Eve and celebrate 12 years of marriage with most of our precious children (though with holes in our hearts where our son, The Rockstar and his bride, Princess, belong.) We're taking Butterfly over to the infamous Night Market here in our metropolis of 10 million for some bargain shopping, sight seeing and certainly red cheeks from the cold!

Our Christmas was amazing and bittersweet. The Christmas program performance in front of 600 employees of the corporation who funds our school was a success! Part of the delay in posting is that I hoped to have the video ready to post here too so that you can see the performances yourself...but that will come in the days to come. The Nativity Portrayal was a hit. As I've blogged about already, most who saw the performance have no idea why Christmas is celebrated they see the holiday as a chance to get the best deals at the department stores of the year and one for a talent show displaying jugglers, belly dancers and hip hop dance crews. We believed that our school's contribution was one that really enhanced the "show."

The very next day we hosted our Christmas Party for all-comers. I'm telling you what...we had 62 people in our apartment for the fete where we served spaghetti, pizza, Christmas cookies made by the cookie baking crew, cranberry punch, cheese and crackers, etc. Every student and their parent/s from our school was in attendance! Then we had a short time of Christmas carol singing led by Daddy and followed by an introduction to the Christmas story! We were thrilled and exhausted by the event...but we believe it was another excellent opportunity to let our light so shine before men that they might see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven!

As we were decompressing from the massive party we received a phone call from our good Brother Fred. He was calling to report to us that our dear friend here (the man with whom he had the key conversation during our Thanksgiving Dinner) had gone with him just that evening to a special meeting with about 350 locals. There were many decisions made that night...41 to be exact...and one among them was our dear friend! We have been lifting him up for 2 1/2 years! This made our Christmas here the most meaningful of all.

After Butterfly arrived early Monday morning, we set about preparing yet another massive dinner project. After school we came home to prepare a meal for 20...the entire family of our dear local friends (3 siblings, their spouses, kids and grandkids) came for dinner. For nearly all of them it was the very first time they'd ever been exposed to Western style food, our family tradition of Christmas and of course Christmas carols! We made pumpkin pies again (I'm getting pretty confident in roasting pumpkins to get the puree now) and apple crisp as well as a large pasta dish that was ample for all! We now know that next year, we must build into our budget the holiday season of opportunity with our neighbors here! We've entertained well over 100 people in these past four weeks and have shared in our home the meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving with all of them! This is an incredible time of openness and interest and it's getting a bit easier as we become more practiced. The kids are such an incredible help with it too!

Our hearts were homesick too, of course. If only we had you here with us to enjoy this time of life! Yet, we have more of an understanding still of how we fit in here and how our enormous, conspicuous family draws people in out of curiosity first and then, we hope, for friendship. Remember all the seeds we've planted in this time...

We were blessed yesterday by our co-workers at the school admonishing us to take a "Special Holiday" today (our Dec 31st, which is a school day) so that we could enjoy more time with Butterfly. How amazing! Here our colleagues are so sensitive and caring for our family that though we never thought of it, they insisted we allow them to cover for us today so that we could have more precious time together before Butterfly leaves on Friday!

We're about to celebrate the last leg of our Christmas marathon. Then tomorrow another play day before we're have to send Butterfly back home. Please lift us up during that painful time of parting.

We have school this weekend on Sunday (yes, we are at The New Place) to make-up for our Friday holiday. We have a serious press then to conclude our semester and to give Final exams on January 12th. Our enthusiasm is high in expectation of our time for Spring Festival, which gives us 3 weeks off of school! From January 16-February 9th! We have some travel involved in the plans...I'll give you more on that later.

Off to celebrate...and then, I promise tons of pictures in the next day or two....promise!

Remain Calm - Remember Why You Came...

So tonight I rushed home because I need to bake some Christmas cookies to serve for our now MASSIVE Christmas party to be held on Saturday.

Daddy is not home with us because on the way home from school we were handed a sheet detailing the additional clothing items (white turtlenecks, white tights and dark pants) required for the performance TOMORROW! Did I mention that we have no car, that the nearest shopping is a 20 minute cab ride away and it's THURSDAY night when I need to be baking?

Facing these surprises is a daily thing...so we remain calm and remember why we came...

I've got all three of the "littles" in the bathtub. They're alternately crying and squealing with glee as I hastily wash their hair and bodies so that they might look the most becoming on the big stage tomorrow night in their sequined get-ups.

At the door someone is knocking...

I remember...oh yes, I told Teacher J from the Kindergarten that she was welcome to come over tonight and participate in our Christmas Cookie baking attempt. (Of course this was before Daddy had to be called away for emergency costume shopping.)

But, I said to myself..."remain calm...remember why you came..."

Magpie opens the door and behind it stands not just Teacher J...but Teacher S, Teacher A, Teacher JN, Teacher JY, Teacher T, another lady who works at the company and a gentleman whose name I do not know...8 surprise guests!

"Hi!" Teacher J said, "We were all at dinner and they said they'd like to come see you bake the Christmas cookies."

Remain calm...remember why you came...

"Oh sure" I say bravely "Just let me finish washing, drying and readying these three for bed."

You can imagine the joy the 3 littles felt at the sight of all their teachers in their home, some for the first time, right at bedtime! This on a night that Daddy is calling now every 10 minutes trying to find the costuming items and I'm trying to bake for the massive Christmas party that is less than 48 hours away...

Remain calm...remember why you came...

I work on a plan...where will I roll out the dough? All these eager bakers cannot possibly fit in the kitchen!

With some fast thinking and the help of Magpie and The Bug...we converted the huge dining table we're using this weekend into a set for a cooking show.

I am not kidding...they videoed the whole project.

I came into the room from the kitchen hearing Magpie describing for the camera the contents and their measurements as she added them in to make the Chocolate Chip Cookie dough (this is our first time to make them here!)

Within a few minutes we'd converted to a full on cooking/baking class and all the students were eager to get into the action...it was already 8 PM!

I gave anecdotal stories about this cookie baking ritual at The Old Place. I even showed the precious sugar cookies Gramma Juice sent in the big DHL box last week.

They oooohed and aaaahed!

After three and one half hours...the last ones left...and we've made another memory of living here in The New Place...

Most of the cookies they cut and colored have little to do with traditional Christmas shapes...but I took the opportunity to play and sing many Carols for them and explain to each of them the story of Christmas...

Though I was so tempted to say..."it's too late...we have a huge performance tomorrow...and by the way, I didn't invite 8 of you to drop over tonight for a cooking class..." I'm so thankful that I remembered to remain calm and remember why we came...

This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine...

Form without meaning

Yesterday we tromped over to the company's auditorium for the "Dress Rehearsal."

This is a special time of high anxiety in the hearts of the performers, big dreams and sad realities. It's the same in any production and as I've been in a few throughout my life...I know the drill.

A bus picked up our 16 Elementary Students and 40 Kindergartners and we shuttled down the road to the company's building.

The auditorium seats 1000 and is an amazing room filled with beautiful red theater seats and a massive stage.

As I've already blogged, we (the Elementary School) are doing a living nativity scene. We're using narrators (Magpie & our 6th grade boy) who are sharing the story directly from the gospels. We have Mary, Joseph, four shepherds, three wise men (even though they really didn't show up at the stable), one donkey, two sheep, a cow and an angel (played by the Bug.) We constructed a manger and a massive Star of Bethlehem that will hang over the stage some three stories high. We have costumes that resemble some of the clothing from the period. (This was so interesting to provide pictures of the appropriate dress to the parents who most have NO IDEA what a shepherd or Mary should wear.) After everyone arrives at the manger the children sing 3 verses of "Away in a Manger" and 5 verses of "The Friendly Beasts" with three solos injected from the cow (all white and red), sheep (with the curly horn) and the donkey (shaggy and brown.) Then The Bug closes the performance with singing "What Can I Give Him" as a simple, a capella solo and after singing she turns and bows before the manger.

I cannot tell you how many conversations we've had with the student's about this story, where it comes from and why we're telling it. Most of our student's had never heard of it...but of course, more of them had heard about the West's tradition of Father Christmas. There are some books in our library about the life of Christ both for children's reading and pictorial depictions of the nativity. They (our students) now get it that this is an important story.

Daddy and I have been drafted to perform a guitar and vocal piece for the extravaganza as well, "O Holy Night" is on tap. So, we've been practicing it with another brother who plays the guitar. Most of the rehearsals have been disasters,but the dress rehearsal yesterday was the first time that the guitars didn't sound like cats mating in the alleyway. And my vocal interpretation has sounded like nothing more than a middle-aged woman who's eggnog was spiked at the Christmas party and then was surprised but obliged the groups when she was asked to sing (very heavy, very affected and too cumbersome.)

Yesterday we saw where, in the order of performance, they've placed the precious performance of the kids and our massacre of O Holy Night. The Elementary school leads off the entire performance. Which is great since most people watching will have no idea what the Christmas story is all about. All the scripture and the lyrics will be translated into the local dialect and shown on big screens in the auditorium.

Then the Kindergarten performs (with Brownie, Potato and Bub.) Let me just say that though I've seen this bunch performing their dance and song numbers (and have been totally amused by the dance number, in particular) I was unprepared for their sequined costumes that made them look like very junior ballroom dancers. Brownie continued to suffer repeated costume malfunctions as she vigorously shakes "what her Momma gave her."

So right after this Kindergarten's display of cute mixed with 80's flashdance and Star Search...then it's the foreigners up to sing O Holy Night. Let me tell you...it really flows...

Then after we have our big high note finish to the classic song...the next act comes up to perform...a hip-hop dance crew of 8 employees from the company....dancing their funky feet off to a blaring Asian hip-hop band.

What's after them, you wonder?

A belly dancer.

Followed by another hip-hop crew dancing to an American hip-hop group with lyrics that would make even a hardened criminal blush.

Then a traditional local dance number with ladies in beautiful pink satin gowns.

Up next, a traditional flute accompanying a popular love song from the radio here.

Followed by another hip-hop crew.

Folks... it's like a talent show. A talent show to celebrate Christmas.

I sat there in the auditorium yesterday nestled next to the Angel and the Donkey and thought..."this is so RANDOM! Everyone here wants the party of Christmas and they have the tree on the stage, plus Santa hats on here and there and NO ONE has any idea why we celebrate it."

All the form (okay, some of the form) yet no meaning...no understanding.

So lift us up as we prepare for our big night on Friday. For so many it will be the first time anything has been associated with the talent show for Christmas that has anything to do with Him. We struggle with feeling silly... and missing home where everyone would get misty eyed at the Angel's dramatic proclamation to the Shepherds... and just plain old overwhelmed at the field before us...

Daddy reminded me last night..."this is why we came...we came to bring the heart of Christmas to this place."

So Christmas 101 takes off on Friday night...

When they're quiet...be concerned...

Last evening, after all the littles are put to bed and while enjoying my book along with Magpie and The Dutch Girl who has returned to us from points far beyond, (Daddy remarked when he entered the living room with all of us our noses in our respective books..."Gee, I feel like I'm visiting the Chrstian Science Reading Room")...

I suddenly hear a proclaimation from The Bug..."BUB! You are going to be in so much trouble!"

See, he'd gone to bed without any protest. I'd kissed his forehead and told him what a good, good boy he was and he'd smiled angelicly. Then nothing from his room...SILENCE...a parent's dream!

Finally, after parenting all these young I've arrived at "professional motherhood." My children obey my every request and they are model young citizens! I am accomplished!

Not so.

Bub decided to finger paint a beard on himself with Potato's special skin allergy cream.

Why? He would not say.

Certainly he slept all night with out a itch on his face or hands.

"Pride cometh before mess to clean up in the bathroom and on the kid"

O... Christmas Tree

They just ain't easy to find here...

You see them around. Big department stores have them, hotel lobbies have secured them that rival the National Christmas Tree in DC and once and awhile you find a 12 inch model on a table in a restaurant....

But we did find our own...

It was at the "faux-western" market where we buy many of our foodstuffs. There, amidst the rice cookers, toilet seat covers (more on this necessity later), and green tea...a tiny section of CHRISTMAS DECOR!

The trees offered were no match for our trees at The Old Place. But, this is The New Place and we always remind ourselves that a "change will do us good."

Or so we hope...

The Christmas decor aisle was about the size of the car floor mat section of Walmart at The Old Place. Many of the offerings for this year's holiday season were like circa 1978 at The Old Place. Plus, lots of funky purple tinsels, pink lights and crazy-eyed Santa replicas. (I know my dear friend MB is all in with the pink/purple offerings.)

But we're going for red, green and some gold stuff. Those traditional colors that I've always loved on our trees of Christmases past.

For the first time we score tinsel for the tree... the kind that is big, bushy and wraps like a snake around the tree. We find a few packages of ornaments that fit our desired color-scheme and one artificial tree that appears to have suffered from an eating disorder.

BUT WE ARE HAPPY!

Frankly, we needed a little Christmas, right that very minute...

So, like generations of our people have done...we turned on some Christmas song favorites and trimmed the tree.

These rituals are important and this will be an important Christmas for us as it represents an unparalleled opportunity to share about the meaning of Christmas in our classrooms, in our company and with all who will visit our home.

We're planning two parties...

Next Saturday we'll cram in as many locals as we can fit in this place. We'll sing Christmas carols and share about the birth of the King. Please lift us up during this time as it will be an exciting opportunity.

Then, after our oldest daughter, Butterfly arrives here on the 26th of December...we'll host another large dinner party on the 27th! (Which is also Daddy's birthday!)

Wow...that's going to take a lot of work and co-ordination for the food for both events. (How I wish I could enlist the skills of Mama K's Catering Service!)

These things sandwiched in between performances our family has been asked to give at our local fellowship and the coffee house we haunt on Friday nights. Plus...our school Christmas Performance next Friday night will be a portrayal of the Nativity scene, narrated in full by the scripture's account with the student's singing and acting our the roles. This all done in front of the entire company's workforce in an auditorium that seats 1000!

So...it should be a low-key holiday for us...

Brownie

This one cracks us up.

She's been the one who has astounded us with her Local Dialect. She's been the one who is the first to give negative feedback to the rest of us if she's too cramped in the back of the taxi, too hot on the bus or too thirsty to take another step.

She is our canary in the coal mine.

She's always ahead of her siblings by about 30 minutes or so before we face outright rebellion. Just before the tsunami of complaining hits us...she's the early warning system.

But she is so very, very funny.

Last night she crawled up in bed with Daddy and Momma and we were having a love fest. "Oh Brownie we are so thankful that God gave you to us! What a precious blessing you are. We love you so, so much."

Alight with the flame of love, Brownie, in her best Director's voice says to us "You two, put your heads on me."

Swept up in the beauty of the moment we gently rested our heads on each side of her outstretched arms. She hugged us, giggled and we continued to pour out affirmations on her...

"Wonder who God has made you to be? A great leader? A devoted mother? A doctor who heals people in the jungle? A brilliant musician? You are an amazing gift to us!"

The experience was so lovely. She returned our affections. She kissed our foreheads and told us what wonderful parents we were.

We wanted the experience to go on and on...

...but, this is Brownie...and soon the temperature began to rise, the pressure on her arms and chest became a bit uncomfortable...and so without warning to us...

"OK guys, that's enough. Get off."

A girl who knows what she wants...gotta love it.

It's all coming back to me now...

...I was such a brat sometimes to my dear mother....

the same is true in regards to my brothers and sister...my close friends...my dear husband...

...if ever someone had a misspeak, an error...I was merciless.

I would poke fun incessantly. Usually until the verbally clumsy party was totally angry at me...and then I would relent.

If DNA is to blame...there are roots of this "teasing" well back into the family tree.

And it lives again in the newest generation of my family...

Last night we were at our Friday hang-out. We finish our week with pizza and then conversation at the English-speaking coffee house upstairs.

I realized that the waiter did not bring us glasses for the kids' drinks.

So, in my best local dialect, I informed the waiter that we needed some glasses.

At that point, The Bug, in a shrill...LOUD VOICE...said "M-AAAAAAH-M, you just asked him for a BLANKET!"

It was a slight, tonal problem...but she was right...I had asked for a blanket.

It was then that the sharks saw blood...

My own offspring, laughing mercilessly at me..."Wow Mom, it is cold, but I'm not sure they have blankets here with dinner!" Magpie said, eyes alight with her mockery of her poor, illiterate mother...

I shot them a few, "I know where you sleep at night" looks, all to their frenzied pleasure...

Then we settled in to eat.

A few minutes later, I discovered that unfortunately the waiter had shorted us one glass (not a blanket) and that another request was in order...

Fearful, but knowing one must always get back up on the horse that has thrown them, I say loudly, in a clear voice..."Waiter, we need one more glass please."

Or so I thought...

Magpie literally EXPLODES in laughter...."M-AAAAAAAH-M....you just asked him for a NOSE!"

She continues, just over the cacophony of laughter around the table (including Daddy who likewise didn't know the difference between blanket, nose and glass but couldn't resist the feeding frenzy), in her best imitation Momma voice "Uh, please waiter, please could you bring me a nose? Mine doesn't seem to be working and I'm unable to smell my food!"

There they all were...

...my offspring...
...my dear husband...

...nearly hyperventilating with the kind of laughter that makes your sides ache...all relishing my error!

And then it all came back to me...

...how many times had I walked in their shoes...in the seat of power...laughing at one of my kin and their unfortunate misuse of the English language...?

...alas, I did not feel so superior anymore...

...but the haughty eyes of my children said it all...

...my mother was right...

"Someday your kids will tease you and you'll deserve every minute of it!"

...like a freight train coming down the tracks...I have many years and many offspring from which I will be the butt of the joke...

So I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry to my dear mother...and the rest of my family...

Signed,

Apologetic in Asia

Joy in the Journey

There is a song written by Michael Card, one of my all time favorites, called "Joy in the Journey." I'll try to share some of the lyrics, from memory:

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love along the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

Forget not the hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost
There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love along the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

This song is on my mind this morning as I find myself experiencing once again that peace and joy that passes all understanding. We should feel anxious, homesick and at the very least weary from our four months here. But this morning as we walked to school in the whipping, cold wind, hand in hand I felt the Joy in the Journey.

When you taste that joy, you never want to go back to the substitute joy with which you used to sustain yourself. With everything different: food, friends, language, climate, culture, expectations, school and work life...you find yourself perhaps more conscious of how those things used to fill you up. So much so sometimes that it's easy to forget Him...or at least allow Him to fall low on the priority list.

Don't misunderstand me...the same thing happens when you dive headlong into a new culture as a family of 7. In the struggling to find who you are and where you can fit here... at first you cling moment by moment to faith but soon it's easy to forget that He is the author, the Definer of who we are. We found that around 2.5-3 months we hit a really difficult time with our priorities. We found it to be increasingly difficult to meet with Him each day. This is disastrous.

Thankfully, upon correcting ourselves and getting back into closer fellowship, we are left with this awareness:

Everything has changed...and yet what really matters has not.

Our Sustainer never changes...He is constant.

So here we are, in the midst of challenge and change and we feel deep, zealous joy. The kind of joy that will not fade away when we go to the market tonight and crowds of people gather around to stare, touch and question us; even though we're tired. The kind of joy that comforts and heals our broken hearts when we feel the ache of home and of missing loved ones. The kind of joy that brings focus and purpose into your life when you've chosen to obey...though it defies reason.

There is a "wonder and wildness to life" as the song lyric says...but I didn't much feel the wonder and certainly not wildness before we let go of what we knew to embrace what we live now. Everyday we experience wonder...and everyday wildness...the greatest adventure we've ever known.

And freedom...much we could write about freedom. As there are so many financial worries, political dreams and nightmares and uncertainty about the future...we read the news...but we feel free. For we know, we have experienced, His hand holding us and sustaining us far outside of our ability to make it work on our own. We have found Him faithful in all things we've entrusted to Him.

So no matter what the future brings...we have freedom...as long as we are in obedience...we have confidence not in ourselves and our finances, but in Him and His economy which promises that we will always have what we need.

...forget not the hope that's before you...

There is Joy in this journey...

The Feast - In Pictures

Here's a look at the sights and people of our First Thanksgiving at the New Place.

This morning we had our Sunday meeting together at home as just a family. We were singing a favorite song from The Old Place about how He "gives and takes away." We talked about how though we're aware of missing our loved ones and our life back there...we've been given the blessing of meaningful days like this one to be touched by others and to share the good news with them in our home.

We nearly missed this opportunity. I was not particularly ready, in my opinion, to host a massive meal for our new friends. We thought we'd just go to a local gathering of foreigners. But Daddy was adamant in reminding me that we came here to to be engaged and involved with people and that occasionally time with our foreign friends is great...but this was an opportunity not to be missed! He told me that he would help in any way he could to make it happen. As the guest list grew, so did his excitement. And, the result...he was RIGHT! A touching time sitting around this table sharing what we were thankful for...in two languages moved our hearts to a greater sense of purpose. There were tears in eyes, gratitude expressed passionately to DAD and a special memory for all of us.

This is our table fashioned from plywood, bedsheets and borrowed elements. The centerpiece was made from two stainless steel bowls that we wash dishes in and serve popcorn in on Sunday nights. Daddy found some tealight candles and floated them in the bowls. Then he found some gold cord at the village store and put it on the table as some "bling." As Dad was dreaming all these ideas up from the plywood to the bling, I was scoffing at him... and he said..."You would never make it on one of those 'decorate on a tiny budget TV shows!'"...so true...

This is our oven set-up. Two toaster ovens, one with the turkey in it that didn't finish until after the meal, are stacked on a rack. I had some issues with my meat thermometer. I had read on my recipe site that he turkey's temp had to be 165 degrees in the deepest part of the thigh. At 3 PM as the guests were arriving, I took out the bird and the thermometer measured like 60 degrees! I was horrified! Thankfully we'd purchased another turkey that was cooked in a local restaurant's oven so when it was delivered at 3:15 Thanksgiving was saved! After 8 hours in the oven I took the bird out again and it was still only in the low 100's...but the indicator that came in the bird had popped out. It was then that I realized my problem...

I was using a meat thermometer from here...and it was in Celsius...not Fahrenheit! When I switched the thermometer to read Fahrenheit...the bird was over 200 degrees inside! That was worth a tremendous laugh. And, we know that some people really like turkey jerky. Daddy said that it was going to be just like the "Christmas Vacation" movie when we cut into the bird...it would be so dessicated that inserting the knife would cause the bird to pop like a balloon and furrow smoke out in the air around.

Daddy found these lazy susans at the local grocery for about $30! They really helped move the potatoes (done by hand), the broccoli casserole, cranberries, carrots, corn, stuffing and turkey around the table!

This, our dessert table, has already been ravaged by the time of this picture. The first pumpkin pie that Magpie and I baked until 2 am the night before was already gone. We made our pie crusts on Thursday night. As we have no mixer here, everything is done by hand...my do we miss that Kitchen Aid! The pumpkin pie was made from two pumpkins we found at the store. Since we have no evaporated milk here...we improvised with whipping cream. The result? SO DELICIOUS! Also we served apple crisp, pecan pie bars (we had to shell the pecans ourselves) and Blondie Brownies. The cake you see is a local model, brought by a guest.

This picture was taken during the "Share what you are thankful for" time of the evening. Some of the most thoughtful and beautiful sentiments were shared by the children and the adults! Some great testimony too! Fabulous!

Daddy above is talking with the top man in our company locally. He has an incredible heart for the people. He spent time asking Daddy about starting some English meetings here on our campus.

Above, on the left is the woman who hired us...the Chancellor. She is such a great encouragement to us. She lives several hours away, so it was a great joy to have her here for our Thanksgiving feast! On the right is our dear friend we've known here for the past two and a half years. She, along with her husband, were so happy to be sharing in this family tradition!

We hosted a Thanksgiving "draw your best hand-turkey competition" with the kids.

The Bug's inspiration above...

Magpie's gobbler

Brownie's best

This picture is of the Chancellor and her husband "judging" the entries. Encouraging words were shared with each participant. We heard things like "Such a happy turkey...he must live in a land where there is no Thanksgiving!" and "I think I would like to be that turkey, living in such a beautiful place!"

Many of you know about our long term friend here, pictured in the middle above. He savored the event and shared some very profound, encouraging discussions with the man on the right. (A brother who lives upstairs from us.) This conversation was one of the highlights of our night! And, of course, Bub in the picture there just wanted to hang out with the menfolk!

I was thrilled to have some time out of the kitchen to share some quality time with one of the turkey artists...Potato!

This girl amazes me more and more each day. The Bug has really developed such a servant's heart toward helping her family. While Magpie and I baked for hours in the kitchen, the Bug busied herself cleaning the apartment. She did laundry, cleaned the floors and helped set the table. She is never happier then when she is serving! Daddy and I are so very, very proud of her!

Handsome Daddy, the Bug the Neighbor and me...with a contented and grateful heart...

I had to include this picture...Potato and her friend Frank here are best buddies at school. According to the teachers, Frank likes to care for Potato in every way. He takes it upon himself to help her when it's time to clean up, he likes to carry her lunch to her and generally wants to hold her hand when they go to the playground to ensure she doesn't lose her way. Potato seems not to notice the special attention. This was the first picture I got of the two of them together. I asked them "Hey guys, can I take a picture?" With no collusion on their parts...they both made crazy faces at me...these two are full of mischief together!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"He gives and takes away...but my heart will chose to say...Lord blessed be your name."

Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us here at The New Place...we're wishing all of you, wherever you are, a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday!

We are in school today and will be tomorrow. But, we've resolved to introduce as many people as we are able to a true Western Thanksgiving Holiday. We were able to find a turkey! As my Momma has always been the turkey-fixer, I'm a bit nervous about fixing the 20 lbs bird in my over sized toaster oven!

Knowing that we came to share our lives with as many as we are able...we've got a Thanksgiving meal planned for Saturday that will max out our culinary skills as well as our housing arrangement. We have 28 people (18 adults & 10 kids) coming to our apartment on Saturday afternoon for a cross-cultural experience extraordinaire. The only Westerners present will be the H fam. Many of our guests have never even tasted turkey! (So I suppose I should feel some relief that they're not going to be comparing my turkey and fixin's to any other hostess's from the past!)

Some of our absolute favorite Thanksgiving items simply cannot be found...cranberries, corn casserole fixins and our delicious spinach dish. But we'll be taking a stab at making our own dressing/stuffing, glazed carrots, corn, rolls, mashed potatoes (mashed by hand, of course), and a broccoli casserole from our dear friend Denise S's kitchen back at the Old Place, too.

Tonight I am to make some pie crusts. I'm hoping that I have purchased enough pumpkin to craft a few pumpkin pies from scratch. I've got a pecan bar recipe that I'm going to try...but I need to SHELL the pecans first. I hope to do my new standard here, the Apple Crisp and maybe some cookies.

I'm feeling faint.

So many people, so little time...so little experience hosting such a group. Lift us up, please!

I'll write after the feast...I'm sure that there will be some crazy tales to tell!

Happy Thanksgiving! We love you all!

Birthdays in The New Place

The cakes here are so gorgeous that you can hardly imagine eating them.

I was delighted by my colleagues with a surprise cake for my birthday. It was very meaningful as I was feeling especially sore about being far from home during this holiday season. Usually my birthdays are spent with lots of family around and a turkey in the oven.

A few pictures of Tuesday for you...

Struggling on...

A special "shout-out" to my brother JP who quickly reminded Daddy, after my last post, that he should be more careful with wild, unbridled running. Thanks to JP we were reminded of the great horse Barbaro, a beautiful specimen who loved to run...yet, "he ran one too many races."

'nuff said...

We soldiered on today pushing Daddy in the wheelchair to school. I was out of breath pushing him while pulling along 3 recalcitrant students who wanted me to help with their water bottles, backpacks. Two decided they wanted to be carried mid-way. We literally rolled into the school yard 3 minutes late for our report time. We couldn't roll into the building however...just close enough to reach the entry-way steps. No ramps on the school.

We do have a ramp on our apartment building though...while everything is relatively smooth concrete and pavement...the wheelchair ramp is COBBLESTONE. Makes me chuckle every time I see it...I don' t think anyone will slip in their wheelchair though.

Daddy struggled through the day, teaching his classes and being chastised by our colleagues to get to the hospital. He smiled graciously and gulped hot water.

We were given a traditional remedy to assist in the circulation and pain management of the affected area. The serum, called "Red Flower Oil," is in fact red as you spill it uncontrollably out of the bottle, it runs off your hands and covers much more than the affected area on your patient. (The idea is to use a sparse amount and massage it into the skin.)

The odor of "Red Flower Oil" is pronounced and very herbal/mentholatum-type. Last night Daddy remarked that he liked the smell when the nurse was giving him the rub down. Tonight, it roused several young from their beds complaining about the "horrible smell!"

Red Flower Oil also has a definite effect on the skin with which it comes in contact. It's a sort of natural liniment. To hearken back to the "Barabaro" parallel with Daddy's injury...I slathered tons of liniment on my horse's legs back in the day after a strenuous work-out or if they seemed to be going a bit lame. The stuff really heats up....

So when the amateur nurse/massage practitioner tonight spilled the Red Flower Oil on the patient's thigh and it ran about over the skin, well beyond the intended area...the result was a very negative experience. Daddy rose up from the couch like a man with his head on fire (or at least parts of himself on fire) and rushed to the shower to attempt to find an antidote to the Red Flower Oil's intense thermal effect.

The nurse did consider the well known remedy for hot pepper oil here in our host country...rice. The patient did not take kindly to the nurse's suggestion that she apply rice to all the affected areas.

Sadly the nurse was unable to focus on the patient's obvious discomfort...because it was frankly just too amusing.

On a positive note...the patient does feel a great deal of relief at the sight of the injury!

The patient did inform his nurse, after berating her ineptitude with the application of Red Flower Oil...that her services would never be requested again relating to this particular remedy.

In defense of the nurse: 1) The nurse had no idea that the Red Flower Oil had such powerful heating qualities. 2) The instructions on how to apply both verbally given and on the box were in an, as yet, unintelligible language to the nurse. 3) The nurse's own hand is aflame as she is typing this blog even now.

Magpie is well today. She began a new project tonight. A birthday gift was given to her last month, a cross-stitch. She was thrilled with it and I think very happy as she went off to sleep tonight. We are suspicious that many of her ailments recently have to do with internalized stress and emotion. Please remember her that she will develop healthier patterns of processing all the change and culture stress we're experiencing. And remember us, who need wisdom and peace when dealing with those times when the stress becomes physical for our dear girl.

The Bug is totally into her Tae Kwon Do class. Daddy says she really has the "eye of the tiger." She does her entire workout with a smile on her face, batting her eyelashes at the instructor and giggling. A recent picture of her taken in the class had her striking an offensive pose. I kid you not to say it looked like she was modeling Tae Kwon Do clothing for a magazine layout. Too funny.

Potato (4) is enjoying life in her birth country. The kindergarten here is a Montessori method school. This suits Potato very well as she is able to "work" on puzzles, hand/eye coordination tools and generally be busy all the time.

Brownie (4) is amazing all of us with her use of the local language now. She is using so many words interchangeably now that we stare at her with our mouths agape. We've heard her twice conversing with a local friend...many sentences...all in the local dialect.

Bub, speaking of rice (as mentioned several paragraphs above), is the Rice King. He would eat 3-4 bowls of it at every meal if we'd allow him to. (Food Culture Note: We eat rice everyday. This is a major change from our diet back at The Old Place. Sometimes we eat rice twice a day. There were times at The Old Place when we might not eat rice for 1-2 months. Yet everyday since we arrived here, nearly 4 months ago...white rice...everyday. The author is yearning for some mashed potatoes right now!)

We're going to prowl around this weekend and see if we can find a Turkey to purchase. We're going to take a stab at some elements of our traditional Thanksgiving meal. If no turkey...we can always have tofu. Nothing says Thanksgiving like tofu and rice...nothing.

The author must run now. Sorry for the lack of deep thoughts in this update...

...must go ice my Red Flower Oiled hand...or find a nearby burn unit...

Physical Challenges

Once again I must apologize the author's lack of time to post to this blog. It has been one week since I was able to, and things have been going at a furious pace.

I'm going to give you a few updates and explain about our "physical challenges":

1) Magpie did recover quickly from her intestinal blockage. It was spooky to have her in such pain, but He was faithful and we continued on within a day or so. THANKS for all your thoughts and emails!

2) Sadly tonight I have two patients. Magpie again suffering from abdominal pain that was rapid with its onset and then, this time, included head pain, particularly in the front of her head. We "lifted her up," put her in the tub, gave her some headache powder and now I've finally sent her off to bed. Daddy is a calming force during these times of stress and pain. He wants to make sure that we don't fan the fear by getting so worked up about it so quickly. Fear certainly makes pain much worse...I learned that from my first childbirth...so we're going to work on relaxing when the onset happens. I need to stay very placid and solid during that time to help her get over the fear of something really troubling us and our reality being so far from The Old Place. I feel immediate shots of anxiety when she's in pain, I have to run off to the bathroom immediately. I've always been the calm one who falls apart once the ambulance shows up. Now...when my kids are in pain...I'm a mess, inside. I think she's doing better, maybe just has a touch of the "body aches" flu, but please remember her!

My second patient is Daddy, himself. Before I tell you the nature of his illness, he made me promise to give you some background on his ailment.

3) Daddy is the PE dude here. He wears the whistle to prove it. Though, I've not yet seen him in a running suit, he is every bit the part.

According to Daddy, his favorite thing to do as a child besides riding bikes was to run. Imagine his surprise and delight when two weeks ago he determined to put the kids through their paces on a good run...that he led. Immediately he experiences gazelle-like speed...his hair floating in the wind tunnel he created as he astonished all his students..."Wow, Teacher D, you so fast runner!"

He felt like he was Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire...setting a land-speed record for sure, he thought "I haven't run like this in 25 years, I had no idea I had this kind of speed still in me!"

That evening he reported to me that he was amazed at his own physical prowess, the sheer speed he moved about the gym...and that his right leg hurt...a little.

Then last week I saw him walking in the hallways of school with a little limp. He reported that they had done some "calisthenics" and his thigh muscle was a little sore.

Today, the PE class played some indoor hockey. Coach H was, eager to support the students, right in the middle of the action.

By 4 pm he said to me..."I've got some real trouble with my leg. I feel like the muscle is disconnected. I feel like it's just knotting up and spasming."

We walked home...or we started to.

Before we made it across the street, Magpie and I were human crutches for a Daddy who was now not only grimacing with pain...but making a great deal of noise with every step.

The health-center here at the LQ received us with open arms. Of course the suggestion was made to go to the hospital and to drink some hot water. All 5 kids stood around in the exam room while the nurse told Daddy to take down his pants. Two layers down and he was alternately howling with pain and joking about "I could have made it in Guinness for the fastest, oldest dude." The nurse took out some traditional medicine and began to give him a leg massage. Potato was the first to begin to cry with concern for her Daddy. Then it was Brownie, Magpie and The Bug. Only Bub was distracted by the fantastic wheels on the wheelchair!

After his treatment, we wheeled him home. Actually, I drug Bub along behind the group of weeping daughters and the Daddy in the wheelchair. As the last light of day was with us the picture of Daddy, in the chair, holding the hands of two four year olds on each side of him, the 9 year old pushing the chair and the 6 year old running ahead to get the doors was quite a sight.

He's in the bed with a hot water bottle now...asleep...no doubt dreaming of his world-record sprinting pace in the 50 year-old division.

4) School is good. The routine is harder and harder in the chill. We so long to go back to our homeschool days where we would stay in if the weather was foul. If we had illnesses at night, we slept in...no more. Getting used to wearing at least 1 full layer to bed and 3 to school.

5) Need your lifting up during these days of acute separation awareness. Thanksgiving is your author's absolutely favorite holiday. We'll teach all day here next Thursday. It seems as though we've had lots of struggles lately, dissension in the ranks of the family, fatigue and irritability. We know that this goes with it...but it doesn't make it easier.

6) We continue to have great chances to share with people and hear their stories. We find the trick is to always remain open to whomever He brings our way. By maintaining that open channel on our radar...it's amazing how many valuable conversations we have in just one week.

Believe with us for full recoveries and health.

More, soon, I promise.

Back home...

Hi All...

Just back from the hospital now at midnight our time.

So many mercies for which to give thanks...

Magpie likely has a intestinal blockage. We were consulted tonight by the chief of staff of the hospital who lived and practiced medicine in the west for a number of years. He is not our friend who we have counseled with over medical needs here, but he is her contact. It's the same everywhere...it's who you know. He was fluent in English and had a marvelous bedside manner with Magpie. He accompanied us personally through the ultrasound exam and called the surgeon for a consult.

Both doctors felt "something" in Magpie's lower-left abdomen, in the intestine.

We received top notch care and they sent us home with some medicine to treat the blockage and an x-ray of Magpie's abdomen. I am pleased to say it appears that she has all her organs.

Hopefully with this treatment, she should be able to pass the blockage and will have no further pain spasms in her abdomen. It was quite frightening tonight as the spasms went on for a few hours and had her doubled over, panting and weeping.

We give thanks for the incredible group of supporters we have here. Once the call went out, we had several brothers and sisters descending upon our apartment, calling for transport and even carrying Magpie out to the main gain on one man's back. We took a private car, owned by a brother who works for the company here, who I have never met.

My anxiety level was creeping up once in the car but I noticed this lovely music playing in the background...beautiful instrumental hymns. It is the first time I've heard so many of these old standards since arriving here. So magnificent to recite to Magpie the words to the songs that played "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," "Rock of Ages,"I Surrender All." It was such a gift to me as we were reminded that even when we're afraid and feel so out of control...He remains, fully, in control.

Thanks for lifting our girl up. Please remember us as we are now officially far behind with rest for this week and I have a message to deliver tomorrow night to a group of medical students from India.

Off to bed...

"Think about" Magpie

Hi all, second-string family communicator, Dad at the controls!

I just had to get the word out ASAP--Magpie is not feeling well! In fact she just arrived at the local hospital a few minutes ago with Mom, and good friend/translator Lily from the workplace.

It is now, not quite 10:00 Tuesday night. This evening, at about 7:00 Magpie started having some intermittent, but fairly sharp abdominal pain. She said that it was much worse while standing, walking, or laughing so we pushed her toward the supermarket checkout, legs dangling from the front of the shopping cart, face periodically grimmaced, eyes red, cheeks wet.

We recently met a friend who is an MD, practicing here for the past eight years. We called her for a quick appraisal by phone, and she assured us that Magpie's appendix is likely on "the other side of her tummy," like most of us in the human race. We monitored for an hour or so as instructed. Magpie took a warm bath and seemed generally better, but once in a while the sharp pains returned. The doc said that the options included these: possibly a digestive tract storm that was brewing, or maybe a kidney stone.

Though her pain was not so frequent, it was certainly still strong, so the concensus was to get her to the hospital where some Wstrn MDs could check her out.

So that's the status right now. I'm trying not to call Mom every 5 minutes as I wait at home with the little sleepers. So, I thought I'd shoot this out there and ask for your "thoughts" for Magpie. Healing mercies...surrounding angels...no fear...etc...

Blessngs to you all!

Send 'em up!

Dad

Frost on the Window...inside

The weather continues to chill...us...

Last night at bedtime I told Dad, "Honey, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this cold in the house stuff." He laughed and said, "Don't worry, I think there's only be four more months of it!"

We've had emails from The Old Place saying..."Turn on your heat!" But it's just not like that...Let me explain...

No one here has their heat on, and certainly not constantly. They all still have windows open and they remain bundled up at all times. I was comfortable for two days in a row...I wore my thermal underwear and socks continuously and seemed to feel warm enough. But, laundry must be done and it's hard to keep everyone in long underwear constantly, so we sometimes slip into our old way of thinking about being "inside" and try to wear just one layer. Sometimes I catch a child trying to go about in simply their pajama shirt, without any pj bottoms. We must reform this thinking.

We have turned on the heat from our AC/Heating units twice, each for about 30 minutes to knock the chill off the room. As I'm writing at 7:12 and there's frost on the inside of my window, we're about to have a third incidence of heater usage. But I look at this unknown climactic future like this...

When in labor with a child, especially on my first baby when I believed in the illusion of pain relief (did not work for me and caused me to end up on the c-section table as it does with many women), I had never gone through labor entirely and wasn't sure if I could "make it." With all the horror stories about labor that you hear (now that I've done it three times I'm appalled at the things women tell other women about an awesome experience that simply takes a great deal of work and dedication in surrender to the process), those horror stories about labor are kind of like the things we keep hearing from our colleagues here characterizing the winter ahead. Cold, miserable and barely able to function would sum up the predicted future for us by them. So, without having made it through our first winter, we're really reluctant to use the "pain relief" ie...the heater. I'm constantly considering "What if it gets really cold/bad like they say and we've already used the magic bullet of heat and we find it's not enough to get us through?!" In labor I kept delaying the utilization of the pain medication for fear I'd 'really need it later!'

So I sit here, with cold fingers stiffly working the keys of this lap top...

Some of you have asked about food here...

We continue to adventure well outside of our previous experiences. The chicken feet some time back started a new chapter that now includes pig mouth and intestines. We are thrilled every time we can cobble together some Western-style food. We can find some great things like Bisquick, spaghetti sauce and noodles as well as refried beans and tortillas. Though they are crazy expensive we appreciate any meal we make that includes them. During her last visit to us here, my mom Gramma J, brought all sorts of seasoning packets for chili, tacos etc. We've nearly gone through all of them as they are frequent requests by the kids.

Last night we entertained another family that lives here in our building. Their three children are students at our school and their father is from South America. They apparently really enjoyed the "Impossible Cheeseburger Pie" I made (my friend at the old place Kim W is now screaming in horror that such a recipe is being used in my kitchen...by the way Kim...I could REALLY use some Cream of Mushroom soup!) We also used a few of the precious, and I mean precious, toll house chips in a Blondie Brownie recipe I fashioned for dessert. The family raved and raved and the mom, ate 3 before we'd finished our green tea!

Dad found me a big toaster oven some weeks back and it may be the only appliance I'll ever use up...it's awesome!

As now it seems we're finally going to begin using this apartment for fellowship with neighbors and new friends, we're trying to get ourselves together so that we're not totally undone when another dinner invite arrives at the door. Though our days are long, we're finding it thrilling to bring people over for dinner, usually 2-3 nights per week. So much is accomplished in relationships around a table with food. I'm no fantastic hostess, but I see how opening up our home brings in stimulating discussion that bears fruit. It has been a good reminder to me, at let it be to you, that whatever we do, He can use it in a mighty way. Every act that serves, engages, or relates to people is a method to reach deep into their lives and share the good news. And we mustn't travel around the world to live to be used in that way!

Had a thrilling conversation with a local lady here who is like-minded. She wanted to hear, through and interpreter, when I'd come to know DAD. She listened with rapt attention when I told her though I was raised in the Farm, and made a decision some 23 years ago, that I truly began to experience change my life in accordance with the teachings some 5-7 years ago. She was so curious how I could have possibly heard the message so long before and yet not lived like it until many years later. She proudly told me that she had trusted Him 7 years ago and that her life had never been the same. Her face was aglow when she relayed the story to me. How encouraging it was to me to hear her story!

Aware that Fall is going on at The Old Place we're all feeling homesick. Some for salmon run fishing, others for pumpkin patches and potlucks after Sunday meetings...

Magpie said to me yesterday when we were washing dishes..."So Momma, it's Fall back home and our people are probably getting ready for Thanksgiving...wonder if the turkeys are already for sale at Hggn?"

Ah the things that mean home to us...who knew...

Must go...must drink hot water...

Harvest Party Pictures!

These shots from our 1st Annual Harvest Party show some of the sites our eyes beheld...you may see some shots of Captain Banana (as the kids called him), the Watermelon Head and lots of other entries in Crazy Hat Day. Outstanding recognition is due to Captain Banana as he is the one who fashioned the fruit hats...no joke, he's the Art teacher and I think you'll see why!

Hope you enjoy...

The picture above is of one of our colleagues...we love her as she is so kind and loving. She is the administrator who was so blown away with the gift we made for one student's after school program. Great conversations have been happening with her!

The above cat won the "Crazy Hat Competition." I wish he was smiling as his smile can light up a room! He's a very clever boy who's English reading is phenomenal...his hat it pretty great too!

Sandwiched between The Bug and Momma is our school Principal. She is a delight as I think you can tell by her fantastic smile and her awesome, crazy hat. She was the very first faculty member to get busy making her hat. Her enthusiasm really set the tone especially for the Western faculty who were considering just letting "the kids do the crazy hat thing."

Pumpkin painting was a truly "crazy" idea for our students. But, they loved it. Rightfully so, they took their pumpkins home and their mothers fixed them for dinner that night!

The below shot of Trick-or-Treating is just a glimpse of the fun. None of these kids or the staff (including this school guard) had ever tried such a thing. The laughter and smiles were infectious.

Above is the beginning of the Great Donut Eating Contest. My colleague from Canada and I stayed up late with Magpie and Bug making those powdered donuts. They tasted AWESOME. They didn't look so great...but there was enough powdered sugar for a great mess! Lots of accompanied this event.

The teacher with the guitar is our Computer teacher. He and his wife have lived in the West for 20 years or so and just returned to work here while his wife, at this moment, remains in the West. We have great discussions about purpose, Call and vision for this place we've all been planted. We anticipate working together all the more closely tending the Farm here.

Of to teach some English....

Rain...We've been prepared

After living at The Old Place for 12 years, one of the things we learned to deal with was rain. It is pretty much a constant element of daily life there and for the first few years it was a great struggle to manage it. Now I see the beauty of it...

Here, at The New Place, apparently during the Fall and Winter it is likewise the rain capital of our host country! This morning we trudged to school, 7 umbrellas lifted high, 7 wet pairs of boots, 7 pairs of pants wet up to the knee by the time we rolled into the school building. Of course, the main difference here is that we no longer have a massive White chariot that takes us from the driveway where we only get 30 seconds of rain exposure to our destination all in the climate-controlled cabin. No here we live in the weather. Now, lest I sound too dramatic, we have shelter and I am fully aware that many, many around the world do not. But it is a significant change from our life at The Old Place.

When the weather is cold here, we must dress for it. Each day I lay out 2-3 layers of clothing for the kids to don before they depart for school. It is not that the temperature outside is really that cold, BUT, the temperature INSIDE is the same as outside, so being in 45 degrees all the time causes one to feel quite chilly. Thus, the layers are our defense. Right now the wind is blowing outside of my Teaching office, the rain is pouring and it is about 45 degrees. All the windows are wide open and the breeze is blowing in over my desk as I type. As the weather gets even colder, we will experience it fully while INSIDE the building as well.

Last night we ran out for a shopping trip to the department store to find ELECTRIC BLANKETS. Each night this week our bed (Dad's and mine) has been filling up with cold little nighttime refugees that have kicked off their blankets and are seeking warmth. It only took us 20 minutes and two shoppers who were accosted by the store clerks to translate what we were looking for. We were mistakenly shopping in the bedding department where one finds sheets, pillows, comforters and BLANKETS. Once the lucky shopper number 2 understood my English/charades game, the clerk took us to the other part of the store...where one buys washing machines, space heaters and ELECTRIC BLANKETS. We were only able to come up with two, but were pleased nonetheless with our hunting/gathering expedition.

The point of the reference to the shopping trip was that the store was HEATED. It was probably heated to 70 degrees and we, three kids and myself were smoldering in the central heating. We were stripping off layers of clothing like the house was on fire (I don' t think that really applies to what I'm describing, but it's cold in here and my brain isn't as quick as usual).

Once we returned to our apartment building, Magpie said, "I don't think we can cut it in Central Heat anymore Mom...that's just too hot." Remembering that I was always fussing at The Old Place if the heat dipped down to 68 instead of 70, I chuckled. All that money we spent on heating when we had tons of clothing in the closets.

This old dog may be learning some new tricks...

Scrambled Elements

After a few days of Birthday madness, I settle down before my laptop to share an update with you. I was rousted from my cozy bed by a coughing child. Thankful for the truckload of remedies we hauled from The Old Place, I gave the aforementioned child a cure-all and then could no longer sleep myself...

This update shall offer a scrambled sampling of items in the last few days/weeks.

1) Magpie's birthday was a hit. There were some tears borne from the ache of missing home, but generally, a happy time was experienced. There was a poor cake baked by the birthday girl and myself that was taken to school on Thursday. We laughed as the partakers raved and raved about the confection. Magpie and I determined that this adulation upon a cake we fully knew was terrible only bolstered our previous assertions that the local cakes here are truly bad. We celebrated the birthday girl's day by a trip to the local Karaoke spot. A massive complex (there are literally 15 such places within a 20 minute drive of our home) with individual rooms complete with lights, microphones, big screen tvs, etc. We sang our best renditions of the theme from Lion King, Mulan, Sound of Music and a few random 70's and 80's tunes...a good time, a very good time, was had by the birthday girl who even demonstrated her genetic propensity to display "jazz hands" during a climactic note or phrase of a song.

2) We hosted, the English-speaking staff that is, the 1st Annual Harvest Party at our school on Friday. We found, with a great deal of effort, some small pumpkins for the students to paint as they were too small to carve. We played games like pumpkin rolling, blindfolded drawing and forced the young to compete against one another eating powdered donuts (fashioned in my kitchen here the night prior) with their hands behind their backs as the donut was dangled from a string above their heads. It was hysterical. We had a crazy hat competition and we designed a Trick-or Treating course through the school. The students were, of course, wild about it. I found it terribly amusing that I had to take a translator with me to each staff member coerced into handing out the candy and give a mini-lesson on what Trick-or-Treating is and then to act it out with The Bug for them to get the concept. (Culture note: one of the things I have grown to LOVE about our host culture here is the absolute abandon they give themselves to when a concept or idea solicits their participation. Whether it is the Sports Day that Coach "H" ran a week ago or the Crazy Hat Day we had on Friday, everyone fully participates. This zest for collective experience is so refreshing after being raised in the West where many pride themselves, even as young children, with NOT participating in the theme/organized event, etc.)

3) The trouble continues with our helper Sally. Sadly after having the intense discussion with her and two of our trusted local friends here, she has continued to come around with unrealistic expectations. Wednesday brought her to our door, with her suitcase, expecting that she was going to move into our apartment. Thursday brought a knock at our door at 5:55 AM, astonished, I opened the door to a fully groomed and bright-eyed Sally who when asked "why are you here at 5:55 AM?" responded, "I've come to fix breakfast for the children! I wanted to see Magpie on her birthday!" She was confounded when I told her that she needed to contact me before she came to the apartment again, that there should be no more surprise visits and that she needed to get in contact with our local friends who could truly help her in this situation. Friday brought the bizarre development that during the day she brought her bags back to our building and "moved into" the first floor apartment. She unpacked her items in a place with no furniture. She hung her clothing out on the porch and apparently she decided that this was now the place where she wanted to live. Never mind that the apartment didn't even have a front door or that she spoke with no one to investigate whether or not the apartment was even available for rent. Lastly, after being removed by guards in our complex here she waited at our Living Quarters gate for us to arrive home from school. An awkward, discussion ensued where she asked for us to fund her living arrangements and to allow her access to the children. The company/school is now aware of it and they have made it clear that she is not to return. We are torn, though first concerned with the children's safety, of course; we also want to make sure that she gets help with our local, like-minded friends who can help her in a way that we as foreigners cannot.

4) Some have emailed and asked for a primer on the identities of our children's pseudonyms for this blog. We'll give that next. But also we want to remind you of a few things...

Please know that we LOVE to have your comments posted on this blog, it really encourages us! But please, do not use anything other than our pseudonyms or the "H Family." Also, don't refer specifically to your location or ours by name. If you have not seen your comment posted to the public blog, rest assured that we've read it, cherished it, but couldn't post it due to an identifying reference.

If you want to "subscribe" to this blog, check out the link that says "Subscribe." By registering your email address, you can be notified anytime we publish a new post.

Okay, back the kids' names: Magpie (9 yrs), The Bug (6 yrs), Potato (4 yrs, 1st adoption blssng), Brownie (4 yrs), Bub (2 yrs, 2nd adoption blssg.)

5) As the weather continues to chill down and we're daily wearing at least 2, usually 3 layers of clothing to school, we have grown to appreciate...yea, even love, steaming bottles of hot water. There is something to "drink hot water."

6) Bub has taken a big stride. In one week he went from pull-ups to totally potty trained. I've cajoled, encouraged even tried to bribe him for months. One week I told the Kindergarten to implement some of the "tools" I was using...and he came home , on Saturday, potty-trained. In a country where most of the children are fully potty trained by 15-18 months, they've got it going on! Of course, most of this is due to the fact that there remains a significant reluctance to diaper their babies. Most babies and toddlers on the street, no matter the weather, wear "split pants." They could be wearing 5 layers of clothing and be absolutely bundled from head to toe but they're still in split pants. These pants, worn without any undergarments and a split from their waistband in the front to their waistband in the back, allow local children to be held over grassy patches, sidewalk drains or any other place and when the parent whistles (think Pavlov's dogs) to relieve themselves. Our girls in particular have known about split pants for a couple of years since our first trip here in 2006, but they still get a chuckle when they see a darling babe up in arms, fully clothed save for a fully exposed fanny or all their "private" parts in full view.

7) Speaking of "private" matters....WARNING...some readers might find this topic unmentionable...maybe this is a "chicks only" element of the post today....
While shopping last week at our huge, Walmart-like retailer, I came across a massive display at the entryway to the store. The equivalent of a 12X12 booth, nearly floor to ceiling adorned with pink floral logos and 6-7 kimono-wearing attendants, accosting passers-by. Upon closer inspection I found them to be hawking maxi-pads (BTW, what do geishas have to do with maxi-pads?) While promotion of said products through the television is quite popular in the West, I cannot think of a time when I've seen a massive, attention-getting, "grab you to show you the samples and extol the virtues of our maxi-pads" at a main entrance to a store. What caught me with a note of sympathy was within the vast number of women hearing the pitch for the new maxi-pads were a few men, awkwardly viewing the product display compelled to remain by their women, like flys on fly paper...struggling to escape...maybe it was the lure of the geishas that brought them, like me, near?

8) Another refreshing culture note...

In the West I have been increasingly dissatisfied with the attitude many of my contemporaries have about children. While I believe that in my generation this attitude is somewhat on the decline and was more prevalent in my parent' s generation, the vibe surrounding parenting children (at least in white-middle class circles) is that children are a drag on the life you, as the parent, could be living. That having children and their demands somehow robs you of all the other great, fulfilling stuff you could be doing if you weren't having to tend to some one's boo-boos, feeding and clothing and generally parenting them. I think this attitude is so prevalent that it has contributed to the frequent use of programming and gift-giving as a means to raise children. Children, often from their earliest days are enrolled in "enrichment programs", engaged in extra-curricular classes, and as they mature they are given gifts that fill up their time. We have certainly used our share of these things in our family so I'm looking at my own early parenting experience as a model of this.

I hypothesize that while we want our kids to have everything and be the best that they can be, we also want to make sure that it doesn't totally destroy our chance to live our best life. The "best life" being an intangible existence somewhere away from where we find ourselves bogged down with laundry and sibling rivalry. Even though I don't agree with this premise of "the best life," I see that the selfish mindset of me, me, me at times drives my attitudes and decisions.

Here, in our host culture, while due to economic reasons real or imagined, most families have both parents working, the child of the family is the central focus. People here get married, often now with the Western ideal of "for love," but most we've come in contact with have the driving force of procreation behind them. As children are limited here for population concerns, the single child born to a couple quickly becomes their whole world. (Now, just like my mini-slice of Western culture above, this attitude can be taken too far as to end up to the detriment of the child) However, everyone in the family, including both sets of grandparents, sacrifice whatever is necessary for the good of the child. Children, quite literally are cherished here. The culture says that you are blessed if you have a child (imagine how blessed they think we are)! Nothing could be more important that to have a child and to raise that child up to be a success. While this starkly refutes the modern-Western-feminism mindset, which the author is not an adherent to yet is well aware how this mindset has shaped her, it is refreshing.

It is an interesting dichotomy because due to the pressures of family planning regulations and age-old cultural norms I am the parent of two precious children from this host county. I found, before I came here, while sitting in my judgemental "center of the universe" culture-seat back at The Old Place, that the mere fact that children were without families and needed International adoption was proof of a lack of appreciation for children and a dehumanization of life.

While there remain children who cannot stay with their birth parents here due to family size regulations or gender preferences in the countryside, the opposite of my predetermined judgement is true. This culture is crazy in love with their children. They consider them precious, and the family will collectively do all that they can to raise that child. I've yet to find a daycare...most grandparents, both male and female, spend their later years living with or very near their child and grandchild and serve as the primary caretaker during early childhood.

I am aware that for every child that has an adoptive family or waits in an orphanage today, there is likely a wounded heart that aches for the love she was unable to give her child, not the callous disregard that I hear so often from judgemental voices that once included my own.

This love of children meets us at every turn. Our children are warmly greeted everywhere they go and by people from every demographic. This is the same with every baby/child I see out and about. Where often in the West my children would politely speak to a man in an elevator or a clerk at a store and be summarily ignored, here every child is a light in the room where they are.

I find it a lovely attribute of this culture.

What else can I say...

Must run, must make pancakes for my brood now stumbling from their nests...

Homesickness is tough now, doors are opening and we're seeing some more elements of design for our time here and we are as always completely dependent on your "thoughts"...

Adieu..