Happy 7th Birthday Bug!We baked a cake last night in our over-sized toaster oven and sang her Happy Birthday in two languages at school today. She was delighted and smiled warmly at all her well-wishers.
This girl has such a sense of drama...where does she get it?
We'll take her out to her new favorite restaurant. A spot some 50 minutes from us that is run by an American woman and the food is really Western! All our mouths are watering at the thought.
The Bug has been so excited about her birthday that for the past month she's required me to count down the days until her birthday. Today, as we walked to school, she told everyone we passed..."It's my birthday!"
(Daddy said, 'no one in the history of 7th Birthdays has ever been so enthralled with their day...since The Bug's mother!'...how true.)
The Bug lives the drama of everyday. She can be heard directing her siblings in one "scene" after the other. Last night at dinner she scolded me for rushing her...as she was a "pregnant woman ready to give birth." That scene immediately followed one that had her "a house cleaner at the fanciest hotel in town" and I was chastised for trying to gain entry to my 'hotel room' before I had been given clearance from housekeeping!
She is such an enthusiastic ambassador for The Old Place and we can see how she really acts like a bridge between the two cultures for many who encounter her here.
She reinvents herself and the fun around her moment by moment...what a delight to be her parents!
Just after she blew out her candles and we served her cake she said to me..."Momma, 7 years ago you gave birth to me and I want to say thank you for giving me life."
Stunned and touched I sat there looking at her eyes snap with emotion...I hugged her and said 'thank you Bug, that was beautiful.'
She replied that it is the Chinese custom to remember how much effort it required of your mother to not only give birth to you but to carry you for nine months and grant you life. I savored the moment as she continued to tell me that in much of Chinese culture when a baby is born they are said to be already the age of 1. This takes into account the life the child lived in the womb.
What a beautiful thing for our children to learn here...
What a precious thing to be thanked for mothering on her birthday...
It's always the 4th of July with The Bug around...that firecracker personality keeps us guessing...what will she come up with in her 7th year?
We love you Buggy...Happy Birthday!
5 comments:
Happy Birthday, Bug! (and Happy Belated Birthday to Potato!) You are both such wonderful, beautiful, amazing, faith-filled girls. HOpe you both had wonderful days celebrating!!! We love you and miss you!
Shannon, Sarah and Hannah
Oh you beautiful, beautiful girl. We love you so much...can't believe you are getting so old and so wise.
Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday dear friend Happy Birthday to you!
Love ya and miss ya Caleb and the Girls
Bug, did you do all of the things I suggested in your e-card?
What a beautiful lady you are!
I'm eager for our birthday party at our house this summer.
Love you.
Thanks for sharing this! Perhaps we could get the kids perspective on China to share with other ERRC teachers. Especially since they are a valuable part of the ERRC Family!
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