Kaleidescope

We have all  peered through a kaleidoscope to marvel at the shapes and colors fusing together, breaking apart, and scattering endlessly...

That is sort of how our situation Here currently appears.

Our school has been sold.  If we are to stay teaching where we've been teaching for the past five years, we will have a new employer.  If there is a position for Daddy...likely there will be a salary cut...and only a "one year" contract at this point.  However, it would perhaps give us another year to "transition" into the next phase of our work here. The offer of a new contract would be easy, and colorful, and shapes that we already KNOW.

There are possibilities for teaching in other parts of this country.  Great looking options...all shiny and flashy...but are they temptations to let go of what He has done here?

We've had two significant calls in the past day, inviting us to consider working with trusted, like-minded folks in starting a business.  Wow!  That's another sparkly idea...one that we can see great possibilities with...starting a educational training center would give us a continuation of many of our relationships and provide many more mercy projects that in which we could participate.

Choices about the kids education are also providing us with eye-catching wonders...homeschooling? International school?...private schools?

Then we have the elements of where we will live.  Should move a little out of town to the countryside?  Do we stay in this apartment to the last day, until they sell it out from under us?  Do we make a move, closer into the city center, sooner than later?

To be still in the midst of all this is proving difficult.

We are trying to breathe and "just keep swimming"...

We have more details to share about upcoming changes to the H clan...some happy news... - and we'll do so in the coming days...as we have time to do so...

Slashed...but Encouraged...

Happy Day-after-International Women's Day!

Here in the Middle Kingdom, this holiday is observed.  We were amazed to receive a special monetary bonus yesterday for "Women's Day"...even the male teachers scored the cash, reportedly to buy gifts for the women in their lives!  Buoyed by the unexpected financial gift (about $60), Daddy suggested that I take the "little women" in our home out for a special pizza night, while he stayed home with the boys.  We joined up with our Teammate girls (sadly missing Mrs. V who returned to the US on Women's Day to have her first baby), and pressed into a throng of humanity on a city bus.

After five years, I don't really notice the things that used to make me feel really "uncomfortable"...things like pressing up against strangers for a 45 minute standing bus ride to the nearest pizza shop, now qualifies as a "fun night out for the girls!"  Yet, last night, as my knees complained about the lurching/twisting ride on the bus, I felt uncomfortable.  It was as if I was "jostled" more than normal.  Which is funny to say, because a bus ride like last night's are full of bumpin' and pressin' against everyone sandwiched near you.  But last night, I was apparently, at one point, uncomfortable enough about my purse (on my shoulder) that I gave it to two of my girls who had scored a seat.  This is really the first time I've ever felt "that way" on the bus, like I should be more careful about my bag.  I also twisted my wedding ring around on my finger about the same time, as I felt it was really conspicuous, for some reason.

When we arrived at the major shopping area, I needed to make a small purchase...and lo and behold...my wallet was gone.

I thought that I'd perhaps left it on the couch at home where I had added the "Women's Day Cash Bonus" in with our "rest of March Spending cash."  A quick call to Daddy confirmed that it was not at home.  Upon sitting down at the pizza shop, our Teammate Ashley made an upsetting discovery...a slash in the lower part of my purse, through three layers...about six inches long.  The perfect size for the thief to reach in and extract my wallet.

We reconstructed the bus ride in our minds.  We're pretty sure who the characters were who did it; a group of three guys who crowded around me and actually separated Magpie from me when she had been standing immediately to my right.  All our "March money" the "Women's Day bonus" and all our credit/debit cards from two countries were taken in the heist!

Trying to call and cancel our Chinese ATM card...another fun experience of the evening...but I digress...

I was still feeling sort of frustrated and saddened by the events this morning when the boys started stirring from bed.  They wanted to watch a cartoon (on DVD) and Daddy and I agreed that it would be fine, while breakfast was being made.

Our complicated DVD system has three volume controls.  Which one is to be used seems to depend on the DVD that is inserted into the player.  As the cartoon video began to play, the volume was far too great for a Saturday at 7 am!  I rushed over and chose the wrong volume control to mitigate the sound.  Daddy swooped in and rapidly brought the volume down to acceptable levels.

Bub (aged 7), whose "love language" is very definitely "encouraging words"...brightly remarked...
"Dad you saved the day, and Momma, you tried, which is really good too!"

I paused in the moment and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving for the reminder of where our treasure lies...not in wallets...but in the hearts of these precious children He's given us the privilege to raise.