Flour Child

Surprisingly, I didn't feel angry or even irritated. I guess I was in a good mood (although this was the same day that guy tried to steal from me on the bus).

After all, it was me who put the flour on the bottom shelf with the pots and pans. And it was me who let him play in the kitchen, unattended, for two minutes.

I just thought it was adorable how proud he was. Look what I'm cooking Mama!

中文 Chinese Language

I had planned to tell you all this informative stuff about Chinese language, but really, you should just read the wikipedia article if you're interested.

I will tell you that we love studying and using Chinese. It's a high priority to continue making progress in language acquisition. To us, the impetus for learning Chinese is:

1. Functioning more naturally and independently in China.
2. Forming deeper friendships with Chinese.
3. Drew can do a MA in China.
4. Helping Titus and Michael through the Chinese school system.


A month ago we asked if you'd please uplift Drew as he prepared for the Chinese Language Level Exam (HSK - Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi). He scored a 4, which is ok. He's hoping for a 6 next time around. Drewbs needs to do well on this test in order to do a MA in China. That's our dream!


Here's a lesson I studied recently. It's about a bike trip to a book bazaar. Drew reads texts that are incomparably more difficult than mine. He started studying Chinese as a freshman at Emory University in 2004/5. I've been working on Chinese informally for less than two years. So even though this text may be incomprehensible to you, it's actually beginner-level.



Finally, I thought you might like to see our Chinese names. You can see that the first character is the same in all of our names; in China the family name comes first, followed by one or two characters as the given name. All of us have Chinese names with a pronunciation similar to that of our English names. Look at the beauty of each character.

艾安祝

Drew: Ai Anzhu
means Fragrant Grass-Peace-Blessing

艾睿秋

Rach: Ai Ruiqiu
means Fragrant Grass-Having Foresight-Autumn

艾泰德

Titus: Ai Taide
means Fragrant Grass-Great-Morality


Mike: Remains undecided! Open for ideas.




If you want any suggestions for your next Chinese-character tattoo, let us know.


-Rach

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English Corner Fun

For about 6 months now I (Drew) have been helping out at an English corner hosted by the Chinese fellowship that we attend. It has been a great way to be involved and a great place to invite students and friends to come check out truth.

This last Saturday, our English corner and an English corner from another Chinese fellowship in town got together (about 75 of us in all) for a terrific day of sharing, sightseeing and simply--some fun.

First, we went to a Chinese fellowship out in the country. They had a beautiful building on top of a hill. They also had a pretty awesome band (Saxophone, electric keyboard, bass guitar, and drum set). Check out the video of part of their performance.

After a time for singing/sharing and an awesome lunch made by some people from the fellowship, we headed towards our next destination--an historic village. (Click HERE to check out their website) I picked up a wooden sword for Titus. He likes hitting things with it!

Here I am with a couple of my good Chinese Friends

Here is a traditional Chinese scale maker.

Finally, we went to a lake--just to walk around and take some pictures.

It was a great trip and fun was had by all. I got to have many conversations--both in Chinese, and in English.

Just a quick funny story about my Chinese. I saw some cows that were obviously male as we were driving along the country road, so I leaned over to my friend and said in Chinese, "Hey look at all those male cows!" He laugh and told me that the word "male" that I used, can only be used for people, not animals, so I actually said, "Look at all those men cows!" I also said, "There sure is a lot of rice fields here." Unfortunately, the word for "rice" that I used means rice that is already cooked so I was actually saying, "There sure is a lot of cooked rice out there!" Needless to say, my Chinese friends kept laughing about that for some time.

I hope you'll keep English corner in your thoughts. It is a great outreach to Changsha and especially university students.

Drew

32 Weeks

Here's some pics I took last week of my pretty wife at 32 weeks. So this week she's 33 weeks -- less than two months until Mike is born.

Titus is preparing to be a big brother. He can say "baby". He already likes to kick, pinch, bite, hit, hug and kiss his little brother.

Mike seems to be doing fine. Last week Rachel had a check-up and they said everything is normal. She feels pretty good too.

Dad Drew

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Nice Try Thief

This morning I set out early for a prenatal check-up. I'm on the crowded city bus, it's 7:20am. If you've ever ridden a city bus in Changsha at rush hour you know -- there's standing room only, strangers are pressed up against you on all sides.

There's a sign that reads "Old, Weak, Disabled, Injured or Pregnant People get preferential seats." But here I am, seven months along and people still aren't 100% sure if that tall foreign lady is pregnant or just fat. None of the strong young men and women offer me their seat.

I'm standing, pretty squished, both hands gripping the overhead handrail as the bus stops and starts, jerks and speeds along. My handbag is tucked under my arm.

Then this other pregnant lady (seated), motions to me "hey, look..." The middle-aged dude next to me has half-way unzipped my bag and has his hand inside it!

In English I shouted out "Oh my goodness!" and then I HIT him!!!

We looked each other right in the eye, and he's like, 'What?'

A second later everyone, including me and the thief pretended like nothing happened. That's how saving face is done?

I turned to the pregnant lady who tipped me off and said "Thank you. Are you pregnant also? Are you going to the hospital for a check-up also?" She said no, she was going to work. The young woman sitting next to her overheard this, and now having confirmed in her mind that I was in fact carrying a baby in my womb, offered me her seat.


Rachel


p.s. No, nothing was stolen.

Tuesdays

Our buddies at the orphanage.

Buzzzz

Titus got a buzz cut for summer. I promised you some better pictures:

A Wise Woman Builds Her House

When I go to baby showers now, and the host asks us to share a bit of advice or experience with the Mom-to-be, I like to recount the first two weeks after Titus was born. It was hard. I remember feeling completely exhausted and frustrated, waking up every two hours to nurse the little guy. Sometimes at 2am he didn't want to go back to sleep. All the crying completely stressed me out. I remember feeling horribly guilty and confessed to Drew, sobbing, "Sometimes I wish we didn't have a baby...bwahh buahh buahh."

There's been different kinds of challenges over the past couple years of motherhood, but none that could not be endured with our Father's strength and Drew's steady support. Now I have a little one in utero and an almost two year-old. The almost two year-old is willful and whiny, and I am quick to anger. But I'm working on it...and the Father is working on me. When I feel like my child is being ridiculous, I remember that my Father is gracious and compassionate towards me, slow to anger and rich in love (Ps. 145). Hopefully I can be the same way towards my kiddos.

I also have this little piece of wisdom up in my kitchen:

A wise woman builds her house; but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. (Prov. 14-something)

Getting angry to the point of sinning against my little Titus is a sure way to tear down my home with my own hands. I am trying to do only that which will build up this young family. Father help me!

There you have it. My Mother's Day reflection.



To all you Moms, especially our Jen & Louise -- we love you deeply. We appreciate all you have done and how you continue to bless us, your kids.

- Drew, Rachel, Titus & Mikey

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