Finance, The Neighbor Boy

We live in #607. They're directly below in #507. We hear each other's kid(s) screaming in the night. From the kitchen, we can distinguish the beat of their heavy cleaver pounding on chopping block, mincing meat in the morning. From the living room, they can distinguish the beat of bad 80s music and ten stamping feet overhead. What? Doesn't every family hold a dance-off in the living room after supper?

Yang is a commercial lawyer, an earnest man, a great conversationalist, and buddies with his wife. She's the only woman he ever dated, his first love.

Yafei is down-to-earth and unguarded which makes for refreshing talks. I like her. Expecting baby number 2 in just a couple months.

Big brother's name is, literally, Finance. Yes, Finance. Two and a half, he's a smiley little bub. That grin in the photo is his neutral face. Probably sleeps with that smile on (except for when he's screaming).

Yang, Yafei and Finance have lived below us for about half a year, and we are very thankful for nice neighbors who are friends too. We hope to become closer pals and share more life together.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

grandpa smiling wide, proud and pushing his pigtailed granddaughter in the stroller

kind reaction from the student affairs office upon informing them I'm quitting the master's program

words and touches of encouragement for Drew after a tough day at work

moments of heart connection with young sons

one unrushed hour alone to think and plan

little walk with Auntie Wang at 8:30pm, it felt spring, yellow street lights, quiet and pleasant

We're not in Shanghai anymore.

train through the country to the big city

therapy

a little town for children to try out several occupations

community fellowship

ocean aquarium

 railway museum

togetherness, ceramics, and business meeting for Drew

we're not in Shanghai anymore

overcrowded Changsha bus home from the train station, welcome back

children sleep on luggage and rice bags set on the bus floor

mother's two hands protect three heads from impact

counting the graces

thank you Father for

sibs -- friendship and shared joy and pain

Drew and students had fun and funny time in kids' Sunday school

daily eruptions of celebration -- this marriage, each other, we can't get over the joy of this gift

happy jams with Drew and Noah too

anticipating Chinese moms' group and dship triad with L& LJ

considerate grad student who walked with us back from the bus stop

reflecting on and realizing what a profound change you made in me

family breakfasts

It's Biography

Brother come on open up your eyes 
Quit believing all those lies 
That the devil been telling you 

Sister I know that it happened again 
But girl you know that you’ve got a friend 
I’ve been there too 

Brother you can take of the mask you wear 
Quit acting like you don’t care 
About the things that are killing you 

Sister don’t go that way no more 
You’ve been down that road before 
I’m in love with you 

Everyone says that it’s alright 
Living in darkness every night 
But I think it’s time, Lord it’s time 

I’m ready to give up all my sin 
But I don’t know where to begin 
I think it’s time to find out 
And make that change 

I’ve been lonely too 
Many days pass by, what’s done is done 
I give up my life 
I’ve been running through the night 
Towards the light of the sun 

Now I’m free 
Bring a little love for me 

Sweet love of mine 
It’s the morning of a new day 
I thank you Lord for everything 
That you’ve done in me 

I will meet you there 
In the end of time 
Come together as one


Josh Garrels gets lots of playing time at our house. This song, Decision, is biography to me. On the same album, Over Oceans, I play and replay and play again tracks Fire By Night, SISU and Sweet River Roll. 

....

Well, we are in Shanghai for five days of play, therapy and work. Jonathon will see his speech therapist from Olivia's Place (who we have been meeting with over skype for several months), plus a couple other specialists. Since we were going to travel for these appointments anyway, we decided to call it a tiny vacation on the last week of winter break! After it was settled Drew was then slated for a business meeting in Shanghai which turned out to be perfect timing.

Friday - 7-hour bullet train from Changsha to Shanghai
Saturday - dietitian and speech therapy, Western grocery store
Sunday - Shanghai community fellowship, public park and picnic
Monday - Drew, T&M to children's science museum / Rach & Jon to OT and PT
Tuesday - ocean aquarium
Wednesday - Drew works / Rach & kids to speech therapy, art studio (?)
Thursday - Rach and kids bullet train back to Changsha / Drew works + meeting, fly back to Changsha

Monday - first day of school


Talk to you all when we return home to Changsha. I know you'll all be enraptured with and groovin' to Josh Garrels' music in the mean time, right?

counting the graces

thank you Father for

reassurance and support from pediatrician, dietitian and slp

family talks and snuggles on a luxury train ride

homemade hummus
study, grayish flakey-barked trees, bared of leaves in winter -- pretty lining streets sunlit by day, lamplit by night 

drew quickly coming home to rescue us and get us to the train on time

nice neighbors helping to pick up our packages

lovely little saturday variety market, booths set up in a row, and we bought kale to bring home

outdoor lunch bathed in sunshine with one best-buddy hubby and three wonderful sons

Flashback: FIVE YEARS in Changsha!

 February 9, 2009 - February 9, 2014.

We're breaking out the good wine tonight, raising a glass to the King!


Thank you to every one of you whether in China, US or elsewhere.
Teammates past, friends, family, brothers & sisters.

You've been there for us five years strong.
Our success and happiness here is because of your constant support in every form.

And thank you Jared for tonight's cabernet.

FLASHBACK

2009

First Post Ever - upon arrival, we were depressed.

Like So Weird - including men sleeping on metal poles and Drew's back suffering giant hickeys.

"This is the best haircut I've ever had!" - don't hate him because he is beautiful.

2010

Turning Chinese I Think I'm Turning Chinese I Really Think So - my babies wear split pants, proudly.

Nice Try Thief - I was pregnant and punched a man on the bus after he tried to rob me.

600 Chicken Legs - the things we used to do for college students.

2011

Deaf Man Meets Blind Man on Scooter - my dad gets hit by an electric bike.

Justice Rolls - we brought Jonathon home, with trepidation and joy.

Mono - Drew nearly dies.

2012

Village New Year's - in an earthen countryside home.

As Seen From My Kitchen Window - kids making out, later on we became friends with them.

Mai Mai's Wild Birthday Party - we like to party, we like, we like to party.

2013

Best Place for Family Dining - supper in a house of prostitution.

Marketing Dude - Drew lands a job aaaaand we all praise Jesus.

Having you here was the best of the year. - family visits, never been happier.

counting the graces

thank you Father for
snowfall today: Titus cannot wait to get outside, snowballs, snowpants and boots, mittens drying on the heater
new friends Tim & Stacy and baby Aubrey
Mexican supper, the best Mexican I've made in over five years
kids of great potential and earnest teachers at Sunday school
looking back over our accounts in Changsha, we have come such a long way
making up funny dances to 80s rock, Drew says, "we need to get you to a dance club, you would be good"
FZ seeking out and opening up to Drew

Objects in motion remain in motion

This warm winter Drewbs and I have been challenging ourselves with a little Saturday Morning Fitness Test at the track. It's old school, bringing back the high school fitness test: mile run, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, shuttle run. Our boys dig in the long jump sandpit and on each lap Titus cheers, "Mom! Run faster! Dad is way faster than you! Just do your best ok!" 

We think that strength and speed goals make for a positive and motivating approach to health.

Zhang Li stayed with us for three days on his way home for Chinese New Year. He joined our test and rocked it -- beat us in every part except Drew was unsurprisingly speedier in the runs. In addition to exercising together, we had a good time with Zhang Li talking, hiking and sharing meals. He is a great friend to our whole family!

Sport + Friendship, that's what I like best. Exercise videos and even running alone is, to me, merely tolerable as both lack a social-relational component. I've been dismayed over the non-existence of women's team sports in Changsha. 

Along came yoga. It's not volleyball or boot-camp class, but I love it now after practicing for the past four months in a small studio near our home. Strength, stability, flexibility, balance, stress-relief, it's all good. And, I have made friends. A few weeks ago two of my yoga-mates and their kids came to our house for curry and chicken masala. It seemed fitting to cook Indian, right?

Speaking of motion, the boys went swimming yesterday! We discovered an indoor pool (giant warm tub) for kids 6 & under at the mall within walking distance. Says Mike, "Mom! It was fun swimming we should go there more often." Titus to Dad, "It was TOO fun." Jonathon pipes up, "And, and I go swimming!"

I bought a season pass.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

Jonathon's entertaining and wordy stories

good communication with Auntie Wang and though it was uncomfortable she responded positively

walks in clean air, to alleviate cabin fever

delightful post-swimming lunch out with the boys, they devoured green beans, corn, ribs and pumpkin

seeing Liao Sha on skype

reviewing old Chinese textbooks and wondering at how something that used to seem impossible now is so easy

Luke's account, my favorite of the four