Four Flavors of Christmas

Happy New Year everyone!  I sincerely hope, that for you and me both, this will be a year of joy, restoration, and thrilling endeavors, however great or small.

Get ready for a quadruple dip Christmas 2015, the flavors are: Office, Church, Home and Country.

Do not miss the Country flavor, folks!

OFFICE

One day Drew had to mediate a terrible conflict on the team he manages. It hammered on his spirit and kept him at the office until after 9pm. Meanwhile, Titus and I were home plodding through two hours of homework. I felt irritated with Drew's team for fighting, augmenting Drew's stress level and disrupting our family life. What an awful day!

The next morning I was sparkling inside when the Spirit inspired me thus: To surprise Drew and his crew with gifts and cards handmade by Drew's kids. I thought, "These folks need some cheer. They need to know that there is a way of peace." Inside each card I wrote a sincere note of affirmation and spelled out what is celebrated at Christmas: That God through Jesus offers us reconciliation to himself, and in our relationships, families and communities. The kids and I delivered it at the end of the day -- the team was lifted! We took pictures, chatted, Roshan from India ran out and bought chocolates for the boys. Afterwards the team members went nuts on their social media posting pictures and writing about how happy they were to receive a gift and visit at work, and how much they appreciate Drew. This little moment went viral all around the company, the CEO and tens of others commenting their praise. Mission accomplished.

CHURCH

The Christmas Celebration Show is a long-standing tradition at our Chinese church; if you've been reading this blog for a couple years I bet you remember. I vowed that I was NOT going to perform this year -- other commitments, thank you -- but a couple brothers talked me into it. I in turn was unsuccessful talking my violinist husband into it. Drew is the resolute one in this union. Anyway, we also had a little party with our kids' class at Chinese church, during which our co-worker Mrs. Feng did a wonderful job conveying the significance of Jesus being born into the world.

Was this photo taken out of a scrapbook dated 1980?

And is it me or my mother?

HOME

You know the gathering that's like, this is OUR Christmas, our core people together? That's what this tradition is for us, a day with our Changsha family. Who is our family? Wang Zhao, Li Ci, Liu Jia (Lydia, as you know her), Sun Ping, Liu Jian, Li Feng -- and additionally this year we had Jared, Yuan Mingxiao (Michelle), her friend and his son. They arrived mid-morning and stayed until it was time to catch the last bus of the night. The table was so full of dishes we had to stack them, so full of friends that I didn't sit down until someone else finished and vacated a seat. Together we opened to John and remembered how God gives us hope, family, great love and care. Each person shared his or her hope for the new year, and Yuan Mingxiao (Michelle) made our desires known to God in prayer. In the lazy afternoon I was transported back to the 90s: I could see my young Dad cracking up on the couch, as we carried out this household's inaugural viewing of Home Alone, in Chinese. Henceforth, Titus cannot even think about that movie without erupting into giggles.

 

COUNTRY

If we hail a taxi at noon, catch the westbound bullet train, hop on a bus through southern mountains to the town of Tongdao, Noah can pick us up at the station around 7pm and drive another 40 minutes through a narrow, winding river valley way, to their home in Pingtan village. Welcome to the "Dong Corridor" -- a segment of land at the conjunction of Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces, home to the Dong, a distinct ethnic minority numbering about 3 million. This was our fourth trip to the area, the first was roughly one year ago. Our friends Noah & Naomi, and their three girls Natalie, Pearl and Chrissy have recently planted themselves in this community. We love this family, we love the Pingtan river valley, and so we had ourselves a very Merry Christmas weekend here. I PROMISE you will be hearing much, much more from us about the Dong and Pingtan in the future. For now, enjoy walking with us through the very place we were last weekend.

 

Guys, this is the elementary school in the adjacent village.

 

counting the graces

thank you Father for

this moment, this habit of reflecting on your gifts after a new blog post

contentment has grown

I'm uniquely able to comfort my Drew, Titus and Mike, and it makes me feel important

my parents are wonderful listeners, so supportive, possess useful knowledge and skills, they are esteemed by many

encouragement of taking first place in a story-telling show at primary school

half-day off today

tickets to the indoor play gym when the air quality is too bad to play outside on a sunny, warm day

pause

music. music. music. that was such a great idea of yours

Mandie! you made her very special, and I'm glad she's my sister -- it's her birthday tomorrow

the house by the fishpond! let it be, dear lord, let it be!!!

Jason & Carrie -- they have made ALL THE DIFFERENCE

chance for Drew to travel, network, learn a business model and take more concrete steps forward this weekend

got the local police clearance for adoption

Feelings x4

Hello friends, how are you doing today?

This morning I feel a need to reach out to you, asking for your understanding and support. Many of you are people who pray; will you pray for us this season? 

Everything will be well. We are ok, joy and tranquility are present. I would like to express to you the reality of our lives, that we feel intense pressure as well.

Drew works long days managing a team, resolving problems and meeting deadlines. He has little rest or recreation, and almost zero alone time in a week.

Titus is frustrated by insufficient playtime in his day. We arrive home from school at 4 or 5pm and he has at least one hour of homework. We eat supper at 7pm when Drew arrives home, and the kids sleep at 8:30.

Mike feels neglected because Titus and Mom are preoccupied with Titus' schooling and other matters.

I wonder how Reuben is today? Wish we knew.

I, Rachel, feel anxiety overseeing the wellness of Drew, Titus and Michael. I feel lonely and sorry for Drew. I feel heartbroken when Titus explodes in anger and Michael is longing for attention.

Recently, adoption paperwork has been time-consuming: Seven visits to different police offices for background checks and two full mornings getting health checks.

This is a season of learning to be sensitive to one another's feelings.

We welcome and hope for your words of understanding and encouragement, and also for your prayers. Thanks so much!

UPDATE: Yesterday was an especially rough day both for Drew at work and for us at home, so I am very thankful that you were praying us through it.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

relationship strengthened with Wang Ayi through mistakes and affirmation

tears that soften the intensity of anxiety

 true growth -- it's the journey not the destination

empathy gained through living like my neighbors, with kids in Chinese schools and husband in Chinese company

finding our handcrafted wooden go-cart which was previously believed to have been stolen

 morning hugs with warm sleepy bodies

access to knowledge that equips -- nutrition, wellness, God's character and will, pedagogy, history, child development

intimate friends who I admire

my deliverer is coming

Through our eyes and in our footsteps

Day in and day out, this is where we are. To me, it feels so well-worn in and comfortable.  

I wish you could experience it right here with me.

You'll notice that the photos span late spring through early winter;

moments we experienced right here in our neighborhood.

Mike's classmates at the spring class rocket launch hosted by Drew.

Normal trash situation downstairs.

Community is easy to find, never will I take this for granted.

First grade classmates.

Staple shop: Eggs, rice, grains, dried beans, salt, oil, vinegars and sauces.

So filthy, but so endearing with hundreds of family memories attached to it.

Oh! I mentioned these photos were all from our neighborhood.

Well, this one is an exception. Indoor rink at the mall downtown, across the river.

Back to our apartment building, first floor. Do you know what this outward facing mirror is for?

Grandma and Grandpa, in keeping with tradition, set it here to deter ghosts from entering their home.

Any wandering ghost who catches a glimpse of his reflection will be frightened away.

Bad air quality day. Thumbs down.

Matcha cupcakes with Wang Zhao and Li Ci.

Hardware store -- it's been a fixture of our lives here. These folks all know us, and we know them.

Piano lessons with Mrs. Shi every Tuesday after school.

Michael's expression here reminds me of Drew's dad.

Something about Titus' eyes resembles Drew's brother Paul.  Do you see it?

Wang Zhao and Drew refining her resume.

Annual family celebration of our marriage anniversary, the beginning of this family.

One purpose is to listen carefully as Mike and Titus tell us how they feel things are going.

This year, the boys said Drew should play more with the kids and Mom should not get angry so much.

Leslie is one of our very best friends, since 2009.

She offered to make a pie with Titus and Mike while Drew and I got to chill on our own.

Introducing Titus and Michael's sisters: Natalie and Pearl.

They found a deadish baby bat in an interior AC unit.

And then big J.Wu and little J.Wu joined the party!

Jared is back in our neighborhood.

He is a faithful friend who brings so much value and fullness to our lives.

Mike busted open his chin on the bathroom sink resulting in stitches.

When he slipped while showering, he was standing on the trash can, which he had set atop the stool,

in order to reach the mirror so he could write his name in the condensation.

He actually broke a chunk off the sink with the impact -- like a tae kwon do master, KA CHAA!

Ethan makes an appearance! Hey Ethan!

Preschool. Such a blissful time.

 

 "The Funny Teacher" as the boys call her, at the South Church.

What would I do without this couple?

Parents of Titus' classmate, they have been my advisors and friends as I try to figure out what is expected in elementary school. Their daughter is wearing the pink jacket.

Just your typical Wednesday night in November, when I nearly died because I was cackling!

Giving thanks. Banjo debuts.

Gingkos line both sides of the entire lane below our apartment.

Where's Titus?

After reviewing these photo memories from just the past few months, I feel so rich and rooted.

We've only been in this city for seven years, and just four years in this neighborhood, but the paths already feel well-worn, like I could walk around blindfolded, making stops at all my usual places, and even know who to greet at the corners and little shops.

I want to express my gratitude to God, for a life that is inundated with meaningful friendships and little delights at every turn. It feels real, dynamic and deeply fulfilling, especially so because we were unconnected at first, and now have grown our roots bound up with these neighbors, in this little locale.

What do you find delightful, endearing, familiar or homey about your location?

Down by the riverside in July, after eating donkey at an outdoor restaurant.

Goodnight, Changsha.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

reviewing these pictures and recalling all the richness that you've poured out in our lives

I fail, you do not, I need you constantly

people are excited about Reuben's adoption and Lydia's recovery

Drew's team made their goals this quarter and resolved a big sale-shipment-fraud problem

prominent voices like Rachel Evans speaking up for justice, equality, human rights -- denouncing hatred, bigotry, racism, misogyny

cheer of vintage Christmas vinyls, lights, Chipmunks tunes has come to our home!

Mike breaking into song, "Fix my eyes, on you..." and requesting "song prayers"

a major step forward and the key office worker willing to help us out specially as we process papers for Reuben's adoption

friends laughing on the phone

Titus reading his Chinese texts very well, he is learning, wheeeeeww relief

dreams of minimalist living in the country, "delight yourself in the Lord..."