Our spring we send to you, Minnesota

Everybody who has lived a complete year in this city knows that Changsha has two seasons: winter and summer. Oh of course there's an autumn and a spring, but if you leave for a weekend you might miss either, short as they are! I can't complain, I can't complain just knowing what you dear Minnesotans are experiencing this April. Snow! I'm really sorry. Terribly sorry.

(Drew's parents' yard April 19, 2013!)

Since our spring is already passed... today I wore a tank top, dripping sweat, muggy heat, all the early budding blooms have waxed and waned, now the foliage is bold July-John-Deere-green... we're on to summer and done with spring here and thus sending spring to you Minnesota! May it arrive soon!

Until it arrives, enjoy our pictures from March & early April, and hope!

Beautiful weather is the precise reason why I've been writing less regularly. It's been an incredible April. Usually this season is a monsoon but this year, hardly a rainy day. (Hopefully this isn't a problem? The river still appears high?) Nonetheless, we're all thankful for these days.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

brothers working together

close friend to comfort

birdsongs in the morning

Titus' preschool class going for a hike in the woods/mountain

comfortable and thoughtful faith discussion with college girl

spring cleaning and minor home repairs accomplished

Drew's job interviews

looking forward to a visitor from the US and get-togethers next week

reuniting as a family at the preschool playground each day after school

physical work -- helping friend move house

letter from Grandma Elvie

and the Japanese Pickled Cherry Blossom Tea is pretty good

SAKURAYU
ep in pa: have you tried this and do you like it?

Tuesday nights for the past couple months, Drew, an astute English teacher named Judy, and myself have been hosting an open group. By word of mouth, each week about 20-30 bright postgrads and young urban professionals find their way to our meeting spot, a Feng Shui-observing Japanese coffeehouse that's not entirely visible from the university sidewalk.

The folks who come make it a great time. Most are mid-twenties to mid-thirties and smart, thoughtful, representing a spectrum of worldviews. In this area there is a Family presence and a number of student fellowship groups, so we get some of those brothas-n-sistas joining up which makes for a colorful mix.

First, Judy gets everyone talking and acquainted with games. She's an experienced and clear teacher, a true asset to our meeting. Next, I get the tunes rockin, ones they know like Hey Jude and My Heart Will Go On, and bilingual hymns. Finally, Drew brings out the main course with an engaging discussion time. He's become quite adept as a small group facilitator. So we all three exercise our strengths.

Titus, Jon & Mike come along. HOUR ONE we try to keep them coloring, reading, contained at the very least. HOUR TWO Disney babysits.

Keep our Tuesday night group in your prayers, if you would!

I almost forgot to mention, the last picture is from rainy Friday night in our living room. We invited everyone over to watch The Hobbit on a projector screen. See that's a bunch of orcs, dwarves an a hobbit fighting in a forest fire. Smash hit.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

kids playing together kindly, creatively, for much longer than usual

four hours alone in Starbucks to pound out a scholarship application paper and application

candles lit

Drew in a laughing mood, cracking up at everything

realizing an important way to show care in Chinese culture-- go pick up your friend in person

kids eating salad

the most beautiful spring days

a house overfilled with nice people

news of a new baby

preserving a life that was nearly lost
first-ever cup of cherry blossom tea

you keep giving gifts even when I mostly ignore you for awhile

Riverculture

Our city is divided by the wide Xiang River, and the river itself is split by long Orange Island, great bust of young Mao presiding over the waters. Xiang means fragrant, currently a serious misnomer, but in times past it must have been a sweet tributary running north to the Yangtze (Chang Jiang). 

Riverculture defines Changsha. We eat fish. We reference locations according to West Side or East Side of the river. We debate with taxi drivers whether it's more direct to take the first, second, or third bridge. We wonder when the second underwater tunnel will be completed. From bus windows, the kids count barges when crossing bridges. We drink bottled tank water (think Culligan man) because the stuff from the tap is polluted and contaminated. We flock to the banks on good-weather evenings, strolling, gazing at the weekend fireworks display, lighting floating lanterns, smirking at the karaoke and carnival. The kids are reluctant to leave until they see that fisherman make a catch.

All of these summer river photos were captured by my mom in 2011! Thanks Mom!

And the following are our photos from late winter and early spring 2013.

 counting the graces

thank you Father for

neighbor's baby duck for the kids to harass play with

spontaneous outing to kids' indoor play gym with neighbor family

unhurried time of pr with another sister

breakfast as a family

porch windows wide open, laundry drying quickly

Drew feeling his job interview went well, good communication, good connection

Jon initiating "I love you"

Titus improving his ability to express himself at school

Mike trying to write his name