Dear Family, you are missed every day

Presence.

Thoughts, wechat messages, emails, a rare skype chat, a rarer note in the mail, even prayers -- all of these, even with the best intentions, will for your welfare and most genuine love, never make up for presence.


Presence is necessary.


We miss you, every single day.


Love,

Drew, Rachel, Titus and Michael

counting the graces

thank you Father for

the shape of Mike's full lips -- the top lip has extra flesh inside from a healed cut -- his baby teeth, and little cleft chin

Titus' heart of empathy, wanting to be helpful and saying, "Following Jesus can be hard, Mom" when he sensed I was upset after being shamed by his teacher

post-lunch nap, rest

beginning our days acknowledging you; habit of praying with Drew each morning before running out the door

Drew is nice and brushes my hair while listening to me talk talk talk

this group of daughters who can bring needs right to you, and they do

naming that jealousy and forsaking it

playfulness and vitality, sprinting down half a dozen elementary school boys in a game of hide-and-seek tag in the shrub maze

shorts and sunshine

chance to connect with YC, to speak candidly about her daughter's development and parenting style

nk asked for a home for us that would be even better than theirs, I though it was impossible, but you did it

Ol' Hawk and Little Chicks

Sometimes on Friday afternoons, when school is out and the urgency of homework lifted because, tomorrow's the weekend! -- I find a gaggle of first grade boys are now in my care. Sometimes they are in my apartment, and I'm stir-frying supper for them whilst they stir-up legos, cars, magnatiles, lincoln logs, k'nex, plastic animals and bedding into a heterogeneous mixture all over the house. (!!!) Mom got smarter. More than two friends over, we're playing outside. Which is always my preference anyway -- trees to climb, green grassy fields to run -- but, boys and their legos. The appeal is real, tempting all first grade boys who deep in their hearts want to be free outside, back indoors to assemble together small plastic pieces. But we have such a good time outdoors on Fridays! Friday afternoon with our gaggle of friends is plausibly the moment we look forward to all week, and I want you to see it for yourself with these short video clips, just for you. (Admittedly also for me, so when my boys grow up I can relive these happy Fridays with children. Playing with children is the best!) Speaking of which, this very day we played a popular Chinese children's game called "Ol' Hawk and Little Chicks" in which the predator hawk tries to capture/tag the little chicks, while a designated Mama Hen is like a basketball player on defense, with wide arms blocking the hawk away from chicks scrambling behind her. Once a chick gets picked off he becomes the next hawk. I, naturally, was elected to be the Mama Hen for a million rounds and basically had the time of my life defending my chicks. The End.

 

counting the graces
thank you Father for

patterns on the green leaves making up the canopy at Di Ma

Titus' tender heart, his tears for things that truly are sad

how Mike always walks home from school on the rail and mossy brick wall

Drew came home so early today

azalea buds bursting open; corridor of cherry blossom trees in full bloom

reliable running, hot water

seasons of life -- this is a passing season

our parents all love each other and they are friends

One table of friends from near and far

Last weekend we celebrated Li Ci's birthday.

(At left, pink panda with green hoodie.)

What a gift it has been to know her.

Of all these, Li Ci has the most tender heart. She is always the first to lend a hand.

Party people were the same crew as usual, all the "siblings" who grew up in the orphanage together.

We were missing Wang Zhao though, because she works every weekend now.

The following weekend, Easter weekend, Mark and son Jonathan came to our home.

Mark and wife Joy are long-time friends of Drew's family, also from Minnesota. Their family of ten has been living and working in Shanghai for nearly two years, and will repatriate this summer.

Mark gave Drew the best and most needed gifts: listening, reassuring, understanding. 

I think Drew has extra courage today.

Jonathan was very helpful with Titus' homework, and demonstrated to Titus and Mike how to be a kind, self-motivated, adventurous, helpful guy. 

Our worlds, East and West, past and present, came together as we shared a meal together at one table.

Thank you Father for the diverse mix of people with whom we are graced to share life.

Thank you for the unique personality, experiences and perspective of each one.

Thank you for the moments we have to share ourselves.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

happy news of a new baby girl and loving care from Amber

long hike winding through woods, hills, graveyards, tea fields, around lakes and over springs

prayer with Drew this morning, Spirit guiding our words and changing our perspective

bracelets made by Titus and Mike

bright sun warming our sunporch to get us up and ready for Monday morning

being able to complete Titus' reading homework during the downtime at church

game date with Mike on the sunporch while everyone else was out

your mercy is new each day, you are faithful, constant, you will not grow weary or annoyed or ever give up on me 

Welcome To The New Age

Humble, inopulent hero

the game-changer

armed with supernatural power

triumphs over the undefeated champ

vanquishing his entire operation
exacting justice

liberating the captives

out of dungeon darkness and 

into a life of light

forever.

Welcome to the new age.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

squishy soft mossy green grassy meadow, and the sun setting low behind towering trees

whole mess of kids running about kicking a ball and climbing trees with rope, my boys among them

playing “hawk catches little chicks" with those kids, and I got to be the mama hen

Auntie Wang is taking excellent care of people in her family who are difficult to love, she's been transformed by Jesus

nap in the sun on the porch

expectation of a sister to love and befriend

caraway rye bread and zesty cabbage bacon stew

running in the sunshine around Back Lake, and feeling optimistic and alive with a yoga stretch