Blessing

Sometimes I feel like I should only post things that are deeply profound, interesting, or exciting especially in regards to our move to China. But, to be honest even though a good portion of our time is being used in one form or another to get ready for China - we still are just living life. And my life isn't overly exciting, profound, or interesting...but I do feel like it is blessed. I am reminded of that often through my family and friends.

One person who adds to the immeasurable blessing of my life is Yoon. She is a Korean professor at MSU and a dear friend. We often meet for coffee on Saturday mornings and I look forward to that time of my week. She challenges me with her questions, motivates me in my faith, and convicts me with her generosity.

I am sure each of you have several folks in your life that bless you like Yoon blesses me. If not, I will start praying that you find one. A good friend makes life so much sweeter!

The House

All of our spare time has been consumed with getting our house ready to put on the market. It is amazing the things that I can find to paint and clean when I know people will be walking through every corner of my home! I tend to be a bit crazy about keeping a clean house anyway...so this all really is setting me over the edge. Pr@y for Bryan! :)

This week is Sam's spring break so we actually are having the kids take a "vacation" to nana's house so that we can be devoted to finishing up all the little projects that we have been meaning to do around the house. It is a kicker that we are now doing them not for us to enjoy, but for someone else. Totally backwards. It stinks.

With the kids at my parents house for three days we will be uninterrupted so much should get accomplished. We will see if we find other things to keep us busy besides painting! :)

Seven babies who need families.

I just want to start this post by saying that I don't doubt that we are suppose to move to China. It has been confirmed over and over in many ways....but today I recieved an email that brought me great grief. Sometimes I just wonder, "what if we weren't going? How would our lives be different? What would our family look like?"

For those of you in our blog world who don't know - we were in the process of adding to our family through adoption when we received the opportunity to relocate to China. We put the process on hold. It was one of the hardest decision we had to make through this whole process. All that said, yesterday I recieved an email from the Bethany social worker we had met with. There are seven babies about to be born that they can't find families for and she wondered if we would be able or willing to be a forever family for one of them. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Seven babies here in Michigan. Often folks think that in third world countries babies are unwanted, not here in the States. Yet, if a baby is the wrong color or might have a birth defect because a mother made some bad choices, then too bad. Families are willing to wait for two years for a white healthy girl, but need to be begged to take a boy whose mother drank and doesn't know the ethnicity of the father. I know there are good reasons, but REALLY what has our culture come too? It makes me angry at some moments and so sad at others.

So sometimes I just wonder....when will our family be able to be a part of the solution to this social injustice? When will the next member of our family, who I already love, come home? Sometimes it is just hard to wait.

A day of GREAT sorrow.

We are all very sad today. Samuel's pet fish "Watery" died this morning. The little guy has hung in there for well over a year, which I feel is pretty amazing. Samuel wasn't as impressed.

I had to tell him the news when I picked him up from school today. I began with explaining that I had very bad news. Sam started to tear up as soon as I said Watery's name. "Oh he made me so happy and now I am so sad." He cried. I hugged him as tight as a five year old will allow. Then Sam pulled away and said, "I am thinking about Watery being in heaven, but that doesn't even make me feel better." I found myself assuring him that God was taking care of Watery now. I felt a tad guilty - is it really theologically sound to tell my son that fish go to heaven? I finally decided that God is a God of comfort. So I did what it took.

To be honest Sam finally felt better when he decided that Watery dying provided a great opportunity to get a new pet...like a dog! Hmmm, we will see about that. I don't have that much compassion for my sad son - at least not today.

What can't you live without?

We have started to sort our lives into three piles...garage sale, storage, or packing for China. The analytical, indecisive side of my personality is shining bright as I sit in the middle of the three piles. Will I use a pressure cooker in China even though I haven't touched it in three years in Lansing? Amazing how I can be going back and forth between putting a sticker for $7 on something or using precious suitcase space.

All that said...I could use some help. I would love to hear what you couldn't live without. What would you pack? What book is worth the weight? What household item would you go crazy if you didn't have? What toy really is worth taking back to its motherland?

Just wondering.

Ruthie's counting

This morning Ruthie helped to make yogurt fruit smoothies for breakfast. She had a great time adding the ice cubes; counting as she threw them in the blender.

"one, two, three, five, ten, thirteen, sixteen, a-lot-teen"

I love moments like those. She is so cute and growing up so fast.

Friends all around the world

One of the best parts of our job is meeting GREAT people from all over. Today we enjoyed getting together with a couple of staff members and an alumna from our first China trip. It was great to catch up and remember out experiences together. Last time Ana (alumna from Mexico) had seen Ruthie she didn't have any hair! By the end of the afternoon Ana had invited us to visit her family in Mexico and we were trying to convince her that a trip to China would be good in her future! I often think about how blessed we are to literally have friends all around the world. Just another perk that comes with the job!

Inspired

The following quote really inspired me so I thought that I would share it with all of you.

"Those who try to keep their lives will lose them. But those who give up their lives will save them. There is a rawness and wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to it. Don't listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second rate life and want you to do the same so they won't feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it's to live. JC says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe....Or you can hear the voice of adventure - God's adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God's impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn't safe, but what is?

- Max Lucado in "Grace for the Moment"

The first of many good-byes

Today seemed like a normal crazy Tuesday. I was gathering craft supplies and rushing out the door to go to "Every Tuesday" the play-group for international wives and kids I help plan every week. As always, I was running late. I walked in to a room filled with international friends baring gifts and proudly presenting a cake. I was confused wondering why someone had brought a cake...then it hit me. This is my last ET gathering. What started as a normal Tuesday afternoon became my first afternoon of good-byes. It sounds stupid even to me that I forgot that this would be the last time I would be with these ladies. Maybe I was just putting off the emotions...or maybe I really am just that forgetful.

Anyway, it was such a sweet time. They had put together bags for Sam and Ruthie filled with small toys and books for the plane ride to China and they made me a photo book of our meetings together. I loved the thoughtful gifts, but I enjoyed the conversation that followed more. Ladies pulled me aside and gave me tips for moving overseas. I was given suggestions for packing, herbal teas to help me with stress and culture shock, and understanding hugs. Of all my friends I know that they understand what I am about to face. They have already packed up their children, said good-bye to their families and homes - to come and live here in Lansing. They hugged me tight and gave me a gift far better than any other...understanding.

The icing on the cake was the questions. Many of them wondered why an American would move to China. "Most people leave everything to come to the US. You are doing the opposite. Why?" I heard those same words often during the afternoon. It was a great way to share my heart with them. May HE honor those last conversations.