Random musings

1) We just exchanged some text messages with a national friend; we asked him if he could help us on Saturday morning make a purchase (we need translating). He replied, "I would like to help but I have a wedding to go to in the morning. Maybe I can go to the wedding before lunch"

huh? How do you decided when you'll go to a wedding?

2) Why do dogs greet each other my smelling each other's rear and run in circles?

a challenge to pride and encouragement to faith

"We think we are thinking outside the box only because we can't see how big the box really is."

--Daniel Gilbert, "Stumbling on Happiness"

We have a home!

We got an apartment!

3 bedrooms, great size in a growing part of town, a bath tub, a bedei (sp?), furnished, 2 bathrooms with western toilets, 1st floor (but with some stairs, which is a good thing actually), even basement for storage, near a KFC for special treats, a 5 minute taxi from campus, maybe 5-10 from downtown, 20 minute bus ride to either, a kindergarten nearby, an elementary school next door, a children's playground (which are rare here; most are old person's parks). On top of that, our landlord has pretty decent english.

We had two very good national friends help us negotiate. We think we got a fair price.

We may be out of touch via Internet for a few days. We'll see. We have more to share about the kids' first day at school.

Great Hospital Signs

If you are squirmish about anatomical vocabulary, then cease reading. We just couldn't help but post this.

The other day we took the kids to the dr. for a check up needed for the pre-school. The English signs here never get old and there were quite a few funny ones in this hospital. They attempt to translate their signs into English and more times than not it just doesn't work.

These were all found on a sign inside, directing you to a particular hallway in the hospital. Here’s a few we remember simply for your entertainment:



Analyse the room with blood



Vagina Mirror Inspection Room



Mammory Gland Mammography



Neck Pain of the Palace



Women’s Anus Intestine Room



And all of these took place in the “Inferior Medical Health Center”

luggage apologetics

We got our luggage this morning!!! We had one bag left in the States and the two others were taken by an Arizona woman by accident. Well, this morning they arrived at our hotel! We decided that this is a great apologetic because there has to be a higher power in order for us to be able to get our luggage this quick. Amazing.

luggage apologetics

We got our luggage this morning!!! We had one bag left in the States and the two others were taken by an Arizona woman by accident. Well, this morning they arrived at our hotel! We decided that this is a great apologetic because there has to be a higher power in order for us to be able to get our luggage this quick. Amazing.

We’ve arrived already and we have plenty of material for the blog.

We took off at 7:30 from Houston and went to San Francisco and headed to Bejing around lunch time Our flight was delayed, but all was well. Charis slept for about 2 hours of the entire day of traveling. She was an absolute mess the entire trip. We flew with friends of ours that also have three small kids, so we were quite the crew.


Already, Malachi has asked me, “How many sleeps until we get to China?” I said, “We are in China”. He replied, “No, we’re far away” Then he added, “…then where are the panda bears?”

Already, Selah almost drank water from an ashtray.

Already, three of our 16 check-ins are MIA.

Already the fun has started! :)


Here’s a brief recap:

As we were landing, we hit massive turbulence. Drinks were flying, Chinese grandma’s throwing up, it was awful. Carrie got sick, but fortunately made it to the bathroom in time. And for those women who have had babies, you understand that bladder control is an issue. So not only did she throw up in an airplane toilet, but proceeded also to pee on herself and the floor. We then walked out to discover that three of our bags were missing. Out of the 16 check-ins, the three bags that were missing were the ones with our clothes. Carrie, having just peed on herself was not so excited about the prospect of wearing the same clothes for the next week.

Well, we loaded in the one van and one car that came to pick us up and headed to our city. Selah and Daddy in the front seat with the luggage and Carrie, Malachi and Charis in the car. We all gave in to fatigue and slept most of the three hour trip. We got to our city around 8:30. Some friends were there to greet us and give us some snacks that ended up being dinner.

We actually slept amazingly and were ready for breakfast by 6 am. We’ll do the apartment search today and meet our friends Iris and Dawson for lunch.

We made it!

I'm always amazed at how the Lord sends us traveling mercies through wonderful people going to the same place. We met a flight attendant who was writing a book on purity who wants to interview Brad and I. She feels strongly convicted that she is to get girls to understand the importance of waiting for their wedding day. Then in Philly we met a woman who teaches Sunday school. She watched our things as we walked around and then we had a wonderful conversation about the Lord and were able to mutually encourage one another. She was on her way to visit her grandkids in Vermont. Then we sat by a woman and her daughter on the plan and they both endured the screaming and entertained our kids. Amazing. Every trip we take, I start to get anxious and EVERY time traveling angels are provided.

We've sat by a nursery worker who felt led to put new girls clothes in her carry on's that just so happen to fit Selah-2 at the time. We've sat by a Vietnamese man who spent 21 years in a Japanese prison camp. The list goes on. God is good.

The Urinal Incident

So we found out yesterday from a friend that our son has been practicing personal hygeine in the bathroom. On the surface, this sounds like a great thing. Unless of course it means sticking your head in the urinal and flushing so that he can shower. Malachi discovered this was a quick and efficient way of cleaning up.

Brief Update of March

So I realized that it's been a month since we last posted. We've been having a great time in VA, just really busy. But we've only got a week and a half until we return to the promise land...Texas. The kids are doing great, but it will be hard to pull them from their friends, yet again, so that we can move overseas.

Selah-did a great job in kindergarten here. She has become quite the prayer warrior and loves to do sign language to the songs she's learning. The motions usually turn into more of an interpretive dance.

Malachi-he has become the clown of the community. The picture I posted of him with his black shirt summarizes it all. He loves to tell Bible stories. He's stuck on Jonah right now where the whale sneezes Jonah out into a boat. He then tells the Ninevites to ask for forgiveness because they are using words like "butt" and "stupid". The audacity.

Charis-not yet walking out of sheer stubborness. She'll stand and take a few steps and then sit down and crawl. She loves to babble as if she's right in the middle of everyone's conversations.

Brad and Carrie-tired, but well. We're ready to get going. Carrie is still pregnant (i'm sure you are beginning to think we need another hobby other than breeding). Brad is enjoying his time with the kids and in fellowship with people of like minds.

Parenting: Law or Grace? No!

As I reflected on Galatians 3 and Romans recently, especially the beginning of Rom. 7 and into 8, I've discovered some helpful thoughts on parenting. Those who have read books like "Shepherding a Child's Heart" will recognize such wisdom.

Commands or rules will never transform our kids (= make them like Jesus), yet ironically they are essential! They are necessary but not sufficient for godliness, theirs and ours. Their hearts (and ours) must be instructed otherwise our rules will only arouse their sinful nature. We cannot choose between law and grace, forging a false wall between rules and heart teaching; the gospel never does that; in fact Paul is rather emphatic that the law is good and instructive though it is powerless by itself.

By examining the gospel, our parenting must be radically affected.

Gone for a few

We probably won't blog for a few weeks. We are getting some job training for the next 8 weeks and are busy beyond belief. Our sweet Charis had her 1 year old birthday last week, so we will try and get some things posted from that shindig, but no promises. Thanks for your thoughts for our family.

1 or 2 lies from Satan

John Piper recently made a good point about understanding Satan's strategies:

He's got one lie, that he says in 2 ways. (1) God is bad. (2) Sin is better.
No matter what test or temptation we face, we will hear one of those lies in some form.

"God is not faithful or wise" or "That computer or food will satisfy you more than..."

In a word, the lies goes like this: "Sin will satisfy you more than God".

Both God and Satan make promises, but in every part of life, we choose whom we think will be more satisfying and whether we believe one or the other. When you look at it that way, many of the gray areas become less so.

Enduring Tribulation... and Sin?

Enduring tribulation is inevitable. That's a promise repeated ad naseum from Scripture; However, what is not inevitable is long enduring personal sin and joylessness. We sometimes treat these as if they were the same thing and God had promised them both.

NO!

We may not yet be perfected, but never has God promised that we would nor should gravel in the filth of sinful living, destitute from the hope of joy. Quite the contrary actually, as Paul and Silas demonstrate when singing amid the injustice of a prison sentence.

Yet if we believe that those 2 things are the same, our efforts to persevere in godliness will soon seem futile. Our discouragement will fulfill our errant expectations.

#4

Just wanted to let the world know that we are about 6 weeks pregnant! And yes, it was planned. We think this is it, but you never really can be sure. I'm feeling pretty miserable, which is standard operating procedure for my first trimester.

We leave our sweet house by the airport to attend training on Monday. I will be sick for half of training, but will hopefully feel better by the time we have to fly overseas.

We had some friends visit us this last week....I'll post some pictures and stories later.

The Fun of Being a Christian Parent

We had seminary in our house last night. It was a fun suprise to us. As we were coming home, Malachi asked why Jesus had to die. Selah asked 2 questions. "Did God make some people so that they don't love Him?" Second, "If God wants all people to love Him, why didn't he make all people to love Him?"

Many adults aren't curious or sensitive enough to ask these questions so it is espeically refreshing and challenging to see 2 young kids explore the wonderment of God's sovereign grace!

Arbitray Parent Rule #131

Ok, so Malachi likes to run around the house with his pants off. Typical male, I know. Anyway, the other day he runs up to Selah (without his pants on), turns his rear to her and declares ,"Booty fight! Booty fight!"

Now, we have had to inact APR #131, "No booty fights!"

Will Power

One thing will-power has never changed---my will.

Quirks

So I've realized of late that I, Carrie, am really quirky. As I get older, the more I seem to want things just so. I'm becoming the grandmother that alway frustrated me because she just couldn't adjust quickly. For instance:

My coffee has to be really hot or I can't drink it.

I always leave about an inch left of every drink I get. The cold ones get too warm and the warms ones too cold, so I give up on them before I'm finished.

Pillows must be flat.

Chips and Salsa must be accompanied by lime.

I can't handle when one instrument in a band is out of tune.

Hair that is one shade off of normal coloring is a complete distraction to me.

I love peeling the skin off of a sunburn (mine or anyone else's).

Hamburgers and pizza have to be eaten with a diet coke.

I have to wear flip flops in the house.

When I wake up at night I have to see what time it is. I'll even get out of bed to turn the clock if need be.


These are just a few of the many. As I continue to realize this aspect of myself, I continue on the humiliating blogging experience of self-disclosure. I'm starting to feel like Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally," where she orders the pie with no ice cream......

Lone Star Christmas

Here's a few pics from Christmas. I was so glad to get to spend some time in TX with my family. We didn't tell many people we were in town b/c my grandmother is really sick and we wanted to be around The Woodlands to spend time with her.

My parents poor house goes from quaint and quiet to tornadic activity when we arrive. My sis and her family also spent the week with us in my parents house. So there were 6 adults and 5 kids ages 5, 3, 3, 1 and 4 months.

We did Karaoke, played games and spend a little time in the spa. It was rough. :) It was a really nice visit because we weren't running around like crazy. I really valued my time with my sister as it seems we get less and less of it these days. She's an amazing photographer and it was fun for me to get to watch and learn.