What's next?

After I pick up Iris from school, I often tell her what her options are for afternoon activities.  As we finish one activity, she sometimes asks, "What's next?"

I think this is a great attitude for this time of Advent, especially as God reveals himself through His Word, promise and Son, Jesus. It's an excitement of how we'll see God in the everyday, ordinary ups and downs of life.  Our family looks forward not only to hosting Christmas dinner with my family, but also to a break from the grind that we call work (and school, sort of).

Last month, my dad and one niece (Grace) had major surgery.  My dad was in rehab after that for two weeks, and is now home.  My niece will need follow-up radiation therapy.  A dear church friend had emergency surgery the Wed. before Thanksgiving, and has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.  This is a short list of the reminders of how much we are to be thankful, how merciful God is, and that we need Him, body and soul.  Believe me; I prayed and asked many people to pray for these concerns.  As I'm in a prayer ministry through my church, I see the greatest need in my life is to trust in Him and rejoice at all times.  That is hard, but Jesus is the Way, and that is comforting.

It is a week before Christmas Day and there are full days of projects, visiting, kungfu and gymnastics classes, serving the homeless for a Christmas craft, and singing Christmas carols.  Preparing presents and the Christmas Day menu is an added whirl of activity that has yet to happen.  As I tell Iris of these happenings, she perks up, while I think, "Wow, I could get tired.  Am I nuts?"  Yet, I value the time that I have to read and meditate on the Word from God, as well as, give myself permission to pause and relax with the Holy One-Jesus.  I would like to do this more and continue in that habit, especially as an example for Iris.

Queen for a minute

What's next for me?  I'm excited that this Sunday there will be a child believer baptism of someone I know.  I'll be taking part in the celebration, and more importantly, Iris can witness what baptism means.  I continue to prepare mentally for my week trip to Guatemala in February.  I also ask Christ and His Holy Spirit to guide me as I discern how He wants me to use the time that I won't be spending teaching next semester. 


One carol sung about the Child in a manger was"born to set His people free."
One my favorite hymns, Amazing Grace, also states the words, "Twas grace that brought my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. ...and grace will lead me home."

What fun!

 These are thoughts in my prayers this week.












 

Do you see what I see?

November was fast and furious with birthday parties (Iris's friends, as well as hers), Thanksgiving, topped off with Advent beginning on December 1st.

Howdy, partner!

It is a full social calendar with birthday celebrations.  One was a double birthday with pony rides, a bouncy house, a pinata, and delicious cupcakes.  Iris's Kinder Academy teachers, the Bertrands, were there as well.  It was a reunion of sorts.  It definitely gives me (Cindy) a chance to get to know parents of this year's class better.  It's interesting how the communication with teachers (French and English), other parents, and with the principal happens with a swirl of emails or letters sent home.  The pace of change seems fast for me.  However, that is the nature of a newer charter school.  Through it all, I'm seeing the great need for prayer for families affected by divorce.  I pray to God on how I can help bring healing to these broken families.  Playdates with children is one way.

Friends, Josephine and Katie

Gingerbread house from Monique's party

I continue to question how much or how little we expose Iris to a variety of experiences that challenge both mind, body and spirit.  She has an incredible memory and learns well by watching. 

2nd Annual Science festival:  "Ooh!  a tornado!"

Hello, Clo! (Note:  saw Chinese Acrobats)

Extracting DNA from strawberries.  What's DNA??

You're climbing on DNA!

Her imagination is still very much focused on the world of fairies-fairy books, fairy houses, being a fairy.  It's sweet, but I wonder how far to let her think it's real.  She turned six years old, and had several friends at her party to make fairy houses out of wood. 

Meeting Logan

We thoroughly enjoyed being with Brian's family for the Thanksgiving break.  (Hey, we didn't have to cook for several days!)  Iris most enjoyed playing and walking the grandparents' dog, Frango.

Girl cousins reunion

"Can I help with washing dishes?"

Marissa is a whiz at creating icicles for the gingerbread house!

After a loooooong drive home, Iris and I ushered in the Advent season by decorating and Advent wreath, as well as lighting the first Advent candle.  This is a time that I'd like to direct Iris away from "give me, give me" or "buy, buy, buy" and repeat the message that Christ is born, Christ is coming, and Advent is about waiting.  The big day is really a birthday for our Savior, Lord Jesus.  It is for that reason I want to rejoice in His birth, and not celebrate the jolly male icon in a red suit. (We do mention Santa Claus at home.)   Christmas specials and movies are fun, but where are images of the Christ child born to save us all from our sins?

Emmanuel-God with us.  Here's a song that Iris likes to sing, that is appropriate for now and always.  To enjoy the song and its message, click here "He is With Us".

As time goes by

It's been three months since my last post.  How can that be?  It's still wonderful to watch Iris grow up each week; something new she can do on her own, some new interest she has, some loving moments as she still needs Mom and Dad very much.

In this digital age, it's easy to store away hundreds of photos or video clips in the computer and not tell the story.  What can I say about this Autumn season?

• Iris continues to enjoy her AWANA club in "Sparkies".  She has listened to the CD a lot in the car.  I love to hear her recite Bible verses that I need to learn, too.  After three months, she is done with the first handbook.  She loves it more than going to Sunday school at church, but it helps that I am helping in the preschool-Kindergarten class about twice a month.  Here's a photo of a Family Fun Night at church
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

•  Iris is learning to eat her salad.(Yeah!!!) ..at least at school.  The nutrition program of freshly prepared lunches is in its first quarter and going strong.  I'm helping about twice a week in the lunch room, a.k.a. le Restaurant de l’école.  It's as near to restaurant work experience as I'll probably get, and it's tiring.  For two hours (three lunch periods), I'm on my feet serving, quieting down, instructing, and cleaning up after the 250+ students.  I often enjoy the same meal after the last group leaves.  It's a bit expensive for our district, but worth the delicious tastes.  Here's Iris with a classmate, Juliet.

•  In October, we spent time up in the north coast at our "Raccoon House".  It was a lovely weekend getaway, where we used wood to heat up the cabin, we walked along the sandy beach, and we ate a spaghetti dinner at a local Grange Hall.  This could be our annual Fall getaway because it's a less-crowded and peaceful time of year.  Also, Iris still enjoys climbing on the tree houses, which are getting a bit run-down and dangerous.

• Pumpkin patch and corn mazes were the highlight of October.  Iris's school went on a fieldtrip to a place where there were live calves, potatoes to dig up from the ground, pumpkins to pick, and pumpkin ice cream to taste.  We also went as a family to the tall corn maze with Aunt Ruth and cousin Noah.  See them figuring out which way to go.. 

Bus rides are fun!

Which way do we go?

Iris knows the way!

• Iris was a bat for Halloween.  We went trick-or-treating for awhile, but ended the evening at a local pizza place with our family friends, the Osmers.

And the holiday season (and eating season) has begun!

Gotcha Day #5

September 2008 in China

 It has been five incredible years since we met Iris.  In the adoption world, the exact date of receiving the new family addition is known as "Gotcha Day."  For us, it means reconnecting with families that we met and traveled with around China as all of us began to love our little babies.  Can you match the babies with the photos below?

The whole group was larger, but these three other families were together because our babies were from the same province, Gansu.

Alex (jie-jie) and Isabelle

Karis

Warren

Iris (with friend, Claire)

Anna (visiting China)

Anaya (in HK)

 It's a delight to see the beautiful changes in our children.  I imagine that God delights as well, each time His children (followers of Jesus) grow in trusting in, and mature as we abide in His Holy Spirit. 
I believe that this is a fun age to see our children.  They continue to seek out parents, ask questions, practice until they "get it" and laugh often.  Iris reminds me often that I must let go of the small stuff, and not worry about less important things.  I want to trust Jesus in all things and in all ways.  That is my prayer for Iris and so many loved ones.

May God continue to grow our hunger and desire to know Him as our reigning King and Savior.

It's Kindergarten (again?)

 Hello!
Bonjour!

C'est moi, Iris!

Je suis avec mes amis-
Serena et Katilyn.  





Nous sommes dans la grande section Kinder-C"
J'aime la classe de Mdme. Zeina.   Regarde la masterpiece!



The first day of school started August 15th and went well enough.  Uniforms were the norm this year.  Iris liked this jumper.  As a welcoming of all families, there was a picnic in the park called "École en Blanc" that first weekend when everyone was asked to wear as much white as possible.  It was a very hot day, but a lovely time to meet new and familiar school families.  Daddy missed the

Iris's friends, Marta and Valentin, are now at my school.

fun and wine, but Iris enjoyed playing with friends.  It was a miracle that she didn't stain her white dress permanently.  She really wanted to go down to the creek with friend, Grayson, and others, but Momma said, "Not today". 

Also, new this year is the luxury and privilege to buy freshly cooked hot lunches.  I (Mom) have been volunteering during lunch periods, and have found it to be hard work.  This is because our school is trying a new way of serving the students, encouraging them to engage in conversation and to eat delicious gourmet-type dishes, e.g. pesto orzo with chicken, fudge zucchini bread.  The daily price is higher than other schools in the district, but this is a revolution of sorts to bring "real food" back into the school lunch rooms.  I think it can only be positive, but it takes a lot of parent volunteer hours and dollars.  But then again, it's all worth it to keep our children healthy.  Just look at Iris's smiling face! (A bit fakey, but still a smile for the camera).

See the grasshopper!

A few weeks later, there was a grasshopper on the hood of my car.  It hung on as I drove home, but jumped off as I neared the house.  Iris wanted to catch it sooooo bad!  Is there any spiritual or biblical significance to grasshoppers?  I'll keep searching.