tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21198992538147135852024-03-05T05:21:34.099-06:00Tea with the MorelandsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-49716780066384665172019-10-09T23:06:00.000-05:002019-10-10T07:28:50.101-05:00Our Little BoyI've made it a tradition to share a birth story for each one of my children, and now that little William Quincy is over six months old I figured it's about time I did. I started writing this when he was only two months old, I really have tried. I've heard the jokes about once you have the third child it doesn't matter how many more you have. I don't see that. I just can't clump em together. There is a difference between the number three and the number five!<br />
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William's birth as a planned c-section doesn't sound so exciting as the other ones. I'm 43 and I'm still having babies, so many providers want to induce after 37 weeks. That wasn't an option for me with previous c-sections. So the <i>major abdominal surgery </i>that it is went without event and a sweet 7 lbs. 5 oz. healthy baby boy was handed to me minutes after he was taken out, crying. It was quite a different experience to walk back to the delivery room myself instead of being wheeled back there after hours of unsuccessful labor. Yes, I know that all babies are eventually born, but I think I made the best decision. There was another little person who needed to be safely brought into this world.<br />
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When we brought William home we had one day before all his siblings came home from Grandparents' house. He was looking around the house it seemed, searching for all those voices he had heard while in the womb. His favorite place is to be surrounded by all the faces of his siblings who love him so much.<br />
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I don't know when my next blog will happen, between baby number five and deciding to homeschool my children again, this just may be it. That day whenever I do seem to figure this all out, I will remember. I will be humble and helpful to others who are desperately searching for advice and wisdom.<br />
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~Lisa<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-29443640502223549502017-07-08T00:16:00.001-05:002017-07-08T00:17:52.733-05:00In One YearLast year we decided to put Annalise and Hudson in public school after Gabriella's birth, they went into the 2nd and 1st grades at our neighborhood school and did great! Sayde and Gabriella enjoyed the extra time to me all to themselves. It's been so long since I made time to write a post that the last time I wrote we were still homeschooling. Rochester is a homeschool friendly community from what I've heard, and I know we could always go back to that from what I've been told, but also feel like it would be unfair to bring them back and forth, changing our minds every year. We are lucky and blessed to have a good school district and neighborhood school. It was still busy. I felt like they needed more friends and teachers than just me. They adjusted so well. Annalise did extra well in nearly everything, especially math. Hudson grew in his reading and writing skills.<br />
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We have recently celebrated some birthdays and events. Jeremy turned 41 and caught up to me again. Hudson turned 7 and has matured in so many ways. I went into his bedroom to tell him goodnight and found him reading a book in his bed as usual...he had his new superman baseball cap on and was reading Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You book about manners. What a little man!<br />
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Gabriella, who we call "Gabs" fairly often now, is 11 months old and is fully walking and toddling all around our house, and outside, and saying "mama" all the time as she coos and hums so sweetly. She gives hugs and is so affectionate. She is also a sensitive little one. When we have told her "no-no" to something she's getting into or climbing up on she cries, so we turned it into a little song to make it sound less scary but I think she still catches the reprimand. She's an adventurous little girl and I'm so blessed to be her mama.<br />
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I think I kind of did an unintended social media fast, not because I really wanted or needed to but simply because I can't keep up with that with four kiddos age 8 and under! Now that it is summer they are in and out of the house constantly and playing so hard. It may be awhile before I can catch up again with all the sites that my friends and family use so often. I'm not going to push myself to hard. I just want to enjoy and cherish my family and friendship relationships in a more real way.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-17966975461393128402016-08-10T01:26:00.002-05:002016-08-10T01:26:36.744-05:00A SunflowerSince Jeremy is blessed to have a first-ever paternity leave available for him to take, the kids have been enjoying lots of daddy time lately...they've been doing math schoolwork and receiving rewards when they finish each unit. We've taken them bowling, to a movie, and next will either be a Honkers baseball game or to bounce world. It's been a very special time.<br />
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Yesterday Jeremy was out doing some yard work with the kids in the back while I was indoors with Gabriella. I heard Sayde come inside for a few minutes and then go back out, then I heard some squabbling out the window. I looked out and saw Sayde and Hudson arguing by the sunflower growing up against our fence in the back yard. It was taller than either one of them. Sayde had brought out her little step stool from the bathroom upstairs and was apparently trying to pick our one and only sunflower! Hudson was telling her not to and trying to keep her from it. Jeremy told her, "if you leave it alone it will grow taller than Mommy." So she said , "oKAY, but I can still pick the OTHER flowers over there!" pointing to a yellow flower bush outside Hudson's bedroom window.<br />
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Sayde loves picking flowers outside. Nearly every day she brings inside not only flowers and dandelions she's picked for me, but also pine cones, sticks, grass cuttings and pine needle branches. She sure loves nature!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-9029989488464151222016-08-05T00:53:00.000-05:002019-10-09T22:38:51.446-05:00Introducing Gabriella RoseI've made it a tradition to write birth stories or at least a few notes about the births of each of my children. No matter how many times I'm told that once I have more than two or three I won't have baby books for all of them, or that somehow it gets easier once you get past three kids...none of that is true for me. It is incredibly challenging having four children under the age of seven. We are doing the best we can, but I know we're far from the most competent, expert parents out there. We don't assume with arrogance that we can handle anything. We're crying out to God for help!<br />
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Gabriella's birth is different from the first three kiddos because I had to be induced. I tried all kinds of natural remedies to go into labor before the induction date, but we still ended up arriving at the hospital in the early morning. It felt funny to be strolling into labor and delivery without labor contractions. I was soon hooked up to an IV with fluids and pitocin to synthetically start it all. Jeremy and I were prepared with essential oils to help progress labor quickly and help with pain management, but a few hours later these contractions were not like normal labor contractions I've been very familiar with from my previous three babies. Baby still had a high head station and was not progressing down to the birth canal. The birth was beginning to not be so natural and unmedicated as I had planned, the epidural was called in for pain management. Finally the obstretrician, a very pleasant woman, recommended a repeat c-section due to an "arrest of descent" and heart rate issues of the baby during contractions. My midwife had actually advised no more pushing and had me lying on my left side and breathing oxygen for the baby. It was not going well, so I was relieved by that evening to finally hear that I needed the c-section.<br />
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Maybe I was supposed to fight the c-section and maybe I didn't seem so brave being relieved that I no longer had to work for hours longer trying to push a baby out of me...I was minutes away from meeting her. We were wheeled into operating and not much later I heard her first cries as she was lifted out. I got to hold her as she looked up at me from under her blanket. Jeremy was there with us through the whole thing. He had to wear a scrubs outfit in order to be in there with us.<br />
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We named her right away because we knew her name fit as soon as we saw her, it means the strength of God. We've been experimenting with many little knicknames that come out of that name, including "Gabby." Her middle name is Rose. We like old-fashioned sounding names alot.<br />
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We were wheeled back to our labor and delivery room with Gabby in my arms, where she could breastfeed for the first time. There was all the essential oil bottles lined up in a row on the bedside table. The hospital staff all remarked what a nice smelling room it was. My birth plan turned out not quite as natural as I had planned for, but God gave us a beautiful baby girl who is feeding and growing fast.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-40890432294777501062016-04-28T10:10:00.000-05:002016-04-28T10:10:56.103-05:00Future Career Options for this Stay at Home MomI'm writing about something that's a sensitive topic for me, one that I could struggle over a lot and get down about it. Instead I'm choosing to make light of it and see the possible funny or fun side of it. <br />
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I'm a stay at home mom and presently also a homeschooling mom. The only income I make is the savings to our family from <i>not</i> having 3, soon to be 4, kids in childcare. I did not heroically give up ivy league degrees, law school, or being a doctor or nurse to stay at home with my babies. My job, if I had one, would not cover the expenses of nannies, daycare, preschools, and after school child care for 4 kids.<br />
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When my husband and I were married 8 years ago we quit our jobs to go overseas and learn a foreign language together. We didn't marry each other for one or the other's impressive careers and earnings. Almost immediately we found out we were having our first baby. After about 6 months we returned home and Jeremy started back in his old career in the same job. I used the time to complete my interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in "ministry" and humanities, when I was about 8 months pregnant. At the age of 33 I had my firstborn baby girl. In the early years of our marriage we could afford college classwork, Chinese language tutoring, and other schools or classes...<br />
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It is now 8 years later and I am expecting our fourth baby at the age of 40. It has been over 8 years that I haven't had a job. The last time I looked at a job description requirement or talked to a hiring specialist, most are not asking for 8 or more years of stay at home mom work experience. I have filled pages and pages of my journal with career ideas and options for the future, and still don't know what I'm doing with my life. Here's some of my options, and these are not jokes, they are very real options and goals I have thought about over the years:<br />
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1. I can get a job at my local grocery store. In fact, it happens to be the same store I worked at for my first job at the age of 15, serving coffee, breakfast and fried chicken in the deli, bussing tables and washing dishes.<br />
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2. I can work at a coffee shop. They may even let me bake pastries since I've had over 8 years of experience baking goodies for my family.<br />
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3. I can always try at starting my own business since I've had over 8 years experience of being the only boss and no business is going to hire a stay at home mom anyways (though I know nothing about selling things to people). <br />
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4. Write a book and get it published (that was my husband's idea).<br />
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5. Teach English as a Second or Foreign Language (if my bachelor's degree is good enough, I don't know much about that but I'm sure someone could tell me).<br />
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6. Move our family again, to Western China this time, or in the Himalayan Mountains, and start a cafe or bread & breakfast hospitality business with my husband (he could work remotely and continue his I.T. work over there).<br />
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Being a stay at home mom these days is not only unheard of but very difficult. The whole world wants to shame her and it's difficult for her to feel that she belongs, contributes to society, and is smart. And of course, there's the many voices saying that all of that is actually true - you don't belong, you are not smart, and you don't contribute a thing.<br />
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Re-entering the working world is one of the scariest things I can imagine. I wonder if it is as difficult economy-wise as it was in the early 2000's and if it has gotten even worse since then. Is it as difficult now as it was back then to find jobs and to actually be hired, and what would I do in an emergency?<br />
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The truth is that my life, instead of being devastated, is absolutely blessed. I am so lucky to have all these sweet children and my husband who actually loves me. Oh I know, everyone would tell me that real women can do both - have a successful career and have children at the same time. Shouldn't have to choose between one or the other. Financially though, we did have to choose. It's fine, they can think whatever they want to about me. But they still can't take away the fact that I have a beautiful and amazing family.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-78876548534097287002016-04-16T18:57:00.000-05:002016-04-16T20:54:41.279-05:00Family Trip to a Lamb FarmOn Friday we went on a homeschool trip with several other families to visit a lamb farm in Wisconsin. We spent the day learning about llamas, sheep, and stock dogs. All kinds of other animals were on the farm too. They raised the lambs mostly for their wool, and the llamas are also shorn for their wool. We had a great time in the fresh air and sunshine!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice big sheep dog!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves the lambs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went on a hike up the hill to see the little cabin</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-36010267566485691062016-01-29T20:35:00.000-06:002016-01-29T21:03:19.170-06:00Thankful for My ManWe've had much to celebrate this month. On January 4th, Jeremy and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. We are expecting our fourth baby coming up in July. And my sister had her twin baby girls on the 1st of January.<br />
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These days we don't have date nights often. Maybe once a month at the most. For our anniversary we went to Newt's and enjoyed their yummy burgers. It was fun just to get dressed up and look nice outside of the house.<br />
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These are some of the things that I admire or respect about my husband. He is a man with whom I feel completely safe. Unlike many women in the world, I have never once had to think about what it would be like to be threatened with violence. I am very lucky. He also is not one to tell me exactly what to do with my looks, hair, make-up, etc. He doesn't even tell me that he wants me to have long hair. He says he just wants me to be happy with my hair, whether long or short. Now I happen to like my hair long and find it easier to care for after all. The one thing that he does complain about is this: jeggings. He doesn't like jeggings, and that's understandable!<br />
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He neither requires me to work outside of the home nor requires me be a stay at home mom forever. He just wants me to be fulfilled in the work I do. Right now, I feel more fulfilled being with my children and teaching them than I would be at a job that does not pay for childcare expenses. But if I did happen to find a job that was both meaningful and paid for things, he would support that too.<br />
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Jeremy is also a good father. He is sensitive to the children and is concerned for their character development. He takes the time to talk with them about serious issues when I am busy doing stuff around the house. He is very thoughtful.<br />
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It's important to take the time to think about your spouse and why you married him or her. I am reminded to be thankful for the man I married and not take him for granted. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-5773317765316553152016-01-14T17:44:00.002-06:002016-01-14T17:47:35.038-06:00Homeschooling StatesideLast year in Shanghai was our first official year of homeschooling our kids. Annalise was a kindergartner. For two main reasons we made the decision to start our kids out homeschooling. First, we were not "high budget" and couldn't afford kindergarten or international school tuitions. Second, and maybe more important of a reason for us, we have always had a family goal of being together. This becomes especially important if any kind of ministry is involved. While often kids can get left out of their parents ministries and plans, we have always sought to involve them as much as we can. So, rather than sending them away for 6 to 8 hours every day, we have enjoyed the privilege of teaching our kids at home with us. We love to travel together as a family and have the flexibility to do that, exposing our kids to the world in a much more positive way. As a married couple, we think it's also important to travel together. Jeremy and I have enjoyed going on outreach trips together. When we went to Brazil many years ago, Annalise was only 16 months old and we were gone from her for 10 days! We could have brought her with us, but since it was a little over a week we decided she would be happy with Grandparents. It worked out well.<br />
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While we were in Shanghai, we were told by one of Annalise's sunday school teachers that she is very assertive. Our homeschooled daughter is assertive and can speak her mind in a class! Hudson also has bloomed in many ways at home. He is very creative and comes up with all sorts of inventions around the house. Sayde has learned to talk and say so many words from being around all the schooling and talking going on at home. She has learned so much just from watching and playing while we do school.<br />
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Homeschooling last year went so well that we have decided to continue it stateside this year. Hudson is now Kindergarten and Annalise is in 1st grade level of her schoolwork. We still love the <a href="http://sonlight.com/" target="_blank">Sonlight Curriculum</a> and all the books we get to read together. However, instead of attempting to write as if I have to defend homeschooling and how superior my own kids are to non-homeschooled kids I will tell the truth. Nearly every day it is a struggle, sometimes over many hours, to get my kids to stop playing and do their schoolwork. They hate sitting down and doing handwriting or copywork assignments. My kids are probably not any better behaved than public schooled kids, while many homeschool blogs brag about homeschooled children being better. Because of the struggle, it takes many extra hours of the day to get their work assignments completed. Many times Jeremy has to work with them on a Saturday to stay caught up with their weekly schedule. I won't know how they are really doing until next year when at least Annalise is due to test. I am hoping that she is at least in her grade level. Maybe she will be ahead. I don't lack in confidence that Jeremy and I can homeschool our kids successfully. I just want to be sure that what I write about is for the right motives. And we are still quite new at this. I don't want to brag when I still have so much to learn.<br />
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There may always be this conflict I have inside that I'm not allowing my kids enough opportunities to be "salt and light" in the world, Daniels in a very secular culture, and that I am sheltering them too much. And it is a legitimate concern. Every year we will probably ask the question, are they ready to be greater influencers of those around them than they are at being influenced (by the world)? I imagine that I am saving my kids from all the pimps and sexual molesters out there waiting to nab them. But even homeschooled kids can be vulnerable to abuse and molestation, as apparent from the recent national news. It could happen in the church, despite safe haven policies, especially if people go unreported and undealt with. Our purpose isn't to shelter our kids from making choices for themselves. But what we do want to shelter them from is those who would not allow them any choice. Whether my kids are homeschooled until high school or college, or only for their first few school years, I want them to grow up free.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recess time on our hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids' first snowman of the year</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_25IgtScayDpDsXjMJTw0K42QD7nOend1loQ4ZYNaz3E0dXBh0lF-V6izWN_7XLhUeI_T9iCLhWYcJ0nJSqfS9zUjTg0RmbFItwtYdlHd8e2hVEZARMQN7EERtKJjBcRlYFy3pXc0faC/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_25IgtScayDpDsXjMJTw0K42QD7nOend1loQ4ZYNaz3E0dXBh0lF-V6izWN_7XLhUeI_T9iCLhWYcJ0nJSqfS9zUjTg0RmbFItwtYdlHd8e2hVEZARMQN7EERtKJjBcRlYFy3pXc0faC/s640/IMG_0196.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little superheroes on Halloween</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSJVXCe9VQkF9CzVT8f6zrwXMOjst_rKViZn_auJrv-wpVS14MUHnuhg1J0vpfVHjvHelPI501mTJ9cDAt4INz1b6v4b97YA164BX3pGaVfdZe1sKCYJE5MFcEkWePpdc-zI-mSsq8SVT/s1600/IMG_20151121_221149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSJVXCe9VQkF9CzVT8f6zrwXMOjst_rKViZn_auJrv-wpVS14MUHnuhg1J0vpfVHjvHelPI501mTJ9cDAt4INz1b6v4b97YA164BX3pGaVfdZe1sKCYJE5MFcEkWePpdc-zI-mSsq8SVT/s640/IMG_20151121_221149.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cozy wood-burning stove, which in learning how to use this thing prompted a homeschool tour at the local firehouse. I am all about safety and rules! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXEdKoTF_NzafzRwgcxiBqESn18T62a0Xa9mpu-hFkg0F6GuzSpD4mo5d5DIUAVJ_eAtIVPbDcAb03HGtPuqcQEvpQdiEwfzmGxPKM7GfFgt4ghO9q2H6pc8n5IOVIxu91PwMqABh40hz/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXEdKoTF_NzafzRwgcxiBqESn18T62a0Xa9mpu-hFkg0F6GuzSpD4mo5d5DIUAVJ_eAtIVPbDcAb03HGtPuqcQEvpQdiEwfzmGxPKM7GfFgt4ghO9q2H6pc8n5IOVIxu91PwMqABh40hz/s640/IMG_0133.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy and I on a date at Silver Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkk6B8O0AMTxzxQq9bBdNPARNIRfiAHFZZjUmt_lQu9XNYG106boFlVjRGLjicGtQYJXhm2QRqI8K_maL3I3cj9qlRA6oHoJfqN29M5qaxaRUeSIIds6M6EJkY3PgbWfG5GTkJP6AybjD/s1600/IMG_20151010_171330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkk6B8O0AMTxzxQq9bBdNPARNIRfiAHFZZjUmt_lQu9XNYG106boFlVjRGLjicGtQYJXhm2QRqI8K_maL3I3cj9qlRA6oHoJfqN29M5qaxaRUeSIIds6M6EJkY3PgbWfG5GTkJP6AybjD/s640/IMG_20151010_171330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the beginning of our school year, in our new house</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-8754104644768351952015-08-03T00:29:00.000-05:002016-01-10T17:28:44.340-06:00Sayde turns two!!Yesterday was Sayde's birthday, and one of the first things she did that day was swing in her favorite swing that Gandy hung from the tall tree on the hill in his and Gamma's yard. It was lunchtime and we needed to go inside, but she didn't want to stop her swing short of the normal 45 plus minutes. She threw a fit back inside the house and screamed, hugging my legs and trying to knock me over, "I want swing!"<br />
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Finally I brought her back outside with her pizza slice, and she ate it happily and peacefully as she swung gently in her swing. I got to take some pictures of the kids while they all had fun swinging. Hudson likes the rope swing best. Annalise is learning how to pump her legs and swing herself. It's hard when the swing is so high, hanging from the tree branch. They're not your everyday swings at the playground!<br />
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When she finished her cauliflower pizza slice, she held out her bowl and asked for more, happily getting out of the swing that time to go inside for another slice. That after noon we had a family party for sweet Sayde with her cousins, Oma, Opa, aunts and uncles. Here's a few photos from the day...<br />
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By her second birthday, Sayde already can sing "Jesus loves me this I know..." and all the rest of it. She can say "honor your mother and your father," one of Annalise and Hudson's memory Bible verses this past year. She mixes in a few Chinese words with her English, "where zai (在) Daddy go?" She can also say "hello kitty", "oh my goodness!", and "I want my own bed." Although, she still has to fall asleep next to Mommy first. And she still nurses as much as any younger baby. She could be nursing until she's three!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-77491597322358021532015-07-12T22:28:00.001-05:002015-07-12T22:28:41.791-05:00Blog ChangesJeremy says I need to rename our blog to "morelandadventures" since we are back in the U.S. and no longer in China, and merge our old stateside family adventure stories with the current blog.<br />
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One of our local friends in Shanghai told us that our English surname was prophetic, "more land for Jesus," is what she said, and we will say yes to that.<br />
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Though we're renaming we still enjoy tea times with others and look forward to inviting many friends over for tea when we have a place of our own. You may continue to find our spot here as well, so come and have tea with the Morelands.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-37203401032181370182015-07-02T00:41:00.001-05:002016-01-12T17:15:52.039-06:00Birthday CelebratingYesterday was my husband's 39th birthday. This is Jeremy's last year, and mine, in our 30's...And today was our son Hudson's 5th birthday. We took a drive to the pretty town of Lanesboro and rented some bikes for a 10 mile bike ride, and then buying some bikes for Hudson and Annalise on the way home.<br />
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In our car ride we had plenty of time to talk. We talked about how old we are...I can remember when I was in woodworking class in the 7th grade, getting my 80's permed hair stuck in the drill and having the instructor help take the drill apart to get it out, all frizzed and singed. And the stuck-up girls in my home-ec class with their Esprit bags laying on the floor, stepping one on accidentally as I was flipping pancakes at the stove and one girl saying, "you're stepping on my Esprit." Later, I even had an Esprit bag. :)<br />
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Later, at home we sang and had Panda bear Birthday cake, chocolate cake on the inside with cream cheese frosting on the outside. Don't laugh! I decorated it myself.<br />
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We are loving the Minnesota summer and the green countrysides right now. Huge change from the cement and well-manicured gardens in Shanghai. Though we will miss all the folks in the park doing their tai chi and group dances. I am so thankful we have the next couple weeks free before my husband's new job starts. I am so proud of him!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annalise lost her front teeth, so cute!!</td></tr>
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Here are some photos from our last week in Shanghai...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayde on the glass floor of the Pearl Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hilarious shoe choices that day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annalise's favorite building in Shanghai</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-39493300011369444332015-06-27T22:39:00.000-05:002016-01-11T20:10:04.914-06:00Life is Good in MinnesotaWe have returned back home to Minnesota and our time in Shanghai is officially over. Jeremy put in his notice at work last month and we spent many weeks preparing for the return and saying good-bye to all of our friends and church family in the city, not knowing what was up next for us. This was one of the most difficult aspect of our decision to leave...The church community we had become part of...a one to two hour commute to visit friends in their homes for all the kids groups, Bible study groups, and our home cell group. Here in the States, these groups do not exist! We hope that we can bring the sense of fellowship, and how we desperately need it, back home with us and get things started here. We will miss this kind of community, but believe this can be possible here too. <br />
We know that many seeds were planted and new life begun as we left Shanghai. Jeremy was able to witness to many friends, even Chinese Muslim. We gave away lots of literature. Lisa met another friend who, along with her husband, held prayer and worship day and night and was able to connect a couple of our other searching friends to this family. We were a little more bold and focused this time than last time.<br />
Right now, we are adjusting to a life back in Minnesota. Jeremy starts his new job in mid-July. Thankfully, we have a couple weeks to settle in. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-24965215478277378152015-05-13T10:16:00.002-05:002016-01-10T17:31:30.775-06:00Family LifeWe are having internet and computer time issues, so the most I can hope for in our blog at this point is to post a few pictures as fast as I can and talk about them a little...<br />
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This past week we had a leak in the pipe running to our washing machine, and the repairman could not come until a few days later. So Jeremy and Hudson put together a tube to catch the drips and drain the water into a big bucket sitting on the floor next to it. They made it with some masking tape, scissors, and an empty paper towel roll. I was so thankful that it was no longer dripping all over the floor and around the machine! So helpful! The leak is now fixed nicely with a new pipe fitting that allows you to turn the water on only when using the washing machine. Hudson is still very interested in pipes and plumbing, and concerned about leaks.<br />
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Hudson puts on his tool belt and looks down the drains with his flashlight.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson and Annalise trying out their scooters at the park!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 21 months old, Sayde now says<br />
"I want some of that," I git you," and she can say "I love you" in English as well as Chinese.</td></tr>
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Right now the kids have some colds and coughs, and Sayde is still up next to me in bed squirming, twisting, turning and bumping my elbow at every second, unable to fall asleep. It is now 10:45 pm. Hudson and Annalise have fallen asleep already. They are still doing well with earlier bedtimes. With the family being sick this past week, we stayed home over the Mother's Day weekend and watched Danny Silk parenting DVD's. Sayde decided to do a somersault off our bed and ended up with only a scratch on her forehead, thankfully. Sayde was paying attention to Danny Silk and even picked up a few phrases, one of them "oh no!" Only those of our readers who have watched these and is familiar with Danny Silk will find this funny! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-37233363712280662302015-04-28T18:51:00.001-05:002016-01-15T22:50:39.375-06:00Visit HomeWe are now back at our home in Shanghai after a visit home to the States. Finally a rainy-looking, foggy morning here in the city so I felt like catching up on our news. Jeremy's Grandpa passed away this month in Illinois and we were able to travel there for his funeral, see Jeremy's relatives and attend church on Easter Sunday. It was a last minute surprise visit. Our kids did great on this visit and were very happy. We travelled from there to Minnesota to stay with our families. The only people who knew we were coming was my sister and Jeremy's sister! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheelbarrel ride from Gandy<br />
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Returning to Shanghai was a much more difficult, sacrificial decision this time around. Last July when we first arrived it was a big adventure. This time we know what we are getting into and all the normal difficulties we face in every day life. We've learned to rely on God more for everything and to do hard things, because this is hard. On our visit we had the freedom and the luxury for two weeks of driving our family around in a vehicle, with everyone safely buckled into their own seats, and safety seats for the kids! <br />
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We all crammed into a taxi cab on the way back to our apartment from the airport, all five of us to four seats and only one working seatbelt in one seat. Taxi minivans don't exist here. Sayde's car seat was back in our apartment, never used here. Though we did have a nice chat with our taxi driver in Chinese. I wish we <em>could</em> take taxis more often. So when I say that it is a sacrifice to live daily life here overseas, I do not believe that it is to sacrifice our children. Big difference! God made it very clear about 4,000 years ago with Abraham that He does not approve of or call for that.<br />
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We still haven't figured out transportation, that is why we only take the Metro/Subway on a normal basis and we are comfortable with that. Thankfully we live right next door to a station. If you lived in Shanghai you would see me often carrying or strolling Sayde while holding onto both kids' hands as we go to the subway or walk to the park. If we live here longer, I would like to get bicycles - not motorized - with a baby seat and a wagon in the front. This is a European style and it can carry more than one child!<br />
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Now I will write about some positive, happy stories in our family. The jet-lag from our travels re-set the kids' bedtimes. Within the first week back in Shanghai, the kids were going to bed at 6:00 pm and waking at 6:00 am. They are now going to bed around 8:00 pm most nights and waking from 6:00 am and 7:00 am. Hudson's chapped mouth and chin is almost healed up now after we found a jelly contained in an orange tube, his favorite color. He applies it all by himself. Sayde has been running around at the children's playground giggling and going down the slides over and over again all by herself. She said hello in Chinese all by herself to the man in our hallway who smokes by the window. When eating, she can say "bao le" when she is full.<br />
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We like our new Chinese teacher and can sneak in some spiritual language with her. While we don't teach English, we do bring up words or language that we want to learn in Chinese and can chat in Chinese over things such as fear - how we have no fear when we are in Christ.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayde on the slide</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-17776248474434188732015-03-26T12:31:00.000-05:002016-01-10T17:33:38.971-06:00Almost 8 months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's almost 8 months now since we came to Shanghai, and Spring has arrived. There are flowers budding on the trees and a few warm, sunny days before the rain starts this spring. Around the six month mark was when we finally experienced some homesickness and a little culture shock. For me, the mama, this usually involves being protective of my kids and getting tired of being looked at all the time. Hudson has a rash below his mouth from licking his chin often. We don't know if it is from the winter weather, nervousness, or just a habit. He gets comments and looks to no end on this. He hates it when I sneak up and put vanicream or aloe vera plant on his face. On a positive note, yesterday at the park I had at least three gentlemen give me positive comments and looks on my three children. God is opening my eyes to the beauty of the people around us. They are so precious and we are privileged to live here. </div>
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I finally paid for the kids to go on rides at the park for the first time since living here. Ayi is helping them on their horses while Sayde is with me, taking a nap. Before that, Sayde practiced going up and down the stairs with Annalise close by. Sayde is almost 18 months old. She says too many words to count now, including hello to people in Chinese.</div>
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Below are also some more pictures of the kids in dress-up clothes sent from Jeremy's aunt in America. We recently made a trip to our local post office to send some letters to Oma and Gamma. The kids miss them so much and it has been a real challenge getting our video conversations to work! Old-fashioned handwritten letters is still important. </div>
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And, we have another Chinese teacher who we meet with twice a week. Annalise is doing really well with her. I also like her alot and spend lots of time just talking in Chinese with her while Jeremy keeps the kids quiet. Next week he will need to have more lesson time in business terminology. Those of our readers who are lifting up kinds of people, remember our Chinese teacher. I have such a heart for both of our teachers and want to see God's plans and purposes unfold in their lives.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-44113483978053439902015-02-06T21:59:00.004-06:002016-01-10T17:33:56.529-06:00A Normal Day with Our Three Little Superheros<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday I took the kids to an indoor playground to meet a friend. The kids were able to get some energy out and play while we talked here and there for 20 minutes. We stopped at the restroom on the way out and as I was busily helping the kids wash their hands while washing mine with Sayde in my front pack carrier, many of the other ladies in the restroom were watching us closely. One handed me a paper towel to dry my hands with and another one brought up the fact that I have three children. This is brought up on a constant basis as soon as we step outside our door :) This time the lady gave me a thumbs up and basically told me that I am doing a good job. That meant the world to me.</div>
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Our kids have been having fun with their new superhero costumes from Gamma and Gandy. Even before they had them they would improvise with just about anything to create costumes and capes. Now even Sayde enjoys dressing up with the other two... </div>
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Below, Hudson likes to play "Abe Lincoln" after we read a story together about his life, how he would bundle up his belongings in a hankerchief and tie it up on a stick to carry over his shoulder and travel around through the woods practicing speeches. He packs all his clothes, underwear and pajamas in blankets and carries them with him everywhere...<br />
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Below is our school shelf with books we are reading together throughout the year. Some Annalise will be able to read by herself soon, others we are reading aloud as stories. Little take-out containers when washed well make good crayon and marker containers later :)<br />
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Sayde loves to hold the music player and hum along, dancing and bobbing up and down to the kid's songs...they are memory verses for the kids to learn set to songs, such as "Children obey your parents..." which is set to a salsa music tune. I wish I could share the video!<br />
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Another lunch date with Jeremy at the coffee shop next door. The new Chinese year's animal is the ram sheep. For the new Chinese year fireworks will be set off all the time the next couple of weeks. We live far enough in the inner rings of the city where they are not allowed to be set off, but right next to the border line area, so people will be setting them off still quite close since it's kind of a gray borderline area. Whenever we do hear them we immediately say, "oooh, pretty" to Sayde so she will not be scared of the loud sounds!<br />
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This is our third bedroom which is the guest room where my parents stayed. Right now all 3 kids share a bedroom, but after Sayde is ready to sleep with Annalise in the big double bed in their room Hudson can then move into this room. After reading The Boxcar Children story together, about some orphaned kids who lived in an empty boxcar in the woods until they were happily adopted by their Grandfather at the end of the book, we now pretend that this is the "boxcar room" and the kids play in here...<br />
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We are exploring possibilities of hosting a small group in our apartment from the international fellowship, but haven't heard of any interest in it yet from other families with small children in our area. We are hoping that can come together eventually. <br />
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-LisaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-31793685350398336362015-01-29T18:59:00.002-06:002016-01-10T17:34:10.269-06:00Lisa's Parents Visit in JanuaryWe just spent a very blessed three weeks with my parents staying with us. They arrived safely on January 9th in the evening just in time for some Chinese beef stew I had made, and the next couple of nights they were in bed quite early recovering from the jet lag. We remembered our flight with the kids and how we felt that first couple of weeks, the dizziness and tiredness. In Shanghai, you often feel dizzy from all the tall buildings. But my parents recovered within a day or two and were excited to get out and explore our city with us :)<br />
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The first week we went to two of our closest parks, all three of the large shopping malls that surround us on every side, the Shanghai Museum, and to our international church which they loved. We have a very good worship service, but I often don't hear the messages after singing is over because Sayde is up. She is not happy in the nursery so I won't leave her there. She is still very dependent on me and nursing day and night, but Jeremy and I were able to go out on a date one evening while my parents babysat. We went to a restaurant close by and came home just in time, Sayde had been crying for one whole hour. So, no overnights away from Sayde for me yet! I have yet to be able to go on any women's retreats either. There is no way it would be appropriate to leave my baby at home overnight. Maybe by the time she turns two...<br />
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Later on in the middle of the night we were up with both Sayde and Annalise sick, they were throwing up. The rest of the week everyone in our home was sick at different times, but the nice part is that my parents decided to change their plans and extend their stay for one more week! My parents were able to attend Jeremy's company dinner and watch him dance the hip-hop penguin shake on stage with all his co-workers, and help me with the kids at our table with all the many fancy, delicious food dishes. The next weekend, Jeremy and my Dad were able to go the Crossfit Iron Dragon for a WOD and brought t-shirts home for us to proudly wear. I would have loved to join them. It is still not very popular among Chinese women's fashion to be strong; rather, the fashion is to be skinny. This crossfit gym is the first authentic crossfit gym within China, and hopefully "strong is the new skinny" will become popular here also. We did some crossfit workouts at home as well. My mom and I did a 50 squats, 40 sit ups, 30 pushups, 20 lunges and 20 burpees WOD and the kids did stairs in our building to the top floor with my dad. I think our building has over 40 floors. <br />
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We also spent the last week of my parents visit shopping for clothes, something we normally never have time for! My mom and I went out twice looking at sweater tunics, shoes, and coats. Annalise and I found some boots at a sale next door to our building. Hers are pink with fuzzy material on the inside and mine are black ankle boots with silver crosses dangling from the zippers. It is easy to find my size in clothing and shoes here! And, Jeremy visited a local taylor shop at our market and had a complete suit sewn up for him, and it fit perfectly. Although he mistakenly had white pants made instead of black ones that he had to have for his penguin dance, but luckily he had some black ones already at home that he wore.<br />
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The rest of the time we spent on homeschool. We started the Sonlight curriculum core and get to spend time every day reading fun books together like the Boxcar Children. We also are reading lots of Bible, geography, history, and travelling adventure stories. Having a schedule with plenty to do each day has made homeschooling so much easier for me. We try to take field trips and outings as much as possible (lately it has been cold and rainy outdoors), and include as much practical life skills as we can. Rather than trying to imitate the classroom experience as if our kids are missing out on not attending school, we believe that they have an advantage over school attending children in that they learn more practical life skills by not sitting at a desk all day.<br />
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Now we are feeling kind of lonesome and homesick, our apartment feels so empty with no visitors. But we know we are placed here for a reason and have a destiny that we cannot yet see. For those last few weeks our home was very similar to a Chinese home with extended family living with us. Many Chinese families have parents living in and they take care of each other in many ways, leading to not only a more lively home but a more orderly one as well with so many adults around to care for the kids. Here are some pictures of our time together...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annalise and Gamma</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayde is wearing one of my baby dresses</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayde with Gandy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sayde loved having the snake tied around her waste :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annalise playing resturant</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy is up on stage doing the penguin shake on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family photo in some bamboo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blowing bubbles</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-50159993430732695082015-01-01T19:42:00.001-06:002016-01-10T17:34:31.516-06:00Happy New Year - 新年快乐!Jeremy has two days off from work this week and we have been resting and recovering from our colds. Last week Jeremy did not have any days off from work. I am so thankful to have him home and have a few days free. Yesterday we went to the Mr. Pancake House for brunch and tried to take a walk in the park, but it felt too cold with our headaches and earaches. We should recover soon though, especially by next week when my parents come to stay with us for two weeks!<br />
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Here is some artwork of the nativity and manger scene Annalise and Hudson made, and our simple, fun Christmas tree, called a "Shengdan shu." Annalise also made a piece titled "heaven" which we used as wrapping paper for a gift to a friend of ours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_69mwfe-zVZZ1tZEYeYKEUN-6pStixRmnuE05fXAK_I4jcDwcgOiWHnU27B7w5cXYGUmLMRx3GONCf6L3FfswODeVF81V9SZrqzVnqAkcGofzEXsY7eVNnTSc-SBsR1GFDQJ6-fkoLT2/s1600/IMG_20150102_090741~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_69mwfe-zVZZ1tZEYeYKEUN-6pStixRmnuE05fXAK_I4jcDwcgOiWHnU27B7w5cXYGUmLMRx3GONCf6L3FfswODeVF81V9SZrqzVnqAkcGofzEXsY7eVNnTSc-SBsR1GFDQJ6-fkoLT2/s1600/IMG_20150102_090741~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The manger scene by Annalise & Hudson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBptYEsxq01dF3sSby8NH52Gcl4EAkfi4WMoa-zYhkvfivYrcZJcYGK1ZkkR9rD3rhCoKidVju8pAb84sR4JEz6wtW7ELHdFDKeQAySDmRgcvbxj4T22WIKwnucPrxcltfBFb92zkHykN/s1600/IMG_20150102_090920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBptYEsxq01dF3sSby8NH52Gcl4EAkfi4WMoa-zYhkvfivYrcZJcYGK1ZkkR9rD3rhCoKidVju8pAb84sR4JEz6wtW7ELHdFDKeQAySDmRgcvbxj4T22WIKwnucPrxcltfBFb92zkHykN/s1600/IMG_20150102_090920.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Shengdan Shu"</td></tr>
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Remember to think about the lives that were lost on New Years Eve and their family members. We care a lot about the people in our city and want them to find hope, faith, and life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-86041395246548340942014-12-25T12:17:00.000-06:002016-01-10T17:34:52.303-06:00Merry Christmas Taking a few minutes after 1:00 am on Christmas day to say, Merry Christmas! Winter season is surely here in Shanghai. We can feel the cold here and have turned into wimps. The temperature is still above freezing, but it feels much colder. So now I am being told to bundle up the kids more. There is usually something with how my children are dressed. Either too warm, too cold, or something is too long or too short...or maybe not fashionable? I don't always know whether I am translating it right. The other evening on our walk home from the Christmas Eve service, I thought I heard some girls saying that I was too small to carry Sayde in my baby carrier! Maybe so...compared to my very tall, 6'4 husband walking next to me :)<br />
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Our family is still celebrating the birth of Jesus this week. Had some adjustments with the kids, being too loud at the service and having to leave early when they couldn't sit still in their chairs. But we were there for the best part at least, hearing and singing Christmas carols in Chinese. Singing Silent Night on Christmas Eve in China is very special.<br />
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It has been a rough couple of weeks with heater going out, electricity out, cold water, and workmans at our apartment to fix things. Hudson has taken up an interest, sometimes concern, in plumbing. He says he wants to grow up to invent some drains that will help save people from being flooded. He really is concerned over any drain that gets backed up and always listens to the bathtub draining, just to make sure the water isn't going to come back up. He is starting to open up more and both of them are truly getting into the sunday school program for kids at our international church service each week. Before we moved here, Hudson had just left the nursery back home. This has been huge for him! I would like them to be able to sit still through a grown-ups service too sometime though.<br />
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And Sayde is a very sweet, independent little 16 month old. She can say so many words in English, not to mention that her first two Chinese words are "hao" and "yu" (fish). She was a given a little stuffed animal fish and we play "where is fish?" with her. Whenever we say "where is something" in Chinese she answers "yu?" In English, she can say "play" and "people," and will look out the window to look at people.<br />
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Jeremy and I have been able to go on a few lunch dates since we have our ayi who watches the kids for us while we are gone.<br />
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I am struggling lately with my time. I can't fit everything into one day all that I want to! I want to homeschool my children excellently and do so much with them. At the same time, I really want to learn the language here and I don't mean just speaking it. I love to study reading and writing in Chinese and really want to become fluent... It is a danger that many moms who homeschool their children in the home in other cultural and language contexts never end up learning the local language.<br />
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Jeremy needs to learn the language well too, but that is also hard for him when most in his office will communicate with him in English.<br />
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Well it is now 2:00 am. Here are our recent pictures...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-76055564146346197752014-11-29T09:58:00.000-06:002016-01-10T17:35:17.068-06:00感恩节快乐, Happy ThanksgivingOur Thanksgiving dinner was a success! We had a wonderful, blessed time with our Chinese teacher and her husband over for dinner, and included was plenty of quiz time for the kiddos. The kids have learned some phrases in Chinese, "zhe ge hanyu zenme shuo?" and "ni zai zuo shenme?"..."how do you say this in Chinese?" and "what are you doing?" We are so proud of them! Our teacher tutors our whole family two evenings a week. Our children are usually bouncing up and down, jumping on and off furniture as she works with them.<br />
<br />
After Thanksgiving we shopped for homeschooling supplies with black friday deals going on in the U.S. and we actually have Rosetta Stone now for the family. Jeremy is impressed with it and encourages everyone we know back home to try it, especially if they plan on visiting us :)<br />
<br />
I discovered the other day that Annalise is now reading at a 1st grade level so we have had to think alot about what to get for next year...<br />
<br />
We have also been getting to know our neighborhood better and found several outdoor/farmers style markets nearby that we love to frequent for most of our groceries now. We had 2 chickens, sweet potatoes, corn, and sichuan fried green beans for our Thanksgiving dinner and all came from our closest outdoor market. It was our first Thanksgiving away from home, in our new home, and prepared all by myself! It has been so much fun getting to meet and recognize all the sellers at these market places, practicing our Chinese with them and getting better each time. Last week we bought all the ingredients to make Chinese dumplings from the market and made them at home.<br />
<br />
As we explore our neighborhood more and more, our eyes are also opened to many other business establishments we hadn't noticed before. There are also many modeling agencies here. It is very sobering, and to only just now start noticing this after living here for nearly four months now.<br />
<br />
We have also had a difficult time as a family and as individuals (Jeremy and I) with knowing where to be involved, keeping commitments and getting to places on time as a family. We like to take the subway system and it truly is the best way for us to get around, other than on foot, it just may take up to an hour sometimes to get someplace! We need to figure out better ways as a family to be on time places...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-22321078230615277352014-11-22T22:03:00.000-06:002016-01-10T17:35:30.948-06:00November in Shanghai<div class="MsoNormal">
This month on the 11<sup>th</sup> we celebrated Annalise
turning 6 years old. We went to the nearby park and brought cupcakes to share
with some friends Annalise and Hudson’s ages. I am so thankful that our
children have had so many opportunities to make friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also thankful for such a wonderful
daughter, Annalise. She adds so much joy and humor to our lives. She is so
thoughtful, kind, smart, and funny. We love her so much! I am so impressed with
her sensitivity to the Lord. She has matured so much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life in this large city has been busy for our family. There
are so many options available, so many groups and activities to be part of. There
are homeschooling coops, field trips to museums, and parks to visit. It is hard
to find time to sit down at our computer, when it is not being used already. The computer is not a normal part of my
life here on a day -to -day basis! I am so unfamiliar with this thing and so
out of practice. Since homeschool began with the kids, language lessons and
practice, and with the now 15 month old Sayde so busy, sitting at a computer is
very rare. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bare minimum, I have 5
minutes before someone complains. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving with our Chinese co-workers
and friends. I want to be prepared for our dinner in many ways, being a
blessing not only putting delicious food on the table but also being a blessing
to hearts as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be <i>thinking</i> about
this for us next week! This is all I have time to write for now. I am obviously
having trouble with computers, cameras, and anything technological, for many
reasons. At the bottom of this post I will include photos if I have the time to
upload them and it works!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God has been speaking to me about being faithful with the
little things first, that is what I have been doing lately. So many people here
are doing huge things. We are just starting and it’s very important to remind
myself what God has called me to do right now. He’s given my three beautiful
children to love and care for and invest in, and that is huge in it self. We
are raising them to be a blessing. Chinese people are impressed when they see
our three children, it is so rare for them, and we are to never take that for
granted that we have three. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWeJ0tLD8IaB4Fg1kQYJgE6BrmlNbY99cziErj7J0xowUXpy-J21BuaBpgo4tOWWh6j7LzlWHPUJpAd2hwSBqwayBfBulmam09VRRb6ZsDFucqwIGh8ZwHiprUgi975hzU4EU0gDuIEol/s1600/IMG_20141117_134152-MIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWeJ0tLD8IaB4Fg1kQYJgE6BrmlNbY99cziErj7J0xowUXpy-J21BuaBpgo4tOWWh6j7LzlWHPUJpAd2hwSBqwayBfBulmam09VRRb6ZsDFucqwIGh8ZwHiprUgi975hzU4EU0gDuIEol/s1600/IMG_20141117_134152-MIX.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cut bangs for Annalise :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdgfsw0voMvrci_vvmZmRWTz7cdy7bc7ddo6Lb3RdEbpahlP7RpL-3s-zo0DjdDXiusF96fvlAeG3qsJB8BEnjAt-5LUsZh7OWJQhrvFYlnTYSHCeRZIRUCZqueFo4RuWeALG9mcQ7j2w/s1600/IMG_20141120_181147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdgfsw0voMvrci_vvmZmRWTz7cdy7bc7ddo6Lb3RdEbpahlP7RpL-3s-zo0DjdDXiusF96fvlAeG3qsJB8BEnjAt-5LUsZh7OWJQhrvFYlnTYSHCeRZIRUCZqueFo4RuWeALG9mcQ7j2w/s1600/IMG_20141120_181147.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Annalise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoZmPTu3zXyQKMQWr6z7Bfvcz2AQ1XTGfllS17eI0mWkLC0ydn5AaO-NBZK6TpuIOrg7ejrK_ctOm25Qm5fFNbM4tliIGNkJx5fjE5xFqJM_e5vPLsG9jjMb-zcsWh2xzBljUEo9k9W7M/s1600/IMG_20141115_160517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoZmPTu3zXyQKMQWr6z7Bfvcz2AQ1XTGfllS17eI0mWkLC0ydn5AaO-NBZK6TpuIOrg7ejrK_ctOm25Qm5fFNbM4tliIGNkJx5fjE5xFqJM_e5vPLsG9jjMb-zcsWh2xzBljUEo9k9W7M/s1600/IMG_20141115_160517.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picnic with friends at the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj79kWGQxZSQJns5r2MRXaCGpjxgwObbNIVFpcy6GPRVevDICMuWLCrLhtQtQvBgrDFVuLWV_Ndr0okcrb1vOlm9uoZ-Bfr2s_y40VmqN9bWzzPtnGTsqldvORz6Rt6iU2vo3SLuNfzhN/s1600/IMG_20141110_113430-SMILE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj79kWGQxZSQJns5r2MRXaCGpjxgwObbNIVFpcy6GPRVevDICMuWLCrLhtQtQvBgrDFVuLWV_Ndr0okcrb1vOlm9uoZ-Bfr2s_y40VmqN9bWzzPtnGTsqldvORz6Rt6iU2vo3SLuNfzhN/s1600/IMG_20141110_113430-SMILE.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson's new rainboots he is very proud of.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5mf5e5i7IdeprY3b3CpvC_N7G4IgLkaZ9H6oc-HQ2t0OHZSguw1sm8pBP7mEjyNHVLH3T6cMumARgQhVG1txy4BS0lk8iDybSb16NgXh-VqOBQUf-RydICzxxS0TlRouaF-JfwAaeA3c/s1600/IMG_20141110_112116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5mf5e5i7IdeprY3b3CpvC_N7G4IgLkaZ9H6oc-HQ2t0OHZSguw1sm8pBP7mEjyNHVLH3T6cMumARgQhVG1txy4BS0lk8iDybSb16NgXh-VqOBQUf-RydICzxxS0TlRouaF-JfwAaeA3c/s1600/IMG_20141110_112116.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment building is the one in the background with a round saucer on top</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-67835235385719328482014-10-08T11:32:00.001-05:002016-01-10T17:35:50.435-06:00Picnic OutingThe past week was a Chinese holiday and Jeremy had a whole week off from work. We went on a picnic one day with a couple co-worker friends to a small mountain west of the city. They brought a tent with them and set it up to keep out of the sun during the day and take naps in, however none of our kids took naps...They were too busy playing with the neighboring Chinese children and making friends with them! They have come a long way in two months. At first it was difficult getting them to just say "hello" to another kid at the playground. While picnicing Annalise spent hours just talking in English to this Chinese family next to us and sitting next to the water lilies with a girl her age. Hudson was playing with water toys and playing tag. He chased the other kids in a game, pretending he was a dinosaur, and learned how to say "konglong." It is so cute to hear their little voices learning and saying Chinese words. And Sayde, she just enjoyed running around all over the grass in her onesie and meeting all the other little Chinese babies her age. I mistakenly thought the sun would not be so bad, and everyone got sunburns by the end of the day. Plenty of vitamin D for us city dwellers!<br />
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We have learned over the past two months that putting too much pressure on our kids isn't the best for them. We decided to let up and just let them figure out how to make friends, learn Chinese and adjust to the culture. We are thankful for the international friends we have met who encouraged us and told us we were doing just fine and don't worry too hard about how or when or how many friends our kids are making. Their biggest influence should be at home. Not long after that, sure enough they are playing with other kids every day we go to a park. All they have to do is bring a soccer ball with them and their is always someone else to play with. </div>
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When we came home that evening of the picnic, we noticed Sayde had a fever. She came down with roseola the next three days, so for the rest of the holiday we just remained at home keeping her fever down. She is finally over that part and just has the rash. I am so thankful I know what it is and that it is not serious. She is teething at the same time, we are surprised at how well she has been acting in spite of all that.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-86229596625962805582014-09-17T19:01:00.001-05:002016-01-10T17:36:16.154-06:00Little bits at a time...Our family has had a busy few weeks here in Shanghai...homeschool began officially for Annalise and she is doing so well with that. She is able to read some short story books that contain all the words she has learned thus far, and the math program we picked has been super easy for her. We're wondering if we picked the wrong one, but it's too late now...maybe next year. We also met and hired a Chinese nanny named aiyi Xiang. She is coming to our home two mornings a week and helping me with the kids so I'm able to work with Annalise more one on one, and she only speaks Chinese! She is exactly what we had hoped for and a huge answer :) I have learned so much from her. She brings a sense of peace to the loud chaos of our home, a very sweet and peaceful presence. We have also been able to go out and get the kids playing with other Chinese children. Yesterday they played ball with another little boy. All three of our kids enjoyed running on the big grassy field where people fly kites. Sayde ran in bare feet. We're still working on getting her to enjoy wearing shoes. She has been walking for over three months now and it's how she learned to walk so early. Everyone here is surprised about that...<br />
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A couple weekends ago our family joined a company tour around the city for the mid autumn festival. It is a Chinese holiday similar to thanksgiving. We went to a city planning museum, a garden, the bund and some restaurants. We were told our kids behaved well, in spite of the fact that they still eat food with their hands and dump noodles into their laps :) </div>
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This week I braved taking all three kids with me on the subway alone to get to a mums tea. It was with ladies from our intl fellowship and only three stops east from our station. It was definitely worth it and the kids did well and played with others. </div>
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So much more to write but this is all I have time for. Our children are still staying up until midnight no matter how much activity, exercise, running around they get and it's exhausting. I'm thankful to drink coffee!</div>
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Lisa</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-27186792374637406132014-08-27T09:29:00.000-05:002016-01-10T17:36:55.514-06:00Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sayde loves to eat now :)</div>
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Annalise made a skyscraper instead of a log cabin.</div>
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Sayde is ready to potty-train, and Annalise is there to help her.</div>
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This is how we get around with three kids!</div>
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Handsome buddy!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2119899253814713585.post-42300244135618876052014-08-23T08:50:00.001-05:002016-01-10T17:37:08.170-06:00Making our home in China<div class="MsoNormal">
My thoughtful, kind husband gave me a break last Sunday
morning and let me meet a co-worker of his for the morning. On my way back to
our apartment I walked through the adjoining lobby of our building to find a
car show going on…the past two Sunday mornings they have models and sports cars
as everyone takes pictures. This is how many Shanghainese may spend their
Sunday mornings…Sometimes the materialism can really get to us, I am especially
sensitive to it. Sometimes it is frustrating when we want to make more in-depth
friendships or talk about more than shopping.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This weekend we will have been in Shanghai for one month. My
husband is giving me yet another one-hour break to go to a nearby coffee shop
called Pacific Coffee to write in our blog. Even back home this rarely happened.
Me, hanging out in a coffee shop! We have at least 4 or 5 Starbucks on our
block already, but Jeremy recommended this coffee shop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started homeschooling Annalise some more since we are
getting settled into our apartment. She is going through hooked on phonics for
reading, but it can be kind of boring when we get past the activities to
reading materials. So, next week we will begin some readers with stories that
are a little more interesting. She is also learning her numbers, colors, fruits
and vegetables in Chinese. Hudson is slowly joining in too :) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We have a tutor who visits our home two evenings a week, and
we are all learning a lot from her. She is very talented and very good with the
kids and has experience teaching them. We have a different style and lesson
book this time around. The kind of teaching we had in Beijing is just not
practical for everyday language and conversations around here, she said. I
noticed I am picking up a lot more on what people are saying. Still working on
being understood when I speak to people in Chinese. The accents and words might
be a little different in Shanghai. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sayde had a doctor visit at the Children’s Hospital in
Shanghai for the blocked tear duct in her eye she has had since birth. It is
very minor and we are not comfortable getting a surgery done now since it has
gotten much better. At home in the U.S. surgery is not recommended until after
one years of age, so it was never an option before we came here. She has never
had pink eye or infections in it so that is good. It was quite an experience
going to the hospital and clinic though, everything was in Chinese so an
employee from the company Jeremy works for came with me and Sayde on the
subway. It took a little over 30 minutes to get there and was very fast. We
were greeted at the service desk with people wearing face masks and talking
into microphones even though they were right in front of us with no glass
separations, just to be heard above the noisy din! People were just pushing
everywhere to get their kids in to see a doctor. The lady who came with Sayde
and I was really helpful and I enjoyed talking to her. Even Chinese people have
people like her to come with them on doctor or hospital visits. This is one of
the services the healthcare company does who Jeremy is working with. There are
many people who need to see a doctor or hospital but are not getting in. There
are also many people getting treatments or staying hospitals who do not need to
be there. Our company is sorting out all of this for the Chinese people. In
China, it is normal to call the company you work for “y’all’s company” or “our
company” and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are the owner of the company.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We live in the western part of Shanghai which is called Puxi,
while the newer, eastern part is called Pudong. We love living on this older
side. I think there might be more trees over here. The Pudong side is supposed
to be even more expensive to live on, though we think this side is pretty
expensive too. We have met a couple of our neighbors. We are happy that we do
not live in a complex with all foreigners, and we are looking forward to being
able to communicate with our Chinese neighbors more and more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last weekend we all
got onto the subway to go to Pudong. We got out at the historical Bund and then
went under the river on another subway with fancy lighting and music. We had
planned on going to an international fellowship service on that side of town,
but missed it and couldn’t figure out the directions. We don’t really use taxis
with our family size and lack of seatbelts, so we ended up eating out at a
Korean BBQ restaurant and then coming back home on the subway. We are pretty
happy with the international fellowship on our side of the river though and
we’ll continue going to that one on Sunday evenings. Our Sunday mornings are
then free for other places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are noticing that we cannot plan too much in one day with
our kiddos. They are happy just going to the park and going out to get
dumplings or ice cream :)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are just a few things that I have been making at home
and foods that the kids like to eat here, maybe some day I will have a recipe
blog or food channel –<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wok-fried ginger chicken wings with carrots and rice (a one
pot meal, very easy)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fried potatoes and green beans, or sweet potato fries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eggplant, ground beef and other veggies in the Wok with soy
sauce, fish sauce, or a black bean sauce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eggs and tomatoes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sticky rice, avocado and cucumber “sushi” rolls – wrapped up
in seaweed wrappers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pork, Chicken pieces, or beef steak sliced thin with veggies, cabbage or Chinese broccoli in the Wok<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beef Stew<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lots of noodles, rice, and fruit…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We finally found out where the bags of rolled oats are at
the grocery store so we have been having that for breakfast. We stay away from the tiny boxes of cereal, for many reasons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have one stove burner that works until we get a new
stove, so everything we make has been fairly simple using a wok or frying pan.
We just got a little rice cooker last week and that has helped a lot. We may be
getting a blender and a toaster oven soon to make more things with. Next week
we are planning on having at least one friend over for dinner, yay! This is one
of the things that makes me so excited, having people over to our home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next post I will try to include more pictures...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Lisa</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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