Family of Three

 

Chinese cooking

This year I have a lot less interaction with students and friends at our school... but one thing I treasure is "growing time" on Tuesdays and then cooking on Saturdays with some girls I mentored last year. On Saturday afternoons, we go shopping for vegetables, meat and tofu and then head back to my house for cooking lessons (I am the student... trying to learn the art of Chinese cooking) We always have fun chopping and stir-frying. I always take notes in hope to recreate it in the future :)
Here we are after all dished have been cooked.

Girls Cook for Boys Team Thanksgiving

Every Thursday the girls on the team have "Girl Time" :) We alternate between studying the Word together and a fun activity. Thanksgiving Thursday fell on a fun activity ... so... I recommended the girls cook dinner for the boys :)

We each signed up for a couple things to make but decided to do the cooking together. They came over about 4:00 and we got busy. Here is Sarah rolling out the pie crust (she had all the ingredients from America for a Pecan Pie) AND not pictured- but she got a little Thanksgiving package and contributed cranberry sauce :)

And with finished delicious product!!
Caroline and Ani busy in the (outdoor) kitchen

The birds of the day-- chicken (pre-head and leg chopping)

Post decapitation and stuffed with apples and onions

Chris and Allie with our almost finished table of food

And last but not least... all of us patiently taking a photo before we dig in! It was a ton of fun!!

Best part about the meal-- since girls cooked boys cleaned.

Fun at the French Restaurant

Last night was our big night out with our team and PA, Cathy. We had a wonderful time at one of the nicest restaurants in town.
Last night for some reason the food wasn't nearly as amazing as it was last time... but the environment makes up for everything else that is lacking.
Wes and I both order the "Filet of Beef" Wes enjoyed a beef steak... while mine was not beef- we are thinking it was pork.
I didn't eat much of mine, but I am so happy that Wes had steak.
I truly had a great time just hanging out and talking with our friends.

Thank you Cathy and ELI for treating us to dinner.

P man pictures

Happy Boy

I'm going to think about smiling.

Okay- BIG smile :)

Foodie Friday

Yesterday was a busy cooking day here at the Peak of Mount Thomas (if you remember affectionately named due to the 5 flight hike)
My morning started with a bowl of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal topped with Crasins and a cup of Good Earth Tea. The flavors were wonderful... but the company better!! I enjoyed this meal with my friend Kate :-) She drank a glass of Eggnog on one side of the computer ... and me with my oatmeal on the other. Loved our skype date.


I have enjoyed many cooking blogs recently (Crockpot 365, Whisk and Prayer, Market 2 Meal etc...) I found a Cinnamon Sugar bread recipe. Since Wes happens to love bread and cinnamon and sugar... I made it :-) It turned out DELICIOUS!! A definite keeper in the recipe book.


Cathy came over for dinner so I prepared an Ameican meal for our enjoyment. I didn't get any pictures... but we had Baked Potato soup in Bread Bowls and Brownies for dessert. Delish!
Today I plan to eat PP&J on a paper towel because my drying rack is full and my hands are pruned from all the dishes.

Parenting in China

So... being a white face in Hengyang draws a LOT of attention... but a white face with a white baby... oh my!! Things haven't been too crazy but crazy all at the same -- for instance- we go to our favorite Japanese noodle place for a nice relaxing meal (it is a treat to go here) and suddenly the waitress thinks it is ok to break out her cell phone and start taking pictures ... then send it to all her friends. This is rabbit trail.
Recently the weather in Hengyang has been simply beautiful- I would say an average of 75 over 60s... no rain... pollution only if you look in the distance (well... still highly polluted... but that's ok) You may be wondering- what does the weather have to do with the title of this post "Parenting in China" ... it will take some rabbit trails but eventually we will get around to it.
Back to the parenting part... many people like to give you advice -- rather tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing. This unsolicited advice is not limited to people with children but even my student friends feel the need to tell me how I should care for Parker.

For example, Parker has on one layer of clothing- sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt... we are inside where it is relatively warm here is a conversation

My friend says "I think Parker must be cold. You should put some more clothes on him"
(Not thinking I touch his hands... they are warm...)
so I say "Ok... I think he is alright"
Later (about 5 minutes)
Friend- "Avery, do you think Parker is cold?"

Another time with a different friend, I had Parker sitting on the couch right next to me and another
friend says "Can Parker move yet?"
Me: "nope, not yet"
friend: "do you think he is ok to sit there like that"
Me: "Yep, I am sitting right next to him... I think he is fine"
friend: "Are you sure... he might get hurt"

These are friends... but the advice also comes from anybody on the street. For example, you should put more layers on your child, why doesn't he have a hat on? I think he must need more sun. etc...

My teammate, Allie, and I went to the grocery store together. It was another warm 75 degree day and I saw this lady with her baby... I told Allie- I have to get a picture of this (she is great and said sure :)
This poor little one is about the same age as Parker... can't move his arms or legs and is sweating bullets.

Poor baby!!
As we leave, I am certain all the people said "the foreigner should put more clothes on that poor baby"

:)

So I know that this is the Hengyang way of showing care and love for other. The proper response is a smile and "thank you" then move along. Grace extended :)

Do Happy

There is a store in Hengyang called "Do Happy" and it does make you happy. They have random things like 15 RMB ($2 USD) Starbucks coffee mugs, home decor and tons of things with Chinglish (for example the sign at the entrance- Hello, my name is Christmas, will you merry me?")

This year the part that particularly makes me happy is all the stuffed animals They have every thing from "scary-looking-what-kind-of-animal-is-that" to Mickey, Minnie and Tiger too :) I know what Parker is getting for Christmas :)


Just thought I would share a fun store in Hengyang with you.

Cake in a Cup

Chocolate Cake in a Cup
Delicious and only takes 5 minutes to make :)
Here is the recipe
4 Tablespoon Flour
4 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Tablespoon Cocoa powder
2 Tablespoon of whisked egg
3 Tablespoon Milk
3 Tablespoon Oil
Couple drops on vanilla
(Few Chocolate Chips-- we omitted because we didn't have any)

Mix dry ingredients in a mug, then stir in egg, milk oil and vanilla. Cook in microwave for 2.5 minutes. I recommend putting a plate underneath of it to catch what overflows.

SUPER delicious!!

My Little Lion

Recently it has been cold and rainy in Hengyang. I have started to get out the sweatshirts for me and fleece for Parker. I bought this lion outfit at a consignment store in America. Super cute... but he cannot move in it but he is warm. Too funny.

Thankful for...

FAMILY

I don't think you could meet a person who is a bigger family girl that me. You may think - really- you live in China... your family is in America. Yes, I know... it is a sacrifice. BUT let me tell you-- I think about them all the time. So, today I want to dedicate a blogpost to family!!

Wes' Dad- Barry and Karen
They are fun and funny (yes there is a difference!!)
Barry is a hunter and fisherman by heart and a salesman to support the love. He is always talking about different hunting trips and his love for his sons. He meet an amazing woman in Karen. Truly the best! Karen came into the Thomas family about a year before Wes and I left for China. She is such a wonderful addition. She has an infectious laugh and bubbles over with joy. She makes Barry smile in a way he never did before she was around. (He knows he is lucky... as is she:)
They are two hearts knitted into one. Constantly picking on one another (in good fun they say)
And they LOVE this little boy :) Granddad and Neeny to the little ones.

Thankful for my in-laws.
Wes' Mom
She is a beautiful lady. Always taking part in 5k, 10k, marathons and tris. She is amazingly fit. She never complains and always looks for the bright side. I love to hear about her job and the joy she gets from it. I don't have many pictures of her... but it don't reduce the love I have for her... my mother-in-law-- Gray

My Mom and Dad
Now-- keep in mind-- these are the folks that birthed me and I have had 27 years of life with them... I could talk about them for hours (I will limit it for the blog)... they are the most amazing parents a girl could ask for... My cup runneth over

My Mom... My Best Friend.
She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She has a love for the Father and for others that is unmatched. She is an amazing teacher who truly cares about her students. She is the best example of what a godly wife and mother is suppose to look like. She always seems to know the right answer... even if it is simply a hug. She is amazing!! She is exactly what I want to be like.

Dad
I couldn't be more proud of anybody in the whole world. He is my hero!! He is simply amazing. He has brilliant ideas that don't just stay in idea form... they come alive. He is an amazing author (fiction and non-fiction... his latest book is dedicated to Parker and Lexie-- talk about tears in my eyes) He is thoughtful and full of wisdom. He seeks the Father above all else. He is an amazing example to me. He is a wonderful Boo Boo to Parker.

I love my Dad!!


Ashley, Salomon and Lil Lexie
We are sisters!!

Love the fun times we share together. She is an amazing cook. I miss her cooking. She is a dedicated teacher. She knows how to stick it out when jobs are hard. All the schools in Greensboro/High Point want her as their Spanish teacher, she is thrilled to be in the city's finest High School. I am so proud of her. She is also a mother-to-be.
Lil Lexie!! I can't wait to be an Aunt to this little girl. Parker's best friend already!!

They are brother :)

Salomon is tons of fun. I don't think I have ever seen my brother-in-law without a smile on his face. Ashley couldn't be married to a better man.
Ryan and Talia
Always super busy... we don't get to see them often. But love our times at family outings. Talia and I have a lot to share being the girls who married Thomas boys :) I love hanging out with her and Ryan when we can get in the same town.

Picture for your Monday

CEO Photo Shoot

Thoughts

One of the things that gives me great fulfillment in life is leading girls in B. study. This year I have the privilege of facilitating a B. study with the girls on the team. We are using Faithful, Abundant, True by Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer as a guide for conversation. This weeks lesson has been on talking to the Father. Priscilla has challenged us with our view of the Father and how we talk to Him. She encourages us to take ALL things to Him and know that He has the power to do ALL things.
A goal I have for myself this year is to be more faithful in my pr life. I want to be the person that says "I will lift you up" and then DO IT. Since I have gotten to HY, I have been very intentional in my prs. This morning I decided to go for an exercise walk on the track (don't picture an American track... but it is a dirt "track" around the soccer field.) I put sleeping Parker in the carrier and we head out. As I am walking, I get the idea to pr as I walk around the track. I decide that each "lap" will be a different focused pr-- for example- I had a thankful lap, what concerns my heart lap, pr for Wes lap, family lap, team lap, student lap etc... I ended with a Praise song cool down. It was such a refreshing time. I recommend it to all :) Spend quality time talking to the Father, pour out all your concerns and wait expectantly for Him to answer.
Oh and I just happen to have the cutest little pr partner in all of Hengyang. He woke up for the Praise song lap. :)

If you have anything you would like for me to lift-up... send me a note to my e-mail. I will be faithful to remember you.

This and That

Recently...
well-- I know this is suppose to be a blog about our adventures in China... and Parker is now the star of mommy's blog... now put the two together... Adventures with Parker in China :) haha.

So I don't have many adventurous stories to tell you except--
-- I had to figure out what to do this week when Parker poopied in his tub (I'm talking a blow-out... he is floating in his own filth quite literally) and the cold shoilette floor was not the right thing as his eyes get HUGE and he goes squimmy. The next option: a rug that is now hanging out to dry :)
-- Making him laugh so hard he got the hiccups. This by far had to be the cutest thing in the world. He just starts laughing (which sounds adorable) so I start laughing and he laughs harder ... back and forth ... ends with Parker having the hiccups. Loved this moment.
-- Teaching my girls that everyone has sin- even Parker and explaining how he sometimes get a little attitude (yes even at 2 months) and how when he starts having a bad attitude I talk to him about having a heart pleasing to the Father.
-- Last thing that doesn't involve Parker (except he was there) - a teammate and I went to the grocery store together. I found a 100 calorie Starbucks Frap. (they have disappeared from last year... can't find them anywhere... this was like finding gold) Got to the register and the lady wouldn't let me buy the Frap. What do I do... keep saying (in Chinese) "I want that... I want that" (yes, my Chinese is poor... but she knew what I was saying) and she said "No" My teammate (her Chinese is amazing) explained to the lady I really wanted to buy it and asked why she wouldn't let me... after something about a defective bar-code and the exchanging of 22.80 RMB... I got my Frap :) Thank you Cathy!!!

And because every blog post should include pictures--

Kisses from Mommy. Even though he looks like he was sleeping... he wasn't :)
I love this :) Wes took this picture of Parker looking at me.
He found his hands... and LOVES to suck on them. He has also started holding on to his lovey every now and then... but it generally ends with him trying to eat his lovey :)