Secret stories

After our jammies are on, teeth brushed, water drank, fluoride rinse spit out, Bible story told (currently going through Acts, the kids are loving it!), and family prayer Hudson and Grace get their beloved secret stories told to them. About 6 months ago, Craig - not in an effort to prolong the bedtime routine, but to calm the kids down - started telling both Grace and Hudson their "secret stories". Originally he whispered it to them, now their told so they both can hear the others.

Hudson's story involves Grace, Titus, Wil Wil, Isaiah and him on assignment from the King of Kings to bring a message to the evil emperor in Tartania. They all have their horses, battles, and so on- with lots of spiritual lessons to be learned in it...Hudson LOVES this. And I am so impressed with Craig- at the end of his long days- coming up with such clever stories!

The Adventures of Amazing Gracie start something like this, "Deet-deet-deet-deet, deet-deet-deet-deet, deet-deet-deet-deet. The Amazing Gracie alarm was going off. Amazing Gracie slapped on her hat, grabbed her backpack, opened the doors to the closet and slid down the Amazing Gracie Slide to the Amazing Grace bike waiting at the bottom of the building; today Gracie was going to..." She goes to a variety of places (bunny farm, balloon factory...) and meets someone who is in great need of help, helps them, they thank her, and she says she is welcome and that it is her joy because Jesus has helped her so much, she's happy to help others.

Lately however, I've been telling Grace her story - which is never quite as good- but she is content with that. And as we're saying goodnight she insists on telling me my secret story. Sometimes its similar to hers and other times it starts with things like "Once upon a time mama was a dinosaur" or "Once upon a time when mama was a little boy" or "Once upon a time mama wanted to do a twirl, but she didn't have a tutu. So I gave her my pink tutu..." Usually includes a lot of nonsense and often the finding of mommy or babies at the end :)

(Below are some pictures from our sweet b'day treat hotel night/pool swimming/american breakfast eating adventure this week!)

Therefore let us go to him

Blessed/challenged by this talk I just listened to this afternoon while cleaning...

Oh that I would count my life cheap and not want to be carried to the sky on flowery beds of ease! Oh that my love would intensify for him now as my Treasure, and my desire for him later as my final and great Reward and that my life would have a radical, risk-taking, sacrificial flavor.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/2008/2724_How_the_Supremacy_of_Christ_Creates_Radical_Christian_Sacrifice/

Crack-roaches

A few of the funnier mis-said words in our home by the little goof-balls...

Hudson is usually the first to spot, as he did this morning- (a very serious occurence) the "huge crack-roach"es.

Grace just came out of her bed saying, "Mama, I need some tylenore. My belly hurts" and while we were playing outside this morning, "Ha! Mama that car is on the white-sock (sidewalk)"...She also often opens her mouth - "watch mama, I can open my mouth big and smart". And of course there's "restaurank" and "lets build a fork"! (fort) And, "what number are you?" (how old are you?)

Titus- well, he loves to growl, scream, laugh, grab funny things out of the garbage and eat them...and in general adds a significant amount of laughter to our home.

And of course there's the other fun conversations about- how old Jesus is --
H: What's the biggest number in the world?
Me: Well, I'm pretty sure it's a google.
A couple minutes later...
H: Mama, Jesus is bigger than a google.

and-- Gracie when she becomes a boy--
G: When I turn to a boy I'm going to like jam.
H: Gracie, you can't turn to a boy; but you can be a girl baseball player.
G: Oh yeah.
H: What do you want to be a pitcher, catcher, hitter, runner?
G: A rocketship baseball player.
H: When I'm 49 I'm going to be a basketball player.
G: When I'm 78 I'm going to be a basketball player.
H: You're going to be really tall... (age and height have a direct correlation in their minds still)

and-- Hudson counting cookies in a book he's reading--
H: 10 cookies.
G: Where's the cookies? (has her mama's sweet tooth)
H: (closing the book) Nowhere.
G: Yes where!

The goofs (note Gracie's new "smile for the camera" and her unprompted- very Chinese- peace sign, it may also be how old she is, although I didn't ask her to do that) :)

The View From our Porch

Happy Chinese New Year!

The fireworks continue here in our city. I thought I remembered how loud, how many... but I'm again shocked at them all this year. Our neighbor --thanks Jon!-- shot this video on the big night (our building is in the background near the end) It doesn't compare to being here, but it is quite good. Enjoy :)

Aussie-Aussie-Aussie

It is good good good to be back "home" in Beijing! As much as we so enjoyed our stay in Hong Kong, we are thankful to have a high chair for a squirmy almost 1-yr old. I think Craig and I both lost a couple pounds mainly trying to keep our hungry Titus from pulling down the serving plates and quiet/fed during our meal times-- we were kept busy! We do miss the sweet people however- and the fun (and warm weather) we had! It was so encouraging and insight-giving for us- and the kids had a blast. Hudson especially enjoyed it and a particular Aussie brother who taught him some Australian cheers and also Australian rules football- not to mention- of course about God being His rock. Our last night there Hudson was given an Australian rules football-- he was thrilled, and it was sweet to see him given this gift- as by God's grace- Hudson has given away a couple of his treasured bats and balls to other little boys. He's now not only asking to play basketball all the time, but also if I'll "kick a footie" with him :)

(The kids below at a park about a 10 min walk down the path- and then at the beach!)