Seeing The Unseen

We just finished our second Thanksgiving celebration of the week. We truly have lots to be thankful for. Our first turkey was shared with Rob's family. I am so thankful for the chance that my kids have to celebrate holidays with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is a crazy strange blessing that we have been given to have relatives actually on the other side of the world with us. I don't know anyone else who has been given that kind of a gift, but He gave it to us, and we are thankful for it. Our second thanksgiving was tonight at our home. We shared our turkey with those who very recently were strangers, but we now count as family. A year ago, I didn't know 1/2 the people in this photo. Today I can't imagine not knowing them. We share the same heartbeat, and although we don't share the same background, or family history, or even nationality, we are forever bonded together by what HE has done for us. We've experienced quite...

Today I read a very real and very raw post from another blogging mother. I really appreciate the honesty and openness portrayed in HER STORY . The longer I am around, the more I realize that basically we all have the same internal struggles. Our backgrounds, our life stories, and our personalities make those struggles look different in each of us, but behind the surface our struggles are very common. I wish that we would be more open with each other, that we would let people behind the wall and tell them that they are not alone. I love when people can do that in an encouraging and uplifting way. When someone comes alongside you and says, "Hey I've been there, I've had that struggle too, and I made it through" it gives hope. It also stops us from believing we are the only one out there who has the terrible thoughts, who is hiding the awful secrets, and who is ready to fall apart. We've all been there, some of us hide it better than others, but at our core w...

It's Thanksgiving week! It snuck up on us very quickly this year! But we are looking forward for all the extra chances for us to express our thanks to God for some of His blessings in our lives out loud with our friends and family. There really are too many to number which I am realizing more and more as I make this small attempt to name them. I am struck again and again that this discipline of naming His gifts, of recognizing them out loud for myself to see, really gives me new eyes. It helps me to see clearly that His love is everywhere, in each little detail of my life. Even the things I initially perceive to be negative, when seen in this light look different. As I look back I can see His hand in the good and the bad alike, shaping my life into what it is today. What if I believed Him today, not just when looking back, that all of His gifts were good and I really could "rejoice always"? 1. Taking adventure walks outside with the kids to find "t...

Fall is finally really in the air here. The leaves have changed colors and are rapidly falling. It isn't anywhere near as beautiful as New England foliage, but I still love my daily walks to and from preschool. There is something about the crisp fall breeze, the array of colored leaves, and the bountiful supply of tiny oranges that make it wonderful. We are blessed to have moved to a beautiful city. There are well landscaped parks every few blocks, a few miles worth of bayside biking and walking paths, complete with flowers, older Chinese architecture, and newer designs. It is about as peaceful as a big city could possibly be I think. So here are a few photos of the view from here and why they make me thankful: The contrast of old and new all mixed in together The men sitting and playing cards or chess on every corner All the curious things that are hung to dry in our courtyard The exquisite parks lining the coast Robbie's delightful preschool A peaceful plac...

What I don't have today is a bunch of new photos (just a few recent ones from Robbie's school activity), but what I do have is the link to a wonderful blog on thankfulness that is much more eloquent than mine. I really enjoyed reading THIS one today. 1. Getting to know a new friend 2. Finding time to chat with 2 of my best friends 3. The fact that although my chinese language skills leave much to be desired, they are still progressing slowly but surely 4. The blessing of having a teacher who is willing to come to my house for lessons and do them casually with our two small children lightening the mood. 5. The encouraged smile on the face of a friend who I am burdened for 6. The chance to pray with a sister 7. A wonderful husband to share my evening with

As I push my stroller around town headed to the grocery school or to preschool I usually ignore the signs. Most of them aren't in English and reading random Chinese out of context is still pretty much out of my league. But these ones have stopped me in my tracks a few times. So today I'm thankful........ 1. That I didn't grow up on this street 2. That our decision to have 2 children thus far was between us and God. 3. That I grew up in a home and a community where the value of life was high 4. That I could be equally happy when finding out "it's a girl" as I was when I found it "it's a boy" 5. My wonderful sister who is also my best friend 6. For all of the great aunts and uncles my kids have 7. For the 3 adorable cousins my kids can grow up with I am thankful to have been born where I was, into the family that I was, with the freedoms and joys that accompanied it.

Our few weeks worth of company has all boarded their planes headed to new locations so today was a quiet day around our house. It was nice! We have really enjoyed all of the visits and were so encouraged, but it's also nice to have some quiet time with our little family. 1. A quiet simple date with my best friend and love of my life 2. a walk in the beautiful crisp fall air 3. A friend who volunteered to babysit 4. a washing machine and dryer to tackle my massive post-company laundry 5. Recessed lighting 6. Warm soup on a fall day 7. the most adorable kids in the world who like to help me mop

So I missed a day already :-) With all the excitement and visitors in this neck of the woods I forgot to post my thankful list before bed last night. But since I already know I am far from perfect I will just try again today. 1. Cozy Sunday lunches with family 2. A 2 week visit by friends that brightened our world 3. Unexpected opportunities 4. That telling His story never gets old 5. Beautiful fall weather that has stayed just slightly chilly instead of biting and cold like other years. 6. Skype 7. A husband who loves me faithfully on my best and my worst days 8. A sweet time of encouragement with other woman this weekend remembering all He has and is doing for us.

Tonight is a little bit harder for me to write my list......my daughter just finished puking all over my mother-in-laws bed. But she is now washed off and fast asleep and the disaster area is cleaned up. So.....I am going to work harder on my thankfulness for today. 1. A mother-in-law who doesn't mind helping me clean up puke 2. an older couple who is investing their retirement into advancing His name in the world 3. a special time of encouragement and refocusing for my husband today 4. that God doesn't always let me have my way (because His plan was better than mine anyhow) 5. a special new DVD that Robbie was so excited to have which greatly helped pass our time away from home today 6. a fruit vendor who is open daily right outside my apartment complex with fresh, delicious, and cheap produce

On today's list :-) 1. lifetime friends who know where you've been and where you're going 2. a little boy who loves to say "I Love you mommy" 3. the fellowship of believers that can bond even strangers deeply together as part of His family 4. The city heat coming on before it has even gotten terribly cold 5. blue skies 6. friendly locals who put up with our bad Chinese and laugh instead of getting angry. 7. a baking buddy