It's a Small World After All.....

Sing along with me.....It's a Small World After All, It's a Small World After All....It's a Small..OK. I'll stop.

Yesterday we went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We had to leave our resident country this weekend for visa reasons, so we decided to check out Hong Kong Disney for the evening. They had this great special where you could buy a ticket from 6:30-11:00pm and it was perfect. We were able to do all the things we wanted to do over and over and over again with no lines or waiting. We didn't tell the kids we were thinking of going so they were SOOOO Suprised. Here are some highlights of the day!

First off, Disneyland has it's own Subway line. So, when you transfer from the regular subway to the Disney line....it comes complete with Disney window, handles, and well just about everything Disney. My kids thought it was "cool" Yes....Hudson is hanging from the handles, one of his favorite things to do on a subway or bus. Thank you Dillon Chilcoat, Patrick Mayfield, and Patrick Wright for teaching him this last summer. Still on the subway.....Upon arrival we took the obligatory "We are at Disney" picture. And another one with the whole fam, Mickey was surfing back and forth on the whale...it was cool. Hannah and I before the Madhatter teacups started. Let me just say now, I have hated this ride since childhood....alway have always will. But since I am an EXCELLENT mom....I rode it with her.
Told you I hated this ride!!!
The boys on the carousel.
And the girls. Favorite ride....Buzz Lightyear Blaster. We rode it 5 times. I had the high score until I told Rob my secret.....then Hudson beat all of us time and time again!

We were trying to get Space Mountain in the background ...the green blur...didn't work, but we took a cute pic.
And the cute kids with "it's a small world" in the background.
What I love more than anything is the natural excitement kids show!
And what do you say about this picuture? Wanna know what Hudson is like? This is it!!! Who doesn't love Mickey?

My Drama Queen!
Maybe they will grow up to be astronauts!?!?!
The best pic of the night, thanks to glow in the dark cotton candy! Every 8yr olds dream come true.
How do you know when it has been a good day? When you can't keep your eyes open any longer.

All I have left to say is .............

Joined Together - Rob

In reference to marriage The Father says that what He has joined together no one should separate. The clear implication of that statement is that it is Him who puts people together. It is just another example of His incredible sovereignty. In His plan for me, almost 15 years ago I sat down at a table at OBU across from a girl I didn’t know. As His plan unfolded it became clear that He was putting me and this girl together. A few years later we were married, a few years after that we had two children. In all of those times it became clearer and clearer just how perfect Father’s plans are. In all our time together it is apparent how incredibly gifted my wife is and how Father engages those giftings to perfectly match His desires and the journey He has us on.

About 6 months ago this journey took another turn as we moved to a new part of the world far away from home. In this new and very different setting my wife’s giftings have flourished in beautiful new ways. The most evident is her amazing ability to pick up language. It is truly a gift. She is always humble, but her language far exceeds mine. (Not that my language is a good measuring stick.) Her teachers say that she is the most gifted student they have ever taught and are amazed at how fast she picks things up and puts them into use. I sit and listen to her have conversations in the local language that completely blow me away. I often look at her and say, "How did you know how to say that?" Her reply is almost always, "I don’t know" accompanied with a thin grin and slight shrug of the shoulders. Yet an even greater gifting than her remarkable skill at language has been revealed.

Numerous times we’ve been on crowded busses, in cramped taxis, in noisy restaurants, on dirty streets or any number of other places and I’ve listened to her share His story with such natural grace. Nothing is forced. Nothing is contrived. And she always seems to have her listeners captivated by the story she is sharing. Whether in our language or the local language she is truly gifted at telling others His story. Father’s work in her is extravagant, beautiful and on full display. She is truly far better at this job than I am. I stand back and watch and am overwhelmed by His work in her. And I am exceedingly grateful that He put both of us at that table 15 years ago.

Ma Fan - from Rob

Ma Fan. There’s this great little word in our new language. It carries such deep meaning. You use it to convey anything that is troublesome or bothersome. Basically anything that is a royal pain in the neck can be described as Ma Fan. The cool thing is when you throw out the Ma Fan everyone understands. You can be talking about a subject and all of the sudden reference it as very Ma Fan and you quickly receive knowing grunts and nodding heads in agreement, as though you’ve just connected with some deeply common experience that binds people together. Maybe it’s the very idea of Ma Fan that holds this entire culture together. I could easily think that today.

Today I set out to pursue what I think is step 3 or 4 (I have no idea how many there are total and probably still won’t when I’m done) to getting our visa situation settled. We have already renewed the company registration, changed the official address to our home, and named ourselves as the chief representatives. Last week Alicia and I had medical exams done to get our health books that allow us to officially say we are not bringing in any infectious diseases into the country. What a relief! That trip was truly an experience, and oh so blog worthy, but not the focus of my rant today. All of these things were merely the run up to going in for our visas. All of this stuff had been a little Ma Fan, but nothing compared to what I was about to run into.

After we biked the kids to school today I took off to meet "our guy" who is helping us with our visa stuff. He goes by Mr. Golf. This is yet another example of the strange things that can occur when locals give themselves English names. Mr. Golf speaks just enough English to act like he can, but not enough to really communicate. So Mr. Golf and I head off together to a rather large and tidy govt building filled with attendants behind counters and a full array of cubicles behind those. The air was filled with lovely elevator music that would have been fitting any first rate department store in the states. After a few trips to different floors we finally found the place we needed to be, back on the first floor, and the long day began. The day can really be split up into two parts, the waiting before lunch and the waiting after lunch. I waited while he found out what forms we needed. I waited while he filled out those forms. I waited while the people behind the counter mulled endlessly over the newly filled out forms. But the best came right before lunch.

Somewhere along the way some friends of Mr. Golf’s came into the office. They were working on the same things I was, so Mr. Golf decided to go ahead and help them out as well; which only doubled my fun. Mr. Golf was off with his friends when lunch time arrived. At what must have been the exact moment of noon the whole office went quiet. It was this deafening silence that caused me to look up from the game of snake on my cell phone I had decided to pass the time with. I was all alone. No workers. No others people waiting. Not even my friend Golf was to be found. A few moments later the lights went out and shades were drawn over the windows. It was lunch time. I was not lonely long as Mr. Golf found me and we decided to go out and find some noodles for lunch. We grabbed a quick bite at a nearby noodle shop and then went back to the office. When we arrived the lights were still out, but the cubicles and the counters were fully manned, except everyone was asleep. Everyone in their place, most sitting or slumping in their chairs, but sound asleep. A few conscientious nappers even had the cute Lone Ranger mask without the eyeholes thingies to maximize their downtime. At 1:00 exactly the music kicked back on and within 2 – 3 minutes everything was up and running again; just in time for me to wait some more.

Over lunch Mr. Golf told me that we may have a problem getting done what we need to get done. He wouldn’t, or couldn’t elaborate further. At one point in the afternoon, after he disappeared with his other friends for about another hour, he tried to explain the problem and could only get out what I understood to be, "Bank of America." That threw me a little because I could not figure out why BOA would have anything to do with my visa. After spending the entire afternoon at the office I walked out with a License for Employment in this country and Mr. Golf seeming ominous about our progress. The Employment License was much less than we set out to get and really does me little immediate good.

My phone rang soon after arriving home from a hard day of sitting and waiting. It was Mr. Golf. He said that I needed to come to his house that evening with someone to translate so I could fully understand what was going on. I said Ok, and that I would try to find someone to come with me. With a translator in tow I headed to Mr. Golf’s house at about 8:30. Upon arriving I learned that the entire system has changed from what it used to be and the new system offers new and interesting hoops to jump through. The biggest revelation was that "Bank of America" was actually "Back to America". The biggest new step is that I have to enter the country on a business visa and cannot change once I arrive, as we had been planning to do. My Employment License simply allows me to apply for a business visa at an embassy or consulate… in America! Note to all parents…. We don’t really think we will be coming back to the states anytime soon. We went on to discuss the prospect that we can probably just go to the embassy in Hong Kong and get this taken care of. So it means we will take what we hope will be a short trip out of the country next month to take care of step 5 of what will certainly be a process that will offer many more Ma Fan days.

Happy Birthday ROMAN!!

Hannah is hijacking my blog today. Actually, we are collectively wishing Roman a very happy birthday. Thought there would be nothing better than taking a walk down memory lane to commemorate a decade of Roman and Hannah....well, almost as Hannah still has 2 months til she reaches her decade....but you get the picture.

I remember as little bity girls, these two staying up way too late talking after "lights out" and having all sorts of fun dressing up as who knows what! It is too hard for my mind to wrap around 10 years. I hope the next 10 don't go so fast!! (People with grown children are not allowed to comment.)
So Roman please know we are thinking of you today and sorry we are missing your special day! Hope it is a GREAT DAY!!!

Bike Picture

Ah.....the bike. This is the boy pic...the girl pic, well maybe another day. This is the bottom of our BIG hill. You can see the guard at the gate to our complex. He is wondering why exactly I am taking a picture of Rob there in the middle of the road.

My New Ride

We are now a two vehicle family. I would say a 2-car family, but in reality it is a 2-bike family...electric bike.

Let me take you back for a moment to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, when I was in my prime bike riding element. This was the only mode of transportation which allowed my first taste of responsibility and freedom. Our street was called Bent Tree Ct. and my whole neighborhood was filled with people I knew from church so I could ride around with my friend Nikki and we could explore and have wonderful adventures. I remember riding as fast as I could down our steep driveway, banking a quick right and flying all the way to Nikki's house, then a quick wave by our pastor's house and on around the block. What great days! Then...... I became too cool for my bike, then.......I got a camarro. Bye Bye Bike. Until now.

This week my sweet, loving, wonderful husband bought a second electric bike. Many of you will remember we have had one bike stolen already. I had tentatively taken his bike on "test rides" to see if I could still handle a bike....it has been a while. I had gone to the market, paid the phone bill, and even last week took Hannah to a friends house...she was riding behind me. Whew! (my mom never let me ride on the back of anyone's bike...I must be way cool)

So, this week my bike era has begun again. No more taxis or bus 33 for me. Our morning begins as Rob, the kids, and I coast down our HUGE hill to the street from our apartment and meet our friends at the bottom. Hannah and her friend get on the back of Rob's bike and Hudson and his friend get on the back of my bike.....it is carpool time! Now, my heart begins to race a little becasue riding the bike to school with 2 precious kids on the back honestly makes me a little nervous. But, it isn't far and I really am a good driver, and I am also comforted by the facts that there are other bikepoolers on their way to school with more people/kids on the back than me. Plus noone is going too fast. There are no lanes really, it is every bus, car, van, motorcycle, and bike for himself. After dropping the kids off at school Rob and I head to language school. What fun we have had riding our bikes together. Yesterday he was showing off for me, showing me his bike tricks, I am sure they have all come back to him from childhood. Today we rode home through the park, so fun! However, now I have a bike hair issue, on top of my way-too-humid-frizzy-hair issue.

The best part about these bikes is that they are electric. It is perfect for adults....you don't have to pedal, except up the hills. One twist of the handle and away you go. AND.......navigating the traffic is like the game Frogger....except on steroids, and it is real. There are no stated driving rules here, only suggestions. But everyone follows an unstated traffic flow and cars don't drive anywhere near as fast as they do at home. In fact, most of the time we draw so much attention, especially when the kids are on the back, cars slow down and ride next to us staring so they can watch the kids.

So, now that I have given you all, especially the grandparents, something new to pray for, I hope to reassure you with the fact that there are more bikes on the road than any other form of vehicle, and bikes have their own special lanes to ride in, except when the cars and buses decide to drive in them too, so we are very safe!

Sleepover

Hannah had a sleepover this weekend. All the 4th grade girls from school were invited, and all were going. There are only 6 4th grade girls, so this was a MUST ATTEND event in Hannah's eyes. Now, school has just begun and I haven't met all the parents yet, and I only know 3 out of the 6 sets of parents. I checked around, with the other parents I do know, and found out that I could definitely send my daughter to the sleepover and all would be ok. I was told these were excellent parents and fun would be had by all.

Hannah really likes the little girls in her classroom, and they all get along so well. They are quite a cute group. 3 little girls are from Korea, 1 is from Singapore, then Hannah and another girl are Americans. The sleepover was for one of the Korean girls. Did I mention Hannah is the only one of these girls who doesn't speak more than 1 language, most speak 3. WOW! Also, Hannah has informed me that her lunch at school is different than most people's. She brings a sandwich, chips, fruit, and a cookie to school. Everyone else brings rice, noodles, or kim chi...she thanks me for the sandwich.

Back to the sleepover. The day of the sleepover the birthday girl's mom called me to assure me Hannah would be welcome and they would love to have her. I told her I was happy to send her and I would meet her this afternoon. As we got ready to go Hannah asked me to pray for her, she said she wasn't sure she would be able to eat anything "good" until she got home the next day. Sweet girl. She said, "I don't think they do pizza and chips in Korea like we do in America." Nope. Pretty sure they don't. So before she left the house we loaded her up with a big peanut butter sandwich. When we arrived and I met the mom, who was very sweet, she told me that another one of the parents wanted to pick all the girls up the next day and take them to have lunch and play at their house until about 4pm. Hannah was game, so the adventure continued.

She had a great time. Hannah reported that she ate what was put in front of her, said the birthday cake was a sweet potato cake, different, but ok, and they were all in bed and asleep by 10pm (yep, they were good parents). And, yes, she was hungry when she got home.

PS...the fish are all still alive.

Family Nights!!

I can't go on another day without letting you in on a little insider info about our "family nights". Each Wednesday night is "family night" at our house, and it usually involves all sorts of activities. Each family member gets a night to decide what will be eaten and what sort of activity we will ALL partake in. Nothing crazy, not a lot of money has to be spent.....just has to be done together.

It is funny to me how each one of us usually picks something different and it somehow takes on our personalities. For example, I always choose to go out and eat.....so I don't have to cook....and usually it is back home for a movie. I decided my kids were old enough to start watching the "classics". So, we started with ET. (my dad took me to see it when I was in 3rd grade......wondering why I liked it, my family was bored to tears and didn't understand it) Then I moved on to the Back to the Future Series......not realizing the language that was in that movie, what were my parents thinking? Then Hannah and I the last few weeks tag teamed Anne of Green Gables....the SAGA. Hannah and I are kindred spirits so it works out well.

Rob usually chooses to go out and eat, so I don't have to cook, or we fix something together. (rob's MAD cooking skillz coming in a later post) Then we have family game night. Nothing like a little family "sorry", "jenga", "uno", or "skip bo" for family fun!! Always a winner.

Then we have my kids.....WHEW! They are always trying to have "THE BEST FAMILY NIGHT EVER!!" Hudson always wants breakfast for dinner, and his activity always changes. One night it was watching a movie, the next week was "SING IT" (the high school musical karaoke PS2 game) where we all took turns singing and dancing to our favorite High School Musical songs....sorry folks, no video of that. But the best one was last week, when Hudson proclaimed it was STAR WARS NIGHT!!! We all had light saber wars, for at least an hour...then headed back to spar in the PS2 version or light saber fighting. Fun was had by all.

Last night.....Hannah's night. We usually do quite a few things on Hannah's night, because she is pretty creative. However, mostly we watch musicals. We have seen "Singin' in the Rain", "The Sound of Music", and last night....she chose to watch the last half of "My Fair Lady". She loves to watch musicals over and over, learning all the songs and dancing around with the characters. So last night we almost all enjoyed singing and dancing to My Fair Lady. Please note I say "almost" all. Hudson sat next to me last night and kept commenting...."Oh, Brother" "You are kidding" "Oh no, they are singing again". I guess he wasn't ready.

Sometime, if you are ever here on a Wednesday night....you can enjoy family night with us!