Fall Sports

I wanted to share some sports and activities that Jack and Grace have been doing this fall.  Activities that make living in China seem "normal", although that word really doesn't mean much.  

 Grace started Ballet class which at her age is really creative movement.  So far, she has been dancing a little and watching a lot.  :)  I'm sure she will get more comfortable as each week passes.

 Jackson is playing football, which of course, we call soccer!  He loves it and is having a great time.  They play at his school's field which is really convenient.  Last year we had to go to the outskirts of Beijing to play t-ball and indoor soccer, this is much better!

Last week, I forgot to send Grace's swim clothes to school with her, so I took them up to the school and stayed for swimming.  It was so cute seeing all of these preschoolers get changed into their swim clothes and goggles!  She was so excited that I was there to watch her, she was showing me all of her tricks.  I'm amazed at how well the coaches do with the kids in the water, they really know what they are doing.

Nana and Gaga are coming at the end of this week!  We are so excited, we can hardly stand it!

I love a good sunrise

 September through mid-November is the best time to be in Bejing!  The weather has been gorgeous recently with a cooler breeze during the day and beautiful skies.

Sunrise

Blue skies and white clouds

It is so true, Chinese people can sleep ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!!  Even on a bench at the mall, by the restrooms.

Protests around the world

I do not know about the media coverage in the U.S. right now, but protests happening around the world are in our face here in Beijing.  Besides the protests happening in the middle east, not to mention the protests I hear about in Russia, we now have a huge protest happening in China.  The Chinese and Japanese are arguing over some islands.  Both claim to have ownership of the land.  I am not about to throw out an opinion, I am purely just writing about it to let family and friends know what is going on here.

When I say that the protests are in our face here, I mean literally.  The Japanese embassy is right across the street from Beijing International Christian Fellowship.  Because I had music rehearsal there yesterday and church today, I saw it up close and personal.  I saw the crowds grow to where no buses, taxis, cars, etc were allowed to drive down the whole major street.  The hotel/church parking lot has become a media, police, and security central zone.  If you do not head in that direction, you may not know the extent that it is occuring because they are definitly not covering it in the Chinese media.  But, I did upload an article about it from CNN.  You can read it for yourself to get an understanding.

Here are my observations...as I have never been in an area of protests before, being from a small town in the midwest.

• Walking down a street of protesting has an eerie feeling.
• Mainly the actual protestors seem to be college aged people
• Lots of Chinese people are there observing, not neccessarily protesting
• Japanese people here in Beijing have been advised not to be out alone
• Many Japanese restaurants have closed for the time being
• I really wish I could read Chinese writing so that I would know what the signs say on the Japanese restaurants and in the hands of protestors.
• When your kids are walking with you, you have to explain what is going on, whether you are ready for that conversation or not.
• God calls us to love ALL people the way that Christ loved us.
• We have safety and hope in God

Weekend Getaway to Miyun

Well, I tried to upload my video to the blog, but haven't had good luck after many attempts.  Jeff and I are chalking it up to our slow internet, the use of a VPN, and the list goes on....

So, I will have to tell you about our weekend using pictures and words, but you won't get to hear any music with it.  :)

So, here we go...

 

 

 We traveled with our good friends the Johnsons (TJ, Jenni, Noah, and Nate) originally from Arkansas but have lived here almost 6 years.

Jenni and Tracy lead worship together at the Fellowship.

We hired a driver and his JinBei (van) to take us the hour and a half outside Beijing to a mountainous village close to Miyun for some hiking.

The farmers' house where we stayed.

 A Farming family (parents, child, and grandparents) live here and rent out rooms.

 We were the only ones staying here at the time.

Noah and Nate are around Jack's age.

This is what the rooms looked like with various sized beds.

Courtyard area where we made our central hangout.

When we arrived, they had made us dinner.  We were hungry!

Let's Go Hiking!

 Need a snack on the way?

 

 How about a donkey ride to take you to the mountain?

 Keeping the watermelons fresh and cold.

 Time to stop, relax, and grab a bite to eat!

 ......And build a damn

 Time to get back to hiking!

We took steaks to grill and the farmer and his mother helped us prepare them.

Outdoor kitchen/pantry of sorts

 

 Jeff cooked up some veggies.

 Washing clothes

Grinding Mill

 The next morning we hiked a trail close by

We had a blast with our friends, and enjoyed being a part of village life for a couple of days.  

Back to the city....

"Is this the guy who is supposed to pick us up??"