Happiest of Thanksgivings everyone! I’m particularly thankful for my boys, the two that are here and the one on the way! (23 weeks along by the way- over half way there! All is well, baby is quite the little kicker:) I’m also thankful for our extended families and the support and love from them, especially as it’s expressed to our kiddo(s). Looking forward to much food and laughter with my family, and time in the car with my hubby this weekend. Maybe a little snow?!

For the sake of security for the people we worked with as well as my time (we’re packing up again for a Seattle Thanksgiving in a couple days but I want to share a few more pictures with you!) I’ll limit this Beijing blog post mainly to pictures. We had an amazing time working and touring in Beijing- working with a couple that are living in Beijing and learning the language. We visited three universities, had a Chinese language lesson from their tutor which was brain melting:) but inspiring, met with various people who have different ministries all over Beijing including a Chinese house church pastor who works with beggars. He was a humble, inspiring, and simple man with a huge heart. In America we get so caught up in our comfort- church being no different. We have all the comfortable pews and great sound systems we need- but what does our faith really boil down to? What is the first reason we came to our faith and what does it do to change lives around us- not just emotionally and spiritually but practically as well?

In China the main people group is Han- but there are many minority groups all over China. There is a place in Beijing called Minority Park that is set up with houses and dwellings that represent some of these people groups- showing you what these people still live like today. Here’s a great picture of the contrast in developing nations- a simple, traditional Chinese dwelling with a sky scraper behind it:

Another house that is made of birch and easy to take apart because
this particular people group moves around depending on where their food supply is:

Tiananmen Square with Chairmen Mao’s picture…
behind this is The Forbidden City, dating back to 1406:

Traditional tea serving:

Some of the street food delicacies- squid on a stick!

Andrew tries some starfish on a stick- reporting that it tastes…
well, like a starfish should taste, crunchy, sandy, no need for seconds:)

One of the many signs with hilarious translation…
I think you’re not supposed to go past this sign:)

A grandma and baby we met strolling through
one of the universities- aren’t they beautiful?

China… you captured our hearts.

This was Andrew and I’s second time to The Great Wall, but this time to a different spot. Last time we were leading a YWAM team, dating, so it was fun to reminisce about how much has changed and how much adventure our lives still hold. This particular spot along The Wall was really cool because instead of just walking up to it you took a ski lift up…

…and a tobaggon to get back down! Unfortunately Andrew and another guy on our team got stuck behind some VERY slow Chinese men coming down the mountain very cautiously… and Andrew crashed into the guy in front of him when he came around a corner full speed only to find them all at a dead stop!

Our whole team on The Wall-

Climbing the steep way up the wall- the preggy lady was getting a little tired!:)

So thankful to be back in China…

The forbidden part of The Wall that you’re not supposed to go on…
probably the best part because you can see how over time it breaks down without being cared for- trees were even growing on parts of it.

Baby boy and Mama on The Wall…

Foosh taking in the view…

Still to come: Beijing.

The first in my series of pictures from our trip- the kids at the Philip Hayden Foundation Orphanage. This facility takes in special needs children from all over China.

The kids are divided up by age in 3 houses, plus a clinic where there are kids recuperating from surgeries, awaiting treatment, or just getting the extra medical care their condition warrants. The facility is cozy, personal, and homelike. Two of the full time staff at PHF are doctors- a husband and wife who gave up their practice in the states to live in China and take care of these precious kids. They remarked that opening the supplies we’d brought from the states was like Christmas to them, as good quality medical care items are much harder to come by in China.
The kids are taken care of by Chinese nannies whom they call mama. This is by far the best run orphanage I’ve seen. There is one staff to every two or three kids, compared to the government facilities which have anywhere from 10 to 16 or more kids per staff. Being at PHF definately confirmed Andrew and I’s heart to adopt, and made adopting a special needs child even from China feel very doable.

We did a VBS with story, songs, & small group activities with crafts & sensory.
The kids loved it & it was a great way to connect with them & nannies.

The other time we had was spent working on projects around the orphanage- cleaning, moving furniture, etc. Andrew got to help out with some computer questions in the office as well. We had lots of time to play with the kids in their homes or outside. There was a little boy who loved Andrew and would come running to his arms every time he saw him- in the front in the following picture. Behind him on Andrew’s lap is Lucus, who is deaf. There is a program in China for the cochlear implant but he does not qualify so PHF hopes to raise funds to get them for this energetic little guy.

A little boy named Cameron captured my heart- he was one of the first kids to let me hold him and carry him around and when he called me ‘mama’ the last morning of the trip my heart melted.

I spent a lot of time in the clinic. The first day there I noticed a little baby girl in a bouncy chair and through an interpreter found out that she is nine months old and suffering from malnourishment. Her name is Ching-Ling, and she has the body size and strength of a 4 or 5 month old. She seemed to come alive when I would hold her and look into her eyes as I sang and talked to her.

This little guy is so full of life & energy- with a face that lit up the room when he tried to smile. He’s awaiting surgery to correct his cleft lip.

I can’t put into words the privilege it was for me to be with these kids even for a short time or the inspiration I felt from the staff. These children are truly priceless and deserve all the love we can give them. If you have ever considered sponsoring a child, adopting a child, or giving financial help to a program like this one I would ask that you consider these beautiful kids in China. You can follow the link above to PHF’s website to learn more about how they run and what needs they have.
It was with a full and somewhat aching heart that we left these kids, thankful that they are getting the best care possible and knowing we’ll return to see how they’ve grown.

Next up: The Great Wall

Our first picture of baby’s profile… our little BOY!!!! That’s right- Jude will have a little brother! We hope they will be the best of buddies growing up… they’ll be sharing a room, clothes, and hopefully learning to sleep through the night together. (That’s right Jude, you’re days of restlessly sleeping in our bed are numbered…):)
The ultrasound was amazing- very detailed, you could even see the curve of the umbilical cord and the flow of blood through the 4 ventricles of the heart, as well as his little hands tucked up under his cheek at one point. He’s measuring right at 21 weeks, so right on target for a late March birthday. He’s an active little one inside like Jude was, and we are so thrilled to be welcoming him into our family.

Our little Judo is 2 years old! (He’s showing you with his fingers:) He celebrated his actual birthday with my parents, going out to dinner and opening a few special gifts, and then we celebrated again the day we got home from China.

Grandpa and Mimaw (his name for my Mum:) and Jude made a special birthday cake to celebrate- a train cake! Jude is really into trains right now so we had Thomas the train napkins, balloons, etc. and the cake was too cute!

Jude was quite taken with his train cake…

One of his gifts from my parents- a ‘big boy bike’!

Trying on his panda backpack from China…

We love you Judo!

We were so excited to see Jude on Saturday morning after our 2 weeks in China. He had an amazing time with my parents and seems even more lively and gigglier than ever, with lots of new words and phrases. We are so grateful that my parents took such loving care of him and so glad he did so well. He asked about us the first few days and then when he would play with his cars he’d make them drive to China!:) He had lots of special time with my parents as well as my grandparents and his cousins while we were away.
We’ll be posting pictures & stories of our China adventure soon…