Without Borders

We believe each person's journey in this life is an adventure.

Our adventure, well, it is full of ups and downs (as most adventures are).

I am so very thankful for some wonderful 'ups' the past couple weeks with our kiddos.

Thanks for walking alongside us and "enjoying" our kids with us.

Warning - this post is long!

Family Fun Day

A couple Saturdays ago was "Family Fun Day" at the big kids' school.

It was like a family field day.

There were games set up for families to play together,

there was yummy food too.

Mei was excited to "meet" the Panda. :)

Ian enjoyed the games but buying some little Pokemon figures at the yard sale was a highlight for him.

We definitely had a fun day together.

Hot day, but a fun day. :)

Ian's Field Trip

Last week I took a day off to help chaperone a field trip with Ian's class.

Watching he and some of his friends walk into the school warms my Mama heart.

This trip was to the "biggest building in the world."
We got there early and while it is totally OK to be late in this culture - you CAN'T be early. :)
Can you see why that works well for my personality. lol
I was born late and it hasn't ever really changed...

But, with a shocking lack of traffic this morn, we were early to the building.
His very creative teacher kept them occupied with a game of "Simon Says." :)

The small part of the inside of this immense building was impressive.
The trip was a perfect for this age group.
A very fun playground then a trip to a Lego Education Center where the kids got to do story telling with their legos.
Yes, I did say, "Lego Education Center."
High dollar but it does exist.
Amazing thing about field trips here.
We don't pay!
The kids, nor the chaperones, had to pay as it really is covered in their tuition.

Elementary Spring Program

Friday night was the Elementary Spring Program.

It was fantastic!

1st-2nd graders sang, did sign language and skits.

The skits were incredible!

The music teacher stated she wanted the kids to use what they've been learning in class about being brave, standing strong in their faith and sharing it with others even when not convenient or easy, even if things are scary, because we know that God will give us strength through His Spirit. You can see some of the children in pictures and video below are dressed in white/silver,... they represent the Holy Spirit.

It was incredible and such a surprise for us!

Ian hadn't told us what he was doing and we were surprised to see he played King Darius.

That made this drama loving mama happy. :)

The best part - the message it clearly spoke to the families in the school who aren't yet part of our bigger family.

Aili joined the 3rd-5th graders as they played their recorders and sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." I really enjoyed all their songs, but my fave for their group was definitely when they sang "Father I adore you" in four languages (Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English) in a round all at the same time- a small glimpse of Heaven.

Absolutely Fantastic night!

Thoroughly impressed with how much thought and work went into this program.

Of course, we are so proud of our kids. :)

Biography Wax Museum

This week: more fantabulous days of joining in on school activities with our big kids.

Yesterday, Aili's class had a virtual wax museum. They have been reading biographies and chose one for this project. We "met" some of our favorite characters - George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward and of course just loved our little Corrie ten Boom. ;) It was a very diverse group which included Hitler, Wright Brothers, JFK, Stalin, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, a couple of Thomas Edisons, Sojourner Truth and many more...The kids had a little paper "button" you could push and they would give about a 30 second summary of who they were and for what they were known. They also put together a newspaper article. They all did such a great job!

It is inconceivable that the people portrayed below would ever be in the same room together, right? Especially not smiling! lol

Gala Day

Divide and conquer? We do this very often in our family and today was one of those as I helped at the school and B went on a field trip. :)

I went to the school to help with "Gala Day." This event was nearly cancelled due to the rain but thankfully He heard our requests and held off the rain for a little while. :) "Gala Day" is like field day, with many fun games. We had a blast but did have to take it inside when the drizzle became heavier.

And um...Pretty certain I had the cutest little team. :) Don't you agree?

4th-5th Grade Field Trip

Today was also the 4th-5th grade field trip. They were supposed to go to what we've heard is a beautiful mountain here. However, steep steps up a mountain on a rainy day with a bunch of kids wasn't exactly what they'd planned. So, they changed plans on the bus ride there and stopped at an "ancient" village. It rained, but that didn't keep the kids from enjoying it. And seriously, couldn't get a better backdrop for a field trip right?

Racing time - The kids had built rafts which they raced in the little stream here.

Aili says this guy's shoulder plates made good protection from the rain. ;)
haha... Again, not many places back home for pics like this are there?
I'm thinking y'all should plan some field trips here - rain or shine, cool stuff to see and do (and, um...we are certainly missing our family and friends...). :)

It has been such a blessing to be part of these experiences with our kids. Fabulous to meet and talk with some of their classmates, friends' parents and teachers. Also thankful for the ability to take off days of language study - vacation days well spent. ;)

Truly, children are a gift from the Lord. Realizing more each day that we need to cherish these moments. They grow so quickly. Our life is but a vapor and our time to shepherd our kids, well, it is even shorter. We invite you to join us as we put down the computer, close the books, turn off the TV and enjoy each other (wherever in the world you and your family are). :)

B's new tutor asked if we'd like to spend the holiday with he and his family in the country.

OF COURSE!!

We were super excited for the invite, spending time together and always enjoy getting out of the city.

It was a fantastic day. His very sweet and patient wife doesn't speak much English but with the help of Pleco (a great tool for translating individual words), we were able to have good conversation for eight hours. :) That is the longest we've been with new friends here. It was truly a great day.

Our kids had a blast in this bamboo forest.

teeter-totter or see-saw - which do you call this?

We really need to get a hammock. Funny.. I just had to look up the word for it in this language to find the English word - well, that is a first! lol

After eating we walked to a spot that we could take a rest or play.
Truly a little forest.
Of course the kids didn't want to walk on the paved part, after all, we are in a forest.

The lovely trees, the lake, the couple with their umbrella, the hammock - capturing it all in this picture.

One thing we saw today is that as hard as these people work (Many work very very hard way too often). On a day off, they really take the day off. Away from screens, off the couch. Families get together and enjoy each other without their phones in their face or laptops next to them. Playing, laughing, eating.

Great to see our kids enjoying the simpler, slower life. They never once asked what was next or when we were going back... They just enjoyed. Here they were picking peas out of peapods. It is the simpler things. I just sat and watched them for a little while. Enjoyed the slowness.

Enjoyed seeing their bare feet against a fabulous blue sky.

Aili said, "Mom they have real grass here, Like American grass and trees, real trees."
Yes, in the country it looks and feels really different.
Love how she can help me notice the small things I may not think of in the moment.

B and our friend got to play some ball. I think after this the moms rested.. not sure what the kids did.

The breeze coming off the water as we sat in the shade of the tree made the temperature so comfortable.

That blue sky... it was amazing.
So is this cutie. ;)

I am not a fan of prawns.
Prawn crackers sound even worse.
BUT do you remember Funyuns?
Pretty sure this is Funyuns under a different name.
Yum!!

Yes, I am a little attached to the blue sky. ;)
And a little amazed at how the peapods mesmerized my kids.

My little man was playing with the camera and captured this.
It so perfectly captured what we see in many families here - valuing family time, dads actively engaged playing with their kids, teaching them, laughing with them and enjoying life together.

Was sad for this fantastic day to end, but we were all tired and ready to rest. Pretty sure the kids were asleep within the first couple minutes of the ride home.