Three things I bet didn't happen to you last week

1.) While teaching kindergarten at a Halloween party in the park last weekend, I noticed a kind older gentleman snapping away with his big wig camera. Not long after, he noticed me (token foreign teacher), and asked if I would mind if he took my picture. Sure, I thought, no problem. Not the first time. But then he handed me his brown poodle, and I realized he meant WITH his dog.

10 minutes of snapping and face-licking later, I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or offended.

2.) On Sunday at one of the aforementioned parties, one of the tiny party goers looked up at me and said she needed to pee. Knowing her parents weren't there to escort her, I asked where the nearest bathroom was. It was a floor above us, so we quickly made our way towards the stairs. Once in the stairwell, little bit says again she has to pee, and before I can fully turn my head she's got her pants down and is squatting in the corner of the stairwell. Unfortunately, my inner westerner kicked in (thinking it was NOT ok for her to tee tee in the corner of the stairs, when in actuality it was the best and perhaps more familiar option) and I quickly swooped her up with one arm, pulling up her tiny pants with the other, and bounding up the stairs two at a time.

After running around the hallway desperately searching for the right apartment we reached the bathroom and I set her down by the toilet. She simply looked at me and said in Chinese "My pants are wet." Yep. So is my right arm kiddo, so is my right arm.

3.) While out doing a hygiene training in local villages last week, we were taken to dinner by the principal of the primary school we had been in that day. As the meal wrapped up I made my way to the restroom, and per usual, was greeting by a row of squatty potties. What was somewhat different however, was that this particular row of squatties was on a small raised platform, and the tank of the commode was on the floor instead of mounted to the wall. Forgetting this as I dropped my pants to do my business, my butt solidly whapped the top of the tank sending me flying face forward, pants wrapping my ankles to the cold *wet* tile several inches below. Thankfully I caught myself with my hands rather than my face, but in the process managed to take the trashcan full of *used* toilet paper down with me. As I picked myself up from the littered floor, I noticed a nice long scrape down my shin not unlike this one:

So. What did you do last weekend?

Maybe the Cutest Thing You'll See All Week

So, today was a big day here. My local bestie had her baby!!

Now, I know I haven't had a kiddo of my own yet, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say her birth was remarkably AWESOME. She called me at seven, saying she was having "the pain", but don't worry, the baby probably wouldn't come today as it wasn't that bad. At nine she calls again saying she was going to go to the hospital, but only after she showered and ate. At eleven I texted her but got no response, and then at 1:00 she calls me and had HAD THE BABY! Apparently she got to the hospital, jumped about 12 other women in the waiting room, and after about 30 minutes of pushing had the little guy at 11:47. What?! I know I'm no expert, but to me that's crazy fast!

Regardless, the new family is thrilled, and the baby is just the cutest thing ever. See?

We are so excited to journey with our friends in this new phase of their lives, and are prayerful it would create new opportunities to speak Truth into their lives. We loooooove being his "gan ma" and "gan di" (godparents!), and have given him the English name Max, as it sounds like his Chinese name  . . .  and let's be truthful, rhymes with Bax ; ).

It's amazing how new life so clearly points to the maker of all life, and our desire is to see this precious boy raised in a knowledge of his Heavenly Father. Days like today leave my heart full of gratitude and praise, I am thankful to walk in a knowledge of Him who gives such sweet gifts!

Richest People in the World

While laying in bed one night last week wondering why I was SO stinkin' tired, it occurred to me why. In addition to the class+work+YJ+life normal aspects of our week, we had somehow managed to funnel a good 30+ people through our house in about 8 days. Realizing that made me feel a lot better, and recognize that I wasn't crazy, and had in fact cleaned the bathrooms 4+ times in a week.

A highlight was last Saturday evening when we had 6 H college students over to make pizzas. They were cute as buttons, giggly, and roughly 12 years old as most college freshman seem to be these days. We were SO thankful our buddy and co-worker Yvonne came in town for the day, as she graduated from their university last year and beautifully played the role of their "xue jie", or study big sister.

And yes, she is 100% awesome. Here they are exploring the wide world of pizza toppings . . .

And the mandatory group shot. These little dears brought me a lovely bouquet of glitter covered flowers (it's a thing here), and I did my best to keep from weeping at the gesture. Yeah, I think we'll keep 'em.

About 1/5 of those who came through our door last week were these dear friends. They've lived here for about ten years, and are such a blessing to us in the ways the encourage and challenge us. And yes, all of those humans DO in fact belong to them. 

And lastly here is a picture from the wedding of a friend in YJ this past week. She teaches English at the high school we do, and looked like an absolute doll. 

I think Baxter summarized our feelings about life these days best when he came home after taking the students back to campus. He said, "You know, I feel like the richest man in the world." And honestly, I couldn't agree with him more.

Mom & Pops

Soooo, as I mentioned about TWO WEEKS ago, my parents came for a visit. Would you believe life didn't magically slow down so that I could blog about it? Yeah, me neither. Regardless, it was a precious time that I am so grateful to have shared with my parents. All that we saw and did felt very "once in a lifetime", but I'm surely hoping they'll come visit more than that!

Mom and Dad have been my biggest cheerleaders in the 12+ years I've been traipsing the globe, so I loved getting to share in this adventure with them. Here's a fly by of some of our time together:

Mom & Dad marveling at the Forbidden City in Beijing

The four of us posing for a photo op on the Great Wall

The Temple of Heaven

Mom & Dad being cute on a work day in YJ

Dad car shopping in our complex?

Me showing Mom & Dad how you get it done buying a chicken at my favorite market 

Celebrating Mid-Autumn festival with friends and co-workers

Hopefully they were as happy as they were tired when they left, as you can see we packed a lot into their visit! Baxter and I are so thankful to have parents who love and support us even a world away, and are already looking to doing it all over again when my in-laws come in January! Three cheers for our adventurous parents!

Been a Little Busy . . .

 Hanging out with my PARENTS! On MY side of the world!! We had an amazing visit with them, and are so grateful they made the trek to come see our lives here. I'd be lying if I didn't own the ugly cry I had upon leaving them at the airport yesterday, but our time together was absolutely worth it.

I'm hoping a ridiculously lazy Saturday will be rest for my tired heart and body, and hope to pop in soon with more pics from their visit. Kiss my baby nieces for me Mom & Dad - and know that Nic Jeederman loves the heck out of you!!

Why I Heart Dirty Babies

The past week or so has found us blissfully at home; resting, reflecting, and preparing for the weeks ahead. It has been a busy summer, and although our schedules have been full, I'd have to say my heart has been even fuller.

I recently have begun working on the felt need aspects of what our team does here. Our team has done a variety of medical clinics, nutrition/sanitation trainings, etc. for many years, but this was my first opportunity to participate. I had my first trip "out" at the end of last week, and absolutely loved it. Our transportation during the three days looked somewhat like this: large interstate bus, to small/throw on any paying personal or animal 'round the mountain bus, hiking, back end of a large tobacco-leaf hauling truck, motorcycles, more hiking, small bus, back to big bus home. Baxter would tell you going three days without a shower isn't quite a stretch for me, but nonetheless after all that sweating and traveling a shower was the first thing I did upon arriving home.

In some ways, my time out in the villages was completely overwhelming. Seeing how difficult to reach these people were, how many untouched villages there were, trying to understand their local dialect OR their minority language, and the extent of their needs sent my mind and heart reeling. And yet, being able to have a minuscule part of providing clothes, building relationships, and training in the Word absolutely brought my heart to life.

We spent time with one family, where an elderly couple was raising their great-great grandchildren. (The in-between generations typically leave village life for work in often far away cities). Their home was modest and bodies frail, but it was apparent they gave these children the best they could.  As we removed a dirty, threadbare garment from a previously bare-bottomed little girl and gave her a new outfit, my eyes couldn't help but well up with tears. It was if in that moment, my heart knew this was what I was made for. This is why I came.

For me, it's opportunities and places like these that help me feel near to Jesus, and make my very soul come alive. And that feeling is absolutely intoxicating. It's being in those situations that I realize how truly little I have to offer, and yet am able to clearly see how He is enough for my inadequacy and their need. I am so thankful for this new season in my work here, and am already filled with ideas and excitement of how to proceed. Call me a crazy, dirty-baby lovin' fool - but I absolutely can not wait!

Since when was it August?!

I've found myself saying at a variety of points throughout the past year . . . spring is just busy! The holidays are nuts everywhere! Summer, well - what can you do? But, I've come to realize, accept, and even love that we are just people on the go.

In the past 2.5 weeks alone, we spent roughly 50ish hours on a combination of cars and buses (we tried to fulfill a dream of Baxter's a take a train - but no dice or tickets for that matter), but all going and doing wonderful things. We are both wiped and fighting a cold I think as a result of this month's travel madness, but are so grateful for the friends and experiences that have filled our days.

Here's a BRIEF shot of what we've been up to . . . 

 Celebrated SIX years of marriage to this hunk of a man . . . can you even believe it?!

Visited the home town of these dear friends and loved our time in this beautiful part of our country.

Wandered empty morning streets of an ancient city . . . 

Made sure all fires were completely clothed . . . 

Shopped and explored . . . 

And maybe even did some dancing over a city while on a hike one morning. Looking at these pictures makes me want to laugh at the memories and go to bed all at the same time. Thankfully, we've got a solid 24 hours before we hit the road again - so I'm off to enjoy my couch and my adventure buddy of 6 years!