School Break Soccer Tourney

As soon as exams were over, the soccer team prepped a few days for the big tournament of the year. 

Competitions in track, basketball, ping pong, soccer, and a few other events between elementary, middle and high schoolers made for a huge event. And the Chinese know how to put on a show. 

Sophia and her crew going to rehearsal for the opening ceremony. 

Representing MangShi No. 4 Elementary School

 

The host was the MangShi No. 1 Middle School. We had not been back here in fifteen years. I did not recognize it at all. New fields, track, basketball courts still plopped in the middle of a village. but the entire area now has paved streets (no cobblestone, like when we arrived), and lots of new houses.

Lots of pomp, lots of entertaining shows...

It all seems pleasant but these guys were freezing. It was cold. 

Each school was announced and walked a lap just like the Olympics.

 We were at the field daily, almost all day some days. David was traveling after the first day, so all the kids came along. They enjoyed it, and  they learned the word Paparazzi. At first I was quite patient. A lot of these kids were from village schools, they had never seen a foreigner before. I get it. But at times I had to make space. 

The team looking tough.

Trying out the starting blocks.

Tobin knows what these are, he aspires to be Usain Bolt, don't tell him his gene pool is not quite in his favor.

Oh yes, cheerleaders for every game. They weren't too bad but some were clearly mimicking (in not great ways) the American flavor in apparel (or lack of).

 
The bows and thank yous at the end of the match.

Watching the boys final. Yes, still cold. Most of these days on returning home, I just could not warm up.

How did they do? 2nd place!!! Silver medals. It was so much fun. And while Sophia doesn't start (five on five, short fields), she loves being a part and does great when she gets in. The starters are really good and are only 4th and 5th graders!

 

The entire school's teams 

A Tribute to Dr. Sailhamer, a Year Later

I wrote most of these words a year ago.  They festered for a while because the emotion can't accurately be portrayed by the written word and I feared it would just sound overdone. But the past year has taught me to tribute people as often as you can, while you can, preferably when they can receive it. And while Dr. Sailhamer cannot receive this, God can receive the glory for his imprint left on me. I publish this now, to let the world know that Dr. Sailhamer had great impact on my walk with Christ, on my study of the word, on my marriage even. All of this will not be unpacked here; just a small glimpse in honor him (a little over a year after his death) and in praise of our Great God.

Who was I to Dr. Sailhamer? No one. I was quite simply one of his students of Hebrew I and II (one of two women in the class). That is all. He taught me Hebrew. But like everyone else who has spoken about Dr. Sailhamer, his words, anecdotes, jokes, wisdom, his breathtaking grasp of the entire word of God spurred me on and on past those two semesters. 

I watched part of his funeral service, where he was called a "theological rock star", a "Lion of the Word", a "cerebral man…contemplating deep concepts…" and letting us get a peek of his brilliant understanding of it all. Grudem called him "a brilliant scholar…always relaxed, friendly and easy to talk to." Piper of course put it poignantly: Sailhamer's "exegetical toil put fire in my soul for the gospel……..made me feel as If I had scarcely begun to read the Bible." Yes. Yes. All of this is so true. Yet I still feel compelled to write how Sailhamer rocked my world, and continues to 15 years later as I raise my four kids in small town Asia.

I arrived at Southeastern as a 21 year-old college grad doing a complete turn-about in my life.  Though I had been walking with Jesus for 8 years I had not even known there were schools like this until the year prior, schools where all you do is study the Word and write and research and defend and grow. I was one of about ten ladies in a wash of men. The Women Studies program was a year or two old. I wanted rigor and it had it.

It wasn't until my third year that I started Hebrew, but Dr. Sailhamer had been a buzzword long before. I even bought his NIV compact commentary and was astounded at its depth while being so succinct.

When he started helping us translate Genesis, and everyone's eyes got wide as he unpacked the Hebrew, he joked, "This is when I start telling Patty to 'pack the bags'". His translation gave new insight to the meaning of the text, though apparently not all agreed (I didn't know enough at that point to know it could be so controversial). When all hands went up with questions and the final one: 'have you written about this?' He would mention the book and its price would soar over-night, as everyone wanted one.

When asked who else held certain views of his, he would smile and say: 'well if you do that makes two of us'. He often spoke of 'the little men in your brain sorting out language and filing things away'. He must have had some over eager ones in his because he was brilliant in language and so many other areas.

Dr. Sailhamer, as a teacher, was more like a kind father graciously bestowing gifts upon his children in ways that they could understand. My husband called it : 'bringing it to the bottom shelf' so that we could partake of the richness of the word as he taught. And he got such a kick out of watching the Word unfold for us, he delighted in the process and the reality within, over and over again.

This has helped me be a better teacher of the word to my children and friends, it has helped my husband help me with all my questions….we often re-listen to Dr. Sailhamer teach Exodus and still gather nuggets. Currently…as I start 2018, I am studying the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and letting Sailhamer put things together for me again. And it is so devotional. He is pointing me again and again to God's Holiness, His working, His Covenant Promise. When Moses falters, Sailhamer reminds: He wasn’t hungry for power, he had some humility here. But the calling of God on his life was met with doubt and fear. Who can't relate to this?

So I get it. When David starts talking through stuff about OT or this 'thread' or the 'bag of laws', I get it. It is not knowledge for knowledge's sake. And it never was for someone as brilliant as Dr. Sailhamer either, it was always enjoyment, always a better handle on the beauty of Christ found in every facet, every 'yodh'. And his ability to share that beauty has left an indelible mark on me, my husband, our kids, and the upg we have served for almost fifteen years now.

Praise God for Dr. Sailhamer.

Piano Recitals

Our older girls started Piano a few years ago. They honestly don't have a ton of time to practice (20-30 minutes/day, if that), and a one hour class each week (except the crazy weeks or weeks we are gone). But still, they have stuck with it, enjoy it, and have made great progress.

The teacher announced a recital at our favorite restaurant/wedding hall for Jan 6. And she had just given the girls their songs. Sophia's was a version of DoReMe from The Sound of Music which was a little difficult for her. Isabella's was Edelweiss also from The Sound of Music.

They practiced hard and daily went to play on real pianos for the feel (we only have a keyboard).
The day came and they were so nervous but they did great!

I had to call in back-up on the hair. Aunt Kathleen came to make it beautiful for them, hair styling/braiding is not my gifting.

(we were crunched for time and only had time to get pre-pics of Sophia, Isabella was getting her hair done!)

This is a huge hall, but it was not close to full. Their were 66 students participating. We thought this may be torture, but it was actually pleasant and fun.

Isabella performed before Sophia. Started with a bow.

She did fabulous and received flowers from Daddy, (that she didn't know what to do with!).

Sophia was a bit later.

Her bow...

Her performance...we did get good video.

playing with friends, one of whom is in her class at school.
We also knew two other girls that were performing.

And the ever-supportive little bro... playing on rocks outside!

Now they are learning a Sound of Music piece that they play together, so they are having lots of fun!

New Year's Eve Campout

My dad, Granddaddy to the kids, gave us money for some camping supplies for Christmas. We have been wanting to start camping adventures with the kids and feel they are at a good age. They were so excited. It arrived on the 30th just in time for a New Year's Eve backyard camp out. 

I ended up very sick for two days and could not participate. David, the hero dad, still followed through with the plan. They grilled hot dogs, roasted marshmallows, went on a 'moon' walk and played card games. 

 We can't wait to get this tent and our new bags up on our mountain plot (2000 meters).

 The kiddos had a blast and slept well, even through the New Year's fireworks that shook our building.

Happy New Year!

Finally, an Event for Gabrielle

December 29.

We have now been involved in the Chinese school system for seven years, starting when Sophia was three years old. And every 'event', especially in kindergarten is a big deal, because with only one child (for the Chinese) and one chance to make it special, you must go all out, every time. 

I was burning out on these monthly events by Tobin's Kindergarten days for sure. And for Gabrielle, I have no tolerance or time for all the frills (it's an honest confession). She entered Kindergarten midway through the year and therefore has already had less chances (this is only her second semester). So when her teacher approached me about a sports day, and said that she would need to come in the mornings to participate, I decided to make it work. And it did work perfectly for our December. 

I absolutely did not regret participation in this. I told David that this was the best event I have been to in my whole career as a Kindergarten mom of four kids. It was well planned, on time, not too long, very entertaining, not overcrowded (they specifically said only one adult could come), and even with comic appeal. Not to mention the food fair at the end, which was also well coordinated and delicious. I was so pleasantly surprised by this, as it had not been my previous experience at this school, ever. 

There she is, preparing to go downstairs for her turn to 'dance' with basketballs. 

 Okay, so she struggled a bit with the headband, but she got it together and did great!

 They still had all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with every event, and the raising of the Chinese flag.

 These kids were hilarious...they are taking their job seriously, can you tell?

well, maybe the kid in the shades really was..

Six different classes had to do a different routine to the same song.

 They may have been a little out of sync...

At the end, a group of dad's did a skit/performance that was hilarious, acting like they were in kindergarten and different groups dancing to famous Chinese kids' songs. I loved this aspect and had not seen this included in any event before.

 Gabrielle loved participating in this sports day!

They then moved tents to the courtyard and set up all the food.
Gabrielle's class had the best fare: fried rice and dumplings!

Way-to-go Gabrielle, and way-to-go school for putting on a fabulous event!!!