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Hilliard Family + Miller Family + Dean Family = Fun.

snow much fun

zài jiàn

We are learning a new language. Mandarin. Sounds fun, right? Actually, it is. Especially when our children get it more quickly than we do. Don't get me wrong, we are aware of the complexities of learning Chinese, but at the same time we have to start somewhere right? So, today, while I was at work, April was reviewing last night's lesson with the boys, when she momentarily forgot how to say "good bye" -- and like a fish in water, Caleb (3), says mom, that's easy,  "zài jiàn". Correct pronunciation. Crazy. 

ps. Most of HK does not speak Mandarin, but the mainland Chinese students studying in HK do, so, that's why we are. Learning Cantonese will be another thing altogether.

little people have fun and we do too.

These little people are pretty special. Josh and Caleb had more fun with their friends, Annie and Ellie, than we've seen them experience in a long time. Don't be fooled, the IKEA kids section is feels limited after thirty minutes, getting lost in the kitchen section, two potty breaks, a hurt knee, four kids in a stroller while infant and car seat are in two other hands, and a broken ice-cream machine... but for the parents of these children, who might I say, also spent more time laughing and encouraging each other than normal, it was a great weekend as well. 

It's a rare thing (married people know this, and soon to be married people hope for this) when both the husbands|fathers and wives|mothers equally enjoy time together. So, when it does happen, it is a good thing. 

Yep, we are people-people, but I'll admit even people-people get a little peopled-out sometimes, but in this case, when the main thing, stays the main thing, the whole time, there is abundant Life that is obviously from Him. Rather than being peopled-out, our hope has been strengthened. 

Rob and Denise - thank you for a great weekend where our families could enjoy each other and be reminded of what is eternal, and what really matters. We are thankful for your friendship. And yes, baby Luke, did cry much of the way home, but then again, who really likes being strapped into a car seat for a long time? Good thing is, no car seats are needed in Hong Kong if you don't have a car. Patience Luke. Patience.  

And now dear children, continue to LIVE IN HIM, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed at His coming. 1 John 2:28

boys.

samoset and squanto

cold weather = this.

This is what playing outside for a couple hours when it's cold looks like when your mom puts the blankets in the dryer.

a day in the park.

callaway babay.

This weekend, we went over to Callaway Gardens on Saturday afternoon. 30 minutes. You're there with more than enough space to breathe deeply. We packed a great lunch, got everyone into the car, got the stroller, 2 big-wheels, and headed out for the open road. 10 minutes later, we discovered, we left our lunch, in the kitchen. Classic. While the nature and gardens are beautiful... the food there... well... I'll be sure to remember the lunch next time. It was a great day with the family. 

cupcakes + friends = good night.

Tonight we got to hang out with old friends. Robin - thanks for the great dinner! The boys obviously loved it all. Katie and Biscuet - it's always good to be around you both. At this point, the boys are asleep, I just painted April's toenails (yeah, I said that) and we are watching the Olympics / CNN... and April's stomach as Luke flips around in there. 

the cardboard castle

toothbrushes and pirates.

                  All I can say is that they do little things like this all the time. 

hoy no es su cumpleaños

Tonight we had dinner with our "local" family, the Blounts. There we were, all 8 of us. The table was full of crushed chips, cheese dip drips, bits of avocado and empty plates. When, the boys third grandmother, affectionately known as Queenie decided it was their birthday (July 6th and July 31st) -- August 11?....Close enough. 

Free dessert and song. 

Check: $18.50 

Free dessert not on their birthday? Priceless. 

boys II men were right.

It's so haaa-aa-ard, to say goodbye, to yesterday...

These things no longer have a "hold" on me, or at least I'm at the place where I don't need them.

The Liberation List:

1. My Ruth's Chris Steak house waiters folder.

2. The hundreds of cd cases / booklets I thought I'd need. (see www.pandora.com)

3. Bags of extra clothing and shoes. (Platos Closet $67). 

4. My Macbook box and packing materials.

5. Nintendo64. + games. 

6. 2 Altec Lansing Bookshelf Speakers, Magnavox 5-disc CD changer, 

7. Seminary notes, books, videos. 

8. Relics from world travels that never really made the "display wall"

9. Plates I told April to hold onto for her own sentimental value. 

10. Dwayne-wayne flip-up sunglasses.

11. 1995 version of Sony Dream Machine alarm clock. 

12. Old flip flops. 

13. Old tshirts from college road trips.

14. An extra "Beijing Starbucks" coffee mug -- who needs 2? 

Useless items I still hang onto:

1. My first baby teeth and note from the Tooth Fairy. 

2. Sigma Chi glass.

3. Cigar ash tray

4. Old watches that probably I'll never wear. 

5. Old street maps of where I have been.

6. Poker chips. 

7. BB-gun pistol (looks like a sweet 9mm).

8. XBOX (has pac-man for when Josh and Caleb can play).

9. Movie ticket stubs that I took April to, or Josh and Caleb to. 

Last week, we our pastor gave a great sermon on not "letting our possessions possess us" -- and how appropriate that our house should rapidly sell. As we position our lives for greater mobility in the future, it boils down to the trivial, the expendable, and the invaluable. 

Trivial -- random junk we all accumulate.

Expendable -- everyday use items we do need.

Invaluable -- things that are worth more than words. 

the gift card road rally.

The gift card adventure:

Stop 1- starbucks $.55 iced caramel macchiato
Stop 2- Stein Mart $14.01- little outfit for baby luke
Stop 3- Motherhood Maternity -$3.23 Undisclosed April items
Stop 4- Belks $33.01 (actually old Parisians credit)
Stop 5- Dillards $31.09 - shoes for Josh.
Stop 6- johnny Carinos $26.33 - chopped salad and pizza for the family + tip.

Who knew we had more than $100 in credit lying around. It was a great day. 

Look for your old merchandise credits. It all adds up. 

why blueberries are expensive.

Now I know why blueberries are expensive. This saturday morning, we went "pickin" for these lovely little morsels of juicy goodness. 

Hot. 

Not to mention, April and I forgot shoes for Josh. What kind of parents are we? 

His feet were blackish blue from the fallen fruit. Nothing a couple baby wipes can't remove.

It was a good day. 

Caleb was in charge of water. 

We picked two gallons. 

happy birthday to my little fellas

life before luke.

When I got home today, I was attacked by two water-gun-wielding midgets. The war was on. Within moments Josh and Caleb were were soaking wet. They didn't realize I am an expert water gun assassin. In fairness to them, I was soaked as well. Tonight was one the nights where we packed a lot of things in before sunset. Water gun war. Riding "big red" in the woods looking for mud. We saw a hawk and deer tracks. We then went fishing. Caught nothing. Great times.  

Here are some things I don't want to forget about the past 24 hours.

1. April and I had a great visit with my parents last night. Very encouraging. 

2. Seeing Josh and Caleb sword-fight their "dee-dee" (my dad). 

3. Thinking about ISA 42, Phil 4:8 all day. 

4. Making pad-thai with April for dinner. 

5. Reading "Don't Worry Bear" and "The Tricky Fox" before their bedtime. 

6. Praying with J/C about snakes and frogs God made. 

7. Seeing plans for October's trip to HK come together. 

8. $1000 reminder God is committed to GCM (and paying for a Ugandan friend to join us this year)

9. Jon & Kate + 8 = Vomit episode. Was Jon really breathing that loud? 

10. Seeing adoption paperwork / updates go faster than expected. 

11. Catching a lightning bug with Josh. 

12. Asking Caleb what his favorite animal was? Green. 

grayton beach + us.

After being away from home for two weeks... it's great to be back. We spent the past week with family in Grayton Beach, FL. Here some of my favorite moments of the week. 

1. Dad and I trying (unsuccessfully) to collapse a portable shade tent. While following instructions, we somehow managed to sheer metal, screws, and disassemble what used to me a square-like canopy into a mangled mess of metal. 

2. PF Changs @ Sandestin. Two words: Hec-tic. 

3. "Fishing" via nets with April during low-tide. Perhaps a new hobby. We did yield about 11 small minnows. 

4. Basmati Asian Restaurant with April, Daniel and Lindsey. Great food, better conversation. 

5. Everyone in our family having fun on the beach. 

6. The Bucket List and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. 

7. Bike rides to Seaside with Dad, Josh, and Daniel. 

8. Reading to Josh about Mei-Mei and Happy Hens. Playing the flying hand game with Caleb. 

9. Breakfast with Dad, hearing about his parents, grand-parents, and childhood memories. Not to be forgotten, is the mason jar, Wilma, "special silverware", hong kong trivia, and really good bacon.  

10. Breakfast with April @ Another Broken Egg Cafe. Conversations about future plans. 

11. April got her best haircut ever. 

12. Mom saying, "I feel like we haven't really had a conversation..." Not yet at least. 

13. Losing my car keys. Driving home 4 hours and realizing I left my office keys there. Classic. 

14. The Wedding Ceremony of Pinky and Bluey by Rev. Josh Dean.

15. Low-Country Boil. 

camp lee, starbucks, and the FBI.

For the past few days, I've been part of a youth retreat at camp lee, in Anniston, AL. While here, I read a book I have been wanting to read, but never seemed to have to time for. This morning, while sitting at the local Starbucks (who knew there would be one here?) I finished a book called "The Heavenly Man", the true story of one mans journey to love Christ in China. Unbelievable. The testimony of how God was and is working in the hearts of His Chinese children. Humbling and exciting. 

Yesterday at Starbucks, I was reading and saw at least 5 armored vehicles, with blacked-out windows, and boxes, antennas, and UFC-look-alike agents within 100 yards of me. One staked out at Arbys, McDonalds, one behind Starbucks, one on the highway nearby, and one across the road at a hotel. I confess this peaked my interest. What's up with that many agents in Anniston? I also confess that when I left, I followed them.... but quickly remembered I was not actually a law enforcement office. Just a curious guy who secretly thinks those are pretty cool jobs to have. I turned around, and went back to Camp, where I ate a fantasticly mediocre lunch in the mess hall with new friends.

At camp, I've been walking through the story of God, from before Creation to the Eternal throne, trying to shape these young minds around a bigger story than their own. A couple nights ago, I spoke on faith from Hebrews 11:1 -- the call to focused confidence in Christ,in things we hope for and the assurance of things unseen. 

All the while, I'm reading the incredible story of faith in people's lives who have NOTHING but trust in the things they hope for. More thoughts on this another time. 

Last night, I shared on worship, responding to the worth of God in our everyday living. I came back to the verse in Colossians 1:16 -- being made by Him and for Him. Personally, I've been learning the necessity of my mind "being renewed" because without renewal, there is conformity to the world. It's the subtle, less visible conformity to the world, where I'm growing more sensitive to God's Word. Like so many other times of growth, I crave for the renewal of my mind in Christ -- and I know one way I can respond to the worth of God in my life -- is by agreeing I increasingly need His truth in me. 

"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love" - John 15:9