8 Months

 Annabelle decided to spice up her monthly photo shoot with a new pose. Here is a little bit about our busy 8 month old. She. . . .
- just learned how to clap and can wave bye bye, although she won't do either on command
- is happiest when she is crawling. She is silent, stealthy and fast!
- can pull herself up to standing and will walk across the room if you hold her hands
- has the ability to locate and pick up the tinniest pieces off the floor
-  now has 7 teeth
- isn't our most enthusiastic eater but likes yogurt, sweet potatoes, pears, peas, and cheerios
- does not like hoods, having her face wiped or taking medicine
-  loves balls, riding in the shopping cart, peek-a-boo, daddy, bath time and being tickled
- is still sleeping in our bedroom and wakes up 2-4 times a night to nurse (ugh)
- is super flexible and is happy even out of routine, like our 14 hour day at Disneyland last week

Tree Shopping

Every Christmas in Hong Kong except one (when we got an Ikea tree) we have had an artificial tree. This year we decided to try something new and pick out a live tree down at the Mong Kok flower market. I think the part we were most excited about was tying the tree to the top of our car and driving home.  It just felt like a very American thing to do.

 We had such a good time at the market and loved the rows and rows of trees, poinsettias and wreaths.

 Annabelle was so excited and cosy in her Christmas jammies. She wanted to chew on the needles to see which tree was freshest.

 This is the view out our sunroof on the drive home.

 We made it! This Noble Fir had a long journey across the world from Tacoma, Washington

Time to decorate! Enjoy the Advent season friends- and if you're in America enjoy that you can buy a tree much cheaper and fresher than in Asia (: Still it smells and looks amazing!

Our Little Turkeys

Happy Thanksgiving! To our friends and family near and far . . . thank you for being a part of our lives, loving, and blessing us. May you have eyes to see the blessings around you today. What abundance we have to give thanks for!

Saying Goodbye

Anybody remember the post I wrote here  about our friend Sunethra? She is a mom, a widow, and a domestic helper in our neighborhood. Today Sunethra will be moving on to a new employer in a different part of the city. We had her over this week to say goodbye. During the visit (on a whim) I quietly asked Annette if she wanted to give Sunethra's daughters (3 and 5) any of her toys. I was hoping she might share some stickers or pony she no longer plays with. I was stunned when without hesitation she announced, "I want to give her baby Ashley." Baby Ashley has been Annette's most special doll. We explained to her that the doll would go to Sri Lanka and she wouldn't get it back. Annette understood and was insistent. Jason and I exchanged sideways glances filled with pride in that moment. I love that she wanted to give from the very best what she had.

We have a new helper in our village, Lanny, from the Philippines. Her immediate family, consisting of her husband (also an overseas worker), daughter and her, live in three different counties. Lanny left her daughter when she was three months old. Last week her daughter turned 9 and Lanny was planning a trip back for her birthday, the first of her birthday's she would ever be present for. But a week before the trip her employer decided she needed Lanny's help for that week. . . I hardly knew what to say as she poured this story out to me, baby on hip and two others running around.

Recently I heard a mom say that her life is narrow but that doesn't mean it's small. Being a mom really has narrowed my world and in many ways restricted what I used to be able to do. But narrowness also brings with it a focus. When a light is narrowed it becomes a laser. Were it not for this season of life I probably would not stand outside and chat with the neighbors. Or spend hours at my kitchen sink looking down on the world below.  I have wrestled a bit with feeling "forgotten" or "lost" tucked away in our humble little village, but God is showing me that he is bringing people (even from different nations) to me. People to love, right outside my door.

Thankful

Here's a glimpse into some November moments at home for which I give thanks . . . 

Secret Garden

 The tan building behind the big tree is our house. If we take the shortcut to the beach we walk through this dirt parking lot, past a junk pile and a wall made out of more junk. I had never been on the other side of the wall, until yesterday . . . our neighbors mentioned they were going to the "farm" and did we want to join them. We definitely did.This farm is literally a minute from our house and I was completely  intrigued to gain access inside.

 I was amazed by how big the garden was in the middle of the city. Our neighbor Pauline explained about the many unique plants eclectically growing. There is sugar cane, a lychee orchard, loofas, various varieties of bananas and papayas, bamboo for eating, okra, sweet potatoes, choy sum, malungay, and oh yeah turtles for soup! The tour also explained some of our mosquito hardships, as there were several ponds of stagnate water . . .

 The garden felt like a time warp, as if I'd stepped back into old Hong Kong. It was quite a contrast to the towers and cranes surrounding us and hard to believe that 20, 60- story towers are being built a stones through away.

Our favorite part of our village is the people.  Most of our neighbors spend a lot of time outside so we've gotten to know them pretty well. It is probably the most connected we have ever felt in the Hong Kong Chinese community. They are often brining us Chinese food and soup. If I have to run out quickly they are always happy to have the kids come over. This week a neighbor brought me this, Roselle Hibiscus. Have you tried it? She made jam from it and I made a delicious iced tea.  

Fall Moments

I was considering my purpose in slicing together these seasonal videos and realized that it stirs in me a sense of gratitude for what is right in front of me. I struggle with feeling content when I focus on what I don't have (particularly space and a yard) so it is so helpful for me to celebrate the beauty in the moment.

May this season find you filled with gratitude for what you have. Also, please join us in praying for our precious friends in the Philippines who have back to back endured an earthquake and violent typhoon.

Fall Moments 2013 from Christine Paine on Vimeo.