If you thought you couldn’t, I give you permission. Set aside the normal homeschool operations for a few weeks and savor your holiday. (Building family traditions and happy memories is one reason that you chose this homeschooling path, isn’t it?)

Here is your permission.

To enjoy your Christmas tree.

To hang your stockings.

To make cinnamon applesauce ornaments.

To wrap gifts and enjoy guessing what’s inside. (But no peeking!)

To say no to the hype and focus on the old, old story.

Have a Merry Christmas season. In case anyone asks, just let them know that you got permission from Jimmie.

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That title is an exaggeration, of course. But to Sprite, this is our first vehicle.

She was only three when we moved to China. During our eight years there, we never owned a car and used public transportation instead.

I know that a bright red 1997, used van isn’t really blogworthy content. But it symbolizes something else.

We are now sure that we are not going back to China. The decisions have been made. The ties have been cut. We are going to stay in America indefinitely. It was a painful decision, and makes me sad all over to type this here. But it was the right decision. Moreover, we now have some sense of closure that helps us to move forward, healing from the grief and building a new life here in our own homeland.

We don’t know where we will end up. We are open to moving but would love to stay in Tennessee near our families. My husband is officially unemployed. But I know that God will provide. He always does.

And won’t that van be easy to spot in the parking lot?

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This blogging thing is tricky. When you share so much online and grow a readership of 700+ people, you start to feel an obligation to keep them in the loop.

Even when there are things you can’t explain online.

Taken in Sprite's Bedroom in Our Last Hours in China

I’ve procrastinated this blog post for two weeks. Christmas and then the new year were both good excuses to delay.

Yet I don’t know any better now than before how to share my news.  So just like ripping off a band-aid, here it comes:

We have moved. We have left China.

It was sudden and unexpected.

It was sad and stressful.

BUT

God is still in control.

It didn’t take Him by surprise.

God is providing our every need and plenty of extras too.

I can’t offer any explanations here. But the three of us are together, healthy, and safe. And that’s really the most important thing to know. (We arrived in USA  on Dec. 21; We are back in the Memphis area for an undetermined amount of time.)

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I wish you all a very merry Christmas for 2010

and a happy new year for 2011.

A Christingle -- a treat that shares Jesus.

Pictured above is a Christingle. We have made Christingles during our years in China since the materials are easy to find and very practical (edible). And best of all, this traditional Christmas craft keeps Jesus the center of Christmas since each part of it symbolizes something from the gospel message.

I know you are busy with Christmas preparations and time with loved ones. That is as it should be. Instead of reading blogs and email, you are

• making cookies with your children
• wrapping presents with your husband
• reading the Christmas story for fresh insights

To help you, I’ll not be posting anything here during the holidays.

Enjoy  your holidays! See you in 2011.

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pickled turnip and carrot

I am not legalistic when it comes to mealtime prayers. Our family does offer prayers of thanksgiving for our meals, including when we are in public.

But when I sit down to grab a bite alone, I don’t usually bow and pray. I see mealtime prayer as a communal thing, and somehow when it’s just me heating up leftovers, the prayer isn’t the same. It’s not that I’m not thankful. I am very, very thankful for all my material blessings.

I have a local friend who doesn’t see eye to eye with me on this. We were at a restaurant once, and I snagged a tidbit — some appetizer that was on the table — as we waited for everyone to arrive. It happened to go down the wrong way, and as I was choking, my friend insisted that God was judging me because I hadn’t waited for the blessing.

Ouch.

Of course, I don’t agree with her. (But I’ve learned when she’s around not to snag bites before grace.) I’m more interested in the spirit of the law than the law itself.  I hope to live a life of gratitude that includes but also moves beyond mealtime prayers.

All that background is to set up this mealtime blooper. You may be a purist about the meal blessings. If so, you are probably already offended. Just stop reading, and say a prayer for me.

Sprite and I were sitting down to some delicious homemade vegetable beef soup. I had been stewing beef bones for hours, and the whole house smelled fantastic.

As I was ladling my bowlful, Sprite was sneaking some tastes. As soon as I was seated, she prayed in thanks for the meal.

“Lord, Thank you for this great day we’ve had. And thank you for this soup momma made, even the stuff that is sliding down my sarcophagus right now.”

What can I say? We’re not just studying human anatomy. We’re also studying ancient Egypt.

Things get muddled sometimes.

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My husband has always been supportive of homeschooling.

We started on this adventure out of necessity (living abroad) more than from choice, but it’s been a great experience for us.

He has never questioned my curriculum or method choices. He even encourages me to spend the big bucks on fancy materials. (Thanks, hon!)  He patiently looks at notebook pages or lapbooks with interest.

But Daddy is getting more homeschool time, and I think he really likes it.

I bought Winter Promise’s chess curriculum for dad to use with Sprite. Although he has taught her some things informally, I thought a more structured outline would help motivate both of them to keep moving forward.

Dad also teaches Sprite drumming on a set of electronic drums in our apartment.

And finally there is a long list of books that they can select from. Most every night, my husband reads aloud to Sprite before bed. They have some really great conversations during that time.

Some of their recent reads by Lee Strobel (all available in Kindle format too)

• Case for Christ for Kids
• Case for Faith for Kids
• Case for a Creator for Kids

Other winners:

1. Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church
2. The Case of the Monkeys That Fell From the Trees: And Other Mysteries in Tropical Nature
3. The Case of the Mummified Pigs: And Other Mysteries in Nature

Some of the books on the shelf, yet to read:

• A Piece of the Mountain:The Story of Blaise Pascal
• If Animals Could Talk: Creation Speaks for Itself
• Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Medieval Church

I guess you can see a theme here. Dad likes apologetics and church history as well as science.  I’m thrilled that Sprite can learn from her dad. And I know their time together is very precious to both of them. It wouldn’t be fair for me to hog all the fun homeschool memories, now would it?

Do any of you have “Daddy Homeschool?”  And do you have any good “Daddy Homeschool” book recommendations for us?

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Sprite was praising an entry in the Chinese New Year contest and said in her enthusiasm, “I want to give them a standing O’Ryan!”

“What?”

“A standing O’Ryan!”

Because I had a puzzled look on my face, Sprite showed me what she meant by standing up and clapping wildly.

“Oh! A standing OVATION.”

She’s almost eleven, and the humor is still coming! I love it.

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Sprite told me yesterday, “I can’t wait to read my Great Fire of Chicago book. I’m tense with constipation.”

[Living in China, we have our fair share of diarrhea, but constipation is a rarity.]

She explained, “You know, I can’t wait to read more; I’m eager to find out what happens.” ANTICIPation, Sprite. Not constipation. HUGE difference!

Proof that ten year olds do still say things to make you laugh!

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Text messages via cell phone are so cheap in China. We get a certain number free each month, and even after that, they are something like .3 RMB each (5 cents USD). Needless to say, we send lots of text messages. It’s a great way to say, “I’m on the way home” or “I’m going to be late.”

It’s also a good way to fuss at your spouse when she doesn’t answer the phone. [On the spouse's behalf I will say that she was in the kitchen cooking up a delicious, homemade meal and couldn't hear her cell phone ringing in the back bedroom. ]

When I finally began to wonder where hubby was and grabbed my phone to send him a quick text message, I saw that he’d tried to call me four times and left four messages.

Husband’s TM #1 I just wanted to tell you I love you before I breathe my last breath.

Husband’sTM#2 Oh the pain! If only you had answered the phone!

Husband’sTM#3 (an actual explanation of what he’s doing and when he’ll be home)

Husband’sTM#4 Aaaaah….. gasp….. gasp…. Angels singing…sound of pearly gates opening….

We often laugh about one of us not answering the phone, “If it had been an emergency, I would have died!” His messages totally cracked me up, and I called to apologize.  The phone only works if you answer it.

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Sprite, 10 years old

Sprite has been ten years old for some time now, and she’s acutely aware that 18 is the magic age of “adulthood” when you go off to college.

One morning I woke up to find a handmade pipe cleaner craft wrapped in a handwritten note that said,

I love you and hope for the last eight years to go slowly.

Love, Sprite

I do too, Sprite. You are a precious gift from the Father. I will always be your mother, and you’ll always be my child. But these remaining eight years are something special to cherish. Thank you for reminding me.

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