events
Sunday, January 25, 2009
ACAA Chinese New Year 2009
Tonight we attended another Chinese New Year celebration. This event was sponsored by the Asian Cultural Awareness Association of a local college.
There were kid-friendly activities along with free food from area restaurants, traditional dance and musical performances, and martial arts demonstrations.
The evening culminated with a spectacular fireworks display. Karys was none too keen on the display at first because we were quite close and the fireworks were very, very loud. But after a few minutes, she was getting into it as much as Eliana was.
Local Chinese New Year 2009
Chinese New Year is Monday but we celebrated locally tonight.
We’ve met in a restaurant the three previous years but moved this year to our church’s fellowship hall.
The meal was pot-luck which means that I asked each family to bring a main dish, a side dish and a drink to feed their family plus one more. There was more than enough food to feed everyone.
Before everyone had to leave, we managed to get the children calmed down long enough for a photo op.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Children’s Choir Christmas 2008
This is Eliana’s first year in our church’s Children’s Choir.
Following our churchwide Christmas banquet this evening, the Children’s Choir presented their Christmas program entitled A Christmas Carol in the sanctuary. The program included a drama along with the music and the children did remarkably well. We were especially proud of Eliana (of course) for working through her shyness to stand up on stage on the front row and sing. She even delivered three short lines that we didn’t know she had been asked to do.
One of the final songs was entitled “Hallelujah to the Lamb” and the chorus went something like this:
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallelujah, hallelujah, by the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue, every tribe, every people, every land
Giving glory, giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
It was something else to see all of those children on stage, our daughter included, with their arms stretched to heaven and giving that song all they had.
I ain’t gonna lie…I cried. And the children received a standing ovation when it was done.
Powerful stuff.
The photo below was taken towards the end of practice prior to the kids going to eat. They had all been working very hard and were pretty tired.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
FCC Christmas party 2008
For the first time, our new FCC (Families with Children from China) group met for Christmas dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. There were 37 present: 17 adults and 20 children (6 bio, 11 from China, 2 from Ethiopia and 1 from the Ukraine). Karys, especially, made a new 3-year-old friend tonight so we’re going to try and get them together to play at a park sometime soon.
Following dinner, we made a stop at Wally World for a few necessities including mint chocolate chip ice cream which was high on the list.
As we later sat around the kitchen table enjoying our snack, Karys jabbered n-o-n-s-t-o-p. Poor Eliana couldn’t get a word in edgewise and, in a moment of exasperation, said, “Take a breath, Karys. Take a breath.”
To which Karys replied, “I did already. At school.”
Umm…that was yesterday morning. And the sad thing is…it’s probably a pretty accurate statement.
{extended}Saturday, October 29, 2005
A Meet-Up With Some Friends
Late this afternoon, the three of us headed to Winston-Salem for a meet-up with some friends we haven't seen since last summer.Robert and Nanette have a biological son named Bryce and an adopted daughter from China named Sydney. They began the adoption process around the same time we did in 2001 but traveled to China much sooner because Sydney was an older child. She was almost 5 years old when they brought her home.
Tom and Hope have an adopted daughter from China named Lilly. Lilly and Eliana both came from the same orphanage and their birthdays are only one day apart so there is a special connection there.
We all met at Fuddruckers for dinner. After a good meal and a lot of catching up, Eliana and Lilly had some catching up to do of their own so they stole away to a private table and had a big conversation.
Afterwards, they entertained our table and everyone else in the restaurant with a loud and extended game of "Ring Around The Rosey" out in the middle of the dining room floor.
When the meal had finally settled, all three families went down the road for a game of putt-putt. We made quick work of those 18 holes, though, because it was getting quite nippy. The temperature was in the mid-40's but an occasional slight breeze made it feel cooler. Despite the harsh playing conditions, yours truly had three hole-in-ones!!! Too bad no one was keeping score... {extended}
Friday, October 28, 2005
The Best Therapy For A Traumatized Child
Carmi took Eliana to get a flu shot this morning at the request of her pediatrician.They called me on their way back home and Eliana informed me that she had a Nemo band-aid. There was a slight hint of disappointment in her voice that she didn't get a Dora band-aid but it was clear that Nemo would do in a pinch.
Carmi tried to convince me that the best therapy for a traumatized child is a shopping trip. I wasn't buying it but she easily convinced the Empress. The two went to TJ Maxx and Eliana picked out a very pretty dress to wear during our date with the photography studio on Saturday.
It was amazing how much better she felt by lunchtime. {extended}
Monday, October 24, 2005
So I Brought The Caterpillar Back Home
Yesterday, Carmi found a little white caterpillar - about 3/4" long - that had taken up residence in Eliana's backpack and was in the process of spinning a cocoon.Don't even ask how THAT happened because we're clueless.
She took the squatter and placed it in a jar so Eliana could take it to preschool this morning for show-and-tell. Our plan was for the caterpillar to stay at her preschool so the children could enjoy watching the eventual transformation.
When I picked Eliana up this afternoon, her childcare provider - who is also a teacher at the preschool - said that the little critter was indeed a huge hit. So huge, in fact, that the kids didn't want to do anything today BUT stare at the jar.
Evidently teachers aren't happy when they don't have their student's full attention.
So I brought the caterpillar back home...which suited a Little Empress just fine.
{extended}
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Down The Drain
After supper, I made a quick run to Bi-Lo and then stopped by a BP on the way home to purchase one gallon of gas. At approximately 9:30 pm and under cover of darkness, I mounted an offensive against the yellow jackets in our back yard. I moved like a shadow to the suspect hole in the ground, turned up the plastic container, emptied two dollars and fifty-five cents worth of gas into the hole and then made a mad dash back to the house. Everything I've read about yellow jackets says that they do not move around at night. Try as I might, I could not stand there and gloat but will check on the carnage tomorrow. {extended}Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Two Guesses
Two guesses what WE had to do tonight...and the first guess doesn't count! Carmi needed to make another run and gather more supplies for our church's Vacation Bible School which starts on Sunday night. I think we will publish a book called "Wally-World for Dummies" and one of the tips will be to always shop on Tuesdays. Tuesdays seem to be the least-crowded night of the week.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Babysitters-R-Us
Our friends, Ron and Jennifer Chilton, wanted to watch Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith tonight so they asked us to babysit Baby Samuel who turns one year old on the 7th. May I say that it was quite the experience and a good precursor of things to come when we bring home a baby sister for Eliana. As was expected, the Empress at first did not take very kindly to the attention Mommie paid to this "intruder" in her house. But by the end of the evening - with chocolate birthday cake in hand (and hair) - this man child was becoming more tolerable. You can see pictures of the evening here. {extended}Thursday, June 30, 2005
The Honeymoon Is Over
One thing is for sure...I hope that every Wednesday is not like today. What a whirlwind! Had to be at church by 6:30 to practice with the Praise Team in the Fellowship Hall for our first service together on Sunday. I was a tad late because I was running around at the last minute trying to find a microphone for Pastor Steve's Bible study. At 7:15, I jetted into the sanctuary for Choir practice. After running over a couple of Call to Worship's, I mentioned a particular song title that we were going to practice and...OH MY GOSH...you'da thunk the world was coming to an end. There were a couple of choir members (who shall remain unnamed) that royally showed their behinds. They weren't nasty about it but just going on and on and on and on about THAT song that has been sung one too many times. Geez oh pete...give it a rest ladies! Certain people just feel like they deserve to be heard. The good news is that we settled on a couple of songs that everyone seemed more comfortable with. Immediately after choir practice, I met with the people who will help me lead music in our VBS Worship Rallies. Very tired now...must go to sleep... {extended}Saturday, March 19, 2005
No Mo Yellow
Carmi got home a little later than usual from work today so we decided to eat at Lotus - our Chinese restaurant of choice - in town. Would you believe...we have never bothered to ask the names of the man and woman that have waited on us in the 3-4 years we've eaten there? We figured it was about time to know who they were so tonight we introduced ourselves and discovered their names to be David and Sharon. As is customary when we sit down, they brought us a small bowl of chips and two different bowls of sauce. One is called "duck" sauce and the other is some vile-looking yellow gook that I've never desired to have touch my lips. Eliana loves the duck sauce and I usually have to fight her for it. Tonight she decided that she wanted to try the "yellow" sauce. "Are you sure?" Carmi and I asked in unison. "Uh-huh" the Empress replied as she pointed and grunted for the stuff. Okey dokey...so we push the bowl to her and Carmi suggests that she only get a tiny bit of sauce on a corner of the chip. Suprisingly E obeyed and she dabbed a small bit of the sauce on the end of her outstretched tongue. Her tongue rolled back into her mouth and almost instantly, her eyes grew as wide as saucers and she lets loose with a blood-curdling scream while grabbing for her juice. Sharon informed us a few minutes later that it is a hot mustard sauce. Being the concerned father that I am, I asked Eliana if she wanted more. I don't think yellow is one of her favorite colors anymore. {extended}Friday, March 18, 2005
A Star Is Born
Woke up this morning and it was snowing a little outside. The snow was lightly coating the grass and that was about it. Mom did say at lunch that there were some really big flakes around mid-morning.I sang for Celebrate Recovery tonight at church and Eliana made me proud (again). Carmi had a Southern Living at Home party and the Sanctuary Choir was going to be practicing for the Sunday evening presentation of their Easter Cantata, so Kathy Evans was gracious enough to just bring Eliana to the church with her when she came to practice at 6:30. During my second set of songs, I brought E up and had her stand on a stool where she gave a wonderful rendition of "Jesus Loves Me". Everybody just gushed but who came blame them, eh?
After singing, I went into the Sanctuary where the Ensemble was supposed to practice for our song on Sunday night. Celebrate Recovery ran a little longer than usual so they had practiced without me and everybody was now gone except for Randy Hart. Randy is the leader of our praise band and does a super job on the acoustic guitar. He will be accompanying me on a song called "Beautiful" during Sunday morning services. In the quiet of the sanctuary with Randy lightly strumming, we performed "Beautiful" and I must say that it was quite a reverent time. {extended}
Monday, March 14, 2005
Gimme Back My Sunday
This was the day that wasn't. As usual we had lunch at Mom's after church and returned home around 2:00ish. There was a Pursuing Vital Ministry meeting at church at 3:30 which both Carmi and I were supposed to attend. Since the Empress needed a nap, Carmi stayed home with her and I attended the meeting solo. It lasted until 5:30 and then our evening service began at 6:00. For the last seven weeks, Andy (our Youth and Children Pastor) has been leading a discipleship time on parenting entitled "Effective Parenting in a Defective World". There were actually 2 sessions left. However, next Sunday night is our Sanctuary Choir's Easter Cantata so Andy presented both sessions tonight which wrapped up the study. It was very interesting and well attended. After the service, an Adult Ensemble that I'm now singing with from church had a brief practice session. The practice concluded around 8:00 and the Hendersons went to O'Charley's for supper. O'Charley's is cool because kids up to the age of 10 can eat FREE!Hmm...somebody I know has a birthday tomorrow! {extended}
Sunday, March 13, 2005
It’s A Beautiful Morning
I woke up around 6:00 am this morning as Eliana was walking into the bedroom. I reached out and helped her up into the bed. As I lay on my side facing her, she snuggled up with her back to my chest and went to sleep having never uttered a peep the entire time. She might push our patience to the limit on many occasions but it's the times like this that make me so proud to be a daddy.E felt much better today. I did still take her to the pediatrician, though, just to be on the safe side. The doc said her ears were clear, her nose was clear and her lungs were clear so that was very good. It is evidently just a 24-hour "viral" thing. I was talking to Mark Willis tonight on the phone and he said that Anna Kate was sick with a fever so it must be something that the daycare kids are passing around.
Didn't get home until between 11:30 and 12:00. I dropped Eliana off at Mom's again so I could go and help with the Habitat house. Mark and Sharon Baker and Ken Baker (no relation) were there from our church and we had a great time together. I'm hoping that our church can commit to sending some folks the 2nd Saturday of every month.
Carmi made it home from Wrightsville Beach...yeah! It was between 6:00 and 6:30 but at least she made it safely. We were supposed to go to John and Susan Davis's house for a surprise party for Don and Christine Davis (no relation). However, Eliana was getting cranky about this time and Carmi was very tired from her trip and my stomach was not feeling very good so we just stayed home and ordered a carry-out from Captain's Galley.
I'm working on a really neat improvement to the photo gallery so keep your eyes open. {extended}