When in Rome do as the Romans do. . .

Posted on May 19, 2016 by HALEY MILES

I will try to be intentional to show more of daily life here. I know the Father’s blessing is the main reason we have adjusted well. He really drew our hearts to this place and these people. . . and we want to study and learn their ways! Trying to live like they do makes living in such a foreign land not so bad Of course, there are still things I think I can do without learning. . . But for now, here are a few pictures for the record!

So, obviously this isn’t the only place where people hang out their laundry. I didn’t always hang out ALL of my clothes/towels/sheets/everything before though. I DO have a dryer – which is NOT the Chinese way. They say it wastes electricity. . . I can honestly say I try very hard not to use it. If my laundry has been hanging for almost 2 days and still won’t dry (isn’t super moist here remember), then I will throw it in the dryer for 10-20 minutes to get it completely dry. That’s the last resort though! ha!

When the sun comes out full strength, I have learned and adopted the local practice of laying out your bedding/blankets (otherwise un-washable items) to disinfect naturally in the sunlight! Some people who don’t have a yard will throw their blankets across small trees and even public playground or exercise equipment! Yes, that’s our “car” in the background. Sweet ride huh? (it’s a 3 wheeled cart/scooter thingy)

The chicken I bought to make chicken soup. . . complete with eggs, feet, and head. Things I would never had bought before! Hey, my kids like them! And it’s not BAD for them :)

Some Chinese herbs I bought to drink during a sickness. . .

Colt soaking his feet in some herbs I boiled for a recent sickness he had. . . He loves to soak his feet. I do too! We soaked twice a day for 3 days. He got better too btw! Yay for natural remedies!

The herbs I bought from the Chinese herbal medicine store. They measure each one out and dumped them into a bag. Each bag is boiled for 20 minutes, then you soak your feet for about 20 minutes. You can use each bag mix 2x.

Dumped into our gigantic soup pot haha! Eating soup from here may never be the same!

Oh, how I’ve missed you!

Posted on May 18, 2016 by HALEY MILES

I was able to return to our old stomping grounds in Chengdu for 4 days last week to attend a homeschool conference. It was so much fun. Not only did I learn a lot, but it was also good to see the people and things I’ve missed since we moved. First, I really really miss Chengdu’s food. It’s amazing. They are famous for their spicy foods. In our new city, GL, they are known for a sour spicy flavor that I’m still getting used to. . . haven’t quite grown to love it, but I can now say I don’t mind it at least.

As soon as I arrived in Chengdu, I dropped my bags and went straight to Food Street (a beloved street lined with food stalls). I ate slowly and enjoyed my two favorite things that GL doesn’t have and I have missed so much – a peanut smoothie (it tastes like peanut butter fudge) and spicy potatoes. They compliment each other so well

Peanut Smoothie and spicy potatoes!

After the 2 day conference, I went to visit our former Ayi and stayed with their family for one night. It was so so so good to see them!! Since the last time I saw them sweet baby Aiden was added to their family, and the Father spared Liu De Hai’s life by providing a kidney transplant for him. They have walked through many many struggles. . . and we have tried to walk alongside them. It was so good to see them, and to see them doing well. It was also hard to leave them when it was time to go. Though we still talk weekly, one night was too short to catch up on 1 year apart.

Sweet baby Aiden (that’s his English name, obviously)! He’s 9 months old!

Baby Aiden and Liu De Hai are both miracles in this picture! Please PR for LDH’s mom (seated to his right) who has not yet received the Good News.

He’s a happy little fella!

Big sister Liu Si Yu (11 years old) and baby brother (9 months old)

My sweet sweet friend Tracy! We were able to have dinner twice, and I also stayed with her one night. It was so good to catch up! I’m so thankful for a friend like her in this country where we can pick up right where we left off!

My Walmart. . .

Posted on May 16, 2016 by HALEY MILES

There is a market right across from our apartment complex that I have been going to for the last year. Recently I discovered this gigantic (and cheaper) market near the kids school bus stop though. Ever since, I have been going there. I like to compare it to Walmart because I can honestly get anything (basic needs that is) and everything there. It’s.so.cool!

I didn’t take as many pictures as I wanted to because I felt awkward taking pictures of things. . . I’m not sure why though since people don’t seem to have any problem taking pictures of us and our 3 blonde haired children all the time!

The veggie and fruit selection is huge! There are designated areas to buy chicken, pork, beef, fish, and tofu. There are tons of rice and dry good vendors. They even have all your basic home needs too (i.e. toilet paper, cleaners, mops, napkins, etc.)! I actually think it’s fun to go there. I go right after I drop the kids off so that any meat I buy is still fresh. . .

Veggie section (part of it anyways)

Fresh chicken and fresh eggs! You can buy the chicken and butcher it yourself at home for maximum freshness or they will do it for you at the time of purchase :)

Fruit section. Yes, those are cherry tomatoes in the bottom left corner because tomatoes are (rightly) considered fruit here. They are even often found on cakes with other fruit!

Poultry section (the chicken and all of it’s parts!)

Random household needs. See. . .this is why I compare this market to Walmart. So convenient! One stop shopping!

Pork. Yes, those are pig feet (and the pig heads are in the background). Pig feet are expensive! They are supposedly full of nutrients and good for your skin. They are actually really good if cooked well!

What I bought for dinners this week . . . all for a little less that $8!! From left to right: greens, bananas, tofu, rice, a type of green bean, mushrooms, garlic, corn off the cob, some type of gourd I don’t know how to say in English, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green peppers, and ground meat!

Family trip to the countryside

Posted on May 7, 2016 by HALEY MILES

We took advantage of a long weekend the kids had off school and travelled out as a fam! The kids and I enjoyed being able to see and do some of what D does when he travels out during the month. We travelled via bus. The first bus ride was just 2 hours. We stayed in that town overnight and met one of D’s friends there. This friend’s wife had JUST had a baby boy (18 days old)! We were thrilled to be able to meet the baby and love of them a bit. Kylie pretty much wanted to go back and see the baby the whole rest of that day and the next morning. The next day we rode another bus 1 hour further to another city of all AM people. It was small!! All the shops closed down around 5pm! I felt like I was back in my small hometown of Alum Creek where “everybody knows everybody.” We took the kids to the playground where a bunch of kids were playing. D played basketball with some guys. We had dinner at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant where he eats every time he goes there. Of course, the restaurant owners recognized him, and I asked her to teach me how to cook the 3 dishes we ordered (spicy tofu, stir fried green beens and meat, eggs and garlic dish). They WERE really good! She was super kind and willing to talk. Thankful for the time to travel as a family. Thankful the kids loved it. Thankful for conversations that we had. Thank YOU for asking for us as we press on and work here.

Pipa (pronouced pee-pah) the fruit

Posted on May 3, 2016 by HALEY MILES

One of the cool things about the kids’ school is that they grow a lot of different fruits and veggies which they also get to eat! A couple of days ago they decided to harvest the fruit from their pipa trees. They got to eat some at school and brought a bag full of them home to share!

Harvesting the pipas

Sweet and juicy. You peel the skin and eat it, but it does have a large pit kind of like a cherry?

Pipa party! Every class got to enjoy an afternoon treat! Kylie is wearing her favorite dress again (the same one she is wearing in every picture I have of her I think) She is to the left of her teacher at the table closest to the front (clue: look for the blonde pony tail).

Do you recognize this fruit? I have no idea how to say it in English!

I spy a blonde headed kid with a big smile!!!

How they have grown!

Posted on May 3, 2016 by HALEY MILES

It’s hard to believe we have lived in EA for 2.5 years now! When we left the States, Colt was 5, Kylie 2, and Caden 8 months! Now they are 7.5, 4.5, and 3 (like you couldn’t add 2.5 years to their ages on your own hehe). This first picture is from my parents’ house right before we left. *Sniff*Sniff* They look so so little!!! Thankful for the Father’s protection over them!

(Notice the upside down binoculars)

Yes, this is Kylie’s favorite dress. I’m pretty sure she wears it almost every day (hence it’s in all my posts too)!

The Great Outdoors. . .

Posted on May 2, 2016 by HALEY MILES

Exploring a cave! Kylie and Caden are off school for a week while their teachers complete a training course so we took them exploring!

Despite the faded colors. . . the kids thought climbing the colorful stairs was so much fun and “sooooo beautiful!”

Snails, slugs, and bugs. . . this little girly girl has been taught well by her older brother :)

Another cave at the top!

View from the cave – a beautiful world with an amazing Creator!

One of Caden’s snails. These things are huge!

Also in the cave at the top. . . a beautiful world with many people who have yet to KNOW the Creator.

Comparing snails. . . they had caught several by this point. Kylie kept them in her purse.

After school we took Colt with us to catch more snails and play by the river. By this time Kylie had changed clothes (like she dose several times a day). She is now keeping snails in her pockets AND purse :)

Snail hunting! They really are sold in our market here. . . we just need to learn how to cook them and eat them. By “we” I mean David and the kids (not so much me).

We played until sunset. So peaceful.

Some bamboo and PVC pipe boats. Notice the bird cage that was brought down to the river too. I like this picture :)

Some of my favorite things to eat. . . (and some not so much)

Posted on April 29, 2016 by HALEY MILES

Garlic shoots. I like to stir fry this with a little bit of meat. . . yum yum!

Some of my favorite snack foods: sunflower seeds and dried dates. The dates are like a sweet treat and especially good for females. Try them!

Sugar cane!! When we first had some friends give us some sugar cane, I had to look it up because I didn’t want my kids going to town on “sugar” right? Sugar cane is FULL of awesome nutrients! Diabetics can even eat it! We have been eating it ever since!! Super sweet and juicy :)

After school snacks (as well as breakfast and any other time) – mangoes and bananas! Our kids will finish this off within 2 days :)

Sugar cane again! We buy it from guys like this on the side of the road. They will peel it and cut it up for you. You take a bite, chew it up, swallow the juices and spit out the “husk” or whatever you call it. Sounds gross. But it.is.so.good!

Cooking dinner one night. . . All fresh and so colorful! Eggs, bell pepper, tomato, onion, garlic, eggplant, mushroom, tofu, and minced pork. Come over for dinner and try it!

Some alternate meat options at the market: fish, frogs, little eels, and I’m not even sure what else those are :)

They say it’s best to buy a live chicken from the market and either have them butcher it for you or do it yourself. . . I haven’t ventured to do that yet though. This lady did :)

Ancient China Day

Posted on April 28, 2016 by HALEY MILES

All the kids are at Colt’s school now It’s been a good move for everyone. Kylie and Caden LOVE it. Mommy loves being able to drop off and pick up these three in one place too! A couple of weeks ago they had a Spring Festival that was celebrated the way it would have been long ago in ancient Chinese style. We all had to wear ancient style dress, the teacher’s put on quite an impressive ceremony (they were dressed to perfection as you will see in the pics below), and they also had activities like painting, playing ancient instruments, clay, archery, and kickball. There were a couple more that we didn’t get around to because once my 3 kids found the clay mud. . . they stayed there the rest of the time It was a fun day. It was also a hot day as you can see by the red faces!

Happy Easter

Posted on March 27, 2016 by HALEY MILES

We celebrated Easter today on this side of the world! We met with some like-minded foreign friends this morning for group, David did a great job leading us in w*rship. I then took the 10 kids present outside for an Easter party/lesson in English Then, this afternoon we had our local friends over for the same Easter party/lesson in Chinese! I’ve been working on the story with my tutor for weeks, listening to her recordings of the story, studying on my own and practicing to David I pretty much (pointlessly) lost sleep over it. . . seriously? I mean, it’s all up the the Father anyways right? I can’t do anything in my own strength, so why lose sleep? Easier said than done. I bathed this in PR. Pretty much all the day talking to the Father about speaking through me, preparing their hearts, the story to be clear, everything to go smoothly, etc.

He answered just the way I asked Him to too! Today was a great day. The kids had a great time. They listened to every word I said. The parents said I was speaking clearly and understood. The activities went smoothly, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you Mom and Trinity for sending some great Easter supplies! It was pretty awesome I get a bit emotional when I stop and think about how clearly they heard the Story today. . in it’s entirety. His Word doesn’t return void you know? Can’t wait to see how He moves!

Telling the Easter Story. . . they all listening very intently to the WHOLE story!

We had a great turn out!

Easter egg hunt in the neighborhood :)

Opening the eggs was pretty exciting for them since the concept of Easter and egg hunts is new to them :)

I thought this was a neat picture of Caden playing with the eggs I had used to tell the Easter Story. That purple egg had the cross. PR for their hearts to hear and understand!

Planting flowers in the flower pots the kids decorated!

Lots of people in our little space. . .

I like these ladies :)

Miles of Praise

Our Asian/African Adventures