Apple Orchards

Perhaps Fall is my favorite season of all. I love the brilliant colors and how the leaves cascade down in sweet silence. I love the crunch as I walk and feel the wind in my face. The cooler weather brings joy to my heart. Perhaps the best part of all is the harvesting time. Watching the corn fields slowly return to earth and the air being full of sweet sticky apple goodness makes me want to make a pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee.

Recently, we visited an apple orchard in town. We perused the market where there were yummy samples and then we went out to pick a peck of apples. (I didn't even have to make that up.) :)

We had fun and the apples were wonderful! The season has not let me down with the trees and treats and cool breezes! Yeah for FALL!

Olivia also turned 5 this past month! I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. We had a small get together with family and then another little party for her at the park. She had a blast and declared it "her best birthday ever". October 14, yet another reason to love FALL.

再见！See ya later!

Makayla Is Here!

We are happy to announce that Makayla Joy Schmidt was born September 2 at 2:55am at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Il.
She weighed 7lbs 2.8 oz. and measured 19 inches long.

She is now a month old and doing great. Big sister and brother love her and have welcomed her well. Life is different with three little ones, but it is a great and marvelous journey that the Lord has us on right now.

Olivia's Last Class Performance for the Year

The preschool where Olivia has been attending loves to have the students do performances... lots of them! It is fun to see how well she is progressing too about being in front of people, speaking and singing in Chinese, and just trying to fit in as much as a blond haired blue eyed little girl can.

       There were many parts to this performance, some of which were the whole class, just the boys, just the girls, a combo of boys and girls... They sang, recited poems, did Chinese style performances that you might see adults do... It was pretty elaborate for a class of 4 year olds. The following is just one clip from the show, and I hope you enjoy it.

Since we will be in the States for a year, Olivia had to say good-bye to her friends and teachers. It was a sweet and sad parting even though we plan to have her attend the same school and be a part of the same class when we return to Harbin. It is amazing how wonderful her teachers have treated her and how close they became during the two years she was at the school. It makes my heart glad to know that they care for her so! It also brings me joy to know that they will be able to be together again after a year.

See ya later! 下次见!

Hidden blessings sometimes aren't fun.

There are times when we look ahead and think, “I bet there was a reason for that.” Then, after a not so long amount of time and say, “Oh. Maybe that is one reason for that!”

When the India trip was cancelled, I really had a great peace. I assumed the reason had something to do with India and God's providence. Maybe that is still true to some “unknown to me” degree; however, I believe another reason has to do with my kids.

We arrived at Ben's Guesthouse where we were planning to stay for four nights before heading to the beach. The first full day that we were there, Olivia got a fever of 105 and threw up what little of her breakfast she had eaten. (sorry for you weak stomachers.) After some Tylenol, her fever went down some, but later came back with a full vengeance. We decided to take her to the hospital and get her checked out. When we arrived, her fever was again in the 105 range!

The doctor determined after looking at her red and infected throat that she needed antibiotics, tylenol, high fever medicine and a stay in the hospital overnight to get her rehydrated by using IVs. We decided to just take her home with us and try to get her to drink more water.

Meanwhile, Joel is playing with some friends who have a meeting, so we collect him to discover that he too has a high fever. We get him checked out to find that he too has the infections, needs antibiotics, tylenol, runny nose medicine, and lots of water.

Many hours later, we return home. In the middle of the morning, Olivia throws up again and her fever is still high; however, she is not dehydrated (thanks to our scaring her into drinking by threatening a shot! Hey, ya do whatcha gotta do!) She is also more energetic. The doctor was mostly pleased. Joel had no fever at this point, so we felt like for the most part we were out of the woods.

Nighttime came with a hammer blow! Olivia threw up five times, but thankfully her fever never returned. Joel, thankfully, seems to be okay, but we will have to see what tonight holds. Olivia seems to be the trail blazer this sickness.

Steve feels “something coming on” which does not translate well for me. We leave on a plane tomorrow morning, and because of the change in India plans, I am actually on a different flight to save the money of changing airlines. So, there will be a possibly sick Steve with two hopefully all better kids on a plane by himself. Ugh.

So, whatever the deep divine reason for my not being in India right now may be, I am ever so thankful that I am here to help take care of my family. The LORD really knows what He is doing; He is in control; He is faithful. Pray that Steve doesn't get sick in spite of his 'feeling', and that I also do not get sick. May the worst be behind us and much needed rest ahead.

See ya! 再见！

Some disappointments come with built-in blessings

I have been taking classes to receive a certificate in teacher mentoring for the past year and a half. Before beginning the program, I knew that a practicum was required that involved taking a trip to a teacher training center in Northeast India. Last year, Joel was too little to leave behind for the 10 day trip, so I have been anticipating this India experience for about two years now.

This year was ideal as far as being able to leave Steve, Olivia, and Joel in Thailand and go mentor Indian English teachers, but my heart was obviously a bit torn about having to be away from them for such a long time. The longest I have been away from my kids was two nights; a train ride to Beijing, a day of meetings there, and the train ride back to Harbin. So, 10 days! Not my idea of fun.

Nonetheless, they were to be at the beach being taken care of in regards to their meals all being provided and such. As far as it went, ideal. I was scheduled to leave February 14^th and return to meet them on the 25^th in Bangkok.

Little did I know what was in store. When we all got to Thailand, the three other people in my class scheduled to go on the trip and I went to the Indian consulate here in Chiangmai Thailand. We were told to apply for tourist visas which turned out to be a big mistake and we didn't get them. Later, the next week, we were planning to return to the consulate with the proper forms. A couple of Indian friends went on our behalf to talk things over with the head consulate man and explain our situation. Evidently, in order to apply for a business visa, we needed to do it in our country of residence or home country which meant.... no visa this year.

As the reality of this hit me, I was filled with a sadness that I would not be able to serve the teachers at the training center, and that our absence would cause more difficulty in their training process; however, I was also filled with an incredible peace. I knew that this was meant to be for some reason that the three of my classmates and I may never fully understand.

Only the Lord knows if we were protected, saved, or spared from something or just given a special blessing at a very busy and rushed time of the year. Since arriving in Thailand, I hardly had time to breathe between being in class, having team leader meetings and then our conference beginning (two sessions of which I was responsible). Perhaps there was some divine intervention, but it might be that it was seen as good and right that I too join my family for a few days of rest before beginning another busy and trying semester.

As we look at the semester ahead, it is filled with teaching, mentoring, preparing one teammate for the role of team leader while we are on home leave, preparing ourselves for home leave (packing up as well as setting things up for the States). Additionally, we want to serve our team well in helping set them up for success in whatever they have next year; team leading, language study, staying or going... We also want to end our year well before being away for a year so that we will be ready when the time comes to return.

Not going to India means that I must find another way to fulfill the 20 hours of mentoring that it would have entailed along with the 30 that I already had to complete on my own; however, I believe that His grace is sufficient and I am still at peace about the situation and whatever lies ahead. God is good and I need not worry or fear; He is in control.  

新年快乐！Happy New Year!

Fireworks, hongbaos (red envelopes of money given to kids) red clothes, visiting neighbors, clean homes (getting rid of the old to welcome the new), jiaozi (dumplings), TV watching, going home, family, greeting in the street, togetherness. These are some of the wonderful things that mean Chinese New Year (a.k.a. Spring Festival chunjie or 春节) to people we know and love. This year it was on February 10.

For the next fifteen days or so, China will celebrate like it doesn't any other time of the year. This is the biggest holiday of them all. Nothing compares in their culture to this one event. One of the most interesting things is that everyone gathers around a television to watch the annual Chinese New Year program filled with dancing, singing, skits, and even introductions to the “phrases/ words of the year” that you begin hearing everyone say after 春节.

We'll have to see what it will be this year when we get back to China. (We are still in Thailand at our annual conference).

This year is the year of the snake, which also happens to be my (Robin) year. Both of our first 春节in China was the year of the snake as well, so this is a milestone of some sort.

So.. 恭喜恭喜恭喜你！(Give you joy!)

Robin

Thailand phase 1

This year in Thailand, it is anything but a holiday; however, we are able to squeeze in some fun from time to time.
Our first full day in Chiangmai, I took Olivia to get her toes done. She loves this outing.
The best time to take her was during nap time, and since she hasn't been quite in the habit of taking them, I thought it would be a safe bet. Well, I guess the relaxation was a little overwhelming! :)

My class was wonderful, and I learned so much. I have truly enjoyed the year and half of working on this Teacher Mentor certificate. I have one more semester of homework and then I am finished with class, but I see a lifetime of application to follow.

The 1st through 3rd of February, Chiangmai celebrates the Flower Festival. There is an annual parade, and it is a treat to watch. We were able to get some pictures of a few of the floats that went by. Hope you enjoy them as well.








再见！