The Perfect Smile
I love it when the two front teeth are missing, don't you?
And...
The Perfect Hair
I love it when the two front teeth are missing, don't you?And...
The Perfect Hair
So glad that he is still a fun kid who likes to do goofy things!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Secret Code
Did you have a secret code with your BFF when you were a kid? Or with family?
Was there a signal or the *word* that only you and they understood? Like a game.
Or have you traveled to another country and you didn't understand the language. You feltl like they had the secret code that you just couldn't break.
Or have you watched the deaf "speak" to one another.
Even though my daughter hears perfectly, she is considered nonverbal. She has started speaking sounds and simple words, but for the most part she uses sign language (ASL).
I have loved learning this new language with her. I'm not fluent at all, but as a family we have our own little "code". And it is fun to use.
Like today.
At the waterpark with the kids. It is full...like water overflowing from a sink full. Kids were everywhere. It was sometimes difficult to spot the blond hair white kid amongst all the black hair Chinese kids. And when it was time to eat, I didn't want to drag the other two around the place looking for him.
But, I spotted his smiling face in the free flowing river of brown eyes. Fortunately, he looked at me.
I signed to him, "Want eat?"
He signed, "Eat now?"
Then we ate. I didn't have to yell at him or anything.
We have stories like this almost daily.
I never knew that learning sign language would be this much fun with my family. (and also helpful when they were not obeying in public)
If you are interested in learning it with your kids. I highly recommend this DVD series "Signing Times". It is very kid friendly and shows the signs clearly. Their website is: www.signingtimekids.com
Another good reference for looking up quick words is www.aslpro.com
Love this site as they give an actual video of the sign.
These are only two, but there is so much out there if you search the web.
With the Deaf Olympics happening next month here in Taipei, I sure wish I were fluent. We do plan to attend some of the games. It will be a cultural experience for us. I'm quite excited.
(FYI: It is one of the top most unreached people groups in the world.)
Was there a signal or the *word* that only you and they understood? Like a game.
Or have you traveled to another country and you didn't understand the language. You feltl like they had the secret code that you just couldn't break.
Or have you watched the deaf "speak" to one another.
Even though my daughter hears perfectly, she is considered nonverbal. She has started speaking sounds and simple words, but for the most part she uses sign language (ASL).
I have loved learning this new language with her. I'm not fluent at all, but as a family we have our own little "code". And it is fun to use.
Like today.
At the waterpark with the kids. It is full...like water overflowing from a sink full. Kids were everywhere. It was sometimes difficult to spot the blond hair white kid amongst all the black hair Chinese kids. And when it was time to eat, I didn't want to drag the other two around the place looking for him.
But, I spotted his smiling face in the free flowing river of brown eyes. Fortunately, he looked at me.
I signed to him, "Want eat?"
He signed, "Eat now?"
Then we ate. I didn't have to yell at him or anything.
We have stories like this almost daily.
I never knew that learning sign language would be this much fun with my family. (and also helpful when they were not obeying in public)
If you are interested in learning it with your kids. I highly recommend this DVD series "Signing Times". It is very kid friendly and shows the signs clearly. Their website is: www.signingtimekids.com
Another good reference for looking up quick words is www.aslpro.com
Love this site as they give an actual video of the sign.
These are only two, but there is so much out there if you search the web.
With the Deaf Olympics happening next month here in Taipei, I sure wish I were fluent. We do plan to attend some of the games. It will be a cultural experience for us. I'm quite excited.
(FYI: It is one of the top most unreached people groups in the world.)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Identity
Identity can be found within family, religion, friends, culture, or a number other places.
I'm seeing my youngest starting to deal with it in minor ways.
Her hair.
It's black. No one else in our family has black hair. My oldest has the same color as my husband and my middle has the same color I had when I was young. But, her hair color is the same as....?
Michael Jackson.
This was her conclusion the other day. At lunch she told me that his hair was the same color as hers.
YIKES!
Then today on the bus she noticed other people...
"Mama look out there, that mom has the same hair as me!"
"Look Mama that boy has the same hair as me!"
"Mama, look LOOK that girl as the same hair as ME!"
SIGH....
I'm sure this is something that she'll deal with on and off for most of her life. She's adopted. Her identity is confusing. Even now...
"Both girls are your daughters? But, she has black hair and looks different," frequently quoted by various people on the street. (this could be turned into another posting all in itself)
Later...when she has to fill out a family medical history....?
As her mom, I sometimes worry about this. But, during these times I have to take it to the LORD.
I pray that her identity will be in CHRIST at an early age. That her struggles with this issue will not be a stronghold in her life; but a lifeline to others like her. That she would see how God saved her life and brought her out of the pit.
She's four.
She's Chinese. She's American. She's German. (something my other two struggle with as well, since they were born in China and have grown up in the Chinese culture)
She IS a Maurer. There's no question in our minds about that!
I'm seeing my youngest starting to deal with it in minor ways.
Her hair.
It's black. No one else in our family has black hair. My oldest has the same color as my husband and my middle has the same color I had when I was young. But, her hair color is the same as....?
Michael Jackson.
This was her conclusion the other day. At lunch she told me that his hair was the same color as hers.
YIKES!
Then today on the bus she noticed other people...
"Mama look out there, that mom has the same hair as me!"
"Look Mama that boy has the same hair as me!"
"Mama, look LOOK that girl as the same hair as ME!"
SIGH....
I'm sure this is something that she'll deal with on and off for most of her life. She's adopted. Her identity is confusing. Even now...
"Both girls are your daughters? But, she has black hair and looks different," frequently quoted by various people on the street. (this could be turned into another posting all in itself)
Later...when she has to fill out a family medical history....?
As her mom, I sometimes worry about this. But, during these times I have to take it to the LORD.
I pray that her identity will be in CHRIST at an early age. That her struggles with this issue will not be a stronghold in her life; but a lifeline to others like her. That she would see how God saved her life and brought her out of the pit.
She's four.
She's Chinese. She's American. She's German. (something my other two struggle with as well, since they were born in China and have grown up in the Chinese culture)
She IS a Maurer. There's no question in our minds about that!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Autobahn in the Summer
Being married to a German, I find that we travel between three continents (Asia, North America and Europe) at least every year or two. This summer we spent almost a month in Germany visiting family. This is only my second trip during the summer, so I learned a few things about German summers.
1. Summer weather is drastic....cold/rainy or hot. And that this weather can change back and forth within a 48 hour period.
2. Not all German cars have AC; only those that are made more recently do. The car that we had for the summer was older.
3. The famous German Autobahn may not live up to its fame during the high peak holiday travel season.
The last discovery, I did know from my previous trips. But, this particular road trip will be to me forever remembered as, "Bonding in Old Blue".
"Old Blue": 1994 Blue Opel Stationwagon. Driver's side window broken (can't be rolled down). Sun-roof. No AC. No radio. This might sound like a complaint, but it's not. Just stating facts...we loved "Old Blue" or "The Beast". He gave us independence and bonding time.
3 hour bonding time.
3 hours of hot German summer weather.
3 hours of no radio. (No hand held video games or portable DVD player, either)
3 hours with 3 children in the back seat. (fyi: ages 7, 5, 4)
Almost 3 hours too long.
It made me stop and think about the road trips my parents took with me to visit my sister who lived 3 hours away. Granted they only had 1 child to deal with and I didn't have to sit in a car seat or be buckled in. I stretched out in the backseat or on the floor when my other siblings were with us. I didn't have a DS, or other hand held video game. I had books.
That was 19--, (I'm not giving away my age!)
Back to 2009.
What DID we do?
Sang songs, listened to my wonderful husband tell a story about a dog (this was a favorite...kids asked for another story on the return trip home), and what every tired, sweaty, heat exhausted parent does...
bribe with ice-cream!
It worked. Got there and back.
even with the vapors rolling into our car from a convoy of semi-trucks..
even without the AC
even without a radio/video games/portable DVD player
even with 3 children
Do I recommend this?
Would I do it again?
Hmm, NO WAY (unless I had to, that is!)
1. Summer weather is drastic....cold/rainy or hot. And that this weather can change back and forth within a 48 hour period.
2. Not all German cars have AC; only those that are made more recently do. The car that we had for the summer was older.
3. The famous German Autobahn may not live up to its fame during the high peak holiday travel season.
The last discovery, I did know from my previous trips. But, this particular road trip will be to me forever remembered as, "Bonding in Old Blue".
"Old Blue": 1994 Blue Opel Stationwagon. Driver's side window broken (can't be rolled down). Sun-roof. No AC. No radio. This might sound like a complaint, but it's not. Just stating facts...we loved "Old Blue" or "The Beast". He gave us independence and bonding time.
3 hour bonding time.
3 hours of hot German summer weather.
3 hours of no radio. (No hand held video games or portable DVD player, either)
3 hours with 3 children in the back seat. (fyi: ages 7, 5, 4)
Almost 3 hours too long.
It made me stop and think about the road trips my parents took with me to visit my sister who lived 3 hours away. Granted they only had 1 child to deal with and I didn't have to sit in a car seat or be buckled in. I stretched out in the backseat or on the floor when my other siblings were with us. I didn't have a DS, or other hand held video game. I had books.
That was 19--, (I'm not giving away my age!)
Back to 2009.
What DID we do?
Sang songs, listened to my wonderful husband tell a story about a dog (this was a favorite...kids asked for another story on the return trip home), and what every tired, sweaty, heat exhausted parent does...
bribe with ice-cream!
It worked. Got there and back.
even with the vapors rolling into our car from a convoy of semi-trucks..
even without the AC
even without a radio/video games/portable DVD player
even with 3 children
Do I recommend this?
Would I do it again?
Hmm, NO WAY (unless I had to, that is!)
Kids with "Old Blue" on one of our many day trips!
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