Blogging Help:>)

Thank you, Jacob, for working on my blog. Have a flower. Cheesecake would have been better...but you didn't give me any. 

     However we did find some at the Christian Hotel because what would National Cheesecake Day be without Cheesecake!

Three Years...

July 29, 2012

Dear Ones,

One little heartbeat at a time

    This past week five of us living here in the Big House had the opportunity to share with a visiting student group the story of God’s calling in our lives and how we had each ended up living here in this family so far from our homes.  I listened as the others shared and considered the uniqueness of our callings, of the way our Heavenly Father so orchestrated our being here in this place, at this time, for this purpose, weaving the tapestry of our lives into a beautiful picture of the work of His hands.  It was good, it was really good- so often we do not sit and consider the journey’s of others, the paths that intercepted, the past that brought each of us to this point where we are placed very much so into one another’s lives to learn the lessons that God has for us at this place in our journey, for this time in our story.    I sat sharing some snapshots of my journey, my calling, my story and you all came to mind.  If you receive this e-mail, read this blog, have mail delivered then you are part of my story, the story that God is writing my life into and I am so incredibly grateful for each of you!  Three Years…Today marks my three year anniversary of life in China.  You have been there, many of you since the very beginning of my life and journey, some of you I have just met and others I do not know personally you have simply chosen to come along side and encourage me in my walk.  Thank you.  There have been mountaintops and deep dark valleys, laughter, tears, driving lessons, schooling, nursing care, love, anger, compassion, frustration, kindness, staring, strange food and stranger streets, an ever growing list of names on the wall and stories of children in their forever families.  There have been crazy drives and long train rides, and language lessons, shopping trips, sightseeing trips, and letters from home, visits from friends, faithful support, skype chats, pictures, and packages of everything imaginable and then some.  You are the ones who have encouraged me not only over the last three years but so many of you further back than that, you have counseled, cried with, laughed with, listened to my heart, and loved me through all of the many flaws and faults, the “Ideas,” the activity, the exciting, the heart wrenching, and the heart thrilling.  I like Paul can say, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.  For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6-8)  Thank you for being the body that allows my hands to work here, for by God’s grace He has given you to me, for such a time as this.  That this pile of stones would be a reminder to all who ask, “What is this pile of stones?” That His Story might be proclaimed.  I love you all!

By His Grace- Securely Held Fast in His Hand,

Mariah  

More to make me smile...

A trip with Becca after a really long night to the new shop in town...
 "The Donut Stop"  
Where the hardest decision is whether to have pork floss donut or Delgian Chocolate donut with my iced latte!

"Pros and Bronze"- of course it's OPI

A beautiful Sunset

A Hug from Katie

A visit from Abby's Friend Cathrine

The way the maintenance man deals with malfunctioning electrical boxes

Dan's request for pumpkin pie in July that had him asking his mom to send the missing ingredient...Evaporated milk and the huge smile he gave me when he handed me the cans and said, "PLEASSSSSSE"

Matching Moments in Time

Where did the Week Go?

There was peach picking...  (Thank you Ayi!)

Peach paring, pitting, and packaging.  Then of course there was peaches and cream, big smiles and birthday parties, there were visitors and friends, picking up people, and things, putting away, laundry, cooking and just in general life stuff-

Happy Birthday Lily Belle

Birthday Party!

An Alaska Afternoon- mmm good, Thank You Friend!

 Yes- this is what you think it is- a chocolate cake with both ends cut off!  You see there was just a little chocolate cake and half a container of cream cheese frosting left over from another cake and well Abby and I needed some "Sprinkle Time" and so there you have it and when you are talking about cream cheese frosting it is hard to decide who gets the end piece so we did what any sensible people in our situation would do- we ate both ends!

    And no we did not eat it with the Salmon that was another fun moment all on its own.

Rooftop Engagement...July 15, 2012

 OK, so I have been holding out on this post...I so wanted to spill the story sooner but just had to wait until our precious Abby and her Prince Charming had the chance to share with all the special people in their lives!  On July 15th we had yet another First...

               "Rooftop Engagements"

 Hosted their premier event and at the end Cinderella said YES!!!!!!

 Rooftop Engagements was commissioned by Prince Charming (aka Michael) to assist in carrying out the incredible mission of secretly transforming the rooftop of Maria's into the perfect proposal location.  And to that end, they "rose" to the occasion and had a delightful time doing so...

Rebecca and Dan Proposal Preparations Extraordinaire

Abby Says YES!!!!!!!!

Striking a Heart String

July 14, 2012

Dear Ones,

   The sharp resonating sound of a heart string plucked taunt sings out through my soul, a single stroke has caused a tear to wheal up and I force it down willing it to not spill over but to stay safely protected behind the lenses of my sunglasses, my insides turn as I try to stay in control.  I should be smiling, laughing; the finger that struck the cord was the gentle one of a friend sharing the laughter and chatter of children. We were driving together picking up some needed groceries and chatting, especially about the drive- we always seem to talk about driving it is such an experience and she was sharing with me some fun moments I missed recently, things she knows are joy filled for all of us.  She was sharing the antics and gleeful exuberance of preschoolers going on an adventure, an outing, the thrill of a car ride, of recognizing colors, and letters, and numbers, each one in their way squealing with delight in the joy of life.  They were on their way to the aquarium, and what a wonderful time they had, the whole group came home exhausted but beaming sharing with me all about the fish and the seals they saw.  I even had several of my little ones demonstrating how the seal clapped and waved.  I smiled trying to imagine the scene.   And then in an instant there it was the twang and reverberation of a moment.  My mind raced not to laughter and gleeful cries but the ragged sounds of tiny little ones final breaths, the calm quiet that followed, and the sobs that shook my shoulders and had me sinking to my knees beside the desk in my office…

  These moments, these snapshots in time were happening simultaneously, seasons of life, the ebbing changes, the fragile balance, this vapor, a chord struck at the very heart of my soul.  How many times do I forget that, do I forget that this might be the final breath, the final word, the final look, the disappearance of this vapor of a life I have been given here on earth?    So many times I am reminded of the words of Solomon:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which was planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.”- Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

     Once again I have an opportunity to ponder all of these things keeping them in my heart, carrying them close, reminding myself of the incredible gift God has given me in this breath.  I want those twinges of pain, I want those tears to pool and spill over, I want to remember this season of immense joy and breathtaking sorrow.  I want to say like Daniel, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are His.  And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings, He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding; He revealeth the deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” (Daniel 2:20-22)

  In these everyday moments of time I have a Father who knows and understands the darkness but who calls me to Himself to live in the blinding light of His presence not just for a season but for all eternity and that is a chord that strikes at the heart of my soul and resonates.

With love for each of you,

Mariah  

Dinner Out...

Dinner out with the gang... an evening of laughter at our favorite "Dirty Dumpling" restaurant!