In April

(background: every day this year, I've been writing down 5 things that I am thankful for. I decided the end of the month would be a good time to review them all. and then I decided to share them)

In April, I was thankful:

1. For deep conversation and just being able to soak it all in
2. For the chance to talk to both Stephanies at the same time
3. For understanding STL, talking to HKL about her day and BDL’s questions about family
4. That I could process “quietness” with ADP
5. For lunch with a student and his mom
6. That He always welcomes me back with open arms
7. For hugs at soccer
8. That LSB came in to give me an update
9. For time to really research for the 8^th grade unit
10. For unexpected time to work out and process life
11. For JP sharing so many stories of Your faithfulness
12. For the picture of MLS digging to China
13. For a good dinner before watching Doctor Who
14. That You are sovereign and I can leave it all in Your hands
15. For dinner and movie at home with the roommate
16. For texts out of the blue just to say hi
17. For encouragement found in song lyrics
18. For amazing weather and the chance to be out in it
19. That I got to talk to Mom, Dad and #5
20. For the hope in the gospel
21. That classes got prepped in spite of technology issues
22. That CT was able to get the internet working on my computer again
23. That AK let me crash on her couch and use her internet
24. For really sweet interactions with students today that were good reminders that relationships take time and it’s always worth it
25. That I got to talk to JES before he left
26. That I was able to finish cue sheets for “Holes”
27. For finding taxis in the rain
28. For spending my personal day with SJL
29. For people reaching out and taking care of me
30. For getting to know SKB better

This month was really about people and the small moments. I'm thankful for being able to look back and remember them.

In March

(background: every day this year, I've been writing down 5 things that I am thankful for. I decided the end of the month would be a good time to review them all. and then I decided to share them)

In March, I was thankful for

1. For my brother PRS and how our friendship has deepened over the years
2. For the accountability KEA gives me without being pushy
3. For my nephew RJS and the anticipation of kissing those cheeks this summer
4. That LSB came into my room just to talk
5. That the MUN celebration went well with the 8^th graders and that I got to hear more about their experiences
6. For a heart-felt thank you e-mail
7. For getting confirmation of my flights home this summer
8. For having flowers in the house
9. for how music spoke to my heart today
10. that ZLB and I had some good ideas for the upcoming lesson
11. the 7^th graders had such a good day in class
12. an encouraging e-mail from someone who observed my class
13. for magical things like cake mix and Heath bars at the Korean store
14. that we were able to have an advisory good-bye party for a leaving student
15. for cuddle time with J$ and Bean
16. for a great dinner celebrating RLM’s birthday
17. that the mail merge for the women’s retreat e-mail was easy
18. that AK and KEA let me crash KBBQ and spend time with them
19. for ridiculosity in the teacher’s lounge
20. that You are still at work in me every time I feel like I’m back at the beginning
21. that NW came to the retreat
22. for the opportunity to build relationships with a mom of a student
23. for a really good chat with Mom and Day
24. for energy to get through the day on not as much sleep
25. to be able to see a different side of a person that helped me understand their heart a little better
26. for the small conversation that help me get to know SKB better
27. that I was able to give encouraging examples to a parent during conferences
28. for a really random family dinner
29. my body waited until after conferences to get sick
30. for KEA and how You have used her in my life.

In February

(background: every day this year, I've been writing down 5 things that I am thankful for. I decided the end of the month would be a good time to review them all. and then I decided to share them)

1. For the chance to experience Iloilo from the bed of a pick-up truck
2. For a very slow day and people to relax with
3. That I got to see the school in  San Dionisio, meet Christine’s mom and put faces to Hurricane Yolanda
4. For bioluminescent plankton and being able to feel like a kid again
5. For a hammock to take a nap in
6. For chances to genuinely laugh with people on this trip
7. For the amount of reading time I had on this trip
8. For getting to experience HongKong with KLP
9. For a day of no people
10. To have the “changing seats” ritual to ease back into school
11. That I was invited to the open script reading and that I had time to participate
12. That I found resources I’m confident about for 7 Social Studies
13. For dinner with KLP and the chance to spill my words about today
14. For playtime with HKL and STL
15. I fixed the sink
16. For JH sermon including so many reminders of what I’ve learned in the last year
17. For leftovers from the part for lunch and dessert
18. For a dinner invitation and being able to talk and laugh with KEA & AK
19. That the MUNLT showed up after school today and helped a LOT
20. That SNM asked me question tonight to help me process
21. For a little bit of clarity and the song “I’m Yours” by Jimmy Needham (I am continually Yours)
22. That SH has been able to put into words the things I’ve been feeling. . and to not feel alone
23. For the songs WM chose for worship the last two weeks
24. That I made the choice to exercise when I got home
25. That my advisory group pulled off the minion costumes today
26. For gentle reminders to keep my focus on YOU
27. For the number of people who helped lighten the workload
28. for a really well made Subway sandwich

What are you thankful for?

Today

• I had at least two conversations in Chinese where I understood what they were asking me, but I didn't understand why they were asking me that particular question. .. they took my confused face as a lack of understanding and proceeded to ask their question in a different way. Both times, I eventually gave an answer that makes sense.
• I reached my limit of slow walkers and personal space invaders. I'm sorry, but if you can't text and walk at the same time, please move towards the side on the walking area. 
• I spent 6 hours of my day using public transportation or walking to use said public transportation. I spent a total of 3 hours at the destinations.
• I was brave enough to try Chinese fast food for lunch. I figured the food would be good. . .I just wasn't sure about the whole ordering process.
• I had a really good dinner with a new-ish friend. I met her last summer while I was studying here. Now she's planning on moving to QD in August or September and I'm excited to get to know her more.
• I drank 3 bottles of water. That's an improvement over recent days.
• I thought of a new direction on a birthday project that made me super super super excited!
• I drained my brain, which is why you got a bullet point list. . .

What did you do today?

Wonderstruck: ME!

What?!? Two posts in the same day?!? I know. It's really exciting.

After seeing the challenge for today, I realized that I really wanted to post a few things. 

Today's challenge was to take the time to do something that recharges and excites me. In other words, to take the time to experience the fullness of life and enjoy the present. 

Thankfully, I am uniquely positioned to do just that and feel totally guilt-free about it. So yesterday, I went to my favorite place in all of Beijing for the sole purpose of walking around just to take pictures. To get away from the constant sound of traffic and the heat of the city. To breathe deeply and enjoy the luxury of an empty schedule.

As I sit here remembering how much I enjoyed my time at the Temple of Heaven yesterday, I also recall my realization of just how much I LOVED being on vacation earlier this summer. So, let me take this moment to encourage you. . .take time to do things that you enjoy. I'll leave the details of what, when and how often up to you. If you know me, you know that I like to be busy with the best of them. But seriously, I know now from experience: it's worth it. . .it's necessary. . .and the world won't explode.

So, what would you do if, right now, you chose to do something just for the fun of it?

While you ponder your answer, here's some pictures!

the path

outline

the sci-fi in the fantasy

the next stop

just a little off

from the other side

the door to the past

oh the green. . .

*Update--I was just going through the list of Wonderstruck challenges and realized that I had missed a couple days. Please forgive me for double-dipping. The picture above captioned "The sci-fi in the fantasy" really did leave me wonderstruck. This flowering tree that I found was just fascinating and I couldn't take enough pictures of it. Thankful to have time to consider the works of His hands. #livewonderstruck @ creation

Letter Pt. 2

Continuing on with the letter I started yesterday. (I love my big family. . .but it does make doing anything for every member of the family an undertaking)

Jesse, thank you for teaching me just how contagious a smile is and for helping me to see that, no matter where you are, laughing together always brings people together. I know you are grown up and have to think about serious, grown up things. But one of the things that I love the most about you is your goofiness. I imagine that 16 year old with a perm, cracking up a whole gaggle of kids on a Zambian soccer field. You wanted to connect with them and you didn’t care if you looked silly while you did it. Never lose that, little brother. People are drawn to you. Keep seeking to connect with them.

Shannon, thank you for the effort you have made to understand and become part of this crazy family. Because of the way life is, you haven’t spent a lot of time with any of us. But I know that you want to know us and that staying connected is important to you. I don’t know if I ever told you this. . .but the moment I gave up any reservations about whether you would fit in was the moment I saw you on the floor at your rehearsal dinner playing with our nephews. I mean, it was your rehearsal dinner and all of the people you love the most in the world were there. And you were dressed up in your adorable dress and tights. But there you were on the floor, playing with those two boys. They say actions speak louder than words. And in that moment, I knew.  . .you would make it as a Shimer.

Julie, my darling Julie, thank you for making me a sister. Did I ever tell you that before you were born, I promised to run away if you were a boy? I’m so glad I didn’t have to run away. And I’m so thankful that you are my sister. Thank you for showing me what God’s love for the “least of these” looks like. Your baby whispering (and toddler whispering) skills are beyond compare. I think it’s because children (much like dogs) innately know when someone loves them  and wants to take care of them. (Maybe that’s why Buttercup seemed so attached to youJ) I know several families who have experiences the love of God shining through you as you care for their kids and help them to be “trained up in the way they should go.” You’re cooler than I’ll ever be and I pray that you see what everyone around you sees. . .my beautiful Julie Rose

Craig, thank you for being born. Yeah, I know you didn’t really have anything to do with it. But more than anything, I’m thankful you are part of our family. Thank you for teaching me just how much of a responsibility being a big sister is and for showing me how much joy can come it as well. I’ve watched you grow up from afar and I feel like I only have glimpses of the man you are becoming. But I can see that the examples you have been given are shaping you into a man I would be proud to know and work with, even if you weren’t in my family. And yes, most of the time, I look at you and see the 5^th grader who sat with me in Starbucks and told me about this new series about a demigod named Percy Jackson. But I can’t wait to see what comes next for you.

Maximus, thank you for making me an aunt. I think it’s true that, while there kids that were special to me before you were born, it took you being born for me to really understand what being an aunt means. I love listening to you tell me about backhoes and Thomas. I love telling you superhero stories and looking at pictures of Spiderman with you. I love hearing stories that show how your personality is growing and developing. Thank you for talking to me on the computer and showing me your toys.

Deakers, thank you for being you. You don’t know it yet, but I think some day your big brother is going to benefit from your laid-backness and the way you roll with the punches. (Sure some days it’ll probably be rolling with his punches, but that’s how brothers work). I just found out that you love books. I love books too. I know you are a cuddler. I am too. I think you are a kid after my own heart and I can’t wait to know you more.

Rohan, I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms and kiss your face and make you smile. I can’t wait to start seeing what kind of person you will become. What will you love? How will you handle having two big brothers? What will be your unique contribution to this crazy family of ours? I know you’re going to be amazing and I can’t wait to find out why.

Wonderstruck: Letter Pt. 1

I'm going to break the rules just a little bit. Today's challenge is to write a letter of thankfulness to God. I'm going to write a letter, but to a group of people I thank God for every day. (Mom, you might need to go grab a few tissues) 

Dear Shimer family, 

I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about how God puts families together. How does He plan how many people and what personalities should go into each family? I have spent a lot of time thinking about our family.
And I don't think it's fair that by the time you're old enough to really appreciate and understand your family, you've normally moved to a place in life where you don't get to spend as much time with them. It is 1000% true that I am who I am today because of the family I was raised in. And I know I've said thank you before, but I want to say thank you again. (And I want to publicly thank God for putting together our family the way that He did. We're pretty amazing.)

Daddy, thank you for taking to the time to make sure we knew that we were important to you. Yes, you worked a lot. You needed to. There were lots of people counting on you. But you were also at choir concerts and plays and coaching soccer teams (sooooo many soccer teams) and helping with homework and teaching me how to drive (and for the second time when I needed how to learn how to drive manual). I don't know if you ever felt like you missed out, but I never felt like I was missing you. I'm also thankful that my life in China has helped me to understand even better how important giving gifts is to you. Every one is always amazed at the packages you and mama send me. Birthday and Christmas boxes are especially amazing. I can see the thought and love that went into them and I feel loved.

Mama, thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me that there's always room for one more and the love in a home is much more important than the "stuff" in a house. I can think back over countless times where we brought friends home and you were always willing to empty the fridge and freezer while making sure that everyone felt at home. You made sure we all sat down at the dinner table and talked about our day. You asked us questions and you answered questions. You sent cards with me on so many different trips to remind me each day that I was gone that you loved me and that you were thinking about me. And maybe you wished that our furniture was nicer, but I never felt better than I was at home. . .and that's still true today.

Philip, thank you allowing God to work in and through you and for being so willing to share what He is doing in your life. There were times, especially in high school, that I could only see what made us different. And I couldn't see how that would ever change. But now I am often amazed at how we are learning some of the same things at the same time. I'm not sure when, but God got ahold of you and started transforming you into a man who seeks hard after Him. And in seeking hard after Him, I can see a growing desire in you to encourage others to seek Him in authentic ways. Your openness encourages the same in others. And I am thankful for our conversations where I get to get a glimpse of what you're learning and learn from you.  

Gina, thank you for being willing to be a part of our family. We've been friends for a long time and I would like to think that our friendship would have stood the test of time even if you hadn't married my brother. But, thankfully you did. And now I get a front row seat to watch as you've grown as a wife and a mother (and a member of the Shimer family). You care. It's as simple as that. You care and because you care, you act. I know that there are hundreds of families around the church that have benefited from your work at the MRC. And as we've gotten older, I have also gotten to appreciate how intentional you are in finding out about the people you care about. You ask good questions. You ask hard questions. And you listen to the answers. 

Jesse, Shannon, Julie, Craig, Maxton, Deacon and Rohan--your turn is coming. This turned into a bigger post than I intended. I have not forgotten about you. I can't wait to write about you. I love you!