Time Well Spent

I have always felt very blessed with the children God has entrusted us with...and I find it a little unique that we have quite an age gap (age 1 to age 12).  I often feel like I am comparing the joys and challenges of babyhood to pre-teenhood because they are so similar:) But, I am also reminded of how fast our children grow up and how I need to soak in every moment, because it will soon be gone. 

My oldest just left on a school trip to Malaysia yesterday.  If I'm honest, I don't think I knew where Malaysia was located until we moved to HK last year. She was thrilled to go, and I was happy for her.  I tried not to think of what it meant for me...to have my little girl in another country without me or her father. If you were to have told me two years ago that we would have let her do this, I would have laughed.  But after surviving last year, when my three oldest children moved with my husband without me, a month before I moved...this was a no brainer.  I do miss her terribly, but I know she is having an amazing time doing some awesome activities in a spectacular place. Its also hard for me to realize she is old enough to be doing this, but that's when I remember she is not even in elementary school anymore with her long braided pigtails and her bangs that are growing out since I cut them too short.

Its because of these feelings that today I changed my plans.  I was supposed to go out this morning, but instead I decided to just stay home and play with Sarah.  Of course, there were other things I needed to get done...phone calls, mailing packages, email.  But, all that could be done, and was done, during her nap.  No, I just spent most of my morning playing with and watching Sarah.  Trying to soak it all in.  And that child is hysterical.  Her faces and the way she can get into trouble is so funny.  I don't take the time to do this often enough, I'm sorry to say. I have never been great at just playing with them at this stage.  But because I am a little bit older and maybe wiser than I was with my oldest, I have and will continue to enjoy this little blessing while she lets me:)

 

loves her apples

favorite spot to "read"

nap time!

a pic without her knowing

she caught me

playing with her Noah's Ark

My sweet and silly Sarah Jane

 

 

 

 

 

To Drive or Not to Drive?

It's been a busy last few weeks...I think I say that every time I write.  But all of a sudden I find myself writing November on the calendar and wonder where the time has gone. I think it has been a little bit easier to lose track of time here because of the lack of seasonal change.  It's still in the 80's, I'm still wearing shorts, and I still have my air conditioning on. Thus, to me it still feels like early September, not November.

So after getting back from Beijing, we hit the ground running to catch up on what we had missed. The kids had some make-up work and we all had some work in getting back in the groove.  I'd say it took about a week.  A week after we got back, a friend of mine invited a group of us to go down to Stanley for the day to do some shopping and have some lunch.  Everyone talks about Stanley, but I had never gone before and was excited to go...especially if she was driving.  It's also not the easiest place to get to by public transportation, which has been a deterrent for going in the past.  This was a great opportunity! So the four of us left around 10am from the kids school and got down there in about 30 minutes.  This was definitely faster than I anticipated.  Hong Kong is not that big, but Stanley is on the south side of the island.  When you factor in traffic and windy roads, locations that generally "appear" closer, can take a long time to get to.

We had a GORGEOUS day! It was a beautiful, sunny day, upper 70's, and the skies were so blue.  It was amazing to sit at lunch with my new friends, remembering what I was doing just a year ago, and thinking how far I have come.  Last year, I wasn't able to be out for the day, certainly not by myself without baby in tow. I even remembered thinking how I was looking forward to a time when I could be out with friends and not worry about my three hour nursing window.  It was refreshing to finally be in that place.  It was freeing..

Being in Stanley also brought up another question that my husband and I continue to get often. "When are you going to get a car?" People cannot believe that we don't have a car when they hear where we live...which is a bit out of the way and a little bit of a distance from the kid's school, and far from our church. And of course, when they hear our family size, that's when the jaw drops. Last year I couldn't even fathom getting a car.  I was on information overload and the thought of learning something else new...like driving on the left, wheel on the right, was overwhelming for me.  It was also amazing to me that I could get anywhere I needed to be by trains, taxis and buses.  Navigating the public transportation was empowering to me and helped build my confidence and get more comfortable in my new surroundings.  BUT, that doesn't mean it isn't exhausting or easy, or even useful when we want to go to some more remote locations.  So, a year removed and we are back to that question..."To drive, or not to drive?"

There are so many factors on both sides of the argument that make this a challenging decision.  We have made it a year without one, the cost (of gas, insurance, tolls, maintenance), lack of parking, not to mention a little bit of fear (see previous post about my car accident in taxi). These are valid...but now the other side of the coin.  Easier to get to places like Stanley and Sai Kung, less exhaustion (quality of life) and more options...all ring true to me as well.  So...we will keep discussing, revisiting, and I will keep you posted.  For now, we will continue our adventures on the trains, buses and taxis. They do make for great stories.

Beautiful Stanley

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the kids were able to go trick or treating again this year.  We may live in one of the few areas in all of Hong Kong where this takes place.  The kids had a great time going around the neighborhood with Andy and some friends.  This was the first year Grace did not go...which was timely since I needed to be at a parent's meeting for her upcoming trip. But our Indian princess, cowboy, fairy and cow all had a good time.

Abby, Sarah, Emma and Josh

 

Our cute little cow making her new "fishy face"

 

Getting ready to go!

 

My Thoughts on Beijing- by Grace

Beijing was a wonderful experience that I know I will never forget. Its one of those "once in a lifetime" opportunities. Hong Kong is, too,  but I have 3 years to enjoy it :) When we were on the airplane to Beijing, I tried to remember the times when my dad would tell me about his trips there. I asked him if it was similar to Hong Kong, and he said it was fairly different. I tried to imagine: something not too similar to Hong Kong, but definitely not the same as U.S. I guess I would have to wait and see :)

On the mini bus to the hotel, I tried to look out the window without falling asleep. It was almost midnight and my eyelids were heavy and closing. Lights and buildings were surrounding me, and I knew that this was the city part. Also, it was definitely fall temperature! The last time I got to experience fall in the U.S was in 2011. That blew my head: Has it really been that long? I went back to sleep. In the morning, I got up early, but not that early compared to my school day (6:00am). We were going to the Forbidden City :) I got ready, and we headed for breakfast. Like my mom said in her post, It was such a privilege to have western food. After breakfast, all 13 of the Savvy's and Puff's, plus our tour guide and driver, climbed into the 13 seat passenger van. I have to say, that is one of the most squishiest cars I have been in. But at least I was next to my best friend in HK, Karhie Savonoff. When she stands next to me in the pictures (if there are any) you would think she is 2 years OLDER. But no, she is 2 months YOUNGER. She is a hilarious person, and is going through the same thing as me, having at least 3 younger siblings, so we know how each other feel. Hard to get that good of a friend with 3 younger siblings just like me in HK! We finally got to the Forbidden City (after traffic :P ), and walked out. People around us just kinda looked at us, shocked. But people in HK do that, too, so it should be the same right? I found that out easy. Instantly when we tried to get our first shot of the 13 of us, about 5-6 more people came up to take a picture of us. Then after, they would come up, and smile at us, thinking we cant speak Chinese. Well, in China, they speak Mandarin which is what I'm learning, so I can give off a good basic summary of me and my family which is all they need to know. So, they are usually looking at Sarah, since she is a pretty cute western baby with bright blue eyes. I first tell them she's one, then they ask me if I can speak Chinese. I tell them yes, and then we start to chat in Chinese. Personally, I think its fun :) Its funny what the people ask you though. I think I got asked 3 times if I was French. I then have to tell them that I'm American, and we are just visiting Beijing, but live in Hong Kong. Sometimes, I need Karhie to help me with the words. She is SUPER good at Chinese, even if she has been only studying for 5 years. Its fun to be able to do go to Beijing, speak Chinese with them, and get your picture taken all at once. I told Karhie: "I could live with this." She agreed.

I would share SO much more, but the other 3 older puff kids need to write, so I wanna give them room to write ;) I was glad when my mom told me I could write a little bit of what my experience was, especially since this was one of the major 5 places I will be going before Christmas (HK, Beijing, Malaysia, Phillipines, and Thailand.). Besides, that's the last family trip before I go by myself to Malaysia in 3 weeks! Beijing was such an experience that I will be remembering for as long as I can. I never thought at my young age I would be doing this at all. God really does work in mysterious ways, doesn't he:)