First Christmas Eve in China

Christmas Eve has been a lot of fun so far. We started a Pajama Hunt tradition a few years back during which the kids search for their new pajamas to sleep in for Christmas. We upped the ante this year by adding in a new movie to the Christmas Eve festivities, though I wasn't able to make it as Pinterest-worthy as I'd hoped. Maybe next year I'll get the whimsical basket put together with the PJs, movie, hot chocolate, and popcorn! But, the end result is still pretty much the same...kids laid out on the couch, hopefully getting droopy-eyed, while they watch Charlie and Lola in their new, Judy-Chruma-sent PJs. (Notice the U of AZ blanket...)

Earlier in the evening, we went to a Christmas Eve party across our neighborhood with a bunch of the other expats who live in our complex. The hosts organized all the children to act out the Christmas story while one of the dads narrated. Violet was too scared to participate, but Justus jumped right into his role as a shepherd dressed in a striped men's polo shirt and carrying a stuffed lamb to come see the Holy Family in the stable. It was good to be together with others celebrating the coming of our Lord.

(What isn't obvious in this picture is the absolute excitement Justus had over getting these pajamas! He was jumping around and screaming with delight when he got them on!)

We are getting ready to turn in for the night as many of you in the US are just getting ready for lunch and maybe some last-minute shopping. Much love to all of you and a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas In Chengdu

We are getting ready for our first Christmas here in China and I'm guessing some of you might like to know what it's like here. It is quite surprising how many Christmas trees are actually around town in businesses and outside restaurants. There are also a lot of Santa-themed things, but no obvious representation of the birth of Christ. So, you know, it's just like America! Of course I'm joking...sort of. It has been nice to see the different decorations, but I walked into Sabrina's Country Store (US imports) and right when I came through the door I smelled Christmas!! It is amazing how much the sense of smell triggers emotions and thoughts because I immediately started searching the store for whatever was giving off that heavenly scent of Christmas and home. Soon I found it...a candle! Not any fancy brand name that I recognized, but I grabbed it and kept sniffing it with this silly grin on my face as I walked around the store. At that moment, it didn't matter how much it cost, I would have that candle no matter what!

It was 29 kuai ($5 US) and I doubt I'd pay that back home for a rather generic candle, but this was like finding a diamond to me. There are a lot of different smells here...some wonderful, some downright deathly. The scent immediately transported me back to a "home" at Christmas with visions of hot chocolate and a cozy fire on Christmas Eve.

And then there was this guy! Our living room window looks out over a big plaza where there is always something going on. Today there was a dance troupe dressed in these amazing red costumes that probably had nothing to do with Christmas but everything to do with awesome! This man was really graceful and neat to watch. So, we are pretty excited about Tuesday and are buying/wrapping presents for each other. Violet bought presents for us and she remarked how excited she was that this was the first time she's gotten presents for us so she must be growing up. We have been blessed with new friends who love the Lord and we've been able to celebrate this Advent season with them.

Jumping the Wall

After three long months of being stuck behind the Great Firewall, we have successfully jumped over it! A friend came to visit and helped us get set up with a VPN, so we are now able to check Facebook, connect to Hulu, and update the family blog! Second only to the bathtub, this may be the best Christmas gift of 2012! There is just so much to share that I don't know where to begin. The best place to start would be to give glory to God who has sustained and kept us in His grip through this huge transition. There are still many hurdles to jump before we are fully settled in, but we are beginning to feel more at home in this new land. The biggest challenge is that everything is so very different and requires adjustments to be made both physically and emotionally. So small things can add up to feel loomingly large. But, the good thing is that small good things seem much larger, too! Chocolate tastes like chocolate and fresh-baked bread from the bakery tastes like something from home as well. Just about everything else is different, so finally having access to Facebook and many sites that are blocked seems like an unbelievable blessing! I will update the blog more regularly now that we have access. We are all well...Jason has lost some weight. (I have too, though not as much as he has!) Violet lost her first two teeth, and Justus lost all his potty-training skills. So, we have some things to work on! Love to all of you.

Digging a Hole to China!

There are only a few minutes to write as I'm in the midst of zipping, cramming, and organizing all our stuff for the first leg of this incredible journey to China. The kids and I leave today for the visitation circuit among friends and family. Jason will join us out in Arizona next week before we fly on the 13th. As a little girl, I remember reading stories about children digging holes in their back yards trying to get to China. Well, here we are, standing on the edge of that proverbial hole, trying to see what it will be like on the other side. There's really no way to know for sure, so we'll just have to jump in all together! Much like heaven, we only have an idea of what it will be like and until we are actually there, we won't fully understand. It is scary, exciting, nerve-wracking, and wonderful to think about what lies in store for us these next few years. But, we know that God and his people are already there, waiting for us. Well, it's time to sign off and get the car loaded up. My heart is heavy and my eyes teary with the realization that we will be waving goodbye to our city, our church, our friends, our families. Stay tuned for the continued adventures of the Chruma family in China!

Wild-Haired Strawberry Thief

He saw them on the counter and managed to get them down to floor-level without spilling a single one.

It's a Perfect Day

After the cold temps and dark mornings, it's starting to lighten up much earlier in the mornings. All this week, there's been great weather and today it's just beautiful. I've only got a few minutes, but I wanted to capture the moment in writing as best I can. I have different "photographs" in my mind of various events that have happened in my life that I'll never forget. One that I recall vividly is during the attacks on the Twin Towers on 9/11. I was out in the field with my Military Police unit over in Germany and we were all huddled around a small radio, trying to listen to the newscasts for more details as the events unfolded. Our intelligence specialist was closest to the radio and was taking notes so we could brief the commander on the latest information. Several other soldiers were seated or standing around him as he wrote...silence pervaded the TOC. (Tactical Operations Center) It looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell WWII painting. But, that's another story!

Today is just one of those many days at home with the kids. The type of day that the grandmothers and parents of older children tell you to treasure. I sit here watching as our two little gifts from God play contentedly in the living room. Violet is busy climbing from one piece of furniture to the next, making her way around the room without touching the floor. (I remember doing this Pipi-Longstocking-inspired game myself as a child!) Sure, it's a little dangerous and something could get messed up, but she's being pretty careful and I have to admire her skills. And Justus is happily banging on the rainbow xylophone his grandparents gave him for Christmas. Sometimes he runs over to get another "banging" toy such as the small metal frying pan from the kitchen set that makes such a satisfactory noise! They are both happily engaged and not in need of mommy...for the moment, at least. It's a precious picture and I hope to remember these times as they are slipping by so quickly.

Okay...gotta run...I hear a suspicious clanking sound that probably means Justus has transitioned to "fishing" in the cat's water bowl.

Violet's Ballet Performance

After a week of Exploring Ballet Camp, Violet and the other ballerinas showcase their grace and beauty in a breathtaking performance of Swan Lake. Hannah, a friend from preschool, also attended the camp, so it was a lot of fun! Thanks to Oma Judy who sponsored Violet's attendance at the camp.