You've got to feel bad for the guy in Lane 2!

Have you ever felt like you are the guy in lane 2? 

This is a photo I took of the track at a preschool in Beijing.

Presently, I reading through the book of Job in the Bible. For awhile, he certainly felt the guy in lane 2. If you feel like you, too, are in lane 2, check out the last chapter of Job and see how it all turned out. Keep running!

Hello Again!

They (whomever "they" are) say that you shouldn't begin a post with "I'm sorry. I know it has been so long since the last time I posted," but really, it has been a year since our last post and that is far too long! So, I am terribly sorry. I know it has been so long since our last post! =) To sum up the past year, we are alive, a year older and doing so well! See, that was easy! And now for the present...

I am supposed to be lesson planning right now, but blogging seems much more exciting. And I couldn't help the urge to blog since I wanted to take the moment to point out where my wonderful little family is. I glanced out the window a bit ago and as a mommy would, my eyes scan the courtyard area outside our apartment for our two little ones. I spot our little man running and our little miss just a few feet behind him, trying with all she can to stay up with her big brother. I then look around to see where my wonderful husband is and I see him crouching behind a tree about 40 feet away. The kids get closer and closer to him and Daddy leaps up and starts running, with two little ones close behind him. Then the game of tag begins and they try with all their might to catch their fast Daddy. I giggle and remember again how truly blessed I am with my sweet little family! 

Our lives are busy with ministry, teaching at universities, homeschooling and being a family, and it is a life we so very much love! 

Tomorrow, we have a guest coming over for dinner. So, we have family night tonight. We get to go out to a restaurant for dinner. I'm secretly hoping for McDonalds, of course. 

Josiah starts homeschooling

Josiah has finished his first full week of official studies. After talking with other families and doing some research, we've decided for Josiah to use Bob Jones' video school. So far, Josiah has done great. He loves the teachers and is already learning.

We had ordered to curriculum a several months ago, but we'd had it shipped to Korea to Mom Tatum's house. Now that we're here, Becky decided not to wait to get Josiah started.

This marks the beginning of a new and tremendous challenge for us--especially Becky. Oh, how I praise the Lord even more for providing me with a diligent wife!

Relaxing in Korea

During the Chinese New Year season, Beijing goes into hibernation. All the migrant workers, college students, and most other non-Beijingers return to their home towns for a month. We decided to use this time to get away ourselves. With Becky's dad and mom so close by working in Korea, it was very convenient for us to head over to Daegu to see them. It was a very fun, refreshing visit for us all. Josiah and Amelia have begun to associate going to Korea with going to a perfect place where everything is fun, joy, harmony, and Halmony (That's Korean for Grandma.).

On the ferry from Tianjin to Inchon


Sledding Day
William Sledding


Becky Sledding


Josiah Sledding


Fun in the snow


Josiah and Amelia are ready for church.

We don't have a TV at our home, so Josiah and Amelia were mesmerized when they had the chance to watch cartoons Grandpa bought them.

We celebrated Chinese New Year Korean style. Welcome to the Year of the Rat!

In Seoul, we observed the fourteenth anniversary of Great Halmony's passing with family.

Grandpa bought Josiah his first bike.

This one is just too hard to explain.

Our Christmas season

On the Saturday before Christmas , we invited several dozen friends to our home to celebrate the Savior's birth. Our little apartment was packed with people. We sang Christmas carols, and munched on snacks. Together with several other believers, we put on a simple but effective play recounting Christ's birth. I was a Wise Man, and Becky played the piano. Afterwards, a Chinese Christian brother shared the Gospel of the significance of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection. Lastly, we had a "white elephant" gift exchange, which everyone enjoyed. We were the happiest sardines in Beijing.

The next day we took several of our brothers and sisters to another celebration with a couple of other groups in the banquet room of a restaurant. Once again, we sang Christmas songs and ate a delicious meal. Several brothers shared with us some thoughts from the Bible. Toward the end we played some hilarious games. The fellowship was sweet.

On Christmas day we made our annual trip to Outback Steakhouse for lunch. Every year we meet together with a group of our foreign friends on Christmas. This year Becky organized it. Everyone brought a gift for one other person. I received a much needed leather wallet. Josiah and Amelia busied themselves with the other kids sharing presents. Becky and I have enjoyed each time we have been able to enjoy Christmas with our wonderful friends. While the steak was good, the fellowship was even better.

When we got home, it was time to open our gifts. I do not know how the Lord did it again, but there under our little, fake Christmas tree was a huge pile of gifts representing the love of Papa and Nana Maricle, Grandma and Grandpa Tatum, Auntie Tricia, Auntie Bethany, Aunt Debra and Uncle Ron, and each other. Becky, being Becky, wanted to dispose of the wrapping paper each time a gift was opened. William, being William, thought it would be more fun to let the paper pile up throughout the gift opening process so as to create an exciting mess. My ever patient wife indulged me strange desires once again, and soon our living room was strewn with paper, presents, boxes, and fun. Once finished, we now had to clean our beautiful mess. Then we enjoyed a warm, cozy evening as a family putting together new toys and marveling at the blessings of God on our life.

Becky's new bike

It's red. It's zippy. It's passes everything on the road. It's Becky's new bike.



Taking two kids on an old, cheap, slow bike to school each morning and then riding to the subway station was more than any guy should ask of his wife. She has enough to deal with. After looking around for a while, we finally opted for a red electric bike. The three of them can easily ride it together. Being a better brand and new, her bike has no problem passing all the other bikes on the road. Because the traffic in our area is often at a standstill, Becky can even pass the fastest cars weaving in and out of the idling traffic.



I rode her bike to a local McDonalds about a mile away with Josiah on the back. Becky and Amelia took the bus. We left at the same time. Unfortunately for the ladies, it was rush hour. The two of us guys stopped to buy some things, got to McDonalds, ordered, sat down and waited ten more minutes for our beautiful counterparts to arrive. Point proven. A bike is still the most efficient way to make short trips in Beijing.



Now Becky can zoom and zip around all she wants. I don't even mind her flying by me as I peddle along as long as she glances back and winks at me as she goes by.

Josiah's English Class

Usually, Josiah gets picked up from his preschool before his classmates start their English class, but Friday I came to pick up the kids five minutes late. Josiah had already started his English class. Becky usually picks them up, so I wanted to enjoy my chance to see one of his classes in action. I stood at the doorway and watched.

The children sat in their chairs in a semi-circle around the teacher. The English teacher, a young Chinese lady, had placed several pictures of objects on the floor at her feet. She asked a student to come up and give her the card with bird, flower, or whatever else on it. Then she would ask another student.

This was obviously Josiah's forte--his special skill. On this activity, he knew all the answers, every time. I watched him in his seat his arm stretched up as far as it could go begging to be picked. The teacher obviously knew that this was no challenge to him. She was picking others around him who needed the class much more than him. He desperately cried out, "我! 我! 我!" (我 means me and is pronounced wa as in walk.) I was tickled to hear my son, the only white boy in the class, spitting out Chinese.

What happened next tickled me even more. While Josiah continued pleading, "我! 我! 我...", the teacher looked at him seriously. In her cute Chinese accent, she corrected him, "Me, Josiah, me." Josiah instantly switched languages straining to extend his arm even more.

How ironic! I thought. This American boy is being rebuked by his Chinese teacher for using Chinese instead of English. Josiah's is a mixed up world. But somehow four-year-olds are able to keep going, adapt, and excel.

Josiah was picked at last. He triumphantly handed her the correct card and returned to his seat. He turned around and looked up at me attempting to hold back a huge grin of satisfaction that was trying to force its way onto his lips. I didn't hesitate to show him my huge grin of satisfaction in him while throwing in a nod and a wink for good measure.

He was impressed with picking the right card. I was impressed with his Chinese.

Our Christmas Tree Goes Up

Becky unpacked the Christmas ornaments and our $20 Christmas tree. I put on some Christmas music, and Josiah and Amelia twirled in glee.

Together we assembled the tree, put the lights on, and decorated it. It might not be the most elaborate tree in the world, but for our family it is perfect.

Josiah's 4th Birthday

Josiah is now four, and it is hard to believe how fast time has gone. He had a very fun birthday.

Mom made him cupcakes to take to preschool to give to his friends. After preschool, his mother took him to a huge, newly discovered mall that had a section with many toy stores and play areas. Josiah and Amelia had a great time playing in the sand, exploring stores, and playing with toys. We then gave Josiah a choice of places to eat. In spite of his mother's hints at McDonalds, he chose KFC.

Then we headed back home to open presents and eat birthday cupcakes...

Our busy Autumn

Our autumn has been exceedingly busy. Not only have our 'classes' on the weekends commenced and our 'studies' throughout the week continued, but we also found time for some other special moments.

During the Autumn season, the foliage around Beijing is pretty. However, there is a park in the hills in the northwest corner of Beijing that blazes with fall colors. It is called Fragrant Hills. We decided to go with a group of friends on a picnic to the park. The only practical day for everyone to go was on Saturday. Unfortunately, a significant portion of Beijing's population also found that day to be the most practical. As a result the all buses going in that direction were packed with people. Once at the park, the lines to get tickets were enormously long. People were everywhere. Once inside we had a delightful picnic with food and games. On our previous visit to Fragrant Hills, Josiah had to be rushed to the hospital. This time, we escaped such disasters. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the park. Getting home was an adventure all in itself. Even after walking to a more remote bus stop, we had a very difficult time getting on a bus to go home because of all people.


The next highlight of our Fall was Mom Tatum's visit. Though she probably should have just rested, we went out on the town. One evening, we went to a Kengfu play. We ate at a variety of delicious Chinese, Korean, and Western restaurant including one that very special evening where we pulled all the stops and went all out. When her time with us was up, we hated to let Mom go. Once again, I think we sent her home with tired eyes, a full tummy, and a happy heart.

Becky's Uncle and Aunt from Korea came to Beijing for a short trip. He is a medical doctor and was attending a conference in Beijing. Though their schedule was very full, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with them. They were a great encouragement to us.

In November, Radford Wong popped back in for a week. He is getting to be a regular in Beijing, so he didn't need my services as a guide much. Lord willing, he will be coming in the next few monthes to live in Beijing and study Mandarin.

Serving the Lord and living by faith can never be called dull. You won't be hearing the Maricle family complain of boredom anytime soon.

President Bush honors the Dalai Lama

President Bush honored the Dalai Lama this week. The bastion of freedom heralded the cause of a man who has sought for, fought for, preached for, and lived for the opportunity to go back to his country and again become its dictator. Of course, the people would welcome him back with open arms because they have no other choice. In their view, he already holds absolute power over their souls. Therefore they are obligated to restore to him absolute power over their government if the chance presents itself.

Few understand the bondage Tibetan Buddhism has created in the land it dominates. The country was located in the middle of several of the world's greatest cultures, and yet the people were among the most backward on the planet while the Dalai Lamas ruled them.

The Dalai Lama held them with something far more powerful than fire and sword. He wielded (and still does) spiritual terror as his greatest weapon. If you are not convinced, go look at the art and pictures lamas use to terrorize their victims into submission. These graphically display an afterlife as horrible as any torture chamber on earth only with the exception that death has no releasing power in the Buddhist Hell because death has already occurred.

This is just the beginning. Transmigration (sometimes called reincarnation) means that a person may come back as a new person after death. A person's future existence is decided by factors in his present life. To offend the Dalai Lama would have great repercussions in this life and those to follow. In essence, Tibetan Buddhist leadership has held the Tibetan people hostage for centuries. Now the Dalai Lama aims to reinstate total control of the Tibetan state as well as their religion. He preaches tolerance all around to world to ignorant, gullible people who know nothing of Tibet's history, but he has never renounced his goal to shackle his people politically as well as spiritually. Nor has he ever denounced the regimes that preceded him in Tibet.

Tibetan Buddhism knows nothing in its history of democracy, freedom or peace. There, fear is far deeper than that suffered in war or physical danger. Even now there are little old people prostrating themselves over and over in the dirt as they endlessly circle lamaseries. They do this out of terror of what they may face in the next life. Every true Tibetan Buddhist lives in fear. That is why they willingly waste hour after hour mindlessly spinning pray wheels while reciting mind numbing chants over and over. They must. They have nothing greater to live for. The more devout and sincere a person is, the more the fear is evident.

Welcome to the world of the Dalai Lama's people. Imagine if he once again held all power!

I support my President on most issues, but this time he is wrong. This may win him a few points with the Left, but the Left gives out points for anything but reason.

Deposed dictators are still bad men. The Dalai Lama still dictates to his people spiritually and lusts for the chance to do so again politically.

In a pitiful bid to honor courage, we rewarded craftiness.

Youtube blocked

We aren't able to upload any new videos to Youtube.com for now, because the site has been blocked in at least Beijing.

Perhaps our President's honoring of a would-be dictator (the Dalai Lama) ruffled a few feathers here. Or perhaps the 17th Communist Party Congress in Beijing is to blame.

Anyway, that is why no new videos are popping up.

Becky is teaching again.

With the kids in preschool, Becky has decided to begin teaching again. The school our kids attend doesn't currently need a foreign teacher, so Becky has begun working at a different preschool. It is a prestigious, well-run little preschool in the heart of Beijing

She teaches four mornings a week for two and half hours each time. She loves the school, her colleagues, the students, and teaching youngsters in general. Her late evenings have turned into preparation time for her classes.

The only drawback is the travel time involved in getting to and from the school. Her mornings consist of getting the kids ready, sending them to preschool, riding her bike to the subway station, riding the train for fifty minutes, catching another bus for a short ride, and walking to the the school. Coming home requires the same pattern in reverse. The amount of travel time is less than ideal, but she utilizes it wisely by reading her Bible, praying, and such like.

She has passed up many opportunities to teach fulltime and making quite a lot of money. However, she is already busy enough at home being a wife, mother, hostess... She's amazing!

Preschool

Becky and I have felt for a while that our children's Chinese wasn't progressing as fast as we would have liked. Even though they live in China, they had never been required to lean on their Chinese to function in daily life. There has always been someone to use English when needed. As a result, we could see fluency was not happening.

Another disappointment was the children's lack of playmates their own age. After our second year in China, we had moved off our school campus into a regular apartment. Part of our reason for moving was our desire for our children to have other children to play with. However, we found that there were hardly any children over the age of one. We discovered that the majority of young children in Beijing attend preschools from morning until evening. This was why there were very few children out during the day with whom they could could interact.

We decided to try letting our children attend a preschool in our area on the weekdays for half a day. We looked at several preschools in our area. In the end we decided on a preschool near our home called 未来之星幼儿园 (Future Star Preschool).

Josiah and Amelia attend Monday through Friday starting at eight in the morning. They eat a Chinese breakfast and lunch at the preschool. They have exercise time, story time, play time, various classes, snacks, etc. Originally, we intended to pick them up after lunch, but then we learned that the students have nap time immediately after lunch. So, we decided to let our kids have their naps there. They sleep for two hours until about 3:00 at which time Becky or I are there to pick them up.

So we are trying it out. Josiah has been excited from the first day. Amelia has needed several days to get used to this new idea, but she is quickly adjusting. We have already noticed an improvement in their Chinese.

We are praying for wisdom to know how to provide our kids with the skills and training they need to equip them best for God's service.

Amelia is now two!

Sitting at a little table on our living room floor, Amelia gazed at the made-with-love cupcake before her as we sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Lacking an official birthday candle was no problem for Becky. She had lit a match and stuck it in the cupcake. Unfortunately, we sang too slowly or the match lacked resilience. Either way, the match gave out just as we were finishing the song and Amelia was preparing to blow it out. Check out Amelia's perplexed look...


Our celebration spilled over into the next day, when her Daddy had a day off. For lunch we went to one of Amelia's favorite places, "Nonalds" (That is Amelian for McDonalds). Than we took the kids to a little park where Amelia and Josiah rode some rides and had a great time.

What a joy Amelia is to our home! We love everything about her. She has grown so fast. We thank the God for how blessed we are to have her.