A Typical "Non-Only Child" Family in China?

What better way to make China's one-child policy more appealing than to show how unpleasant life is for the "typical" multi-child family?

Rather bleak pictures. Here's the accompanying article from China Daily:

Fifty one year-old Sun Yuanhua and his wife and kids pose for a picture in Woyang county, Bozhou, East China's Anhui province, July 27, 2011. Sun's wife is 32 and intelligently challenged. Their five kids are aged from 5 to 11. As a result, Sun isn't able to work outside the village and leave them behind.

Sun is the only bread winner of the family. He makes money from salvaging and selling rubbish (or discarded material) and selling things planted on the family's 3 mu (half an acre) of land.

Three of them receive government minimum living subsidy. The annual total income for the family of seven is no more than 5,000 yuan ($776).

The family's property consists of two shabby brick houses, a room full of rubbish and a tricycle Sun uses to collect rubbish. All five kids sleep on the rubbish, do their reading on desks made of planks and wear salvaged clothes.

"I feel most sorry for my kids," Sun said, "I was too traditional back then, believing more kids means prosperity for the family, and the more kids there were, the better life would be. I'm 51 now, and can hardly do any work a few years later. The kids will still be at school by then, and life will be harder."

According to Sun Wei, an official of the village, village officials went to Sun's house to advocate the family-planning policy when he was married in 1999, but Sun managed to have five kids in seven years by "fighting guerrilla war", a joking Chinese term used to express the fact that a couple hide from family-planning inspections and give birth to two or more children.

The message is quite clear: "This is what will happen if you have more than one child!"

Happy Gotcha Day, Olivia!

It's hard to believe it's been two years since we first met that scared, crying little baby. We love you, Olivia!

Homemade Soccer Board Game

This week we did a little woodworking project for homeschool. A scrap board was used for the base, and we made a quick trip to Home Depot for the edging. Finishing nails were used for the "players," along with an old, wooden checker for the "ball."

I was inspired after seeing this:

Coin Soccer from ZBalge on Vimeo.

Touching note from Philippe

We've been stressing the importance of taking responsibility and owning up to one's mistakes. Philippe gave us this note this afternoon:

Storm Clouds

Dawn took the following picture from our front steps. There were a couple of severe storms to our southwest and northwest. Thankfully the hail and tornadoes missed us!

Olivia Riding Her Bike

Dancing in the Kitchen

In a house with three kids, spontaneous dance recitals are a common thing...

Remembering Granny

(My grandmother, known affectionately to all of us as Granny, passed away early Saturday morning at the age of 90. Her funeral was today. I wrote this in her memory.)

I have so many fond memories of Granny that it's hard to know where to begin. When we lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, I always looked forward to those long car trips to Papaw and Granny's house in Picayune. As soon as we climbed out of the car we were greeted with huge smiles and even bigger hugs. And, walking through the door, we could always tell there was something good cooking.

Yes, it is impossible to remember Granny without thinking of food. My personal favorite was her biscuits, but her butter beans were a close second. From the wonderful aromas that always seemed to hang in the air to the familiar clang of cast iron skillets, her house was the epitome of Southern hospitality.

The cousins were usually there as well, which meant we kids would be getting little sleep. One of my fondest memories was staying up late watching Papaw's silent home movies. Who needed popcorn? Granny always made enough fried okra to feed an army.

But more than what she did, I will remember who she was. Granny was a calm, gentle, tenderhearted lady with a subtle smile who was always quick with a witty remark. She took life in stride, and never seemed to let anything get her down. Through good times and bad, I will always remember that resilience. Most of all, she passed those qualities on to my mother, and for that I am eternally grateful.

It is never easy to lose someone you love, but with every heartache comes a reminder of the hope that lies ahead. We know that right now she is no longer suffering. Every hardship she has had to endure in this mortal realm has given way to eternal peace and happiness in the presence of God.

That, my friends, is the hope all of us share as believers in Christ. Those of us left behind can't even begin to ponder the joys that await us beyond the grave, but we do know that it will be well worth the wait. And if you think being greeted by adoring grandparents at the end of a road trip is exciting, just imagine what Granny must be feeling, finishing her 90-year journey through life to be welcomed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior!

Christian aid worker held in Haitian prison without charge since October

When reading this, keep in mind that this is the government we had been working with for over two years when we were trying to get our kids home. From The Awl:

"I am amazed that I could spend four months in prison with no charge and the embassy does nothing," said Danny Pye. "It's just weird." But so far, Pye is lucky. He's only had malaria, several bouts of gastroenteritis and some kind of fungal infection—but not cholera. Many of the other 20-odd men that share his small room have not been as lucky.

Pye, an American, has been in prison in Jacmel since Oct. 13, 2010. He has not been charged with any crime. The only people who seem to know this are a few friends in Haiti, the country's Ministry of Justice, newly elected Haitian senator (and former Jacmel mayor) Edo Zenny, the judge that refuses to sign his release, the NGOs with which he's been affiliated, his wife, Leann, the 22 Haitian children whose only home is the orphanage that he and his wife built—and the U.S. Embassy.

Read the full story here.

On Parenting...

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