A Little Treat

On Friday, our new friends offered to cook us an authentic meal of their country.   I welcomed the invitation!  After all, what kind of wife/mom would I be to turn down someone who has offered to cook lunch for my family!?!  That means they have bypassed peanut butter on a french baguette or some kind of rice concoction from my new friend, Mrs. Rice Cooker!

"Mrs. Christa, please try this!"  It was like a chip that you dipped into our favorite sweet chili sauce.  yummo....kinda tasted like popcorn.

She thinks I'm so goofy...love her!

I wish I could pronounce all the food that was prepared, but I do know the bowl of white stuff was rice noodles which I had to stop AA from eating so much or her tummy was going to explode!  I think to offer for them to drink a coke was a treat for them!

It was such a nice gesture from our new friends.  We all sat and ate together.  It's kinda interesting learing how to spark dinner conversation with two women who know no english and one teenager who tries very hard, but still has difficulty understanding what we're saying.  It was neat to know that we could sit and "converse" through lots of smiles and giggles.  They knew for sure how much (I hope!) we appreciated their kindness and efforts to make us feel special with their fabulous meal just by body language and some hugs.  I started washing the dishes and they were about to have a heart attack.  I just smiled and told her, "You cook. I clean!"  They are such hard workers, and I know they were probably blown away that this foreigner was willing to clean up the kitchen.    Good times...

Let's get a little messy!

Daddy, please don't be toooooo mad us for using all your shaving cream.  We were practicing our spelling words!  We LOVE you : )

Before you think I'm super cool teacher mom, let's just say I wish I had the gift of letting shaving cream spelling words happen a bit more often than it does.  There were some tears shed today (and it hasn't been the first!).  I had to do SOMETHING different today, because I feel that AA and I are on a sinking ship at times.   I simply just don't have the resources I need nor can I find any to purchase!  Yes, I brought materials for both the girls, but I just don't have what I need for a very active little 6 year old who is struggling with the basics.  I just simply forget how far she's come in the 1.5 years so the frustration (for me) sets in.  We had to just "shut 'er down" for a bit today or she was just going to have a major meltdown and so was I!  So...out came the shaving cream and all was good with the world.  Later tonight she actually sounded out and read some words for us on her own initiative.  SO....there was some success!!!!!   So, Mrs. Stephanie and Mrs. Jennifer, you are greatly missed (by her and by me!!).  It broke my heart to hear today, "This hard.  I didn't do this in China and I didn't do this at SMPK" ....uggh.  How sad is that!?!?  I completely agree, little one!  All this school stuff is brand new to you and our "poorly decorated-not-so-kid/school-friendly-lack of school resources apartment" doesn't even compare to her fun- filled, colorful, wonderful resources of her first semester of kindergarten.

Is it just me or does AA look like she belongs on Broadway "Cats".  hee hee : )

A Saturday to Remember

This past Saturday our new friend, Mai, took us to the Temple of Literature.  She took Abigail and one of her cousins on her motorbike.  Her mom with two more cousins followed on her motorbike, and David was the chauffeur caboose with AA and myself.  It was a first for us to venture downtown on the motorbike, and it definitely was a first trying to follow not only 1 but 2 other motorbikes!  I have to say it was a BLAST!  I rode on the back of David's bike and filmed quite a bit of video.  I even saw the first stop light here!!!  I don't think anyone actually observed it though : )When I figure out how to upload the video, I will.  Well, I'm typing this so we made it there and back alive!  The Temple of Literature is the oldest university in the country dating back to 1076.

 Not a great picture but there are 86 of these stone pillars with chinese writing on them.  They are on top of stone turtles.  You're suppose to rub the turtle's head for good luck.  I'll give you two guesses who wanted to sit on them and was reprimanded! (Hint:  the only male in the group)...and if you actually need the hint you don't know my family very well!

Entire travel group in front of Temple of Literature minus one cousin

Guess who hit the drum????

They love the asian fingers!

You're all bull, baby, but I love you!

And...guess who rang the bell?!?!  I bet that felt good in their ears : )

We listened to a mini concert with some interesting instruments.

This dude was just super cool!!!!  He wrote calligraphy and is placing his signature (the red "chop") on the final product.

My generous husband purchased a scroll for our new friend.  She did NOT want to accept, but we insisted and told her friends do nice things for friends.  She was just over the top estatic!

Of course, everyone is so intrigued with AA.  When he found out she was born in China he began to take even more of an interest in us.  He spoke to her in chinese, but she, of course, wouldn't talk to him.

 Hey there, buddy, that's my bike!!!  For some reason you look way more masculine on the motorbike...vroom vroom!

In Sickness and in Health...

Oh, I'm soooo ready to feel back on top of my game, folks!  10 days of this is 10 more days than I would have preferred.  I've just about switched my days and nights again (and not on purpose!) due to getting in a coughing fit each time I go to bed.

If you know me you know that January and February are THE hardest months of the year for me.  I'm a sunshine girl, and when I'm in dreary, cold and haze it is difficult for me to function- truly.  So when I'm sick (and throw in new surroundings without the ability to drive to a pharmacy and purchase meds that you know what they are) plus no sunshine, I'm a tad over the top.  I know David is 'bout sick of me begging to take me to sunshine.  He has tried though...I have to give him credit for that.   So....enough of my "blahs".

At the same time of my week long blahs I've been anxiously anticipating my church family back home getting to meet our prospective Minister of Music who spent the week there.  I've been secretly jealous of what they were going to see, hear and experience and knowing that I wouldn't be there in person to rejoice with them. Our #1 priority on the list for finding a "music man" was that he have a HEART for God and a passion for leading others to the Throne.  He not only has that, but he and his wife have a passion for reaching their community.  We were directed to that man.  THAT was amazing experience. Scott and Melody, if David and I were still living there, we'd sooooo be having you over for homemade salsa....WELCOME!!!!

It's simply thrilling for me to know that many years of praying for people's hearts back home is coming to fruition.  Please don't misinterpret...this new man is not the answer.  He is part of the answer.  His family is part of the answer.  A high school gal who has been very ill with a chronic condition who was bathed in prayer two weeks ago is part of the answer.  My family moving away so that leadership in our own SS class is forced to step up is part of the answer.  Years of praying individually and as a class is part of the answer.   All these pieces of the puzzle put together = perfect timing.  People seeking him, loving Him and obeying Him is the answer.  God is the answer.  If you are reading this and a part of that family, I strongly encourage you to not miss out.  YOU are part of this answer.  How cool that YOU can be a part of HIS working and leading.  What a blessing! You are part of a unique community.  It's so funny to think about how David and I have been placed 1/2 way across the world with so many different nationalities and it is embraced by us and by all in which we come into contact yet at home there's a strong resistance by some to accept that, unfortunately.  That's one things we loved about our class back home- DIVERSITY.  That's a glimmer of what heaven will be like- red, yellow, black and white.  We're not all alike and that a good thing...that's a really good thing.

There's way more than singing and directing to be a worship pastor and there's way more to worship than music. It starts with your own heart.  I've observed throughout many years that people's "likes" seem to surpass what may be the right answer.  Usually, if things continue like they've always been, there's no growth, there's stagnant complacency.  Consider that loud vs. soft, peppy vs. mellow, plugged vs. unplugged are all pretty self focused.  God is way bigger than that!  All of those types minister to somebody.  All those types don't minister to me every single time, but nonetheless they meet a need somewhere, somehow. The more I see and experience other people's worship, the more I realize that it's not about our preferences.  HE's created all types of worshipers so why would we not expect all types of worship?  My prayer for those back home is to continue with your excitement, accept some change, be open to God's leading, don't get caught up in "what has always been", accept a new person into your congregation and seek to understand different cultures in your own community, and rejoice that you get to be apart of it! 

Okay, so off of my soap box.  I'm rejoicing with those who rejoice today!!!   I woke up today not feeling well, but when I  read messages from friends back home about Sunday I just smiled.   I'm talking ready to jump out of my skin excited!  I still need sunshine, but my heart is happier now  : )

Red doors, RED nose

I mean seriously...how many boxes of tissues can one human go through in one weekend????? I think I've broken the record and my raw nose is proof. I'd give anything right now to have soft, “lotiony” kleenex right now. I messaged a friend that I'd be in good shape if google translate could scan the tissue boxes for me I'm sure I could find that item. Well, on second thought, I doubt they have soft “lotiony” tissues here.

So...it's now 6:30 AM (yes, AM, and I'm blogging. What is wrong with this picture????) I've effectively been up ½ the night. I can't sleep. I can't watch tv ('cause awesome hubby has been booted to the sofa). I did a little reading- which was actually quite good at 3:30 this morning! I've surfed. I've emailed. I can't lay (or is it lie- always get those confused) down because the dry hacking cough won't allow it. I've counted my blessings- even named them one by one. I know I'm “home”, but if I were “home home” I'd probably start cleaning or something, but there's not too much to clean here since the cleaning ladies (LOL!!) came today and we don't have a lot of worldly possessions TO clean here anyway.

Hubby goes into work later today so I'll have to send him for our daily bread run before he goes and flies the friendly skies so sick momma won't have to hop on her bicycle (yes, I have wheels now!) and go forge for food with a snotty nose. Oh, how I love him!!!

Hmmm....here's to a great day ahead. School should just be delightful today : )

I can do ALL things...

Off to sleep- maybe. Nite nite. Or is it morning morning??

Here are a few pics from one of the many pagodas we've seen and photographed.  I think I see a theme here...2 red threads, red doors, and a red nose!  Here's to completing the theme of red (I know everyone wants to see pictures anyway instead of hearing my random thoughts!)...

I

Faces...Take 1

I've decided to do many posts on the different faces of this country.  I absolutely love to people watch.  I really like to study people's faces.  It's so intriguing to me.  Each face represents a unique story.  Every wrinkle, every smile, every tear...all a unique story.  A story of the One who created them- red, yellow, black and white.  Each face represents joy, sadness, survival, trial, sorrow, triumph, peace, simplicity, frustration, and such a host of other adjectives. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to "study" faces in a different part of the world for such a time as this...