Happy Thanksgiving!

So my morning started earlier than usual with a couple of sick babies but it gave me and my "Brave Little Toaster Oven" a chance to get the kitchen up and running. A couple of my big boys and girls too, made me a special Thanksgiving Turkey with their hands and feet- they were so excited to give it to me!














There were 15 of us for Thanksgiving dinner (thank you so much mom for all those lessons in cooking for crowds and the practice you gave us by opening our home to so many over the years! It was a little funny as there were only 4 Americans here- however there were 6 Australians, and 5 Filipinas who were all very grateful for our American Holiday that provided a great opportunity to share some very good food!

Christmas is Coming- Even in China

Seeing the first Christmas Decorations in town was enough to make me come home, put the Christmas carols on, light a few candles and decorate the Christmas tree in my room. You might be thinking taking pictures with store Christmas displays is a bit silly but there are really very few of them and we get excited when we actually do see one!

Team Building- Child's Play

So we had a bit of fun today, it was the first time we have all been able to get out together in a long time...Thank you Dr. Chin and Chu. we decided to do something out of the ordinary, something that didn't take long and didn't include shopping- well almost didn't include shopping! We decided to be artistic and paint some ceramics...




























We all had lots of fun, there was much giggling, discussion, and of course artistic license with the paints.

November 20, 2010- Time to Go Home

Dressed and ready for our road trip back to Luoyang and the Big Blue House- time enough to pause for another couple of photos...Happy to be going home.

Fun Shots to Share

The morning welcome ceremony made the front page of the Bao Ji news and there were the smiling faces of my ayis with their babies- we won't tell the paper but they were smiling and waving at me...











The nurses and students all wear street clothes under their lab coats and I just loved this nurse in boots- she was really sweet and her boots made me smile.


















Some fun signs to share like a new way of saying, "Made in the USA" and I think we should all have "Courage surgery." I also wanted to share a quick photo of our ward room where we all stayed during our visit.

November 19, 2010- Waiting and Watching

It was a long day of 2 hour cycles as one went in and one came out until 6 of our 7 were back in their ayi's arms, sore but already looking even more beautiful than before!
































After a long day I took a few minutes to walk out onto the roof and get a breath of fresh air- once again thanking God for His provision and for the special touches that He added to my day, like being able to watch the moon rise.

November 18- Pre-Op Day

Along with the pre-op testing that they did for each of the children there was also a ceremony to welcome the Op Smile team...



















Some "Happy Baby" photos between lab draws, EKGs, and chest x-rays

November 17, 2010- A Journey to Bao Ji

Early on the morning of November 17th I boarded the fast train along with 7 ayis and 7 babies in need of cleft lip repairs and we began the journey to Bao Ji where an Operation Smile surgery team would be working over the next several days- as always it was an adventure...



Sweet Baby!












A look at the view "flying"by, the fast train took us 2 hours to Xian and then we were driven another 2 hours by car. We enjoyed the swift 2 hour journey on the train as it travels about 300kl/hr

November 14, 2010

Happy Faces-

Christmas in November

OK so for all those out there who hate to see Christmas decorations go up before Thanksgiving, close your eyes and skip this post- but when you consider that it brought tons of fun and that now our kitchen sparkles and we can add to it for the next almost 2 months or more if the girls have their wish to leave it up until after Chinese New Year the 4th of February and if you think about it there are only 2 Americans around and there is no Thanksgiving Holiday for the others so although they will gladly help us celebrate- any chance to cook and eat "special" food- we don't have to worry about stepping on any toes!


















The Christmas in November thing is well worth the smiles and "home" feeling that the decorations bring so far from all our families and friends.

November 13, 2010

A beautiful morning walk to the market and Old City, let Caitlin and I enjoy the fall weather and the fun sites along the way...I don't think this electrical job would be OSHA approved!




























Our favorite market find of the day was by far the "Snow Hope" gloves- we of course are all hoping for snow

S' Miles of Signs

I bet you can't see the tunnel in the camouflage... or maybe you were to busy thinking about the "long downhill way"
















Or maybe you were struck as I was by the consideration of the fact that usually it is the unpleasant who complain...something to think about.

Evening Stroll to the Bridges

We took a walk after dinner to the river where usually the 4-5 bridges that cross at various places are all lighted with a rainbow of colors but not tonight...

November 11, 2010

Meja and Krishtel said they thought their ship had come in as we bought a toaster oven and I taught them how to make pizza and peach crisp for dinner...lots of fun































These two girls work at our furthest unit and do a fantastic job. Their floor is a bright and cheery ray of sunshine 5 floors and 10 flights of stairs up.