Bookshelves!

August 30, 2011- So yesterday I found a couple little shelves to fit into my bedroom and was so excited I HAD to stay up late into the night assembling them and then putting some of my books away- how wonderful to actually be able to see titles and find them now that they are visible instead of stashed where ever I could find a niche for them!

Zucchini Time-August 23

The first Zucchini from our garden- it was delicious!

Finding Fun-

Abby and I had some fun once we got back to my place as she spent time with "her girl" Jaelynn and of course did some work on her dissertation stuff which meant some field work in the villages around Luoyang...















I loved it because it gave me a great reason to pull out the camera and













get some pictures of nearby neighborhoods where I live to share with all of you.

The South in Hong Kong-

This oasis for a Southern girl stands in amongst the Shadows of Hong Kong's skyscrapers and I loved it...















Then of course I had to get a picture of the Dennis Firetruck and what do you know but they had an Outback!!! Bloomin' Onion anyone? Then after a long trek through the rain looking for a spot to duck into we were able to find a spot that served delicious, very large Root Beer Floats!

High Tea At the Peninsula

One of the high points of our adventure was High Tea at The Peninsula in Hong Kong complete with live orchestra ensemble, delicious clotted cream and lemon curd to go on real scones with piping hot tea served in absolutely beautiful silver.

Hong Kong-

The Sky Tower at the peak, lots of rest on the long long train ride,














Dinner with Abby's friend Krystal,







And a visit to Hong Kong's Avenue of the Stars.

Trains, Planes, Taxis, and Ferries-

"Transportation Transitions" could have been the theme of my last adventure. My friend Abby needed to make an exit for her visa and so we decided to turn it into a road trip China style!



















We took a 24 hour train ride from Beijing to Hong Kong, Metro, taxis, ferries, escalators, and trams all around there during the 30 hours we were in town then it was more metro, a flight, and a bus ride before we arrived back in Luoyang for a total travel time of 4 days!

Read on to see some of the fun we packed into those 4 days...

Pretty Piggies-

When you start a journey in China you should always make sure your toes are pretty or at least that is what my ayis tell me! So here a my pretty toes that are ready to do some traveling.

Supply Line-

Over the past several months many of you have carried duffle bags filled with various supplies to our Big House and today the team arrived to put those supplies to use. Thank you all for being willing conduits- the surgeries could not have been done without your helping hands! Just like an army with it's support and supply lines behind them, we cannot fight this battle without all of you who help and support us with your time, talents, supplies, and encouragement. Now the team is looking forward to putting all these supplies, and your hard work carrying them, to fantastic use.

Through the eyes of a child-

Recently a young girl who has spent some time visiting here with us sent me a poem that she had written and I wanted to share with you the thoughts of an 8 year old about another little girl.

Frankey

I just cannot explain

this little girl.

She shines hope

with her smile so bright

that I can't sleep a wink tonight.

Pink dress and royal black hair

I smile to myself and say

"she is in special care."

And I love the way

I was brought to her

that special day.

By Kelly Westburg

Baby it's Hot, Hot, Hot!

August 13- In the early hours of the morning the air conditioner broke down and of course it was one of the hottest, muggiest, humid, days we have had all year, there was not a breeze stirring and the air felt stagnant. So out into the slightly cooler hallways we went, taking off baby clothes and allowing them to find what ever position or place provided them with some relief. We were so incredibly blessed that it only took a little over a day to get the part replaced and we had our cool air back for our Hot August Night.

Princess Poses-

Fahlin is one of the little Princesses in my world and I love it! I pray that she grows up to one day be an Esther.

Haircut?

Some things that seem so simple are actually really exciting here, like finding someone on a team that cuts hair! Sarah offered to trim my hair and put some of my layers back in and I was so excited...That is such a luxury thing here- the local salons are not know for their great track record of good foreigner hair cuts. Besides that it gave me some good time to just hang out with several of the young ladies on this student team- great conversations and fun music!

Happy Valentine's Day

July 7th, 2011 Lunar Calendar (August 7th for Western Calendar users) is Chinese Valentine's Day- We found out from the our China Mobile daily text message, so the girls brought me back a rose! So sweet-

Element Fresh- MBHOH Style

So today we had fresh corn for lunch! We were all so excited to go out to our little garden and pick our produce- there were also some cucumbers and we are all eying the little green tomatoes that are popping out all over and hoping that soon the squash and pumpkins will begin to show fruit, right now there are just lots of blooms.

Sand Castles and Starfish-

We have a story about starfish and sometimes we need to get a little sandy to remind ourselves that without touching the dirty sticky sand you can't pick up the starfish and make a difference. So since you know how much I love examples...today we had a sandcastle building contest and in the sand we found some Starfish!

Piles of Stones

August 5, 2011- It was a gray, foggy, warm day, and I found myself with my journal, my Bible, and a cold coke up on the roof sitting near "A pile of remembrance- A Pile of Stones" and thinking lots...about children, about hurts, about futures, about smiles, about a Heavenly Father who gives me Piles of Stone so that I will not forget His Faithfulness and care- the great workings of His hand in my life.