We are back in China and here's me with my China Bible Study friends

We are back safe and sound in China. While we've been gone, my friend Eunice, send me some pictures from our Bible Study Christmas Party right before we left to come to Texas (one of which is on this post).

I have been blessed to know this wonderful, God filled group of ladies. I still laugh when I remember I signed up for this Bible Study and Selena, one of the teachers, was like "are you sure some of your American friends wouldn't like to be in the class with you, too (pause) you do know that all the ladies are Asian?" To which I replied, "God told me to be in this class, are you OK with me (an American) being in the class (laughing)?" We all have our love of God in common. I have learned so much from this amazing group of ladies!

I have been praying about it and will be doing the Living Beyond Yourself study by Beth Moore in the Spring.

If you expand the picture, you can see we are eating Singaporean food. Mary (last row on the far right) owns a restaurant here!

Sheng dan kuai le!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Sheng dan kuai le (all in 4th tone) is Merry Christmas in Mandarin Pinyin!

Christmas Card Christmas Verse

Some of you may have recognized that I try to put a Christmas verse on our Christmas card, but usually, don't have the space to actually put more than the scripture reference. Also, many friends didn't realize that our China contact information was on the back of our Christmas cards last year. So, to let you know, it is on our cards this year, too. Since I now have the blog, I wanted to explain the verse we selected this year.

"but those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" --- Isaiah 40:31

It probably comes as no surprise that I "own" the responsibility of Christmas cards for Goodrich and Sons, LLC. I am sure I am not the only wife that has that responsibility for a number of really good reasons. While compiling this years' Christmas card effort, I was reflecting on the state of the world economy, the U.S. economy, and many dear to us that are struggling. Regardless of how things are going, we can go boldly into the future. Soar on wings like eagles? Now that sounds pretty powerful. I like seeing an eagle, they are big birds, but look like they just effortlessly soar in the air. The eagle - is a symbol of the U.S., too so this verse, I felt applies to the United States, too literally and figuratively. Right now, I know many of us that need to be able to run and not grow weary (a certain 18 month old that I am running after can easily make me weary, Anna, can you relate?).

Hope is another thing that people need right now. Hope can come from the human side, but circumstances can make it hard to "keep the faith". If you hope in the Lord, you can be super charged. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CHRISTMAS CARDS SHOULD BE ARRIVING SHORTLY. IF THEY DO NOT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Faith in the East, Faith in the West

We got back on the 19th to Texas and the first few hours were just surreal. My friend Tricia and my mom picked us up at the airport. On the way home, I popped in to see Jennifer at her store (that is so cool to say - her store). Anyway, I have gotten to see my sis and her family, my mom, and my bro, Mike and oodles of friends who have come by to visit. It was so nice going to church yesterday and hugging the necks of so many people that help me be a better person for God.

One song that we sang in church yesterday is one that we just sang last week in China. It is hard to believe that last Sunday, we were in China worshipping God! And hearing that song made me feel my life was connected. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to be in China. I feel like God has a purpose for our lives by us being there. Of course, I have not had the burning bush yet saying "Hello, MB do this". It sure would be easier that way, wouldn't it? I think it may be an evolution, not revolution that God is working in me.

One thing that I did catch in the sermon on Sunday, amidst the zoning out I have been doing due to jet lag is HAPPINESS vs. JOY. Happiness is temporary, joy is in your heart because of God's love in us. I can honestly say, right now, I feel God's joy in my life. Joy is there regardless of circumstances. The U.S. needs God's joy right now. Most times, I am in my Shanghai bubble and don't deal with this head on. There were times in my life that I was seeking happiness. Now God has a hunger in me to seek joy. By seeking joy, I can do more for God because he's doing more in me. At least that's my prayer right now.

I just got through a Bible Study called Breaking Free by Beth Moore. It was pretty heavy. It was pretty deep. And I just feel so blessed that being in China with help around the house and with our children is enabling me to grow my faith in the East. In this season, I am receiving God's love and not serving for Him. This is really hard for me. I feel God is telling me to sit back. Be a Mary, not a Martha. He's got to do a few things in me before I can do some things for Him.

One hard thing is I have so many people that support me and help me with my faith in the West here in Texas. I miss my friends here. I get strength from the love from my family.

Anyway you put it, it is nice to be back. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wo hui putong hua. Wo keyi bang nimen? Hao ma?

What I just said to you is: I speak Mandarin Chinese. Can I help you? Is that OK?

Jeff actually put me on the spot and said "Mary Beth, can you help this couple? They don't speak Japanese and don't speak English." I was a bit worried I couldn't do it, but I guess my 4 hours a week of Mandarin class is doing something!

I was in the Tokyo airport and got to help a Chinese couple from Guangzhou who were having trouble at the American Airlines counter. They were trying to tell the lady that they had 2 bags that were checked all the way to the U.S., but the tags looked different. I was able to talk with the couple and find out that the confusion was that the wife had checked one bag in Guangzhou and then the husband checked a bag at their first stop over. Then, I asked them where they were staying in the U.S. They were staying with their son who goes to university in the Dallas area. Now, I can't remember which one it was. They didn't have the address so we called him to get his address so they could have the information they needed for the paperwork to get into the U.S. Thankfully, college students are up at 1:00am so it didn't sound like he was woken up. :)

I was really excited about this! Then the couple gave us 3 boxes (one for each boy) of Chinese Glutinous Rice Cakes and other assorted goodies. In China, they could lose face if we didn't take them. So if you are in the area, stop by our house and you can try some of the goodies. Some friends tried them today and liked them. My Godchild, Naomi liked them as so did her father, Victor. :)

An amazing post

I wanted to share this amazing post with you from my friend, Lynne. We go to church together in Shanghai:

Carrefour Christmas Thoughts

CHIP #4: Like the second cup of Green Tea

The best things in life are like the second cup of Green Tea. I am sitting in the Coffee Beanery just outside of my apartment complex grading student projects. I just got my second cup of green tea. In China, you use the tea leaves all through the day, but the second cup of green tea is the best. Like a best friend. Like a really good belly laugh. Like hugging someone you haven't seen in a really long time. I just took a long sip of my second cup of green tea. Life is good. We come home in just 7 days. That is like a second cup of green tea, too.

Well, I must get back to grading papers. But I just wanted to share that about green tea. In case you don't like your first cup, the second is better. Much better. Just like my buddy here Lei told me it would be.

CHIP #2 - Two reasons to buy sugar sprinkles already made up from the store

See exhibit one and two (left hand and right hand) for the reasons. 'nuff said. Hope I can get this off before church this afternoon! Wish they weren't about $2.50 a jar here in China. My cheap side took over.

CHIP #3 - Soft smooshed JRs are better than none at all

In China, we have to take what American food we can get and just be happy with it.

Back in the summer, a good friend of mine here in China gave me 1/2 a Sam's sized bag of Jolly Ranchers (JRs) to use at Josh's birthday. She apologized then saying they got a little overheated in the trip over here on the "slow boat" so they were a bit smooshed. The thought of Jolly Ranchers - even in a huge clump sounded really great to all of us. We are still trying to ration them. I just enjoyed one of them earlier today along with Josh and Coby and the positive is that I could bite off a small enough piece for our little JR (Coby) to enjoy one, too (think the consistency somewhere between normal JRs and Laffy Taffy).

I really think the ability to compromise and make do with what I can get in my host country has helped me be a better person. Also, trying new things has never been a problem for me. (I guess I can talk about eating Chicken Feet in a different post, for example.)

I am not nearly as impatient. I hope that's something that stays with me. Forever.

CHIP #1

OK, let's try a CHIP.

CHIP #1 - Don't make your first try at a squat pot with flip flops on. Big mistake.

I actually heard of one of the Ex-pats here in China that had her mom visiting, tried the squat pot and ended up with a broken arm. Yes, her arm went into the hole.

If you have no idea what a squat pot is, picture your Western toilet but with no part to sit on, just tiled sides on which you place a foot on either side, squat and I don't think I need to explain anymore.

CHIPs

What are CHIPs you might ask? CHIPs are little nuggets of knowledge I have learned while living here in China. The name isn’t super original: I thought of it as a name as a combination of CHINA + TIPS = CHIPs.

Some are relevant to everyday life in America, most are not (and you will probably be happy about that), and some I hope will just be entertaining. Anyway, this is also a good way for me to do a posting without doing a POSTING if you know what I mean. I have it in my head that a posting needs to be eloquent, forthright and profound and hopefully occasionally funny and that takes too much work most of the time. This way, I can stay in touch in a more guilt-free manner. Let me know what you think of these. Hopefully, I can post a CHIP shortly.....

I'll be home for Christmas.... - REALLY?

Really, really! I am pinching myself, too. Jeff and Josh are the most homesick of our China bunch. We kept trying to book a trip somewhere and Jeff kept coming back to going home. We found some tickets at the last minute so it is really happening! We are all coming home!

Also, I guess I can thank hunting season for something since Jeff really is missing this time of year in Texas and hanging out with his friends deer and duck hunting. Hopefully he can work that out while he's back in Texas. :) I plan to work out doing many things while at home, too!

Anyway, hope we can see many friends and our families when we are in town. If you are passing by our place, just stop in. 9 days just isn't enough! Anyway, the plan is Dec 19th until December 29th. I know we will miss many who are traveling to other places. Please let us know what's going on!

We feel so fortunate to have the ability to come home! God is good!

I even painted my toes green with snowflakes. It is beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas!