West meets East

Help bring Paisley home!

2011-03-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

I just donated to my friend, Renee and her husband Steve who are adopting a little girl from Russia. Read all about their journey and if you can, please donate to HELP BRING PAISLEY HOME:
http://chasing-moonlight.blogspot.com/

Xin nian kuai le! (Happy New Year!)

2011-02-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

I just got off the phone with my Chinese teacher (Ding Yi) and former ayi (Tian Mei) in China wishing them a Happy Chinese New Year! This is the year of the RABBIT.

Even though we would have had probably 1 1/2 to 2 weeks off for Chinese New Year and gone somewhere fabulous, we DID have yesterday and today off due to ice and cold weather so it is kind of like celebrating Chinese New Year.

It is hard to believe we have been back in the U.S. for over 6 months. I have installed Chinese characters on my computer and am trying to continue studying Han zi (Chinese Characters) although I am not attending Hai Hwa this semester due to teaching a bunch more this semester. I hope I can keep up with my studies even without being in the classroom per se.

Happy New Year to you! And remember, Chinese New Year can give you a second chance to make a New Year's Resolution!

Study of Chinese characters! I'm BACK!

2011-01-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

I am so excited because one of the students at UTD, Ying, just got me set up on my computer to use Pinyin to enter Chinese characters. I am sad because I am so busy this semester that we decided that I cannot study Chinese on Sundays, but excited that I will be able to practice typing and I hope get better with Chinese characters in 2011. So here goes! I will keep everyone posted!

A Thankful Heart

2010-11-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

I have something I wanted to share and a feel an exciting opportunity to help not only a dear friend of mine and her family, but a precious little girl with some special needs in Russia whose #1 need is a family to love and nurture her who knows and loves Jesus!

My heart is truly thankful right now! God has blessed Jeff and I to help my friend, Renee, who is adopting a little girl from Russia. She has three young sons at home and both her husband, Steve, and her desired to have a daughter.

I would ask you to prayerfully consider a tax-deductible donation to the Tam Family. You can find out more details on her blog http://5cajuns.blogspot.com/ which is also attached to my blog. Renee has been baking cookies every week, saving in everyway she can, but they need prayer warriors and supporters to bridge the gap. I have talked with Renee and Steve about this and they both feel strongly this is God's will for their family. God knows their heart for this precious little girl!

For now, I can help my dear friend, Renee find her daugther, Paisley. And for that, I am thankful!

You've been BOO'ed!

2010-10-26T20:16:00.001-07:00

Apparently, BOOing people must be a Shanghai thing only or something from one of my American friends that is not from Texas that lived in Shanghai!!! We had so much fun doing it in Shanghai, that we wanted to try and do it here (assuming that it was probably a trend that started while we were over there and we would be in the "know" about something. Finally)!!!

Grant, Josh, and Coby and I boo'ed about 6 different families, and not a single one of the families put the BOO sign up. Not a single word from any of the families like "do you know what BOOing means?" I checked Facebook, I did drive-bys to most of the homes. No one mentioned it.

I hope none of our friends thinks the candy or the act of BOOing was something that a scary stranger would have done?! I hope no one threw the candy away deeming it unsafe. We didn't just BOO neighbors we could walk to, we BOO'ed some not so far away friends.

Has anyone heard of this? Perhaps we will have to try this again next year and see if people catch on then..........

My privilege and right, but also my responsibility

2010-10-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

Voting is a topic I feel very passionate about. Having lived in China, I think I cherish this opportunity even more. We even absentee voted from China!

I was happy when my Pastor Richard Dunagin shared in the pulpit we as Christians need to vote our hearts. I think that if each of us went out and voted our heart and what we believe is right, we can make a difference. I am a Christian. I believe in the sanctity of marriage between a husband and wife, I believe that abortion kills a human being, I believe our country is not being fiscally responsible right now with all that God has given our country. This doesn't mean I don't love and respect all people, I do! But, I have no choice. I HAVE TO VOTE! I have to vote my heart. I hope you feel the same way and if you are in Texas in around the same parts as me, I have posted this to help you get out there, too!

SO PLEASE POST A MESSAGE HERE TO LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE VOTED OR THAT YOU PLAN TO! LET'S GO!

You can vote at a variety of locations early, but can only vote in the precinct in which you are assigned on Election Day. I always EARLY VOTE and don't have to wait which is always nice and consider voting my privilege, right and responsibility. PASS THIS ALONG.....

Early Voting begins Monday, October 18th though October 29th. See you at the polls!

November 02, 2010 General Election
Early Voting Dates, Times and Locations

Denton County Elections Home: http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Dept=82

Election Day Polling Locations: http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Parent=1185&Link=1187

Sample Ballots: http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Parent=1185&Link=1190

Voter Registration Database Search: https://elections.dentoncounty.com/goVR.asp?Dept=82&Link=292

Before Election day, you may vote at ANY of the following convenient locations. On Election Day, however, you must vote at the location at which your precinct is assigned. You may call the Elections Office at (940)349-3200 if you do not know your precinct number. Or, you may use our convenient Voter Registration Search to determine your precinct.

Check back for Election Day polling locations and times.

Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the following locations, dates and times ONLY:

October 18 – 22…..8am - 5pm
October 23……….. 7am - 7pm
October 24.............1pm - 6pm
October 25 - 29......7am - 7pm

Locations:
Copeland Government Center
1400 FM 424
Crossroads

Lake Dallas City Hall
212 Main Street
Lake Dallas

Frankford Town Homes
18110 Marsh Lane
Dallas

Joseph A. Carroll Building
401 W. Hickory
Denton

Carrollton Public Library
4220 N. Josey
Carrollton

Justin Municipal Building
415 N. College
Justin

Highland Village Municipal Complex
1000 Highland Village Road
Highland Village

Flower Mound Police and Court Building
4150 Kirkpatrick
Flower Mound

Lewisville Municipal Annex
1197 W. Main Street
Lewisville

Heritage Lakes Clubhouse
3949 Village Blvd.
Frisco

Argyle Town Hall
308 Denton St.
Argyle

The Colony Government Center
6301 Main Street
The Colony

Denton County Administrative Complex - Health Department
535 S Loop 288
Denton

The following early voting locations will ONLY be open the dates and times listed:

Sanger First Baptist Church
708 S. 5th Street
Sanger

October 18 – 22…..8am - 5pm
October 23..............7am - 7pm
October 25 – 26…..7am - 7pm
October 27…………7am - 5pm
October 28 – 29…...7am - 7pm

Corinth City Hall
3300 Corinth Pkwy.
Corinth

October 18 – 22......8am - 5pm
October 23 ………..7am - 7pm
October 24 ….........1pm - 6pm
October 25 - 26…...7am - 5pm
October 28 - 29.…..7am - 7pm

Trophy Club MUD
100 Municipal Drive
Trophy Club

October 25 - 29…....7am - 7pm
First Baptist Church Roanoke
209 N Pine
Roanoke

The slow boat from China is here!

2010-10-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

This week we are dealing with our sea shipment. Already found my "Great Wall" bowl broken and my red jewelry chest has a chip out of the wood. Crazy week this week!

It is bittersweet getting our shipment in. It means that China is really over. I guess it was really over for me and the boys on 7/7 when we got back to the US, but getting all our stuff and it somehow not being in China or on the "slow boat" makes me a bit sad.

I am excited about all the new adventures here and getting reacquianted!

Will keep you all posted!

We're back...kind of

2010-07-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

We are back in the US and adjusting very well for the most part. Coby told me yesterday he wants to go home and when I said "we are home" he said, no, I want to go home (he meant China). He misses our ayi (Tian Mei) greatly. He said, "Yes, I miss him". Tian Mei is a lady, but in Chinese "Ta" means him or her. There are some downsides to him learning 2 languages, and this is one of them. He has learned some (really bad) Chinese from me and some equally bad English from Tian Mei. I am sure he will be able to correct all these things with time, but I really want us to keep up with the Chinese language in Dallas. We have found the Chinese Overseas School and will plan to go to lessons there. Josh woke up this morning at Grandmommy and Granddaddy's crying. He said, "I am sad because I will miss America", I said "We are in America". Then he said "I mean, I will miss China". So we are all a bit turned around.

I too will miss China greatly, but had many, many photo albums made of all the places we visited, people who visited us, the "REAL" China, everyday things we did in Shanghai, and even one so we can treasure the time with Tian Mei (that we also gave a copy of to her). We are back, but China will hold a special place in all our hearts. I pray God gives us opportunities to go back to China in some way!

My Taxi Driver stood me up!!!

2010-06-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

So it was raining outside today so I took a taxi to bring Coby to school. My short taxi rides drives my English friend, Chailey NUTS. Especially the drives from my house to Starbuck which is really only 1 block away (but a REALLY BIG city block). So I asked (in Chinese) for the driver to please wait as I walked Coby in. Then I realized he needed a new diaper so I changed it rapid speed. Went outside in the light rain and the taxi was gone. Gone. And I hadn't even paid him. I walked down the road and then I spotted him!!! He was letting a Chinese guy in the car who had luggage. That means the airport (most likely) and the airport means big "cha ching" taxi fare of about 150 RMB vs. my 13 - 15 RMB for my round trip. So he stood me up! But he didn't get my fare. I am so surprised that he would do that. But this is China. Things don't always work as I expect them to!

Life in my China world over a cup of green tea

2010-06-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

At a coffee shop right by my house drinking a cup of green tea. I am SUPPOSED TO BE grading papers, but avoiding all that. I am really sad about leaving this place. I have such a heart for China and have made some good friends here. I hope that I can incorporate China in my life somehow going forward. It will be nice to be in America which I think is the best place in the world to live. It will be nice to run in the grass and have clear skies and hot weather and swimming pools, family and friends who I have known for years without having them leave months after I get to know them like is what happens here in China so often. I have learned so much about myself in living here - such as - how to make friends rapid speed and what that takes, that I am capable of learning a foreign language, that I can live in a foreign country, and how much my faith and a community of believers means to me. To not have that like is the case here in China is hard. Really hard. We have a place to worship, I have bible study friends, but as a family, we do not feel a part of a united church family AS A FAMILY.

What is REALLY considered WINNING THE RACE?

2010-03-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

We had a great weekend full of up and down emotions, but once I reflect on the weekend as a whole, I want to thank God for a better perspective on life.

Grant won the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby Race for his Troop #88 (the fastest speed of anyone, the fastest in his troop #7, for the Pack #88 as a whole including the older children this past Saturday. On Saturday, he was #1. And he liked it. And apparently, so did I. I actually didn't know how fast his car was, I went and worked out and got there late, I missed his first race on Saturday.

On Sunday, he wore his Pack #88 T-shirt. I wore the adult version of the Pack #88 T-shirt and we dressed Josh and Coby in Starwars T-shirts their Grandmommy and Granddaddy gave them (since Grant's car was in Star Wars theme). I even had to wake Josh and Coby up from their naps (OK, and me too I should mention) so we could get to the playoffs in time for Sunday at 3:00pm for the BIG RACE. Grant along with 3 others representing his Troop #88 went on to the finals for Shanghai on Sunday. THIS WAS THE DAY! He was one of 16 of the best cars in Shanghai's 3 Boy Scout Packs and the Boy Scout Pack from Suzhou, China. As the race started and the music started, he was on top of the world. Josh was standing at the finish line ready to watch his big brother win. Jeff was beaming as he helped Grant the most. I was proud of my son and the great job he did yesterday and was about to do today. Coby of course was just running around crazy happy to see so many cool looking cars. I knew that some of the other cars that were there had done better than ours, but I was confident we would do well. As he raced each time placing #4 of 4 cars or #3 of 4 cars, he got a little sadder and sadder. As a mom, each time this happened, it felt like a punch in my stomach. I hurt for him.

It made me so happy to see him so excited when he was #1 the day before and so sad when he was sad because his car didn’t do well. On that Sunday, we can in dead last #16 of 16. Grant cried. I cried in my heart for him.

Unknown to us until later, a weight fell off as his car crashed into the finish line in the 1st race of the 4 he would do that Sunday. But isn't that life?

As much as it hurt me to see him lose the finals, I know that it builds character and God loves us with a lot of that!

I know that this may not seem like suffering, but to Grant on this day, it really was. "Suffering produces perseverence, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts" Romans 5:3-4 We were able to put it all into perspective in the end.

One of the last things after the race Grant said was, "Mom, don't worry about me, it is only an empty cup." (Can anyone tell me what movie that is from?)

So, in the end, Grant really did win and I think this taught us all something valuable! Thanks, God for teaching us a life lesson!

A China moment brought to us by Anne!

2010-01-22T00:32:00.000-08:00

Today Holli (the other Shanghai Smith friend of mine), her husband, Brian, and I went to the Camera Mall. We had a total China moment and it was all done by Anne who was in Ireland! FROM IRELAND! I didn’t read my email, neither did Holli. The making pictures part of the Camera Mall has now moved into a new building. My camera lady said she knew someone we could go to, to have pictures printed on canvas for a project Holli and Brian were doing. After Holli paid for pictures to be made by someone, she said, we should have used Anne’s person – Gui Shi He. At just that time, the guy she was completing the transaction said “Anne”. This “Anne”? and showed us some projects that Ireland Anne was having completed. He said that Anne emailed him for us to pick up these projects for her. So we found Anne’s person and found out we needed to pick up Anne’s stuff and it was all a huge coincidence it happened! Total China moment! Anne, sometimes it still seems you are just 1 building away!

On another note, here are a few pictures from Anne’s going away s’party (Spa Party). We miss you!

When fashion and sense collide!

2010-01-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

I think I may be going a little crazy at the fabric market. What do you think?

And, no, Coby is not wearing the same fabric as me!

Got pigeon? A China first!

2010-01-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today was a fun day at The Fabric Market. After that, my new friend, Anna and I went to Crystal Jade for a Chinese lunch. Yes, I tried pigeon. Not too bad, tasted like chicken!

Grant was home today for the second day in a row. I am chalking it up to "too much birthday". He has his slumber party for his birthday this past Friday night. He was pretty tired all day Saturday and then fever early on Sunday. We have a 24 hour fever rule that is being strictly enforced at school (to prevent mass chaos spread of H1N1) so he probably would have been fine going to school on Tuesday, but we couldn't take that chance.

Hope you all are doing well! We have skype now! So if you do, too, please let us know!

Just another day...

2009-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

It is weird being in China. Today is just another day in China. No big deal. All the stores are opened. There is Christmas music, but mostly because it sells items. I feel so fortunate to know that there is something better than just this life. Something bigger. Something we can look forward to! Something better than anything we will open under our trees this Christmas or next Christmas. Thank you, God. Thank you for the gift of your son. I am humbled to know how much you gave and how I did nothing to deserve your precious gift. Thank you, God and Happy Birthday, Jesus

A dry and weary land

2009-12-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

I had an amazing quiet time with God today. I wish I could say this is a daily thing, but it is not. I was reading over Psalm 63 in the 5:00am hour and it said “in a dry and weary land where there is no water”. I realized (God helped me to!) that this whole world is a dry and weary land and even if we are not a desert; we are all thirsty.

As an American, we have everything we could ever need and more (many in my current country have much less than we could ever imagine) and we are still dry and thirsty.

There will be kids that are not thankful this Christmas because they didn’t get the present they wanted. Their whole day will be shot. They may be mad all Christmas Day. This may be my children!

Many children, even American kids, don’t even know that Jesus is the reason for the season. We are a dry and weary land. God also revealed that even though he’s in my life, I am dry and weary right now. I am not relying on him as much as I can. And it shows. It shows in my attitude. It shows in my relationships. And it shows up every morning when I am trying to get children ready for school and instead of being calm, I yell. I don’t want that. I don’t want to yell. I want peace. I don’t have it, but God does. I really want to make it a daily thing to have time with God. However, I am a little scared of this, too, if I work daily to give everything over to God and really hear from him. I am giving up control and that is not my nature. Then again, God has a better nature in store for me - if I can handle it! I have asked him to make me able to be up to this challenge.

Passion for veggies

2009-12-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you know my mom grilled into me that you need to have the right foods. She always had celery and carrot sticks cut up for us and offered those first. Afternoon snacks were cut up apples and oranges. It is amazing that children will eat healthy if that's the only alternative. But who would pick cut up cucumber slices over a Little Debbie? Yep, not me either!

So you may know I freaked out when I went to have lunch with my children at their school, and there was no cooked vegetables on the menu and almost no children were eating a whole fruit or vegetable at the whole cafeteria. I stewed for a while, then decided it if it worth being mad, it is worth communicating my disappointment in a productive manner. So I wrote the following letter to the person in charge:

This past Tuesday, I went to Concordia to help volunteer and planned to have lunch with my sons. What I saw was very disappointing and I feel as a parent, I need to share my concerns and see if you are aware of something I observed, particularly because the menu selection is similar on the other days I have been there. I ended up going to the Middle School / High School Cafeteria area (where I saw many Elementary faculty, too) and had a sandwich chock full of fresh veggies and made with healthy chicken and wheat laffa. Unfortunately, my sons don’t have that option. I feel there are not enough healthy options, particularly fruits and vegetables offered to our children. I would love to see more whole grain products, too for things like bread and pasta products, but I know that is more difficult to come by in China. However, China has a wonderful, vast selection of fruits and vegetables. For example, right now, I would love seeing the delicious mandarin oranges that the children can peel themselves on the menu.

On the menu this past Tuesday, the children had the following of the hot portion of their meal to select from:

Tuna and Cheese on White Bread
Dumplings
White Rice
Creamy pasta dish with some chicken
Potato wedges (a veggie, but still a starchy one)
The menu said there was a curry dish, but I didn’t see it. Perhaps there was no more when I got there for 3rd grade lunch.

To the side on a plate tucked away, were vegetable sticks. However, children had to specifically ask for them. The salad was also tucked away in the back and you had to request that, too. When I looked around, it appeared that less than 10% of the children had selected a vegetable. That means about 90% of the children did not have either a vegetable or whole fruit for lunch (unless you count fruit juice, but it is not as healthy as whole fruit or a vegetable). At a minimum, children should get 5 fruits / vegetables per day (maximum of 9 is best). I like to shoot for 2-3 minimum (1 fruit and 2 veggies) at lunch time. I feel the meals should include at a minimum 1 hot vegetable, preferably 2, and possibly a fruit (cooked or raw, either is fine). Do you see this as a concern? If so, it is possible you can share with Eurest a need to include more healthy options for our children? Or is there something I can do to help with this? It seemed that there were more healthy alternatives last year (I didn’t have the same concern last year).

I appreciate all you do to make Concordia such a great place for children to learn. Having more healthy food options will make it even better, especially for our Elementary School children who are developing healthy eating patterns for their whole life! Please let me know if you would like to discuss this or need other information.

Thanks,
Mary Beth Goodrich (a concerned parent)
(then I gave my cell phone number here in China)

Within 5 minutes of sending my email, I received a call. They had already realized it is a problem and are working on it. Glad this will be taken care of. Meanwhile, their morning snacks will be packed full of healthy snacks! Hope their friends don't think they aren't "cool" because of mean momma MB! On the other hand, I really don't care. My job as mom isn't to give my kids what they want all the time. It is to give them what they need and should have. When they do happen to get cheetos along with their carrot circles, it really will be a treat!

Jeff's Cambodia Trip

2009-12-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

How adorable are these Cambodian children selling postcards during their afternoon "rest time" from school. Apparently, Cambodia has an afternoon rest time like "siesta" in Spain. I like that concept! Jeff did buy some from the children. How could you resist?

Jeff and his friend, Howard, went to Cambodia. Here are a just a couple of pictures. I promise to post more!

Check out the last few posts....

2009-11-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to ask you to check out the last few posts. I have several new ones clustered on in here during my brief trip to the US and want to add the "back posts" that I can't post due to restrictions in my good 'ol home country as of now.

Hope everyone is doing well. I would love if someone would plan to visit us in our last few months in China! We have had such an amazing experience and I just want to share it with everyone I can!

I guess I may have to change the name of my blog. I hate doing that. If I do, any ideas? Or should I just keep it the same name?

My heart goes out to my current home country!

2009-11-12T01:37:00.000-08:00

If you look at the blogs I keep up with, Starfish is one of them. It looks like they have a new site for the cleft babies they take care of so I am adding this one to my list.

It is this time of year, that we look at ministries that we would like to support (as in my family does). I will definitely be supporting this one with my prayers and I hope, too, financially in the coming year.

God has really transformed me in the area of giving. I know it is God, because I know how I approached giving before I was closer in my walk with Him and before when He wasn't in my heart. I pray that Starfish can meet all their financial needs to help these sweet children, in Jesus' name.

http://www.chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com/

Surprise to Meredith - 2009

2009-11-11T04:52:00.000-08:00

Meredith and the newest addition to her extended family, Austin! This is Caroline and Timmy's first baby and he's precious, with cute "Squiggy" hair going on.

We have been friends more years than we have not! Here's MB, Meredith and Libby (L to R).

Meredith blowing out her candles and Aunt Linus goofing in the background (she's teaching Lane well as you can see to be the Ham!)

Our "alter-egos"!

Just moments after giving Meredith a birthday "scare" of her life! But we can definitely say we were the first to wish her HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Libby cooked up a scheme to surprise Meredith on her 40th (I mean 30th) birthday. Libby asked if I could come. I was certain it would NEVER happen, so I was a little hesitant to check prices of tickets. However, the price from Shanghai to Virginia was about the cost of 2 tickets from Dallas to Virginia in past years and since I didn't get to go last year to visit her, Jeff was OK with it (of course he gets an all guys trip to Siem Reap / Ankor Watt, Cambodia out of it!

Fascinated by Fascinators!

2009-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

My Aussie pals, Sue and Jeni, looking great all decked out. They also won some beer and an awesome candlestick holder that Sue gave to me.

Here's some of my friends husbands and their pals joking around with all the hairpieces! The Aussies know how to have fun!

Here's my friend Kirsty with her homemade hat and the one that introduced me to fascinators. To give a hint: People on "Sex in the City" know what they are!

Here I am with Nicki and Sophie who is from France.

Here I am with my friend Charlotte from North Carolina I believe and her friend in hot pink and the big hat that won 2nd place in the best dressed contest.

My friend, Kirsty, was able to get me into the much coveted Melbourne Cup Party in Shanghai. The Melbourne Cup is called the "Race That Stops a =Ccountry" and is a big, big deal in Australia. Here are a few pics from that. People all over were wearing fascinators and other assundy horse racing party attire. So, can anyone tell me: WHAT IS A FASCINATOR? Did you know before this posting or had to "google" it? This makes me really want to go to the Kentucky Derby when we come back to the U.S. Hope they use fascinators at that, too. I kind of like them!

Halloween Night 2009

2009-10-31T04:44:00.000-07:00

Coby and Sara-Jane walking around trick-r-treating.
Chailey, Fiona (MB), and Christie.

Captain Josh and Jeff as Tony Romo.

Josh and MB as Fiona!

Our 3 boys enjoying Halloween Night. Yes, that is Grant as the goblin face.

Here are a few pictures from Halloween night 2009.

When Chinese and English collide

2009-10-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

I read this on another ex-pat's blog and had to share it! I would love to know what about converting Chinese to English would make this the right way to translate this?

Motorcycle dilemma

2009-10-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, I fell off the motorcycle and got a little cut up. Not only did I ruin a brand new pair of tights (new style footless), my cell phone broke and I tore a relatively new sweater AND was late for bible study.

I think we are going to give it away. Too much trouble! And I am a danger to myself. However, I was warned by Zhang Wen Zhong that the steering was off. I was never a good listener!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pics from our Halloween Party on 10/23 (Friday night). Grant had fun doing his Haunted House with 3 of his friends and we had fun bobbing for apples and pin the nose on the pumpkin and guessing Mrs. Goodwitch's secret ingredients (had to touch yucky stuff and guess what it was like cold spaghetti for intestines, this weird fruit here called Lychees for eyballs, jello jigglers for guts, and cauliflower for the brain (with some slime goop on top for effect)

Thanks Mom and Dad G. for the great bag of bugs, spiderwebs, candy and other cool stuff we could use at the party, too. There's nothing like getting a package in the mail to get us above and beyond excited!

Mom, Barbara has the original costume now, but I had one made here in China (as you can see on me)! Coby has the costume on you gave him and Grant wore the cape you sent, but it isn't on him here. He is wearing the skeleton T-shirt.

Halloween Party 2009

2009-10-23T04:20:00.000-07:00

Grant and his buddy David Ho who is from Korea!
Here's our whole family!

MB and Marina! MB and Coby and Ding Yi and her daughter Yi Nuo. Ding Yi is my Chinese teacher!

H1 and N1 were in the house (Anne Smith and Julie Meyer)!

Grant planned a Halloween Party in his head and then started inviting people. We started getting the RSVPs and realized, yes, he's told alot of people about this party (that we didn't know we were having)! Anyway, so on 10/23, we decided to have a party. Here are a few of the pics from that. I had 2 costumes made for the event (and then the real Halloween). Hey, I might as well it is much cheaper to do it here than the US.

MB the Motorcycle Mama

2009-10-13T04:21:00.001-07:00

Here's Jeff on it. He looks much better trying this out (of course provided it wasn't broken!)

OK, here’s the picture. It is embarrassing, but it is now posted. Y’all happy? I am not actually driving it as it is broken down at Concordia, Grant and Josh's school.

The Art of Clapping – Chinese Style

2009-10-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

In the US, if someone claps for you, you just stand there and receive it. In China, if someone claps for you, you clap back in appreciation. If you saw any of the Chinese National Holiday Events of October 1, 2009, you may have been wondering why the diplomats of China and others were clapping once they were clapped for. Now you know!

That brings me to the next thing I did of which I was pretty impressed and that was finding out more about “Who is the President of China?” Which was a question posed by Kelli’s daughter. I went to a 2 hour talk and found out more about this which I hope to cover in another post so stay tuned. I have my “Ninja Cloak” on right now to be here. So maybe I am having my options opened up for getting some postings done!

When “that’s great” just won’t cut it!

2009-10-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

When “that’s great” just won’t cut it! (originally written on 5/9/09, but now I am posting it!)

In Chinese, “very good” is -很好 or in PinYin: hěn hǎo. I don’t know if I can get much better than that, but in my mother tongue, I am trying to find some cool (or should I say cooler) words to explain what I really mean, but in one word. Here’s my stab at just that (if you know me I have actually used fantabulous in real life.

Terrifidific (Terrific and refreshingly different)
Fantabulous (fantastic and fabulous)
Uniquculous (unique and miraculous)

Can you think of others? Do share!

How to build a better fly trap

2009-10-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

When we went to the water town of Feng Jing, we found a very interesting fly trap. See what you think from the picture. Flies get in, but they don’t get out as Josh can attest to from his intense studying of the contraption. I just hope this isn’t someone’s succulent dinner sitting in the pan here. Stir fry it up with some ginger, onion, garlic and whatever veggies you can find? I’ll take my American cheese, please!

Feng Jing Watertown in Jin Shan District of Shanghai

2009-10-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

Josh (in blue and brown striped shirt) looking at the crabs with Grant and Callan. A view from our boat ride.

Frog leg I got to try. It tasted pretty good, but I just had a little of it......

Getting ready for our meal (Tian Mei, Coby, Grant, Callan, Josh and Sara Jane from L to R).

One of the peasant paintings on the wall on the way to the ancient watertown.

Yesterday, it was pouring down rain. Today, it is gorgeous and about 22 degrees Celsius. Today we had an adventure to Feng Jing Watertown. I went along with my friend, Chailey and her son and daughter. The trip was supposed to take about 1 1/2 hours to get there. It took 3 hours. I can't believe I did this, but we did it. We took a stop on the highway for a "pit stop" of sort and yes, I did find some bushes, too. You do what you have to when in another country, I suppose! Modern conveniences like 7-11's with bathrooms are just not here, there were probably 4 or 5 other cars that stopped during the time we did this, too. So we got that out of the way and we were on our merry way.

So now to Feng Jing Watertown. It was a lot of fun. I love the watertowns. Jeff thinks they are boring. He wasn't with us as he had to work. We had alot of "paparazzi" after us. Since this was a smaller watertown that means less outsiders. We were called lao wei (old outsider) several times. When you say hello (or I should say ni hao), they just laugh even more.

There was a first today. I tried frog legs straight off the street.

This district is known for the peasant painters. We say some of their works, but didn't buy anything. You can see one of the pictures on the side of the building.

For the most part, it was a nice lazy day strolling up and down the water.

Happy Chinese National Day! guó qìng jié kuài lè (国庆节快乐)

2009-10-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2009. Today is the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. China’s Birthday so to speak.

Of course it is also right after 3rd quarter close which means that Jeff as to work while 80% (or more) of China is not working. I am sitting up at his office typing right now. I am also grading some student projects, but I guess you can say I am taking a quick break from all that.

It is such an awesome experience to be in China. Jeff and I ate at Chamate today. It is a Taiwanese restaurant with good Asian food. We sipped one of the most famous green teas and ate beef noodle bowls and some jiao zi (pork dumplings). I think one of the things I will miss most in China is the food. Not only that, but the people.

Also today, I had to go to the Textile Market and have some sheets redone for our bed. Since it is a holiday, many of the shop owners had their children at the shops. At the sheet place, Yi Jing Su had her daughter who is 8 years old and a real cutie. I asked if she wanted to trade her for one of my 3 boys, her pick. Her daughter did not look the least bit interested in me as her new mom and even coming to American where there are Mc Donald’s and KFCs on almost every major street corner. It is fun messing around with the Chinese people, they have a great sense of humor. It also helps out my Chinese to talk such things and try to poke fun. I feel so fortunate my Chinese is getting better so I can have fun with the language like this!

Cruising Shanghai Style: In Pajamas?!

2009-09-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Picture of the boat. Shanghai view from a boat.

Jeff and I in our PJs.

On this Saturday, we went on the American Women’s Club – Shanghai cruise. It was so much fun and I have been looking forward to going. I wasn’t too sure of the theme: Pajamas, but if you know me, you know I am always up for a theme party. Jeff has a Dragon on the back of his robe (very Chinese). I thought I was getting a Chinese robe, too, but was informed by my ayi that it was actually more Japanese looking. So what did I do? Put my hair up with some chopsticks and I guess you could say Jeff’s Geisha Girl. We had a great time and were able to sit with friends and dance to mostly 80’s and 70’s music on a beautiful night on the Huang Pu River. Can’t wait for the Spring Cruise!

The funniest part of the night was walking up to Dock #7 and all the Chinese people looking at all the Americans in their pajamas. I know enough Chinese to explain to them we were going to a night party and had to wear Pajamas. They thought it was really funny!

The Shining Rainbow Lizard's Potluck Lunch

2009-09-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

I went to Josh's Kindergarten Potluck Lunch. Here he and I are with some of his cutie pie classmates!

Paddle Boats at Thumb Plaza

2009-09-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

My long, lanky Grant! Josh is a master at this now!

Coby;s maiden voyage and he's loving it! (Did I mention he's going to an all Chinese school now - full emersion, baby!)

Here are a few recent shots of the boys at Thumb Plaza. Grant was too big to ride in the boats. Coby is now big enough to do it! These boys are growing and fast! These were taken on 9/10/09 - the day before I joined the American Women's Club of Shanghai. I am looking forward to our "Pajama Cruise" at the end of the month!

Next step: Buying a helmet

2009-08-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

You would probably think this would be an easy step, given that there are so many motorcycle, motorbike, bicyclists in China. Wrong. You can’t put western values on other people. Just because I feel like wearing a helmet is the right thing to do – or even take that a step further to say, not wearing a helmet is not an option. If you look around, probably less than 5% of Chinese people wear helmets if they are on a motorcycle, motorbike or bicycle. Of that, I think 0% wear one on a bicycle. About 95% of Westerners do in any of these cases. Long story short, I ended up buying my helmet at the Nan Pu Jiao Xia Mian (under the Nan Pu Bridge). You say really? Yes, really, there was a vendor with a few blankets spread out and every type of cycling do-dad you could imagine. Helmets, bike locks, rain tarps, rain cover-ups, bungee cords, you name it. I was able to secure a bike helmet for myself for 40 kuai (a little more than $5) and a “Sherpas” one for either Grant or Josh to wear for 60 kuai (about $8). How’s that for a China experience?

Good news, the bike is fixed! I just had to be shown how to start it!

2009-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Finding a motorcycle repairman to fix my motorbike was an experience, but not as much of an experience as finding out what was wrong with it! First, I asked my ayi to help me start it. When she came down, the key wouldn’t even go into the ignition when 5 minutes before it did. My neighbor Sherry said “Maybe the wheel needs to be turned some?” Turns out Sherry was right. So ayi asks a driver standing out there to try to help. Then another ayi. They both thought the handle that gives the juice to the motor is out. So I ask my driver if we can get the motorbike into the back of the minivan. We assembled a group of drivers to help us, about 4 big towels. Pushed all the seats down and out that we can and tried to get the motorbike into the van. Too big. No way. Impossible. So then I asked them how far is the repairman? Could I push it? A bit too far. So then I ask: Could we go there and see if they have something that could pull us over there. When we got over to the repairman, my driver asked if he could just come over and look at it. The repairman spoke a little English and was impressed I spoke some Chinese. He looked at the bike. Gave a little laugh, and within 1 minute, had it humming. Come to find out, I have to pull in one of the brakes and give only a little itty bitty bit of juice and it will start. So for 10 kuai, I had an expert “repair” my bike. Yes, I paid less than $2 USD for this driving lesson right at my house. How humbling is that? There’s never a dull moment in China. I finished the day off with going to the very Chinese market and buying fruits, vegetables, and one fish. Yes, I was a little shocked when I picked out the fish I was to purchase and they SLAMMED it on the ground to kill it and then skinned it right there for me. However, I must say it was a delicious lunch for my very Chinese day that day!

Wise guy answer for wise guy question

2009-08-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

So it is the first day of school and I am riding the bus. Several of the kids that know Josh ask what grade he is in. He says Kindergarten. One child new on the bus says: “Oh, was he in preschool last year?” Another who knew him from last year said: “Kindergarten?! Weren’t you in that last year?” Poor little Josh looks at them and says, “Yes, I was.” And they were like “Why, why? I don’t understand?”. I turned around to them and said: “He liked it so much, he thought he would do it again this year since it was so much fun.” Silence. No more questions. I think I made my point. Would you have done it this way? I hope this wasn’t too much of a wise guy comment. I know in a few weeks the kids will stop thinking about it or asking questions, but I really don’t want my baby to think there’s anything wrong with this decision we make for him. God is revealing to me more and more everyday that this was the right choice for Josh. I am so glad I have a husband that thinks more clearly about these things than me, too.

Jin Jiang Amusement Park

2009-08-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

We were trying to have some fun before going back to school. So here we are at one of China's amusement parks on a super hot day!

Josh on a boat at the Jin Jiang Amusement Park. Coby and Josh on the train at the Jin Jiang Amusement Park.

Having a little snack and getting completely eaten up by mosquitos at the Jin Jiang Amusement Park. Thank goodness we did have some bug spray!

At the Jin Jiang Amusement Park

Good news: No Lump. Bad news: No Excuse to go to Hong Kong!

2009-08-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

That is the text message that I sent to my friend, Sue, after I found out from an ultrasound here in China that I don’t have to have a biopsy. PTL! There’s nothing more stressful than getting your baseline mammogram in the states, 9 days before coming back to China only to find that they need to do further work and find that out at 9pm on the Friday night before the Sunday morning at 6:55am you are leaving so there’s nothing you can do. But call International SOS when you get to China and hope you can get the further work done. Which, fortunately, I was able to do! If I needed to do a biopsy, that would probably mean a trip to Hong Kong where the pathology doctors are more educated on the Western ways of doing things. So, good news (really great news) is I have no lump; but now no excuse for a trip to Hong Kong, the shopping mecca, a fun place to be, another excuse to spend money. God must be watching over me, he knows I couldn’t handle that type of temptation right now or maybe that having to have a biopsy may be too stressful on an international assignment. Anyway you put it. I am thankful to the Big Man. Thanks, God!

Yao Momma - I mean Yao Ming

2009-08-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the boys with a Yao Ming statue at the Wax Museum right by Jeff's office. I know I am weird, but I do like to go to wax museums. Jeff totally makes fun about that about me. We haven't actually gone to the one in Shanghai, yet. This is just right outside of it. Trying to get a little sight seeing done before the kiddos have to go to school!

Health care - Chinese style

2009-08-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

I know there's a lot of talk in the US about Government controlled health care. I had a humbling experience on Tuesday: contrasting the health care I get with the health care China gets - and the two places are just a building away from each other. We went to Shanghai East (I will call it Ex-Pat Shanghai East) yesterday for an appointment for Josh. Our facility: nice, clean, roomy, not too many people, appointments. Apparently the "ex-pat" health care facility is a joint venture with the facility right by it. I asked for a hospital tour thinking it would be in the Chinese facility, but it wasn't. I went on my tour of the Ex-pat Shanghai East facility, brought around by someone who spoke fluent English. Then Josh and I went over to the Chinese facility. It was just as Tian Mei (our ayi) explained. You sign in (no appointments) and then you wait. And you wait. And you wait. It is an all day affair. In a room the size of one of the "private" rooms at Ex-pat Shanghai East, there were about 6 people all hooked up to IVs with their family. In the pediatrics ward hallway (yes, hallway), there were probably 25 children with IVs in their arms or legs, supported by a wooden board to keep the arm or leg straight, dirty floors, along with their family members. Josh couldn't believe it, and neither could I. But everyone seemed happy to be receiving care. Now I understand when a Chinese Dr. told me he saw more patients in one day than a year in a U.S. based hospital.

There's no doubt that the US based health care system could use some changes. I hope I can go back and take some pictures of this facility. I think it would be humbling for any American. I think you would not believe it, like how I felt. There's got to be a good happy medium. I hope that the US will tour China, England and other places before deciding how to make health care changes, but I do know that people without health care need a better, more cost effective option for health care than showing up to the ER when it gets so bad that it has to be taken care of, or they show up to the ER because they can't be turned away. That said, in China, EVERYONE does pay something for health care. You give of your time and money to get health care in China. However, I think that the US could learn from China about how to process so many people so quickly.

Under my thumb

2009-08-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I am under the thumb of someone. That being the government of the country I am in right now. Fortunately, I have found a way around, but it will not be able to be used very often.

We have gotten back safely, the typhoons did not affect us on our way home. Praise the Lord. Please stay in touch with us. I will blog when I can, which may mean that I save them to the side and then post them all at one time. The comments people make to my blog come to my email address for moderation, so please, please let me know what's going on in your world, too!

We shall see how I can do it. I am determined to keep up my blog in any way I can!

Dino Ranch Park

2009-08-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

On the 14th, we had a truly China experience: Visiting a Chinese Waterpark. The cost to get in was high by China standards, even though we were there on a discount day for adults so we got in for 150 RMB and 100 RMB for children (although, we missed the Wednesday "Hotties" Day which was another cool 50 RMB cheaper). So entrance fee was about $50 USD. The nit that I wasn't loving is that we had to rent the float for the lazy river for 50 RMB and a 50 RMB deposit making it about $6 USD after turning it back in and getting our deposit back. The frustrating thing: The kiddos preferred walking the lazy river because it was faster! I went with my friend Fawn and her 2 boys that are close in age to Grant and Josh. Half the rides were closed, but we did have fun in the ones that were opened. We got a few stares, not too many Westerners, especially Fawn's youngest who is blond.

The weirdest ride was a cave we went through with stalagtites (or are those stalagmites that come from the top?) that had freezing cold water coming off of them, and naked frozen people (not real people, but mannequins) behind glass that were, yes, anatomically correct. My guess is this was an "ice age" cave. You would never have something like this in AMERICA!

My baby is 2!

2009-07-09T05:54:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe that Coby is now 2 years old. His birthday was yesterday! We did the usual Chili's (or Blue Frog if in China) ritual. Dinner at Chili's and then the Molten Chocolate Cake for dessert. I will try to post pictures soon. It is so amazing how fast he's growing. I know Jeff will see a change in how much he's talking when he sees him next week.

Things that make my day: Student thanks

2009-07-03T05:55:00.001-07:00

It isn't often that I get these, but when I do, it makes my day:

Hello Mary, I hope you are doing great? I want to use this opportunity to simply say??? Thank you??? for you have been a great influence in my professional career after attending your classes some years back. I am eternally grateful for your influence after taking your courses. I currently work for Ernst & Young LLP, and I do SAP Security & Audit with core specialty in different business processes such as Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay , Inventory management and Financials from a perspective of key risk and controls. Over time, I have become certified in SAP Business Process & Integration, CISA, and Supply Chain etc. I will be honored to give back in anyway to any of your students or help to encourage your students and share industry experience when need be. Let me know anytime i can be of help in any way. Again, Thanks and God bless, Akingbade

My best friend, Mer

2009-07-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here we all are with Pop in Toledo Bend. Paula is taking the picture. They were awesome hosts and we had a great time. All the boys caught fish which they loved, loved, loved.
Brave Lane on the zip-line at Gina and Paul's.

At Life's a Beach, Lane was loving getting a little messier than I am guessing he normally gets to. He's loving it!

Here's a picture of Meredith and me. I was so blessed to get to spend over 2 weeks with her and her son. We had a great time, but she didn't particularly like the Asian market I took her to that is right by my house. Anyway, here's a picture of she and I at Life's a Beach.

My 3 with their brother from another mother, Lane. Seriously, he just fit right in with us all and even had a matching t-shirt.

We went on a whirlwind tour that included Toledo Bend, Lake Charles, and me going to Houston for a few days while she spent some time with her dear friend, Patti and her family. We went shopping, eating with the Uncle (Uncle Julio, that is), My favorite tea room, Wonderful World of Cooking, getting pedicures, shopping, entertaining children at the pool, waterparks, shopping, going on a zip line for the first time.

I think that in life, if you are fortunate to have a friend like Meredith, even for a season, you are truly blessed. I am so happy we have been friends since we were 13 and 14. So we have gone through the season of high school, deciding what to do after that, college, early work life, finding husbands, having children, raising children and all the fun that goes through all those stages. If someone knows where the bones are buried, it is Meredith.

I told Meredith she can think of me anytime she wears one of the 13 sweaters we bought while together. So that will probably be almost everyday!

To our defense, Old Navy was just giving some of them away at less than $7 each. You would have to be a smooth criminal to get away from that kind of savings. (So sorry for the Michael Jackson humor, but I can't seem to get away from it, these days)

Miss you already, Mer!

Ahoy there mateys!

2009-06-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

It took me a while, but I now have a posting about Josh's birthday party. It is on the food blog since I am talking about how I made the cake.

Why you haven't heard from me

2009-06-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

It isn't because I haven't wanted to post, it is that the government in the country in which I currently live has turned off the ability to post.

I have had so many great stories over the past over 1 month I want to share. My brother visiting me in Shanghai. My adventures at Josh's Birthday party when we thought Coby was choking on something. Going to Xi'an. Going to the Watertown of Lu Zhi. And now, as I type this, typing from my home in the US.

We have had a crazy month. Hope I can see everyone while we are here for a while. Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

Mom Prom

2009-05-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here are we are all dressed up. Here I am with my friends Anne and Holli.
Here I am with a new friend I met that night as we sat at a table together.

Recently, I was a proud attendee of the "Mom Prom" more commonly known as the Concordia Auction. It is a night for Concordia parents and other supporters of the school my children attend to come out, dress up, have a really nice time, and also support the Yunnan Education Project. 100% of the proceeds of the night helps out children in the Yunnan Province to get a library and proper education resources. It is certainly for a good cause, which I really like to help with. We bid on and got a new piece of furniture and had the winning bid in the silent auction. Plus, I get to dress-up really dressy for one day of the year, which I really like doing, too. Some of you may recognize the outfit I am wearing? So, does it sound like I am bitter that I never went to prom in high school when all my friends went 2 or sometimes 3 times?! OK, maybe a little. I am just glad I now get my chance. My chance: Mom Prom.

Here's a few pictures from the night.

Early Monday "Butt Dial"

2009-05-12T02:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I worry about all the things that I am missing while here in China. One is the new terms that have been invented in a year and a half of our time in the "Shanghai Bubble". One is the term "butt dial" that my friend explained to me when she apologized for a 3:30am call this morning. The good news is I was able to get back to sleep AND got an early morning ~~run~~ or should I say ~~jog~~ OK, I will be honest fast walk in.

Here's a little about what she told me. If you can think of other jargon that has been invented since we left about 1 1/2 years ago, please let me know!

My friend was saying sorry in an email to me: "That was a total butt dial (not that you get that reference it is a guy dialing home with the phone in his back pocket which is a commercial for a new flip style blackberry) I do that from time to time but not usually to people in opposite time zones!!!"

Anyway, I will tell her what I am posting here. We LOVE getting calls, so we don't care if you accidentally call at a time you didn't plan for. Really! We are just happy to feel a little connected!

Mother's Day Campout?

2009-05-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Did I just say Mother's Day Campout? Yes, I did. The Boy Scouts (or I guess I should say Cub Scouts) campout for Grant's troop is this weekend. That means we are wrapping up the campout in the great wild on Mother's Day. There was an option for all of us to go and/or one parent can bring the child in the troop and/or along with other children.

So you probably think I opted for a Calgon, child free weekend?

Hopefully, we will have some pictures to show the weekend. The boys are totally excited about this! Not that I really care, but does it seem a little (just slightly) wrong this is the same weekend as Mother's Day, or is that just me?

CHIP #7 - Signs you may be becoming Chinese

2009-05-06T01:29:00.000-07:00

I have reason to believe we may be becoming Chinese. Here are a few tell tale signs:

1. Most of the time I am wearing a jade bracelet. Why, because you have to wear a jade bangle really small so it doesn't knock too many things and many times I can't take it off. The fact that I wear jade is pretty Chinese.
2. Coby eats rice. Almost every meal. Grant and Josh have rice at every school lunch (it is what you do in China) and really like it.
3. Sometimes I find myself talking in Chinese to everyone. Even my American friends.
4. My boys don't have a problem with the motto "The world is my potty". Won't get into that one, but at least it only extends to #1 and not #2.
5. If you ask Coby "Where is Coby?" (in Chinese that is Coby zai na li?) he points to his nose and not his chest. Why, because in China the center of being is your nose. In America, the center of you is your heart.
6. I have had some dreams in Chinese. Of course I am more fluent in my dreams than in reality.

Authentic Fried Rice

2009-04-30T02:55:00.000-07:00

One of the things I am trying to do while I am here is get some authentic (and delicious) Chinese recipes. I am starting with a safe alternative that I think anyone would like! I am posting my recipes on a blog my friend Kelli started. Please let me know what you think of this posting!

Authentic Fried Rice

Don't you forget about me...

2009-04-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

For some reason, that song has been in my head. You know what it is from, don't you? The Breakfast Club. A movie that I vividly remember from high school days. A song by Simple Minds. A song that makes me think of the unlikely people who are now my closest friends in China. I don't know if it is just that I listed out all my first cars I drove on Facebook and was thinking about the music from when I was in high school or if it is just I feel a little forgotten lately. Yes, I guess I am feeling a little sorry for myself. It is nothing like being so far from home and dealing with a few things out of the norm that make you feel a little disconnected. Just so you know I haven't forgotten about you, if you are the first to post to this message of mine, I will try to do a little something so you know I remember you!

Hot Bath

2009-04-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever just wanted to slip into a hot bath after a hard week or a hard workout?

On second thought.....

I was on a tour that Gang Feng Wang does and we toured this old area that is being torn down for big high rises. I will have more postings on that as it was a very beautiful area and I wish they would preserve more of it. The interesting this is this house (above) actually had a bathtub and toilet! That is not the norm in most Chinese homes and apartment complexes. There was one really big house we went to that was for retired judges and Chinese diplomats and it was a big deal that the Chinese government installed 11 toilets in the house for the 22 families there. It made the newspapers.

Do we even think of a toilet in a home as an non-option? Being here makes me so thankful for the things I have that I take for granted. Like a toilet. Like a bathtub. Like the option of hot water for a bath.

Dream Field Trip for my Little Rockstar

2009-04-19T17:34:00.001-07:00

Maglev trains, buses, subways and ferries. OH MY! We had the coolest field trip at the beginning of April. I think it was a wrap-up of their study of transportation and all the different methods. We started off on the Maglev Train (by taking a bus there) and then did a little jaunt on the subway. No pictures on that part. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose a child or something in the subway! Then we had a quick snack at the Science and Technology Museum subway stop, a bus to People's Square, a quick walk, and then a ferry boat ride back to the Pudong side where we had lunch. A boy's dream, but more so for my son who has always been all about anything transportation!

Josh is a rockstar, even on his field trip. Here are three girls that asked to be in his picture. My friend, Kelly who visited us couldn't believe the rockstars her children were when they were here. We My children get this kind of attention at random times and pretty often.

Here's the view from the ferry that goes across the Huang Pu River from the Puxi to the Pudong side.
Anyone spot Josh with wonder in his eyes as he feasts them on this great adventure across the Huang Pu River.

Here's Josh with his classmate and friend, Claire who is such a sweetie! This is a picture at People's Square a popular spot for locals and tourists alike!

Here we are on the Maglev train. Josh was doing his frumpy face, but it wasn't because he wasn't loving the train ride, he just didn't want a picture taken. The Maglev Train goes up to 431 Kilometers an hour! I don't know what that is in miles. They don't post that in the Maglev Train as it is speeding along. Anyone know what 431 kilometers per hour is in miles per hour?

Life's a Beach in Sanya II

2009-04-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

The pictures on Jeff's camera came out really nice. Plus, we took more with it because it is much smaller and more easy to tuck away in a backpack!

Here's Coby making friends with more friends!
Here's the 3 of them in the hotel.

Josh always loves a new toy! This one, we got in the Hong Qiao airport on the way to Sanya.

Grant posing. What a shock! He's definitely a ham!

Josh at the Beach side restaurant. You can see the Yalong Bay in the background.

I got a little sunburned in Sanya, but not this much! I thought it would be fun to do a picture showing how my back felt at least!

A table with a view! We enjoyed lunch here.

Here's the best picture we have of Yalong Bay.

Coby and yet another cute little Chinese girl. So sweet.

Here's my favorite picture from our trip. Our 3 little coconuts sipping from a Chinese coconut. It looks and tastes much different than the coconuts I am used to. Not as sweet. The juice tastes more like water than coconut juice from a brown coconut.

I love when Life's a Beach

2009-04-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Just about the only picture of me from the trip.
3 coconut drinks for my 3 pumpkins Finding stuff in the sand.

Searching for tiny frogs.

My boys on the beach!

Taking a dip in Yalong Bay.

Jeff and Josh hanging out on the beach.

I think this is a cute one of Coby drying off from a rough time in the water (he wasn't too fond of it, but did like his beach naps after his dips).

Coby at the beach

On the way to Sanya....

Life was a beach for three nights and four days over the Easter weekend. We went to Sanya of the Hainan Islands and had a really good time. Some people say it is the Hawaii of China. I think it was that nice, I think Jeff still thinks that Hawaii wins. Josh just wanted to find volcanoes which we didn't get to see on this trip.

Here are some pictures from our time there. As you can tell, Mom was taking most of the pictures. Isn't that always the case?

NOTE TO SELF: Make sure to use sunscreen than actually says on it that it is waterproof. Fortunately we did make sure we had the strongest stuff available for the boys (and for my face). However, Jeff and I did the mistake of using a Nivea Sun-Spray with SPF of 20 thinking we'd be fine. Two days and itchy backs later, we are wishing we read the fine print.

Accountant on the edge

2009-04-07T06:06:00.001-07:00

Shanghai is getting this accountant out of her comfort zone. There are a few examples of what I mean. Now, I am no stranger to loving to host a party. Here's the ladies celebrating at Mabel's shower. Mabel is one of my friends from our Wednesday Bible Study we are doing on Beth Moore's Study called LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF.
I guess you can guess which one of these beautiful ladies is Mabel, mom to be? Mabel has 2 boys and is excitedly awaiting her baby girl, due mid-April!

Can you see the "Boppy" I had made at the Textile Market for Mabel (since you can't buy something like this here? I am having to get in touch with my creative side to get things I want here. And yes, my friend Lei and I put together the gift basket. Hello - is this me here!?

I am contributing to a food blog my friend, Kelli started. You can see my introduction and check out my most recent posting about my butterfly cake that I made for a baby shower I helped host here in Shanghai. I am also posting the cake here.

Yes, an accountant made this. Here are some examples of how Shanghai is making me get in touch with my creative side, that is for sure!

I am hoping that being a contributor to a food blog will help me make sure I get some authentic, Chinese recipes together while I am here in China and not try to recreate them once I am back home! We'll see how it works.

Can I have a Chinese name, too? Yes, you can!

2009-04-03T01:02:00.000-07:00

I was posting in one of my classes that I teach what my chinese name is and one of my students said "No fair, I want a Chinese name, too!" or something to that effect. Also, I had some good postings on my real chinese name and my funny chinese name under my posting of: Making a Name for Myself in China.

So, for any of you that may want a Chinese name and don't have one, do the following and see what it is. You can do it for different pieces of information and see which you like the best.

This also lets you know what your Chinese zodiac sign is and it may surprise you (especially if you have a January or early February birthday)!

http://www.mandarintools.com/chinesename.html

Why not do it for your whole family and let me know the results by posting here?! Hmmm - could I make this a meme and have others post about this, too on their blogs? Let me know what you decide to do.....

Signing off,
郭玛丽

Marriage material or what?

2009-04-02T15:43:00.001-07:00

I was sitting on the couch last night working on homework with Grant and Josh when I said to them, "Mommy can't wear that because she's fatter than you". I can't honestly say I remember "what" it was I couldn't wear. Josh then chimed in: "I don't think you are fat mommy" and then Grant said the same thing: "I don't think you are fat, either".

That made me think through the whole discussions when a women tells her husband or boyfriend: "Do these jeans make my butt look fat?" or something along those lines and that there really isn't a good answer to that question. I disagree. I think my boys know the right answer, because what they said, really made my day!

Are they marriage material, or what? Go team Josh and Grant! Hmm - what else do I need to teach them for the day that they do marry? On the other hand, let me just enjoy them where they are!

The price of cute

2009-03-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

One of my special Shanghai things I really enjoy in China is getting my ~~cute~~ often loud coats at the Fabric Market. I turned Kelly on to my coats, too when she was here and you can see her in the picture in her zebra coat! I loved it so much, I had one made, too! (Actually she and I had 2 coats made that are exactly the same!)

Here I am with one of my newer coats in chocolate brown and hot pink. Can you say loud, but I love it! I am shopping at Pei's place one of my favorite shop owners in Hong Qiao Pearl Market with my pink chinese "monopoly money".

Here's Kelly with her zebra coat in Hangzhou which we visited when the Doyles were here. Now there's one of these sassy zebra numbers on the west and east parts of the world now! Can you say zzzzzzzzzzzzzexy?

Now some disappointing news which I received in 3 emails to me from 3 different sets of friends:

Hi all, I have been encouraged by a few people now to pass this on to our group. I turned down a skirt & blouse today at the fabric market as it was not the style I had ordered, nor did it fit at all. As you all know, we pay for the fabric up front and the tailoring on pick up. I told them they could keep the garment and left the stall. After I had walked someway down the hall towards the exit, I was attacked from behind by the woman. She held and beat me for several minutes before 2 expat men rescued me. Of course there was a huge crowd of 'chinese spectators' gathered and I think my crys for help were not noticed by other foreigners for some time. While I am very sore and watching bruises develop, I am not badly injured and nothing is broken. The police were called by someone and the shopkeeper accused my rescuer of stealing her ring and we were all taken to the police station and remained there for approximately 3 hours. The whole event was terribly upsetting obviously, made worse by my lack of chinese and the fact I was not carrying my passport. I have a few bits of advice to pass on: The police interpreter that eventually came in told me we should always carry a copy of our passport in our wallet if we are nervous of carrying it full-time. Avoid stall number 120 at the fabric market! Enter your embassy phone numbers for both business and emergency hours in your mobiles. If you don't like it, pay for it anyway! As for me, I am looking forward to my upcoming trip home even more now! Cheers, Carrie

Needless to say, I now have a copy of my passport in my billfold and although Carrie's experience is somewhat scary, I am thinking whether it's wild horses or wild shopkeepers they will not keep me from creating my next ~~cute~~ obnoxious coat!

Walking on Water - Chinese Style

2009-03-22T17:32:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it is like to walk on water? On this adventure with the Doyles, Madison and I actually did walk on water, Chinese style in a big bubble at the Oriental Garden which is by the Zhu Jia Jiao Watertown.

OK - maybe there wasn't that much "walking" on the water!

Madison did much better walking on water!

This was super fun! Now I know what it feels like to be a BEACH BALL!

Doyle Hilarious Moments

2009-03-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Our friends, the Doyles are here and we have been laughing non-stop it seems. Today, Cahill was on a ride at Century Park and his hat flew off. I thought it was so hilarious and was taunting him. He must have put a Cahill curse on me, but as soon as I got on the same ride, what did I do, but lose a shoe on the ride (darn those mules, they are so hard to keep on when getting on a ride). When I returned to the starting / ending point, they had used a stick to capture my shoe from under the ride platform.

We also went to the show, ERA. At the end, they showered us with Fortunes. I asked Cahill if he got a fortune, and he said "I haven't gotten a fortune, but I sure have lost a fortune". Which was hilarious as the tickets were quite expensive!

It is such a blessing to have our dear friends here. As I type, Kelly and Madison are having their hair washed and styled, Cahill is getting a shampoo and cut, and Jeff is probably getting a shoulder massage at our favorite place to do this: Head to Toe. And yes, they are doing this at 10:?? PM!

I am at home with 3 very sleepy boys. And I think I am getting sleepy myself! We are so blessed to have our friends here. It is so uplifting. We also got a marvelous day!

China Sharks

2009-03-08T17:39:00.001-07:00

In January 2009 of this year, we were able to go to our first hockey game ever and it happened to be in Shanghai watching the China Sharks. Here's Josh in a picture with one of the Chinese-born China Sharks. Here's Grant with his Boy Scout friends in the mouth of the shark (along with some China Sharks in the back of the picture). This is what they China Sharks come out of at the beginning of a game. The mouth of the shark looks fierece, but it is make our of styrofoam (only in China)!

Here's Grant with one of the Canadian-born China Sharks.

Here Josh and I are waiting to go into the game. (See my new Fabric Market Trench Coat?)

It was a fun day out to see the China Sharks! This was about a 1 hour bus ride away!

The benefit of embarrassment!

2009-03-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

Last week, I went with my friend Anne to the Textile Market - yet another place to go to practice my mandarin! This is a more or less local place - no heat, really yucky bathrooms, limited English spoken and another place to go practice my Mandarin where the stores don't have calculators to help with money translation.

There was a sign that said 8 with some Chinese characters strewn about regarding some fabric so I asked the clarifying question:

Zhe bu liao shi 8 kuai yi li mi ma? Dui bu dui? (Is this fabric 8 RMB per centimeter? Correct or not correct?)

I didn't realize my mistake until about 7-8 Chinese people started laughing and said:

Dui, 8 kuai li mi! (Sure it is 8 RMB per centimeter)

Anyway, I made the critical mistake of saying "Is this fabric 8 RMB per centimeter?" instead of Is this fabric 8 RMB per meter?"

Apparently, that was really funny and for a long time after Anne and I walked off, too....as we heard laughing echoing in the hall of the Textile Market as we walked off!

I am so glad I don't mind making a complete fool of myself for the greater good of learning a language! Maybe I should have more shame and be more embarrassed, but I am not.

There is a benefit to being open to embarrassment: I probably will not mix up centimeter and meter again!

Yu Yuan Garden: A Shanghai favorite destination

2009-03-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

Here's my friend, Kim, and I in Yu Yuan in April 2008. Kim came with her husband on a business trip to Shanghai and we got to shop, shop, shop! We didn't plan to get chase, chase, chased by a watch sales lady! Here's the lady that chased Kim and I around and waited outside the restaurant that Kim and I ate in to try to sell us watches. All of a sudden, I said to Kim, follow me, we are going to run away from her. We ran through several busy stores and winded around and did manage to lose her. Other adventures of our Yu Yuan Great Chase was almost hitting a guy who just stood in front of our car and picked his nose, really slow. Kim can also share the story of us getting locked inside of one of my purse places!

Here I am in Yu Yuan Garden this February 2009. I was shopping around with my friend Chailey and she snapped this shot of me with a guy who was advertising for a restaurant wearing this outfit. I won't go into the little lion statues I paid way too much for because I thought they were real stone only to find out they were heavy because they're painted cement! ARGH! When will I ever learn?!

Jeff's Watertown adventure

2009-02-26T16:52:00.001-08:00

Jeff took this picture in the watertown of Lu Zui. I love this picture he took. What do you think? I may have to get this one blown up and framed.

Crabs: It is what is for lunch and dinner in a watertown.

Jeff and his coworkers eating.

Jeff and one of the crabs before lunch!

This is one place I definitely want to visit - either here or one of the other watertowns. They give you more of an idea of old China.

Random picture time

2009-02-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

I was looking at my blog and saw that I haven't posted any pictures in a while. I know that because I pulled up my blog and there's none for many, many postings (I know you don't have to say - how did you get so smart MB :)). I haven't downloaded pictures in a while, either and it is the middle of the night and I don't want to go foraging for my camera and Jeff's camera needs to be charged, so I will play a little game and go download the most recent picture I have downloaded. For fun, I will post the last picture from the same day, but last year! Hmm - do I smell a meme here? So for any of you that want to follow this meme: post the most recent picture you have downloaded to your computerd and go back one year and post the last picture on the same day as the most recent picture (or date closest to that).

Yeah, I don't even know what a meme is, but I made one up!

Here's Coby one year and one month ago (roughly). My has he grown! He looks really serious here and not too much hair. I just brought him today to get his hair cut. He looks so much different now! Coby looks serious! For some reason this one showed up first even though I selected it last (whatever!)
Here's an "OX" (for the year of the OX) piggy bank that our ayi gave Grant for his birthday. You can't tell in the picture, but it is broken and took all of about 3 days for that to happen! I wanted a picture because it was so cute. The people are so generous in China. Either that or our ayi was just tired of seeing the laundry detergent bottle piggy bank that Grant made at school being used!

郭玛丽 - Making a "name" for myself in China

2009-02-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

One thing I have found that is really helpful to making it fun for me to live in China is to have a Chinese Name. Mine happens to be: 郭玛丽

What that is in Chinese is, is guō mǎ lì. guō is phonetic for the first syllable of our last name and mǎ lì are phonetic for Mary. mǎ means agate or cornelian. Cornelian is a stone that is red (which I think is a beautiful color) because of its impurities or iron, but still stone is strong. Lì = means beautiful. So I like to say my name is special because I really do like the color red and my name means I am strong (but impure) but with God’s help I can be strong and beautiful even though on my own I am impure! This is the cool thing about Chinese – the words mean so much! Another thing: you really have only 2 or 3 characters max. for a Chinese name (or should) so that's why I don't have the last part of our name or the Beth in my name. It would be too long and not effective.

A site I use all the time is:

http://www.mandarintools.com/worddict.html

You can type in any word and get the Chinese equivalent or any Chinese word and get the English equivalent. Perhaps you would like to try your hand at getting yourself a Chinese name? Also, one thing I have found here is that you can have any Chinese name you want. For the Chinese, they just pick an English name they like. For example, one of my friend's drivers English name is Hanson. Why? Because he likes the band Hanson!

If so, let me know what you decide!

Some of my friends have nicknamed me other names in Chinese that always make people laugh, but I have 郭玛丽(guō mǎ lì) on my emails I send out! I get remembered a lot more at the markets, etc and that helps me get a good better best deal on things I buy which is also the reason for my nickname of :

好有钱 - hǎo yǒu qián

Anyone have an idea what my nickname is?

God, were you talking? Was I listening?

2009-02-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

I just responded to a Covenant Class friend whose son is ill and husband is interviewing for a job this Friday. I was responding to her prayer request and then added something to the effect of the following:

Please keep Josh in your prayers, too. We are having an Educational Psychology Assessment done on him. He was supposed to get part 2 done today, but woke up with 102 degree fever and threw-up all morning so I am so glad they could reschedule until next Wednesday. However, I am hosting a bible study in my house and next Wednesday will make the 3rd Wednesday in a row when someone is either sick (Coby the 1st week, Josh this week) or we have an appointment which (of course) is keeping me from doing God's work and hosting a bible study. This is what always confuses me most.

I stepped out to help host a bible study, prayed about it, had peace about it. Then why am I having so many family matters coming up on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS? Did I go against God's will to step out and do this? Is God just saying - sorry, you messed up, I DO want you to serve, but I want you to serve your family first as your ministry, you just didn't hear me correctly! Am I under attack for trying to step out and do God's will? The interesting part is that I am doing the bible study LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF by BETH MOORE so I really felt it was God saying - I need your help here with this bible study in your home so you can help Me minister to ex-pat ladies in Shanghai!

Anyway, that's where I am. I think these are really good questions, so I really want to get others takes on this. I REALLY MISS my homegirls at FUMC that would boost me up, help me out, minister to me and talk me through how to look at these things from a biblical perspective.
If you have thoughts, just post them. anyone, please!

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL AND HOW CAN WE KNOW WE ARE REALLY HEARING HIM AND LISTENING CORRECTLY? Will I ever get this right? Everyone knows I am not as good a listener as I should be. I know, I know, 2 ears and 1 mouth means you should listen 2x as much as you talk (Mom, I can hear you saying it to me now....).

12 reasons why I don't get any work done

2009-02-15T03:02:00.000-08:00

Here are 12 (twelve) reasons I don't get any work done:

1. webCT email and discussion postings (yes, this is part of my job, but it hinders me from doing the actual work that I have planned to do)
2. UTD Email
3. Personal Email
4. UTD phone messages
5. IP phone messages
6. China cell phone text messages
7. U.S. Home phone messages
8. Blog comment postings (not to mention blog postings)
9. Facebook
10. Linked in
11. China home phone messages
12. MySpace (which I haven't checked in over 1 month)

I have some perception that I have to check all of these pretty much daily (except for 9 - 12) before I get to the actual work I need to do. Am I the only one that sometimes feels a little communication medium overload?

Not to mention, that it has been crazy around here. Coby has an ear infection and bronchitis. His right ear drum has actually popped which now explains the blood that's been coming out of his ear since Wednesday! We are doing an Educational Psychology Assessment on Josh this week and he's not been feeling great, either. Also, trying to get a Power of Attorney completed on Monday so we can get a new mortgage on our house and have to go to the U.S. Embassy to do so. My scanner isn't working well. I lost about 2 hours of work on a document I worked on with my friend Meredith on a case study I am using in one of my classes. Somehow, the papers that I was trying to print off to bring to the US Embassy replaced that word document of the case study on its own!

If you have a moment, we'd cherish you lifting up some prayers on our behalf!

I guess you could say I am having a little of a "shang-low" in Shanghai right now.

Psycho Ayi Warning

2009-02-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

I have mentioned how the communication world here in China is different. Yes, very different at least for me. We receive text messages all the time. Here's one from my friend Ginny who has a friend:

This is from a friend who got the ayi from an ad board: Attention. Psycho ayi warning. Her name is Y*** J** Z***. I fired her today because she is no good. She went crazy and was screaming like an animal. Unstable! Warn your friends!

So, if you are one of my China friends, before you hire someone off an ad board, please let me know. I have the inside scoop on this psycho ayi!

It's almost embarrassing how many embarrassing moments I have!

2009-02-09T01:49:00.000-08:00

I was looking at one of my friends blogs where she gave her top 3 embarrassing moments. I think I have more than my share of embarrassing moments. I wanted to share the first 6 that came to mind. There are many more. Many that many of you have even seen me do with you. Many that many of you have heard me share about. But isn't it good that we are able to laugh at ourselves?

So out of these, which would you be most embarrassed of? What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

1. The time my mother-in-law walked in while I was double-pumping on my breast pump causing her to jump a mile up in the air. She said I looked like a cow hooked up to a device or something like that and couldn't stop laughing!

2. The time I tucked my skort into my pantyhose when I had gone to the bathroom. Then, I saw my ex-boyfriend and knowing how cute I looked in this outfit (when it wasn't tucked into my pantyhose), I walked right by him. I was thinking to myself (I look really cute today and how he would realize what a big mistake it was that he broke up with me). All he was doing was laughing hysterically. This puzzled me because I wouldn't know why he'd be laughing. I realized why he was laughing when I got 1/2 way to the College Commons and pulled the skort out from the twisted pantyhose.

3. The time I cursed my sister out on the phone when I was trying to pick up to call a friend on New Year's Day only to find out that someone was on the other line asking if I could baby-sit and my sister had picked up the phone to answer the call. Then, I got on the phone to the Australian mom saying "my, my what language" and all I could say is, I am sorry, I plan to give that up for the New Year - when do you need me to babysit? And she still let me babysit her children! What a parent will do to have a babysitter that also does a little light cleaning!

4. Going to baby-sit at the house of the parents of a lady I babysat for. She was having a party at her house or something and needed the kids out of the house - I can't remember why we weren't at her house. She had a cute younger brother (who was a little older than me) who was going to take me home. On the way to his car, I slipped on some slimy moss on the stepping stones and fell into a pile of mud and water. He was so nice about it and still took me home, but I had dirt, sludge and moss all over my backside and just apologized to him the whole way.

5. OK - I had to take this one off - voted TMI by several friends :)

6. Going to the Shanghai – Pudong Natural Wildlife Park and making a really big deal that Grant and Josh look at the ostrich that was on top of a rock flapping his wings wildly – only to find out, that was not a rock the ostrich was on, but another ostrich. I had our ayi and driver with us who just could not stop laughing at me. At the time, I didn’t know the word for embarrassing in Chinese, but I can tell you, I really was!

Thanks for the blog idea, Kel! Sorry you can't read her postings as she has an annoying private blog. Kel, if you can or will, can you post some of your embarrassing moments you shared on your blog?

It's all about you!

2009-02-07T01:21:00.000-08:00

I was curious to ask if there's anything about China and our experiences here that you would like to know more about. Are there places in China that you want to know more about? If you were to come to China, where would you visit? What interests or fascinates you about China? What are you unsure of? I look forward to having fun scavengering around or adding a field trip somewhere to answer your questions.

Must haves for a Shanghai Spring Break!

2009-02-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

We are very excited that we will have our first friends visiting from the Dallas area for their Spring Break! They got an awesome deal on tickets - mouth-dropping, wow low- the lowest we have heard of. So far, all we have had visit us in Shanghai is my Mom. She came over last June to help me get back to Dallas. We know, it is a long, long way here and the economy doesn't help to give people extra money, either to splurge for tickets, even at their lowest. However, if you really want to come visit, March and April have tickets less than half the price of the tickets for us to go back home this summer and the weather is perfect here then! At any rate, I thought it may be an interesting post to post what I think are the essentials for one to bring for a SHANGHAI SPRING BREAK.

Comfortable shoes – must be able to walk long, long distances
Swimsuit – we have a pool in our complex, we are pool junkies anyway
Sunglasses – If there is sun, it is bright – you can also buy knock-off ones here for about 30 RMB (less than $5)
Light jacket - Still bring clothes to layer with – it gets cool at night
Generally pack light – we can wash your stuff and you need more room to shop!
Camera / Video camera
A basic Mandarin Chinese phrasebook (The best one is golden in color by Lonely Planet with a Lady pouring tea on the front cover – you can borrow one of ours when you get here). – I can teach you the basics to get by when you are here, too.
Extra suitcases – yes, you will want to shop while you are here!
Big purse / bag for going out – so you can bring your water, tissues, have a place to put things you buy when we go out, of course this is the place to buy bags so you can put that on your shopping list, too!
Ideas of clothes you want at the fabric market - Pictures of clothes you want made or the clothes that you have that you love that you want more of – for the Fabric Market – We will do that first so the clothes are ready when you leave!
2 Big Plastic Jugs of Pace Medium Picante Sauce - like you get on the bottom shelf at Wal-Mart or can buy at Sam’s Club wrap them in a few plastic bags, just in case, but for mine, that I brought back this summer, they rode fine– (Gotta get our Tex-Mex Fix)
5 or 6 or more 1 lb. Community Coffee Dark Roast (Hey, we are from Louisiana and proud of it and tired of spending over $12 for coffee from Starbucks)
Mr. Clean Magic Erase Markers – OK, another thing we need, but if you can bring it, that would be AWESOME!
An open attitude to everything and you will have a great time!

Please know all friends and family have an open invitation to come visit us! The more the merrier! If you are seriously thinking about visiting, please let us know and we can be looking out for tickets for you, too!

CHIP #6: Throat candy

2009-02-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

One of the first lessons I learned in China that I was thinking about the other day was about cough drops. I tried to find some cough drops by going in the medicine section of Carrefour (which is a French version of Wal-mart) only to be told to go to the candy section. Sure enough, that's where they were! Apparently, the Chinese figured they were candy so it was sandwiched between gum and lollipops.

Up on the roof top!

2009-02-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, we actually we need someone up on our roof top to do some work. Do you know anyone who is reputable and preferably Christian and/or from our church in the North Dallas / Carrollton area? If so, please provide details here!

Second chance!

2009-01-29T04:37:00.000-08:00

If I would have known that in China you have 2 chances to make a New Year's Resolution, maybe I would have done better on such things in year's past. So there was New Year's that everyone 'round the world celebrates, the 1st of 2009 and then this week, or should I be more specific and say Monday, January 26th which is the start of the Lunar New Year - Year of the Ox. So I have started my New Year's Resolution of writing down everything I eat.

Year of the Ox and I don't want to be one! How's that for second chances? :)

PS - I can't take total credit for this posting, my amazing Aunt and Godmother gave me the idea for this posting!

Grant's Birthday Party

2009-01-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

The birthday cake with 生日快乐 (shēng rì kuài lè) (Happy Birthday in Chinese) written in chocolate chips (compliments of Grandmommy, written by me and Tian Mei, our ayi) in the 4 quadrants of the cake (starting top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right).

Here's Josh smacking the Pirate Pinata.

Here's the boys playing the Chinese / English version of Monopoly.

Here's Grant hitting the Pirate Pinata.

Here's Holland (our only girl who attended the party and is like a sister to Grant, Josh and Coby). She didn't stay for the slumber part of the party (smart girl!)

Ryu and Grant at the pool.

All the kiddos at the pool.

Here's are some of my favorite pictures from Grant's birthday party which we had the Friday after his actual birthday. We had a swimming, slumber party. Our shindig was complete with pizza, homemade cake, pinata, movies, games, a bacon and scrambled egg breakfast (Grant's favorite) and more. It was a fun time and the boys all were asleep by around 11:30am or midnight. We set up a tent in the living room and 4 of the boys slept in there. What a way to ring in 8!

Coby Copycat

2009-01-23T16:26:00.000-08:00

Coby is in that cute stage of copying everything you say. He likes to say "Josh tao qi" (Josh is naughty in Chinese) and more! I will have to just take a day to write down some of the funny ones!

Also, he likes to say "no" (which I remember my mom said I always liked to say, too). So you can ask Coby - "Do you want to go Night Night? (and you hear the cute 1 1/2 year old "NO!") - "Coby shui jiao le ma?" (is Coby tired and ready for bed in Chinese) (and responding in English "NO!" (maybe because there is really no straightforward equivalent of no in Chinese).

2 birthdays down this month - da er zi and The Man. I will try to post some more pictures - at least from da er zi's slumber party!

Recall One Recall All!

2009-01-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Apparently it isn't just China that is dealing with recalls lately. If you remember, I had a posting about China's milk, milk products, and baby formula recall.

I received this message from some Shanghai Ex-pats:

Hi All,

I wanted spread the word regarding the peanut butter product recall in the US. For all the expats who brought peanut butter crackers, etc. back from Christmas break or have recently purchased items at City Shopper check out the link below. Today there were more items added to the list and unfortunately, one of the items that I brought back from the US has been confirmed by the FDA to have salmonella. As much as I hate too...in the trash they'll go :-(

Here is a link to the Kellogg's web site that has many of the recalled items and more information:
http://kelloggs.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=233

Getting lost in translation happens pretty "often" around here!

2009-01-17T19:26:00.001-08:00

One thing I have found is that you ~~sometimes~~ many times have to read between the lines on what is said here. Also, I really don't think anything that you buy is going to help your dreams and future - particularly if it is scarves (which is what I bought from this particular vendor). However, I do have to admit I was happy to have one of these scarves at the hockey game we went to this weekend and maybe it did help me avoid getting sick in the future. That’s a whole ‘nother story – I guess I didn’t get the memo that it is COLD at a hockey game.

Is it just the TEACHER in me, but I want to correct this sentence on this bag. How would you reword this?(YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO MAKE IT BIGGER)

Follow me!

2009-01-15T17:50:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I wanted to let you know that I have added to the top right of my page a place where you can easily click to "follow" my blog. I would love to get at least 10 people (more is even better) to follow my blog. That way, I can say about my blog: "Followed by 10's of people around the world"**. Oh wait, that would mean I would need to have people in various places say that they follow my blog! Well - let's see if this posting helps my little goal at all!

**I saw that on someone else's blog and that really made me laugh "Followed by 10's of people all over!"

Grant's Birthday Wish

2009-01-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

Our first and oldest neice, Loren. Doesn't she look like she could be our daughter? Here's our oldest Goddaughter, Madison in pink and blue tie dye along with her brother and all the other sons of Jeff and his two high school buds, Cahill and Scott. Here's our youngest Goddaughter, Naomi from whom I am stealing a kiss.

Here's Ally, my mini-me personality and loves to shop as much as I do!Here's the adorable, Victoria! I could just eat her up if I could catch her!

Here's Amanda, who I like to call Mandy, who is as cute as can be with her pile o' presents from Grandmommy and Granddaddy.

So my baby turns 8 today. I am shocked that he's gotten so old without my permission. I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing because, if anything, if you are the birthday boy, you can get to call the cake! Chocolate on chocolate, you will get no complaints from me!

So we were running this morning to catch the bus, I with 19 cupcakes in hand. We managed to get to the bus and school on time.

In China, unlike Grant's school in the U.S., we can bring cupcakes for a child's birthday. We can fill children full of sugar and trans-fat here - no problem! We sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY in CHINESE and also ENGLISH. So far, nothing too eventful. I was however, a bit shocked by what Grant's birthday wish was for. He wished for a sister! I think I had a look of shock on my face. Then he proceeded to tell his whole class what his wish was. I guess the only thing I can say is since he publicly announced his wish; doesn't that mean it won't come true? Why can't he just want a Fudge Sundae? Now I can work with that! I can do chocolate!

Anyway, God would have to give both Jeff and I a news flash that, that's what he wants for our family. I know, I know Jennifer of Sparkle-Brite fame and others are convinced we are here in China to adopt a precious daughter to our family. God will either have to make that evident to us that, that's his will or He'll have to take matters in His own hands. For now, I am fine with spoiling my neices, Goddaughters and anyone else who will let me spoil their girls! :)

New Family Member

2009-01-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

I was wondering if this title would make a few interested people come to this posting. It won't be me and The Man adding to the family, but The Man's brother and his wife!

You can check out Anna's new blog to see their news. I guess we will have to wait a while to see if I will be an Aunt or Uncle!

Anna and Corey: We will be praying for our new neice or nephew. God is good!

A YEAR IN FOCUS - Because I do everything Kelli tells me to Part II

2009-01-08T04:50:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Kelli’s blog and she did it because 2 of her friends did it so here’s my shot at it!

As mentioned on Kelli’s blog: “So, for each month I'll look back at two posts- the one that got the most comments as the reader "favorite", and then one that I especially liked for whatever reason.”

January:
Oh that smell, can you smell that smell? - was a posting about my walks to and from Grant and Josh's school. You will have to read on (if you dare) about what was in the air on the way to school and it definitely is not love in the air! (1 comment)

My favorite was easy to pick since it was the only other one this month (hey cut me a break, I am less than a month into living in a new country): Lost in Translation: Praygrounds and Rullish Dustpaws.

February:
Happy Chinese New Year! - was a posting at least one person posted that they liked! Personally, I love this picture of Coby in traditional Chinese dress, too. (1 comment)

This was our first Chinese New Year. My favorite was pretty easy to pick because I had two postings this month, but I did really like this one and laughed thinking back at how little I knew about our BRAVE NEW WORLD: "Had" in Hong Kong

March:
The Reader Favorite was: “Christ is Born!” Let me fix my hair… (2 comments). I will have you note I doubled my comments this month. So I have at least 2 people reading my priceless memoirs! Oh wait, one of the comments was from me.

There was a toss up on 2 different ones. You choose which you like best. Psychopaths are not allowed and You had me at "ayi" Place your votes on this posting!

April:
This is also one of my favorites that shows my new penchant for shopping, Shanghai-style - My Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1 comment)

Your geography lesson for today! And believe me, if I wasn't from the U.S., this may have slipped by me, too!

May:
I am glad people liked this one, or at least commented on it because it was a fun way to give a status on the 3 boys of the family: Win, Lose and Draw: A status on teeth (2 comments)

Flock of Seagulls called and they want their hairstyle back! was one I just thought was funny and I enjoyed writing. It was amazing all that went into celebrating that the Olympics was being held in China.

June:
The posting of Magic Crotch (2 comments) was the Reader Favorite. Hopefully the title will not scare you from reading it. It is really very innocent and fun and explains a difference of the West vs. the East you may not know about!

I liked this one: No tax, no tip, no problem because for me, it was really interesting comparing and contrasting China with the U.S. this first time back.

July
Readers (ok, maybe just one) seemed to like this one about er er zi: Josh is into Talking Trash. I just love this picture of trash piled up on a bike so I am also making this post my favorite, too. (1 comment), plus if I make this the main posting, I don’t have to be reminded of what age I turned this July and what age I turn in the coming July!

August:
See you on Tuesday (5 comments) – what did I deserve to get so many more comments? Whatever I did, I want to keep doing! Thanks to Steph for the idea!

I like the pictures of REAL China in 1, 2, 3 Eggplant. Also, I think that it is amazing that the Chinese say 1, 2, 3 Eggplant (Qie Zi), which sounds almost like Cheese! it shows some pictures that I enjoyed taking and also reminds me of my dear Ex-pat friend, Robin, that had to move home early and that I still miss! also, I liked Giant Pandas and “Lesser” Pandas – Meredith, this one is for you! Miss ya! I think I can do 2 this month since I didn't in July? Right? Well I guess it doesn't matter - my blog, my rules:)

September:
Made it Through! (8 comments – now that is reputable, even though I may have gotten a few sympathy comments - I really was a bit down, though so thanks for the postings!)

My favorite this month is one that talks a bit about the differences in taste buds of the East vs. the West: Blueberry Potato Chips, Anyone?

October:
This is the most comments I have gotten from a posting: Happy Halloween, or is it? (11 comments). I really wasn’t expecting so many comments.

My favorite: “Sealed” with a kiss – you can just see the ewww oozing out of me when this seal kisses me. I just think it is a fun posting!

November:
I really had fun taking these pictures and if you got our Christmas card, you saw yet another one of these pictures! Gang of One took Our Gang of Five (7 comments)

Gotta love the laughs you get from a 5-year old: Mommy Pill

December:
This was hard to believe, but true: I’ll be Home for Christmas…REALLY? (5 comments)

My favorite is one that shows my year of climbing Mandarin Mountain has not been completely in vain: Wo hui putong hua. Wo keyi bang nimen? Hao ma?

That’s all folks! Let me know if you decide to do this, too so I can check yours out, too!

What is a “meme” anyway? Nice word, but I have no clue what it means. Kelli said this is a type of “meme”. I am guessing it means memory type thing. Can anyone shed some light?

CHIP #5 - More about Poo than you want to know

2009-01-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

People keep talking about how people as much as dogs poo on the side of the road here in China. Yes, it may be hard to believe, but not everyone here has a toilet in their home, much less running water.

That's ~~usually~~ always where I like to end the conversation on Poo. However, and I am just thinking, if there's a pile AND a candy bar wrapper with track marks on the side of the "pile" - that was no dog wiping himself! Ug! (Yes, I know about this one first hand)

This is probably just a little CHIP of Chinese knowledge you could have probably lived your whole life without!

Lemon Grass Tea

2009-01-06T20:55:00.000-08:00

Not of Chinese fame, but of Thai fame is Lemon Grass Tea. This is something I have been thinking about for months! I finally went to Simply Thai (a little restaurant by where we live) to get my Lemon Grass Tea fix yesterday. Yes, it was awesome. Have you ever tried it? If so, what are your thoughts? One thing I didn't think I would get exposed to here in China was so many other cultures, but it has been a nice benefit!

Black-eyed peas and cabbage

2009-01-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ever since I can remember, on the 1st of the year, we have eaten black-eyed peas and cabbage. It is a tradition - black-eyed peas for good luck and cabbage for money. This is more a tradition than something we rely on. God's protection is our ultimate coverage.

I still remember the New Year's Day that my brother wrecked his brand new fire engine red mustang (this was over 10 years ago when he was in California) and had to get cut out of his new black jeans, a Christmas gift from Mom. He totalled his Mustang on his way to pick up some black-eyed peas at the store for good luck for the new year. Hmmm...so this year, I bought my black-eyed peas months before the new year.

So for 2 years in a row, we have celebrated the new year in China - that is really hard to believe.

This New Year's Day 2009, was a little intense for me. I had gone for a walk in the 42 degree weather and at the corner by the Carrefour Supermarket, I saw a man on a motorcycle get hit by a car. I said a prayer for the two minutes that he lay on the ground without moving. I kept praying "God, please have him move, please have him move" Finally he moved one of his legs. It looked like one of his arms and one of his legs was broken. I think I just stood there staring for about 10 minutes. I just prayed for all people in the world that this year may be struck with something tragic and unexpected. Life is fragile. I feel so fortunate that we are in 2009. I pray God's protection over our family and friends. Seeing this just made me think to treasure my family and friends a bit more and not take them for granted. Thanks to all my family and friends. I love you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am challenging myself to be thankful for what I do have.

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

2008-12-30T17:39:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-12-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

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

Christmas Card Christmas Verse

2008-12-23T03:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-12-19T05:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-12T22:40:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

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.