Random Happenings

So I've been back a week and a half. It's been busy making up classes and meeting up with people. The first week back I was awake before 7 almost every day. Not cool. Although I did get a lot of work done in the mornings so I guess that was a good thing. Here's some of the fun stuff I've been up to this week:
Thursday:

Baking cookies with our Hankou Women's Study

 Friday: I met with my new Chinese tutor, Joan. She is the wife of Dean, the head of the foreign English teachers. She lives on the same floor, which is very convenient.  Should help with the motivation and sticking with the lessons.  Friday afternoon, I made up my first 2 hours of classes, then headed next door to Jess's apartment to play games with a bunch of our Chinese friends. My good friend Bella came too and afterwards, gave Jessica and I back massages.  Quite relaxing.  We also played some Twister, decorated for Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving, and had a nice late night chat.

Saturday: Jess was not feeling well in the morning, so I taught her first class from 8-10. After lunch I headed to Hankou to hang out with Lisa (FoC member in Hankou) for some PB&J time (pr@yer buddy and J-s-s). Hannah joined us, and we went to the mall, got some smoothies, people watched, read some of the Book, then headed back to Hannah's apartment for dinner.  After dinner, I headed over to Aaron's apartment to play Super Mario 3 with Aaron and Jolie.  It wasn't our worst night of playing, but it definitely wasn't the best. It was still a good time though.

I have seen this bag in a couple different stores.  I would like to purchase it. Unfortunately it costs a LOT of money and apparently others already have it (See below). Not so much of a unique bag. I'm still thinking about it :)

Sunday: We had our last Chinese Sunday meeting together as a whole group. This coming Sunday, a sister group will start Chinese meetings in Hankou. Our Sunday schedule is going to change now, so our English meeting is going to be in the evening now so that everyone can get together. This past Sunday, Johnny and Jonathan were installed as Leaders of the two Meeting groups. Please keep them and the Meeting groups in your thoughts.

The iPod touch: How to keep two 2-year olds quiet on Sunday mornings.....until they start fighting over it.

 

After the afternoon Study,  I invited two of our friends, Chen Jing and Rachel, over to bake. They cooked curry for Jess and I first and then we made apple crisp.   It was all very tasty. The apple crisp was a little sweet for Rachel, but they both really enjoyed making it.

Rachel and Chen Jing cooking curry

Making the apple goodness

Super tasty!

Wednesday: Today Jess and I celebrated her birthday which happened way back in the beginning of September.  Why so late you ask? Well, in lieu of a present, I told Jess that I would bake whatever and watch whatever movie she wanted. This tradition started our first year in China, when Jess asked if she needed to get me a present for my birthday (this was a legit question because I didn't get her anything). I told her no but she could watch Pirates of the Caribbean 3, part of my favorite movie series, with me. She had never seen the movie before, which is shocking since we're friends. She agreed.  And so began the tradition of baking/movie watching for a birthday.  This is how she got me to watch Racing Stripes, her favorite movie, last year. This year she chose butterscotch brownies and You've Got Mail.  A win-win for both of us since I like both of those :)

So, that should have caught you up my life.  Hope all of you are having a wonderful week.

Until next time.....His will be done.

A Grand American Adventure: Steve and Katie's Wedding

As a friend recently pointed out, I have not been as faithful as a blogger as I promised in my first (and only) blog of the new China year. My apologies.  Here’s an update on my most recent adventures.
      The first week of October is always National Holiday in China. This means no school for the whole week and usually a trip somewhere. My first year I went to Chengdu. Last year I went to Jiuzhaigou. This year I went to America, and not for one week, but two (well, almost two).  As most of you already know, my brother Steve got married two Saturdays ago.  I flew back the Monday before, had a 20-hour layover in Detroit which worked out well because Steve lives about 20 minutes from the airport. I landed at about 11 am. He came and picked me up (with Taco Bell!), took me to his principals house so I could shower, than I walked to his school to give a presentation about China to his school and some members of the congregation.  At the end, I answered questions that people had, and my favorite question was from a boy in either 1st or 2nd grade. He asked me if I had ever seen any ninjas.  I told him I hadn't but they are very sneaky and don't like to be seen.  This seemed to satisfy him :)

That night I was falling asleep by 7:30, but forced myself to stay awake until 8:30. The next morning I flew to Milwaukee since the wedding was in Lannon.  Katie (Steve's new wife) came and picked me up.  I stayed with her, her mom, and her aunt for the week, helped them get final stuff ready for the rehearsal and wedding day.  On Thursday, my friend Amanda Bode and her daughter Aurora came to Milwaukee and we spent the day at a mall. It was really nice to see her and catch up. 

 Friday, I met my brother Andrew and his girlfriend Bethany for lunch.  Then helped get stuff ready for the rehearsal dinner.  Friday night after the rehearsal, Katie wanted to break in her wedding shoes some more. We also wanted to go to Walmart to by a movie. So, we dressed up Walmart style. Unfortunately, Walmart did not have the movie we wanted so we had to run to Target in our Walmart outfits.  Got a couple weird looks, but nobody commented on them. Sadness. Target did have the movie we wanted, so it was a successful trip.

We are the people of Walmart. Through mark downs, roll backs, and shopping carts.....

Saturday was the wedding. In the morning all the girl's came to Katie's mom's house to get our hair done and for brunch.  At noon, we headed to the church to finish getting ready and to take some pre-wedding pictures.  2:00 was the wedding. It was a beautiful service.  Afterwards were more pictures, first at the church, then at a park.  The reception was a lot of fun too.  Lots of good food, good company, and good quality dancing :)  The whole day was a great day. I feel very blessed to be part of Katie and Steve's special day.

(I tried adding more pictures from the wedding, but my computer wasn't letting me....)

 On Sunday, I went to the gift opening, and then met FoCers from last year Peter, Darin, Andy, and Julie for dinner.  I requested someplace I could get a big juicy burger. It was fun to catch up with all of them, and a little weird to be hanging out with them in America when I felt like we could have been in China. After hanging out with them, I had a second dinner at Bethany's house with her, Mom, and Andrew. I had to cram as much American goodness in me as I could before I left ;)
Mom stayed in Milwaukee til Monday so we hung out til she had to leave.  We were going to drive around and maybe do some shopping, but Andrew accidentally took his car keys to work with him. We just watched a movie and ordered in food.  It took us three tries because restaurants either weren't delivering yet, or their driver never showed up....aiya.  But when we finally got our pasta and sub sandwich from Domino's it was quite tasty. 
Other highlights from the rest of the week: basketball and line dancing with Carrie Schumacher and her husband, bike ride, and carving pumpkins with Katie and Steve during another 20 hour layover :)

Katie and Steve's pumpkins were craving some seeds, while mine wasn't really sure what was going on....

 It was a really great time back in the States.  I'm glad I got to see as many friend's and family as I did. I wish I could have seen more people and for a longer time, but those visits will have to wait until summer, or via skype.
Congratulations Steve and Katie on your marriage.  May He bless your new life together!

Until next time.....His will be done.