Who Cut the Cheese?

Upon our arrival back to this part of the world, we began restocking our cabinets and refridgerator/freezer.  Living out here requires planning ahead, being stocked in what you need, and being resourceful.  One of the first weekends we were back we drove into the big city to buy some butter and cheese.  To our horror and shock, Walmart no longer sells Land-o-lakes cheese.  There were a few imported cheeses from Switzerland and Holland, but the price was more than the Land-o-lakes (which was already very high), and let's just say it had aged nicely there on the shelf.

What are Americans to do if there is no cheese?  Buy it in bulk on the internet.

This week we purchased 20 pounds of cheese on Taobao, the local cross between amazon and ebay. My friend who helped me buy the 20 pounds of cheese can't fathom how huge it would be and it usually leads her to a fit of laughter every time it comes to her mind.  The glorious part of all this is that this cheese, once divided will be only a third of what we were paying in the big city!

I think today I am going to make pizza!!

Good Morning Cold

I know that every year that I have been here I have complained on the blog how cold it is here.  And while it isn't freezing or snowing or icing, it is just cold all the time, everywhere you go. 

Here is what we woke up to the other morning.  I was in the classroom preparing for the school day and this was the temperature in the room, as well as throughout the house.  54.  Thankfully this room is the only one with a heater, becasue who could concentrate on school with your teeth chattering. 

On the bright side, after 3 cold winters here, we decided we would buy 3 big space heaters.  And they make all the difference in the world!!

Back East

It is so hard to believe six months could go by so quickly, but alas, it has come and gone. 

Our travel back to the east was uneventful.  We stopped in California for an 8 hour layover and were picked up by Krista and Phil for an enjoyable dinner on the Santa Monica pier.  We ate then took a walk down the pier.  It was a cold and windy evening, but an enjoyable break from the airport!

We made it back to our town 4 days ago, and were welcomed by our teammates at the airport. We had a great time visiting with them on the ride home.  We had lunch together at our favorite restaurant in town.  It was a good time of fellowship and laughter. 

Then the work began. Unpacking, cleaning, bleaching, reorganizing, etc.  A house that has been left for 6 months has a little recovery to be done.  Thankfully, our 2 local friends had kept it in good shape for us.  Jet lag helped me get up and get to work by 5am the last few mornings. And by 10 pm sleep was very welcome. 

Because of the New Year celebrations in this country, all of our friends have traveled home to their various towns for the celebration.  We are ready to visit and see them, but are thankful for this time to prepare and get settled.  It is great to be back, jet lag is once again visiting our home, but hopefully we will be back to "normal" very soon!

Last night we watched and listened to hours of fireworks. It is the most beautiful thing you could imagine, and amazing to think that an entire country could be doing this all at once!  If you ever have a chance to see this in person, you should take it!

Our Super Fun Backyard!

I would like to report on the fun we are having here in Oklahoma, even here in our own backyard!! Look at the succession of picutres and see uncle Rob swinging a very brave Abigial through the trees.  This swing allows Rob to push her, with all his might,  in a circular motion and she will swing in a circle all the way around where you see Hudson standing in the background.  It is a little alarming to watch it in person, but understand she holds on for dear life, and her parents allow it. :)

 We also have a baby swing and two "normal swings" for those who are a little more faint of heart.  Here is our sweet cousing, Ainsley swinging with Aunt Krista and Uncle Phil.

 And the big kids?

 on the iproducts.

 Or up in our super huge gigantic tree!!

Hooray for big backyards!!!  The basketball goal is going up today, so this yard will be complete!

Top Ten - the Final List

We will be home TODAY!!!

So, in all of our lists, we would be remiss not to have a list of top 10 things we will miss about not living here. 

10. Riding Motorcycles everywhere!
9. David's and MTR  (our favorite drink stands)
8. Beautiful Scenery
7. All the Harvest times
6. Fresh food, seasonal fuits and veggies
5. Speaking Chinese
4. Riding bikes with friends and basketball court in my room (hudson)
3. REAL Chinese Food and bao xiangs (private rooms) to eat it in
2.  Our Apartment
1. Zhou Feng and Xiao Yang and all of our "family" who live overseas with us.

Top Ten - Part 4

We really can't have a top 10 without including something about food!  So, here are our top 10 restarants we are looking forward to eating at.   Disclaimer.....this is a collective family list that was voted on and averaged to have this particular outcome.  It represents the views of us as a family.....not particular persons.  In other words....this list is skewed by Rob and Hudson's votes. :)  You will take note that Pei Wei, PF Changs, Happy House, and Dot Wo did NOT make the list.

10. Denny's  (a Rob and Hudson choice)
9. McAlister's
8. Johnny's
7. Soda Pops
6. Taco Bueno
5. Pearl's Cajun Kitchen
4. Ted's ....should be a much higher number, like 1.
3. Chile's
2. Rib Crib
1. Sonic

Honorable Mention: Cheddars (high on my list), Kona Ranch, Johny Carino's, Olive Garden, Harry Bear's

Top Ten - Part 3

Today's Top 10 will be all the things we are looking forward to doing with our Family! Keep in mind, these lists are scientifically put together by all 4 of us. :)

10. Vacations!!
9. 6 Flags
8. Watching OU Football games together.
7. Nertz
6. Scrabble/Monopoly
5. Holiday meals at Grandmother's House
4. Choctaw
3. Laughing at with Nana.
2. Playing with all the cousins.
1. Spending the night at Memaw and Pa's house, Nana's house, and Grandad and KA's house. (Rob and I are especially looking forward to this)

Top Ten - Part 2

Today's Top Ten are all about the grocery store.  Our grocery shopping experience is extremely different than an American one, and after 3 years, there are some things we are all looking forward to at the store.  If you want some good entertainment, come shopping with us the first month we are home.  You might get a good laugh.

10. Large paper cups (Solo, we love you!!...here paper cups are the kind you use for brushing your teeth)
9. Pretty meat packaging without all the insides showing.
8. Fresh Milk....Braums, we are coming!
7. Lunch Meat.....turkey!
6. Rotisserie Chickens
5. Loaves of Bread
4. Blocks of Cheese!!
3. Cereal Aisle
2. Drink Aisle
1. Already prepared food section being everything we can recognize.

Top Ten - Part 1

So we are down to the last few days here in our home away from home.  We have less than 4 days until we board the airplane, but won't be in Oklahoma for 5 days....lots of travel.  So for your reading enjoyment, our family put togetether some different "top 10's"  during our family time the other night.   So each day, you will get to see what we are looking forward to when returning home.

Today's Top 10 are the the ten "little" conveniences/things we are sooooo looking forward to in America.

10. Green grass, and lawns.
9. Carpet.
8. Central heating and air.
7. Water Fountains and drinking out of the tap.
6. dryers to dry our clothes in. (mom, I am so looking forward to your HUGE Maytag washer/dryer)
5. Dishwasher.
4. No one making suggestions on why we should/shouldn't buy something, what we should/shouldn't wear, or making strong comments to us at the grocery store about what is in our grocery cart, then tsk, tsking when we check out, and craning their necks to see how much we are going to spend.
3. personal space.
2. widespread use of deodarant.
1. Ice in drinks!!!!!!!

This is True Love....You think this Happens Every Day?

15 years ago today I married my best friend.

Today, I am still married to my best friend!!

Daily Sights on the way to the store

Lately, we have been coming up with a running list of "little" things we look forward to once we are back in the USA, things that wouldn't rate on any important scale, but little insignificant things.  For example, expectation of toilet paper in the toilet stalls, tall glasses filled with ice (tea) that keep getting refills at a restaruant, no one staring at you, not having to climb 7 flights of stairs every time you come home.  The little things.  One of the bigger things is our excitement over grocery stores.....cereal aisles, meat wrapped in nice little packages, cheese, options, nice smells while buying food. 

Today, as I walked to the market for a few things, then on to the bakery for bread, then a little farther to another store for some other items, I thought about how completely different my shopping trips will be in just a few weeks.  These are some of the sights I saw today as I walked through town with the kids.  I likely won't be seeing these on my way to Wal-Mart.

The unloading of the watermelon truck.  I wish I had a picture of the hundreds of watermelons sitting on the side of the road already.

 The random lady on the street selling and shucking corn in the miserable heat.

 I won't be passing a lady on her bike coming home from her shopping run with her makeshift umbrella shading her from the sun.

 And....thankfully, I will not see this, our one stoplight in town, which is more of a suggestion than anything else, because traffic always looks like this no matter red, green, or yellow.

Some things I will always remember

1.  I love the beauty of where I live. This week we had the opportunity to climb this "mountain".  While up there we looked out and could see for miles and miles.  The Almighty's Handiwork was abundant and clear as we peered out on villages and streams and lives down below. 

"For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

 2.  I think this is my favorite view. As you approach this door you can't see what is beyond, but when you get to this point you can begin to see the beauty of what is below. It is truly breathtaking!

 3. And then this is one of my favorite memories. Candid moments that seem to pass all too quickly. Father and daughter dancing and laughing together in the living room.  This is a treasure.

4. And I will always remember these two at this age.  So fun and full of life.  They are growing and maturing daily.  I will always remember their smiles and their laughs and how special they are and a joy to both their father and mother!

A Most interesting experience

Today was a first for me in this culture.  After 3 years, I don't have many firsts anymore.  But today we finally had another interesting experience. 

Last Saturday we had all the girls on our team over to watch the Royal Wedding.  We were all occupied making our own crowns and talking about the hats and pomp while Rob was diligently working upstairs.  Hudson had 3 friends over at the house playing basketball and other crazy games.  It was a very good day. On Sunday morning we woke up and were getting ready to take a trip and Hannah began frantically looking for her ipod.  We told her the normal "parent things" like "did you look behind things?" or "where did you use it last?" "when you say you have looked EVERYWHERE what does that mean exactly?"

Hannah is a very careful, responsible girl.  She is extremely organized and meticulously careful with her things. (I will add that this is not a trait passed down from me)  Hannah knew she had used it on Friday during school.....it is hard to do your math when your brother is breathing beside you.....and then she had placed it back on her dresser by her stereo system.  Suddenly the thought occured to me.....one of Hudson's friends stole it.  Rob quickly said "no way" to that, but I couldn't think of what else had happened to it.   Hannah very graciously accepted that it was gone and that it was just "stuff" and not the end of the world.

On Monday, 2 of the 3 boys returned to our house to play.  I casually mentioned, not accusing, that Hudson's sister couldn't find her ipod, had they happened to see it on Saturday.  They said no.  Then on Wednesday, Hudson's buddy, Kenny, called to Hudson and said he needed to talk to us.  He came upstairs and said he knew where the ipod was, one of the boys had stolen it. The boy was showing it off at school that day. But....Kenny had a plan.  The boy who stole it didn't want Kenny to tell Hudson about it, but he said Hudson was his friend and he should give it back. So Kenny came up with a plan and told Rob and I he would get it back today and the boy wouldn't lose face.

Now, here is the interesting part of this culture.  "Face" is everything.  In my mind, once I knew who took the ipod, it seemed ok for me to walk to the boy's door, ask to speak to the parents and get the ipod back. Simple.  However, in the process I would have humiliated the boy, the parents, likely broken relationship with them,  and it would have been culturally inappropriate.  So, Rob said we should instead trust Hudson's friends and see what would happen.  Today, after school, all the boys came back over and asked to play ball. As the thief passed by us, Kenny pointed him out and whispered to us the thief had brought the ipod.  A few minutes later out comes Kenny telling me to stay in the kitchen and for Rob to come help me in the kitchen while the return took place.  Shortly after, Kenny reported the ipod was hiding under a blanket on Hudson's bed.  Sure enough.....it was.

I don't think we ever expected to see the ipod again, but here it is.  More importantly we didn't alienate a little boy and his family, hopefully we can continue to build relationships with them. It sure wouldn't be worth "being right" just because of an ipod.

Spring Has Sprung

Living in a humid, tropical climate has few advantages, but mostly disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the constant wetness that is everywhere....either you are sweating/soaking through your clothes, or you are experiencing a damp cold that chills to the bone, or you are getting rained on, or the air is so thick with humidity you can't breathe.  However, there are a few beautiful days in the fall and a few in the spring, where it feels like spring.  The humidity is less than normal and it is actually comfortable to be outside.  Right now is one of those times!!

I have been very cautious about Hannah and Hudson riding bikes here.  The traffic is a little crazy, meaning cars and motorbikes feel free to ride on the sidewalks as well as people EVERYWHERE!  So, their opportunities to ride have been slim to none.  I have decided to allow them to ride around our apartment complex which is large, but they have to constantly be aware of bikes, cars, people, strollers, motorcycles, tractors,  and anything else that might suddenly jump in their paths or come around a corner very quickly.  Not fun!  However Hudson enjoys riding his bike to the little market inside our complex and getting toilet paper, or drinks, or whatever else is needed.  Then he likes to arrange it all on his bike and ride home.  Frankly, it is quite convenient for me!!

This week, on one of those beautiful nights we loaded up our bikes and went out a ways so the kids could ride their bikes with no traffic or people or anything.  They had so much fun and rode for a few hours.  And mom didn't have to worry at all!!

Kinda like Grover....NEAR.......

 FAR........

 My boy...

 Rob giving a little instruction on something.....

 The parents....

I will add that last week was a moment of pride in my husband's life (as it will be in Pa's too).  Hudson was out riding his bike with his friends. We looked out the window and saw Hudson leaned over his bike working on it.  Upon calling out to see what the problem was, he said his chain had popped off and that something on the handlebars was messed up, but he had it all under control.  Rob surmised he would probably have to go down and help him fix the problems, but several minutes later off he rode, fixing his own bike.  Hopefully he has inherited Rob's "fix-it" genes.

THREE!!!!!

If you have been reading my blog since we moved, or for any length of time you perhaps know what this title is about. You can look back here and here and even here to see where I have chronicled the time stamps of this journey we are on.  

Today is a big milestone for us.  We have now lived overseas for 3 whole years.  I think at the outset of this adventure I wasn't sure we would make it this long.  There have been lots of difficult days, but also many days of triumph.  There have been days of longing for family and "home" and days where we have felt we wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here in Asia.   We have truly been blessed to live here and have one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. 

We have made amazing friends and relationships here, more than we ever dreamed.  We have learned a lot about ourselves and seen so many ways we can grow and change to follow our Lord even more.

I want to say "thank you" to those of you who have continued to support us and love and encourage us through prayers, emails, and encouraging words.  Our family has been a constant support to us and has encouraged us in so many ways, from packages, to phone calls, to sending pictures, to actually coming to see us!  We have been so blessed over the last 3 years to have so many visitors as well. Our TN friends are always welcome in our home....we are so blessed to have so many new TN friends and relationships!!  Christmas teams from OH and MO were soooo fun and my kids still talk about the amazing performances we were able to do together! :)  As I relflect on all the events and fun from the last 3 years I am overwhelmed with the Father's faithfulness not just to us, but to the people we serve.  

So now that 3 years is behind us, we continue to count....for we are not through here, only just beginning.  However, we are about to take a break and come home for 6 months.  So for a little while, we are going to be counting down the days until we go home!  July 1 is coming soon!!

Calzone Party

I will never have a recipe/food blog.  But today, I am going to talk about food.

I am soooo thankful for those who do have food blogs. Obviously, the Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite places to find excellent recipes, but my most frequented cooking blog is from a girl who lives in this country and buys everything from a market like I do.....and makes it without a box or a can.  As you can imagine, that can prove challenging. I have always been the "I'll bring the paper goods" kind of girl.  And as my college roommates can attest, I only knew how to cook in the microwave. Moving overseas has forced me to learn how to REALLY cook.  I enjoy finding everything I need in the market and then making sauces and breads and all sorts of good things from scratch.  Lots of excellent tips have also come from my good friend B who lives in this town with me and has several more years of cooking experience.

Tonight we are having one of our favorite meals. Calzones. And we are having some local friends over, so it will be a PARTY.  This is such a great party meal becasue everyone gets to put together their own calzone just the way they like it and requires little preparation.   All you have to do is make the dough and put out all the special toppings in bowls, allow each guest to role out their own dough and top their own calzone.....and then you bake.  Very fun and very easy!!  Tonight we are having chicken, pepperoni, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage,  and cheese. 

Let me just say after a week of living in the countryside we are ALL ready for a little (or maybe a big) CALZONE. 

What is your favorite "meal for a crowd"?  (I always need new ideas!)

In the Country

The last week of our lives was spent out in the countryside with some wonderful people from Tennessee.  We always love when our Tennessee friends visit!  Especially when my brother, Reagan, is among them. 

Living in the countryside is always an adventure.  It is not for the faint of heart.  There are fleas/bugs/unknown biting things in the covers (just ask a few of my family members). There are very dirty floors.  There are no western toilets and your shower just flows into the toilet.....causing you to not be particularly thrilled to take a shower.  The bathroom smells like the choir tour bus after 14 days of touring. The key to your room sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.  There are loud noises from trucks, dogs, pigs, trucks, horns, trucks....ALL DAY AND NIGHT! 

However, there is a very sweet lady who runs the "hotel" and has been there for all of the last 3 years that we have been there.  She is kind to us and we have become friends with her. She always comments how amazing it has been to watch our language improve and has told us we are her first friends that are foreigners.  We got to talk about many wonderful things with her this last week.  She makes it all worth while. 

Open Letter

Dear Mr. Sunshine,

You haven't made an appearance in weeks.
Every shoe is soaked and muddy.
It has rained for days.
It is cold again, in and out of the house.

I know in a few months we will be sweaty and hot, but for now, please come out.
We miss you,
O Fam

My Best Friend

This week I had a very bad horrible rotten terrible awful day. And then the next day was also bad.  No details are needed but dissapointment, frustration, and sadness showed their ugly faces this week.  Through it all, my very best friend and helpmate was there with me.  I can't tell you how thankful I am to have someone who is always on my side, always looking out for my best interests, always willing to sit in the darkness, hold my hand, and cry with me.  Someone who is my biggest fan, my greatest encourager, and my wise counselor.

And someone who loves me enough to take me away to the "Big City" for pizza and a movie for a day, leaving homeschooling, children, and daily life behind (thanks Ryan for staying with the kids).  I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband, a very best friend.   Through him I have felt the Father's love, encouragement, counsel, and guidance this week. How could I ask for more?

Local Friends

So this lady isn't really my friend, but she looked cool so I took my picture with her.  I think she wanted to be my friend, though.

This is our house helper's little girl and she just turned 1.  She was a cutie.  Our helper brought her over to our house on Sunday afternoon and she played and played with Hannah.  She was very outgoing and wasn't afraid of us at all, which is the case many times.....we look different.

 I love how she is laughing in this picture. Did I mention she REALLY liked Hannah?

We are happy to have friends who are willing to drop by our home and visit for awhile.  This made our day!!