tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60205362153635146112024-03-05T06:10:14.475-08:00The HicksHouse BlogOur life in Hong Kong, ChinaCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-37470619566335145242009-05-19T19:19:00.000-07:002009-05-19T20:01:12.602-07:00Getting ready to say good-bye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoQf-gFdBspI9qmX7vQPGHdOwkEUm8k4AYJiK2QBh0ePeCo2hDU2Uf5ryapCufvq4IuWjVDgfNPASuGZ5F53a1hMBD5xVAW8Nw3YDGO8hqQ0USccRtpdOr-rhGyY2eGp5oZogDxg7axFM/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+161.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoQf-gFdBspI9qmX7vQPGHdOwkEUm8k4AYJiK2QBh0ePeCo2hDU2Uf5ryapCufvq4IuWjVDgfNPASuGZ5F53a1hMBD5xVAW8Nw3YDGO8hqQ0USccRtpdOr-rhGyY2eGp5oZogDxg7axFM/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337729630935653298" border="0" /></a>The large picture above was taken a couple weeks ago while out on a junk boat dinner cruise with a group from church. We all had such a great time - the weather was wonderful, it was clear enough to take some good pictures, and we all kept saying why we hadn't done this before!<br /><br /><br />Tea at the Peninsula with girlfriends and a bit of shopping was just what I needed in the midst of the chaos of a big move the other day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5yf_eKUhhXm2VfnJdqZp_PCtQ2Pwe0gsg8LE1lgk0PT23a-esshV_8ZJd0toBvyisuQWGakvS35BnkbBsLD5XCOVfFHHfYLTIskqEILADwVNNwCbf9r-upS-_f6cipJnj8Wmi7VS2wYu/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5yf_eKUhhXm2VfnJdqZp_PCtQ2Pwe0gsg8LE1lgk0PT23a-esshV_8ZJd0toBvyisuQWGakvS35BnkbBsLD5XCOVfFHHfYLTIskqEILADwVNNwCbf9r-upS-_f6cipJnj8Wmi7VS2wYu/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337729620137711330" border="0" /></a>It was so relaxing to sit, chat, drink delicious tea and eat these yummy morsels of food!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GH6LboxOmjXoAgESPZ7QwOt7jqALY_CStBycLhaxLLr16ImHDIAohpXDynlQLpzGUCiRk-4ypLNcXKnY_c-gL4gDiyMFZDEy03qMqBw7YeuAarBDZI8euT7Bn-Cm4Sj75H8HYsHgrSbq/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GH6LboxOmjXoAgESPZ7QwOt7jqALY_CStBycLhaxLLr16ImHDIAohpXDynlQLpzGUCiRk-4ypLNcXKnY_c-gL4gDiyMFZDEy03qMqBw7YeuAarBDZI8euT7Bn-Cm4Sj75H8HYsHgrSbq/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337729618921414242" border="0" /></a>Peninsula lobby where tea is served. In the Mezzanine above there is an orchestra that plays during "tea time."<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPI5e76rtQ1GeKWP8btIBdbeNFeyzi5Z9KHSgbOZSw1rCRJNe2iJnRCvJycQWh2Qw3m0idOZ4Q6rOKIrQwhC0Nz4xMX6KTt-BXQrDHJVsvch2gThMNDD9IsT_daRFaoQL7EyaiS9L4YgW/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPI5e76rtQ1GeKWP8btIBdbeNFeyzi5Z9KHSgbOZSw1rCRJNe2iJnRCvJycQWh2Qw3m0idOZ4Q6rOKIrQwhC0Nz4xMX6KTt-BXQrDHJVsvch2gThMNDD9IsT_daRFaoQL7EyaiS9L4YgW/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337727493962796274" border="0" /></a>Once we put our "home" on one of these container ships, we hope and pray it arrives safely in New York ASAP and then on to the home we hope to have soon!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8ujkiBRCEiM5dcCbD4UChGx8zRpvUpeuTzMmGaZDiBIjqxqq8pEgxCQsnhIEf6mYDDudU5_UvuiksUlenELiXyW1FG-nfGP1xMQW_jxVX_tIZ1PFDX90o0a1-OWOzcJQHonOfV8axlon/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8ujkiBRCEiM5dcCbD4UChGx8zRpvUpeuTzMmGaZDiBIjqxqq8pEgxCQsnhIEf6mYDDudU5_UvuiksUlenELiXyW1FG-nfGP1xMQW_jxVX_tIZ1PFDX90o0a1-OWOzcJQHonOfV8axlon/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337727491184159586" border="0" /></a>We had a fun Wii game night with a group of Filipina ladies that attend our church. We look forward to hanging up this lovely hand-painted wall decoration they gave to us from the Phillipines and thinking of their beautiful smiling faces every time we look at it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mjggyv5LL4RJgyXS0PpazpFrJDNFN9OdOUCYK3fvgfvXoI7G0hCisMdzYtFNq4i4Uuk-tmalgIr-rVhgsv5ZZkW9-Mc9mD-R5RLD6B8vzNCKXGjswBO5uEfRO2wUxoscC0rLFXBA9xN1/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+May+2009+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mjggyv5LL4RJgyXS0PpazpFrJDNFN9OdOUCYK3fvgfvXoI7G0hCisMdzYtFNq4i4Uuk-tmalgIr-rVhgsv5ZZkW9-Mc9mD-R5RLD6B8vzNCKXGjswBO5uEfRO2wUxoscC0rLFXBA9xN1/s400/Hong+Kong+May+2009+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337727487002713698" border="0" /></a>Our delicious feast thanks mostly to these ladies!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-2853375593481037712009-04-19T17:28:00.001-07:002009-05-19T20:02:02.913-07:00Hong Kong from my phone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K0EsATH1uoCIW14SpU6jClp_BrfajL_3Z03a9kOH6CPLSRvfqJMuY8LKbU3qgq7hYmJJOA7yZTC2iBEiCrHh2wXYtRzbECmfUskXMLR18PtAgagEaItyIXDmr6SAuvW1qMHdaenKFa-F/s1600-h/08-24-06_1307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K0EsATH1uoCIW14SpU6jClp_BrfajL_3Z03a9kOH6CPLSRvfqJMuY8LKbU3qgq7hYmJJOA7yZTC2iBEiCrHh2wXYtRzbECmfUskXMLR18PtAgagEaItyIXDmr6SAuvW1qMHdaenKFa-F/s400/08-24-06_1307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567288657091474" border="0" /></a>When we arrived in Hong Kong in August of 2006, I purchased a Motorola phone with a camera. I have taken pictures over the years but have just never taken the time to download them into my computer. I thought the time has come, because our time has just about come to an end here, and wanted to share with you some of the things that caught my eye while living here.<br /><br />The large picture above was taken at one of my favorite places (not) which is the subway at rush hour. When Brad saw me taking this picture, he said if I post this no one will want to visit us!<br /><br />This precious picture captures the first day of school here in Hong Kong for Ellen in the fall of 2006. Also in the picture are Ellen's fellow West Island school friends, Nina and Emily. Not sure who the boy is. But I can tell you that these kids have changed so incredibly much!! (sniff sniff).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4nWgYB6gggxS5k0qFFyXN-CIY_mKjniGZwfdhoMN_Efr4r_dnQnOwYt_-o8XP3JgtoBgIKQSeyxESf18gw2CiUeE57tEpDHMA1UiQGUy8AvT9BWCMYOb1qQisY28MEXktppO9IE86GsC/s1600-h/10-07-06_1843.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4nWgYB6gggxS5k0qFFyXN-CIY_mKjniGZwfdhoMN_Efr4r_dnQnOwYt_-o8XP3JgtoBgIKQSeyxESf18gw2CiUeE57tEpDHMA1UiQGUy8AvT9BWCMYOb1qQisY28MEXktppO9IE86GsC/s400/10-07-06_1843.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567164919363506" border="0" /></a>This is just an adorable picture of our Zobo - this girl has changed quite a bit as well! She uses napkins more often now :) :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCpxHQW6-fZg8iE-ifkzQyaFMGbxIhpRB4MCYmg8uFDWO5Zjc9F-NJy1RJ8Y8jckl9FQxSfVQhFCGij_J24AYSG8NQGEIG4UxrF3KSk8zqMbRZWE5QtCtqIHVea6erwiCKC8_YgUJfYxO/s1600-h/06-29-07_1453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCpxHQW6-fZg8iE-ifkzQyaFMGbxIhpRB4MCYmg8uFDWO5Zjc9F-NJy1RJ8Y8jckl9FQxSfVQhFCGij_J24AYSG8NQGEIG4UxrF3KSk8zqMbRZWE5QtCtqIHVea6erwiCKC8_YgUJfYxO/s400/06-29-07_1453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567159183242306" border="0" /></a>Our beautiful Siena Club pool. On a clear day you can see over to Hong Kong. The kids have had lots of fun times here!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclQFX1tWCQuPvGTm8ucRL64UAcdwklIqW56Px-cD3X0dJYPrzVeFt5EtflTzsVYEO8FNe9oVJdk3nLKip7qK2ZyWxonaJrb3YhjThjDrMXdKm7FAqifnLVcQTXrs4Yz4VVcAbKkRV-PTJ/s1600-h/06-25-07_1051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclQFX1tWCQuPvGTm8ucRL64UAcdwklIqW56Px-cD3X0dJYPrzVeFt5EtflTzsVYEO8FNe9oVJdk3nLKip7qK2ZyWxonaJrb3YhjThjDrMXdKm7FAqifnLVcQTXrs4Yz4VVcAbKkRV-PTJ/s400/06-25-07_1051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567162600641842" border="0" /></a>Angry skies over HK from the back of the ferry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2cpC-eZxrNEhdHtyJ46ggLWtWsbgw8FtUELDaAuMGsTZB7AxsjRXUcYfTRnfxBL1cxVb6mD-wel_yjOgdl8vZJwcMdsh3oLmL-Lp9Srbsv6K5B0A9aiWzgDoyoN5flA91gAitIP4Jclc/s1600-h/06-22-07_1517.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2cpC-eZxrNEhdHtyJ46ggLWtWsbgw8FtUELDaAuMGsTZB7AxsjRXUcYfTRnfxBL1cxVb6mD-wel_yjOgdl8vZJwcMdsh3oLmL-Lp9Srbsv6K5B0A9aiWzgDoyoN5flA91gAitIP4Jclc/s400/06-22-07_1517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567156813195730" border="0" /></a>My mother would have approved of how the groundskeepers protect their skin from the harmful rays of the sun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBqa2lJjPRTm-IcWC60S02ZDV7q3DEgVf2eiSPq9OA8aherYTxaHrHKcp87OK-2tYP0TLSSNbWinhZYeNi9JNHYm2BSLF-vm34qUKRfRlCSzKQ8rlIJKi3F495wMUt3JTSy_-d9phwoig/s1600-h/06-22-07_1134.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBqa2lJjPRTm-IcWC60S02ZDV7q3DEgVf2eiSPq9OA8aherYTxaHrHKcp87OK-2tYP0TLSSNbWinhZYeNi9JNHYm2BSLF-vm34qUKRfRlCSzKQ8rlIJKi3F495wMUt3JTSy_-d9phwoig/s400/06-22-07_1134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567155356935778" border="0" /></a>Looking down on a street in Kowloon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FuL1SIKJ9-jn-8pKIGFCvz11O9bzfpubQjpr3XgijYkCXwdKsKpupN41-fKf9bOmnZ8PwynaMmpff5jWsjmWC6lmeNhtnDpBUpd5sG14D97-t1iBq1lwGDFEfdX9BQcSB9njbONwaDNZ/s1600-h/06-11-08_1540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FuL1SIKJ9-jn-8pKIGFCvz11O9bzfpubQjpr3XgijYkCXwdKsKpupN41-fKf9bOmnZ8PwynaMmpff5jWsjmWC6lmeNhtnDpBUpd5sG14D97-t1iBq1lwGDFEfdX9BQcSB9njbONwaDNZ/s400/06-11-08_1540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326566287946338162" border="0" /></a>Zoe and Melman (her going-to-the-dentist buddy) in June of 2008.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzSiU6TFjTGOkIicdwqL55uWM_1dFcS7mXl0vofyC98pxloimAFaROHl93Hrfvl80pTkIFUGYSyqHH-6WD4cSNebIK_w_Loa0dtI0e3hXx8RBVsFPtyL_tqBXtmb-ye3XyfhyQ5EVInZN/s1600-h/06-10-08_1533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzSiU6TFjTGOkIicdwqL55uWM_1dFcS7mXl0vofyC98pxloimAFaROHl93Hrfvl80pTkIFUGYSyqHH-6WD4cSNebIK_w_Loa0dtI0e3hXx8RBVsFPtyL_tqBXtmb-ye3XyfhyQ5EVInZN/s400/06-10-08_1533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326566284511938098" border="0" /></a>View from Crestmont where we live overlooking the Plaza/beach area of DB<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmW1C6Ck9leinM4lpnl3OvNDjkcYiBVv8JcrZTeq-GwcbWMD0dOMfbLijrGxMA2dj8EOD9BN587O-QljSU7onhT7SHG1Hq1e17MhqHFOgJ-Numx5chIl3PDsP052KNo6Sg1JlR_g9O-bQ/s1600-h/03-13-08_0926.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmW1C6Ck9leinM4lpnl3OvNDjkcYiBVv8JcrZTeq-GwcbWMD0dOMfbLijrGxMA2dj8EOD9BN587O-QljSU7onhT7SHG1Hq1e17MhqHFOgJ-Numx5chIl3PDsP052KNo6Sg1JlR_g9O-bQ/s400/03-13-08_0926.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326566282093019650" border="0" /></a>This was so adorable. I was walking to the grocery store when I looked to my left and saw these three JRT's (Jack Russell Terriers) sitting on the bench with a paper attached to one of them that said something like "Don't pet, we will bite, owner back soon." Only in DB.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGow0Cc1BnOtgk3iYmzDKmUf-lSjowPUgib1Qhl_oGsgrbMSrVkUmswV0Qme7WIhcoosF6l1lqIaSFvXnvcZo_UYu3NxtIY89FTM9SWG0VnR8Xg2FdGvYt8fXpW_8X52krBATIS_nllzf/s1600-h/03-11-08_0907.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGow0Cc1BnOtgk3iYmzDKmUf-lSjowPUgib1Qhl_oGsgrbMSrVkUmswV0Qme7WIhcoosF6l1lqIaSFvXnvcZo_UYu3NxtIY89FTM9SWG0VnR8Xg2FdGvYt8fXpW_8X52krBATIS_nllzf/s400/03-11-08_0907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326566278987798834" border="0" /></a>Retta and I couldn't believe it when we saw Miss Maddie Rae Fuman Kelley showing off her multi-tasking skills of drinking her apple juice and milk bottles at the same time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdQPlqAgk_LpCv4nIFuqUUN5b4CDlBKob08IGH9neXVB8ZGc9zVAPvaYuw5-KCt5RoplARRH-xhSCwvIjiUtJTljD0gSOdpw0cOiiJLgkUDBFjUsI689v9kyh8_cqbKA40kF0UCKvfVoi/s1600-h/02-07-08_1230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdQPlqAgk_LpCv4nIFuqUUN5b4CDlBKob08IGH9neXVB8ZGc9zVAPvaYuw5-KCt5RoplARRH-xhSCwvIjiUtJTljD0gSOdpw0cOiiJLgkUDBFjUsI689v9kyh8_cqbKA40kF0UCKvfVoi/s400/02-07-08_1230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326566275714608786" border="0" /></a>Zoe and Ellen with the God of Fortune at Chinese New Year 2008<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP78jODc1O-hzLvWTHqLSRNXSqbrb0gATFpnprmMUew_bmoyHV7P9xcTYUO58Q8XFoeGR50wMZlzKs5OPdLBGFZcV1Tea2tf-XYmBoaE27DmDFGdTKJjgM3sB_q4YbAB7mDU9Ho6Hsg1Ab/s1600-h/03-06-08_1336.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP78jODc1O-hzLvWTHqLSRNXSqbrb0gATFpnprmMUew_bmoyHV7P9xcTYUO58Q8XFoeGR50wMZlzKs5OPdLBGFZcV1Tea2tf-XYmBoaE27DmDFGdTKJjgM3sB_q4YbAB7mDU9Ho6Hsg1Ab/s400/03-06-08_1336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326565230586220130" border="0" /></a>LOL!! Zoe snapped this of me on the bus after what must have been a very long day out. It's so true, "a picture is worth 1000 words."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhI1it4m9S7Uuk7UFWWCGOpMM-y4xeaZ-SgZUTmNX9GQ-cSYe3do7G3eCRGwPXXi2xMuj6kdmIvKOnjlkNLeUvFnEIGx8uH2OnoKTvgSiRP5SkF9iBaGYxqcEPXH9ZdMJH588i3UDSLvn/s1600-h/03-01-08_0728.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhI1it4m9S7Uuk7UFWWCGOpMM-y4xeaZ-SgZUTmNX9GQ-cSYe3do7G3eCRGwPXXi2xMuj6kdmIvKOnjlkNLeUvFnEIGx8uH2OnoKTvgSiRP5SkF9iBaGYxqcEPXH9ZdMJH588i3UDSLvn/s400/03-01-08_0728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326565232364316818" border="0" /></a>Another picture from the ferry, this time coming to Hong Kong early in the morning<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFCcLZo6nP7nWxBQIdUtO2gWGGnXS2jDbmpNhRbvHdiLlnuEBEdaJKW21K_IjqMc3-qyrdGTCcKS1BV7OGmsULeKe1WvsCbN_l5zsML5Vhp7H1B6Xy-ALmEOWjO3UXG33DOof52AqqHwO/s1600-h/04-13-09_0851.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFCcLZo6nP7nWxBQIdUtO2gWGGnXS2jDbmpNhRbvHdiLlnuEBEdaJKW21K_IjqMc3-qyrdGTCcKS1BV7OGmsULeKe1WvsCbN_l5zsML5Vhp7H1B6Xy-ALmEOWjO3UXG33DOof52AqqHwO/s400/04-13-09_0851.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326565225989087218" border="0" /></a>We may have McDonald's here in HK but the menu definitely caters to non-Western tastebuds! But you could combine breakfast and lunch I suppose in this meal. . .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkhL8X2GXEEjWkYoWjRqxjlYwjs6PeNIdBHtXLVa_fIPHzNux9E5LPzRUnLVX7qqyBUkUtPYtOWVjiyjb2Tb8zzWHK5okT7VoyVWMosadfnuTv37Ott2b6OUXJPOGCHar8pgTKwYoupny/s1600-h/02-28-09_1429.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkhL8X2GXEEjWkYoWjRqxjlYwjs6PeNIdBHtXLVa_fIPHzNux9E5LPzRUnLVX7qqyBUkUtPYtOWVjiyjb2Tb8zzWHK5okT7VoyVWMosadfnuTv37Ott2b6OUXJPOGCHar8pgTKwYoupny/s400/02-28-09_1429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326565223383165266" border="0" /></a>You might be in need of this product after eating the meal above :) I was in Watson's not too long ago, which is a chain drug store in HK, and my eyes just happened to catch the word "Defecation." Then I just howled when I read the rest of this!! Look out Ex-Lax.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxqcnGkloJ_j28ww8UBFtTOED25QczlN1Wy11mnTA7BrO3p9ineYn1K43OJi5p8SGRRDm-41gdxZQgFVeJwXNQDC-G0Vzye9o93VsQ6pOleMF_xnhHj-Iib79YVpRbf5Mz61de_T2oJ6k/s1600-h/01-20-09_1346.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxqcnGkloJ_j28ww8UBFtTOED25QczlN1Wy11mnTA7BrO3p9ineYn1K43OJi5p8SGRRDm-41gdxZQgFVeJwXNQDC-G0Vzye9o93VsQ6pOleMF_xnhHj-Iib79YVpRbf5Mz61de_T2oJ6k/s400/01-20-09_1346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326565223529150850" border="0" /></a>These are the pork chops I usually purchase at our grocery store, however, I passed on them this day after reading the sign. . . instead of "tender" it says "terder." Ew.<br /><br />Okay, that's it folks. Hope you have enjoyed my trip down memory lane thanks to my cell (got to get used to saying this instead of "mobile" now) phone's camera!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-91170937652237437022009-03-16T17:55:00.000-07:002009-04-19T18:43:53.804-07:00Macau<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuSaWTVSwCLgvdvJ3aqcpM_fOIre2F459axbMRP7Zhf_gAreIFmUNE44TUA6bFHUS5Bv9q2jGsRJWxKxInwJUW-rf0ddad0YCNNzxunN-_pV0Q3J91iEpQD6X2S7VjCkVhXEGLtiH-b82/s1600-h/IMG_6736.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuSaWTVSwCLgvdvJ3aqcpM_fOIre2F459axbMRP7Zhf_gAreIFmUNE44TUA6bFHUS5Bv9q2jGsRJWxKxInwJUW-rf0ddad0YCNNzxunN-_pV0Q3J91iEpQD6X2S7VjCkVhXEGLtiH-b82/s400/IMG_6736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326583338496771922" border="0" /></a><br />We had a very fun overnight stay at the Venetian in Macau this past weekend. Macau is becoming something of a Las Vegas of the East. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you are not into gambling and all it brings with it) the casino industry has taken a hit from the downturn in the economy. We saw many large construction sites that looked like work had either been stopped or slowed down.<br /><br />The picture above is of St. Paul's Church (well, what is left of it) that was built in I think 1565 or thereabouts. The Jesuits were expelled in the early 1700's and the buildings were burned sometime after that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRmK3oPaIPGw10u0QhD05QLmaHHgEBIEU-bfnr2A-7C0K-bsYevrsK-KHxT-Pi4HsqStj3C5ubrmnmZJeGaBmJeDLIrrxnWGjZG1X7R0qJ_KdbDKl0RzOsz5O-KVTGr-ojsSjW40jBco3/s1600-h/IMG_6756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016307211220994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRmK3oPaIPGw10u0QhD05QLmaHHgEBIEU-bfnr2A-7C0K-bsYevrsK-KHxT-Pi4HsqStj3C5ubrmnmZJeGaBmJeDLIrrxnWGjZG1X7R0qJ_KdbDKl0RzOsz5O-KVTGr-ojsSjW40jBco3/s400/IMG_6756.JPG" border="0" /></a> We were fortunate enough to be able to catch the Cirque Du Soleil show Zaia. It is unlike anything I've ever seen and though I probably have watched a Cirque show on TV, seeing it in person is incredible! I loved every minute of it. Living in a big, overcrowded, polluted city as we do, my eyes gratefully absorbed the grace and beauty of this show.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwxftOWBoFzFcDMSiTfxhXO8qFT04TbnVO0btZXIh1qBs_4gMQRqrKew6Eb88TOeX_rVU6J6g5eHPJMZazYp9iuvGfx882ZlrVf0dph44ccPAvlmANcplu_DcCSM7Z8WLEGOGPkg0Uk3K/s1600-h/IMG_6735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016323176363890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwxftOWBoFzFcDMSiTfxhXO8qFT04TbnVO0btZXIh1qBs_4gMQRqrKew6Eb88TOeX_rVU6J6g5eHPJMZazYp9iuvGfx882ZlrVf0dph44ccPAvlmANcplu_DcCSM7Z8WLEGOGPkg0Uk3K/s400/IMG_6735.JPG" border="0" /></a> In this picture you can see what is on the other side of St. Paul's Church - nothing but air (and a museum further in back).<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLxvwmZ-qluyLVFhkxNZkWg333TRJy6QErqnex2OJRLL2XmEDyDpKQtCrI_CMec1iXpCOX1m9zuynuyA04o_PGc1LNTeRCM7FjnNNGPWHpV6Kc3GNMg_5rJeOsYs6AFmEzd1yGtnGXS83/s1600-h/IMG_6742.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016308885621138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLxvwmZ-qluyLVFhkxNZkWg333TRJy6QErqnex2OJRLL2XmEDyDpKQtCrI_CMec1iXpCOX1m9zuynuyA04o_PGc1LNTeRCM7FjnNNGPWHpV6Kc3GNMg_5rJeOsYs6AFmEzd1yGtnGXS83/s400/IMG_6742.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wasn't going to include this picture, but when I gave it a closer look, this has China written all over it. You've got the bent over little old lady pushing her cart, the kites for sale, the narrow crowded streets.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D-9OWmv0Nh3CFaI0QVrfIdr84hd8fRZH9oSGVPIOWlgIFgITQ8G90w80rws4s7iUSFK6N42Sa_I4zacBe4Jmnfm9bXeGURWSBxppqxClEAGb9oZmq57MMZp_tZLL0mg1OOGOIBKJ3v0S/s1600-h/IMG_6775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016297308131330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D-9OWmv0Nh3CFaI0QVrfIdr84hd8fRZH9oSGVPIOWlgIFgITQ8G90w80rws4s7iUSFK6N42Sa_I4zacBe4Jmnfm9bXeGURWSBxppqxClEAGb9oZmq57MMZp_tZLL0mg1OOGOIBKJ3v0S/s400/IMG_6775.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the reasons for our trip to Macau was so Brad could collect on his birthday present - unfortunately, he was not able to bungy off the Macau Tower due to high wind, but I'm sure we'll be making a day trip over when the weather is less unpredictable. I had not been nervous about it until that morning. When he walked in from golfing and told me that the wind was blowing the golf ball around, I felt a huge sigh of relief!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXItV8jgPXDX0MfAZeRsYG591Bp_TlCiVEqrnTqDeAlmdy0ejRay0ulcTHTosUcpg2st3fh6fKqm_mkV5H6oYX1mut4YEUwLvp5rT9cZJ6vtRdjz4xLcwssg-ZFHr0t9eV-3yvntjkStS/s1600-h/IMG_6754.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313958157909429826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXItV8jgPXDX0MfAZeRsYG591Bp_TlCiVEqrnTqDeAlmdy0ejRay0ulcTHTosUcpg2st3fh6fKqm_mkV5H6oYX1mut4YEUwLvp5rT9cZJ6vtRdjz4xLcwssg-ZFHr0t9eV-3yvntjkStS/s400/IMG_6754.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here I captured Zoe and Hannah as this lady (complete stranger) pulled them into her picture. They evidently are in a few peoples' pictures from the Venetian from what they were saying. They really hated all the attention, however (as you can see).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrlGzPLIJh6eyEUjfWcJYSCfCQBdLzxFZ5Qm6i24wuIEj4bsZGPnrGvuqipnvRH4QGUZg_wKmESpC6IRDKi7y1vwkPWzyzCqEyI2SFshX5Au2XzCMHeuRskruwfO6KTT_j_dd-yIS78IO/s1600-h/IMG_6761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313958163338054274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrlGzPLIJh6eyEUjfWcJYSCfCQBdLzxFZ5Qm6i24wuIEj4bsZGPnrGvuqipnvRH4QGUZg_wKmESpC6IRDKi7y1vwkPWzyzCqEyI2SFshX5Au2XzCMHeuRskruwfO6KTT_j_dd-yIS78IO/s400/IMG_6761.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here we are now in Venice, Italy - well, a replication of it Las Vegas style.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsflMZHr43lW_vo2pFeLzAKs9RCNa9Dxi_xWLO0RR53pdbMCKPUpkCMPFtexNEye6dDkQD8yzUHG3_gpXOoiDiVcw4G3cV6ceDRyykDjtcZLgMfD2AhISp3dIZqpzO5UdNsWmjBhLog2zv/s1600-h/IMG_6732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313958153126692242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsflMZHr43lW_vo2pFeLzAKs9RCNa9Dxi_xWLO0RR53pdbMCKPUpkCMPFtexNEye6dDkQD8yzUHG3_gpXOoiDiVcw4G3cV6ceDRyykDjtcZLgMfD2AhISp3dIZqpzO5UdNsWmjBhLog2zv/s400/IMG_6732.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and my good bud Nadine - that's the Grand Lisboa, that giant golden building, an older casino, in the background.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb37r5vRU4HaiIZHveiqj_HySz5rCOOkLMEFVXthLt89a3iu3e-MKAquUK-J3TRxNIpsKdFRPz55ZgNCmrzzXzwRjxawKS2nrH3a6WIdO6QBMJ-qqki1vk0UW4mtV_834vTTVb80uGQXb/s1600-h/IMG_6702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313958150199659634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb37r5vRU4HaiIZHveiqj_HySz5rCOOkLMEFVXthLt89a3iu3e-MKAquUK-J3TRxNIpsKdFRPz55ZgNCmrzzXzwRjxawKS2nrH3a6WIdO6QBMJ-qqki1vk0UW4mtV_834vTTVb80uGQXb/s400/IMG_6702.JPG" border="0" /></a> As we were walking down a street near St. Paul's Church, I just happened to look to my left and saw this open construction sight. What was interesting is the altar in the background. I can't remember seeing something like that in such a small construction area before.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW58F5tJZROKQWdKgKVLwkYTM1Rm8eG5FsRgvPJbQwbYu7JgpPaTbllJFxwg3o1z28ZlSgkyY3UQxU5W31SCQXErFWsDUNdDseHamTZbrl_VWMYtOc-PjwvxMIYByYKUbH3XlfrAHS7y9/s1600-h/IMG_6688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313958146043077266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW58F5tJZROKQWdKgKVLwkYTM1Rm8eG5FsRgvPJbQwbYu7JgpPaTbllJFxwg3o1z28ZlSgkyY3UQxU5W31SCQXErFWsDUNdDseHamTZbrl_VWMYtOc-PjwvxMIYByYKUbH3XlfrAHS7y9/s400/IMG_6688.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a square where there are several Portugese style buildings- of course you recognize that "M," right? Yep, with four kids in tow, that's where we ate lunch. <div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-52155616738016791142009-01-08T00:09:00.000-08:002009-01-08T00:41:09.518-08:00Love Without BoundariesPlease, please read the following from my friend Retta's blog and let's get $35,000 into the hands of Love Without Boundaries, a fantastic organization that has done much to help those in most need! Check out their website as well to learn more about what they do here in China.<br /><br /><br />Ijust received this email and thought I would pass it along. It takes about 10 seconds to vote, so please pop over there and vote for LWB's. $35,000 would go a llllloooooonnnnnnggggg way in China and could help so many children.LWB has a chance to win $35,000 to help even more orphaned children in China, and we need your help! Casting your vote for LWB is an easy way to change the lives of children in need. Simply visit <a href="http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/sweeps/smart_cookie_finalists09/entry/long/" target="_blank">http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/sweeps/smart_cookie_finalists09/entry/long/</a> Click on the circle next to the video about LWB. It is the first one, next to Amy Eldridge’s photo. Fill out the rest of the information needed and click submit. You do not need to fill out the “about you” section if you do not wish, and you can opt out of receiving any information in the future from Cookie Magazine by checking “no” on the boxes asking which information you desire. Each person over the age of 18 is allowed one vote. This contest is open to people in the US only, unfortunately. If you live in another country, you are not able to vote. Voting takes place from January 6th to February 10th. Please forward the contest information to all of your family and friends and other yahoogroups. Together, we can win the contest and change many more orphaned children’s lives.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-15454226061422136972009-01-04T17:02:00.000-08:002009-01-08T00:30:44.750-08:00Happy New Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKoEqTFafPjukfjXmp69RwzkbjZTfnqRQRW_J3No9B1XE-K8XjMfBMLUqAAUO0ULLkHPlJu1w488aZHKSqzWPt-BU26BPrwR4sNbfKy2vkehXi2kwkKX44-IM1cd3CXl_AlZwRSZ2YCmR/s1600-h/IMG_6301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288837472193348834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKoEqTFafPjukfjXmp69RwzkbjZTfnqRQRW_J3No9B1XE-K8XjMfBMLUqAAUO0ULLkHPlJu1w488aZHKSqzWPt-BU26BPrwR4sNbfKy2vkehXi2kwkKX44-IM1cd3CXl_AlZwRSZ2YCmR/s400/IMG_6301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I thought this picture would be appropriate for marking the start of a new year. I especially like how Hong Kong Island is sandwiched between the rising sun and the highest building on the Island, the IFC building. When I stumble to the kitchen before 6 in the morning, oftentimes this is the scene that greets me. Then I have to wake up enough to grab my camera and head to the window in the living room where I can get a clearer picture, open it, feel the cool breeze, and half hang out the window to get off a few snaps!<br /><br />It gives me hope as I begin my day and what runs through my mind is the verse "His mercies are new every morning." I am so very thankful for that, because I get a new start each day, and don't have to wait for a "new year." The reason why I am so thankful is because each day, to a greater or lesser degree, I am in desperate need of God's grace and mercy!!<br /><br />At the beginning of the Christmas break, I thought two weeks were going to go slowly by - I couldn't have been more wrong. Here are a few pictures of how we spent our time. . .<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6h0jikNcJyuffkW__DyziLYsaCJrPOGrpm6zuExFVK4mcI1xRM-MfQyhTuvrlY3VuVSiJaQNrrDN8cY3Qio0FmpNaDxGnivTrbkGO9g6xRrtT3HOjvUpdiYqSMsrTAe60eHEeMDYqj7W/s1600-h/IMG_6609.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287658774337637634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6h0jikNcJyuffkW__DyziLYsaCJrPOGrpm6zuExFVK4mcI1xRM-MfQyhTuvrlY3VuVSiJaQNrrDN8cY3Qio0FmpNaDxGnivTrbkGO9g6xRrtT3HOjvUpdiYqSMsrTAe60eHEeMDYqj7W/s400/IMG_6609.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen proudly modeling the fruit of her labour.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cRXPyP1rH5hIvrdZ73halqzpHTjXUGf8UDVz-YOic_PVkSObzurqy6hha62lACezIfI9-eKJaqFpMJCrQX2Fenc_wYBWpAd6wn87ww1NEoj_giu_FhOo6AI1Bu0_7Iwk-0D_lrOjFbqv/s1600-h/IMG_6621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287658787406813234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cRXPyP1rH5hIvrdZ73halqzpHTjXUGf8UDVz-YOic_PVkSObzurqy6hha62lACezIfI9-eKJaqFpMJCrQX2Fenc_wYBWpAd6wn87ww1NEoj_giu_FhOo6AI1Bu0_7Iwk-0D_lrOjFbqv/s400/IMG_6621.JPG" border="0" /></a> Had to get this picture of the man helping people on and off the ferry the other day. Don't see many orange Michigan shirts in the States.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTeycIau35weSOkQBRwhvfaIlFPK1qjYPe3xIbBYaKLI0dM4MIcEcAdrHc6uFZDIMPAYOSt_Gc-3nISf679Gv01mmLbKqowt35QdRgauGZCeH8ia4mv5G6B9zEMoLEhZOVWjiCvXVlPH6/s1600-h/IMG_6468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287658776375129266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTeycIau35weSOkQBRwhvfaIlFPK1qjYPe3xIbBYaKLI0dM4MIcEcAdrHc6uFZDIMPAYOSt_Gc-3nISf679Gv01mmLbKqowt35QdRgauGZCeH8ia4mv5G6B9zEMoLEhZOVWjiCvXVlPH6/s400/IMG_6468.JPG" border="0" /></a>Hannah was kind enough not to spin the teacup for her motion-sick prone friend Zoe.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xbC3kG7rmGsQiJr9EVUKOBMuj2uPPaR6DqL12U1oxiYOkyJMwEjPWD8bsjYEsvY0OuiLyX8M7_7iLXi03_2ioVQkm9zFLcppHdVGiphFTI2BPc0lPOxATj1p1OD-GV-OE73ogoqbvFtj/s1600-h/IMG_6608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287658768197394386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xbC3kG7rmGsQiJr9EVUKOBMuj2uPPaR6DqL12U1oxiYOkyJMwEjPWD8bsjYEsvY0OuiLyX8M7_7iLXi03_2ioVQkm9zFLcppHdVGiphFTI2BPc0lPOxATj1p1OD-GV-OE73ogoqbvFtj/s400/IMG_6608.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ellen wanted to knit a hat, had never knitted a hat before, so she went on the internet where she saw a pattern, and wa-la, after a few hundred "clacks" of the knitting needles, she made a perfect knit hat! I think she even surprised herself. Zoe and I are now waiting for her to knit one for us :)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNlvU8pS-_HbW18UwftYziVfYAp9sTyRYQu0x0xK229PdZFJg3RqA7bWGZ_9nmUTQqgAoDPjl3xaQEycGnvjNPMS-pvbEzEgUi8ISlEQkBAYtVFA8GRnlWOle28zqfbPJJ8AJi363flSt/s1600-h/IMG_6602.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287616243583333026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNlvU8pS-_HbW18UwftYziVfYAp9sTyRYQu0x0xK229PdZFJg3RqA7bWGZ_9nmUTQqgAoDPjl3xaQEycGnvjNPMS-pvbEzEgUi8ISlEQkBAYtVFA8GRnlWOle28zqfbPJJ8AJi363flSt/s400/IMG_6602.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ellen in her new Uggs!! She looks very chic in them when she rolls the tops down too. Ellen has always loved soft and silky things and she really likes the feel of her bare feet cozy and comfy inside these boots.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNx_VKFJvB1DOvERx6Y64CGMhW75RBysKeKlUE6yifhRgMbgHEDLEgqn_iT5MFnypBDczmb-PyXFJ-cBGr96av0n3aJ1-79BAepb_Iolo8bAykjG5Tn3abR7F8_MO4CSfdT36utOnZt6L/s1600-h/IMG_6580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287616241811464162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNx_VKFJvB1DOvERx6Y64CGMhW75RBysKeKlUE6yifhRgMbgHEDLEgqn_iT5MFnypBDczmb-PyXFJ-cBGr96av0n3aJ1-79BAepb_Iolo8bAykjG5Tn3abR7F8_MO4CSfdT36utOnZt6L/s400/IMG_6580.JPG" border="0" /></a> Brad and I have noticed a distinct change in our kids Christmas morning behavior as they get older. We actually had to go wake Ellen up, as it was already 8:30 and Zoe was tired of waiting to open presents. Then in between opening presents, I snapped this yawn!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcZiIjt_WWrcy_lHrvvOCQRYhPjW1eYTv9zPZrWi7RYNMZlXwTwYuxarlXY824X4PtXFkEiBDOFsRzuiGhltazjy9vWrlkN1ZZaiqRBS1SmxZVprZK7RuLVRSvZL6fuIj96fGCbU39b2k/s1600-h/IMG_6588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287616231503602818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcZiIjt_WWrcy_lHrvvOCQRYhPjW1eYTv9zPZrWi7RYNMZlXwTwYuxarlXY824X4PtXFkEiBDOFsRzuiGhltazjy9vWrlkN1ZZaiqRBS1SmxZVprZK7RuLVRSvZL6fuIj96fGCbU39b2k/s400/IMG_6588.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ahhhh, the bag she's been wanting for awhile - of course, it's real, how could you even ask!! (or maybe mom made a trip north of the border?)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Elmz31rZEwj4r6WEiZIPVZE4yaW-NWJJaDruUpEbOqonnbSfp_3EdyZUFCscJ0HYqchBaRBxmFtBYRKmT8bYnH42SfCSyL7Cq4qmxXhZmgkAUT6PSXUi_cK9I_gJAG-Bt-xI4SbLd9uV/s1600-h/IMG_6515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287616221656026482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Elmz31rZEwj4r6WEiZIPVZE4yaW-NWJJaDruUpEbOqonnbSfp_3EdyZUFCscJ0HYqchBaRBxmFtBYRKmT8bYnH42SfCSyL7Cq4qmxXhZmgkAUT6PSXUi_cK9I_gJAG-Bt-xI4SbLd9uV/s400/IMG_6515.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ellen's hands working the dough for Christmas cookies.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPmB8UZvKm6XFYdeVV6v80bNveYf2mZP4oKrpZ3YP-KMN1SOkKhDhu5oTMslZi3jjUbbpBCd6gtPD5kTDTE7ZJNYWkkv53sb1ErV_DrFQy6VF12kxlariNbnJJHLTfKFVW6MGzCz3N77A/s1600-h/IMG_6556.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287616208553834322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPmB8UZvKm6XFYdeVV6v80bNveYf2mZP4oKrpZ3YP-KMN1SOkKhDhu5oTMslZi3jjUbbpBCd6gtPD5kTDTE7ZJNYWkkv53sb1ErV_DrFQy6VF12kxlariNbnJJHLTfKFVW6MGzCz3N77A/s400/IMG_6556.JPG" border="0" /></a> We were able to treat some kids from a Hong Kong orphanage to a shopping trip to the mall, lunch at McDonald's, and Christmas lights downtown. Here a few of the girls took a break after buying some clothes. There were about 30 kids in all, 20 adults, and we had a very enjoyable, though tiring, day of activity. Although we couldn't communicate very well with them, because most of us did not speak Cantonese and their English was limited, the little girl I was paired up with facing me in this picture was able to speak an English word while we were sitting down in McDonald's eating lunch. She turned to me and said, "Happy." Somehow made all the effort very worthwhile!! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-21057862705927419922008-12-21T20:15:00.000-08:002009-01-04T23:03:09.661-08:00I'll be home for Christmas . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXej6oT7rFV62Ghd6elkTdEZ25Jupn32Tmsl37fftOnAGSIkvhfl-44Nc43qkfj5-SRtuQJdSn09lS_h_5HlW2CpMpea95qfq1QrbHBpVGf3R9dysh6Q2oYRuMyTDo2RHf-UMdItL2h5kG/s1600-h/IMG_6483.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287701416755541906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXej6oT7rFV62Ghd6elkTdEZ25Jupn32Tmsl37fftOnAGSIkvhfl-44Nc43qkfj5-SRtuQJdSn09lS_h_5HlW2CpMpea95qfq1QrbHBpVGf3R9dysh6Q2oYRuMyTDo2RHf-UMdItL2h5kG/s400/IMG_6483.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>. . . if only in my dreams.<br /><br />It's not easy to be so far from home during the holidays, knowing that your families are celebrating together. Having good friends definitely makes it easier and we will be keeping our Christmas Eve/Christmas Day tradition once again this year as we will be celebrating with our "Hong Kong families." Christmas Eve will find us at Nadine & Lorne's after a combined church service with our church and the Anglican church in town. Christmas day we will be at Martin and Sandy's for another memorable Christmas dinner. Need to make sure the "buffet pants" are ready for some action!<br /><br />This past Saturday we spent a very fun day at Hong Kong Disney with the Christensen and Lew families. It was a beautiful day, perfect temperature and clear sunny skies. We had a yummy buffet lunch with the Characters at one of the hotels as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_8kQgJuoB5mKj_3cPYFpgzObWY0VjAMfJv1Ifole1mODvU1miJsWOQKIFFQUlHDg4pRSzMe3ZaU_bblxkgaChMGG6CjZS15CqeRjzXqqh8-BSx8Ck2PUSFw0e4ETArrYgglDKqbntQhb/s1600-h/IMG_6478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282467328381794562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_8kQgJuoB5mKj_3cPYFpgzObWY0VjAMfJv1Ifole1mODvU1miJsWOQKIFFQUlHDg4pRSzMe3ZaU_bblxkgaChMGG6CjZS15CqeRjzXqqh8-BSx8Ck2PUSFw0e4ETArrYgglDKqbntQhb/s400/IMG_6478.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a scary scene - and one that could be a reality in a few short years!! Zoe was not happy about the fact that, despite being the same age as Hannah, did not make it up to the required height to be the driver :( Soon, Zoe, soon!!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3lh_JGB6vQtNw7kMWoJpSbpWPzgwO7uKQLyaPSIFxJgFln221cpnDE7xiWuh35dkPvCM92WpH4LL5jFXBurVQuQTxpaygMqDsW-BLsgxTa3M5f8nhdPgCSgKG6Bzx2q3uB_9n_lBpRWY/s1600-h/IMG_6488.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282467308609812930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3lh_JGB6vQtNw7kMWoJpSbpWPzgwO7uKQLyaPSIFxJgFln221cpnDE7xiWuh35dkPvCM92WpH4LL5jFXBurVQuQTxpaygMqDsW-BLsgxTa3M5f8nhdPgCSgKG6Bzx2q3uB_9n_lBpRWY/s400/IMG_6488.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ellen and Zoe gasped when I asked them if this was Goofy. Evidently it's been too long since we lived in Orlando :( and knew the parks backwards and forwards as well as all the characters.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg6byB4eHq8l7tLp44Ypc61IucP149w6HeLvr-FN2RvTo0_WlK6FvDkKEmd7lEyqbQwbrxkEEB1AROjck8pFTkahAyqMuKzigZ5KgofdTaNhyphenhyphenicFV2NlDAMOuRpUncuMk1g9HGOzbrxaj/s1600-h/IMG_6482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282467299667474194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg6byB4eHq8l7tLp44Ypc61IucP149w6HeLvr-FN2RvTo0_WlK6FvDkKEmd7lEyqbQwbrxkEEB1AROjck8pFTkahAyqMuKzigZ5KgofdTaNhyphenhyphenicFV2NlDAMOuRpUncuMk1g9HGOzbrxaj/s400/IMG_6482.JPG" border="0" /></a> Awww, so cute!! </div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-85081134046184477212008-12-08T17:07:00.000-08:002008-12-21T23:46:15.955-08:00A Home of Hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OaOzWusleBcCi5DMUkfoJp6bcrltCQtrXNjZvGPqf0r78coudxG4upN9TKREp4Z5Y25y1e7Db8g1Zd3FHSOMO6dGLuUh1ADJL9UgXLwwtVwwsNfbpPZrSJ-RFWbmukAljEtIjGh7t3LS/s1600-h/IMG_6380.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282514000435119682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OaOzWusleBcCi5DMUkfoJp6bcrltCQtrXNjZvGPqf0r78coudxG4upN9TKREp4Z5Y25y1e7Db8g1Zd3FHSOMO6dGLuUh1ADJL9UgXLwwtVwwsNfbpPZrSJ-RFWbmukAljEtIjGh7t3LS/s400/IMG_6380.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ellen and I took a trip to Truelife Children's Home in Dongguan, Guangdong, a couple weeks ago with several students from her school. Dongguan is often referred to as the "world's factory," and it is here where so many from all over China come to work in factories of all kind.<br /><br /><br />We took a coach bus to Dongguan, about a two-hour ride from Ellen's school. When we arrived we went to a park to meet up with some of the children and their foster moms. There we celebrated the little girl's first birthday pictured above. We hope the next birthday she celebrates will find her surrounded by a loving and grateful forever family of her own!!<br /><br /><br />Truelife is privately run for the purpose of taking care of children with medical needs that orphanages around the area are not able to meet. The children are paper ready, which means their paperwork has been submitted to the adoption office in Beijing. So after they have had their surgeries, they will return to the orphanage, and hopefully united with a family soon thereafter.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tmCQs1_JvCZvTy3TytLMJWpz8RK8TDjdMNwfCs-mNLsb917u9XK4XylREK1ojhJ0BzbVr9daz5_jZjHj650CTm7JIUsbXoBGZ_7nEnnt7SeRiGpfAly10C-Iii5W4QgwvK9Jg9N3SYY/s1600-h/IMG_6453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277594341929407922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tmCQs1_JvCZvTy3TytLMJWpz8RK8TDjdMNwfCs-mNLsb917u9XK4XylREK1ojhJ0BzbVr9daz5_jZjHj650CTm7JIUsbXoBGZ_7nEnnt7SeRiGpfAly10C-Iii5W4QgwvK9Jg9N3SYY/s400/IMG_6453.JPG" border="0" /></a> This little angel is six months old and weighs just shy of seven pounds. She obviously has not been getting the nutrition she needed due to her cleft, but that has all changed now that she is in the loving and capable hands of those at Truelife. We call this little one the "West Island baby," because this is the baby Ellen's school is sponsoring every month until she is through with her surgeries and well on her way to good health.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0xNBSr27ZakF0cTV7MwvzizktfWWBXjPKFSESTYYYNhfN6XWz7CcFs5iTSbuXUYUoh9DVRa7pdYwOvrREYCDlkMi5QJA5OKhOYWs-iludHbKT2G0cGAHT9EaZ9Tn10NGM96kveXqs4yG/s1600-h/IMG_6424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277594342137787186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0xNBSr27ZakF0cTV7MwvzizktfWWBXjPKFSESTYYYNhfN6XWz7CcFs5iTSbuXUYUoh9DVRa7pdYwOvrREYCDlkMi5QJA5OKhOYWs-iludHbKT2G0cGAHT9EaZ9Tn10NGM96kveXqs4yG/s400/IMG_6424.JPG" border="0" /></a>Another angel is this lady, Jenny, pictured above holding the baby. Jenny and her husband came to live in Dongguan about six years ago because of her husband's job. She was asked to oversee the operation of Truelife a few years ago, and she has been the tangible love of Jesus to all who come her way. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. . . I was especially touched as I watched how she so eagerly shared with the students about Truelife and the kids in their care. The students were equally touched and who knows what kind of change in their young life a visit like this can make.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRWYLME_9Ls36YvoeSbTGnglRiogqH9nDNd5RaePJH_6opz8hKjkaCQT1f3DqfqM46UOa3RhipKV-kcYpQxmm2lryr-fSOxOc9ddI4nGhUuxtbXY-Zf_e9mWdH8vHF7NYu1R0Kh3OmI9s/s1600-h/IMG_6396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277594333059417378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRWYLME_9Ls36YvoeSbTGnglRiogqH9nDNd5RaePJH_6opz8hKjkaCQT1f3DqfqM46UOa3RhipKV-kcYpQxmm2lryr-fSOxOc9ddI4nGhUuxtbXY-Zf_e9mWdH8vHF7NYu1R0Kh3OmI9s/s400/IMG_6396.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here is my beautiful Ellen Beibei, who is always in her element when surrounded by kids, but has an extra soft spot in her heart for those without a family yet - though the good news is this little girl will soon be united with her very own mamma and daddy next month and on her way to live in Huntsville, Alabama. That is a very long way from this carousel ride in Dongguan, China. . .<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKPJ2xNMJBE8YQmIdWqnx_JzqTXdG5sfUj8evm-5lDjPwpfE0tie9OQ-6Ocd1kNajVQU_QG-3Vcd5YXLyOKiPBm3tvJFQHgkuBQhw-h8MzsyGvGLKf6gQMfaUhYNQv-CTYidg7MnpxyoK/s1600-h/IMG_6321.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277594320512703874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKPJ2xNMJBE8YQmIdWqnx_JzqTXdG5sfUj8evm-5lDjPwpfE0tie9OQ-6Ocd1kNajVQU_QG-3Vcd5YXLyOKiPBm3tvJFQHgkuBQhw-h8MzsyGvGLKf6gQMfaUhYNQv-CTYidg7MnpxyoK/s400/IMG_6321.jpg" border="0" /></a> Without the help from a place like Truelife, this little one's future would be very bleak.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g1zroaCXoFSv8vqynZ7GV5Oo-XPhUHK8IChQJa2mMCntFH_wCQWLCh2bAv61Gt5z_X152rCbJuvsLvOFpaucbzG7xRGCxfM9OAwdPWvSJZnyhLr9c0tDUxqGexztmBNx-jnC0BJKqpOo/s1600-h/IMG_6400.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277594306037252434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g1zroaCXoFSv8vqynZ7GV5Oo-XPhUHK8IChQJa2mMCntFH_wCQWLCh2bAv61Gt5z_X152rCbJuvsLvOFpaucbzG7xRGCxfM9OAwdPWvSJZnyhLr9c0tDUxqGexztmBNx-jnC0BJKqpOo/s400/IMG_6400.JPG" border="0" /></a> The birthday girl actually fell asleep on the carousel! It was too cute. Just put her right to sleep.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-46688640053675488672008-10-26T16:49:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:35:55.221-08:00A golden birthday for Zoe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Zqe7GOdh8jxLOPQTCmEpZg8SFqcqlcD8KkI3FRhLG532bGtv_PCbpo1H82VvmP_ou6D2l0r0w486oKCIYg3ZmCOhjuQBnqnM0pLztyDqwC3n7bw6_FJ_x9jYsEukplhaKpDOxkEr6Kx/s1600-h/IMG_6205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277598025437251074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2Zqe7GOdh8jxLOPQTCmEpZg8SFqcqlcD8KkI3FRhLG532bGtv_PCbpo1H82VvmP_ou6D2l0r0w486oKCIYg3ZmCOhjuQBnqnM0pLztyDqwC3n7bw6_FJ_x9jYsEukplhaKpDOxkEr6Kx/s400/IMG_6205.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I know I'm so late in posting about Zoe's birthday. Maybe that's because, as I had a shock to now having a 13-year-old daughter, I now have a 10-year-old too! They are just growing up way too fast. Zoe celebrated her Golden Birthday with 12 of her friends. They started off by going swimming, then back to our place for pizza, Wii karaoke and watching Camp Rock. Then two of her friends spent the night. It must have been a good birthday because it took a couple of days for Zoe to recover!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVwHjkE0VxCwGvnawl35AXvca6_4oOkpXfgryZLhUh6XvTl_7ZnXxAEVIawWpIg1nB4yMZFbAc06SEKtJ5RX6BaG04a65OuycVuaWFsnxNjnqO8meizkbl0cyvhOmSOd2r8Ecx7oSGYCE/s1600-h/IMG_6217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261632021726228770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVwHjkE0VxCwGvnawl35AXvca6_4oOkpXfgryZLhUh6XvTl_7ZnXxAEVIawWpIg1nB4yMZFbAc06SEKtJ5RX6BaG04a65OuycVuaWFsnxNjnqO8meizkbl0cyvhOmSOd2r8Ecx7oSGYCE/s400/IMG_6217.JPG" border="0" /></a> We celebrated as a family on her birthday, October 2.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpER3b1LAxbS9tDRPSNQ60KT7kovspGGkbqYqLdAAmv4XZ0lnZ_x2EghYXZ5FwAXj5PPsb3JGPubZ40uZKGAYLZKzsZxuy_OcVUlC2WR3bZug8rmkQb-3Ms7SKkxRwS3k5_LMNl70CPMAE/s1600-h/IMG_6213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261632017007687826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpER3b1LAxbS9tDRPSNQ60KT7kovspGGkbqYqLdAAmv4XZ0lnZ_x2EghYXZ5FwAXj5PPsb3JGPubZ40uZKGAYLZKzsZxuy_OcVUlC2WR3bZug8rmkQb-3Ms7SKkxRwS3k5_LMNl70CPMAE/s400/IMG_6213.JPG" border="0" /></a> Zoe checking out one of her birthday presents, three canvases to create her masterpieces with!<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1EPSd18FlPj4_j6MnjnC99NRhq503Goun7FhchfXrMuiugdSSF2t_l4Ai4urCkKePTb1n1bHDMmYpZg6tGGyj2dCsNHXYB9NZvdDUv04EK4gteTZBNL0mL7HQW8CB03rcLGAloZVTph3/s1600-h/IMG_6235.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261618103286726146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1EPSd18FlPj4_j6MnjnC99NRhq503Goun7FhchfXrMuiugdSSF2t_l4Ai4urCkKePTb1n1bHDMmYpZg6tGGyj2dCsNHXYB9NZvdDUv04EK4gteTZBNL0mL7HQW8CB03rcLGAloZVTph3/s400/IMG_6235.JPG" border="0" /></a> We are so proud of you, Zoe. You are sweet, funny, sensitive, kind and very loving. And so many people are blessed because they have you in their life - your mom, dad and big sister tops among them! Lots of love to you, sweetie - OXOXOXOXOX<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-14198999217363744272008-10-05T03:27:00.000-07:002008-10-26T18:15:43.015-07:00We have not forgotten<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMAxGlv9BgJ2pzMmJUHBVLzCUo2aW6Ok1ZljXEhxCf9NHepu8mmNUn-kc3pH3w2O5FlR1m7GrkBMYKe36Zdo4dG0ImzZ8klvKivpOcnnSUpvw_pQVSwjyb6MV7pv9aSXx3Z8KFNua_lUn/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+310.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261635860550846642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMAxGlv9BgJ2pzMmJUHBVLzCUo2aW6Ok1ZljXEhxCf9NHepu8mmNUn-kc3pH3w2O5FlR1m7GrkBMYKe36Zdo4dG0ImzZ8klvKivpOcnnSUpvw_pQVSwjyb6MV7pv9aSXx3Z8KFNua_lUn/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+310.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This past May we took our daughter, Zoe, back to the small town in Southern China where she was born and spent the first eight months of her life, probably spending a large majority of her time laying much like this little precious baby, waiting for us to come and make her our daughter. I wrote about our trip and posted pictures in at least two blog postings for May of this year.<br /><br />It was a very emotional trip for all of us and when we left we so desperately wanted to do more for this orphanage. When there we asked the directors if they were wanting to raise money for some need and they said they would like to build a playground. We thought they could also use a well-functioning playroom, with color and toys and a padded floor for the babies and toddlers to use. Summer came, people in DB (including us) all went our separate ways for a couple of months and now that we are back into the swing of school and our daily life we keep thinking about the Huazhou orphanage and how best to help them.<br /><br />Not only are we thinking about those in Huazhou, but we strongly believe the Lord has not forgotten them either. Just through sharing about our journey back to Huazhou (and Zoe was able to share her story to her class at school) we have three separate groups, two churches in the States, and Zoe's school, who are very eager to help provide in Huazhou. Can you believe that? Just as the porcelain basically dropped in our laps, so too it seems are those people who God is also pressing upon their hearts to help those so much less fortunate than themselves.<br /><br />I'm not sure if another trip to Huazhou will be in our future. I most certainly would not rule it out.<br /><br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_UsqM_NdTwtJ_stfkSbR4oklxOz6DI3gmGPB7aPw0gaHHxY0zyFjXaEYpZtFsw3B8kTMGWz2IxNEuD65qXkEple7Cz14DT9nMvR0MNTUnKo6PNMjAwUhhYRh2u_rQPQ1KblShCckJ0m3/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253621944652733970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_UsqM_NdTwtJ_stfkSbR4oklxOz6DI3gmGPB7aPw0gaHHxY0zyFjXaEYpZtFsw3B8kTMGWz2IxNEuD65qXkEple7Cz14DT9nMvR0MNTUnKo6PNMjAwUhhYRh2u_rQPQ1KblShCckJ0m3/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq9tyVOfNWU0WackGMdRKF5Zaijf9sqPOeHtJw2mcBP_OvXDB3KES6wSmgefAmqBh8PqJ13hhkXLccCunKIDOXoiavK0vH69Hg__lC8vv76e9mnRqq6_gbTUhtyHREsjU__bDh6sQrEa0/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253621941156759522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq9tyVOfNWU0WackGMdRKF5Zaijf9sqPOeHtJw2mcBP_OvXDB3KES6wSmgefAmqBh8PqJ13hhkXLccCunKIDOXoiavK0vH69Hg__lC8vv76e9mnRqq6_gbTUhtyHREsjU__bDh6sQrEa0/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOLz1LQO0xh1xWOWpdKjQ9KXEaPwS7z0Vpy4C5Q90SOn0eYaNxUDVCPbeEz-rT8WCSs_PsNujJfbjJAgBIjGe2DesgbIgtFeP9G5jDdTmTfJjkVT5UDSz-62DQDLnbszZExH1kzzhDCQB/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253621950296512370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOLz1LQO0xh1xWOWpdKjQ9KXEaPwS7z0Vpy4C5Q90SOn0eYaNxUDVCPbeEz-rT8WCSs_PsNujJfbjJAgBIjGe2DesgbIgtFeP9G5jDdTmTfJjkVT5UDSz-62DQDLnbszZExH1kzzhDCQB/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67iwUaPLpGR98v6r5uL0fnHmK24dnDGDnjSnDuVbEuR6AqgaDot73Pbn0_K3tJLfP4TwzgHGitosifqX2ONLuMnyAHm7gXNKkNdt_evzuvkOq2ztEi9dTevD-nncbcGs23UO13kZDCak8/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+327.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253621956056713010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67iwUaPLpGR98v6r5uL0fnHmK24dnDGDnjSnDuVbEuR6AqgaDot73Pbn0_K3tJLfP4TwzgHGitosifqX2ONLuMnyAHm7gXNKkNdt_evzuvkOq2ztEi9dTevD-nncbcGs23UO13kZDCak8/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+327.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-86714864924429887192008-09-14T23:54:00.000-07:002008-10-05T04:09:39.838-07:00Up, Up and Away<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO-OOYSojYP9ZZt3eTuemD0DcaJH-MhaxH4aUYHiOQUZ6wqHvBaUPrtdnbis5GO1PCIdqWFfg_H6YgOicyID4PRCfJCZ8gfFa0ifNyRSLZLPIIjLds8GxvnGs5bP80qhTtCV2AAWhNRQD/s1600-h/IMG_6153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253625356895716210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO-OOYSojYP9ZZt3eTuemD0DcaJH-MhaxH4aUYHiOQUZ6wqHvBaUPrtdnbis5GO1PCIdqWFfg_H6YgOicyID4PRCfJCZ8gfFa0ifNyRSLZLPIIjLds8GxvnGs5bP80qhTtCV2AAWhNRQD/s400/IMG_6153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In spite my best efforts to keep it from happening, I am the official mother of a teenager. Ellen (very happily so) turned the big 1-3 on September 1. And, no, she did not receive a helicopter ride as a gift, but rather she received a helicopter ride as a prize for being part of a winning team in a scavenger hunt a few months ago here in Discovery Bay. The ride was scheduled before school ended this past June, but due to bad weather it was canceled, then everyone went their separate ways for the summer, and today was the day!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxsvDmRbDVDneTlNHfawF8NqD5xfbluSFV9Xfxz6iUPEnYj-Ky6Pu4awAkwnWTsds6fguN6AAe2ef_dy1scc48l0g-8FiwkCj1MVqDVV0XHwQAuUmI2sjxZtS7cRwLzYXksP2Ziv4F3un/s1600-h/IMG_6143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246141868061526802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxsvDmRbDVDneTlNHfawF8NqD5xfbluSFV9Xfxz6iUPEnYj-Ky6Pu4awAkwnWTsds6fguN6AAe2ef_dy1scc48l0g-8FiwkCj1MVqDVV0XHwQAuUmI2sjxZtS7cRwLzYXksP2Ziv4F3un/s400/IMG_6143.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen and her three friends, Alicia, Chloe and Olivia had an unforgettable ride over Hong Kong with the highlight of flying over their school, West Island.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_apwEElKA_zrysM2tKErKCWst5rM_0e5q-uoCkjnMBfxSgwwzSJJzce_i10vaMVaxLdoTXzShJfBUg4cHllJd9CHxhuNsMPz6KOl9_ThrEAFFY9x1P8eb80iGiS9ZIfNppGljIyDOHJC/s1600-h/IMG_6161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246141872513118994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_apwEElKA_zrysM2tKErKCWst5rM_0e5q-uoCkjnMBfxSgwwzSJJzce_i10vaMVaxLdoTXzShJfBUg4cHllJd9CHxhuNsMPz6KOl9_ThrEAFFY9x1P8eb80iGiS9ZIfNppGljIyDOHJC/s400/IMG_6161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC0QIoye1_1LaeGpCaBow9ix5M6iIPNE1Vbt0KJJTg9r5QSbH6olIODCRqFB_tgpbbt6wuVqwrO17YssdpuNDfxJ_36Szu2uJs0mhQcpfTkpmH5CogyyO81mNVIXqr2JZyHYlbkZsspbD/s1600-h/IMG_6123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246140377846756482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC0QIoye1_1LaeGpCaBow9ix5M6iIPNE1Vbt0KJJTg9r5QSbH6olIODCRqFB_tgpbbt6wuVqwrO17YssdpuNDfxJ_36Szu2uJs0mhQcpfTkpmH5CogyyO81mNVIXqr2JZyHYlbkZsspbD/s400/IMG_6123.jpg" border="0" /></a> The birthday girls. Ellen's birthday is September 1, while mine is September 4. Here we are at the Conrad in Hong Kong where I took Ellen and three friends for High Tea as part of her birthday gift.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-UN7yPc4SQLFB3u7KhhmoHu9Wb0XvmR-PWYTxlFbBzaqS4bEE2waKOgs2i3_lrrhNNveasnZKtOFjx5eGCq8AWFdtXgMou3kDKKrweVHru0uBFI9QruDG0fvI3oQkAuZ59Zd8W5rbPX6/s1600-h/IMG_6162.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF61pkXAy5eyGlzvt6Y-NP3fYrmadjPpmobU8hg-0CftrBDV5LrG6szE4nhEJ0Bz2smn8hjpCitrhSuMGm5-JR_FHpzih8h0t_EOddoMI_ZVamSS-GveO-zPWSYvNzuk5F8A5R13G8qrag/s1600-h/IMG_6092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246139565294939346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF61pkXAy5eyGlzvt6Y-NP3fYrmadjPpmobU8hg-0CftrBDV5LrG6szE4nhEJ0Bz2smn8hjpCitrhSuMGm5-JR_FHpzih8h0t_EOddoMI_ZVamSS-GveO-zPWSYvNzuk5F8A5R13G8qrag/s400/IMG_6092.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen's birthday crew in the backseat of the taxi: Yvonne, Kelcie and Kim<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4NYAgitHvjzePDOzWiG9tmhJcsqQ5nH6AhpZxBuVG7sDNj7C4_0LR2VMF6rbGF7asKb3SdmCzXfvmci5EznqWAyplkv1JuKf3asALD8feUb-Falbf9EgTulfZbsk-c_kY2pNS2RXKy-k/s1600-h/IMG_6093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246139568808764722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4NYAgitHvjzePDOzWiG9tmhJcsqQ5nH6AhpZxBuVG7sDNj7C4_0LR2VMF6rbGF7asKb3SdmCzXfvmci5EznqWAyplkv1JuKf3asALD8feUb-Falbf9EgTulfZbsk-c_kY2pNS2RXKy-k/s400/IMG_6093.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is one of the reasons we chose this location for High Tea, a delicious buffet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6r2JVnkUFPodiYWK15N75TZs-B79hW8LRxBKFjnY_WYol5ILVKngZ89hW93ZU1G1eiTYGWfIaMbTQGg80z4Z3j19TF-2lnqfxJEjvK-uwgtFtbhyMv3haRkYt2Xz73qi6DsYvv9sBKCF/s1600-h/IMG_6099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246139573858863778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6r2JVnkUFPodiYWK15N75TZs-B79hW8LRxBKFjnY_WYol5ILVKngZ89hW93ZU1G1eiTYGWfIaMbTQGg80z4Z3j19TF-2lnqfxJEjvK-uwgtFtbhyMv3haRkYt2Xz73qi6DsYvv9sBKCF/s400/IMG_6099.jpg" border="0" /></a> Although this is High "Tea," Ellen and her friends enjoyed a tall glass of iced cocoa - yummy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-25293014309922782462008-08-25T03:43:00.000-07:002008-08-25T04:22:46.010-07:00School Day Rule DayEllen and Zoe started school this past week. It's hard to believe they are going on their third year of international school here in Hong Kong. I have attached a picture of each of their schools below, with the first being Ellen's, West Island School. It's not the best picture, because it's taken so far away, but it is a very large school sitting on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean.<br /><br />Zoe's school, Discovery College, here in Discovery Bay, is brand-new and the kids are really excited to finally be in this state-of-the-art facility they have been watching being built for the last year and a half. By the way, our church, Discovey Bay International Community Church, will be moving into the theatre area in Discovery College in November.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjr8gZ5JY1FC1eLZ5cM2ytjV0cTkZyDPqw5u9YVdbkztdd7d_NWrxvHIgSHqQ3d6P1pUsh6F9l7JSjP96-p8g_vnH7hyphenhyphenDEauMu32FAM0mxRNviikPqZOP-6ht6DgNbOYK-SNY2HbeODss/s1600-h/250px-West_Island_School.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238407071501212818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjr8gZ5JY1FC1eLZ5cM2ytjV0cTkZyDPqw5u9YVdbkztdd7d_NWrxvHIgSHqQ3d6P1pUsh6F9l7JSjP96-p8g_vnH7hyphenhyphenDEauMu32FAM0mxRNviikPqZOP-6ht6DgNbOYK-SNY2HbeODss/s400/250px-West_Island_School.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZb04UTn2aD2beqTDLSV97G3dDHWHu0WHGz1mlOpJGuTbAy_sBAdqkAUm-V9OtRmm3EpBSIskjYC47Elk5lH3JRbpZnQkDMfy0jD_ClFyWmBuDP8K6gNm1cMTveTSjyUQQZu0DFzt6_Wy/s1600-h/new_campus_1a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238405702445763698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZb04UTn2aD2beqTDLSV97G3dDHWHu0WHGz1mlOpJGuTbAy_sBAdqkAUm-V9OtRmm3EpBSIskjYC47Elk5lH3JRbpZnQkDMfy0jD_ClFyWmBuDP8K6gNm1cMTveTSjyUQQZu0DFzt6_Wy/s400/new_campus_1a.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div>As part of Ellen's curriculum, she is required to take extra-curricular activities, choosing from categories such as creative, action and service. Ellen's "creative" choice is cooking class once again, as she took this last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her choice for "service" is one near and dear to all our hearts, maybe Ellen's the most, and that is helping at an orphanage across the border in China near Guangzhou a few times per semester. I have attached the link to their website below. I'm hoping that maybe I can get in on these visits as well!<br /></div><div>In November Ellen will be going to Thailand to work at a school in a needy community. This is also a service-oriented trip that the school has been making for at least a few years, building relationships with this school and community in Thailand. We are so glad that West Island places an emphasis on service, encouraging and giving opportunities for the students to know what it's like to give back.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.truechildrenshome.org/children.htm">http://www.truechildrenshome.org/children.htm</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-73722070684649412152008-08-20T00:33:00.001-07:002008-08-20T02:20:53.812-07:00Good morning Hong KongI suppose one of the positive aspects of jet lag is that you are up to see the sun coming up, as we did our first morning back in Hong Kong when I snapped this picture that captured the pre-drawn colors. Thankfully after a few nights back we are not rising before the sun, however.<br />It's hard to believe we were gone nearly two months, it went by way too fast.<br /><br />We had a fabulous time in America, having loads of fun with family and friends. We laughed a lot, ate a lot, shopped a lot, I got to drive a lot (yippee) and just all around enjoyed being together. Below are a few pictures that evidence our crazy and wonderful family!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogAeZbwYPpq6Y_fS_p1qgLkHIt2KaW8g1p6lzdnTuud4BmX-j6HFH7jLVfXkZNpzCVHq3WeDE-mTegYIX-W2krtFQ1G-x6y2ZW2syLpmuGEIred9iOEoCU8gkYTPfsZBamNK6ZvwcWQiM/s1600-h/IMG_5736.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236522466200110050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogAeZbwYPpq6Y_fS_p1qgLkHIt2KaW8g1p6lzdnTuud4BmX-j6HFH7jLVfXkZNpzCVHq3WeDE-mTegYIX-W2krtFQ1G-x6y2ZW2syLpmuGEIred9iOEoCU8gkYTPfsZBamNK6ZvwcWQiM/s400/IMG_5736.jpg" border="0" /></a> My three neices, Amy and Lisa and Lisa's daugther Jordan, who is my "great" neice, and that she is!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEbiHcprWZ6k4yLSEfxotmit3ryxzDhuRZ7iZW7z7EoGeA43eTWm_f2roKOtauGetzDR4_brHkXoB0kiHFx16M5wjJoTF93koNm5gHcQOmcWe1gLyXE1oRNUP5b0cfksv2wsDqDynzujb/s1600-h/IMG_5743.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236522470981461666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEbiHcprWZ6k4yLSEfxotmit3ryxzDhuRZ7iZW7z7EoGeA43eTWm_f2roKOtauGetzDR4_brHkXoB0kiHFx16M5wjJoTF93koNm5gHcQOmcWe1gLyXE1oRNUP5b0cfksv2wsDqDynzujb/s400/IMG_5743.jpg" border="0" /></a> Cooling off in Lake Michigan with cousins Jessica and Chloe<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qi_9q9uNuKjGgQsEXDsuoWWsvnag7qJM0NfjtowmTnzIy5pdHxm8-QH-xP9GkTUctYJMPs9Klpb9hGbFRNq6hIw5PVSxY7VlrQAifGTwLjP25sHVhp9ACB7F5g9hnh2_hC1ING-BoP70/s1600-h/IMG_5867.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236522481361558930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qi_9q9uNuKjGgQsEXDsuoWWsvnag7qJM0NfjtowmTnzIy5pdHxm8-QH-xP9GkTUctYJMPs9Klpb9hGbFRNq6hIw5PVSxY7VlrQAifGTwLjP25sHVhp9ACB7F5g9hnh2_hC1ING-BoP70/s400/IMG_5867.jpg" border="0" /></a> My sistas!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fHhuz9r8QKNAVlfbbA9laXJHAMjxQWdGEHgrw5-6wHNZc2SeI6QsGXR4-N4IcWC3dt4n1YW1D2zaZYDgtE8omk-SHjSsnbXHC5wcphf3t-U-Y84mq-m7gVQh_tFT7qw88EV5pDHNtHC9/s1600-h/IMG_5274.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236522484251479042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fHhuz9r8QKNAVlfbbA9laXJHAMjxQWdGEHgrw5-6wHNZc2SeI6QsGXR4-N4IcWC3dt4n1YW1D2zaZYDgtE8omk-SHjSsnbXHC5wcphf3t-U-Y84mq-m7gVQh_tFT7qw88EV5pDHNtHC9/s400/IMG_5274.jpg" border="0" /></a> When Brad's dad catches animals in his trap he drives them to a remote location and lets them go. When my dad catches animals in his trap, he . . . I think the word he actually uses is "dispatches" them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-6AKd4wbLuswlFDacWGWm55Rbx0KZz2qlrycHcOJXGGwgxr-a1EoJZI3DqyqQ5KKo-QO6GgL8UVi5h47MAHXDQRJLyLkvTJ036HdpaACT8HkNX0KecXtcbjN0WyO6cfTJs7mpuwOfGEU/s1600-h/IMG_5449.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236522493359401618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-6AKd4wbLuswlFDacWGWm55Rbx0KZz2qlrycHcOJXGGwgxr-a1EoJZI3DqyqQ5KKo-QO6GgL8UVi5h47MAHXDQRJLyLkvTJ036HdpaACT8HkNX0KecXtcbjN0WyO6cfTJs7mpuwOfGEU/s400/IMG_5449.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our good friends that live in Denver, the Landers, who we met in the newlywed class at the church we attended after we married and moved to Denver way back in 1987 - yikes, how time flies. They also grew up in Michigan and also went to U of M, as did Brad. GO BLUE!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEN1GHfJSjKvwFPtpCEP52rJhIEPLvOFzrYoafkqzyADs43iwsoem3bOEI0ps22M-qrVsoraZeUHrZqu7oKHKttHDqsk2DRbJ2wbebrJOTocn-8vhUQWuOGySwZDf7AdLGN73vclF4aP7/s1600-h/IMG_5651.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236512135161180514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEN1GHfJSjKvwFPtpCEP52rJhIEPLvOFzrYoafkqzyADs43iwsoem3bOEI0ps22M-qrVsoraZeUHrZqu7oKHKttHDqsk2DRbJ2wbebrJOTocn-8vhUQWuOGySwZDf7AdLGN73vclF4aP7/s400/IMG_5651.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen and Zoe on Uncle Jeff and Aunt Anne's front porch in K-zoo, Michigan.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8rcmExxQaYcZJ6HZ-4nm1q7qJx70DFbSMQ_2-l6jMWFCosABB8w7jhDpriz3_6Mft7ZOPw3HbSecEW1IaFc5J3b8q8DODWC2CHAFMCGHuebwblGnDTb39hocC6NiTE0Su847v6K2Tlq-/s1600-h/IMG_5644.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236512137620867634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8rcmExxQaYcZJ6HZ-4nm1q7qJx70DFbSMQ_2-l6jMWFCosABB8w7jhDpriz3_6Mft7ZOPw3HbSecEW1IaFc5J3b8q8DODWC2CHAFMCGHuebwblGnDTb39hocC6NiTE0Su847v6K2Tlq-/s400/IMG_5644.jpg" border="0" /></a> Unc Tim and Zoe - Ellen and Zoe have been blessed with some of the best uncles ever!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2GnrPRavMB3SbyUzZNNKTkvZZKX210O0CGte1EhEzsGbdtGF7pgD3nUH6KYx_rmT-uUikneEfgB6X8Yx06rjxcx6fumQ7NoyAFq1rEGT1oUY4jfy9uqbuvlHM4t_3ttOIh-n5rz1wavI/s1600-h/IMG_5652.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236512145751475522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2GnrPRavMB3SbyUzZNNKTkvZZKX210O0CGte1EhEzsGbdtGF7pgD3nUH6KYx_rmT-uUikneEfgB6X8Yx06rjxcx6fumQ7NoyAFq1rEGT1oUY4jfy9uqbuvlHM4t_3ttOIh-n5rz1wavI/s400/IMG_5652.jpg" border="0" /></a> Zoe, Jordy and Ellen enjoying the fruits of their labor - smores - yummo!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTwvMm9TePZaPxpQFMVkDo-Y6EVyUsBVVfhyzTF3_0uTG8hnU0h8qrOoo6GFRgGFxGM1wqrz2MmG8SsN923eveWPlEYU5ixoUpa0L2Y0Fhyphenhyphen0LGU_psHecFUaF14lCqUe3o5ChqpAAZ3w_/s1600-h/IMG_5688.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236512149232807090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTwvMm9TePZaPxpQFMVkDo-Y6EVyUsBVVfhyzTF3_0uTG8hnU0h8qrOoo6GFRgGFxGM1wqrz2MmG8SsN923eveWPlEYU5ixoUpa0L2Y0Fhyphenhyphen0LGU_psHecFUaF14lCqUe3o5ChqpAAZ3w_/s400/IMG_5688.jpg" border="0" /></a> Aunt Tish in Aunt Nancy's garden, doing her best to look angelic - didn't last long, though, as she couldn't resist causing trouble. . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa5RskngC32u-JZyBKPaDdcgbb91fILNYrXuAhroqSnyaBlh7IOuPaxzq402VfynP8MQH5GmhbQVifVVcwrEALgZlPeku_oATx3rpXkqASGe_MXITCIjZMAjgmrvgIDzfLe1Uqm2ZrCo_/s1600-h/IMG_5700.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236512156514211970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa5RskngC32u-JZyBKPaDdcgbb91fILNYrXuAhroqSnyaBlh7IOuPaxzq402VfynP8MQH5GmhbQVifVVcwrEALgZlPeku_oATx3rpXkqASGe_MXITCIjZMAjgmrvgIDzfLe1Uqm2ZrCo_/s400/IMG_5700.jpg" border="0" /></a> The tables were soon turned as Doug (her hubby) managed to take the hose and go after her!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGTLy6x5m3nI7Mgib_TrS2YdJ4hlMU4fBN3Qm8-_1GB0hea18nMt6-LDJ9yVFUUKWaY-2tVHp6p94EVzbjAJS6tnj7XnpMl77GolnzGsKNhLumDrvXZdA98lHluQDy5BxH8ejZDn2GtOc/s1600-h/IMG_6034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236506957503795714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGTLy6x5m3nI7Mgib_TrS2YdJ4hlMU4fBN3Qm8-_1GB0hea18nMt6-LDJ9yVFUUKWaY-2tVHp6p94EVzbjAJS6tnj7XnpMl77GolnzGsKNhLumDrvXZdA98lHluQDy5BxH8ejZDn2GtOc/s400/IMG_6034.jpg" border="0" /></a> On our way back to Hong Kong we had a 24-hour layover in Los Angeles where our friends Karen, Doug and their new baby, Becky, so graciously put us up overnight and took us to a fun day at Disney's California Adventure! This is Ellen, Brad and Karen (in the row in front of Brad and Ellen) on the California Screaming roller coaster. Zoe and I volunteered to watch Becky and snap pictures.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrab37LffooRKtd-u-ptJjT_8BUUfz_fbuRKr2z-RjJpRY9KqRwMOqSTF_TZypltESTl5-aI-JSZuVmZqfq8x0_raoqlj38XWzaPIcMmMYDDH-S-s3tdHzv4ORzJq51ISKBSA3b14T5D30/s1600-h/IMG_6029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236506961625633986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrab37LffooRKtd-u-ptJjT_8BUUfz_fbuRKr2z-RjJpRY9KqRwMOqSTF_TZypltESTl5-aI-JSZuVmZqfq8x0_raoqlj38XWzaPIcMmMYDDH-S-s3tdHzv4ORzJq51ISKBSA3b14T5D30/s400/IMG_6029.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen, Zoe, Becky and Karen are standing in front of the "I"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H7l7TIQnUwy35UecLOyTYoRisLfmJ-hP3q6Ch5g3hS9PCGUDcEYLx3tEpXzrRZc2r3En0sVLAKfj18_IwFZPcfai6P_1s5O-3gCeoq6zE-QhO7iyDgamTCIjbXHCKWSFOjQ5wH6jUIN_/s1600-h/IMG_5947.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236506966062948210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H7l7TIQnUwy35UecLOyTYoRisLfmJ-hP3q6Ch5g3hS9PCGUDcEYLx3tEpXzrRZc2r3En0sVLAKfj18_IwFZPcfai6P_1s5O-3gCeoq6zE-QhO7iyDgamTCIjbXHCKWSFOjQ5wH6jUIN_/s400/IMG_5947.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen and Zoe spent many fun hours with papa and grandma in the pool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniqC2kpZASozFCFLbm0TluDrwNySJGIOHI5w0tueuNUbXu6UN1iZ97zEM2rNcxRdXjB8xdlSpQi23GmvI1H9C7e3AZ-IuChNIs-3dPa0ulXgZR3buAbYe2O0Q0As9jLkOMKJkk193u4bB/s1600-h/IMG_5951.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236506975377876578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniqC2kpZASozFCFLbm0TluDrwNySJGIOHI5w0tueuNUbXu6UN1iZ97zEM2rNcxRdXjB8xdlSpQi23GmvI1H9C7e3AZ-IuChNIs-3dPa0ulXgZR3buAbYe2O0Q0As9jLkOMKJkk193u4bB/s400/IMG_5951.jpg" border="0" /></a> Papa and grandma had fun with Ellen and Zoe too, when they weren't being pushed to the corner of the pool and having heavy wet balls thrown at them. Poor papa and grandma. . .<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-26959920177920240062008-07-09T08:34:00.001-07:002008-07-09T10:06:01.795-07:00Bit of AmericanaAfter living outside of the United States for two years now and experiencing the downside of being an American living in another country (we aren't exactly the most popular people on the planet at the time in case you didn't know) it has been so refreshing to be able to bask a bit in actually being proud to be an American (think of that!) instead of feeling like you have to be on the defense or embarrassed about it. It's been awhile since we've put our hands over our hearts and sang The Star Spangled Banner, as we did a few nights ago at an outdoor concert, and felt that sense of pride when we see the flag flying. On the 4th of July, Old Glory comes out in all it's glory, grills get turned up high, fireworks go off, as we celebrate the birthday of our country, our very blessed, though far from perfect, country.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNtqt_RlmVhcJ73I6SZJ7DnVKkapJixiqklffEU6N1aY3EBibLdEFMNEdPvhVq9NWIUuaUGKM099XdxNX04anH-_NmQbKnTTkrrFfFxmVQOAzTdaG7u11PRXPmgK9yqBc86NOTlXE7g5-/s1600-h/206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221053543850182210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNtqt_RlmVhcJ73I6SZJ7DnVKkapJixiqklffEU6N1aY3EBibLdEFMNEdPvhVq9NWIUuaUGKM099XdxNX04anH-_NmQbKnTTkrrFfFxmVQOAzTdaG7u11PRXPmgK9yqBc86NOTlXE7g5-/s400/206.JPG" border="0" /></a>One of our family's traditions on the 4th is to attend a pancake breakfast at a 400-acre Christian ranch for underprivileged children just down the road from where I grew up. It's a beautiful location, and it was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed walking around the grounds and the girls got to ride in the wagon pulled by that great American, "John Deere."<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH8I-CXdayokTTKOLiRrp3xf_hFHwwMNLAAlyj2CTkpfaPuNd7dpTJ4SbW_5ZfqbZUW2BcG__iyiD9cix5oBnf1crV-yPd4AJaWt5wS6I0QA2AhTeCA6zcbDWd3pHnrd2JvZQgupTRCzx/s1600-h/204.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOkmUoZ-hguTfvPH3_O12MHKRZr9Wl30kMuiBcq71jLqYry8vA45kuJ625iUKQJQ8n1HXoG2UPdMcU8CZZNU-cP1dd_Fhl0gmXmbE_FUlT4hWcnGLyALmDIYpkzMgsm-GS2MmHG1ehmYI/s1600-h/191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221051275161980274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOkmUoZ-hguTfvPH3_O12MHKRZr9Wl30kMuiBcq71jLqYry8vA45kuJ625iUKQJQ8n1HXoG2UPdMcU8CZZNU-cP1dd_Fhl0gmXmbE_FUlT4hWcnGLyALmDIYpkzMgsm-GS2MmHG1ehmYI/s400/191.JPG" border="0" /></a> I snapped this picture while standing in line for our pancakes. They have the best smoked sausage links every year, and this is why!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4JdibqOEZp_JQC8FNRHgYTF4bN1V-J88URL2DD0L7DQYzGcf6pZTka32ivNv4-x3tfLqL1sH9y4ScGzDQk1If-YYyK-fqu3O_POs3vPXuQpkQ6ERtA7pqQZ6xREEjHB8sniUfatpcnZG/s1600-h/214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221051291818151714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4JdibqOEZp_JQC8FNRHgYTF4bN1V-J88URL2DD0L7DQYzGcf6pZTka32ivNv4-x3tfLqL1sH9y4ScGzDQk1If-YYyK-fqu3O_POs3vPXuQpkQ6ERtA7pqQZ6xREEjHB8sniUfatpcnZG/s400/214.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a little petting farm on the ranch and it was fun to watch the girls pet the mule, goats, sheep and duck. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0v2G3KjB6U6wM5TFAzO9Hlbo_mnqz-sV5i_EENQx1mQGFOWwoqjzQYcFrZQu6L7e0f6XwyzXdoA_aU_27Ibh_NAMWn-45SY_r-fhfW7TTS9JCounTTWUDjxUhpfBpTtgzYs-IMfLwYvg/s1600-h/201.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221048021703573570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0v2G3KjB6U6wM5TFAzO9Hlbo_mnqz-sV5i_EENQx1mQGFOWwoqjzQYcFrZQu6L7e0f6XwyzXdoA_aU_27Ibh_NAMWn-45SY_r-fhfW7TTS9JCounTTWUDjxUhpfBpTtgzYs-IMfLwYvg/s400/201.JPG" border="0" /></a> As I was sitting on the lawn next to this tree, I saw this boy dressed in his Revolutionary War outfit and he very cordially agreed to my taking his photo - how American is this??!!! I love it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNI_9YFyYHPTFStH_UpAYify4KOYccqjinbN-UcPGOOUj7E2NZB3xcj3TA-ELGE5sdbWMJ9sJUEXBCCZ7NIOzYmdeVR_sb0ZTNf14dc7MpnHJnbHDN3mrnxCVS7FTq74_N76WFRkWxMh1/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221048026846114402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNI_9YFyYHPTFStH_UpAYify4KOYccqjinbN-UcPGOOUj7E2NZB3xcj3TA-ELGE5sdbWMJ9sJUEXBCCZ7NIOzYmdeVR_sb0ZTNf14dc7MpnHJnbHDN3mrnxCVS7FTq74_N76WFRkWxMh1/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's an 18-year-old soldier boy by the name of Ray Dougan, fresh off the farm in Missouri where he grew up, who also ended up being my dad, in his WWII Army uniform. My sisters and I gave my dad a surprise birthday party for his 82nd, as shown in the picture below, but he told me that this is how he still sees himself. He was very handsome then, and we all think he still is!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3TioWLtrcODkP4LP6yWiXxMYQ04ZtswOXOq80ZwpeWcscN7154_bKE84qte4GRsP9dVXCXwAPfZo_tsAzpFtq2XCsvWZq9QTKiWxLyIthKzfVlI32nP5enSXLuSTw7Geg06RSyhZebaZ/s1600-h/071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221048050557608898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3TioWLtrcODkP4LP6yWiXxMYQ04ZtswOXOq80ZwpeWcscN7154_bKE84qte4GRsP9dVXCXwAPfZo_tsAzpFtq2XCsvWZq9QTKiWxLyIthKzfVlI32nP5enSXLuSTw7Geg06RSyhZebaZ/s400/071.JPG" border="0" /></a> Happy Birthday to a great American dad, grandfather and great-grandfather, who also has been a wonderful husband, farmer and railroad engineer! And don't forget, American soldier. . . <br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-31692499284174033772008-06-27T13:57:00.000-07:002008-07-09T10:14:39.941-07:00Back in the USA!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7SFmYC0hxWT0vQh1V-MpRx92L4ExGlZB8I_EfCBXebXDUWcpD7y-BoGtvRZ430YXErxRRey_vZlmncVNLSJTfVciFc8l4xZm6We_UR2H-xkDHRndtSciU7a8wLbgRiBhIUhpPjc3t2GN/s1600-h/193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221063888620366226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7SFmYC0hxWT0vQh1V-MpRx92L4ExGlZB8I_EfCBXebXDUWcpD7y-BoGtvRZ430YXErxRRey_vZlmncVNLSJTfVciFc8l4xZm6We_UR2H-xkDHRndtSciU7a8wLbgRiBhIUhpPjc3t2GN/s400/193.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We made it safely to my bustling metropolis of a hometown, Rives Junction, Michigan, this past Tuesday afternoon and to my beloved Suburban waiting patiently for my return. I not only grew up on a farm, but in the heart of the automotive industry, and I have really missed driving our vehicles, especially my truck!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQg1iWQAjUIS9xVbGzPJwV6FgmTtbtx8_ICXqpDlgtJd5g94_5JwMq-AtvbNKDJPXAWQS8X0ZLsP51kCbOPkRLpDRqekjGP2dESe7feBZnWrfB8zeAe74HAGmMFHJ_ppWR87akQ3jqwVL/s1600-h/138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216674210504848194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQg1iWQAjUIS9xVbGzPJwV6FgmTtbtx8_ICXqpDlgtJd5g94_5JwMq-AtvbNKDJPXAWQS8X0ZLsP51kCbOPkRLpDRqekjGP2dESe7feBZnWrfB8zeAe74HAGmMFHJ_ppWR87akQ3jqwVL/s400/138.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our trip out allowed us to meet up with Karen and Doug and their beautiful daughter, Becky, when we made a stopover in Los Angeles. They took us to a lovely restaurant in Marina Del Ray and it was so nice to see a bit of this area and spend time with them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nS0DtgxHy5JbC3jW4g5BSGRlQwlZvfDZHM9vDYx67wu8wEpbg8v_fSGBzL6ODg44r-8KH1PMYJvFun2XJAGtVh6DKhGV29BW3-FaWzA06wLIAINeBxLYyfF01wGkjtBe9C9ScD1MH_6y/s1600-h/155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216674230023223330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nS0DtgxHy5JbC3jW4g5BSGRlQwlZvfDZHM9vDYx67wu8wEpbg8v_fSGBzL6ODg44r-8KH1PMYJvFun2XJAGtVh6DKhGV29BW3-FaWzA06wLIAINeBxLYyfF01wGkjtBe9C9ScD1MH_6y/s400/155.JPG" border="0" /></a> It has been very relaxing sitting out on my dad's patio and having this for a view. . . to make it perfect, of course, all that is needed is a few cows and horses.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljuGnaN8x61MlTI4ntOkDERGbhCbn9aBPe-FyGhpkijo5oGSrVJsh9TvxdNPrddvGQXtnbPtwpppAO7c3DwaXxc05J_Y6XrKy7sIlwd0MEY1TYreZx9W8evar-_CF3iEKPNpCuJvwWPQB/s1600-h/173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216674237986347618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljuGnaN8x61MlTI4ntOkDERGbhCbn9aBPe-FyGhpkijo5oGSrVJsh9TvxdNPrddvGQXtnbPtwpppAO7c3DwaXxc05J_Y6XrKy7sIlwd0MEY1TYreZx9W8evar-_CF3iEKPNpCuJvwWPQB/s400/173.JPG" border="0" /></a> Zoe asked how long cars last as we were taking a little spin in our convertible. When I told her we planned on keeping this vehicle, she let out a very happy cheer!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rnwHXgtzMMkYYFGxmNLBQUGTasHuxXORNpgsAPeqMQ-iBb5IfTymM3MRlxpKcZ4boR2Vv75rpXtfAGqfmR1_Z-oThCmEk7E8O5R6PW7Ex6yawGQCnviJOBl0DLy1s04mDlefqlOtvkh5/s1600-h/178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216674240981118482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rnwHXgtzMMkYYFGxmNLBQUGTasHuxXORNpgsAPeqMQ-iBb5IfTymM3MRlxpKcZ4boR2Vv75rpXtfAGqfmR1_Z-oThCmEk7E8O5R6PW7Ex6yawGQCnviJOBl0DLy1s04mDlefqlOtvkh5/s400/178.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sitting with my sister on their deck and enjoying family time again.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-50750188832294003952008-06-17T02:11:00.000-07:002008-06-17T02:38:19.295-07:00Night outI love this picture above that was taken by Jon when we were out with he and Retta to celebrate our 21st anniversary this past weekend. With the lights of the city illuminating the low clouds, it gives it this luminous almost surreal look, like it's not real but a movie set. It has been raining heavily every day for several days so it was nice to have a break to enjoy the lights of the city.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qbAzQz_XIwPxqsedFGpoeDt9Rx7JU8-_pRiZjfW3wWOrXMdUg8fn9LXto4lT0tZqNn5ftTbWegepwLyZnRsYN8V7RVPkHlD8AYOJtEJIz018U7OTBoPNfAu425gObkugPhraC9Zoi5_R/s1600-h/June+2008+HK+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212778103796868642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qbAzQz_XIwPxqsedFGpoeDt9Rx7JU8-_pRiZjfW3wWOrXMdUg8fn9LXto4lT0tZqNn5ftTbWegepwLyZnRsYN8V7RVPkHlD8AYOJtEJIz018U7OTBoPNfAu425gObkugPhraC9Zoi5_R/s400/June+2008+HK+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> I feel like we reached a significant milestone this anniversary, as we were 21 when we married and we have been married 21 years - wow, how time flies. . . starting in Denver, Colorado (7 years); Raleigh, North Carolina (2 years); Orlando, Florida (8 years); Ridgefield, Connecticut (2 years)- and now Hong Kong, China!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNbGl657Q0AVm5dvRKi847wsiFcoRC7RNZMemjGK8YN4TMiR-Mq9e68A2UU-9dKZ4-8Zm0XuSuMj3mmKDyNF16jjt6eFxVzJNdmBb1xbWIEYHdLEeSbh3WZGA9T6eIT4tGnmRQuPOFJP/s1600-h/June+2008+HK+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212778110869189586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNbGl657Q0AVm5dvRKi847wsiFcoRC7RNZMemjGK8YN4TMiR-Mq9e68A2UU-9dKZ4-8Zm0XuSuMj3mmKDyNF16jjt6eFxVzJNdmBb1xbWIEYHdLEeSbh3WZGA9T6eIT4tGnmRQuPOFJP/s400/June+2008+HK+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> That's the handprints of Jackie Chan we are actually touching!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f8x589vnl1l3Xk1yK194mRhj6QDSgiJjIM2G7NcjehirUwGsF9uvzIPbYNk1UipADbip_mY16dVnajEQ7VfQyGf7CRpRl3MGVLkNLBQFxY0o20Bo5n1Rd3GPekFlQeHrjjuBwRhcT44u/s1600-h/June+2008+HK+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212778116495217810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f8x589vnl1l3Xk1yK194mRhj6QDSgiJjIM2G7NcjehirUwGsF9uvzIPbYNk1UipADbip_mY16dVnajEQ7VfQyGf7CRpRl3MGVLkNLBQFxY0o20Bo5n1Rd3GPekFlQeHrjjuBwRhcT44u/s400/June+2008+HK+015.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is the last time the four of us will have time together out like this here in HK, as Jon, Retta, Jack, Jonah and Maddie Rae will be heading back to Lexington, KY, in a couple of weeks for good! Soooooo sad. . . but very happy that they are starting this exciting and new chapter of their lives. We've got some great memories, though, and look forward to the opportunity of fun family reunions in the future in the States!!!! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4aZuj8olUuitE6bXCRb6vtfXa39NtceVA3Vq9gaBr7EhbZhReD_amRrw74c0MT-1XNr65HcFScma_vbNYA2ZLXG5W8jX5IVG6x8soa9i83DD92SOBkknN9G1t8RmIqBBmMXjBe6aGmJ1/s1600-h/June+2008+HK+015.jpg"></a><br /><div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-85078587182874557002008-06-08T00:40:00.000-07:002008-06-17T02:50:42.581-07:00View from Our Window - Plus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0vsQ2RahDl38mBs6hHMetb0057mzql6uj2ke4cIaS2mEe9KCk6Mxsnmdcg84aTqnNi4Vq50NSPejDPCLPsgl_8Nim9l6ahjPvQNJOxurx7AF-lS1EVYHIWbhptvpO-QEC0HR0baKfnDZ/s1600-h/May+2008+Hong+Kong+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212784038417989522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0vsQ2RahDl38mBs6hHMetb0057mzql6uj2ke4cIaS2mEe9KCk6Mxsnmdcg84aTqnNi4Vq50NSPejDPCLPsgl_8Nim9l6ahjPvQNJOxurx7AF-lS1EVYHIWbhptvpO-QEC0HR0baKfnDZ/s400/May+2008+Hong+Kong+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Two months ago we moved into a flat two buildings away from where we were living. Unfortunately we lost our wonderful view of the park below us and the Marina beyond that. The picture above was taken looking to the left out our living area window. We were never able to see the skyline of Hong Kong from our old flat, so this is something we can enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqps2Dn7Ocmgg3daD310OGRI9hl6jAvxQXHBvtPCqFTc7m76wSO1rA8fowA5KggS1SQJHaGsfJfO6CCwhlJZMP8F-9dDloc6ucxV4LUQoAgfAZh7j7JAcJ1DwKE1yxuMIhKo0hyphenhyphenDamDnck/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209427134004833634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqps2Dn7Ocmgg3daD310OGRI9hl6jAvxQXHBvtPCqFTc7m76wSO1rA8fowA5KggS1SQJHaGsfJfO6CCwhlJZMP8F-9dDloc6ucxV4LUQoAgfAZh7j7JAcJ1DwKE1yxuMIhKo0hyphenhyphenDamDnck/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+143.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is our pedominant view out the window looking straight-on. We have put a large plant in the center of our window seat, so we at least look through some green at the other buildings.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluxRU596l1yUfn7ZmycjelbG4I-tsod8vxDyfvrQ3tyEchkRb9yyRxlqxqM5Va6Eo3YBBfzb4rOf9jnuFMMVoC79IyrKlH6-NWu_TSYs6uMKHuCzQeRoVqxbkP9G9C2RF2qO_h5LaplPX/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209427143850031298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluxRU596l1yUfn7ZmycjelbG4I-tsod8vxDyfvrQ3tyEchkRb9yyRxlqxqM5Va6Eo3YBBfzb4rOf9jnuFMMVoC79IyrKlH6-NWu_TSYs6uMKHuCzQeRoVqxbkP9G9C2RF2qO_h5LaplPX/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+149.jpg" border="0" /></a> The day before I was to visit Retta in the hospital with Maddie Rae, who was having her second surgery to repair her pallet, Retta asked if I thought I could find someone needing to get rid of a stroller because she had met a lady who was here in China from the States volunteering at a foster home in Beijing and had brought a baby down who needed surgery and could use a stroller. Thankfully, I was able to locate one very quickly just by letting the preschool next to the church know about the need. Within five minutes, the call came through they had one for us. When I brought it in, Annette, the lady in the picture above, was so thrilled. She is a pediatric intensive care nurse in Nashville and had donated five weeks of time to the foster home in Beijing. She had been in the hospital with this sweet little boy for a week!! She was on her own and both Retta and I could not imagine the patience and perserverance needed to take care of these children going through various needed medical treatments. When I asked if she would like a Subway sandwich (thank you, Lorne!) she did not hesitate to accept the offer, because she had been eating the hospital food and was desperate for a change. I asked her if they had a contact in Hong Kong and was so surprised when she told me they did not, so I told her that if they ever have a need, whether it be for a necessity, such as the stroller, or just a cup of coffee from Starbuck's, because most of the time they take the babies to this hospital, which is Seventh Day Adventist and there is not a drop of caffeine to be had there, to please let me know. The link to the foster home she volunteered her time at is: <a href="http://www.hopefosterhome.com/">http://www.hopefosterhome.com/</a>. Check it out and I think you will be impressed with the incredible ministry they have there. I certainly hope we will be able to meet some of their needs here in Hong Kong in the future.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMf_guWseuvfbf1tBMxTTPhFUsrRcaQWbXWTg-CZN6kKOUbUH8RJQa-1JY8P8nxIe9CfpLQFFSj75WpBa6CxlTFjCWjhW6hO3kKn2crOFE0LXBFRR3XDccdjHXquU0crPLVZ97UpJpWmub/s1600-h/May+2008+Hong+Kong+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209427150068031154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMf_guWseuvfbf1tBMxTTPhFUsrRcaQWbXWTg-CZN6kKOUbUH8RJQa-1JY8P8nxIe9CfpLQFFSj75WpBa6CxlTFjCWjhW6hO3kKn2crOFE0LXBFRR3XDccdjHXquU0crPLVZ97UpJpWmub/s400/May+2008+Hong+Kong+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> After our return from Huazhou, through the Huazhou Parents Yahoo group, I contacted a mom from the LA area, who I knew was coming to China soon to adopt her baby, who was also from the Huazhou Orphanage. The extra-special surprise was that Karen and her husband (who did not come to China, but stayed back with their two teenage children) attend a large Evangelical Free church. She was excited because they really wanted to find a place to worship while they were in Hong Kong. The morning after they arrived, they came to Discovery Bay to church and then we were able to spend some extra time at lunch afterwards. Karen, sitting next to Retta, was accompanied on her adoption journey by her mom, sitting next to Nadine, and her friend Destiney, sitting next to Retta. Destiney, who lives in Germany with her husband, who is an army chaplain, and their children, was also able to participate in our worship service through her beautiful voice. We enjoyed sharing our trip to Huazhou through our pictures and we are hoping to be able to work together through our two churches to raise the funds necessary for the playroom and playground.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcFGkusBuNwL_ymMu1KNDJI75OwWyveRYFcf46DXixFgwJDytjhzx5Ck_-D33krlmBKc94GK8ux5IVBLSLDyuwWoAmOtHB38aqGrc5PPRPAzLJZfdQvHtGb0oAzKzxgqbKQdcHkh5LOxe/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209427165933026690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcFGkusBuNwL_ymMu1KNDJI75OwWyveRYFcf46DXixFgwJDytjhzx5Ck_-D33krlmBKc94GK8ux5IVBLSLDyuwWoAmOtHB38aqGrc5PPRPAzLJZfdQvHtGb0oAzKzxgqbKQdcHkh5LOxe/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+087.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our church assisted in sponsoring a scavenger hunt for middle-school-aged kids and older a couple weeks ago here in Discovery Bay. The first prize donated was a helicopter ride over Hong Kong and neighboring islands - of course Lantau, our island, being one of them. The owner of the helicopter thought it would be a good idea if a few people could take the trip before the kids took it, so Brad, along with Jon, Retta's husband, and our youth coordinator at church and her husband, went on the "maiden" voyage, so to speak. Since Ellen found out what the first prize was, she talked non-stop about how she wanted to win so she could ride in the helicopter. She went to work on putting her "dream team" together, as the teams consisted of four people. It must have worked, because Ellen's team was one that came in first place and so on the 14th she will be taking the trip around Hong Kong. We'll dedicate a whole blog posting to that trip - I only wish I could tag along too. P.S. - do you see the black cow behind the helicopter? They landed near a private beach on Lantau where they spotted the local wildlife.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-57607015898887386532008-05-21T20:00:00.001-07:002008-06-08T03:00:38.180-07:00results of the pottery sale fundraiser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTbOrxZWws8znRR-LXUw37VJ_cxuMw1b3ulOwW4wU7utz7IwEvKdixEZG9PNgUfoBAjYpBShM-CAYIp0dWfzv0o0zxIUBei4HBsaONUdineVgI10a5rNDMa-6jlfy8HkT8zEfUyNGzfi3/s1600-h/DSC00159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209448135709190834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTbOrxZWws8znRR-LXUw37VJ_cxuMw1b3ulOwW4wU7utz7IwEvKdixEZG9PNgUfoBAjYpBShM-CAYIp0dWfzv0o0zxIUBei4HBsaONUdineVgI10a5rNDMa-6jlfy8HkT8zEfUyNGzfi3/s400/DSC00159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The picture above was sent to me today by our guide, Raymond, who received it from the directors of the Huazhou Orphanage showing one of the tv's and dvd's in use we purchased while there a short while ago. We were so pleased to be able to purchase a few much-needed items for them.<br /><br />Below I have included some pictures from the sale we had - I seem to have overlooked the results in the last couple of postings and my sister was asking what the results were, so I wanted to include that, as without the generous gifting of this beautiful porcelain, there would not have been a sale, nor would there have been the needed funds to purchase these items, nor provide cleft lip/pallet surgeries for two babies, nor fit a room out at the Anhui Cleft Healing Home!! We raised nearly 50,000 Hong Kong Dollars, which amounts to about $6,250 U.S. Dollars!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OgEdV-gTHxhqQnzg1zjXBg2KKcJQ5Z52hYvHr2JM3Ih9TpvrgtStL-i2CLN1gVLOZY_xpjlov7SJT8JzGfLdQWJXkQ76QwuJ3QcmZe_9kAhPkDpzNMMU6xF9gHlXFmV-ejPi9LlYeu9x/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038169263539010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OgEdV-gTHxhqQnzg1zjXBg2KKcJQ5Z52hYvHr2JM3Ih9TpvrgtStL-i2CLN1gVLOZY_xpjlov7SJT8JzGfLdQWJXkQ76QwuJ3QcmZe_9kAhPkDpzNMMU6xF9gHlXFmV-ejPi9LlYeu9x/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> These are the 70 boxes of hand-painted porcelain that we had packed a few days prior. Of course, we were concerned with how we were going to actually transport all of these boxes to Discovery Bay from Kowloon, but God had a hand in that as well and provided a generous donation from a man in the church who co-owns a moving truck. I don't think we could have fit these in a taxi and it would have cost quite a bit to rent a van, which would cut into our profits. We weren't a little nervous about how many people would come and how many boxes we would be repacking once it was over!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkRLggSRRr6zWy1hYprfUlySi4aP4rS17i1bmrHAU33_rdwQ-IFU9gqxl0Wy2YHAptUyidQ4NcD04D3ZwwX5aFrEYorkM4UmC1YyjeHUeUYAZujxwMIC5u_1Jz2x3_5EpYPqA2znOIU9U/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038177853473618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkRLggSRRr6zWy1hYprfUlySi4aP4rS17i1bmrHAU33_rdwQ-IFU9gqxl0Wy2YHAptUyidQ4NcD04D3ZwwX5aFrEYorkM4UmC1YyjeHUeUYAZujxwMIC5u_1Jz2x3_5EpYPqA2znOIU9U/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> The porcelain-packin' crew. Everyone worked hard to clean, price, sell and pack up peoples' purchases. You might wonder, "where are all these lovely ladies from?" Well, I will tell you that: Sweden, Singapore, Canada, Dubai, South Africa, USA and Britain! We're the United Nations, I guess.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4GuD8VBjAganlB6aHrYGQg0xy68IqJ9-aLY0g4ehvq975Twc7ebYIeMCt1jLPRGeh6QtDHI1mQuyFOj16_yirOL11brnw5OluzOfB7mjOv9F50eehqGMbcesxSwDQcoZQYb17DNFYwSd/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038186443408226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4GuD8VBjAganlB6aHrYGQg0xy68IqJ9-aLY0g4ehvq975Twc7ebYIeMCt1jLPRGeh6QtDHI1mQuyFOj16_yirOL11brnw5OluzOfB7mjOv9F50eehqGMbcesxSwDQcoZQYb17DNFYwSd/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> We had soooooo much to sell, the floors were covered, tables covered, every even surface, with porcelain!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbB_c-7pNQWVzqWpbudvsdGml5JeIsB_daOOiLWplOz8Iyou0memaakz0lyQYTFvaFQWfaT2qjmgPTh1G3ow3GICFJmvejSckSsvY7rpF1xr0-INv8Ixyt9FiwNnw5kp6_4PaVOZ_lKO3/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038190738375538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbB_c-7pNQWVzqWpbudvsdGml5JeIsB_daOOiLWplOz8Iyou0memaakz0lyQYTFvaFQWfaT2qjmgPTh1G3ow3GICFJmvejSckSsvY7rpF1xr0-INv8Ixyt9FiwNnw5kp6_4PaVOZ_lKO3/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ahhh, success, happy people carrying heavy bags of porcelain out the door. People were very generous and I heard many times that they didn't really "need" it, but since it was going for a good cause, why not!?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u-dHQmz5NnpXK300hCILLf2AOp414U47P-EVZ5hvkshHMg9tKy7_j2ZhrcW2Y7RKVfrUBDkmauUYyLNh-Yx8xXmQZMK7SxSaDRkKrgJUCaHbEyXkc6CiCIj6RsUMGmPq3iyns-yVdjLa/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038195033342850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u-dHQmz5NnpXK300hCILLf2AOp414U47P-EVZ5hvkshHMg9tKy7_j2ZhrcW2Y7RKVfrUBDkmauUYyLNh-Yx8xXmQZMK7SxSaDRkKrgJUCaHbEyXkc6CiCIj6RsUMGmPq3iyns-yVdjLa/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The "partial" end result of our labor was standing in the appliance store with the directors of the orphanage and our guide Raymond and asking them what they needed. It was fun to raise the money, but of course it was even more fun shopping and spending it!!!! We sent the other half of our procees to Love Without Boundaries to provide the surgeries and room completion.</div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-14884052392743762852008-05-13T16:04:00.000-07:002008-05-22T01:11:34.753-07:00A harsh reality<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4amBRL422a8C2bizZH7NzK-1gOx3-tBzBCDAfiK3pP6UEm5m_gIbxyoLuaTOzhbo9P1HGypKRkqXpnZUMH4wUksV2MhuLYDXYd2vNP_WIKEIbQPlc7OmsDd3DhHEGQq-k0RW1LgyQ0av/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203111600319398818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4amBRL422a8C2bizZH7NzK-1gOx3-tBzBCDAfiK3pP6UEm5m_gIbxyoLuaTOzhbo9P1HGypKRkqXpnZUMH4wUksV2MhuLYDXYd2vNP_WIKEIbQPlc7OmsDd3DhHEGQq-k0RW1LgyQ0av/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I wanted to post a few more pictures of the Huazhou orphanage and say a bit more about our time we spent there. Before coming to this orphanage, I had been to Hefei (Ellen's orphanage) and Shaogaun, (Maddie Rae's orphanage) so I think my expectation was that it would be similar to these; however, it was really nothing like them, except for the actual buildings themselves. Hefei and Shaogaun have been the beneficaries of some wonderful foundations out there dedicated to helping China's orphans. They come in and build out beautifully furnished playrooms and playgrounds, train nannies, create foster families, etc. I have incluced a picture from Hefei in here so you can compare the two rooms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgtBFnKVgFz08b2kCch-m1Rm2nWtFtVVD6wegaGjgBTeaLBFVILXjpYHNuZ3t2COt20V43n6sLMyqmQWQmzK5qQPaH1ps1UsRvwAckN0zbcoHa0vmEWTXEzP6DMIA6aQKzwFNv7VfEnt2/s1600-h/Hefei-Sanya+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200181685536320082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgtBFnKVgFz08b2kCch-m1Rm2nWtFtVVD6wegaGjgBTeaLBFVILXjpYHNuZ3t2COt20V43n6sLMyqmQWQmzK5qQPaH1ps1UsRvwAckN0zbcoHa0vmEWTXEzP6DMIA6aQKzwFNv7VfEnt2/s400/Hefei-Sanya+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkU2DvDpLkHaSjUc2ApVSSiGfJgzi-XsjUPsj4F-nX_Yu6RQdDqM0uf4Vm6_EixDP4q0QOW5ohmmXA4LjovFiMpEX2XnBfLsqS_q-JsdoNU_DTe2AA8rKGjShA05j4H3SDKsum1V6fKqf/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+288.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200007494547696146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkU2DvDpLkHaSjUc2ApVSSiGfJgzi-XsjUPsj4F-nX_Yu6RQdDqM0uf4Vm6_EixDP4q0QOW5ohmmXA4LjovFiMpEX2XnBfLsqS_q-JsdoNU_DTe2AA8rKGjShA05j4H3SDKsum1V6fKqf/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+288.jpg" border="0" /></a> The playroom in Huazhou, stark, just a couple of ride-on type toys - we brought several toys that we are unwrapping here. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlaUPxzHyVbE0viQ6blGQY-nxeobdLyJobxtaJRKGl05TdhEoOGxmy8gNO6_Sq2Gi13_-8g7s28-mFQzqYRPaCMT0EHGBvZ3YQWPYOm29EyRGtZ18RBbdM25PpZggNM7b-dGUgznDkoBI/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+310.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200007503137630754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlaUPxzHyVbE0viQ6blGQY-nxeobdLyJobxtaJRKGl05TdhEoOGxmy8gNO6_Sq2Gi13_-8g7s28-mFQzqYRPaCMT0EHGBvZ3YQWPYOm29EyRGtZ18RBbdM25PpZggNM7b-dGUgznDkoBI/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+310.jpg" border="0" /></a> These precious angels were laying on boards that were painted and the paint was chipping. Not a good combination for a little one like this. I am working to find out the dimensions of the cribs and finding appropriate padding, as the babies don't wear diapers so it needs to be something that wipes up easily and is sanitary and a bit of a cushion too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AAUlXG64cHSjdY-ovxmop0kNlC2hxyXjI8fw1oe2yI4WFxOps6zCYIY_0akIifZmqeIpZcDkZ3MWBXA6Kb3Dukeecg3Vkvnl-_W0wz4CV9pPlVWJn7PK4uX-vUvC-7r8Xt8fZ48bt7uK/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+323.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200007516022532658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AAUlXG64cHSjdY-ovxmop0kNlC2hxyXjI8fw1oe2yI4WFxOps6zCYIY_0akIifZmqeIpZcDkZ3MWBXA6Kb3Dukeecg3Vkvnl-_W0wz4CV9pPlVWJn7PK4uX-vUvC-7r8Xt8fZ48bt7uK/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+323.jpg" border="0" /></a> These little girls - yes, girls - were initially very leary of us, as they should be. There's no playground outside, so they stay inside, I would imagine, the majority of the time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliSWYrMFLdVoh5vlBZiK_VyRaTxNUBsmskW6YBs2ibD5ebEJKr_3a7ukjzjQwnqlyVmMvlU3a5iLxW0P-mKl7VuiXXBEuCNZ3E_Ev1XI67HZnV1-3PK0Aq1mhN3FJ9h1R8uEGkfi7umpW/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200007520317499970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliSWYrMFLdVoh5vlBZiK_VyRaTxNUBsmskW6YBs2ibD5ebEJKr_3a7ukjzjQwnqlyVmMvlU3a5iLxW0P-mKl7VuiXXBEuCNZ3E_Ev1XI67HZnV1-3PK0Aq1mhN3FJ9h1R8uEGkfi7umpW/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+307.jpg" border="0" /></a> There were two nannies for this baby room, with about 25 babies, and the adjacent playroom of about seven toddlers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-79272473747025227122008-05-12T03:30:00.000-07:002008-05-12T05:18:09.574-07:00Trip to HuazhouWe had an incredible trip back to the place of Zoe's birth this past weekend. It took eight hours on a train to get there, but thankfully we were not alone in our unique journey, as we were once again accompanied by our good friends, the Christensen family, who joined us this time last year on our return to Hefei, the place of Ellen's birth.<br /><br />Zoe was born in Huazhou, Guangdong, a town near the North Vietnam border. We chose to take the train after having found out if we flew it would take virtually the same amount of time due to there not being direct flights near where we needed to go. So, always up for an adventure, some of us more than others, we chose the train. Mmmm, could write a few blog entires on that experience . . .<br /><br />The pictures are in no particular order, and if you want to get a fuller view of them, just double-click!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoYhM_fT93CMkjPo_RmUUn1Pp5I96ZI0ZAQucLrmlxpBJXDYNDlzPxsFctQ-S0zS0K2WUossI46b3DOZa14y6_pBMzQGrinhz0VgtSQR__IH7i0wpqmUbgjQnHmDL4i0pnLkZO6UwOA0P/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+171.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199462235564566978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoYhM_fT93CMkjPo_RmUUn1Pp5I96ZI0ZAQucLrmlxpBJXDYNDlzPxsFctQ-S0zS0K2WUossI46b3DOZa14y6_pBMzQGrinhz0VgtSQR__IH7i0wpqmUbgjQnHmDL4i0pnLkZO6UwOA0P/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+171.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes, that is actually blue sky and clouds, not Photoshopped in either! I took this on the Star Ferry ride over to Kowloon to the train station.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zODrsQMVSC-Ht3OJwXeYOaeVO8xByin1DIudFJqmmLMvy6HaphFZ5L1-ftDmKkfJ1DK559E5PHDLwjyQouWH9IO2dze2-XD521jSyWsv62nbdVDgxw8rXHkBwXOAUWyHpHvcMQPWLlHv/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+327.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199462244154501586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zODrsQMVSC-Ht3OJwXeYOaeVO8xByin1DIudFJqmmLMvy6HaphFZ5L1-ftDmKkfJ1DK559E5PHDLwjyQouWH9IO2dze2-XD521jSyWsv62nbdVDgxw8rXHkBwXOAUWyHpHvcMQPWLlHv/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+327.jpg" border="0" /></a> The view looking out from the orphanage balcony.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo-qCOQBe7IYNRCaAxrms0xYEbq8yxHLKsCCS_rf1sdrjNnpDNt3CdoThxHJlZMMOfuJL3Z2lxVpFhqY9JKT_51aorIEwJoFw51sOD5QSrXfncrdEaMjP_ZOtKAmVvlse3yWIyVRUySqK/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+338.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199462252744436194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo-qCOQBe7IYNRCaAxrms0xYEbq8yxHLKsCCS_rf1sdrjNnpDNt3CdoThxHJlZMMOfuJL3Z2lxVpFhqY9JKT_51aorIEwJoFw51sOD5QSrXfncrdEaMjP_ZOtKAmVvlse3yWIyVRUySqK/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+338.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lorne and his camera fans.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h2U7VkDhBSBo0IFgliJPyt4OF8owK7SZbI2t6kbiGvMoh_vDhDdAF2FmIjcD1BorPaiQitwSRLvfmTI4g5PE_YC-iJbCgdownbNpJ_4tuD0hh5gBrQUR1qf_U0rQ4wAYYwEj888suzjO/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+257.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199462257039403506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h2U7VkDhBSBo0IFgliJPyt4OF8owK7SZbI2t6kbiGvMoh_vDhDdAF2FmIjcD1BorPaiQitwSRLvfmTI4g5PE_YC-iJbCgdownbNpJ_4tuD0hh5gBrQUR1qf_U0rQ4wAYYwEj888suzjO/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+257.jpg" border="0" /></a> Okay, here's the story behind this one: The train stopped on the way to Maoming to let another train pass. That's a good thing. However, when I looked outside the window, I thought, "Oh my word, that's a snake he has!" He went and washed it off in this big mud puddle and then put it in a bag and attached it to the back of his belt (you can see two bags he has attached to his belt) and took off on his bike. Guess we knew what he was having for dinner. I just wanted the train to start before snakeman tried to auction his yummy morcel to someone on the train. Yikes!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVLXv7gQsLBWlQQ2e0Sm5N1U-f51YyvhFMUvZLd2BY2cKH4-pxtPaQkHRpoY7Xp6YPASXHFlf8W9lKHyyxX41t0lNS-m8CVFikLCsd2zXM54FVyW9DF3ULX2a_wjj_OYgIt3frK-msG5g/s1600-h/porc-huazhou+2008+358.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199462265629338114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVLXv7gQsLBWlQQ2e0Sm5N1U-f51YyvhFMUvZLd2BY2cKH4-pxtPaQkHRpoY7Xp6YPASXHFlf8W9lKHyyxX41t0lNS-m8CVFikLCsd2zXM54FVyW9DF3ULX2a_wjj_OYgIt3frK-msG5g/s400/porc-huazhou+2008+358.jpg" border="0" /></a> Zoe and Hannah standing at Zoe's "finding spot" <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQLy-9-yrS4Ki6tTRYIcgStbcxDU_J4qzrLEa9B0c4z3bVPW6TXZK5ZOnV-gvDDFFUlitngRl21VKu2cC8FWyjkJa7Re6Z8ALtwZBhaSbUMS5GEizn-Af9b3RFqgMFIRiI-aScItP1o7l/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199449127324379506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQLy-9-yrS4Ki6tTRYIcgStbcxDU_J4qzrLEa9B0c4z3bVPW6TXZK5ZOnV-gvDDFFUlitngRl21VKu2cC8FWyjkJa7Re6Z8ALtwZBhaSbUMS5GEizn-Af9b3RFqgMFIRiI-aScItP1o7l/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+045.jpg" border="0" /></a> You see people transporting some incredible loads in China! Lorne said the bamboo went about 3 feet beyond what he was able to capture with his camera.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTa5hmaD4AYhZNhCEcqzBFEkd7xfznOJ_PfidPCwVglufgiX1IFIDcn0o_unEEg7vZ_0SsGdGp2TWRi5NVDzguvV1EjLde0-J8AEOcHGArYVXokw4GjVNo6oLNlgbOWxg8mqj45ykEpJM/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199449131619346818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTa5hmaD4AYhZNhCEcqzBFEkd7xfznOJ_PfidPCwVglufgiX1IFIDcn0o_unEEg7vZ_0SsGdGp2TWRi5NVDzguvV1EjLde0-J8AEOcHGArYVXokw4GjVNo6oLNlgbOWxg8mqj45ykEpJM/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our beautiful smiley girl, Ellen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM7XFlx-l3imWLSRs5lZ_EGwTpaamIeLV39wWaeIMqrZ2_IA8ntcHyu9GB2hVsrUvske1TTg0sPu73YeflPogS-HgrhYk5w2I3czQx4b7RrIBCVbF55gXZAOovz_wtRt_jLie-oc4an12/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199449165979085202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM7XFlx-l3imWLSRs5lZ_EGwTpaamIeLV39wWaeIMqrZ2_IA8ntcHyu9GB2hVsrUvske1TTg0sPu73YeflPogS-HgrhYk5w2I3czQx4b7RrIBCVbF55gXZAOovz_wtRt_jLie-oc4an12/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> The beginning of our train journey to Maoming. The look on the train assistant's face looking at Nadine poking her head out the door is funny. Crazy Gweilo people, she is probably thinking.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD4YirtVffL6YyaNjI33ZduNbXSCl9q-k04Gvc23ltAiS_JivSWgm-r23-_KkChOkVGWEJCyZcIiT7tDjhi7Kdg6rDY1E7oN1zQSlbWr49YqBLz2d_nObrFXiG_cQOYfecwyotzcMjJNG/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199449178863987106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD4YirtVffL6YyaNjI33ZduNbXSCl9q-k04Gvc23ltAiS_JivSWgm-r23-_KkChOkVGWEJCyZcIiT7tDjhi7Kdg6rDY1E7oN1zQSlbWr49YqBLz2d_nObrFXiG_cQOYfecwyotzcMjJNG/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+044.jpg" border="0" /></a> The area where Zoe was born was once part of the Vietnam Kingdom, according to our guide, Raymond, and he said that it looks very much like Vietnam today.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZFM82ZbiNdDq1bLFwWcCRDf7eA5z1tSFFltdEciR9dw581zTcCIqThpAV_W_YJpzl3FBhATlVu0GMSsnDQPJ4FosoLk_ziXVR17w-F3hipNG9vfsgAH-tFr13oltzGY2qyFJC-k_Er01/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199449191748889010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZFM82ZbiNdDq1bLFwWcCRDf7eA5z1tSFFltdEciR9dw581zTcCIqThpAV_W_YJpzl3FBhATlVu0GMSsnDQPJ4FosoLk_ziXVR17w-F3hipNG9vfsgAH-tFr13oltzGY2qyFJC-k_Er01/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+059.jpg" border="0" /></a>Just hangin' out (literally) on the train back to Guangzhou.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQb93HiSXG-_I5GNq3FAnN7HRhrC_0L9ooBiPQd9W92O7Uy5xhK0W4RJ5km3lE9OCtdQtABSGFIJmABE7HGJZ0hzaNpCo5ElwBr7n6udqWh7MlqZOXexPdJ7I_rWzkkyVqNVzLtXh7-jC/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199440176612534578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQb93HiSXG-_I5GNq3FAnN7HRhrC_0L9ooBiPQd9W92O7Uy5xhK0W4RJ5km3lE9OCtdQtABSGFIJmABE7HGJZ0hzaNpCo5ElwBr7n6udqWh7MlqZOXexPdJ7I_rWzkkyVqNVzLtXh7-jC/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+038.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here we are standing at Zoe's "finding spot," located on a busy street across from the Real Estate Bureau of Huazhou. That is Hannah and Noah Christensen and also Raymond, our dear friend, who was our guide for Ellen as well as Zoe.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3r-Lb0PWvgl3WklrCN-kROAE-2PXdRpsNUwKY8aep5UQu6oVjZAl3Wo_O8pzxHHsr-VELS2S40T3LYu8a6pc9xyBzqoH10Xtf8JX792W26zsSI5hZlgid6s9cw8TTw2LwQ4Z-C4eZ3-L7/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199440189497436482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3r-Lb0PWvgl3WklrCN-kROAE-2PXdRpsNUwKY8aep5UQu6oVjZAl3Wo_O8pzxHHsr-VELS2S40T3LYu8a6pc9xyBzqoH10Xtf8JX792W26zsSI5hZlgid6s9cw8TTw2LwQ4Z-C4eZ3-L7/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+051.jpg" border="0" /></a> The three directors of the orphanage treated us to a sumptuous lunch. They indicated to Brad that as the head of the family, he got the "honor" of eating the chicken's head. I had to laugh to myself because he "chickened" out and let Raymond show him how it was done, but they let him vamp for the camera here, after which Brad gladly handed the head over to Raymond.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn0AewZrT77BKUmuDsvUbMTQNIiP6Ir7xm87D0BYqFb4PWza1GtmApAfwA87SVlEpvPaOmn6TKnbAqpLvfMEx_PhS-CTSBubqouCDa2OOjTDzK4Bpol8L9YdN_0b1PK5nw8mp60xvnCu3/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+037.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMwTFv2Kh_F-CMogYQtZoAcvrt8MgpLghZormJppib0no-JfG4DOftybjw_hDcYBgh0_SPcPGKT6Be_RYXSQFNdUbkBaW_xxQb4_2npcaITDk-E4JPgT0i4WcmQUPgBWV-QqmKPkjFG0g/s1600-h/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199440202382338402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMwTFv2Kh_F-CMogYQtZoAcvrt8MgpLghZormJppib0no-JfG4DOftybjw_hDcYBgh0_SPcPGKT6Be_RYXSQFNdUbkBaW_xxQb4_2npcaITDk-E4JPgT0i4WcmQUPgBWV-QqmKPkjFG0g/s400/Huazhou+-+lorne+pics+030.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was so great to see smiles on the faces of these little ones enjoying the little toys that we brought.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-17307586070369577692008-04-25T17:59:00.000-07:002008-04-25T20:44:51.631-07:00"Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely . . ." Psalm 112:5This would certainly describe the dear lady pictured above and her husband, who has given the church a large amount of beautiful hand-painted porcelain from their business they are closing down here in Hong Kong as they are immigrating to Canada. When I heard they were donating porcelain to non-profit groups, I inquired as to whether we could be a beneficiary to raise proceeds for three orphanages near and dear to our hearts, and that would be where Zoe, Maddie Rae, and Ellen spent the early part of their lives. We weren't exactly sure of the amount to be given us, as Josephine and Arthur chose the items, but when we walked into the store, we were completely overwhelmed at the amount that they indicated was all ours!! My thought was that we were going to be there a very, very long time. Not too long after we began packing, it was obvious that we didn't have near enough boxes, so after a couple of phone calls to our dear friend Lam, who donated the truck to ship all of these boxes from the warehouse to the church, we received a delivery of 50 more boxes, in addition to our 40 that were there already. After four hours of packing, we had 70 - yes, that is 7-0 - boxes!! The sale is on Tuesday and Saturday, so pray with us that it will be a success and we won't be looking for locations to store boxes of porcelain, but rather able to send much-needed money to these childrens' welfare homes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR-nJI-_vYD-YnbiDKz5RmnRO8CKZtL4veHum9S6nZx9TAoP2XDw7Vbyhd2yrYCgCcKeF5n_Jyc2uL5K2UXf6GntT83Vkcbo-f7dDev7-fFSoiTdm2aFirgKaZujqJd73vgrYCnylvghu/s1600-h/Wrencropped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193385356071990658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR-nJI-_vYD-YnbiDKz5RmnRO8CKZtL4veHum9S6nZx9TAoP2XDw7Vbyhd2yrYCgCcKeF5n_Jyc2uL5K2UXf6GntT83Vkcbo-f7dDev7-fFSoiTdm2aFirgKaZujqJd73vgrYCnylvghu/s400/Wrencropped.jpg" border="0" /></a> This little angel is Wren, who is living in Hefei, Anhui, where Ellen was born. My friend Retta is her sponsor, and it is our hope and prayer that we would be able to earn enough from the sale to pay for a surgery for one or more of the children born with a cleft lip and pallet, so that one day they will be as beautiful as this other little angel, Maddie Rae Fuman Kelley!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSlT_alqexv-lU93MgKPi7e1unM7VdOwEJHKxIcfrTXmz1_gkQzNqE680HzBWx-yc-clOeHtHBKpvKTM-w7kKkUnbg3saoMUug_AKtRPLx-E7AIX-7VjWKBbU4LfbnGIZn0tfU7TpR5cr/s1600-h/IMG_0428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193385360366957970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSlT_alqexv-lU93MgKPi7e1unM7VdOwEJHKxIcfrTXmz1_gkQzNqE680HzBWx-yc-clOeHtHBKpvKTM-w7kKkUnbg3saoMUug_AKtRPLx-E7AIX-7VjWKBbU4LfbnGIZn0tfU7TpR5cr/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" /></a>Though the packing was hard work, we managed to have some fun. . .<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ8PI9bR6RbHUjpzmT6UuXAOdbKGyYIwGsXjbhRtUIx0JRv5tcoeVS186WxkpuQuHtSx0ImmHaPZXhRF3xo2Dm3rLvKEobwLk6BTpTjo0wxPnuOGGnErvUk8ueVYam8Zm3MfaMT5oSUU4/s1600-h/IMG_1171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193361450284020978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ8PI9bR6RbHUjpzmT6UuXAOdbKGyYIwGsXjbhRtUIx0JRv5tcoeVS186WxkpuQuHtSx0ImmHaPZXhRF3xo2Dm3rLvKEobwLk6BTpTjo0wxPnuOGGnErvUk8ueVYam8Zm3MfaMT5oSUU4/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sandy and Retta doing their "Vanna pose."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fMklMlGzZXIv_uGH16Zp4sdvPmC6ibMJgcudYFtxoiSYkhLrqKEXszV5mw42pSVwSBUH1EpuiPEfNfBiC5bWJ0irF9VRxzvsaQSMyc2YIcg2EiBpDtL99uPQKspbz80hRxtGA7MKgAxe/s1600-h/IMG_1175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193361458873955586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fMklMlGzZXIv_uGH16Zp4sdvPmC6ibMJgcudYFtxoiSYkhLrqKEXszV5mw42pSVwSBUH1EpuiPEfNfBiC5bWJ0irF9VRxzvsaQSMyc2YIcg2EiBpDtL99uPQKspbz80hRxtGA7MKgAxe/s400/IMG_1175.JPG" border="0" /></a> Josephine's husband, Arthur. Both of them stayed right there with us packing and bringing us newspapers, tape, putting boxes together - they have incredible stamina!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz4R8w4y2bu2IuAOK87__yHOEgNxm-B5fWMY0qwoDBvWf0vqHocNZjyfyYln88kNi6wgyNaGJmiAH4pAG7ift9i6rKvbzij2EnabET_b5OjFYXZNbq5XHeRVmp2Du-W6ie90QXdnBNF94/s1600-h/IMG_1173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193361463168922898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz4R8w4y2bu2IuAOK87__yHOEgNxm-B5fWMY0qwoDBvWf0vqHocNZjyfyYln88kNi6wgyNaGJmiAH4pAG7ift9i6rKvbzij2EnabET_b5OjFYXZNbq5XHeRVmp2Du-W6ie90QXdnBNF94/s400/IMG_1173.JPG" border="0" /></a> The porcelain-packin' crew, minus Sandy, who is on the other end of the camera.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjNfRyZWRBpODzjdNeTgUDGp0YrusL044yu71xiQpmwrpdkPxyjLDyd36SufwstW00v1N_EPKFA03ZBx7ztMBBmnhg_DL1gNiGIbucqFiwJYEpelGae9dsbCavh_UZM0y_DPOKrNlOlw/s1600-h/IMG_1176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193361467463890210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjNfRyZWRBpODzjdNeTgUDGp0YrusL044yu71xiQpmwrpdkPxyjLDyd36SufwstW00v1N_EPKFA03ZBx7ztMBBmnhg_DL1gNiGIbucqFiwJYEpelGae9dsbCavh_UZM0y_DPOKrNlOlw/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jeanette, Nicki and Sally working away. </div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-49121970509041398022008-04-20T17:15:00.001-07:002008-04-25T19:35:20.183-07:00Missing home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui9PpOquegfb3E7iXDA8kEuhcaGD_udgO6OpZE7IeFXk5Hx_HUfobnFjB9A6rAX85xLpHjsThCR3xYhD1a6Rr8ijQjM5AYzFEk7g5QlhR23YcOuDidcmmRGDXyvzy9m5eKUGS6IPMIS23/s1600-h/summer+2007+-+Ellen"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193373154069902658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui9PpOquegfb3E7iXDA8kEuhcaGD_udgO6OpZE7IeFXk5Hx_HUfobnFjB9A6rAX85xLpHjsThCR3xYhD1a6Rr8ijQjM5AYzFEk7g5QlhR23YcOuDidcmmRGDXyvzy9m5eKUGS6IPMIS23/s400/summer+2007+-+Ellen%27s+birthday+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, it's official - I'm homesiiiiiiiick! I'm glad we took many pictures this past summer while home so we could go back and look at our fav people and places and remember they are still there waiting for us to return in a couple of months. The picture above is of the farm I grew up on, where my father has toiled many, many hours to make a beautiful place for cattle to graze, horses to roam, and crops to grow and for kids like me to have a place where there was plenty of room to play and call my own.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFLQ8DrmWxffZ87UZHJ_626XUarmU3KfGp5k-a31eQjffFTV0xO4D2UTH2V1fyI0Hb1q2xQ6Je1V5XPtlQ6YJRrtNStGIEMVcvoDn9qCGqNnzKbqKkUNdDj0RWm8sGVZ-bjkhOb5axjrs/s1600-h/summer+2007+-+Ellen"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191494936816640802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFLQ8DrmWxffZ87UZHJ_626XUarmU3KfGp5k-a31eQjffFTV0xO4D2UTH2V1fyI0Hb1q2xQ6Je1V5XPtlQ6YJRrtNStGIEMVcvoDn9qCGqNnzKbqKkUNdDj0RWm8sGVZ-bjkhOb5axjrs/s400/summer+2007+-+Ellen%27s+birthday+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> My next favorite place is the beach - a clean, beautiful Florida beach, we have visited many, many times, as we spent seven years living in Florida, and it's so close to grandma and papa's house too. Toes in the sand, looking out at the water, feeling the sun on my face, it doesn't get much better than that.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeEP3-YMTFpzN5YHpliIwxf9vqCFA2UE2YbnoU1qOX649JBc-LoTsC15mOJHGPTWIP_drXqc6CRaU3jWfCQulXbGombD_uWlVe1t9WtFTg1s8pEQ_e6XHmP0fYuncWhNth2_osf16TmaS/s1600-h/summer+2007+-+Ellen"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191494941111608114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeEP3-YMTFpzN5YHpliIwxf9vqCFA2UE2YbnoU1qOX649JBc-LoTsC15mOJHGPTWIP_drXqc6CRaU3jWfCQulXbGombD_uWlVe1t9WtFTg1s8pEQ_e6XHmP0fYuncWhNth2_osf16TmaS/s400/summer+2007+-+Ellen%27s+birthday+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, everyone needs a crazy papa and the girls and their cousins have most certainly got one in their Papa Hicks! We could tell some "crazy papa" stories here right now, but I'll just let you enjoy the picture. . . I think once he sees I've posted this particular picture, I'm going to be glad I am 8,000-plus miles from Sebastian, Florida!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQS4LfDvhF2VRlEyQkvY_LbgU7krIvC9CSsYt0oec0urzsm9Ho5yLzQqfVswwHzcb9wz9nHpVuP_sdaSu6nE588pMq4m-ukKG1lHAyReefBbwnhZvDQ8-V-ypGUTtRuOnK8PzTPwGQrhN/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191494941111608130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQS4LfDvhF2VRlEyQkvY_LbgU7krIvC9CSsYt0oec0urzsm9Ho5yLzQqfVswwHzcb9wz9nHpVuP_sdaSu6nE588pMq4m-ukKG1lHAyReefBbwnhZvDQ8-V-ypGUTtRuOnK8PzTPwGQrhN/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a> Ahhh, Target. Miss this place soooooo much too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRaZBjiC3YnwQOpalw4PShXRqxITXufHYBRHOYZ4SVaM3-NYhTVpNe7p8nBqsRaUQby0h98XTbwfI3aYlKRLmYN4fZGrRgA96xbK8PHF9Kx2DnvbUY4YvaEe8GYtAw9Ci1SC0RmWdnJ-Z/s1600-h/suburban.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191494945406575442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRaZBjiC3YnwQOpalw4PShXRqxITXufHYBRHOYZ4SVaM3-NYhTVpNe7p8nBqsRaUQby0h98XTbwfI3aYlKRLmYN4fZGrRgA96xbK8PHF9Kx2DnvbUY4YvaEe8GYtAw9Ci1SC0RmWdnJ-Z/s400/suburban.bmp" border="0" /></a> Now, this is what I am really, really missing, getting behind the wheel of my truck and taking off to, where else, Target and the grocery store and hauling a bunch of kids around!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsw4cv9dJ6ydFzfBa7LOyG1jzZ46JBLXKOMOHBEGFS74Mpp1_TAO2djsl9lTfANbCVcm5ZhRQPF4GdghdLbZgxpceDarZvG1eNfkQr5mBAhcih2sTV5SHDxRS35U-MQ5JIsJtu52Y672Nc/s1600-h/Picture+019.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-78919279834379844552008-04-14T15:50:00.001-07:002008-04-21T01:32:41.614-07:00Brad's turn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8Wuk0DX9-yN4jhPJKrLjDxwES7SEtdHj5am3G_aR32XqXzN1lLCU2C4W8q1KoGTzSta_XZ8qdL21D9pGjR8ixYDveOIkEALvorsDN5zulh9asFGSRyM5LZLDl0mBNpKJrBQPcrsRTuxQ/s1600-h/Perfect+Pool+Hike+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191612627510485874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8Wuk0DX9-yN4jhPJKrLjDxwES7SEtdHj5am3G_aR32XqXzN1lLCU2C4W8q1KoGTzSta_XZ8qdL21D9pGjR8ixYDveOIkEALvorsDN5zulh9asFGSRyM5LZLDl0mBNpKJrBQPcrsRTuxQ/s400/Perfect+Pool+Hike+080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotlcwzKWt7AZ2jN-Ztykcrxj41OPlGA3i1Xmf9QMAppVUixFJreetaAVwSRs7EEdt7c1Ncp1Y4sygOPg2sRQT4NYTS4r8bNdwMmuKbO6M1my9BucQskz6BHKAKj33nDjovwuGc154Jh6m/s1600-h/Perfect+Pool+Hike+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189242172425930194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotlcwzKWt7AZ2jN-Ztykcrxj41OPlGA3i1Xmf9QMAppVUixFJreetaAVwSRs7EEdt7c1Ncp1Y4sygOPg2sRQT4NYTS4r8bNdwMmuKbO6M1my9BucQskz6BHKAKj33nDjovwuGc154Jh6m/s400/Perfect+Pool+Hike+030.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our HicksHouse Blog turns the "spotlight" on dad and hubby this week. He has an extremely busy schedule and hardly has any time for fun and relaxation. . . actually, that is really true, but there have been, and hopefully will be in the future, special times spent with friends and family. Here's a snippet of those. The two pictures above were taken last year on a long and somewhat treacherous hike up the mountain. They did get to stop along the way for much needed refreshment. I was happy to hear there were no hot pools with Swedish babes in them, as there were when he would go hiking with the guys in Colorado . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz1FqQcfWivKcV-XsPjRaVMK4DjmCEeyK1sL7Gzkmlf1mugHlzBcYhjTt3ARz9JqeRPuOOrG_9iMyJgzCsK5LM9aB3UYH1PtvYOIkScltawG72iQ0fC3gJ5XrnGR-vV8Q_lAAeCkG-pMb/s1600-h/Christmas+Eve-Cheung+Chew+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189242185310832098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz1FqQcfWivKcV-XsPjRaVMK4DjmCEeyK1sL7Gzkmlf1mugHlzBcYhjTt3ARz9JqeRPuOOrG_9iMyJgzCsK5LM9aB3UYH1PtvYOIkScltawG72iQ0fC3gJ5XrnGR-vV8Q_lAAeCkG-pMb/s400/Christmas+Eve-Cheung+Chew+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> On Cheung Chau last year on an outing with the Kelley and Christensen family, Brad let Noah peddle him around the island. Good thing Noah has strong legs :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQSLxfFc3t-fClLik6WkJ1PREN-V_sKyHO7aKf9wsjfTIPXUnN0xBxv_UarZPGP4ZltEWuzedeqsOlLh9N9zUr6w1pF4yul7uHvgkZ2H5QnlQYK5avE0QSBKNY_U-gWUPEPHZeoi3EfLn/s1600-h/Christmas+Eve-Cheung+Chew+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189242189605799410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQSLxfFc3t-fClLik6WkJ1PREN-V_sKyHO7aKf9wsjfTIPXUnN0xBxv_UarZPGP4ZltEWuzedeqsOlLh9N9zUr6w1pF4yul7uHvgkZ2H5QnlQYK5avE0QSBKNY_U-gWUPEPHZeoi3EfLn/s400/Christmas+Eve-Cheung+Chew+016.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jon Kelley and Brad exiting a cave where pirate booty was supposedly stored long ago. Sadly, they returned empty-handed. I guess that leaves Jon's wife, Retta, and I to search for our own Hong Kong "booty" in the markets and lanes of Hong Kong!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jf_OmDNyHKJPL7u5oNzzAUjomh1-hJwikESQoHxLmJDqyjRyuAuO1Pqnky7wOP-oQ0H8apMjBCQlAkpEGx1_o3tJX5pz5gYJwkiLQacR89yh4QcENySDdjTclElUf3dGfGP4dDX0u9IO/s1600-h/IMG_0313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189242198195734018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jf_OmDNyHKJPL7u5oNzzAUjomh1-hJwikESQoHxLmJDqyjRyuAuO1Pqnky7wOP-oQ0H8apMjBCQlAkpEGx1_o3tJX5pz5gYJwkiLQacR89yh4QcENySDdjTclElUf3dGfGP4dDX0u9IO/s400/IMG_0313.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ahhh, relaxing with his wife (who was taking the picture at the time) atop a junk sailing out of Victoria Harbor on a beautiful and relatively clear day in Hong Kong.<br /><br /><div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-17769869320257993722008-04-10T04:54:00.001-07:002008-04-14T16:37:39.327-07:00Lost in Peng Chau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA9LW_CQgis61SaRriAcmp6CE1498WGPHOzQz8JiV6S1YM_tUe9bftk224FSKAs5crNR1fymbTk1f4HVzObmj_a3bsSXwWueUEh4bxxKF-FMjAvdPOLGt0yUmXHiDZ5fgvjhoD_bn8g99/s1600-h/IMG_1074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189247721523676690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA9LW_CQgis61SaRriAcmp6CE1498WGPHOzQz8JiV6S1YM_tUe9bftk224FSKAs5crNR1fymbTk1f4HVzObmj_a3bsSXwWueUEh4bxxKF-FMjAvdPOLGt0yUmXHiDZ5fgvjhoD_bn8g99/s400/IMG_1074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Retta and I took the ferry (partially seen in the picture above) over to Peng Chau, a small island nearby, in search of a dry cleaner a friend told me about that is much more reasonably priced than the one here in DB, as I had a large order. At the last moment, I asked Retta whether or not I should bring the camera (as we're always talking and thinking about blog entries with pictures) and she said, "Yes," and I'm glad I took it along as I got some good pictures while there. As the ferry was coming in, I said to Retta, "Do you think it looks like it's leaning over to one side?" She said, "Yes, it is." We're just so spoiled with those big, fancy DB ferries. But we got on anyway. I did look around for where the life jackets were. . . We found the laundry shop and you can also see that they sell fruit, vegetables and porcelain. It cost a fraction of what I paid last year to have curtains cleaned in DB, so I'll keep my fingers crossed all comes out all right.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3eYHdn__HYeBB9ft9Ex5KZcltqs5iSaX4A-2C2as66T8awhpeyHpCbkPbrKPPNRrumgm1Arw5Y5mFpXVDXcU44KWxvDWzhNTexOYS17kkSYwJW5G9htWHkQiuuGlg_nPz-lSEDv8eGn2/s1600-h/IMG_1090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187588647237237938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3eYHdn__HYeBB9ft9Ex5KZcltqs5iSaX4A-2C2as66T8awhpeyHpCbkPbrKPPNRrumgm1Arw5Y5mFpXVDXcU44KWxvDWzhNTexOYS17kkSYwJW5G9htWHkQiuuGlg_nPz-lSEDv8eGn2/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" border="0" /></a>We saw this cute little boy wandering around lost and looking for his mother - who just happens to be my friend Retta, who also just happened to snap this picture with my camera, because her husband just happened to drop their camera that is exactly like my camera on the Great Wall. Major bummer. Jack was on a field trip to Peng Chau with his class and it was fun watching them running around exploring through the narrow streets.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZftG4ony5hn7twXNjFPj4bdkH6xb85ihddm-vhuOjA3zO_sZ_tZWZo_upyIhFtsoHnA7oOhV8J3X5waRJaf_TGapx_4aD9Y4dSDSP8qDQ1nK-ZQVkZKtGk9NXk8Cg3oLBgO7uDJQZ_T6I/s1600-h/IMG_1093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187588655827172546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZftG4ony5hn7twXNjFPj4bdkH6xb85ihddm-vhuOjA3zO_sZ_tZWZo_upyIhFtsoHnA7oOhV8J3X5waRJaf_TGapx_4aD9Y4dSDSP8qDQ1nK-ZQVkZKtGk9NXk8Cg3oLBgO7uDJQZ_T6I/s400/IMG_1093.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, Retta, you were brave to ask, but once again, no sandals in your size! Must be difficult to have such big feet living in Asia - which also just happens to be my size. We feel each other's pain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW8h21oKeXZ1OF7kx_4OQLZpQWdYBy4WdL00qRAwLoCa5bzGZaSF-eY6HlsLRTgbs3nG39EfVTdQ52fcDYi_z6BEO-iPVstIDOBaJNcmjAiWYmcyjsqnSUnIbThYpS0opOYSluyiylI6q/s1600-h/IMG_1108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187588660122139858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW8h21oKeXZ1OF7kx_4OQLZpQWdYBy4WdL00qRAwLoCa5bzGZaSF-eY6HlsLRTgbs3nG39EfVTdQ52fcDYi_z6BEO-iPVstIDOBaJNcmjAiWYmcyjsqnSUnIbThYpS0opOYSluyiylI6q/s400/IMG_1108.JPG" border="0" /></a> Peng Chau is a small fishing village with no motorized vehicles, so there are small streets with people on bikes and people shopping in the small family-owned stores. We noticed in just about every little store we went into they were watching a Chinese soap opera on T.V. Everyone wasl very intent on watching this program.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GGOH7RYM2QhhHrqS9laXdyuOEIPvhRs9Qmn4lC9qT7uBw8UuwpWWyADbNa8VXHbmLeHWPTvqlcOvZ9UWEzBdvmjRv4PtVSjUcIIcGVMlmXnbLFCHRoBSS1VtOXpRg_kQIk4f0YqovAXP/s1600-h/IMG_1125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187588664417107170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GGOH7RYM2QhhHrqS9laXdyuOEIPvhRs9Qmn4lC9qT7uBw8UuwpWWyADbNa8VXHbmLeHWPTvqlcOvZ9UWEzBdvmjRv4PtVSjUcIIcGVMlmXnbLFCHRoBSS1VtOXpRg_kQIk4f0YqovAXP/s400/IMG_1125.JPG" border="0" /></a> Retta couldn't find sandals to fit, but I found some to fit Zoe - and along with the glitter she was inspired to paint her toenails too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqwYVfANWT40k4qIwHxVnWgHiBB1FxYARl6fDVhtInQDjTZhenVDYgxk0z1ubpLD5SZyvYbMWTVMEiDm0zwwtxv9Y93pMYGQOAfVtb6UH07lq4WNkmmA_V2Rr3DmgMkTKu5YvVy2xP8Uu/s1600-h/IMG_1165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187588668712074482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqwYVfANWT40k4qIwHxVnWgHiBB1FxYARl6fDVhtInQDjTZhenVDYgxk0z1ubpLD5SZyvYbMWTVMEiDm0zwwtxv9Y93pMYGQOAfVtb6UH07lq4WNkmmA_V2Rr3DmgMkTKu5YvVy2xP8Uu/s400/IMG_1165.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-2276962891641370652008-04-07T16:27:00.001-07:002008-04-12T03:50:01.913-07:00Happy Adoption Day, Ellen Beibei<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS584YWJpnesiVKiuT5u8DBhyphenhyphenk-qvd1olpydS0rwx7qZQNfK9Mq8X03fCP93nkDdlBVcGv98ZrZEsGvid0X5_4tu3w1hxbw7DNU7Q_ibNOQhyE-bDY7wwU4I5tfRhZ2Ro0OvQdUs6avGwP/s1600-h/Hefei+Trip+(April+2007)+145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188308797288660258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS584YWJpnesiVKiuT5u8DBhyphenhyphenk-qvd1olpydS0rwx7qZQNfK9Mq8X03fCP93nkDdlBVcGv98ZrZEsGvid0X5_4tu3w1hxbw7DNU7Q_ibNOQhyE-bDY7wwU4I5tfRhZ2Ro0OvQdUs6avGwP/s400/Hefei+Trip+(April+2007)+145.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>As I was thinking about the pictures I would post to the blog in honor of Ellen's 12th adoption day, the picture above came to mind for a couple of reasons. This time last year we took Ellen back to Hefei, and the picture (thank you, Lorne) captures Ellen standing near the location where she was "found." It represents the closest to her beginning we could possibly get her to. Yet having said that, we know, and she knows, that long before she was "found," the Lord God had His hand on her life. We have had a few interactions with people lately who imply that Ellen should be forever grateful to us for being her parents, for rescuing her in a sense. Yet she knows that it was not we who did the rescuing. We are never able to rescue ourselves, in spite of what we might think. She knows that God had her resting very securely in His hand and that He gave us the privilege and honor of being her parents for life. She owes us nothing. She owes her Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer all the glory and the honor. We thank God for rescuing us from a childless future!! And for bestowing on us the very great blessing of a precious treasure named "Beibei." Thanks for being our daughter, Ellen. We love and admire you very much, along with the rest of your family!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAneC0pijmR09tlFjX7A6gJwjj2jOSUyhIv9a83I7Pz8sKQTpKdibORw7ghjJ-T7dmnDBaxpprA51k5PRDZBPKmVwN6K3EruETiO65WdDwoxAIHT-BWQXTWF8I3qM-JoWBADIKT_3VCTzG/s1600-h/IMG_0975.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186661137988853202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAneC0pijmR09tlFjX7A6gJwjj2jOSUyhIv9a83I7Pz8sKQTpKdibORw7ghjJ-T7dmnDBaxpprA51k5PRDZBPKmVwN6K3EruETiO65WdDwoxAIHT-BWQXTWF8I3qM-JoWBADIKT_3VCTzG/s400/IMG_0975.JPG" border="0" /></a> Brad snapped this picture of Ellen just a couple weeks ago at the Forbidden City.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhVzJQztz56_RSjvVEiGGej9-Li1olciPp4ZC_Yd9KFEH4j4Z8iy4kBBiJtlLXDaKOYzxnnCTLhyphenhyphen8guW1idd_-cu-XCzaf-wG18KbFwRiV0WcuJLTKxD-Q5zVnInyJd-uTBCC773vx2nn/s1600-h/Hefei-Sanya+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186661142283820514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhVzJQztz56_RSjvVEiGGej9-Li1olciPp4ZC_Yd9KFEH4j4Z8iy4kBBiJtlLXDaKOYzxnnCTLhyphenhyphen8guW1idd_-cu-XCzaf-wG18KbFwRiV0WcuJLTKxD-Q5zVnInyJd-uTBCC773vx2nn/s400/Hefei-Sanya+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ellen handing goodies out to the kids in the Hefei orphanage last year where she spent her first seven months of life. Here's to hoping these kids are in their "forever families" right now.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszMIR9DhsCi4G6b-bZeDGAcwndkby-7wvEQu4fUMMMGdO1ptMxlXuw0R60f5ErZ7J-8K71Rek-g-uDhHNae6wnorsbTvwiu0Mpj6i4j3JAC-JcSV3Bw-axzgnhE5XmR8fAKlo0OZ44oH9/s1600-h/Hefei-Sanya+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186661146578787826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszMIR9DhsCi4G6b-bZeDGAcwndkby-7wvEQu4fUMMMGdO1ptMxlXuw0R60f5ErZ7J-8K71Rek-g-uDhHNae6wnorsbTvwiu0Mpj6i4j3JAC-JcSV3Bw-axzgnhE5XmR8fAKlo0OZ44oH9/s400/Hefei-Sanya+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1HymGTZyOVlK3WmeC17lnLQHP1lXrDqo3bBB_lqRKi_LXrYauAJg773Aly4AZKOaoCuJGmebVVs3Zl_w1B2D1PIwAQP_uf1GVBdUqEserH32sf1YVas-WiKKN4xHI0jtChmseq3L7bU0/s1600-h/Christmas+2006+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186661150873755138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1HymGTZyOVlK3WmeC17lnLQHP1lXrDqo3bBB_lqRKi_LXrYauAJg773Aly4AZKOaoCuJGmebVVs3Zl_w1B2D1PIwAQP_uf1GVBdUqEserH32sf1YVas-WiKKN4xHI0jtChmseq3L7bU0/s400/Christmas+2006+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> "Not to us, O Lord, not to us</p>but to your name be the glory,<br /><br />because of your love and faithfulness."Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020536215363514611.post-52335409037690093502008-04-02T19:21:00.000-07:002008-04-02T20:06:06.227-07:00We interrupt the following program for these few meanderings. . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1PPq7FSGfwtvDKKBbPCEdYeWweDpFznWPIZXJt9BUxCpaianosOa7qcQ3f5uA58kHmQ5zevInD0XwiSz812gonHWN9qGGPay205T7T2syzO16oPXktZWXrnsmtVUM-n2Lr5_YQsvDX-a/s1600-h/Hong+Kong+pics+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184845844291394946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1PPq7FSGfwtvDKKBbPCEdYeWweDpFznWPIZXJt9BUxCpaianosOa7qcQ3f5uA58kHmQ5zevInD0XwiSz812gonHWN9qGGPay205T7T2syzO16oPXktZWXrnsmtVUM-n2Lr5_YQsvDX-a/s400/Hong+Kong+pics+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> For those of you who will never get the opportunity to travel to China, here's the kind of, um, toilet, you will encounter if you are a woman. It's fondly (?) referred to as a squatty. This picture, however, does not, I repeat, does not, represent the squatties that I have been in across China. This one is pristine. This one happens to be located at the MTR stop for, yes, you guessed it, Disneyland. It looks like a Disneyland squatty too, doesn't it? Nice and shiny and clean and it smells okay. You may wonder what the waste basket is doing there in the corner. Well, that is there because you don't put your tissue or toilet paper you have, um, used, in the squatty. It goes in the waste basket. The squatties I have been in are no longer white, the waste basket is full of - well, I'll let your mind wander with that one, as well as your nose - and the floors are slick with - well, I'll let your mind wander with that one too. I could give you more information about Chinese squatties, but I'm afraid I'll lose all my blog readership, so I'll continue on. . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoKsdj-1d6E0Vwd3E9PNGeS0jS7ZlWdy6NK3xqRwLAxv_-1xIwr4PfFDlZ0BNMpZ_JxG0pI81VN88PQ83s1ZPfrZUxzu6lcz_bAz-eCQWfZW27fNaT05MoxVgJypUzL24QNYTNJSbVmSL/s1600-h/IMG_0967.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184845857176296850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoKsdj-1d6E0Vwd3E9PNGeS0jS7ZlWdy6NK3xqRwLAxv_-1xIwr4PfFDlZ0BNMpZ_JxG0pI81VN88PQ83s1ZPfrZUxzu6lcz_bAz-eCQWfZW27fNaT05MoxVgJypUzL24QNYTNJSbVmSL/s400/IMG_0967.JPG" border="0" /></a> We stayed in the Marriott Executive Apartments in Beijing. This was a large complex of I think around seven large towers and the one we were in were for short-term stays, but were equipped with a full kitchen, large living area, dining area and two beautiful bedrooms and two beautiful bathrooms. There was a large iron fence around the complex and guards at all the entrances with gates that had to be raised or lowered as you came in and out. This is the view outside our sixth floor window looking down on the neighborhood around us.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq-YLD7m1yrTEYmveSXYEAkEcbXOvk6auhOPp2-A1xxI27l7b0uMtoc2jBA1gsuNRtd7ymX28d0McV9cQpmyZ9gRERmq3roZ7rbGvEytTyi2juDhsg1tU3o0Lss10npOkWDV0lmtV8Iwl/s1600-h/IMG_0972.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184845865766231458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq-YLD7m1yrTEYmveSXYEAkEcbXOvk6auhOPp2-A1xxI27l7b0uMtoc2jBA1gsuNRtd7ymX28d0McV9cQpmyZ9gRERmq3roZ7rbGvEytTyi2juDhsg1tU3o0Lss10npOkWDV0lmtV8Iwl/s400/IMG_0972.JPG" border="0" /></a> China is chock full of opposites, stark contrasts greet you around virtually every corner. Out our window was the dirty, old-looking, neighborhood, while inside the gates we lived in opulance as reflected in this picture of the huge indoor swimming pool. There was a large hot tub, gym facilities, nice restaurants and beautiful spa.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkgCPBuLNqZMASrSmfe2P7Y7d49kCoslB2181aWurBwZm7fDrRGWJNaJU56wXAXHkRuA4ESxWNQSTvEQ9BH7pNx7YSwTIbYH8HRMj45VCNQ0tzQxGK_FcQOM63B46BFRoFrJW-GgMPWTG/s1600-h/IMG_0826.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184845870061198770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkgCPBuLNqZMASrSmfe2P7Y7d49kCoslB2181aWurBwZm7fDrRGWJNaJU56wXAXHkRuA4ESxWNQSTvEQ9BH7pNx7YSwTIbYH8HRMj45VCNQ0tzQxGK_FcQOM63B46BFRoFrJW-GgMPWTG/s400/IMG_0826.JPG" border="0" /></a> On our pedicab tour around a flat-house neighborhood called a Hu Tong in Beijing near the Forbidden City I snapped this picture of grandpa with grandson.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051000823332911828noreply@blogger.com0