A First Time For Everything

This past weekend we went on our first family of four vacation. We visited the city of Hangzhou, which is south of Shanghai. Here is a little information on Hangzhou. The city’s history can be traced to around 8,000 years ago. The city was developed around a lake called Xihu. Which, translated into English means West Lake. The lake is 1,606 acres. For you MI people that is around 2/3 the size of Gull Lake. And for AL folks it's roughly 1/27 the size of Lake Martin. (Ha! Not much of a reference point.) For you MO folks, sorry to say I have no good comparison. Anyway, the lake is located at the city's center. Numerous small canals run off the lake and the city was built with its buildings on the edge of those canals. Back then, the canals were used as roads. All the buildings faced the water so the passers by could visit, see each other, and shop. Unfortunately, most of those buildings are long gone, but you are still able to get the general idea.

We had a great time on our vacation even though it was raining off and on most of the weekend. Hopefully we will be able to go back for another visit when it won't be raining. We took over 120 pictures while there for 2 days. I can't put them all on this sight. But I will put up a few of the best. For those of you with Facebook, I put them all on my page. Check them out if you want. Here are a few...

First Class waiting area at the train station. Open, clean, quiet, overall very nice.


Michael and Maddox on the boat ride to the islands in the lake.


Jessica and Gabe waiting on the boat.


Gabe said he wanted his picture taken with his leg up on the rock because, "I look good." Then he said Maddox needed to be in the picture, "So he can look good to." This picture was taken on one of the islands in the lake. The islands name is "Chong Er" which means Endless Romance Here.


A view from the island. In the background is "Leifeng Xizhao" or Evening Sunlight at Thunder Peak Pagoda. Rebuilt in 2002 after the origional collapsed in 1924. The foundation dates back to AD 976.


Now you can scroll back up and finish reading the previous post. (Hangzhou Family Vacation Pictures) Sorry for the confusion. I am technology challenged.

The Middle or The End?

I know it has been a long, long time since the last post. It is not that things aren't happening here. It's just a matter of finding the time and words to describe them. Michael and I often say that so much of what we see and experience here is hard/impossible to describe for those back in the States. I wish I was more gifted in the area of creative writing. I'm sure my posts then would be more frequent and fun filled. Sorry to you all!

The Middle or The End? Is April 2008 going to be the middle point of a two year adventure here or the end of our one year stay? We do not know. Some of you may be saying, "What? How could you not know? April is next month! Don't you need to know soon to make your plans for the future?" My response is this.....We are more than ready to know! April will be here before we know it. So we are attempting to make future plans for whatever happens. We are really hoping to know something definite soon!!! In the event we are not staying, we will pack up and fly back to the States for good at the end of April. We will leave here with a boat load of amazing memories, adventures, and friends. In the event we do stay, we will come back to the States for a period of a few weeks at the end of April/beginning of May. We would plan on spending some time in Alabama, Michigan, and Missouri seeing friends, family, and tying up loose ends that come about from spending another year here. Then return here for another year.

Another big question we are being asked, "What do you want to do? Go or stay?" Honestly, it depends on the day. Most of the time we truly love it here! As I have said so many times, this is an AMAZING culture, place, and people. We have a great life. We have made so many international friends. Our "world" has been made so much larger by the things we are exposed to and can reflect on. The boys are getting to have a life that not many kids get. We really feel that they are getting to see and experience things that will help them live their lives to the fullest when they are older. This is a once in a life time opportunity for us, we don't want to miss out on all the things it has to offer. But, on the flip side of the coin, we really miss a lot of things. Our family, friends, church, Krispy Kreme, family, no situations made crazy by everyone not speaking the same language, Qdoba, driving, friends, not having to pay $5 for a box of Kraft mac & cheese, our dogs, not being able to "be right there" for people in times of need, family and friends. You get the idea I'm sure. And while our experiences here are great, at times the longing and sadness I feel for the things of "home" gets pretty huge. Especially on Sundays. Which have always been a day for church, family and friends. The bottom line? Whatever God wants to happen will. We know that. And we have confidence and feel good about that. But what do we want? Overall we want to stay here. Being here is temporary. We will end up back in the States at some point. And for now, if it's His will, we want to stay here and continue to experience, enjoy, and grow from our adventures. For us and the boys.

We will try to keep anyone interested in what our plans are "in the loop." I'm assuming some of our readers are actually interested. (I think that is a safe assumption. I hope it is.) Pray for us if you will. That the answer will be from Him and come swiftly. We are ready to know!

Happy New Year!!!

Nope, I am not crazy. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Nor am I running 5 weeks behind. Thursday, February 7th was the start of the Chinese New Year. We have now entered the Year of the Mouse. We spent New Years Eve with a English friend of ours and his Chinese girlfriend. It was great learning from her about the new year's customs. One of those is eating dumplings right after midnight. The Chinese believe that eating the dumplings, which are in a shape that represents money, will bring financial prosperity in the new year. I think we must have eaten dozens of dumplings. I'll let you know in about a year how that worked out for us. One of the most exciting things about the night was the fireworks. Being that I live in the land of fireworks, I shouldn't have been surprised. But folks, it is indescribable. Since two days prior, fireworks were going off every night. But on the eve, they started around 5 pm and didn't end until after 3 am. And I don't mean just here and there, I mean EVERYWHERE! As we stood out on our friends balcony we could not even hear each other talk over the noise. Everywhere we could see, all over the city, were fireworks. It is almost impossible to explain. It was like nothing Michael and I have ever seen. Nothing! It was amazing!

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Gabe's fourth birthday by having a great party with friends. Each person got to ice and decorate their own cake. It was tons of fun for everyone! That night when we were putting Gabe to bed he said, "Mom, I am so excited! I can't wait until I turn five and have another happy birthday party!" I think it was a success.

Here are a few pictures from the past month.

Everyone waiting so patiently for their cakes to decorate.


Gabe and Maddox do some decorating.


The birthday boy.


The kiddos.


Fireman Gabe wearing his gift from Dad and Mom.


Two Chinese Snow Shovels. All you need.....a bamboo pole, two leftover pieces of wood flooring and a couple of rusty nails. Why buy when you can make your own?


Clearing the interstate. Yup, those are workers with shovels. Though here, they are using yard/garden shovels instead of wood flooring.


This is a vending machine in one of the many subway stations here in Shanghai. These are well stocked with anything one might need while out and about. Water, chocolate milk, juice, cookies, candy bars, chips, and oh yes......condoms.


A close up, just in case you don't believe me.