Birthday Bonanza!

What an amazing day! I'm overwhelmed with blessings. . . .

This morning, I awoke to a beautiful sunny day (the first one in awhile) with a cheerful "Happy Birthday" from my BFF followed with a lovely duet by my parents. (I was impressed with the negotiation of time zones:) My email box was full of special wishes for the day, and I opened up some cards and gifts that I had been saving (Thanks, Gramps and Grams!). I headed to school and was sung to in devos and greeted by the kids. I was showered with cards and lovely little gifts. (I now have some really awesome jeweled pins picked out by third graders . . . yep, they're a little bit gaudy . . . but priceless!) For a special birthday treat, I ordered bubble milk teas for all the kids, and we enjoyed them outside on the playground and the outdoor learning classroom (aka "deck"). At the end of the day, I was surprised when 1/2 the parents of my kids walked into my classroom with a cake and video cameras! It was so much fun, and the cake was absolutely delicious. I had been thinking that I would love an angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream, but I didn't have the energy to make it. Wouldn't you know that God would be in the details on that one?! . . . The spongy angel food-like cake was covered in strawberries and whipped cream! It was divine . . . After school, I went to a special banquet for the Cub Scouts. The teachers of the scouts were invited, and since 10 of my boys are in the Bear den, I make it a high priority to attend these events. It was so much fun, and at the end of the program, I was asked to come up. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday," and I was given a gorgeous basket of plants (including 3 orchids) from one of the families in my classroom. I felt very special:) After the banquet, I headed back to my classroom to prepare for the Spring Concert. I had been asked to play a special role: The Troll Princess. I got all "beautiful," put on my troll mask, and hung around with the 3rd graders. The concert was quite an event . . . almost like a carnival! I had lots of fun as troll royalty:) Finally, after the concert, a group of about 12 of us headed to "The Diner" for a late dinner. There was a ton of laughs to be had, and I ate a cheeseburger that was to die for and a chocolate chip mint shake . . . mmmmmmmmm! It was heavenly . . . And now that brings us to the last half-hour of my 33rd birthday. It has been a GREAT day . . . THANK YOU to all who made it so very special! It's going to be a memorable year . . .

A List for Thirty-Three

33 Things I've Learned This Year

1. God is good!
2. My God is a God of details . . .
3. My family holds a huge chunk of my heart . . .
4. . . . and so does my BFF.
5. Constant perspiration doesn't have much of an odor.
6. I love driving (and I really miss it).
7. Cockroaches can swim.
8. Spiders are big.
9. Ants explore EVERYTHING (even lovely MacBooks).
10. Air-Conditioning is worth every penny.
11. I can live without TV.
12. I can live on a reduced income.
13. I know how to say more than 10 things in Chinese!
14. I can read more than 5 Chinese characters!
15. iPods are awesome.
16. Good, supportive shoes are worth the investment.
17. I do not *HEART* Squattie toilets.
18. I *HEART* iChat and Skype.
19. Mail deliveries are really exciting!
20. Freeze food garbage so that it doesn't attract bugs.
21. Always carry an umbrella.
22. Cats in heat are really noisy!
23. A bug-killing kit in every room is essential.
24. Third-graders are fabulous!
25. Little boys protect teachers from huge insects and creatures.
26. A smile will go a long ways.
27. Americans are well liked in Taiwan.
28. Non-seafood in Taiwan is DELICIOUS!
29. The world is very small.
30. Community is really important!
31. It feels so good to laugh.
32. There is more to life than grad school!
33. I am an incredibly blessed child of God . . .

The Case of the Mysterious Mango

There's a little fruit stand on my street that opens in the late afternoon and closes a little past garbage time at night (or whenever it's sold out). It's perfect for buying bananas, oranges, etc. The owner is a sweet lady who keeps a variety of things in stock. Her prices aren't rock bottom, but they're not too bad either. I guess I just like the convenience!

Last week, in addition to my normal four banana purchase, I opted to get a mango. They're huge here and absolutely delicious! Tonight, I stopped by and asked for the same thing. I was excited to cut open that delicious mango and slice it up for a snack. Mangos have a large, flat "stone" in the middle, so there are some special techniques for cutting them up, and I was ready! However, when I sliced into this lovely fruit, a multitude of tiny balls came tumbling out . . . for a moment, my spider-sensitive self thought nasty little bugs had invaded! Sanity soon arrived, and I realized that I had purchased a papaya rather than a mango . . . bummer . . . I don't like papaya that much . . . the smell is a little strange . . . but I will definitely be eating it--perhaps in smoothie form?!

I know this isn't a riveting post, but que sera sera . . . when in Taiwan and you attempt to speak a different language but obviously what you said was not what was heard (I don't even know HOW to say papaya!) . . . you just eat your fruit and go on with life . . . :)

One Life

I added a little countdown timer to the blog about a week ago. As I watch the days tick by, I'm reminded of how time is so very precious. In an international school, "good-bye's" happen all the time. Turn-over of both teachers, staff, and students is inevitable. You know, it's really, really sad to say "good-bye."

When my parents said "goodbye" after visiting me this winter, I came to my very empty house and found a note from my dad. Actually, it was a pile of notes on Grand Formosa Taroko stationary:) The cover page, complete with a great drawing, boldly stated "2008 Year of the Mouse." Since it really is the Year of the Rat, this was pretty fitting (especially since my nickname is "Mouse"). Anyway, within the pages of this precious little booklet are pearls of wisdom and words of love. I am so thankful that I have an earthly father who gives me a small taste of my Heavenly Father's love!

Today, while mulling over inevitable change and "good-bye's," I thought about one tidbit my dad included.

You see, I have this business (if you can call it that:). One summer, I got entrepreneurial and decided to go into the painted wood handicraft business. True to form, I bought a couple of books on the topic, and I scoured Goodwill and yard sales for things made of wood. I researched paints, finishes, etc., and I even figured out how sales tax worked. It went pretty well for awhile, and I even sold some things to people who weren't even related to me! However, the business fizzled a bit, and it took up a lot of space in the garage for a few years.

Last summer, the business was relocated to my parents' house, and my dad and I talked about working on some things this summer. I was mumbling about changing the name to something a little more . . . I don't know . . . different, I guess... and this brings me all the way back to my dad's good-bye note.

"Only one life, will soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." How about calling the business One Life? Love, Dad

Yeah, I like it . . . and I am convicted by the quote. Am I just biding time, or am I making a difference for Christ?

So, as the timer of my life ticks down toward Home, I don't want to lose out on what God is doing in and through me in the here and now . . . one life . . .

Philippians 4:13 Day

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I wanted to last weekend . . . but . . .
I didn't want to this morning . . . but . . .
I did it.
I biked to Danshui along the river.
I'm tired . . . but I had a great day with friends!
I don't know how long the trail is . . . it felt like 100 miles:)
It took me 3 hours . . . I've been told it can be done in 90 minutes . . . but . . .
I don't care, because the frozen strawberry lemonade in Danshui was the BEST!
I took the MRT home with Rebecca . . . we were happy:)
I took a taxi from the bike rental place . . . I was happy:)
I'm feeling pain . . . but I'm happy . . . (because I took Tylenol:)
I am having pizza soon . . . I'm happy:)
I have to shower . . . everyone will be happy:)
I'm tired . . . and happy:)
I'm glad I went.
I did it . . . with the strength of Jesus!
I'm so glad for patient friends (Thanks, Amanda, Rebecca, Jamie, & Daniel).
I am happy . . . and tired . . . did I mention that?!

World Famous Photographers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Photographers produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. To create commercial-quality photographs, photographers need technical expertise, creativity, and the appropriate professional equipment. Producing a successful picture requires choosing and presenting a subject to achieve a particular effect, and selecting the right cameras and other photographic enhancing tools. For example, photographers may enhance the subject’s appearance with natural or artificial light, shoot the subject from an interesting angle, draw attention to a particular aspect of the subject by blurring the background, or use various lenses to produce desired levels of detail at various distances from the subject."

I am SOOOOOOO thankful for the very talented (or just plain lucky!) photographers who have contributed to my iPhoto collection while I've lived in Taiwan. Although many of the pics you've seen posted on my blog have been products of my feeble attempts at photography, the really good ones are probably from one of the featured photographers pictured below:) You would think that the daughter of a former Photography teacher would figure out how to take a good picture, but alas, the "rule of thirds" is not often seen in my work! I especially want to thank Rebecca for sharing her amazing photos (most of the nature pics are hers and so many others--including the header of this blog!) The majority of zoo pics belong to Andy, a fellow Mac-lover and photographer extraordinaire! Sandra, Amanda, Teecy, Annie (the Korea pics), Mike, my parents, my sisters, and my BFF have all made very generous contributions to my photo collection.

A picture is truly worth a thousand words, and I am so grateful for the creativity and generosity of these photographers!