Best.Day.Ever.

I told you last time how I was eagerly anticipating our Thanksgiving celebration. I was definitely not disappointed- Saturday, November 29th was the BEST day I've had in China yet!! It started with a leisurely blueberry muffin breakfast with the girls. Next came the Turkey Bowl football game. If you know me at all, you know how I love football, and especially love my Steelers. So I donned #86 and played my little heart out:

(Emily got to wear #10 cause she is the only other true fan)

You'll be happy to know that our team won the game- Emily actually caught the winning TD- in true Holmes fashion. After the game, we ladies got down to business in the kitchen. I absolutely loved organizing a way to cook a pie and make green bean casserole, mac 'n cheese, mashed potatoes, and biscuits with only a hot plate, microwave, and toaster oven.

In your face, Martha Stewart! Eat your heart out, Rachael Ray!

Everything worked beautifully, and everyone contributed to make this amazing meal happen. Both my stomach and heart were very full.

Check out all of the Turkey Bowl pics on Facebook!

The adventures and new experiences continue. Tomorrow (Friday) I'm getting on a bus with my student (and friend) Lindy to travel to her hometown and spend the night with her family. This will be my first official visit into the unknown of a Chinese home. While deep down I am excited and honored at the invitation, I am frankly a little nervous about it. I know there will be lots of food and that's about it. What will we do? What will we talk about? Are they expecting me to put on a show or something? Where am I going to sleep? How am I going to sleep without my fan?? One thing I cannot let myself forget: HE will go with me, HE will be there. And this is an amazing opportunity to let His light shine through me. I could be the first believer to ever set foot in their home! Now that is a humbling thought.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from the Father and not from us." May they see through this simple jar to the true treasure inside. That is my hope, my desire.

Giving thanks, with a grateful heart

If I didn't have a calendar to remind me, I probably wouldn't know that today is Thanksgiving day. All of the usual suspects are missing: no grocery stores tempting me with discounted turkeys and yams, no Macy's parade, no Pittsburgh gray skies and snow flurries, no giant newspaper full of ads for stores opening at 5 am tomorrow, no trip home to see my family. All that's left is the knowledge that this day is set aside simply to be thankful. As I taught my students about Thanksgiving this week, it was wonderful to realize that you don't need decorations or special music or lots of gifts or even certain food to celebrate His abundant provision. Aside from the familiarity of being with my family, I'm not missing anything this holiday. If anything, I have more gratitude and joy in my heart than usual. Everything else has been stripped away and I'm left with a clear view of all that He's given me.
"Thanks be to Him for his indescribable gift!"
I am SO blessed, beyond words. If you're reading this (which you obviously are), then you should know that I'm thankful for YOU.

So it's been a great Thanksgiving day here- we were given the day off from classes, and my cell phone has been overwhelmed with text messages from my students wishing me a great day and expressing their gratitude for me-they are so kind and thoughtful. Tonight I'll be dining with my great friends Newt, Claire and Tony- though our food will be far from traditional fare. We're saving all of that for Saturday, when the entire IECS team will gather here in Langfang for the first annual Turkey Bowl and Feast. We'll be playing our own football game, and following that with what I'm anticipating as my best China meal ever: chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy!, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, creamed corn, mac 'n cheese, biscuits, and pumpkin pie!! We can find many of these things here, but we're also getting a little help from back home. We're going to cram all 16 of us into one room- and I cannot wait!!

To update you on other happenings: the heat is on, and has been cranking it out for over a week now. In fact, it came on the day after I wrote my last post- thank heavens! The apartment is back up over 70 degrees, and the afternoon sun makes it even warmer. I actually had to open a window the other day- but you will never hear me complain about that! November has officially been the fastest month so far, and my days have been filled with things like English clubs, playing cards with my pancake party girls, and a trip back to the Philip Hayden Foundation. This little guy was laughing up a storm almost the entire time we were there, it was so precious, and I couldn't help but laugh along with him:

Isn't he the absolute cutest thing you have ever seen??

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Facebook albums:
October, Part 2
My birthday celebration

28 is Great!

Yes, it has been quite a while since my last post- but do not blame me, blame technology. It has failed me repeatedly in the past couple of weeks, and multiple times even as I wrote this entry. So to make up for lost time and in honor of my 28th birthday & the return of functioning technology, I am pleased to give you my favorite 28 most recent pictures...

You gotta love double-fisters...

...and a Chinese guy disguised as an "All- American Grandpa"

IECS Teachers!!

A Chinese egg advertisement?

Eating our candy oranges the only way we know how-for breakfast

Heaven on a plate: a burrito from Texas Pete's.

In step in Beijing

A visit to the Phillip Hayden Foundation- an orphanage for special needs children

Lindy with her buddy

They are truly precious!

Halloween festival with Sherry & Vivian

Chinese students make some pretty spectacular jack-o-lanterns

Team Langfang does Halloween: artist, John Denver, Merriwether Lewis, Superwoman, & Sacajawea

using my Sceptor of Justice on John Denver

Of course

Flying away

My sophomore jumping proteges: Lindy, Victory, Kitty, Cinderella, and Fairy

Birthday dinner: meat on a stick!

Birthday KTV the right way: with style....

...and passion

Nachooooo!

Even got Brad to sport the Holmes jersey

Havin' fun with Sunshine!

Birthday cherry cheesecake!

My awesome 3-D card from Jess!

Meeting precious Xi Mei!

Spotted at Texas Pete's #2

Good thing I didn't turn 45!

And if that doesn't satisfy your appetite for pictures of my life, check out these albums on Facebook, if you haven't already:
My Freshmen Students
Peter's KTV (Karaoke) Party
October in China, Part 1

In other news, the weather has cooled off quite a bit in the past week or so. This would not be a big deal except for the fact that our government-issued heat does not get turned on until November 15th. My alarm clock has a built-in thermometer, and the temperature inside my apartment has been dropping a little bit each day. Today it was a crisp 61 degrees. INside. We're eating more soup, drinking more tea and layering to stay warm, but my fingers and toes are still feeling it. Please keep us in your thoughts this week- I'm asking for sunny days and a cheery attitude. And who knows, maybe heat day will come early this year?

Pancake Party!

So, it looks like the theme of my time here in China is going to be "pancakes". Oh well, guess it could be worse. Regardless, I had a fantastic time last Friday afternoon with a whole roomful of my sophomore students. I wanted to invite them over and share some American food with them, and the obvious choice was pancakes (and french toast). They were so brave and adventurous-even trying syrup (which is super sweet to them) and using forks. They said that they liked them (I have my doubts), but they could not hide their enthusiasm when I later pulled out the Goldfish crackers (thanks Rebecca!). That bowl was empty within seconds.

(Lindy, Rene, Kitty, Fairy, Victory, Cinderella & Lisa)

But the best part was our rousing game of Kwai Zuh- Chopsticks- played just like Spoons. These normally quiet and reserved students were screaming and battling over the chopsticks, and I'm pretty sure you could hear our laughter from a block away. It made my heart so happy because this is exactly what I love doing: sharing food, fun, laughter and His love with students. I was made for this! (YL-ers, you can roll your eyes now) This was probably the first time that I felt totally comfortable just hanging out with Chinese kids.

So, we're gonna do it again-tomorrow for lunch- only this time we're headed out for some regular ol' Chinese cuisine. Who knows what kind of rabble rousing we'll get into this time? Whatever it is, I'm there. That's why I'm here, isn't it?

Picture of the Week:AMAZING!! I mention to the kids that I like to jump, so what does Cinderella do when she visits the infamous Water Cube? She jumps!! Not just once, but several times- in order to get the shot just right. How could I not love these precious girls?

More of my Facebook albums:
Hot Air Balloon + Fruit Picking Festival

My Freshmen Students

Blessings Everywhere

Lately, it seems like there are blessings all over the place. I'm not sure if there are more blessings, or if I'm just more aware. Either way, I'm so grateful for them all-the big ones and the small ones, and I want to share some of them with you:

My team- Brad, Jess, Peter and Shannon keep me smiling, grounded and joyful. We each have different gifts, but belong to one body. We are unified in our love for Him and our common purpose. It cannot be said enough- I am so thankful to be here with them, and treasure the times we're sharing: meals, fellowship, English clubs, shopping adventures, busrides to nowhere, and KTV!

Toilet paper holder-I have previously mentioned how I have a giant shower for a bathroom, and how everything (sink, toilet, mop bucket) is inside. This means that everything takes a shower when I do-some things directly, some indirectly. So it may sound kind of trivial to you, but this little plastic container is going to keep my toilet paper from absorbing shower water. Bonus: it is now handily within reach, no longer hanging in a basket over my head. Yay!

Our growing "family"- As of now, we as teachers are meeting with 4 students on a weekly basis to read the Book and discuss things. Some are new members, some lifelong. And each week , it seems we are discovering more and more students who are also in the family! It is such a blessing to share this time with 2 of my Chinese sisters, and to hear them talk about how much they love the Father, to hear how much He means to them, and to listen as they talk to Him. His love truly knows no boundaries!

Sunday mornings- our fellowship numbers may be small, but our time together is so refreshing, like a desert oasis. We sing, read and share our hearts. I find myself looking forward to this time every week and I'm so thankful that we don't have to give up meeting together, but can continue to encourage and spur each other on.
Jenny Lou's- This little treasure is quite possibly my new favorite store- grocery store, that is. Again, with the food- I know- but we're talking items that I haven't seen since America. Log Cabin syrup! Cool Ranch Doritos! Kraft Parmesean Cheese! Brownie mix! Black beans! COKE ZERO!! Funny, yes- but to me these things are blessings! Unfortunately for my taste buds, (but fortunately for my wallet) it's in Beijing.

Not on Facebook? Keep reading...

I know what you're thinking: 3 blog posts in 3 days- what's going on??? Just trying to keep you all on your toes, that's all. Nothing new has happened in the past 4 hours since I last wrote. Sorry if I got your hopes up. But I thought that those of you who aren't on Facebook might like to see all of the pictures I have posted. You should be able to just click on the links below. Here they are, hope they work:

September in China

My Sophomore Students

After you open the page, click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size photo. You can then scroll through them that way

Next time I'll just work these in to a regular post. 'night!!

"You are not alone"

This is my friend Lindy (giving the peace sign)- she's a sophomore. I just happened to ask her out to dinner the first week of class, mainly because she was closest to where I was standing, sitting in the front row. We've had lunch together almost every week since then. She is so sweet, but has this very serious nature about her. For instance, yesterday she gently but firmly told me that I should not be drinking cold water, because it will leave me feeling cold and make me more susceptible to illness (this is common knowledge among the Chinese). Then today at lunch she took me by the hand and said something like this:

"I know that when I am here at school, I miss my parents and my family very much, and sometimes I cry because I miss them and I feel alone. I know that you are very far from your family, and that you must miss them very much, but I want you to know that you are not alone. We are good friends and if you every feel lonely you should just call me and I will come to your apartment as quick as I can!"

How absolutely precious is that?? She's also already begun making plans for me to visit her family in their home sometime soon, and is taking mental notes on what foods I like. On the list so far: cake and ice cream. Please be keeping her and our friendship in your thoughts!

It's a Girl!!

For those of you questioning if you really know me, I am not pregnant, nor did I just have a baby. But my Chinese friends Tony and Lily did!! Today, little Xi Mei (English name = Simi) came into the world, all 9 lbs lbs or so of her. For those keeping score, that is pretty big by American standards- and it is quite huge here in China. We don't know any more details, but please be lifting up this new family over the next couple of weeks. I'm excited, because she's going to be like our own little Chinese baby- and they are just the cutest!! We'll be back in Beijing soon, and I'll try to get some pictures of her then.
My life isn't quite as exciting, but there's still a lot of good stuff going on. It's been fun to get back to hanging with students after the holiday. Tuesday night, we had our first English club of the year. It was the first ever foreign run English club here on the main campus, and it was a great time! We had them all play a game called "Finger Fencing"- you basically lock hands with a partner, stick out your pointer finger, and try to touch them before they touch you. They really got into it, and at one point we had girls throwing each other into the desks, refusing to give up! We sang some fun songs- Country Roads is a Chinese favorite- had a crazy skit, and then I had the privilege of giving the "inspirational speech". I talked about hope, how it is a great thing and how it is available to all of us. It actually was hard for me to give a talk like that, since I'm so used to giving a different kind of club talk in the states-the kind with more information. But I know He blessed it and will use it for His purposes- so it's allll good!
Yesterday I had a yummy lunch with my friend Danielle and some of her roommates/classmates. They are all actually biology students, but several of them are auditing my English class, and their English is just fine, if not better than some of my English majors. Lunch was fun, but the real fun came after, when they took me to play some ping pong with them! I think most Chinese babies are born with a ping pong paddle in their hands (I'll have to ask Tony & Lily); most of them are good- really good. But they took it easy on me, and I was even able to show them the fun "around the world" game: split into two teams, then each person takes turns hitting the ball, then dropping the paddle and running to the other side. A little chaotic, but a lot of fun. Did I mention that these tables are made of stone and the nets are made of metal and they are outside? Cause they are.

Danielle having a go at ping pong

Rachel was the ping pong champ at her high school. She was also the one to throw her partner into the desks during finger fencing. Don't mess with her!!

Our ping pong crew: Ellen, Jerry, Caroline, Danielle and Rachel. 'Twas a little bright, hence the squinting on my part.

Tomorrow I'll be having lunch with my friend Lindy and some of her roommates. Then it's off to our school's western campus for a curtain call performance of English club. The students there are all freshmen, and the campus is in the middle of nowhere, so we're hoping to be a light in their small world. Sorry I don't have any pictures from Tuesday's club; I'll try to get some tomorrow. Hopefully the finger fencing will be just as fierce!!

PS- the large bags of fruit from last week are still sitting on top of my fridge! Looks like we'll be having wine instead of grape juice...

Up, Up and Away

Wow, if there ever were a blog-worthy day, it would have to be today. I just got back from the most unique, bizarre, and exciting experience I've had here so far: the 2008 China-Langfang International Hot Air Balloon and Fruit-Picking Festival! We were invited to participate by the local city and county officials, so we knew it was a big deal, but we had no idea just how big. The first clue came when we got on the bus and received our "Distinguished Guest" press passes. We arrived at the "fairgrounds" and as we went to watch the opening ceremony (they use that term a lot these days), we realized that we were part of it! They welcomed all of the foreign experts, and then had us stand there in a line while a literal swarm of paparazzi snapped photos and videos. It was probably as close to a red carpet experience as I'll ever get.

This isn't even half of them, but you get the idea...

It was an extremely foggy morning-we didn't even see these behind us at first

Then came the real fun: hot air balloon games! The first was called "Treasure Hunting" (catching foxtails thrown from the ground in a fishing net) and the second was "Target Practice" (dropping said foxtails onto a giant bullseye on the ground). They would be keeping score as we were competing against the locals. So up and away we went. I've never been in a hot air balloon before, so I was pretty excited, even though we were tethered to the ground (actually, we were tied to trucks on the ground!). Shannon and I went up together for the Treasure Hunting game, and I gotta tell you, my head was awful close to the inferno blast above us- I seriously thought my hair was melting. But we had a fun time as we tried to catch the foxtails thrown by Peter. Everyone got a turn up in the air, and when it was all over and the scores added up, the foreign experts triumphed over the locals. At least that's what they told us! Then they presented us with this amazing glass trophy in the shape of a fist giving a thumbs up, and gave each of us these nifty embroidered pictures. Did I mention the paparazzi? They were following us everywhere, and they grabbed me for an interview at one point. My first (and last?) translated interview- a very interesting experience. Tune into CCTV tonight at 8 pm, and you'll see what I mean.

Treasure Hunting!

Team Langfang!

After the balloon festivities, we got back on the bus for the fruit-picking. We were given a police escort to this village, where we then rode on a horse-drawn cart out to the fields. Then we were handed bags and clippers and instructed to go and pick all the grapes and pear-apples we could in 30 minutes. I've never picked grapes before, it was fun to grab them, peel them, and eat them fresh off the vine. We found out later on that the farmers had harvested most of the grapes a couple weeks ago, but left 4 rows just for us. So sweet! And remember the paparazzi? Yep, still with us, following our every move, to the point that they were hiding on the other sides of the vines and trees, waiting to get the perfect picture of us plucking our fruit! I can only imagine what they're going to do with 20 pictures of me with my hands on some grapes...

Shannon with her harvest

I am the vine, you are the branches...

We finished the day off with a giant lunch consisting of no less than 15 different dishes and multiple toasts with the officials. Generosity and abundance are the way they do things around here, and it was truly an honor to be a part of their special day. And now I have 2 giant bags of fresh fruit. I'm thinking applesauce and some freshly squashed grape juice. We'll see how that goes...