Snow and Sunshine!!

As I write this I am re-listening to all the lovely Christmas greetings I received from loved ones. The snow is really piling up in your neck of the woods and most of you have had snow days from school or been snowed in somewhere. I cannot say that I am sad to be missing those events. But thinking about that much snow makes me really homesick. The sun has been shinning for most of this month and it wasn't until today that it has been real cold for a while. I know that I haven't had much to say lately but I wanted you all to know that I am a little under the weather with a cold and lack of voice but that my spirits are up. I am enjoying my crock pot. I have soup for every meal and just keep adding more water and more veggies. Yum!!

At school, I am speeding through these language lessons like there is no tomorrow and my only concern is if I am actually learning it or only surviving. I have gone through two lessons in two weeks which is too fast I fear. I am not sure how to slow it down though.

The two major concerns of my life right now include a little guy named Henry and the 175 bus. So my dear, sweet, beautiful nephew was born right before Christmas and almost daily I spend at least 20-40 min gazing at all the pictures I have available to me. Usually they are the same 100 shots but occasionally I am gifted with a new picture or two. I spend a good portion of my day thinking about him and his parents to Father. All three are so precious to me.
The second major concern in my life being bus 175 is this: my favorite bus was also the most convenient (fangbian). It traveled to all the most important places and made the least stops. For some unreasonable reason it no longer is running. There is a sign on the bus stop sign that says something about the 175 bus--but since I do not yet read well it is useless to me. Let me tell you how (mafan) troublesome this is. I waited last sunday for a good 45min before wondering where it could possibly be and then looked at the bus stop sign and saw that they had removed 175 from the list of buses that stopped there. CRAZY!!! And just like that my life is in turmoil.

Anyway I just needed to gush about Henry, my love,and rant a bit about 175. Thanks for listening/reading. Take care and Oh!!! Happy New Year!!!!!!

Baby Henry!!

On December 21 at 7:22pm I became an aunt!!! 8 pounds three ounces and He is the most adorable baby ever!!! His name is Henry August Jasmer and look at that little face. I just wanna squeeze him and kiss him!!!!!!!! Too bad I am way over here. It is hard to believe that he will be almost 2 before I actually hold him. I am trying to come up with a new way of transportation so that I can be in two places at once. Thank you so very much to all you who were thinking to Father about Henry. Praise Him that Henry arrived safely!!!

Important Newsletter Info!!!

(((Some of you may be very confused as to why my official newsletters posted here always seem behind in the news--that is because they are the same ones that get printed at the headquarters company and mailed to many others and so I must compose it two months ahead of time.That is why it seems out of sync with the rest of the info on this page. I have been trying to update this site at least monthly. Please continue to be patient with me. )))

Official December Newsletter 2009!!

Merry Christmas!!!
A Child is born, innocent and pure, full of the hope of a life filled with the greatest kindness this world can give it. However, each of us is very painfully aware that life, with the help of this cruel world, usually gives us bumps and bruises along with the little and big joys.

I am so thankful that bruises and bumps usually heal. Since my last letter I have moved, started school, dealt with a rodent problem in my apartment, had a minor collision on my bike, and been to Walmart more times than I would like to say. And believe me there have been many items that have healed.

In spite of my continual blunders and constantly making things more complicated everything has gone pretty smoothly. My teammates have been ever ready to step in and help me in even the smallest instances. They are my source of encouragement and companionship. In fact they are my kindness from the world.

I have attended the Kunming International Academy Fun Fair and spent some extra time with the kids while their dad was in a village. I got to party with the team while making Chinese dumplings and pot stickers. We went on a picnic near the Stone Forest a national park. All of this was part of me getting to know the team better and being an integral part of them.

I will be on school break here soon and I am excited to get to say those two words together in reference to myself. SCHOOL BREAK!!! It has been so long since I have been on a school break. School started very easily with a week of listening and no speaking. This proved to be very difficult for me. No surprise!! However, it is easy to say that Chinese has four tones and thus it is a tonal language but to begin to try and speak them or to differentiate between tones is a much much harder task.
So what have I learned??

Lessons Learned: if I want to buy a potato I must speak carefully or I may offer to pay someone to smuggle me into another country. I can commission the making of a death trap, for a rodent, for a little over 3 dollars. I struggle with hearing the difference in tones. I need to lower my expectations for what I can accomplish in one day. I still love jiao za (Chinese dumplings/potstickers). It is much easier to study Chinese once you actually have a desk or another place to sit other than your bed.

I miss you all and ask that you would talk to Father regarding my emotional health. I can tell that I am beginning to miss personal connections more. I also ask for patience regarding language learning both for myself with myself and for my teachers. I know that you are all preparing for the celebration of the only true innocent and pure Child and I hope that you would think of me as you hang lights, decorate trees, bake cookies and pies and other delicacies and know that I appreciate those thoughts and miss the festivities but that I also par take in the celebration of who and what Christ means.
Love, Denise

My School held a Christmas party on Friday December 18th. It was so much fun. We all brought food and we had a time of talent sharing. Then we sang some Christmas carols together in both English and Chinese. Once we finished eating we visited the home of two other Chinese families who are having some difficult things and sang some carols to them. This is not something that is a Chinese custom. So we shared it with them. Let me introduce some of the friends I have at school.

Here is the whole class and all the teachers and their families. It is a small school and I learn one on one at this time but the atmosphere is so wonderful that I am very glad that I am a part of it all.

This is Jiang Lao Shi who is the hard working administrator and delight of the School. I do not have the pleasure of learning under her but I know that I have been blessed by her anyway.