life in the fast lane!

Recently we spent some time in HK. It was extra fun being there during the Christmas season as we got to enjoy listening to Christmas songs and enjoy the beautiful decorations. We also enjoyed seeing some friends as well as enjoying some good food at a Mexican and Italian restaurant, Outback, TGIF, Subway and Starbucks to name a few. Well, it wasn't until this trip that we became fans of Starbucks...because before we never have enjoyed the taste of coffee. But after our friend recommended that we try a coffee mocha, we have now joined the bandwagon. After our return home we will then only go to Seekers as our big bubba Scott will be opening his coffee house next month. check out his website!

http://www.myspace.com/seekerscoffeehouseandcafe

Here is a pix of one of the crowded streets. It is such a diverse city. We absolutely love seeing people from all over the world, such a lovely sight.This man was busily working on a project, he didn't even look up when I took his picture. We assumed he is used to getting his picture taken quite often. Enjoying the taste of a hotdog!


My sweet hubby and some big sky scrapers. We are both just 2 kids from small city America. We have so much fun getting to explore such a HUGE place.

The most convenient and easiest mode of travel is the subway, you get to know your neighbor really well!

Last month our city held varous sporting competitions. I was especially excited about seeing Chinese gymnasts (as a child my dream was to be a gymnast). Well, our friend told us where and when to go, but when we got there the only thing that was going on was something like kungfu. I was very disappointed, but Aikaman on the other hand was excited to see some real action. As we were watching the competition a woman from our capital tv station came and ask us for an interview. I suggested Aikman as his language is much better than mine (and he is used to interviews from his football days). She would not have that and we both had to be interviewed seperately. Next time, I know its better to go first, cause he took all my answers!
the sunset is breath taking no matter where you live!

fall is full of fun...

Our dear friends had a baby this week. We were able to see her as soon as they brought her out. She is so sweet and beautiful!! Most of the time we were with her she was so calm, just lying there getting adjusted to her brand new world. This picture is not a good example of that, but this was the only close up we had...I felt so bad taking a picture because of the bright flash and red light in her eyes just moments after she was born.

This past weekend we went to a city a few hours away to get away and enjoy some scenery as well as eat some Pizza Hut and buy some western food. It was such a lovely day, but boy were we worn out at the end of the day.

We climbed up this monument and looked out over the city...good exercise and of course tons of fun.

Seniors Rock 2007-we thought this kind of looked like a senior picture.

Jumping for joy. Why you ask? Because this is our first field to be able to run around in for a long time. It was a freeing experience for both of us.

Aikman is so happy to be able to be running, his knee is feeling great! He is hoping to be ready for the Olympics next summer.

Since we weren't sure about how long it would take to climb the mountain we decided to hop on a motorcsickle and go up and then walk down the mountain. Before we headed up the mountain I asked my driver to please drive slowly...he honored my request and we made it to the top feeling very safe.

This long walkway is made out of bamboo.

We thought in the future we might like to have a house built out of bamboo. The only concern we have is that as we were walking there were a few cracks because the bamboo had broken so... maybe we will stick with a log cabin??

Thought this was a fun work of art...not to sure what it is.

A picture of our city at sunset.

So the last few weeks we have had 2 very humbling and challenging experiences. Some of our friends here who teach English ask us to sing a song at one of their English competitions. Since we are approaching Thanksgiving time we thought it would be appropriate to sing "Give Thanks" as well as do the hand motions I learned in the 3rd grade.

Let's just say our performance will not receive any awards, but hope somehow it will serve a good purpose in the future.

Here we are again...this time "getting down", we assure you only north and south not east and west. Our friends at our workout place ask us to perform for their anniversary party. We put together the only 2 dance moves we know and used a song from the "Out of Eden" CD. We had some fun...or at least the crowd was entertained a bit. We are beginning to wonder why everyone asks us to perform when they know we are not talented, it must be everyone wants to laugh "with" the foreigners.

We took a few of our friends to a football game (soccer for us Americans) a few weeks back. Pretty sure Aikman is hoping his recruits will be ready next year for a real football game!

some fun days!

Recently we spent our day off exploring a park with a small mountain near our home.

Here is Aikman near the top. We were overwhelmed as we looked over our city and the surrounding villages.

Here is my wonderful hubby enjoying our picnic lunch. Lays Potato Chips, is something familiar from home we enjoy about once a month...if they had Doritos in our city it would be much more often.

Resting for a few minutes after lunch before we headed to the top.

Making his way up all of those steps...his first big adventure since having surgery. He was quite a trooper!

Here I am trying to be a lion. Representing for my parents Alma mater...go Southern!

Truly being apart of history! Here there are tons of statutes depicting their triumphs over the years...sometimes we like to join in.

The old with the new. One day we took a walk outside and ended up in the old part of our town. Not too long back our city was just a village. As we walked the back streets it was amazing to us to see how the city has been built up around the villages.

Just one of the boys!

As we were exploring this sweet lady ask us to take a seat and chat for a while.

This place is only a few minutes from our home.

Well, as you know not much seems to be made in the US anymore...that's because about everything is made here! Around our area there are these kinds of places everywhere, whether you are in the city or village.

Oh, so many festivities...

This past week and a half we have been able to join with many of our friends for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a birthday party, a wedding, and celebrating the national holiday with a picnic and mountain climb. We have had so much fun with our friends!

This day we were picnicking. The guys were about to go climbing. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to go, but one of our friends is a month away from having a baby so all of us girls decided to stay and chat and eat some more.

Me with some friends.

These girls loved playing baseball so much we are considering beginning a little league team.

Some precious friends enjoying some watermelon.

Here we are. We are trying to be better about taking pictures together considering our first year here there are not so many, one of us was usually taking the picture.


Can you tell our friends are full of fun!

Our friends are really becoming fans of the sandwich...they were loving the peanut butter and jelly...the egg salad wasn't too bad either (thanks mom).

Now here we are at one of our friends wedding.

They play some rather interesting games here during the wedding banquet. The grooms friends make them do some silly things. I sure felt bad for this couple because they are so shy. Here the groom is squirting milk through a straw to hit the brides mouth. She was supposed to be the one squirting, but was laughing so hard they made her get the milk in the face. Not a good trade!

The Mid Autumn festival was on Sept. 25 this year (based on the Lunar Calendar). This is a time of togetherness and a celebration of abundance, one of the major holidays in our area dating back over 3000 years. It parallels the time of the Autumn Equinox, so the moon is at its fullest and brightest. Farmers celebrate the end of summer harvesting season and family and friends gather together.

One thing folks around here like to do is eat lots of moon cakes. Above is a picture so you could understand what a moon cake is. The outside is kind of like a biscuit/cake but the inside you never know...its always a fun surprise. Now, we really like to try and partake of everything that is given to us by our friends, you know truly embracing our new culture, but there are certain things that are a little difficult to swallow, literally. Now there are some moon cakes that aren't too bad, but the kind we had the other night was pretty rough. I can't describe the taste, but on our initial bite we tried to find a place to nonchalantly discard (without anyone seeing). The people here are so generous, they just keep giving you food. It gets a little difficult at times becuase you are so stuffed or the food is not to your liking and they continue to give. Oh, but how we love them for their generousity.

Here we are the night the moon was to be its biggest and brightest. We were able to enjoy some great company and some good eats (apart from the chicken fingers). Our definition of chicken fingers and their's is very different (ours are without bone). Their chicken fingers have hardly any meat...its simply chicken fingers grilled.

Here is Aikman enjoying a chicken wing...tasty. On the grill you see the before mentioned chicken finger my sweet friend gave to me...not so tasty.

Lovely friends. After we were done eating we went to look at the moon it was so incredible...we stood there amazed of our awesome Creator.

variety

Recently we went to a village and a factory, we were able to be apart of assisting with some of the communities needs. They were both wonderful experiences.

Here is Aikman helping a man walk back to his home...he is an incredible example of compassion!

As our friends were explaining ways to help others...one of their workmates volunteered, he was very enthusiastic and had the crowd rolling.

This picture is so sweet...the girls were quietly listening, while the boy needed a little more adventure! look in the tree.

Back to MO...Pops with Nij. We spent an afternoon on the lake. That day was full of sweet memories with my family as well as enjoying His beautiful creation. It reminded me of a quote the girls in my family appreciate from Anne of Green Gables, "Soak it in Marilla."

Here are the 2 captains of the "ship"...they did a terrific job!


JP and I were the only one's to get out of the boat and swim in the water for a while. Oh, it was so refreshing! Especially after seeing many not so clean bodies of water this past year, it seemed even more enjoyable.

Here I am with my amazing granddad! He was recently given a cell phone, so we were figuring out some of the nifty features!