Happy Mother's Day!!

You are my best friend!

A listening ear

TONS of fun to be around

Race Partner

Parking Meter Filler/Hater :)

Graduation Buddy

Coke Zero Lover

Amazing Supporter

Beautiful Mother

True example of a godly wife

Always by my side

Amazing Amazing Amazing wisdom giver

 

"Buddy" to Parker and Lexie

Mom- I love you!  You are the Proverbs 31 woman!!

Her children arise and call her blessed
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.

Update on Goal

I am a little later on my goals update- but better late than never.
April was a good month... but not lots to update. 
Health Goals- I am doing good on water because the temperature has spiked in HY and it feels like a furnance, thus causing me to down bottle after bottle of water. 
 I do have an exiciting new health goal for the month of May :)  I debated on whether or not to share... because I am afraid to disappoint... but I have an accountability partner, reward and motivation :)  I decided to challenge on of my friends (who lives in another provience of China) to a workout challenge.  We have just over 30 days left in China- and we are going to be smoking hot when we see our friends and family :)  Both of us have the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video... so we are do a 30 day - 30 Day Shred.  Here is my calendar- you can't see it but on June 7 - the challenge is over and as Jillian says we "will be shredded" 

Book reading- I did read in April-- but don't have a ton of books that I would recommend.  I am very cautious on my recommendation.  I read several good "beach reads" (not that I have seen the beach... but you know those brainless page-turners)... but simply that and not anything I would review or recommend. 
My non-fiction was a short but packed e-book- Core Lies by Sarah Mae.  A great book with reflection and digging deeper questions.  It's only 99 cents... get it if you are 1. female 2. have an e-reader 3. want to discover the TRUTH God intended for you :)
I already have a good book line up for May and hoping for better recommendations for you to add to your summer reading list!!

And... I still have the cutest baby in the world :)  here he is at his finest- post-bath and crazy hair. 

Super Moon from China

I was pretty excited about the super moon... and hoped that we would be able to see it despite all the clouds and pollution... and did we ever.  Above is the moon view from our back window... and Below is full-zoom :)
Pretty cool!!  Big and Bright -- this might be one of the first (or few) times I have seen the moon here in Hengyang.  The past two days have been clear so I looked at the moon last night and it looked the same as the said "super moon" 
How about you - did you see it?  did it look different than any other moon?

 

Insight from my Quiet time

I am reading the story of David and Bathsheba (it is a story probably familiar to us all - found in 2 Samuel 11)  Kay Arthur has written some information that I am using to dig deeper in this story.  Today, she was talking about how David faced many crossroads and the decisions he made.  If you have read this story- you know that David slid down the slope of "covering sin" and it didn't end well.  Two verses she encouraged us to read - Proverbs 28:12 and 1 John 1:9.  I distinctly remember when I was little girl and my mom shared 1 John 1:9 with me.  I have an amazing mom!  I remember her sitting down with me and the Bible and reading me this verse (I do not remember the offense... but isn't it amazing I remember the love she displayed by showing me the grace God has on us)  I am sure I have read the Prover above... but I don't remember it.  I thought I would share it with you :)  Isnt' it WONDERFUL we serve a merciful Father who forgives when we confess :)

Birthday pictures

All dressed up for a day of celebration :)  My little man even wore his tux!!

We went treated a group of my friends to lunch.  I felt so blessed to have a room full of people who I have become friends with over the past 2 years.  Most of them (all but 2) were my students. 

Went went out with our team for dinner.  Since it was my b'day... I got to choose the restaurant.  I chose the Chairman Mao Restaurant.  I always wanted to go... it looked super cool from the outside.

Our FAO, Wei Fei Fei also came to celebrate my birthday :)  She brought a cake.  Different than American cakes... in my opinion not as desirable but very pretty!!  The even put 28ish candles on top :)

 Here is our group :)  The food was some of the best I have had in Hengyang!! 
(The Young's couldn't make it to celebrate... but we ate for them)

It was very quaint too... here is the picture that was painted on the wall in our room.

 

 Thank you everyone who made my birthday wonderful!! 
Here's to 28 :)

Parker says "bye bye" :)

I have had this video on my computer for a while... but just got around to posting it.  Sorry it is sideways... just turn your head slightly :) He is cute at any angle. 

It's My Birthday and...

I'm feeling incredibly blessed!!  Today- I am 28 years old.  I remember as a pre-teen planning out my life and what I wanted to do before certain ages... somehow 28 was always a magical number.  I wanted to have all my children before I turned 28 and well a list of many other "pre-teen" ideas :) 
I don't have all my children (or so I think) BUT I have one amazing little boy!!

and a WONDERFUL husband!! 

Today for lunch we went out with a roomful of my good Chinese friends (many of whom I have seen come to know HIM) and let's just say - I feel great! 
I have pictures from lunch but I will post them later. 
P is napping, Wes is boxing with some boys... and I am thanking the Father for my many blessings.
I thought I would share

 28 little things about me :)
1. My family is the thing I treasure the most.  They have always been there for me- through thick and thin. 
2.  I never in all my life thought I would have a little boy (even thought it is a 50/50 chance it never crossed my mind) BUT I can't imagine life without P :)
3. Purple is my favorite color
4.  Reading at night before I go to bed is my "treasured time"  My parents are amazing and got me an Amazon gift card for my b'day so I can get books on my kindle :)
5.  There is nothing better than taking a walk with my husband.
6.  I am going to miss walking up the stairs to get to my house when we move back to America.
7.  I feel lost if I don't have a watch on.
8.  The Father has stretched and grown me so much while living in China- I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
9.  In my opinion - Skype is the greatest invention for living abroad.
10.  I LOVE Coke Zero
11.  I also LOVE Coffee
12.  I can't wait to squeeze my little niece, Lexie!!
13.  My love language is gifts.
14.  I have Bible verses written ALL over the walls in my kitchen.  It helps me remember who I am.
15.  Sometimes, if I don't have much to say but P is with me- I will just quote as many Bible verses out loud as I can remember.
16.  I am a TERRIBLE dancer (and I don't like it) except my 3:30 dance time with P :)  I jump around with him in my arms and look crazy with nobody watching.
17.  I love reading other peoples blogs.
18.  I love shopping ... but not so much in China.
19.  Card games are fun (except Monopoly Deal :)
20.  Hawaii is the only state I haven't been to (I have amazing parents)
21.  North Carolina is HOME (even though I was born in VA)
22.  I am a water bug-- I LOVE the lake.
23.  I hate mushrooms- they are a slimy fungus.
24.  I thought I was 24 when I was pregnant with Parker... but then sadly realized hours later that I was 27
25.  My favorite Disney movie is Little Mermaid
26.  I love to see people succeed and reach goals... sometimes I choke up when the good guy pulls though
27.  When I was a little girl- I had a birthday party with ponies.  (my parent tell me they were little ponies... but I still remember being on top of this MASSIVE horse :)
28.  My 28 years have been amazingly wonderful.  I have a loving husband, a smilely little boy, a supportive family and everything else a girl could ask for :)