Cake in a Cup

Chocolate Cake in a Cup
Delicious and only takes 5 minutes to make :)
Here is the recipe
4 Tablespoon Flour
4 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Tablespoon Cocoa powder
2 Tablespoon of whisked egg
3 Tablespoon Milk
3 Tablespoon Oil
Couple drops on vanilla
(Few Chocolate Chips-- we omitted because we didn't have any)

Mix dry ingredients in a mug, then stir in egg, milk oil and vanilla. Cook in microwave for 2.5 minutes. I recommend putting a plate underneath of it to catch what overflows.

SUPER delicious!!

My Little Lion

Recently it has been cold and rainy in Hengyang. I have started to get out the sweatshirts for me and fleece for Parker. I bought this lion outfit at a consignment store in America. Super cute... but he cannot move in it but he is warm. Too funny.

Thankful for...

FAMILY

I don't think you could meet a person who is a bigger family girl that me. You may think - really- you live in China... your family is in America. Yes, I know... it is a sacrifice. BUT let me tell you-- I think about them all the time. So, today I want to dedicate a blogpost to family!!

Wes' Dad- Barry and Karen
They are fun and funny (yes there is a difference!!)
Barry is a hunter and fisherman by heart and a salesman to support the love. He is always talking about different hunting trips and his love for his sons. He meet an amazing woman in Karen. Truly the best! Karen came into the Thomas family about a year before Wes and I left for China. She is such a wonderful addition. She has an infectious laugh and bubbles over with joy. She makes Barry smile in a way he never did before she was around. (He knows he is lucky... as is she:)
They are two hearts knitted into one. Constantly picking on one another (in good fun they say)
And they LOVE this little boy :) Granddad and Neeny to the little ones.

Thankful for my in-laws.
Wes' Mom
She is a beautiful lady. Always taking part in 5k, 10k, marathons and tris. She is amazingly fit. She never complains and always looks for the bright side. I love to hear about her job and the joy she gets from it. I don't have many pictures of her... but it don't reduce the love I have for her... my mother-in-law-- Gray

My Mom and Dad
Now-- keep in mind-- these are the folks that birthed me and I have had 27 years of life with them... I could talk about them for hours (I will limit it for the blog)... they are the most amazing parents a girl could ask for... My cup runneth over

My Mom... My Best Friend.
She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She has a love for the Father and for others that is unmatched. She is an amazing teacher who truly cares about her students. She is the best example of what a godly wife and mother is suppose to look like. She always seems to know the right answer... even if it is simply a hug. She is amazing!! She is exactly what I want to be like.

Dad
I couldn't be more proud of anybody in the whole world. He is my hero!! He is simply amazing. He has brilliant ideas that don't just stay in idea form... they come alive. He is an amazing author (fiction and non-fiction... his latest book is dedicated to Parker and Lexie-- talk about tears in my eyes) He is thoughtful and full of wisdom. He seeks the Father above all else. He is an amazing example to me. He is a wonderful Boo Boo to Parker.

I love my Dad!!


Ashley, Salomon and Lil Lexie
We are sisters!!

Love the fun times we share together. She is an amazing cook. I miss her cooking. She is a dedicated teacher. She knows how to stick it out when jobs are hard. All the schools in Greensboro/High Point want her as their Spanish teacher, she is thrilled to be in the city's finest High School. I am so proud of her. She is also a mother-to-be.
Lil Lexie!! I can't wait to be an Aunt to this little girl. Parker's best friend already!!

They are brother :)

Salomon is tons of fun. I don't think I have ever seen my brother-in-law without a smile on his face. Ashley couldn't be married to a better man.
Ryan and Talia
Always super busy... we don't get to see them often. But love our times at family outings. Talia and I have a lot to share being the girls who married Thomas boys :) I love hanging out with her and Ryan when we can get in the same town.

Picture for your Monday

CEO Photo Shoot

Thoughts

One of the things that gives me great fulfillment in life is leading girls in B. study. This year I have the privilege of facilitating a B. study with the girls on the team. We are using Faithful, Abundant, True by Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer as a guide for conversation. This weeks lesson has been on talking to the Father. Priscilla has challenged us with our view of the Father and how we talk to Him. She encourages us to take ALL things to Him and know that He has the power to do ALL things.
A goal I have for myself this year is to be more faithful in my pr life. I want to be the person that says "I will lift you up" and then DO IT. Since I have gotten to HY, I have been very intentional in my prs. This morning I decided to go for an exercise walk on the track (don't picture an American track... but it is a dirt "track" around the soccer field.) I put sleeping Parker in the carrier and we head out. As I am walking, I get the idea to pr as I walk around the track. I decide that each "lap" will be a different focused pr-- for example- I had a thankful lap, what concerns my heart lap, pr for Wes lap, family lap, team lap, student lap etc... I ended with a Praise song cool down. It was such a refreshing time. I recommend it to all :) Spend quality time talking to the Father, pour out all your concerns and wait expectantly for Him to answer.
Oh and I just happen to have the cutest little pr partner in all of Hengyang. He woke up for the Praise song lap. :)

If you have anything you would like for me to lift-up... send me a note to my e-mail. I will be faithful to remember you.

This and That

Recently...
well-- I know this is suppose to be a blog about our adventures in China... and Parker is now the star of mommy's blog... now put the two together... Adventures with Parker in China :) haha.

So I don't have many adventurous stories to tell you except--
-- I had to figure out what to do this week when Parker poopied in his tub (I'm talking a blow-out... he is floating in his own filth quite literally) and the cold shoilette floor was not the right thing as his eyes get HUGE and he goes squimmy. The next option: a rug that is now hanging out to dry :)
-- Making him laugh so hard he got the hiccups. This by far had to be the cutest thing in the world. He just starts laughing (which sounds adorable) so I start laughing and he laughs harder ... back and forth ... ends with Parker having the hiccups. Loved this moment.
-- Teaching my girls that everyone has sin- even Parker and explaining how he sometimes get a little attitude (yes even at 2 months) and how when he starts having a bad attitude I talk to him about having a heart pleasing to the Father.
-- Last thing that doesn't involve Parker (except he was there) - a teammate and I went to the grocery store together. I found a 100 calorie Starbucks Frap. (they have disappeared from last year... can't find them anywhere... this was like finding gold) Got to the register and the lady wouldn't let me buy the Frap. What do I do... keep saying (in Chinese) "I want that... I want that" (yes, my Chinese is poor... but she knew what I was saying) and she said "No" My teammate (her Chinese is amazing) explained to the lady I really wanted to buy it and asked why she wouldn't let me... after something about a defective bar-code and the exchanging of 22.80 RMB... I got my Frap :) Thank you Cathy!!!

And because every blog post should include pictures--

Kisses from Mommy. Even though he looks like he was sleeping... he wasn't :)
I love this :) Wes took this picture of Parker looking at me.
He found his hands... and LOVES to suck on them. He has also started holding on to his lovey every now and then... but it generally ends with him trying to eat his lovey :)