carnival update

Susanna's computer has crashed, so the carnival is moving to Blair's this week.

Please send your posts on the Beauty of Feminity to Blair. 

Thanks for your flexibility and understanding!!

what's up

Blogging is one area of my life that I rarely if ever feel "behind" in, but right now I am feeling a little behind. Here is a hodge-podge post of what's up.

Thanks to both Blair and Crickl's Nest for giving me the Thinking Award.  Thanks you guys--what a fun surprise to come back to.  After being awarded the "Thinking Award" you are supposed to pass it to five more people, we'll see if I get around to it . . .

The Carnival of Beauty is at Susanna's Through a Glass this week.  The topic is the The Beauty of Feminity.  As Lindsey said last week, "It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just write from the heart. It doesn't have to be long or flowing with fancy words."  For more details on how to join us, read this.

Thanks to all who wished me a happy birthday!  This is my last year in my 20's. *sigh*

And, thanks to all of you who have taken my student's survey so far and who have promoted it on your own blog!!  We have 36 replies so far.  My students are so excited.  They are hoping for over 50 submissions though, so if you haven't take it yet, it only takes around 10 minutes.  I looked through the answers and am glad to see that I am not mistaken about American culture. :)  They will be very surprised by some of the answers.  Thanks again for helping us.

I've got pictures to post, things to write about and blogs to go read, but for now, I am off to teach classes ALL DAY LONG today.  Too bad I can't just blog all day instead. :)

bilingual dreams

For most of my life, I've slept very soundly so that I do not remember any dreams.  But, this past week, I've remembered quite a few.  And, quite to my surprise many of them have been bilingual.  I now know I sometimes dream in Chinese. . . .isn't that weird!?!

Also, yesterday, I caught myself talking to myself in Chinese.  It was a totally unconscious thing.  So, what does this mean?

not a real post :)

For me today is the start of a four day weekend. 

Today (April 5th) is a national holiday here in Taiwan--Tomb Sweeping day.  Saturday is my birthday (April 7th).  And, Sunday is, as you well know, Easter.  So, I am going to be scarce around here till Monday.

Please stop by Lindsey's blog to see this week's Carvial of Beauty, "The Beauty of the Ressurection."

Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend as we celebrate our Savior and the free gift of salvation!!

Blessings to you and yours!!

since he hasn't been here in awhile

Since its been nearly four months since Gilby had his own post . . . I thought I'd let him say hi today.  I took this right after he dried off from his bath last night. 

He is finally getting much better about not jumping out the tub during bathtime. :)

Isn't he just the cutest little pup!?!

What does dinner look like at your house?

Every year, I supervise a group of graduating students as they complete a senior thesis together.  This year, my group wants to know what dinner time looks like in America. 

All they know is what they have seen on movies.  They think our evening meal times are either extrememly serious and quite with candles lit and opera music playing softly in the background or are crazy, loud, and chaotic.  They think we only eat steak, hamburgers, and pizza.

So, these three young ladies have created an online survey to discover a better picture of what dinner time looks like in America. 

We need your help to take the survery and to encourage others to take the survey as well. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. 

To encourage you to help us advertise the survey, if you link to the survey from your blog and invite your readers to take it, you will be entered in a prize drawing if you leave a trackback or comment to this post.  The prize?  A handmade postcard sent from Taiwan.  Up to ten people will win the prize.

The survey and "spread the word" prize contest will both close on April 29th.   But don't wait!  Help us now!!

Your help is greatly appreciated!!

{ETA: The survey is only for Americans, but the prize drawing for helping us get the word out about the survey is open to all!}

5 is too many

My coworker in the harvest has a brother who is also missionary.  He serves with his family in Southeast Asia.  One of his national coworkers who lives on a boat told him one day:

"I am blessed because I had five shirts.  But that is more than I need.  I kept two for myself--one to wear while the other is washed and drying.  The other three I gave away.  I only need two."

How much I have!!  How much I take for granted!! 

I cannot forget this story.  Whenever I go shopping and whenever I think of things I think I "need," I remember this man.  No, I do not think I have to live with only two shirts because this man does.  But, I do need to reevaluate what I need to have to live and what I can live without.

Father, help me clearly see what is necessary for life and what is fluff and clutter.  Thank you, oh, so much for blessing me.  Help me from letting those blessings distract from worshipping and depending on you.  Teach me how to bless others with the abundace you have given to me.