year of the dog

Gilby also wants to say Happy Chinese New Year, especially since this new year is the year of the dog!

I went to the night market, and there were 4 or 5 stalls full of little doggie clothes.  I had never before seen these stalls.  But, now that Gilby is in my life--I saw them instantly!!

He got two outfits the last time I went (the Chinese one above and the superdog outfit pictured below).  Since I cut his hair and it is winter here, if he doesn't wear an outfit shakes.  He is too small to stay warm by himself.

happy chinese new year!!

The streets are full of cars and mopeds, and the outdoor day markets are full of people.    Shopping bags and bike baskets are full of produce and other goodies.  Red envelops are full of money, while homes are full of the hustle and bustle that comes with company.  However, most noticeably, the air is filled with a sense of anticipation, and the hearts of young and old alike are filled with expectation. 

Why?  Because today marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year Holiday!

 

"The Lunar New Year, which this year starts on January 29, is the biggest holiday in the Chinese-speaking world and  family reunions prompt arguably the biggest movement of humanity on Earth."*

And  I am joining in this big "movement of humanity."  I leave today to go visit the north part of Taiwan. God has blessed me with a "Taiwanese family;" this will be my third Chinese New Year with the Lin family. (Below is a pic of me with the Lin family, and close up of me with Lin MaMa both taken last Chinese New Year.)

I ask for your prayers for two things:

(1) That the anticipation and expectation that the people of Taiwan are experiencing in regards to Chinese New Year will one day soon pale in comparison to the anticipation and expectation they will have about the return of the Son of God.

(2) Please be praying for my Taiwanese family.  The father and twin adult daughters are all Christians, mom and brother are not.  Please ask for the God of Hope and Peace to set mom and brother free.

outside my window

Yesterday morning I heard some very loud noise.  It was incessant.  I thought it was from the house across the street that is being rebuilt.  There were voices yelling and loud banging and clanging going on.  It was not yet 7 AM. 

Wanna guess what it was?  Whatever your guess, my guess is that your guess is wrong.  Why don't I just tell you--people were washing dishes outside.

Took this photo from my 2nd floor apartment.  Do you see them there washing the dishes?  Oh, you wanna know why people would be washing dishes outside that early in the morning? 

Hmmm.  Me too.  So, I turn my head to the left a little and see this:

Can't tell what that is?  Let me tell you--it is a car with red ribbons on the door handles.  Oh you knew that!  Well, then let me tell you what a car with red ribbons means in Taiwan--it means wedding! 

The groom and his family go the home of the bride's family in a caravan of cars all with red ribbons.  With uncles and other family members present, the two families become one family. Then they set off firecrackers (outside of course).  The caravan then adds the bride's family to its parade, and most of the time they head for a temple to get the gods' and/or ancestors' blessings.  And then a banquet follows.  Oh, and banquets don't have to be held on the day of the wedding--they can be held anytime after, and you can have more than one.

Anyway back to me and outside my window yesterday.  Later in the day, they started cooking:

And a delivery truck delivered some stuff (probably the drinks--just set the yellow boxes in the aisles between the tables and help yourself):

Well, firecrackers went off from about 6:45 to a little after 7:00 PM.  Then they started to dine--at round tables with pink table cloths. :)  But, I wasn't brave enough to try to take pictures of that.  Maybe next time.  Anyway, it took them 12 hours to prepare for that banquet!!  Wow.  It must have been some feast!

thinking thankfully on thursdays

Here are the first seven things that pop into my head that I am thankful for today:

• my mom--not only is she a great mom, she is also my best friend



• the speed of the internet--which makes communicating with my mom (and others) very easy and cheap



• my clothes dryer--went two years without one (what a difference!)



• fresh flowers--they always make me smile



• my new camera--old one died right before christmas



• music--it makes spring cleaning so much more fun



• decluttering!!--it makes me happy to release stuff :)

Ha!  Can I add an eighth?  I am thankful for being able to be thankful!!  I have so much to be thankful for--what a blessing!

Today, my heart is also shouting, "thank you, Daddy God, for being who you are!!"  This Psalm from David seems to capture my own heart's song:

Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks.  I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word.  The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.  When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you."  They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" (Psalms 138:1-5)

YEA!!!!  What a great God we serve!!  Oh, how very different He is from the other gods!  So, very unique!  There is NONE other like Him!

seven habits of highly effective women

Carolyn Mahaney, one of the girls from girl talk, posted this at the beginning of January:

7 Habits of the Highly Effective Woman
  1. She rises early
  2. She maintains the spiritual disciplines
  3. She focuses on relational priorities for every season
  4. She sets up regular times for planning
  5. She develops an effective to-do list system and calendar/planner system
  6. She establishes an efficient routine for managing her home
  7. She organizes her house systematically

You can read her explaination in the rest of her post.

For me, it gives me something to ponder:  Which ones am I already doing?  Which ones do I need to work on most? 

I really think that FLYlady is helping me to establish many of these through simple routines and babysteps.  So, I am grateful to the FLYlady.

Just glancing over the list, I think I like it a lot as something of a ruler to measure how I am doing in becoming the kind of woman I want to be.  I do think I would add an eighth habit: finds women she can trust to hold her accountable.  I cannot over empahize the value of being held accountable (but more on accountability another day). 

this morning

Ok, I have now eaten so much ginger candy my mouth is raw!  Guess I should lay off it for a while.

Now that I have the Carnival up, and I played online a little, I am going to shut down the computer and go do a little "spring cleaning."  I got a new kitchen cabinet for Christmas (houses in Taiwan come with just the walls) and have yet to put anything in it (Christmas is just 2-3 weeks before the end of the semester for us and now I am on a month long winter break). 

Not only does "spring cleaning" make me very American, doing it before Chinese New Year makes it very Taiwanese too! :)

Here are the results of my "playing online" this morning:

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

the beauty of serving

Today, it is my privilage to present eleven stellar posts on the beauty of serving for the Carnival of Beauty. 

Iris at Eph2810 had to evaluate her service to God last winter, after getting sick. Was her service to be in 'public' or her own four walls? Read her thoughts regarding service in this week's entry "Where do you Serve Him?"

Blair from Scribblings by Blair loves being a homemaker but finds that she doesn't quite enjoy the aspect of cooking.  In this post she sets out to discover a new outlook as well as a new method for the task at hand.  Check out her post: "Hey Cookie, that's mighty fine grub!"

Sarah's Daughter, Natalija, describes how God changed her outlook on housework and service to her family over the years in "Who am I serving?"

Carmen of Full Contact Christ Centric Living portrays the Beauty of Service in her post “It’s Right!” She visits the question, “Should young men and women risk their lives to fight a questionable war in foreign lands?”

Ellen from MzEllen & Co. finds that who you are serving is more important than how you are serving in "How Do You Serve?  WHO do you serve?"

In "Serving a Need" at "Of Christian Women", Carrie shares the importance of considering the need when serving.

God created us to glorify Him.  God wants us to serve others.   When does our service to others glorify Him? When does it not? At She Lives, Carol asks these questions and offers a challenge. Are you willing to take her up on it as She Serves.

In her post, "No More Lemony Looks For Me," Heather from Mom 2 Mom Connection wants to offer her positive attitude as a gift of service to Christ. By choosing to dwell on uplifting thoughts instead of negative, she hopes to bring more joy into her life and the lives of others around her.

A wife fulfills her God-given purpose with service to her husband, which blesses them both.  Find out how by reading Mrs. Happy Housewife's post The Beauty of Service.

The beauty of serving is found as we lose ourselves in Christ and service in His grace. It is seen on the faces of those who have been served that Christ be glorified. Come and see The Beauty of Serving in Christ on Patricia's Pollywog Creek Porch.

There are so many things Amanda, who is following an unknown path, says she could write about serving and its beauty.  However, for the Carnival chose to write about one of the most memorable moments in her life when she was served.  Read the story: washing feet.

In the next two weeks the Carnival of Beauty will be:
     January 31 - Gentleness - hosted by Iris (eph2810)
     February 7 - Contentment - hosted by Bethany (A Picturesque Life)
If you didn't join us this week, please come join us as we reflect on the beauty of Christ in our writing in the coming weeks.