A small Beijing Chris.tmas

Student made (teacher hung) classroom decorations.
My kids did a beautiful job brightening our little room
and keeping our moods cheerful in the long days before vacation. 

A package from home.
I could feel the love and smell
the sweet fragrance of home during the holidays.
Never without a "Happy Birthday Je.sus!"
Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you.

Feeling festive at school.
A recess shot of our Beijing winter so far...
no snow, just cold.
It's snowing a little in our apartment. :)

Hill and my tree in the apartment.
Festive graphic.

Mom, one of these little cast iron squirrels is for you.
I'll keep him hostage with me for now.
I'm alive and well...
Hope you and your loved ones are warm,
 filled with love, joy, and peace
and are reminded of the greatest GIFT in days to come. 

Today I was a factory

Put together some 100 odd bookmarks 
for our friends after school today.
Bonus: I got to use the laminator.
Doubled sided, dual language.
Double thumbs up.

A Mr. Carle Art Project

My Eric Carle fox.
My students painted their papers last Wednesday.
This Wednesday, they will start cutting out their pieces
and arranging their pictures...
I'm interested to see what they come up with
 and how much time they put into these projects.
I had fun making mine; hope they do too.

Help Me See

A compilation of pr@yers from self studies.
The sum of feelings, plans, and desires is made low
in comparison to His plans for me and what He has
already accomplished for all.
I do pr@y that He can not only help me "see Him" more
clearly everyday, but also guide my life and actions
so others in China may see Him more clearly.

11-17-2013 Sketch

Sketched a new picture for the cover of music books
that are being put together for our 3rd-6th graders.
Added some font and made it printable.
Felt good to sketch and put this together.
Always under my Father's comforting shadow.

Look what I found...

Found a little creative music spirit today. 

It was like being reunited with an old friend that I thought I'd never see again.

I was so excited, I seized the moment and ran.

Had a carefree time with simple means and microphone.

Nothing's polished; everything's real.

Thank you, L-rd. I needed this time to just let go a bit. 

It's real. It doesn't get much realer...

Pollution in China, in Beijing is so real.
AQI was at 340 this morning and CAN get realer...over 700.
Watching the news in America, I saw people from China
 wearing masks and I didn't think a second about it.
Now I think 2 seconds before doing anything in Beijing.
I forgot my mask at home the other day
(sweatshirt covering face for warmth at school
 and "protection" from the "weather")
but sickness from the air and already weak
immune system crept up and got me.
A cold here on a bad pollution week can last
F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
I know HE is teaching me so much through this
and being here experiencing life as others HAVE to,
without a choice to leave.
Pr-y for them and their spirit.