Leavin' on a jet plane....

The kids and I have to leave in the morning for a few days to renew our visas. So off to Okinawa we go....it will be great to be on the island again and see old friends.

Ahhh Oceanspray..............

Well traveled, travelin' boots.....

Lantern Festival

At the end of the Chinese New Year is the traditional Lantern Festival.....welcome 2008 ~ the year of the mouse....twinkle lights, lucky drums and ice cream.....it doesn't get any better than this! Not as enchanting as I expected, a bit more carnival like but fun nonetheless.

Sunkissed cuteness!

Superman....

I was introducing Superman to Nykolas the other day (yes, we live in a sheltered bubble over here - not having english cartoons and not understanding Chinese/Japanes/Korean ones)....can't remember what brought it up....but I was saying that he has the power to fly and he goes around protecting and being gentle with girls and doing good things....(in an effort to get him to be more gentle with the women in his life).....his thoughts "mom, I want the power to fly". Don't we all, son, don't we all....

CCEA Retreat....

Chad is officing with a ministry here called CCEA. They are a really wonderful staff....the ministry is involved all over Taiwan in relief work, it staffs social workers to help churches deal with the needy in their congregations, they have a dial '1919' 24 hour Christian counseling phone line, among many other things. The staff has truly embraced our family.

The last three days we were invited to join them on their once a year retreat. It was great. Getting out of the city and seeing some of the countryside was a treat. We took a two hour bus ride to the center of Taiwan and it's third largest city, Taichung. The sun actually shines south of Taipei! We all got a little sunkissed with all the outdoor activity.

Lili walked and walked and walked....we visited Sun Moon Lake (a beautiful resort area)....toured a bird sanctuary....saw the effects of the 1999 earthquake that devestated this area of Taiwan (a three story concrete temple flattened into one big pile of rubble).....rode bikes.....petted dogs.....ran and ran in the sun.....lovely indeed!

We arrived home last night about 7:30pm....red, tired and happy. AND the sun is actually shining today in Taipei! Hooray!

Sun Moon Lake....

Fun Days in the sun....

Ballet? Tai chi? Silly!

Friends.....

Funny face.....

Chad's translator...

Can you tell Ken isn't quite sure what to do with us and all our brood....

On the phone with Gran - we miss you!

Sun, glorious sun, beautiful sun!!!! We haven't seen the sun in WEEKS! Saturday was gorgeous....we got ready as fast as we could and walked to Daan Forest Park to soak in the rays...then after nap we went to the small park near our house.....AHHHH warmth!

Lili couldn't stop grinning at freedom she had in WALKING in the park! Hard to believe she is getting soooo big!