"I am afraid, for no one's ever sacrificed and loved me this way..."

I am so loved! WE are so loved!  I was the first one of us to experience our first 'overseas birthday,' and we are SO fortunate.  What a wonderful group to be surrounded by in the same country, and in our home country.  I felt nothing but an abundance of love for the week of my birthday! God is so wonderful to protect my heart that way and reassure me of all of our support! Thank you all for your kind wishes!

But let me just start over! Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK?!?!  It cannot be late November already!  Time has completely flown.  It's still in the 80's here...so perhaps I am used to judging time by the temperature?  We miss the excitement of the first snow flakes from a storm, bundling up to go out for just a few moments, and then not going out at all because the weather has made quite a statement! HOWEVER,  it is still really nice to go for evening walks in shorts and flip flops.  The weather here is beautiful and really pleasant right now.  I'm happy to get to experience a 'different' winter!  And when I think back, I realize, Taylor and I were splashing in the waves just last week. That has NEVER happened in November, before!

We are doing so well!  We are currently just living life in a daily routine.  We recently went on a trip with the middle schoolers.  For a week, the kids all go on different Week Without Walls trips.  Our trip (we got lucky enough to be on the same trip for our first time) was just to local China.  We stayed in China for 2 nights and then commuted back and forth for 2 more days (about an hour train ride).  On the first day, we sea kayaked and played in the water. It was awesome!  I really liked kayaking on my own--and of course, Taylor is a pro!  The next day we took the kids to a school where they designed and painted 3 different murals for their walls.  It was really fun to see the project start as nothing and turn into something so cute! The kids are really good artists but it still had the traditional 'kid' flare which just made it so fun!  On our last day at the hotel, we went on a hike for 3 hours ...in the pouring rain! It actually felt really nice because it's not a cold rain.  However, I wound up in bed the next 3 days.  Taylor continued to go with the kids for a horseback riding day and another hike.  All went really well and it's been neat to see the relationships that can build with all the kids on these different events.  We have tons of pictures from this but they're on the other camera. Maybe for another day!

We have each added something new to our schedules--Taylor is coaching the 8th grade boys basketball team and I am helping to coach all of the tennis teams (middle and high school, boys and girls--it's a small selection!).  The sports here are definitely different so each practice is only an hour long and they practice 3 times a week.  I think it's going to be another good way to get to know more of the kids and be involved in things we love.  I am looking forward to just being around the game again...I've missed it!

We are counting down the weeks (4) to Thailand!  We have 2 main things on our agenda--beach time and riding an elephant! Other than that, we are just excited for some time off and to explore.  We'll be going a couple days earlier than Taylor's parents and sister and then meeting up with them for Christmas!  And yes, we get to celebrate our 2nd anniversary in another country, again!  It's going to be tough to keep this up, ha!

We have been so in love with a new song (several, actually!).  But I wanted to attach the music video to one that just reminds me of how beautifully extravagant His love is for us.  He continues to leave us in awe and this song seems to capture that moment when we're reminded daily of His amazingness!

Soooo. Pictures!  I love trying to collect moments from our weeks to review a few weekends later.  I hope that we'll treasure this blog and remember all of the events when we read it years later.

I am married to the most gentle, kind, understanding, thoughtful husband.  He plans things in advance for me. Surprises me. Knows me.  Puts me first.  Lavishes me.  I can't begin to really list his incredible qualities, if I'm honest.  All I know is God has greatly blessed me with someone I would never have thought I could receive...I had picked out much less for myself. OK OK.... after all that!............he took me out on a birthday surprise date!  We were heading out to a place that I later found out was called Munch, an international culinary school and restaurant. How fun! However, in true, Hong Kong fashion, the map read us to the wrong spot.  This can happen often and you always have to just move on! SO, we turned the corner and came across this adorable, basement Italian restaurant. It was tucked away on a perfect, dead end street that was so quaint. So, our quick change of plans led us to wonderful calamari, garlic bread, seafood ravioli, and lasagna. ALL TO DIE FOR!

So cute, right?  The waiter did not get a clear shot of us, but we'll remember!  Also, it was an Italian chef--the real deal :)

As if ONE birthday wasn't enough, Taylor planned a surprise dinner for me at Bubba Gumps on Saturday of my birthday weekend.  My snoopyness led me to see the title of an email that I shouldn't have and...well, it wasn't a surprise anymore but it was a wonderful, WONDERFUL treat!  The above pictures are of us at the restaurant, Brad on Taylor's lap (typical?), the beautiful, STUNNING view from The Peak (the restaurant is located atop), us in front of the skyline and all of the lovely ladies I have come to know and love!  Thank you, thank you for such a wonderful celebration!

 The middle school office got wind of some birthdays in the building and had a small party for some of us November birthdays! So fun!

You thought I was done on the birthday thing, huh? NOPE! Husband loves ME!  He ordered my favorite candle and had it shipped here! AND he had my favorite lilies (wedding flower--bonus points!) waiting at home for me for my 'weekend birthday' present as well as tickets to see Stomp!! I have ALWAYS wanted to see Stomp and let me tell you, they did not disappoint!  It was so great! They are so talented.  That's my feeble attempt ;)  Did I mention how much I love TAYLOR HARRISON WILLIAMS!??! :)

I find I am taking fewer and fewer pictures of the 'unique' things we see here...does this mean I am now wearing similar 'unique' things?  I suppose summer will tell! ;)

ANYWAY, the first picture is girls wearing hats, scarves, and gloves...all because it was November 1st!  This is the start of their 'winter' and they truly dress for it. Mind you, it was still 80.  FUNNY!  The bottom picture is a precious little boy I was behind. I cannot get enough of those socks!  Dressed to impress!

Now that we have a SUPER COMFY couch (that becomes a BED for VISITORS, hint, hint!) our weekends look like the above! Someone was sleepy :)

Taylor played in a staff vs. student basketball tournament on Friday.  It was so great! The kids don't really support other sports games, etc. so it was a big rally and event (comparable to just a typical week night game in the states) but they had a great time. That's Taylor, Ben and Dave...some close friends of ours (and neighbors!) who love the sport just as much (can you tell?!)

We had a spa day yesterday and while the company was wonderful (thanks Sophia, Amber, Emily, Jan and Rach...oh, and Nate and Taylor!)...I managed to only take a photo of one of the after effects.  My finger must have gotten knicked. Let's just say it's swollen! Hopefully it takes care of itself.

Mama!! We passed these on our walk to the bus for church! Made me think of you and our San Antonio backyard....memories :)

So.  Thanksgiving is this week and the middle school principal and his wife host a large Thanksgiving pot luck at their apartment complex.  We're really excited to go--have some traditional food--and be with friends.  We are SO thankful for all of our family, friends home and here.  Thank you so much for your love and constant reminders of His faithfulness in community :)  We're also excited to only have 4 weeks left of school until break! Let the countdown begin!

We love and miss you!

"In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made...oh, there's nothing you can't do, now you're in New York, these streets make you feel brand new..."

Nope, we're not in New York, however, the Hong Kong hustle and bustle surely compares!  I notice multiple times a week on my runs that there is NO grass!  No open space of lush green softness!  It is a concrete jungle.  But there is something still so beautiful about it! The buildings start to take on such a pretty shape with the rising/setting sun.  And where there aren't buildings, there are hills/mountains of really exotic plants and trees.  We are not living officially on the island of Hong Kong but it really looks like an island on most parts.  We love it!

God has been SO loving and kind to us since our arrival.  We are truly settling in to our home and recently purchased a couch (pictures to follow)!  This couch has so many meanings to us. Simple, yes, but it represents something we were patient for, something we sacrificed without for a few months, and of course, the 'planting of roots.'  We are preparing to move out of our convenient apartment this year and find our own for next year.  We have started touring a couple areas just to really get an idea of the location we might want. I think we are both leaning towards staying in the New Territories (which is really just more of the suburb of Hong Kong) because you get more for your money.  We would love to continue to MAKE money on our living situation (the school pays a housing allowance and if you're under that amount, which we are in our current apartment, you pocket the difference. SO GREAT!).  Anyway, God has really blessed us with the comfort to buy something a bit permanent.  He's brought our hearts to a place of trusting Him for the years ahead on our living situation and there is such a sense of peace that's come with this.  We don't spend hours debating over what our options are or hours planning our next move.  We just wait with rested assurance, He is faithful!

So. Now that it's been a few weekends, let's recap!  We have actually worked the past couple of Saturdays in exchange for other days off (either a Monday now, or a day off later in the year).  This has made the weekends a little less restful and really makes Christmas break a desired thing! 

We started taking Cantonese lessons (the language spoken here). That's Taylor learning to introduce himself! We've since switched to Mandarin lessons because it will be more widely used in China--and it's easier to learn!

The only soda machine I have seen! But SO great! And Slurpees!

Just a foggy pretty day near our school--where there is some grass :)

The above pictures are Jenny (top) and Jan--some of the ladies we live with on the 7th floor.  We went to have a spa day in Shenzhen--over the border into mainland China.  They treat you like royalty, including paper panties! This was the locker room where they soon told me I could not have pictures but they gave us little jumpers to wear and we went on to have hour long foot massages, pedicures, hair washing and straightening and hour long leg massages--for a grand total of $20 US. AMAZING!

Ok so these are stores that we actually shop in! The top one is a picture of a hardware store--it's jam packed full of goodies that you dig for! (Mom, that's the picture for Dziadek!)  The bottom is where you get school supplies, called a stationary store. They have crafting things, too.  You can't buy pens in boxes/bulk so every now and then when we lose the few we have, we go buy a couple new ones.  Oh, how things have changed from the junk drawer FULL of pens!  

Beautiful river by our place...

Alive and well :)  On the train..

Our for some Thai food with the Bradfords.  Love the friendships we have here!

Amazing pineapple and cashew rice (served in a pineapple)...one of my faves!

On our way to the bus for church--such pretty mornings!

Funny. SO DANGEROUS!

The apartment pools here are insane! This is one of our friends which he mentions is nothing compared to most others.  Looking forward to next year and laying out by the pool often!

We started a tradition last year of Starbucks and Christmas ornament shopping on the first snow.  Since there is no way we will ever see snow here, we decided to base it off of Colorado, still.  China does not really do Christmas the same...nor were they not prepared for 'Christmas' like weather in October like Colorado received. SO. We got creative and had a 'wet market' Christmas ornament year! We had a small budget and we each pick an ornament for the other one in mind and then we pick on together.  I got Taylor the world's biggest chopsticks and he got me some Chinese figurines. Together we got the Hong Kong flag. Our Christmas tree will always be full of memories!

Outside my classroom/office window...steam rolling in!

Last month we tried something new! I needed a break from the overwhelming shopping stores so we had out groceries delivered! You order online, they come the next day and even load them to your counter top. This beats carrying heavy bags all across town any day!

Pretty view outside the nastiest bathroom in China.  Oh well. ;)

TDub Will in mainland China. Gorgeous!

Rach and I, shopping the warehouses in China. Frameless glasses are all the rage here--and everyone has them.  We couldn't bring ourselves to purchase but thought we would join the crowd for a moment!

First American style breakfast out since we've been here! He's SO happy!  The Green Waffle Diner is our new favorite :)

Enjoying a day around town..

This restaurant collects wine bottles--trash can be so pretty!

HK..sunshine is back!

Handsome husband!

Someone (Taylor) has taken a new liking to fun belt buckles for his Friday attire. The kids love it!  So far, it's super heroes (including Nintendo and Michael Jordan).  

Last weekend we had the annual fall festival. Taylor was in the dunk tank for an hour or so and several of his students waited to hit the target and shove him in the water! So fun!

He's such a good teacher, he even let them paint his fingernails and toenails for money.  It came off within the hour, but still!

Festival wrapping up..

The Taco Truck!  It's a building shaped like a truck with cheap Mexican food and outdoor seating. I see it in our future!

Heading to our 1 AM Broncos party to watch Tebow start!

The spread...and the late night, devoted fans!

Out to Thai with the Swineharts and the Bradfords...such fun times!

This guy has been stopped outside the school selling wrapped cocunut wafers in a tortilla ...and candied fruit. YUM!

Date night! As always, HUGE malls full of escalators.  Trying to take pictures in the reflection...

We had such a nice night at Applegreen...porkchops and different flavored sausages (only Taylor).  We've celebrated the 27th of every month for the past 22 months..and plan to keep it up as the years go on!

The couch!!  Ikea delivered and assembled it at 10 PM one night--so sorry for our neighbors.  We ordered pizza in celebration! The red-headed step child black pleather park bench couch will remain in the corner.  The new one opens up to a full bed and has storage underneath.  Currently, I have been sitting on it for 4 hours straight and have yet to feel uncomfortable. Money well spent!

'Tebowing' on the MTR!

Off to a night out with friends to celebrate a birthday!

Hong Kong...little smoggy but still breathtaking!

A lovely night by the water--at McLovin's...they're 'superbad' ;)

Wow.  If you made it through this whole blog, I'm impressed.  I tend to pile up the pictures to make it worth the read--but this time, it was a little overwhelming. Welcome to Hong Kong! Ha.  We are off to get some veggies and small groceries for the week--and hit the couch, yet again.  We are missing the Colorado sporadic weather, trick-or-treaters, fall and Christmas decorations and our wonderful friends and family! We love you!

Happy Fall!