Six hours of fun for 100 RMB

The 24th Winter Universiade are coming to a close here in Harbin so we went to check out one last event, the ladies' figure skating finals.



The event was great. (though I should probably let the lady describe all the outfits, routines, dances, and music) I will say the event was not too bad. Although the first couple of performances were lacking, the top performers were definitely good at skating. We got our money's worth as we watched skating from 2:30-8:30 PM, saw the Zamboni 3 times, and a new event described later.

Kanyon was the hit of the show. From the moment we found our seats near the top of the arena, all eyes were on Kanyon. He flirted with the girls around him, received a toy car from a stranger, and was even offered some chocolate candy. We learned later the chocolate candy was more than just chocolate as it was filled with liquor. (Good thing he only ate one candy. He did take a nap shortly after this too, coincidence?)



The show of the night was actually something we didn't know existed, synchronized skating. 16 skaters (I would say ladies, but Team Russia did have one guy) took the ice and performed their routine, much like a drill team or cheerleaders on ice. We then picked up some souvenirs like a good foreign tourist and headed out into the cold to return home. (FYI the temp that night was -8 with a wind chill of -21, by far the coldest night we have been out in.)

Tuesday Morning Image

Every time we head outside to any event, we are the center of attention. Added to the fact that we are foreigners, we have a baby, we are extraordinarily tall, and we speak English. All these make us stick out here everywhere we go. I am reminded that I should always stand out everywhere as a follow of Him. Please remember all our brothers and sisters (ourselves included) around the globe to always stand out for Him.

Canada 13, China 0

We went to a live sporting event for the first time in China. It was great getting back into the crowd and watching the hockey players go at it. We were watching Canada play China in ice hockey and we cheering for both teams. We have Canadian friends and of course we love China too. The place would go nuts each time China has a remote chance to score.



Read the summary of the game as reported online.

CAN - CHN 13-0 (2-0, 8-0, 3-0)
Host China, clearly motivated by the near capacity crowd of 2,200 at the Skating Gym of the Heiljongjang Institute for Physical Education, could withhold most of the attacks of title defender Canada only allowing two goals in the first period. However, they slacked in the second and the Canadians took advantage of their weakness and lit the backlight eight times. In the last period the Canucks drilled another three past goalie Xie Ming. (original article here)



The game wasn't even close, but the Chinese goalie did a great job of competing. He was under constant attack by the Canadian offense.

We enjoyed the game so much we might go back for more. But for now the next event on tap is some ladies figure skating finals.

True Texan

There are new videos posted online at the link at the top of the page. This is one of the newest ones. We hope to get more online as soon as we have more time.

True Texan (0:52 min)

It's Nap Time!

As we were out the other day strolling on a very cold day, Kanyon decided to take a nap right we he was!



He always decides to take a nap while we are walking around, but we have a harder time convincing him of nap time when we are at home surrounded by his toys, go figure.

Frozen Soft Serve

We were walking around outside yesterday on a day much too cold to be outside. After lunch, I suggested to get some ice cream from KFC (btw they have some of the best ice cream and sundaes in all of China). I bought the ice cream cones and headed back outside. The funny thing is that the ice cream actually freezes more outside and feels a little warm as you eat it because it is actually a little warmer than the air temperature.



Upside-down ice cream reminded us of the great DQ Blizzards we ate on every road trip anywhere in Texas. I guess M'Lynn was a little scared hers might fall out so it's not completely upside-down. But not to worry, it was really cold outside there's no chance it will fall out!

Tuesday Morning Image

The 24th Winter Universiade Games open tomorrow in Harbin and run from Feb 18th-28th. Collegiate athletes from across the globe come to Harbin to compete in these mini-Olympic type games. The events are being held throughout the city of Harbin and at the closest two ski resorts. We are planning to attend two events, figure skating and ice hockey. Learn more about the events of the 24th Winter Universiade on The Official Website.

Please remember these athletes as they are traveling, competing, and visiting Harbin. Also remember the event organizers and the event proper that it will be successful.

Valentine's Day Traditions

Each year we head out early on Valentine's Day for what has become a family tradition: breakfast together. We typically head to a place that has a breakfast buffet, i.e., Golden Corral, but there are not any restaurants like that in Harbin. We settled for McDonald's. We were quite surprised to fine a great little breakfast menu and ate up our egg McMuffin, hash brown, and coffee.

Valentine's Day evening is another strange little family tradition: pizza for dinner. We'll have to see about ordering a pizza tonight.

UPDATE: While we didn't order pizza for dinner, we did buy all the ingredients to make a pretty good one instead. The tradition lives on!



Here's our homemade pizza. It was just a little different with onions, mushrooms, hamburger meat, Chinese sausage, and of course loads of mozzarella cheese.

12:2 Times February 2009

Friends from training visiting our Harbin Guesthouse

Guesthouse & Fireworks

Three great events occurred over the winter holidays between the semesters, opening our home as a Harbin guesthouse, Spring Festival which includes the Lantern Festival, and our Annual Thailand Teachers’ Conference.

Our Harbin guesthouse hosted many of the teachers we had met during training in California. It was exciting to see them all again and show them around Harbin. Beginning in mid-January we would venture out to pick up in the ice and snow from the train station and bring them back to settle them into our 20th floor apartments. (Some of our teammates who had left earlier to travel allowed us to use their apartments for our guests.)

Each morning we would make some breakfast for the group before we took them out for the day. All in all we had about 15 guests either staying or visiting our guesthouse. On the last day before we left for our Annual Conference we hosted the remaining group people for brunch fellowship, a sort of mini-La Quinta, CA training reunion. We loved talking together about the experiences (both good and bad) from the previous semester.

Next up was Spring Festival celebrating the Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox). Spring Festival ends on the 15th day after the new year called the Lantern Festival. Traditionally on this day children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. In modern China, the festival is marked is fireworks. If you can imagine 6 million people shooting fireworks at the same time, then you will understand the enormity of the Lantern Festival. Our night skies were lit with exploding fireworks beginning at 5:00 PM and continuing after we went to sleep at midnight.

It was absolutely incredible to see the city lit with fireworks from the 20th floor windows of our apartment. There are some videos posted online if you want to check out the action for yourself. The Lantern Festival is definitely my favorite Chinese holiday!


Kanyon serving as tour guide around Harbin

Looking Forward

Here is a list of sorts that serves a reflection from the past semester and a beginning point for this next semester offering challenges to us as we live our lives in China:

#1 – TAWG meaning time alone with the Father. This is my new motto as I begin the next semester. I've been challenged to only spend time alone if we are with the Father. All other time should be in relationships with others. If I need to go shopping, why not ask someone to go with me? If I need to buy tickets for the train, ask a student for help. If I want to watch a movie, play a game, or learn Chinese, spend the time building relationships with others.

#2 – Make excellent choices. I have been learning a lot about love this past semester and was challenged to be guilty of committing one intentional act of an excellent choice daily just to stay in shape. These choices come from my love for the Father and demonstrating that love in the way I treat others. So daily I am looking for an opportunity to be guilty of serving others. And this is just to stay in shape; I should be committing these actions all the time every day.


Walking hand-in-hand around Thailand

Baby Food

While in Thailand for the conference, we tried everything to get Kanyon to eat some food, either Thai or the great Western food we were enjoying. Nothing we put in front of him was up to his standards. We started to wonder if he was just not growing much these days and was starting to eat less. He was happy, so we were happy.

Then we returned home to China. Immediately he ate anything Chinese that we put in front of him. And he ate and ate tons of food. We now know just how much Kanyon loves Chinese food.

Tuesday Morning Image

Another photo from Thailand. These are paper hot air balloons with a small flammable wax circle wired to the bottom. Once the flame is lit, the Thai will wait for a couple of minutes for hot air to filled the balloon before sending it off. Traditionally these are sent off during a festival on the full moon in the twelfth month of the lunar year (last year in November).

The unusual ritual of launching Lanna-style floating lanterns (khome loi or khome yipeng) is a unique aspect of the Chiang Mai Loi Krathong festival. Traditional belief has it that when these huge lanterns are set adrift and float away, so do the troubles of the residents in the community.

Please remember all those who are not looking to Him for fulfillment.

Lantern Festival

What happens when 6,000,000 people all buy fireworks and set the off on the same day? Lantern Festival in China. This holiday is like the fourth of July but on some major steroids. The fireworks began early this morning with the aerials starting at 4:30 PM about 30 minutes before the sun goes down. As I sit looking out my window typing this at 9 PM the fireworks haven't let up one bit. It has been a constant stream of fireworks for 4+ hours. The city is becoming more and more smokey so much that the buildings that were visible at the onset of the celebration are covered by the firework haze of smoke.



Lantern Festival is the holiday that celebrates the end of the Spring Festival. It always occurs 14 days after the Chinese New year (or on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar). This has to be my favorite Chinese holiday by far, no words can describe the awesomeness of this many fireworks.

Tuesday Morning Image

If this picture looks a little smokey, that's because it is filled with the incense lit to honor the idol. It is such a real reminder of the idolatry that goes on everywhere but is so much more real in Thailand. While my own idols are often not physical, these in Thailand are. Please remember the people here (and even our own lives) as we look to idols for help/security/confidence/luck/... instead of turning to The Truth.