I thought I would share a fun pictures of my painted and bejeweled toes. This is something that I would never do in the States, partly because it would be expensive, but I think I will enjoy getting fun toenails here. Just cause I can. Some ladies and I have decided to make it a date at least once a month. It will be great girl time. You just have to excuse my weird tan lines.
The last couple of weeks have been filled with so much. We took a two day and one night trip to the capital city, KM, and that was an experience. Next time we have to go get some supplies--there are a couple of import stores there where we can get cereal, cake/brownie mixes, spices, etc.--we will not take the boys. It was good to meet up with some friends. I even got some girl time with my friend Kelli at a coffee shop. A real coffee shop where I got an iced latte and a peanut butter bar, Yummy! We've also had the apartment painted. That was a bit of an ordeal. We went last Thursday and showed them the colors we wanted and had one of the painters come to tell us how much paint we would need. Then Monday, after our long weekend away, we went back to the store to mix it, but the store was in the process of moving--which they failed to tell us was going to happen when we were there Thursday. So we got the paint at the old location, took it down the street to the new location to be mixed and then had to get it home. We had the boys with us and we don't have a car. PTL the ladies walked with us to get it back and up the stairs. It wasn't a lot but we would have had to take several trips up and down the stairs and leaving things unattended is never a good idea. Anyway, the painters came Tuesday and after 10 hours our apartment was done. Well except for us scrubbing the hardwood floors and base boards to get up the drips and sprays. That was not fun.
Friday night we had a little Olympic Opening Ceremonies party at a friend's house. A bunch of us got together and had great food and watched the amazing show the Chinese put on. I felt like they did not disappoint with the show. And we had a lot of fun being with friends. Just in case you are wondering why they are really hitting in on the #8 thing--some of you may already know this--in China the #8 is said as 'ba' which when it's said sounds like the word 'fa' which means luck or blessing. So 8 is traditionally a lucky number. This whole weekend we have spent watching the games--getting cable hooked up this week was a whole other experience. It's really different watching from the perspective of another country. I watched the archery finals for the first time ever today. I never remember them being broadcast in the States. Plus I have no idea what the commentators are saying. Stan and I like to make up our own version to entertain each other and sometimes it's nice to not have to listen to them go on and on about something silly just to be talking.
I've also had a an encouraging week spiritually. I had a couple of low weeks and just felt empty. I have really been encouraged this past week though my quiet times just remembering what is important. I had started to dwell on the things I was missing. All that I had sacrificed to be here. I was ever so gently--like a hammer to my head--reminded that the Greatest sacrifice was in no way mine. The Greatest sacrifice is the reason I'm here. The Greatest sacrifice has brought me salvation. A friend here reminded us last Sunday that if a King asked us to do something we call it an honor but when the King of Kings asks us to do something we call it a sacrifice. That totally doesn't make sense. Once I started focusing on Him and not me, I got right out of my spiritual hole and things just got better. I love how HE uses those around us to remind us of the things we so easily forget.
