Happiest Day Ever!

Yesterday I went to the foreign affairs office to pick up some packages my mom had sent. "Your FIVE packages are in the post office. Oh, and you have a letter."

A letter?! Woohoo!

Don't get me wrong, I love the packages I get! My mom did such an awesome job. I finally got a can opener! And more Cheerios...and tons of muffin mixes and enough craft supplies to keep us going for a lifetime!

But a letter?!? From who?!

Beth was sweet enough to go with me to the post office and help me get the packages back. She got to the letter first and flipped out. She was trying to get me to guess who it was from, but I had no idea. The post office ladies got quite a kick out of our crazy display of excited screaming back and forth...

The letter was from none other than Willis Turner...Brad's grandfather. First I must explain why this is such a big deal. Brad always talks about his sweet 83 yr old grandfather - an elder, barber, and sweet talker. After all the stories we've heard, and what an example he is to Brad, we all talk about him like he's our own grandfather. About a month ago, I finally took the chance to write him, though I've never met him. I just wanted to thank him for being such a powerful influence in Brad's life and to let him know how we live vicariously through Brad's stories about him. I guess you have to know Brad to get the full effect. He will be Willis Turner in 60 years!

So this letter was from the one and only Will Turner. I was so excited! I tore it open as soon as I got out of the post office. Beth and I both teared up reading it. It was just so sweet, and well, classic. The true form of letter writing not lost. Now I feel like I have a Chinese grandpa (Grandpa Liu) and now an American one - a good ole boy from Kentucky. He'll probably never know how he's touched us all and we've never even met.

"To love you is to know you, and I feel like I do..." -- Willis Turner

New do

I got brave and crazy the other day and decided to change my hair. I've been thinking about it for a while, but the Asian hair salons are a little intimidating. Their sense of style and fashion is quite a bit different from ours. Anyway, our good friend Felix went with me...for the 4 hour excursion.

Now, I've had quite a few perms before, but never one like this! At one point I had plugs in each of the rollers and was smoking, quite literally. But everything turned out ok, and I love it! And all for less than $20.

Future

Sometimes I feel like I'm just not very smart. Not a quick learner. I've always been somewhat of a planner. And you know, of course, that making a plan is the surest way for it to change course completely. And how many times have I planned, worried, and plotted over the future, only to have my way paved straight by the One who's plans are far greater than mine!? So why even now, after countless examples of this, do I still consume myself with wondering and worrying about the future? Can it be as simple as just trusting?

Classic Conversations...

A typical Chinese conversation...
Location: Xiao Mai Bu (small store by our house)
I'm looking at hand towels...

Grandpa Liu: maojin. maojin. (towel. towel.)
Me: Oh, yes. towel. towel.
Grandpa Liu: Your Chinese is so good!
Me: No, it's not good!
Grandpa Liu: How do you say it in English?
Me: towel
Grandpa Liu: towel. towel.
Me: Your English is so good!
Grandpa Liu: (laughter)

Conversations like these just make my day! Especially with Grandpa Liu.

Good news

Tonight an old student told me that we were so happy, so optimistic, so enthusiasm (enthusiastic), so peaceful. And that she felt calm when she was with us.

Amen.

I made sure she knew that has nothing to do with being American.

Thanksgiving Success

Well, I'm so pleased once again. Thanksgiving was great! We started off our morning with a dream come true...bagels and cream cheese! Beth found a recipe online, and I tried my domestic skills.

I won't lie, they were awesome and I was proud!

We spent most of the day cooking up delicious treats, and doing damage control on the turkey. Again, huge turkey and small ovens don't compute, so Beth and Brad ventured out to find a restaurant that could cook it. They found a place that could cut it in half and roast it rotisserie style. Well, it was cooked, and resembled turkey jerky! So we put it in a bag with butter and onions...moistness restored! And it was pretty tastey.

Our menu included: sweet potato casserole, stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, creamed corn, and of course pumpkin pie.

We spent some time reading verses about being thankful and sang some songs. Then we just took some time to share with each other some of the reasons were are thankful. It was a great day with Family.

Oh, and did I mention the Indians came too? :)

,

An assortment

Today I'm thankful for

sleeping in
sunny days
delicious bread
good emails
elliptical machines
the satisfaction good music brings
rare conversations in Chinese where both parties understand exactly what the other is saying
the power to cancel class or leave early
diet pepsi in a can
dry laundry
mandarin oranges
Heb. 12:28
and people who read my blog :)

A little goodness...

In the middle of a rough few weeks, I got a happy surprise today! Which leads me to what I'm thankful for...random thoughtfulness! Today I got a text saying I had a package in the office. I figured it was from my mom. Nope! It was from a sweet group of people from my home congregation. They'd gathered up some goodies for us hoping it'd get here before Thanksgiving...muffins, cake mixes, and lots more. I was just really moved by their thoughtfulness and kindness! A great unexpected surprise for today!

So thankful for...

Sleep and a warm bed!

Randomness is the spice of life

I saw this on myspace and thought it'd be fun...

10 random things about me:

1. I have never broken a bone.

2. I have random cluster of freckles on my left elbow.

3. I once went to get stitches on my knee, but got my ears pierced instead.

4. My greatest fear is falling on my teeth.

5. I detest grapefruit.

6. I was on a Talk of the Town Easter special in preschool and said "stickels" instead of "stickers"

7. I'm randomly featured on community access TV in Nashville swing dancing with friends, usually in the 1-3 am slot.

8. I have never ridden a motorbike in China.

9. I can't hold my breath underwater without holding my nose.

10. I love the smell of ink.

Address

Guess it would help if I asked for letters and then gave you my address. :)

Amy Pratt
Foreign Affairs Office
Three Gorges University
San Xia Da Xue
8 Da Xue Lu
Yichang, Hubei 443002
People's Republic of China

Creative Christmas

Since it's not even Thanksgiving, I'm not usually one to rush off to Christmas, but some have already started plotting and planning. So for those who are wondering what I want for Christmas, I'll tell you. Mail. And I don't mean a box, I mean a letter, a card, a drawing, a poem, an ode, a song. Anything! And for only 90 cents! Last year I went crazy and treated Christmas like every other year, only I actually had money to spend here unlike in the States where I'm usually pretty broke. So I bought a bunch of stuff for everyone here, and it was meaningful stuff, not just junk, but this year I have a new goal. I want to try to be creative and make in some form the gifts that I give. None of us really needs any stuff. I'm amazed at how full our little apartments become, even here!
So wish me luck in my quest for a creative Christmas! The wheels are starting to turn...

The Joy of Laughter

I am thankful for laughter! I won't lie, we're all pretty funny around here, and it doesn't take much to entertain us. Countless times we've gotten together to watch a movie, but we proved way more entertaining and the movie never got played. I love laughing til you cry and how everything seems funnier when you're on your back. I even love the ability to laugh at yourself. How else could we ever cope? Lately I find myself laughing at myself more and more, and when I think back on what happened, I laugh again. Crazy foreigner.

Ex. 1.
Last week I was at the gym and decided to walk on the treadmill. The one I got on wasn't turned on so I decided to try another one. When I stepped off every ounce of gracefulness and coordination left me completely. I stumbled and tottered like a cartoon until I finally fell into another treadmill. Stupid gravity. A guy stood there watching the whole thing. He didn't even laugh! I, however, thought it was hilarious and couldn't stop laughing. The whole time I was walking after that, I kept bursting into random laughter. Even now it kinda cracks me up.

Ex. 2
This morning I had an 8 am class. After going to bed late several nights in a row, I definitely didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Plus it's sooo cold in my house now and my bed the only refuge from it. After running through a list of possibilities in canceling class I finally dragged myself out of bed and headed to class. We trudged through listening class; play, stop, rewind. play, stop, rewind. Then I leaned over to pick up a paper off the floor and the leg of my nice office chair snapped off! I went toppling into the floor, half embarrassed but mostly just laughing. My students weren't sure if they should laugh or peel me off of the floor. In the end we all thought it was pretty funny, and I'd like to think it bonded us all together. I have quite a bruise on my rear. After that I decided to screw the stupid listening tape and we played fruitbasket turnover instead. That's listening, right?

I hope this made you laugh and you were thankful for it. :)

Thankful

One thing I'm really thankful for (but only realize it when its gone) is the Internet. Yes, that may seem strange to some, but it's our connection to the outside world. Heaven knows none of us would have a clue about the other if we had to rely on snail mail for communication! The Internet allows me to talk with/pray with/be encouraged by my sweet friends on the other side of the world. And it allows me to be lazy and chat with my pengyoumen here without moving or using money on my phone. On a rare day, it even connects me to world news and happenings. So I'm thankful for the Internet, and even more thankful when it actual works without randomly disconnecting. :)

Today I'm thankful for...

the amazing Power of prayer.

Mystery Dinner Birthday Extravaganza!

For Kim's birthday we put together a mystery dinner sort of thing. It was so fun to dress up in 1935 style and play a part. My part was Daphne - a loyal Brit who despised her daughter-in-law (Kim). I had apparently been very protective of my son (the victim)...but it turns out that I was the murderer! Who knew!?

It was too fun to make disapproving comments to Kim all night and speak in a snobby British accent. Plus I got to make a lorgnette (glasses) out of a hanger and some ribbon and sported a fake mole all night!

I'll try to round up some pics of the others...Brad the author/German spy, Beth the Venetian detective, and Katie the actress...and many more. We even had a priest, a tennis player, and an unexpected guests. Three of our Chinese friends played along and did a great job. What a fun night!

At last!

We found the most amazing massage place the other day! All last year we kept looking for good massage places, and most of them were just plain painful. I guess it's that "hurt now, feel better later" mentality. Not a fan. For Kim's pre-birthday celebration, Brad and I took her to a new place that just opened a few months ago. And it was awesome! 2 1/2 hours of goodness for less than $10. Now that's good stuff. The first part was a foot massage that took up most of the time. Who knew you could do so much to a foot? There were lotions and cow horn credit card things and wax. Strange, yes, but great! Then they did some really cool stretching things and then walked on our backs! I've always wanted to know what that was like. It was so cool! And I think it's much harder than it looks. Brad thought he'd give it a try on poor Kim...

We pretty much laughed the entire 2 1/2 hours, mostly because we're just hilarious, but also because it tickled...and the language barrier was pretty funny too. But I'd like to think we brightened their afternoon and broke up the monotony for them. This will definitely have to become a monthly treat!

Thankful

I'm going to steal Beth's idea of loading my blog with Thankful posts in honor of Turkey Day coming up.

One thing I am so thankful for is the bond and unity of Family...especially our Family here. When our Great Father provides us with Brothers and Sisters who love and care for one another, who will get on their knees and intercede for one another, there is nothing more beautiful. Sure, from the Family can come some of the greatest hurt, but that's only because of the huge potential for edification and love. I felt lifted up on eagle's wings last night after meeting with our Family. We are blessed beyond measure.

You'd think I wouldn't be suprised anymore...

Tonight at 5 pm I was informed I had to begin teaching a new class...tonight at 7.

Girls Weekend

This past weekend we had a Girls Weekend in Yichang. About 40 girls from several surrounding cities piled in buses and trains to learn about being a Virtuous Woman. It was an amazing weekend, all to His glory. He provided in so many ways!

It was so great to meet so many Friends in China, both Chinese and American. We all left encouraged and renewed.



We packed in nicely...



















Don't forget the massage train!

Kim and I did a little makeover comparing ways to be a virtuous woman with putting on makeup...like when you put on foundation, remember the best foundation is the Word. Apply lipstick in the shade of pleasantness to keep our words encouraging, etc.







My sweet Yichang girls...














Exhausted from a wonderful weekend...

To each his own

Ya know, everybody's got their somethin'...and I won't lie - mine is cutting laminating. It's weird I know, but I love it. And so does Beth.

However, love of doing teachery things does not equal love of teaching ;)