January Holiday

So January marks the New Year and in China, the Chinese New Year. This year it lands on the 23rd and it is the year of the dragon! All very exciting and it gives me a month off of work.

A lot has happened. I had tickets to Bali and Vietnam and was looking forward to these trips for months. Medical and body issues have decided that, no I can't go do those things. I had to cancel tickets and now I am stateside for a month, getting medical attention. I am told I have Kidney stones and some other things going on. It has been quite exciting and the drs have been nothing but helpful since I got home.

It has been weird being back in the states but at the same time, feels like I never left. I came home to nearly an empty house as my parents are moving and to warm weather. Both very weird things! My welcoming home was a fail, the airport changed the gate arrival and did not inform family members. I walked around for an hour wondering who was going to pick me up and trying to find quarters in the 4 types of currency I had in my wallet--to make a phone call. I was finally picked up after wandering around trying to find my mom.

Jet lag has not been that bad this time around and I have slept through the night and woke up at a decent time, win! My favorite thing of being home has been driving. It is thrilling and liberating and I have missed it a lot. I wish there was an area where I could drive as fast as I wanted but I will stick to the posted limit, I don't need tickets. I also will be flying up to Washington next weekend to visit my Dad and the new house and just get to see everything before I go back! A quick trip but a fun trip :)

All in all I am excited for this month and the people I will get to see. I am going back to China with a new job, the old job I quit. After lots of talks and prayers I decided the job I was at, was not fitting. It was really hard to quit and I felt really guilty but it was the best decision for me, I feel so much better. I am really excited for my new job and the people that work there. It will be a nice fresh start and hopefully I can help the school and it's growing process. So please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go back to China to a new job and new place to live.

with love,

Ashley

Christmas- China edition 2011

Christmas season has come and man did it go by quickly. I thought my homesickness would get really bad the day of Christmas-- I was wrong. I received a lot of presents and cards in the mail! Shout out to my parentals and family, The Wilker family, the Menke family, the Moreno family and to grandma turner! I appreciate it and I know there are still some more coming, so if you are not on the list...just means I did not receive it yet! It made Christmas a lot better and it was fun to open up all the gifts! I have been so blessed by emails, comments, gifts, cards. So blessed. Thank you.

The true homesickness did not come until after my Christmas technically ended and everyone back home had started the day. I was up pretty much the whole night talking to people and really bummed that I was not home. I eventually got over it, but it didn't help that it was a rough night.

Our Christmas break started on Thursday night celebrating our friend Elsa's 23rd birthday, with work people. We made her bread and cheese "grilled cheese" it is her favorite now. I introduced her to it and sometimes regret--how many times she wants to eat it. haha but here is a pic of all of us. We made christmas cards and had a good night laughing!

On Friday being Christmas day at school. They had Christine dress up as santa and give out candy to all the kids. It was hilarious! here is a photo!

On Christmas Eve, I got to sleep in a bit which was so nice and needed. Christine and I went to take some of our coworkers kids and kids I teach, ice skating! it was so much fun and was exciting for everyone! We ice skated for around 3 hours and then we went and made Christmas cards with some of the kids for an hour, it was a great way to spend Christmas eve!!

Christine and I then headed out for Christmas dinner at the Futian Kitcken (where we had thanksgiving dinner) we were not let down! I would even say this was better than the thanksgiving dinner! it was so good!

after dinner we headed down to Lohu where you can go shopping and barter like crazy, so we started some really, super late shopping for the people at work. We walked away with some gifts for ourselves and sort of slacked on gifts for others, but it got done! I got new Toms and sunglasses--perfect for traveling :P

Christmas day was a really good day, I woke up super early and skyped with my mom and sister and opened up all my presents--which was fun and nice. I got some new clothes which were needed pretty badly!! Woke up pretty late again, I felt like a sleep deprived person--it was needed badly.

Jessica, Christine and Elsa came over and we made Broccoli Cheddar soup and watched Home alone! it turned out fantastic and it was fun watching the movie on Christmas day! We spent the day laughing and just enjoying each others company and giving presents to each other. Later that night we went down to church and got to see Jessica who was one of the main stars! she sang hark the harold angel's sing and it was fantastic! she did a really good job and I was super proud of her!!

Here is a link to the Facebook video of her singing!!

it didn't help that she had to wear this epic outfit! I laughed when I first saw it but it fit so well! It was a great show...we saw the beginning and the birth, they did a wonderful job. I liked that everything was in Chinese and I still knew what was happening and was able to figure out what they were saying, with the small, small amount of Chinese I know. I really enjoyed it and the conversations that followed with the people we went with. These last 2 weeks or so have been what I thought was going to happen while here. It has been a great feeling and it just feels really right. I hope the questions and excitement stay!

I have had the last two days off and it has been wonderful! doing my own thing at my own time and not being sick. Can't go wrong there! it was a much needed break. I don't think you all realize how spoiled we are in America with break time for Thanksgiving and then Christmas...these kids go straight till mid January. It is SO exhausting!

I leave for my winter holiday soon and will have about a month of traveling and then my friend comes to visit. I am really looking forward to all of this time off from work! It is needed and I hope I can keep away the sickness that I keep getting, stays away. It just has all been pretty epic lately and I hope it continues. The packing has begun!

Highs:
the talks that came with the service
Spending the holiday with friends
getting to Skype home
the gifts I have received

Lows:
homesickness that came with the holiday

Prayer requests:
the people I was able to talk to that they keep asking questions!
packing goes smoothly and that I don't forget anything!
Restful nights of sleep these next few days


with love,

Ashley

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you, all the way from China!!

today I spent time with Jessica, Christine and our friend Elsa. We attempted in making Broccoli and Cheddar soup and we succeeded and it was delicious! We also watched Home Alone :) it was a good day spent with friends laughing and enjoying our time together. I got to Skype home and open up Christmas presents which was the greatest thing ever! I love Skype.

We are off to a service right now, where Jessica will be singing in the show!

I hope you all enjoy your time with family and loved ones. Remember the true reason for this season and let it overfill your hearts with love and joy!

Sending tons and tons of love from China!

Ashley

4 Months

All I can update right now is that it has been 4 months. It has been good and bad and had its ups and downs.

Teaching and talking about Christmas has been the most rewarding thing I have done here yet.

I will update next week about everything we did for Christmas and about my first Christmas not at home. Prayers that we are not too homesick this weekend would be the best thing you could do for us!

Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for the gifts and the love being sent this way, I don't know how I will be able to repay you all. It has been the biggest blessing. I love you all so much! I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends as you celebrate the Reason for the season!

My Christmas tree this year! :D

with love,

Ashley

Joy

My sickness is still lingering in my life. I believe the infection is gone, won't know for sure till tomorrow. It feels good to have better health, I almost forgot what it felt like--sad.

Things are hectic and crazy more than ever at work with the end of the semester coming up. I taught three open classes today, that were successful! They all really liked how I was engaged with the students and the the kids were interested in what I was teaching. I would say the teachers like me and now understand how I teach--hopefully. I enjoyed it, it was fun and exciting to have them in the classroom and have them interact as well.

I have a Christmas lesson to do and some english festival stuff next week that will keep me busy, but will be exciting to share my view of Christmas. I have been getting random cards and packages in the mail from home, thank you to all who have sent something. You have NO IDEA how much I appreciate it. It has been such a blessing to realize you haven't been forgotten even 11,000 miles away. I have been full of happy tears, thank you. I love you all!

I struggle over the thought of not being home with family during the holiday season, but know that they are going to have a wonderful time with everyone. I am excited to receive the Christmas present from the parentals and family, it makes this a lot easier. It is also helpful to remember the true meaning behind CHRISTmas and to not dwell in things. To be happy and joyful for all that has been done for me. To let it strengthen me and to continue to be a flame to the light that I have become to the people I interact with daily. I have been working on finding the joy in each day and the joy in each month. I was told to find things to look forward to. I have been working very hard in actually seeing all the joy in my life and not just dwelling in things I can't change. I hope I can continue to be strong and joyful for everyone! Joy Joy Joy! reminded of the song O' come O' come Emmanuel, the music is such a joy to hear this time of year :D

if anything the kids joy should be contagious, they are full of it! oh and of germs too...I am slowly becoming even more of a germ freak and might be living in a bubble in the near future ;)

I have been going out more, to different restaurants and stores. I like the idea of meeting new people only if they are here for a visit. It is nice to be in contact with people that are just stopping by for a visit before they get to their new location. I like meeting and talking with people from other cultures! I ate at the best cheeseburger joint in Shenzhen...it's true it was the best. I am in love with the mexican food place, which will probably steal all my money by the time I leave here. I had an obsession with mexican food back home, it has followed. :) I don't mind it!

I leave for Bali/Vietnam soon and I am excited for that, counting down the days for a new adventure. A new culture and new people to meet and become friends with, it will be refreshing in so many ways! Please pray for all the prep that needs to be done for these two trips and that everything goes smoothly!

Highs:
Successfully doing 3 open classes in one day. win.
emails and Skype time with people I love, always a high
getting packages, letters and a ton of love from home.
not feeling as sick anymore! hopefully the infection is gone

Lows:
tired from being sick.
Trying to get everything done.
not connecting well with certain people at work.

with love,

Ashley

it's starting to look a lot like Christmas

I have been busy non stop and of course I caught a cold -- my luck. I have one month until I am sitting on the beach in Bali or at least sitting at a coffee shop reading a book and not worrying about classes. I have had some crazy travel plan changes, some I was very upset about. I have dealt with it all and have figured out where I will be going now. I will be spending a good time with my good friend Mary! which is more than exciting! and when I arrive back in China my good friend Krystal is going to be visiting that week! FOR MY BIRTHDAY! excitement?! yes. But I am turning 23...why does that number have to look so ugly? Starting to feel like an old woman -- yes I know it is still young!

I went to the hospital today to get some blood work done and found out I have a lovely infection but don't worry it is curable and I should be ok in about 5 days. So please keep praying for that as I get better and start to feel better.

I have to teach 3 open classes, which means the head teachers will all be sitting in! I am nervous but feel confident. I think my teaching has improved a lot over the last 3 months, I just hope the kids pay attention. I feel like discipline issues are still there and I don't know how to get them to respect me the way they should. I'm working on it though. That is where most of my stress is going, how to get the kids to listen...they treat my class like break time and let's do other work time. It's exhausting and is probably what lead to the sickness!

We found a Mexican Cantina where we go get 4 tacos for about 4 U.S dollars. They are delicious and I look forward to Tuesday's so much now! It is time to introduce our friends to a foreign food to them and it makes it fun. A "home" food for me and a way to talk and build a community with the workers and the friends we invite with us.

The last few weeks of teaching are upon us, we are going to have a English Festival at school where Christine and I have to do announcements, sing songs and host an english corner for the students. We also have to dress as Santa....we have not decided who it is going to be yet, but with my luck -- it will be me.

Everywhere I go, I am seeing Christmas trees and lights and everything that is comforting. I have yet to go out and get a tree, but it is on my weekend list of things to do! I have finished all my Christmas shopping and plan on sending out presents :) It has been nice, I hope that homesickness does not get bad. We have plans for an eventful Christmas break which is three days for us. Jessica is singing in a choir and a local restaurant is doing dinner! We also plan to go to Hong Kong so we can see all the lights and the bay lit up, we hear it is best during Christmas time!

this was up at the local mall :)



Highs: Christmas being out

Lows: getting sick, infection
missing home

with love,

Ashley

Tis the season

Christmas is my favorite holiday, the one I look forward to 365 days a year. The minute I can put everything else away and bring out the Christmas decorations. I spend the day after Thanksgiving every year putting up Christmas lights. This is the first year I am not out in my front yard shocking myself with broken light bulbs and screaming or running around on the roof trying to get the lights to stay up--while running out of staples.

I sit in the office at work writing you a blog while laughing to myself at all the dumb moments I had growing up that involved Christmas. How can one not get excited about this season?! The weather is cooler, you can sit by the fireplace, you can read great books and drink hot chocolate. (Something I wish I could do right now but it is still hot here and I have no fireplace so I must adjust!) Everything about this holiday is peaceful, yes there is crazy shopping involved but its gifts for people you love, there is no stress when you are buying for people you love--they either love it or they don't and hopefully the just pretend if they don't.

All of this is great but I can't help but be reminded that HE is the reason for the season. Everyone gets absorbed into the shopping and the presents and they forget why we are celebrating this. So excited to get to see a different culture experiences during this holiday, one that doesn't think the same way as I do. It will probably be a struggle but it will be a very exciting adventure that I am glad I get to witness.

I am thankful for so much and yet sometimes I get this mind set of everything is "not good enough" how am I to judge if it is good enough or not? He gives us just what we need, good or bad. We sit and wonder why things are too hard, but really nothing is too hard--just have to be strong enough to overcome it. Overcome your fears this season, don't be afraid to press on in the hard stuff right now--its going to be amazing on the other side.

I came to write a blog about music and started talking about other things! fail. I want to just give a music review and think that everyone should listen to A Very She & Him Christmas

It is top notch and definitely making it seem like it is the holidays. Zooey Deschanel's voice just brings Christmas alive in her songs! I love the deep, rustic, old feeling the songs have and you can't beat the harmony. Of course I have about 1,000 other songs on this playlist but theirs is standing out. So everyone should check it out :D

So I leave you with some things to think about. What is stopping you from doing what you love this season? How can you overcome the hardships that are placed in front of you? How are you going to change things to make everything focused on Him. I dare you to take the leap you have been too scared about taking.

Remember to smile and share His love this season. Be a light.


Highs:
skyping into the Thanksgiving dinners back home
good talks with friends back home
having a Thanksgiving meal!

Lows:
Homesickness was pretty bad this week
getting over some kind of bug
my moms friend passed away today, it definitely upset me. RIP Kathleen. you will be missed.


Prayer requests:
That my parents can adjust with my dad moving soon.
That you are all at peace this holiday season and enjoy the time with your loved ones, never take it for granted.
That I can get through this holiday season and not be too upset or depressed over it. 2 holidays down 1 more to go.

with love,

Ashley