Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Psalm 118:1

Today, my heart is thankful.

Yes, for the big, most obvious-  forgiveness, grace, mercy, peace, love, joy, health, and more.

But also the small things.

Everyday things.

Normal things.

For example....

I am thankful for the friends who gave me their Thanksgiving turkey carcass. Strange, I know. For some reason, I prefer leftover turkey in soup rather than the freshly baked variety. My plate on Thanksgiving had all the "normal" fare, except turkey. No one made me put it on my plate, so I didn't! My friends' offering came with several large drumsticks just perfect for making soup! Thank you, Susan and Katie!

I am very thankful for another friend and downstairs neighbor who gladly lent me an egg, after I scrambled all mine for breakfast, forgetting in order to make homemade egg noodles, one must actually have eggs! Thank you, Grace!

I am thankful for my mom who showed me that noodles don't just come from a bag at the grocery store. I still don't make mine as good as hers, but I will keep trying. Maybe one of these days. Thank you, Mom!

I am so thankful for a husband that not only loves me, but helps me in areas that I am not too good at, such as hanging up Christmas lights and stockings! Thanks, honey!

I am thankful for a son and daughter who willingly and joyfully assemble our tree each year! Thanks, Jacob and Abbi!

And very, very thankful that in less than two weeks, two more children will be home to help put the rest of the ornaments on our family tree.  Thank you, Nick and Ben! I can't wait!

My list could go on and on. 

But, there is still one more thing I am extremely thankful for...

You!

I am thankful for our friends and family who support us through their words of encouragement  and faithful prayers It is these things that carry us through the difficult and lonely times. Thank you for "holding our rope"!

May God's blessings and love become evident to you through this season of thankfulness and celebration!

Happy Thanksgiving

As my Thanksgiving day here in Taiwan is coming to a close, it is just beginning for friends and family back in Ohio.

Wonderful smells are probably just now beginning to fill the house. The sound of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is adding to the ambiance of the day. For some of you, snow may even be gently falling from an overcast sky.

These thoughts, of course, are fueled by the many warm, comfortable, happy memories of Thanksgivings past.

Today, even though I live in a country where today was not a holiday, I celebrated Thanksgiving.

View from our balcony. 

And I didn't have to be an American to be thankful!

Morrison, as well as our mission organization, is blessed to be a multicultural community.  

As I ate my stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie I shared conversation with our high school librarian from South Africa. Across from me was the Taiwanese wife of a seminary professor. Just down the table sat our Chemistry teacher, a Canadian citizen. 

My point?

While a Thanksgiving filled with all the smells and sights, bells and whistles is satisfying for the day, being thankful every day, no matter where you are, or what you have, is satisfying for life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tears Again

I had my first tears as a senior mom.

Having done this just last year, and two years before that, you would think I would be over it. 

But, no, I cried.

I couldn't help it.

It's always sad to say goodbye to a season of your life that was good. And swimming has been great for Abbi.

Its hard to believe that it was  four years ago, when we had just moved to Taiwan, when she decided to give the swim team a try. While she learned to swim young quite easily, it had been years since she had access to a pool. Nevertheless, she went for it.

With in the first month, she learned the butterfly. At her very first meet, she had to swim a butterfly event. She came in last. But, she kept at it and developed.

While her backstroke is a disaster, her freestyle resembles a hot knife cutting through butter.

By her sophomore year, she began climbing into the top ten Morrison times list. It became apparent after breaking several records, swimming was her thing.

Since the Morrison pool was under construction, the swimming season was odd. Every afternoon, the team would catch a bus outside the school gates and travel to a local university's pool. It was great bonding time for the team, but hard for others to enjoy their talents. Without a home pool, there were no home meets, and one of the biggest meets of the year was cancelled by a typhoon. 

Senior night was held recently at the university's pool. 

This year's team was blessed with an abnormal amount of seniors. Abbi was honored to be elected as one of the captains. 

The following week, families and friends gathered again to honor this amazing athletic team. Despite the adversities and challenges, they experienced a great season.

It was here I shed those tears. As the banquet drew to an end, all the seniors' families were asked to stand behind their swimmer as a final blessing and prayer was offered. Realization set in. And just naturally, the tears followed.

Tears of pride for all her hard work to achieve and be the best she could.

Tears of joy that she is growing up into a beautiful woman of God.

And tears of sadness as yet another door of childhood closes.

But, as that door closes, another opens-  life long friendships!

Passion Fruit

Fruit.

I knew fruit before coming to Taiwan.

We actually grew some back in Ohio.

Strawberries

Cherries

Apples

Peaches 

Pears

Watermelon

When we moved to Taiwan, my fruit repertoire tripled. Taiwan's climate is just right for growing many tropical fruits. With the mountainous interior, comes a different climate,  just right for growing those not-so-tropical fruits. Suddenly, I had more choices to satisfy my fruit cravings. 

Things like....

Guava

Dragon Fruit

Pomelos

Loquats

Lychees

Dragon Eyes

Passion Fruit

Up until this year all my passion fruit consumption has occurred while sipping Passion Fruit Green Tea from the local tea shop. Delicious and totally satisfying on a hot, hot day. I was originally slightly disturbed by the little seeds floating at the bottom of my cup, but I stuck with it. 

Last week, one of my student's parents brought me a bag filled with the small brownish fruit. Wanting their children to have a place to run and play, they purchased a small plot of land farther inland and subsequently higher elevation. There, they grow many varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Up until that point, I had never really processed passion fruit as an actual fruit. 

Strange, but true.

It isn't much to look at.

Its outside is hard, not soft and yielding like other fruit.

Cutting it open, the insides isn't all that impressive either.

If all you think all you are seeing is seeds and slime, you are. 

That's it.

But.... I was brave and adventurous.

It was delicious!

I ate two more before I decided I had better slow down.

So a new favorite for this midwestern gal... passion fruit.

And my mom worried I was too picky of an eater!

Swimming

The number one cause of death of children in the Philippines is drowning. 

After all, the Philippines are comprised of over 7,000 islands. Not to mention these islands sit in the most typhoon prone waters of the world. 

During my first year in Taiwan, the swim team, during their annual mission trip to the Philippines, dug the hole for a pool at K.I.M.'s Manila location. 

By hand.

During rainy season.

I remember the pictures well. 

Now, when the swim team is there, they teach swimming lessons in that pool.

Not the typical mission trip activity, but very practical.

Students in the first and fifth grades all received swimming instruction during their physical education time. High schoolers also had the opportunity to learn the necessary skills of swimming. Several morning, the toddlers were brought from the children's home for 1-on-1 pool time.

These students do not own bathing suits. I know that sounds strange, but think about it. They live in a poverty stricken area, so family finances don't allow for such luxuries. There are not any pools in this area, so the need is also nonexistent. 

Last year, they wore their clothes into the swimming pool.

This left quite an impression on the hearts of several Morrison students. One of Abbi's co-captains, applied for a grant and received the money necessary to purchase swimming suits. 

Another, spent her summer  soliciting businesses for donations. Through her efforts, she was also able to purchase swim suits and enough goggles for every student involved in the lessons. 

No one prompted them to "think outside the box";to see a need and figure out a way to meet that need. They stepped over that line of maturity where you begin to see the needs of others. Not just realize the need, but do something to meet that need.

 Learning to swim is so much easier when appropriately dressed!

Typically, the high schoolers led these lessons. It was intriguing to see the different leadership styles, as well as virtues, such as patience, being displayed. Students who were typically quiet and reserved, stepped up into leadership roles when necessary.

One of the many things that touched my heart on this trip was the Morrison team members. This was their trip. They weren't there to simply tag along. They made decisions. They served. They served willingly. They did not moan or groan. No one complained.  Ever!

I feel so privileged to have been part of such an awesome trip!

The Nursery

Yep, the children's home has a nursery.

A nursery filled with tiny little babies and energetic toddlers.

Eighteen to be exact.

And only a handful of workers.

I visited the nursery with Abbi our first afternoon.

The toddlers were the infants she had held and rocked last year.

One of our many opportunities to serve through out the week was in the nursery.

At 6am.

Yep, you read that correctly.

6am.

This was the part of the day where the care givers needed the most help.

Babies to diaper, feed, and dress.

Toddlers to diaper, feed, and dress.

And entertain.

And corral.

Many hands make the load lighter.

Abbi went three mornings.

Despite the early start time, we never lacked volunteers. Not just the moms of the group, or the teenage girls, but several of the male swimmers also helped out. So impressed by the teens' attitude of service and willingness to help outside of their comfort zone.

Several times during the week, we also brought the toddlers down to the pool. This gave them the opportunity to become comfortable in the water and begin basic swimming skills, not to mention a chance to interact with people other than their caregivers.

Sometimes, it's the little things that mean the most.