Kenting:
Hualien:
Last Day of 2012
First Day of 2013
Happy New Year!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Merry Christmas - A Week Late But Its the Thought That Counts!
Yes, I know Christmas was over a week ago...
Yes, I know you have been waiting...
Yes, I know no excuse will be good enough...
So now that we are all on the same page, I do sincerely apologize! It was my intention to blog, blog, blog during my two week break from school. Oops! I missed the mark by a long shot.
Let me begin by saying:
Although we were not present to wish many of you this in person, our thoughts and prayers were with you. Christmas was different but when Jesus is your Savior and Lord, Christmas is Christmas no matter where you are in the world..
In the Dingus family, we tried to hold onto some of our holiday traditions, as well as create some new ones. Looking back, I think we were successful.
We still decorated the tree as a family! We were even able to feast on a special meal-- including the traditional pineapple cheeseball and Apple Snickers Salad. To create these family favorites, a little bit more thinking and planning were required but well worth it!
Something we hope begins a new family tradition was our participation in a live Nativity scene outside a local mall. While we were not actually in the Nativity , a group of us sang carols as shoppers passed by. Notice the coats, hats, and gloves. While it was not cold enough to snow, it was a windy blustery evening.
Unfortunately, Abbi was fighting a nasty cold and was unable to come with us. Hopefully, we will be able to participate next year so she can share the experience!
On Christmas day, we opened our stockings and gifts. Of course, I had to take the traditional "all the kids in front of the tree" picture. Nick obviously feels he is much too old to participate. Ben is tolerant while Abbi and Jacob still find pleasure in this tradition or maybe pleasure in pleasing their nostolgic mom. Either way, they look happy!
So the strangest thing about Christmas in Taiwan is that it isn't a national holiday. To all of our neighbors it was just another work day. But the court yard of our building was outfitted in blinking Christmas lights and our elevator that tells us good morning and good afternoon (in Chinese of course) every day was programmed to say Merry Christmas in both English and Chinese. I can honestly say I have never had an elevator wish me Merry Christmas!
Since my oven is so tiny and turkeys outragesouly expensive, we opted for another new tradition- Chili's. Yes, we went to Chili's for our Christmas meal. We had received several gift certificates and decided the best time to redeem them was Christmas Day. And I am so glad we did. We went between lunch and dinner and pretty much had the place to ourselves. AND the food was delicious! Expensive but worth it!
So our Christmas was a combination of the old- band concerts, office parties, homemade cinnamon rolls, Christmas music playing in stores and new- missionary Christmas brunch, skyping friends and family, shopping Christmas day.
Because it really isn't about where we are or who we are with... Its all about JESUS and celebrating the most miraculous birth that has ever taken place in human history!
I Am Blessed!
Yes, I know you have been waiting...
Yes, I know no excuse will be good enough...
So now that we are all on the same page, I do sincerely apologize! It was my intention to blog, blog, blog during my two week break from school. Oops! I missed the mark by a long shot.
Let me begin by saying:
Merry Christmas!
In the Dingus family, we tried to hold onto some of our holiday traditions, as well as create some new ones. Looking back, I think we were successful.
We still decorated the tree as a family! We were even able to feast on a special meal-- including the traditional pineapple cheeseball and Apple Snickers Salad. To create these family favorites, a little bit more thinking and planning were required but well worth it!
Something we hope begins a new family tradition was our participation in a live Nativity scene outside a local mall. While we were not actually in the Nativity , a group of us sang carols as shoppers passed by. Notice the coats, hats, and gloves. While it was not cold enough to snow, it was a windy blustery evening.
Unfortunately, Abbi was fighting a nasty cold and was unable to come with us. Hopefully, we will be able to participate next year so she can share the experience!
On Christmas day, we opened our stockings and gifts. Of course, I had to take the traditional "all the kids in front of the tree" picture. Nick obviously feels he is much too old to participate. Ben is tolerant while Abbi and Jacob still find pleasure in this tradition or maybe pleasure in pleasing their nostolgic mom. Either way, they look happy!
So the strangest thing about Christmas in Taiwan is that it isn't a national holiday. To all of our neighbors it was just another work day. But the court yard of our building was outfitted in blinking Christmas lights and our elevator that tells us good morning and good afternoon (in Chinese of course) every day was programmed to say Merry Christmas in both English and Chinese. I can honestly say I have never had an elevator wish me Merry Christmas!
Since my oven is so tiny and turkeys outragesouly expensive, we opted for another new tradition- Chili's. Yes, we went to Chili's for our Christmas meal. We had received several gift certificates and decided the best time to redeem them was Christmas Day. And I am so glad we did. We went between lunch and dinner and pretty much had the place to ourselves. AND the food was delicious! Expensive but worth it!
So our Christmas was a combination of the old- band concerts, office parties, homemade cinnamon rolls, Christmas music playing in stores and new- missionary Christmas brunch, skyping friends and family, shopping Christmas day.
Because it really isn't about where we are or who we are with... Its all about JESUS and celebrating the most miraculous birth that has ever taken place in human history!
I Am Blessed!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Road Trip
One gorgeous day.
.
One amazing Creator.One perfectly delightful roadtrip!
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| Awsome views |
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| Checking out the roadside map |
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| Ripening coffee beans! |
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| That's our city, Taichung, off in the distance |
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| Pottery filled with vinegar |
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Topics to Ponder
So here I am again. Sitting at the computer, ready to share some tidbit of my life. Not difficult due to a lack of material, but rather, the opposite- too much to share.
During the week, I often find myself thinking of things I should write.. Possible topics flit through my mind, often during the long walk to school every morning. Ok, long is a relative term. Just ask a pregnant woman waiting for the next available stall at a public bathroom. Five minutes can be an eternity!
But back to my possible topics. Here's a few that occupied the recesses of my mind for at least a short time this week.
1. Celebrating Christmas in a Buddhist country
2. The advantage/disadvantages of owning a scooter
3. The crazy dogs of Taiwan
4. Hospitals in Taiwan
5. My husband, the Taiwanese scooter driver
5. It's almost Christmas and I'm wearing shorts (this I decided against, considering most of you packed your shorts away almost two months ago, and I want friends, not enemies)
Ok. I think you get the idea. So what topic did I decide on? Read on and take a guess.
School work. Friends. Swimming. Homework. Starbucks. Shopping. Basketball. Chinese.
If you guessed Abbi, you are correct.
Abbi settled right into life in Taiwan as if she had been born here. She adjusted to the new challenge of attending a school with typical Chinese high expectations. And despite the fact of never swimming competitively, she joined the swim team. She almost ran for class president but a typhoon day kept her from turning in the appropriate paper work. Probably a good thing. I think she had enough on her plate.
During swim season, Abbi not only learned how to dive off the starting block, do the racing underwater flip turn (yeah, I don't know the terminology, sorry Coach Randy, and other coaching staff), she also learned the butterfly. Two weeks later she competed at a meet in a butterfly event. As the season progressed, she improved. At one meet, the women's relay team of which Abbi was a member, broke a school record. At the final meet, Abbi took four first places. One race placed her in Morrison records with the third fastest time for 100meter freestyle. At the sports' awards, she was voted as most valuable member of the junior varsity team.
When basketball tryouts rolled around, Abbi was ready. Morrison has three women teams- varsity, junior varsity, and JVB- usually comprised of freshman and eighth graders. Abbi did great and earned a place on the JV team- the only freshman to do so. Despite being the youngest, she has proven to her teammates and coaches she has the skills to be a great basketball player.
Abbi's life is full. She studies hard. She plays hard. And if God leads you to, please pray for her and her brothers, too! This momma thanks you!
During the week, I often find myself thinking of things I should write.. Possible topics flit through my mind, often during the long walk to school every morning. Ok, long is a relative term. Just ask a pregnant woman waiting for the next available stall at a public bathroom. Five minutes can be an eternity!
But back to my possible topics. Here's a few that occupied the recesses of my mind for at least a short time this week.
1. Celebrating Christmas in a Buddhist country
2. The advantage/disadvantages of owning a scooter
3. The crazy dogs of Taiwan
4. Hospitals in Taiwan
5. My husband, the Taiwanese scooter driver
5. It's almost Christmas and I'm wearing shorts (this I decided against, considering most of you packed your shorts away almost two months ago, and I want friends, not enemies)
Ok. I think you get the idea. So what topic did I decide on? Read on and take a guess.
School work. Friends. Swimming. Homework. Starbucks. Shopping. Basketball. Chinese.
If you guessed Abbi, you are correct.
Abbi settled right into life in Taiwan as if she had been born here. She adjusted to the new challenge of attending a school with typical Chinese high expectations. And despite the fact of never swimming competitively, she joined the swim team. She almost ran for class president but a typhoon day kept her from turning in the appropriate paper work. Probably a good thing. I think she had enough on her plate.
 |
| Abbi and friends |
During swim season, Abbi not only learned how to dive off the starting block, do the racing underwater flip turn (yeah, I don't know the terminology, sorry Coach Randy, and other coaching staff), she also learned the butterfly. Two weeks later she competed at a meet in a butterfly event. As the season progressed, she improved. At one meet, the women's relay team of which Abbi was a member, broke a school record. At the final meet, Abbi took four first places. One race placed her in Morrison records with the third fastest time for 100meter freestyle. At the sports' awards, she was voted as most valuable member of the junior varsity team.
When basketball tryouts rolled around, Abbi was ready. Morrison has three women teams- varsity, junior varsity, and JVB- usually comprised of freshman and eighth graders. Abbi did great and earned a place on the JV team- the only freshman to do so. Despite being the youngest, she has proven to her teammates and coaches she has the skills to be a great basketball player.
 |
| Ready for the rebound |
 |
| She shoots. She scores! |
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Still Alive!
Life. Is. Crazy.
There I said it. I know you know what I mean. No matter where you go in this world, the month of December is jam packed with responsibilities, appointments, and celebrations.
For me, it started last weekend.
Friday night was the K-2 Christmas pageant. Quite entertaining! I was very proud of the raw talent in my students.
Saturday evening, three families gathered for a time of games and fellowship.
Sunday evening, staff from both the elementary and middle school gathered at our principal's apartment for a time of fellowship and food.
Today, I spent all day in Taipei with Jacob at a softball tournament. Yes, you read that correctly.... a softball tournament. In December! That definitely was a first for this Ohio gal. No snow. But lots and lots of rain. Yep, they competed in the rain. They played a total of four games and just missed being in the championship. We left at 6:15 am and returned at 9pm. Loooooooong day!
So what's in store for this week.....decorating our Christmas tree, basketball games, formal observations (yikes), meetings, and birthdays (Abbi will be 14 on Thursday!)
And I haven't done a stitch of shopping yet ....
There I said it. I know you know what I mean. No matter where you go in this world, the month of December is jam packed with responsibilities, appointments, and celebrations.
For me, it started last weekend.
Friday night was the K-2 Christmas pageant. Quite entertaining! I was very proud of the raw talent in my students.
Saturday evening, three families gathered for a time of games and fellowship.
Sunday evening, staff from both the elementary and middle school gathered at our principal's apartment for a time of fellowship and food.
Today, I spent all day in Taipei with Jacob at a softball tournament. Yes, you read that correctly.... a softball tournament. In December! That definitely was a first for this Ohio gal. No snow. But lots and lots of rain. Yep, they competed in the rain. They played a total of four games and just missed being in the championship. We left at 6:15 am and returned at 9pm. Loooooooong day!
So what's in store for this week.....decorating our Christmas tree, basketball games, formal observations (yikes), meetings, and birthdays (Abbi will be 14 on Thursday!)
And I haven't done a stitch of shopping yet ....
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