Sunday + Vegetables

I know my friends and family in Ohio won't appreciate this, but I can't help it.

We are having the most beautiful weather this winter.

While the evenings are chilly, the day time temperatures have been mostly above 70 degrees, often in the low eighties. There have only been a couple days where it felt like "winter", which of course, is an arbitrary word. 

Today, while slightly chillier than the last several days, reminded me of a late April, early May day in central Ohio. The sun was shining, but a cool breeze kept the temperatures from reaching the "it's too hot" stage.

A perfect day for a walk.

So when Carl asked if I'd like to walk into the village to buy vegetables, I jumped at the chance to get outside.

A high school student once told me he thought we all called the village "the village" because we thought our campus was the castle, and the village was the common folk. After I stopped laughing, I explained that thirty years ago the Morrison campus was surrounded by rice fields. Just up the street was a small village. In the past three decades, Taichung city grew around and absorbed both the school campus and the village. The village, while no longer a village, is still referred to as the village.

The afternoon market is the large building oon the left side of the road.

Several blocks down the main street of our "village" is an afternoon market. We often buy our fresh produce and eggs from one of the vendors. 

The selection for the greens is numerous. I have no idea what most of them are. 

When we first moved to Taiwan, it took me quite a while to identify spinach. Unlike baby spinach which is conveniently washed and sealed in a labeled bag in the United States, spinach grown in Taiwan is allowed to grow big with thick stalks. It is sold in its entirety, not just its leaves. 

Besides the green leafy vegetables, the more commonly known veggies are available.

Along with  a collection of unidentifiable produce.

 

We often buy our eggs here, picking out the ones we want. Carl also has a favorite egg lady in a larger morning market that he buys from. We rarely ever buy eggs that are packaged.

While her main focus is vegetables, the vendor also sells clams. You just scoop out the amount you want into a plastic bag. 

When your shopping is complete, the produce is weighed, and a total is determined. 

It's quick. 

It's convenient. 

It's fresh.

And in case you can't tell, I'm not missing Walmart!

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year!

The week prior to Chinese New Year was quite  a buzz with all the excitement and anticipation of Taiwan's biggest holiday.

In chapel, the songs were sung in both English and Chinese.

CNY Chapel Worship

A local artist also came to our CNY chapel.

While sharing an ancient legend of the eagle,  he painted employing Chinese techniques.

Using just a few strokes and colors, an eagle in flight came into being. 

CNY Artist

The students' attention was riveted to his every move. 

Finally, the day before CNY break arrived. Our day started off with several parents coming in to help the second graders make a craft. 

Firecrackers are an integral part of celebrations and, as a result, many decorations include a bundle of firecrackers. Lanterns, and of course, the color red are also very popular.

The CNY activities culminated with each class offering well wishes through song.

Second Grade CNY Songs

Last night,  the rumble of fireworks filled the darkened sky as families gathered together to ring in the new Lunar year. 

The year of the pig has begun.

Happy New Year (again)!

SLW

Spiritual Life Week

One of the nice things about working at a missionary school is being able to share my faith with my students and their families. It's so much a part of who I am.

While that is an everyday, all day thing, the EMS once a year gets to spend a week focusing on Jesus and his love for us. Typically, a children's evangelist or pastor is invited to come and lead our special chapels. In the past, we have had ventriloquists, puppeteers, and several magicians using their skills to help teach the spiritual theme. Last year, Adam, a talented and energetic children's evangelist wowed us with his wit and magic.

This year, Steve Greenwood, a children's pastor from Tennessee brought us the messages centering on the theme of reach. While not having any flashy tricks up his sleeve, his delivery was engaging and solid. Each day had a big idea; a key thought that encapsulated the scripture and lesson. He didn't have a dummy or a puppet, and he didn't know any magic tricks. But, that didn't stop him being able to share his love, faith, and wisdom.

When you're early for chapel!

Besides the chapels, Steve came to each classroom to share more of his testimony.

 He became quite popular with the students- from the kindergartners to the older, more mature middle school students. He was invited to sit at multiple tables through the lunch hour. It takes a talented speaker to connect with all ages!

"You the man!"

The teachers also enjoy getting to know our spiritual life speakers. It is especially fun when they are from the US, and not acquainted with Taiwanese food and culture. 

Dessert? Nope. Fried shrimp with sweet mayo and sprinkles.

A question that kept coming back around was "Do you truly know Jesus?".

It's so easy to think you do, especially when you attend a school where the Bible is openly taught and applied. But, do you know him or do you just know about him?

I know a lot about Abraham Lincoln.

But, I don't know him.

I know a lot about Michael Jordan.

But, I don't know him.

What about you?

Do you know a lot about Jesus or do you truly know him?

I Can't Stop It!

As much as I wish I could, I can't.

There is no way I could possibly even begin to think of how to  stop the forward march of time.

The ever present passage of time begins to speed up as children approach the age of stepping out of childhood and into the adult world. It has happened three times so far in my lifetime and I am currently experiencing the symptoms again. Probably worse this time, because it is the last.

I felt that familiar punch in the gut while we were in Kenting, the beach town on the southern tip of Taiwan. Jake, along with his friend Marcus, asked to rent scooters for a day. They wanted to explore, but more importantly, they wanted their independence.

Of course, my heart wrenched with typical mommy thoughts. But, with age comes wisdom and I wisely held back those emotional and somewhat irrational what ifs. Both boys, besides having experience driving a scooter, have proven themselves to be trustworthy and good decision makers.

Since these were electric scooters, no drivers license was required. So, with the help of the dads and approval of the moms, the nice scooter man was paid his fee, and the boys were given the time and equipment to wander along the coast and up into the nearby hills.

While it may be labeled as Fast and Furious, it wasn't. Since any novice could rent and drive one, the scooters were set to only go so fast. That fact alone salvaged a few gray hairs! The batteries only lasted a few hours, so they couldn't wander too far away. Plus, it was January. The roads were void of the typical good weather tourists.

With his lunch money in his pocket and fashionable helmet strapped on for protection, away he went. Now while my face may show despair, I assure you it was all for the benefit of the camera. I learned long ago, that my worry can't change a thing (except add more gray hairs). 

Every hour, we received a text assuring us he was still alive. Later that evening, the scooters were returned damage free after a somewhat chilly and misty day.

In May, Jake will turn 18, which is the legal driving age in Taiwan. He will be eligible to get a scooter license. That's when I will need to completely trust that God is with Jake wherever he goes!

It will be another exercise in faith growing trust for me!

Christmas 2018

 If this tree could talk....

 Carl and I bought our Christmas tree in 1992. Carl had just invested in his first house and we went had spent many days looking for and agreeing on the perfect live tree. Not wanting to spend so much time each December tree hunting, Carl decided to invest in a more convenient, but realistic looking tree. 

Besides the year we didn't own a house and the year our friends convinced us to try a live tree again (not a good experience, by the way), this artificial evergreen has graced our living room every Christmas season. It has seen us through every stage of our lives-dating, engaged, newly married, and married with children.

It has stood in three homes in America, traveled across the Pacific Ocean, and decorated three different apartments here in Taiwan.

Just think of the many memories of our tree could share if it were able to talk!

This year, it observed a quiet, yet comfortable Dingus Christmas. 

Last Christmas, we were able to bring Nick, Ben, and Abbi home to celebrate the season. This year, due to work commitments and finances, Nick stayed in Texas. Ben and Abbi were together in Ohio. This left Carl, Jake, and myself here trying to carry on Dingus family traditions.

My Christmas officially began the last day of school. Each year two things happen; I take my class caroling throughout the school and the staff gathers to share a last lunch before everyone scatters for the holiday break. This year was no different.

Usually everyone wears hats, scarves, and mittens, but the weather was so warm, many opted out!

Loved his shirt!

 This year, despite the lack of family members, we still carried out many of our Taiwan Christmas traditions. 

On Christmas Eve, we did something new. Strange as this may seem, I really wanted to sit by a fire and roast marshmallows. So we did!

Christmas day was spent in the typical fashion: the giving and receiving of presents, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, dinner at Chilis, and a movie.

I know the dinner at Chilis and a movie may not sound like typical Christmas traditions, but they developed the first couple years of living in Taiwan. With the kids being teens, which meant no toys to play with, and no relatives to go visit, we needed to fill the day with activities that didn't happen very often. Going out to eat at a western restaurant, with six people can really add up, so we only went on special occasions. The movie afterward just naturally became part of the package.

With Christmas so near the beginning of the break, we had lots of time to relax and enjoy living. We took advantage of that time to do some exploring on the scooter.

Glad I wore the scarf! The higher up you go, the colder it gets!

Not having any responsibilities also allowed us to share meals with friends and coworkers.

The three older Calmes children graduated with Abbi. They attend OBU where they have developed great friendships with Nick and Ben. It was great to have the entire family, including Chris's wife, Natalie, over for an informal meal.

New Year's Eve found us on the roof of our nine story apartment buiding enjoying the 20 some fireworks displays throughout the city.

The next morning we headed south to Kenting.

Long tunnels through the mountains of Taiwan!

 Despite extremely windy conditions, we were still able to enjoy the sun, surf, and beauty of this area. And even though  it was January, Jake got a nice sunburn!

On the way home, we stopped at the best and probably most authentic Mexican restaurant in Taiwan- Don Burritos. 

The best way to end a family vacation!

The last few days before returning to work was filled with cleaning, lesson plans, and the sad, but necessary, putting away of the tree. It appears my real looking artificial tree mimics a live tree in more ways than just its appearance. But, I guess that's to be expected from a tree that is twenty-six years old!

This May, Jake will join his siblings as Morrison alumni. He will travel back to the states to attend college. When Christmas 2019 rolls around, it will find Carl and myself as empty nesters.  This tree will once again see us into the next stage of our lives, this time as empty nesters.

Who knows what adventures that will bring our way!

You Know...

You know you are not in Ohio anymore when....

 you are sweating profusely while putting up the Christmas tree! 

Shorts and open windows are not the typical Ohio environment for Christmas decorating! Its cooled off a little since. Today, jeans and short sleeves are more appropriate. Unfortunately, the tree is still not done. Several of the light strands decided to go on strike, refusing to cooperate with the Christmas spirit. Carl spent an entire afternoon trying to negotiate a compromise, but the lights were unyielding in their opposition. So, they were granted their wish. The other strands were taken off and redistributed to accommodate their stubborn coworkers' absence. 

You know you are not in Ohio anymore when....

your peaceful, relaxing Sunday afternoon is interrupted by this.

Sunday Interruption

At first, I though it was just a passing god parade. It stopped, however, just below us and stayed. Not sure, but we think the owner of the business asked (or paid) the temple leaders to bring the god to the building to bless it. The whole affair lasted quite a while and was accompanied by lot and lots of firecrackers. 

Definitely, not an interruption I would expect in Ohio. Passing tractors, yes, an occasional passing ambulance, maybe, but a noisy god blessing, not likely! 

You know you are not in Ohio anymore when....

everyone in your community is asking about where to find candy canes! And when someone finds them, they share the location and price on Facebook. Don't judge, the struggle is real!  

There are many other examples I could share, but I think you get the point!

Ohio is in my heart, but loving the life God has given me!