Justin the plumber and Veggie Tales...WITH PICTURES!!!

After a wonderful two week vacation to S@n Ya (thanks again to the family who paid for it and insisted us to go!) we are now settled back into our apartment in X1ning. Q1nghai is as COLD as ever and we're wearing multiple layers daily.*

Ok, First: Justin the plumber...

Last week, we had some friends over for dinner. While we were washing the veggies and rolling out the home made tortillas (yah, thats right I said HOME MADE TORTILLAS!!!) a pipe busted in our kitchen. YIKES! We quickly shut of the valves leading to that pipe and cleaned the water up off of the floor. Thats about the time we realized just WHAT pipes those were.

THE HOT WATER!!!!!! Yuck! So, for a couple of days we had no hot water to bathe or wash dishes. Luckily though...I was raised in a family that likes to hunt, fish and go camping. So, although the average "city gal" may freak out at this, I had a bit of nostalgia and pulled out the buckets. Sponge bath anyone??

So, off to work Justin the plumber and Tim "the tool man" went. To give you an idea of Ch1nese plumbing and pipe configuration...observe the following picture:



How were they even going to fit a wrench IN to that small space? Nevertheless...the two of them fixed it and we have hot water again! Hooray!!!

And now its time for VEGGIE TALES!...

On February 14th, we (here in Ch1na) celebrated Ch1nese New Year. At midnight on the 13th Me, Justin and a group of friends hiked up to the (nearly) top of south mountain (or Nan Shan) to watch the fire work display. OH...MY...GOODNESS! You've NEVER seen anything like this in the states. Believe me! It was amazing.

Well, the entire country goes into celebration mode from the first day of the new year (this year it was February 14th) until the last day (...I think that is the 28th). Its all based around the lunar calendar. So, it changes dates every year.

To welcome in the "year of the Tiger" the cities large central park got all dec'd out in...

VEGETABLES!!!! Wait, did she say...vegetables???

I would like to take this moment and tell you the significance of decorating with fruits and vegetables and the deep rooted meaning behind it in Ch1nese culture...but "I got nothin" on this. Sorry.

So, enjoy the pictures of us (and our team mates Tim and Lindsay) along side giant eggplants, mushrooms, pooh bear and what appears to be a razorback on the loose in X1ning. "Lets call those Hogs!!!"...I can't believe I just typed that:






Also, here are some pr@yer requests and pr@ises:

Pr@ise! We had a wonderful vacation full of rest and beautiful scenery.
Pr@ise! Our language is coming along slowly but steadily.
Pr@ise! Our health is good and the pounds just keep on coming off!

Pr@yer: My (Shelli) Dad has been in and out of the hospital for several weeks now with severe gastrointestinal issues. Please pr@y for a complete and quick healing.

Pr@yer: We have some tuition fees that need to be paid in the next few weeks.

Pr@yer: We need a new bath tub. Yuck. Ours is about to fall through the floor. (Not really, but it seems that way)

Pr@yer: I (Shelli) will be visiting with the local doctor in town about trying for a baby again. She is a Chr!stian woman from Europe and has a "plan" for me going forward.