Come Walk with me

I am part of a Biggest Loser contest online. Just two more weeks in this round to get those pounds off. You can join me on a walk. It stopped raining long enough for this walk.

Here we are leaving the village. You can see the trash cans on the right. Often, I will pause to throw the trash as I leave the village. We are going to turn right and head up the road. Grass and trees and no cars. I live in the middle of nowhere.
We keep walking. Here is the little drink stand/restaurant. I have never eaten there but I recently saw some foreigners there. That is where I met my friend when we walk together. She is not yet back from her summer vacation so I am walking alone.
I have to pause for the little "green go man. Actually I have to push the button so it will change. As I wait, I walk in place or do the side step.
Now we are on the other side of the road. You can see the nursery. I don't know what they grow but at New Year they have lots of orange trees.
There are the mountains. It is still a bit cloudy.There goes a double decker bus. We ride that bus often from the train station to our village.
We keep walking. We are walking fast so we can get this walk done before it starts to rain.There is some new houses that they are building. Most of the village house are 3 levels with an apartment on each level and about 700 sq feet.
We are getting close to where we are going to turn around. The road starts to go uphill and it is about time to get home. The walk back is much of the same. There is a mini bus or light bus. Those seat 16 people and everyone has to be seated so if you want to be sure to get a seat ride the mini bus.
We are going to go down a side road to another village. I want to take a picture of the banana trees that I found.
There is the banana tree.
Here is heading down to the village. This village is about a 10 minute walk from the road. Which means a walk to the bus. Heading back up the road towards our village.

Now we are entering our village.We are going to wind our way back to our house. I think I once stood in our apartment and counted about 10 houses that I could see.
Here is our door. We live on the 1st floor. Let me open the door and you can come on up. Yes, I said up. Here the 1st floor is what we might think of as the 2nd floor because you have Ground then 1st and 2nd.
That was a good walk. It was about a 30 minute walk. Now you probably need a towel and big glass of water.

What does this say?

A few years ago at Christmas I said "I don't want any toys that require batteries or make noise." That came from all the toys that we had received that had batteries and made noise and drove momma nuts. Everyone followed that request except one sister-in-law. She tried to say that she was giving K an educational toy but it required batteries and made noise. I do still talk to her.

Well, for the past year and a half K has had her Leap Frog Refrigerator magnets. She has played with them some. I am obsessive in the sense that we have to keep all the letters together so they stay in a basket on top of the refrigerator. They are on the refrigerator just the top and not the door. K knows where they are kept and she will ask for them. We have a rule that she plays with them on her blanket.

The other day as she was playing I was listening to her repeat the sound with the letter and she did a great job with some of the sounds. I then showed her the M and asked what does it say and she replied /m/. I showed her the P and she said /p/. I think she has also learned the D sound as well.

For the post part I really don't think that many toys of today that claim to have educational value really do but this one I will say has some educational value.

Now I am beginning to think about that master's thesis that I edited where the discussion was teaching letter sounds before letter names. I might just have to research that a bit more.

I tried to get a short video clip of her saying her letter sounds but she saw the camera and decided not to perform.

This is a picture of her working on her numbers. That picture was taken a few months ago. It is August and we do not wear sweatshirts either in the house or outside of the house. Not when the temperature and humidity are both in the 90's.

Lessons about God from raising a 3 year old

I have learned so much about God and our relationship to him as I raise my now 3 year old.

This morning as my husband put Miss K in the highchair and she was fighting with him, I heard him say "I am going to win this so you might as well sumbit now." We remarked how God must say that to us sometimes. We want our way, we fight and kick and God says "just submit, obey me."

Today was one of those days that I think I said "no" so many times that I might have worn it out. I wonder if God has days like that with us, we disobey and he says "no", we do it again and he says "no" again.

I get frustrated, and tired but it is wonderful to know that God is loving and long suffering with us.

Have you seen this?

I can't believe what they are giving away this time. Check out this giveaway.

I don't think I have ever won anything. I was thinking about that a few weeks ago and I couldn't think of a contest that I have won. Oh, well.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

and I need to do laundry. The forecast for the week is scattered showers followed by scattered showers. That is a problem because my washer and dryer are on the porch. I can do a load quick when it is not pouring but drying it is a problem so we created a drying room. We brought the drying rack in the house and put it in the tub and then put the dehumidifier in there and a few hours later my clothing is dry.


We now have clean dry clothing.

Using up an Apple

I don't like to eat apples if they are too soft. I like crisp apples that crunch when you bite them. Every now and then I buy apples and don't eat them before they lose their crispness. When that happens the easiest thing is chop it in small bits and cook with my oatmeal water. I cook the apples for a few minutes before I add oatmeal and then it is a nice addition to our morning oatmeal and I used up that non-crisp apple.

Pass the ketchup

I made ketchup the other day. I found the recipe on Hillbilly Housewife. We can buy ketchup here but I wanted to try to make it just because I could and also because I do think it is cheaper. I don't eat ketchup. I put it in a few things that I made. My husband eats it on his scrambled eggs. I think that must be a man thing. Anyway, we had meatloaf the other night so that was a test to see how it fares against the stuff you buy.

His first remark was he could taste the vinegar. I wasn't sure if that was good or not. He did say it was good and even better than store bought. So that is a recipe to keep.

It uses tomato paste which is cheap and spices that you have around the house except I had whole allspice and not ground so I skipped that. I might add a bit of garlic powder or onion powder but it has no high fructose corn syrup.

Here is a fun ketchup fact. Do you know that the word is based on a Chinese word. Ketchup is from Cantonese and Catsup is from a bit of a Malay Chinese word. So I think it is fitting that living here I would make ketchup.

Made in China

I know that is the buzz right now as so many products in recent weeks have been recalled that were "Made in China" for various safety reasons. My blog is usually just a nice place to share pictures, projects and not political issues but this one is close to my heart in a way. I spent years working in international manufactoring, live on the border, and have visited many factories.

First, I think we need to consider why things are "Made in China". One of the major reasons that things are made in China is because of price. I spent years working in international manufacturing and know that if something was labour intensive we generally had it made in China. Why is price an issue? Because Americans want to buy things at a cheap price. They want to save money. They are greedy. Price really sums up why things are made in China.

The retailers go to the distributors and say that they want to buy it for a lower price. The distributors who used to make it in the USA and most likely now buy it from a China factory go to the factory and say we need to make it cheaper. There might be some easy ways to save money but then factory wants to make money as well so they might look at ways to save money so that they can continue to make their margin.

What is China's reaction? Now this comes from one factory owner in China who I talked with recently. China is beginning to force factories to make more high end products. That is the government but honestly the factories are going to do what they can to continue business and so they will make what they have been making. The government does not want to continue exporting low end products. In that particular area they are have two days a week without power. Well, this owner was getting a generator so that he could continue production. A fraction of what he produces goes to the USA but he has customers in many other countries.

I will say that I think the Chinese factories are to blame because they are not following the specifications that were given to them by the USA companies. Based on my own background I am quite sure that the factories involved in these recalls are going to be paying in many ways. There cost saving idea has backfired.

I think another part of the blame goes to the American greed. We want more and more and want to spend less and less and honestly we don't care about the quality until we hear that it might not be save. Living overseas I have seen in various ways that it appears that Europeans are more demanding of quality then Americans.

I think it is difficult to avoid the "Made in China". I did read of one person who tried to do it and I do applaude her for her efforts. I just spent the past week unpacking and jokingly have said that I brought a number of things back to the motherland.

In my opinion the bottom line issue is greed. Greed on the factory's part in wanting more money. Greed on the distributor's part in wanting more money. Greed on the retailer's side for wanting more money. Greed on the US consumers part that is you and I and our desire for more and more at less and less.

So if we hold some responsibility what are we going to do?

Now back to my nice little blog about things I am making and things we are doing.

Works for Me -- Storing Trikes & Bikes

This is not my idea or my house but I thought I would share how it is done at my parents' house. They have the best driveway for grandchildren to ride bikes and trikes on. It is paved, flat, and long with a basketball area so needless to say lots of bikes and trikes stay there ready for grandchildren to visit.

My dad put two hooks up and then hung a metal bar on some chain and there is a great place to store bikes and trikes. I think I counted 10 hanging there.

Tag - I'm it

So I have been tagged. I really should be careful who I play with online but this is from a friend and is rather fun. Now you will get to know a bit more about me.

4 jobs I have held
1. Mowed Lawns
2. Picked chickens
3. Candy shop
4. Logistics Manager

4 movies I can watch over and over
1. Sabrina with Harrison Ford
2. The Princess Bride
I am so not a movie buff

4 places I have lived
1. Akron, PA
2. Denver, PA
3. Geigertown, PA
4. Lynnwood, WA

4 TV shows I watch
TV - what is that? I only watch when we are in the USA
1. HGTV
2. Food Network

4 places I have been on vacation
1. Pukett, Thailand
2. Malecca, Mayalsia
3. Italy - got a new passport there
4. Kunming, China

4 favourite foods
1. Dark Chocolate
2. Good's potato chips
3. Chocolate cake with white icing
4. Hard pretzels

4 websites I visit
1. local weather
2. Hearthkeepers
3. various Down Syndrome sites
4. various blogs - I like the people that update and have lots of pictures

There you go a few things about me.

Party Success

Miss K's party was a success. We had a few games. We played "pin the bow on Hello Kitty" and then drop the Hello Kitty clothespins in the jar. I was suprised how much even the older kids enjoyed that game. We played pass Hello Kitty and the twist was the person that has just given Hello Kitty to the next person got a treat. Okay, being fair and even, everyone got a treat. The party favor bags were fun. I had gathered all kinds of things before we came at various places around the city. I found little containers at the Japan Dollar Store, stickers at the stationary store, tissues and candy at the grocery store and a few other things. I even made a special gift bag for my 9 day old niece -- just a container and a washcloth.

It was a fun party and we have a year till we do it again.

Ramdom Reflects from Here

Coming from one of the most densely populated cities in the world we are amazed how big everything is here -- the houses, stores, cups of soda, and yes, even the people.

I am enjoying being able to run the washer and dryer at the same time.

I am reminded how easy things are here. Need something just get in the car and go to the nearest store. I am also working to be careful that I don't get greedy and buy everything that I see and think that I might want or know I want. One of the things that I have been learning is just how much we stuff we have available to purchase here and how easy it is to do that. Personally, I am learning to live with less. It is a slow learning with a few purchases that were not necessary.

I think one other thing that I have noticed this year coming home is the fact that now it is acceptable and fashionable to wear your lingerie in public.

Miss K is having fun in the sand box, the big grassy yard, and even learning to ride a tricycle.

I get to see all the new gadgets that have come out. My mom had to show me how to use her new can opener.

Things here are not marked with how many trans fats they contain.

Those are just a few of the reflections that I have had this past few weeks as we are adjusting to being here for a few week.s

My baby turned 3 today

Three years ago she entered our lives at just 6 pounds 1 ounce. We didn't know what all was ahead of us. We just had our first child. Three days later she had her first surgery to correct her stomach. We thought that was all and that she was fine and then learned about her heart. At two weeks she had her heart surgery.

When I filled out the order form for first child, I admit, I didn't check the box marked "Down Syndrome". God gave us what he knew we needed. We needed Miss K with Down Syndrome. We needed to love her, push her, encourage her, laugh with her, praise her, train her, teach her, hug her, tickle her, kiss her and all those other wonderful things you do with babies. We were able to sit and watch how God has shown us that he cares for her and us. It began with the hospital bill, then the PT, the free exam at University of Washington, then the EI center, and the list is more than we can recall.

I have a dear friend whose Chinese name is Kai-lene. I loved the sound and so we began to look for English names and liked what we picked. The English meaning isn't that great boomerang but we had a direct translation into Chinese and we liked that meaning -- victorious and beautiful. The middle name is one that my husband liked. We had two spellings and different meaning based on the spelling. We had planned to spell it one way but then last might sitting in the hosptial room as we were filling out the paper work we looked and realized if we spelled it the other way each name would have a letter that went below the line -- g, y, and another y. Only and engineer would engineer a name.

Today she speaks some words, she is a great eater, she walks, she laughs, she climbs out of her Pack 'N Play. She says "bye" when she doesn't want you around in a very independent way. She loves her baby. She is not delayed in whining or in stubbornness.

She is a joy and a blessing to our family.

This was a few weeks ago but shows her independent spirit.

She's back

This is a cousin funny. My one nephew, B, was filling my other nephew, M, in on what had happened while M was on vacation.

"She's back. That girl, she's back." B said. "She walks and is bigger."

He was referring to Miss K and not to me. I do walk but I don't think I am bigger.

Another Milestone

Yesterday I watched as Miss K finally was able to reach her leg up over the side of the Pack 'N Play. I told my mom and Bo. We chatted about it and Bo and I decided we had 6 months to even a 1 year before she would have the upper body strength to push herself out.

We put her down for her nap in her Pack 'N Play. I went up to get her up for dinner. I opened the door and the Pack 'N Play was empty. I looked at the dresser and found a little girl standing enjoying pulling the clothing out of her dresser drawer.

So much for a year or even 6 months. She is now climbing out. Oh no, what am I going to do. This morning Bo did see how she does it. He saw her put her leg up, put her head down and then begin to roll.

Pondering what to do with my baby who is not so much a baby.

Worshipping as a Family

We somewhat fell into taking Miss K to the worship service with us as the church we attended when she was born did not have a nursery. I could sit up on the 2nd floor and watch the service on video or train her to sit with us. We began at that time training her to sit with us. I do remember one Sunday that she laughed as she was looking at her Bible story book.

Since that time we have talked about what we want to do in regarding to this. Do we put her in nursery? Do we keep her in church with us? Slowly over the past few years we have come to decide that we want her worshipping with us. I love to see her enjoy singing and praising God with us. She will even raise her hands. Over the past year we have been working to have her learn to just sit. I will have a pencil or maybe a container of Golfish crackers if necessary but I save that until I really need it. I learned that if I get them out early just for her to have them then she wants something else and she doesn't sit as quietly.

Today I felt affirmed in what we are doing. The sermon was on prayer. She had a few pieces of paper and two pencils but a few times I noticed her folding her hands. It was so cute to watch her try to hold those papers up against her chest and at the same time fold her hands. She was listening to the sermon. She heard the pastor say "pray". That encouraged us to continue training and teaching her to worship God with us together as a family.

Jetlag

Jetlag - that is when your body is one place and you are trying to catch up to your body. As an adult I understand why in the middle of the afternoon I am ready to crash or why I wake up at 3:30 wide awake are ready for the day after that nap. But a 2 almost 3 year old has no clue why in the middle of the night her tummy is acting like it is the middle of the day and she is hungry. I was shopping and had her in the cart and she put her head down on the bar and feel asleep. I knew it was jetlag because she is social and loves to be out and she has moved to the point of going and going like the Energizer bunny.

Last night we arrived at Grandpa and Grandma's and she was fussy and tired. She feel asleep at 7:00 and woke up at 6:30. Yeah! I think we are on this time zone.

Home Sweet Home

If only, I knew where that was. Questions regarding home seem to leave expats staring into space and wondering how do I answer that. "Where is home?" Do you want to know where I live in the foreign counry? Are you asking where I lived before this? Maybe they want to know where I grew up. I don't know, "where is home?" That is a question that I ask myself and wonder.

Then you come "home" or to be complete in my terms return to your home country and the question is "Is it good to be home?" "Yes, no, wait, I am not home, well, maybe this is home." What is home? The people here speak my native language, the food is familiar but wait which side of the road do you drive on, do I ask "where is the lift?", no, I need to ask "where is the elevator?" So am I home. I still don't know. I do know that I am enjoying being here.

So if you meet someone who lives overseas and you ask them "where is home?" be prepared for a stare and maybe some fumbling of words as they try to figure out how to answer that question.

Pausing and Pondering

I sat in shock for a bit of time this morning. I am still pausing and thinking. I know my blog is not usually full of deep thoughts but today I am pausing and pondering.

In April we had traveled to visit friends and during the Sunday fellowship I met someone. I had heard her name numerous times but actually met her that day. She greeted me during greeting time telling me that I had a cute daughter. She then told me about her sister who also has Down Syndrome. She told me her name and then we went through the list of people that we knew. She was there in that country helping homeschoolers and working with special needs kids.

This morning I talked to my friend that I had visited and mentioned this gal as a resource for homeschooling and special needs and my friend said, "oh, you didn't hear". She died. Old people die, sick people die not people in there 30's or so. It was about a month after our visit. She had pneumonia and went into respiratory distress.

This was someone that I met once. We talked briefly. In many ways I didn't know her and yet in a little way I knew her. She loved special needs kids, she loved helping people, and she loved Asia. Now she is home with Jesus.

I paused to think about how short life really is, it is a fading flower. So how am I going to spend my days. Do I want someone to remember that I got angry and yelled? Do I want my last words to be complaining?

I want to say "I love you more." I want to smile. I want to laugh. I want to give praise to God for all that he has given me. I want to love. My days may be long or short but Lord help me to fill them with your praise and for your glory.

Arrived or maybe I should say survived

We got to the airport in plenty of time which is the way I like to do it. So far no problems. The flight is overbooked. Bo has premier status or something like that so they move him to Economy Plus row 17 and Miss K and I are in row 65 with middle seats. Not much we could do at that point. The guy said he would put a note in the system and work at the gate. Finally, I got 17A and Bo got 17B and Miss K was in 21B. Yep, 4 rows behind us. Well, Miss K and I were in row 17 and S just 4 rows behind us. We all were in Economy Plus. Miss K and I had bulkhead seats which is wonderful because I have room to reach the toys that she threws.

I think I overpacked as far as things for inflight entertainment. Our flight departed at 6:30pm so in just a few hours she was ready to sleep. She did colour some, use her stickers but the winning items was baby and a wipe. Baby's nose, ears, hair, fingers, toes, and belly were washed quite a number of time.

She enjoyed her own bag of pretzels. Her hair is very fine and combined with the dry air she had lots of static and a very bad bed head after the flight.

Now we are in the next step of travel. Getting over jetlag. Our first night here she did great. Now it is early in the morning, the sun just came up and we have been up for 2 1/2 hours. Why is it at 3:30 that you wake up?