Rick asked me to help his class celebrate Christmas. So, I volunteered to dress up like santa Oh my what was I thinking.. WEll, it was fun, silly and well probably unforgettable.

Santa came to China a couple of days early, so I gave him a newspaper and a soft drink until it was time to come and surprise my class.

All my student young and old enjoyed sitting on his knee.

Some asked him question about their future success on their test, some wanted to touch his beard and find out if it was real...

One of my students wrote:

Dear teacher,

Can you give me today's photos? I want to save them as a memory ,tonight we are very happy because this is the first time to see the father Christmas!Thank you for giving us so many happiness!~

your students

Richard has improved immensely on the computer. He can even type in a google search line and find files. But you still have to be precise. We had a "district tele-conference". I set up Skype to make the call before I left for class. I left a note "press the green button" and then enter the access code. I come home later and find out he was pressing the laptop screen. Literally pressing the green button on the screen instead of "clicking" on the green button with the mouse. Well, for you computer challenged people, you may not think it's funny. But for the rest of us, it's hilarious.

For those who have traveled, you must know that a golden arch sign is like manna from heaven. Something familiar, some recognizable. Something that seems like home. Some more sights of China. I was not behind the camera, in fact I wasn't witness to any of this, but it is typical of my daily sights. Wonderfully typical!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving in China. My friends and fellow teachers went shopping for a turkey to eat this Sunday, I am certain you will enjoy some of the pictures Family, we love you . You are in our minds A LOT. We are having an amazing cultural experience. I can't tell you how many times I tell my students about my family and the tears well up in my eyes. You should see their faces in anticipation and joy when I talk about my grandchildren. They anticipate with their expressions that they recongize my homesickness and they wish they could participate in some of our antics. Nevertheless, I told my students today "I AM THANKFUL for them, I have learned much as a teacher, I have great joy as being their teacher, and I am thankful to have a class willing to learn English from me.

As I understand it, the grandparents do the bulk of raising their grandchild, while the parents work. As a foreigner they are usually anxious for us to notice their precious charges (what parent doesn't like their children noticed) but, we are unique and seem to attract a lot of respect. So, they will watch us and if we respond to the child they smile widely and work very hard to have the child wave, or acknowledge us. Most children are afraid and many will cry. A very few will smile I've only had a couple laugh. Today on the bus, a middle-aged man with a small 2 year old, caught me watching. I was watching an admiring his gentle manner with the child. His obvious pleasure of holding her and caring about her comfort and talking to her so gently pointing out things and rehearsing words. His eyes had a twinkle of love. He thought I was admiring the baby and had her wave and say "hello", she didn't cry but she viewed me with suspicion nevertheless. So why is this blog worthy? Because I miss our beautiful grandchildren. Because I hope you will hold them a little more, play with them a little more, enjoy them a little more. Parenting is hard work. But clearly the love showed in his eyes to me a foreigner. Love is thing your children will also see in your eyes and feel in your touch. I wish I could show you this man's eyes. They were eyes of love, patience, joy and wisdom. Lucky baby girl.... Luckier Grandpa !!! I am so glad to be a grandparent, and I miss you!

Writing is not one of my strengths.....

Writing is not one of my strengths, but my Branch RS leader asked me to write a Visiting teaching message on one of the Conference talks. So my efforts are going to be duplicated on this blog for you to read as well. November Visiting Teaching Message

I selected Elder Wirthlin’s talk Come What May, and Love It, as my visiting teaching message. The words of our prophets are precious, please read his full talk!

I have been told more than once that “I have a “charmed life”, and frankly…. It’s true! My husband is wonderful, in addition he does laundry, dishes, cleans, irons his own shirts, and has taken me on a date every Friday night for years. My children are all healthy and are contributing members of society, my grandchildren are healthy in mind and spirit. I can’t even begin to count my many blessings. I seriously do think I have a “Charmed Life”; I sometimes ask myself why am I so blessed?

We all have had a variety of experiences during our lives, some difficult beyond mere words, while others have been joyful beyond description. Have you ever asked the question “Did I really agree to this (painful experience) when I accepted the plan of happiness presented in our premortal existence?”

I can honestly bear this testimony: I am grateful for the wisdom and knowledge that my challenges have taught me. Yes, even the very painful difficult ones. (Yes, even those of us who have a charmed life have had a few very hard knocks!)

Admittedly, I am grateful for easier lessons of life, ones that includes love, family, sisterhood and laughing at yourself.

You are free to choose your own life lesson, you can find wisdom in trials, or you can build resentment; you can find forgiveness in conflict, or you can be right; you can find humor in mistakes, or you can point your finger in judgment; you can build friendship, or you can feel shunned and alone.

I think we knew when we accepted the plan of happiness that it was the one and only way to become like our Savior. We didn’t care about the “trials we would face” we cared about becoming like Him.

When I stand before my Savior I want my heart to be softened and molded and open to His further instructions. I want to be able to demonstrate Elder Wirthlin’s words, Come What May, and Love it.

Now most of you know I ADORE HALLOWEEN. So when I found Halloween paraphenalia in China, I started planing a celebrating... you may not realize that most things "made in China" are not readily available for purchase in China. IT's mostly EXPORTED. But the funniest part of Halloween in China was this.... During my evening class two days before Halloween. Dad dressed up in my housecoat and other things and came to my class, bursting through the door and yelling Scaring me and my class into hysteria... So after they all gathered their wits, they asked for a Halloween party, which I promptly planned including Sloppy Joe's and halloween games. So tonight I am prepared for Rick's antics again..... So, what does he do?? He comes dressed in his suit and tie.... Oh, he has stolen the hearts of my students, who thinks he is wonderful. See how smart my students really are? The other night the dean of my college said to me privately. We thought your husband was so serious and quiet, but he is really humorous. You must have a happy life with him. I do and I love him, it has been a joy to be in China...

The PEKING OPERA Yes, we attended the opera... Didn't understand a word of course, but the staging and costumes were fantastic. The story was about the Emperor that became so enamoured with his concubine that he was becoming a inattentive Emperor when it came to matters of state (ruling). We are not sure if the people revolted or war lords from surrounding regions demanded that the concubine take her own life so his attention and focus would return to being Emperor. Here are some pic...... The staging was really elegant, lots of cherry blossoms... Below is her graceful exit from this life to the next. This is the depiction of heaven or so we assumed.... eventually they reunited.... this is part of the curtain call, it was elegant, symbolic and graceful every movement choregraphed every footstep carefully expressing the story. This is after the show with people taking pictures of us taking pictures.... and finally an elegant dessert to top off the evening...

Our local and very nice grocery market

Has this on display along with the live frogs, fish and other assorted creepies for sale as food consumption I am still not loving all the food here, I do eat some of it. But if I am eating something I don't know I hope they don't tell me. The chicken is frozen and picked over by the masses. I can't do it. I buy the more expensive which has shrink wrap on it.

I can't believe I didn't take the camera

We heard there was ballroom dancing on the square by the Catholic Cathedral... So we hopped on a taxi and showed him the chinese characters for Catholic Cathedral. He nodded and off we wound through streets and backstreets. There appears a really beautifully structured cathedral. It is blackened from soot and pollution and quite obviously Catholic. A short walk away is the square and there are HUNDREDS of people line dancing. YES, actually AMerican music is playing and chinese people line dancing and others observing. So the O'Briens and the Cannon's joined in our own style of dancing to the music. Soon the observing crowd moved out of our way and allowed us a lot of free dance floor space. Of course we were a bit of a oddity, what's new we are an oddity no matter where we go with our fair skin. In addition, we saw a crocodile for sell in the market.. at least 4.5 feet long and laying on ice with a price next to it. Can't remember the price, I must take a camera to the grocery store, but I dont' want to be culturally offensive. Food here will "blow you away". Live frogs, fish, and assorted fishy type things. The chicken feet are not my favorite delicately but they are a hit here!!!!

We are pioneers.....

A bunch of us were out doing one of our favorite pastimes (shopping).... We happened upon one of our own, another couple teaching in China, also associated with BYU. They had just purchased a new area rug for $100 and were going to take it home to their apartment. We agreed we would meet up for lunch after our scheduled"foot massage". Judy asked them "what are you going to do with you new rug after this year, ship it home?" No came the reply without hesitation, "we are pioneers, we will leave it behind for the next couple so they have it a little nicer in our apartment. That's what pioneer's do!" Do I miss all of you ? YES!!!!! Do I miss out on some wonderful family events? YES!!! But I am serving with some of the most amazing and giving people who are teaching me lessons of love, service and they are helping my Heavenly Father teach me how to love even more and how to be my brother's keeper. I am learning by example! and I love China!

Angels amoung us.... conference talk in action

The other day walking home from class alongside my friend Judy. She whispers to me... "that girl is crying". I wasn't sure if culturally that was intrusive to look, approach, comfort, so I did nothing, but kept on walking. However, Judy wrapped her around around her and asked "why are you crying". I kept walking, thinking she would not understand English, but she did. When I finally allowed myself to be compassionate I learned that this 19 year old girl had was lonesome for her mother who had died the month previous. Yes, I know feel like a heel for being afraid of being compassionate. We walked, talked, hugged and shared our love until it was time to part. The girl by then had adopted two grandmotherly substitutes and dried her tears. Yes, love and compassion are international attributes... So when I tell you my heart is stretched I mean it literally. Yes we look different, yes we attract some attention, but we are treated very kindly and with respect. I have new respect and enlarging feelings for my Chinese brothers and sisters.

One picture is better than a 1,000 words

Not unusual on this Silk Road trip area to see this type of transportation. Rick and I are in a large city so we don't see donkey carts right in our city. Yes these are muslin men. I'm sure it's more a common sight in the rural areas. However, in the city there are plenty of wild transportation methods. A motorcyle trailer is a common means of transportation. This cute little button was moving around in his walker and since it was adjacent to the parking lot was tethered to the house by a rope. From our hotel room, to the left is a market place. The red wagon type thing... was full of raw meat and being transported to the market, no it wasn't saran wrapped or refrigerated. We are in China, what were you thinking.. The man was going through the garbage pulling out items to be reused or recyled. A late morning from the bus window.... I think in Turpan this is not uncommon to sleep on the roof top. Yeah we are still at it.... are you surprised? Trine made a common that she was glad we were proliferating the idea of "crazy American". I loved her comment. It's true we are constantly being watch, observed and creating impressions, a fellow teacher in our group gave a talk about this subject.