The Present Jones Scoop

We have the certificate of no criminal record in our hands. Monday afternoon we met with the lawyer and she gave what we have been working towards since October. I can not express how excited I am to have this.after the initial excitement wore off, I had a few moments of asking the question "Now what?" But God is a God who answers prayer. both Patrick and I felt that we were to stay in China for now, so we got our tickets changed to May 14th. May 14th we will take off and head for Vancouver. Once arriving in Vancouver we plan on applying for my interview to complete my immigration process. Until May 14th both Patrick and I will be working. Patrick is working at a kindergarten, the same one I was substituting at. He will meet with the current teacher tomorrow and then he will take over her class on Monday. The teacher that he is taking over for has completed her contract with the school and has decided to head back to Canada instead of renewing it. Amariah and Daddy will be at the same school, so that is encouraging. I will continue to teacher evening and weekend English classes as well as aid in written Homework books that will accompany the students current texts. This is a huge challenge for me. They want 3 books in less than a month, so please keep me in your prayers. I have also been a part of a drime group at the church we are attending. We get to do a drime this Sunday at church which is exciting and hopefully this group will expand into the community as well. As we are here we also plan to further develop our mission focus here so that when we return to Canada we can more specifically share what our mission focus is and what we are doing to meet that focus. Lots to do and so little time, but Our God is good and our trust is in Him. 

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord!!! We got a call fromt he lawyer yesterday with good news. She said that she had just received my certificate of no criminal record from the notary office. I don't know if there are any other things we have to do, either way this is a huge praise item. We are meeting with our lawyer today at 2:30, so we will have more info at the  end of the day. 

So, the next big question here is, if this is all the paper work I need, do we head back to Canada this week to continue to immigration process or do we potentially forfeit our tickets and stay here to work? Please pray for this decision. Of course we want to stay, we like working and living together in our own place, but we also want to finish this immigration process and not have to buy new tickets later on. If only money grew on trees or fell from the sky with the rain. Whatever the decision we are trusting in our God to provide. 

Another praise the Lord story: One night I was waiting for the bus to go into town. It was warm, but I knew the night would get cooler so I brought my coat. As I sat on the bench at the bus stop waiting for the bus I had set the coat down beside me and read my book. When the bus came I got on and left my jacket behind. I relized I was without a jacket about half way to town. I immediately sent up a prayer that God' would protect my coat and that I would return to it later. I was in town for about 2 hours before heading home. This is the only coat I have here in China, so I was praying the whole way home that God would protect my coat. I was, however, prepared to not find it. Big city in China, lots of people, who knows how many past through that bus stop in the 2 hours, and a really nice brand name fleece wool jacket just lining around. But no matter the doubts Satan was planting in my mind, when I got off the bus there was my coat exactly where I left it. I am so thankful to my Lord. Praise the Lord. 

5 Reasons why I Love being a Mom

Five things that I love about being a mom: 1) well, first I must say the day I saw my son follow his teacher's instructions and run with the other students, with all his might, I had never felt such pride in my life. I love being prouder than I have ever been before or have ever known to exist, with each new development and discovery I see my son achieve. 2) I absolutely love the kisses, hugs and cuddles. 3) I love the great anticipation to see who all God made this boy to be. 4) I love the simplicity of the moment, mopping the floor, rolling in the grass, sliding down the slide or whatever it may be, as long as its together. 5) I love being a mom because i love being a mom, really I have yet to discover anything as honouring and rewarding.  

Amariah in Kindergarten

So, this week is just flying by, and for good reason, we are very busy. We started the week off just relaxing since Monday was a Chinese National Holiday, I am not sure what holiday that would be. Then come Tuesday, I started subtitute teaching for a kindergarten teacher who went back home for 10 days for her brothers wedding. Patrick continued to teaching kindergarten at the homeschooling program in town. And Amariah went to kindergarten for the first time. They usually start at age 2 but since I was teaching the 4 year old class at the school they allowed Amariah to join the 2 year old class. 

I wasn't sure how he would react being with a class full of people he doesn't know, but he has loved it. His first day I handed Amariah to the teacher and Amariah didn't make a peep, no tears, or crying, or any sign of discomfort. He acted like he had done this many times before. It is a really good kindergarten, they have an art program, PE program,

 music program, as well as Chinese and English classes. He has absolutely loved it. 

Today I snuck out of my class to take a peek at him in PE class. They had the children running on a mini sprinting track, I am not sure what it is called, and the teacher said that the first time Amariah c

ame in second out of his group of 4. The second time he had fun prancing like a horse. It was so cute to watch him running with the other kids. Everyday I have asked the teacher how he was and the teacher has just praised about Amariah's cheerful attitude, how he co-operates with the other kids, and his joyful spirit. The teacher said that he wishes more of his kids were like him. I am so proud of Amariah. 

And here is Amariah playing on the playground at the kindergarten. 

Mama's Big Helper

I think that I will have to get him his own  broom and mop because everytime I try to do either he insists on doing it instead. Do you think he will still be insisting on doing the sweeping and mopping in 10-15 years? Hmmmm...

Unintentional Barganing and a White Boy Show

I thought that I would share a bit of what it is like to go shopping in town. Not all shopping places are as crowded, but we do draw alot of attention where ever we go. Here is a shopping street just north of the Peaceful Market. We have visited this particular shopping street twice, but for this story I will just combined the experience so that it will read like it is one day. 

On this street you will not see any cars, just lots of people, and lots of shops lining both sides of the street. Walking out of the Peaceful Market was an experience in itself. The Market was more relaxed, out doors, dirty, poor and was built within a series of back street allies. People in the Market loved to watch us and many would comment on how beautiful Amariah was, but no body pulled out their cameras to take pictures, no one insisted on picking him up and no one tried to stroke our bare arms. 

Leaving the Market we entered what we will describe as chaos. The slow relaxed pace was left behind and we found ourselves fighting the crowds just to keep moving forward. This street defines the word 'busy.' It is also richer and is full of brand name shops. Amariah fought to be put down, and fortunately we had a harness that we could put on him so that we wouldn't lose him in the crowd. 

At first it felt as though all eyes were on us, which isn't anything new, almost everywhere we go is like that. As we past once shop that had loud music playing Amariah stopped and started to dance to the music. Next thing we knew we were completely surrounded by people who were taking pictures of our dancing son. When Amariah was done dancing we continued to fight the crowds to make our way forward. The crowd followed, cameras too. One brave girl stepped out of the crowd and knelt next to Amariah for a pic. I scooped Amariah up and became more aggressive in getting through the crowd. This was getting really annoying. Soon the crowd got the idea that the show was over and people started going off in their own directions. 

We finally came to the centre square of the Shopping Street. The first time on this street we became a bit thirsty and decided to get some drinks. While Patrick was paying for some drinks a girl came up to Amariah and started moving her drink toward Amariah's mouth offering him some. I immediately intervened and said no thank-you. 

The second time we visited we decided to get some ice cream, it had such an interesting presentation we wanted to try some. After finishing our ice cream we visited some of the shops. I found 2 shirts that I liked but since we weren't planning on spending we didn't bring alot of money. Chinese people are very determined salesmen. The saleswoman saw that I showed interest in these shirts and the fight for a sale was on. I tried on the shirts, and she flattered me up down saying how beautiful I looked in them. Maybe I should have just bought her to tell me I am beautiful every morning after I get dress, but I didn't think of that then. I took the shirts off, and even though I was interested in them without her salespitch, I simply didn't have the money. Together those shirts would have cost me RMB 135, we had only RMB 100. I thanked her for her help, but said that I didn't have enough money for them. She wasn't going to let that be an excuse for not making a sale, "RMB 120," she offered. I wasn't planning on bartering, I really wasn't there to spend money, so I decided that I didn't even want to play the bartering game. I said thank-you but no, and turned to leave. "RMB 110!!" She offered determined to make this sale. I said, "No thank-you." She asked why and I told her I didn't have the money. She asked how much I had. "All I have is RMB 100." She looked disappointed. I again turned to leave and she said, "Ok, Ok, RMB 100." I was surprised that she was so determined. I wasn't even trying to get a good deal. I really didn't care. I once again replied, "Thank-you but I can't. Your shirts are beautiful and I will come back to shop when I have more money. If I give you all I have now I won't have enough for the bus to get home. I will come back another day." I meant what I said. The shirts in that store were beautiful, they were imported from Thailand, and they looked very Hippish, which I love, and I had full intentions of coming back.  Either she didn't believe me or she just really needed a sale, but she lowered her head and then offered in a quieter voice, I don't know if it was because she was desparate or reluctant, but she offered "RMB 90, then you have RMB 10 for the bus." I looked up at Patrick and he said, "If you want them that's fine, it's a good deal." So, I bought the 2 shirts. She was happy for the sale and I was very happy about my 2 shirts. I think that would be about $15 Canadian, but don't quote me, I am not good at the conversion thing. 

After purchasing the shirts we headed home. 

Peaceful Market

This Market, known as the peaceful market is a vast display of medicine herbs and spices, semi-toxic mushrooms, dried plant and animal parts, live birds, dogs, cats, fish, and tubs of squirming scorpians, snakes, eels and turtles. This market used to be used for animal trafficing of live monkeys, owls, dogs, cats, anteaters, and other exotic creatures, often for some form of human comsumption. A few years back, however, the police cracked down on these smugglers and now dogs and cats are only sold for adoption. Walking through this market is a genuine Chinese cultural experience for  foreigners. Patrick and I have enjoyed walking through this market twice, taking pictures of the sites and handing food out to beggars. Amariah absolutely loved watching the live animals. 

Heading Home from the Hotsprings

Since Patrick's Chinese is better than mine, he is often the one who asks for directions. Here Pat asked this man to confirm that we were at the right bus stop. This kind gentleman was sooooo enthusiatic to be of assistance. 

Here Patrick is getting money out for the bus. We actually didn't have the exact change, however, a generous Chinese lady spotted us for the difference. 

Shortly after getting on the bus Amariah fell asleep. Patrick and I were feeling so relaxed ourselves, it took everything we had to stay awake. 

Riding on the bus in China is another cultural experience. The rules of the road appear to be more like suggestions. For example, I am not sure if the lines on the road mean anything. What would appear to be, to the average Canadian, a 2 lane road, marked by the painted lines, often turns into three or four lanes. Also, it is not uncommon for a vehicle to swurve into oncoming traffic, and the oncoming traffice to just swurve out of the way, sometimes driving up onto the sidewalks. Drive where ever there is room. If the car fits, I guess it is fair driving turff. With the laxed driving rules now being said the rest of the story may not seem so bizarre. 

As I am riding on the bus and enjoying the scenary, I notice that the bus slows down and the bus driver begins to honk vigorously. "No big deal" I thought to myself, we will just swurve to the left or right to pass whoever is holding up the show. The driver continues to honk. After more than a few moments the driver had the whole buses' attention focused on the motorcycle driving slowly in front of the bus on the highway. "Strange, motorcyles are usually the fastest vehicles on the road." The driver kept honking for this moto to get out of the way. It was strange that the moto wouldn't show any signs of noticing the bus behind him. After much frustration, the bus driver finally swurverd to the left to pass the slow moto. As we passed I took a look at the moto driver and was surprised at the reason he was holding up traffic, he was talking on his cell phone. Talking on the cell phone, while driving a motorcycle on the highway, I am still trying to wrap my mind around that one. 

Farther down the road we come to our first bus stop and a flood of Chinese memories return to me as a herd of taxi motos surround the door of the bus eagerly trying to gain customers from the passengers getting off. Out of this particular herd of motos only one was successful in gaining a customer from the passengers that left us. Before this visit to my memories I hadnt realized how thankful I was that motos had been band from the downtown Guangzhou area. When we were here 4 years ago everytime you got off the city bus you had weave your way through the maze of motos with their drivers grabbing at you in their attempt to get a customer. It was frustrating, and also a little scary as we had heard stories of people getting their bags stolen by the moto drivers who would just grab the bag and then drive off. Yes, so thankful they past the law in our absence, that band motos from the city. 

Here is a bus with a herd of motos flooding the door. There are so many, not all of them even make it near the bus. There are also the taxis that line up and wait for customers. 

Hot Springs #2

Here is Patrick with Amariah doing the "Surprise" look, sitting in front of one 

our favourite pools. We actually spent the 

most time here since this was Amariah's favourite. He loved to take our plastic bracelets, with our locker keys on them, throw them into the water and laugh as 

mommy or daddy chased after it. We would then throw the k

ey bracelet back to him and would play the game over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. 

This is an example of what the enterance of most of the pools looked like. Isn't it gorgeous?

Here is Amariah. He was

 actually dancing, but I was failing to catch him with the camera while he was in full "swing."

In case you ever wanted to know what a woman's locker sign looked like in Chinese. Now speaking of the women's locker, I have a little story. I had just bought a bathing suit at a local store in this cute little town. And just like any girl, I was a little excited to try out the new suit. In the locker room, I pulled out the suit from the bag, I was just about the slip my foot into the bottom when I noticed this huge cockroach on the suit. I immediately threw the suit to the ground, completely disgusted, grabbed my shoe and started wacking at the roach with all my might. Even after I knew it was dead, I kept wacking just to be sure. Now the roach and his guts were smeared on the floor. My first thought was, "I want to return the suit." But this is China, you can't return anything. Everysale is a final sale. So, I bravely checked the rest of the suit for any more unwanted guests. After concluding that there were no more, I ventured to put the suit on.  After that I concentrated on completely enjoying myself with my family. 

This was the Enterance to the Hotsprings. I took this pic as we were heading out, back to Guangzhou after an amazing day of relaxation and quality family time.

Patrick and Amariah enjoying the last little bit of Cong Hua before we get on the bus to go home. 

While we wait for the bus, a moto taxi driver is taking a rest across the street. 

This taxi driver across the street often motioned toward us hoping for some busines. "Sorry Dude, not today."

Hot Springs

So, our Hot Spring Adventure started off taking the bus. Amariah didn't like the seats that Patrick and chose to sit in, so he got up and walked himself to the back of the bus 

and sat there.

The Hot Spring was in a small town called Cong Hua about an hour and a half outside of Guangzhou. The small town was a refreshing experience away from the busy city life. There were fewer people and life seemed simpler and more relaxed.

The Hot Spring had many different kinds 

of pools for us to enjoy. Some were were too hot to put more than our toes in, some were so cold it took our breath away and others were like the perfect bath water. These were the kind that we spent most of our time in. Patrick and I did understand that you were first supposed to imerse yourself in the hot water, then quickly plunge into the cold, then relax in the warm. A cycle, that we understood, was to be repeated several times since it was some sort of cleansing process. The few times that we did do the cycle it did feel really good. It felt as thou

gh it energized us. Many of the pools had names such as Papaya, Tea, and rice wine. The pool that Amariah and I are enjoying in the picture is the milk pool. The water was actually milky like. 

Here Patrick and Amariah are in the Coffee pool. IT very much smelled and looked like coffee. Unfortunately we didn't venture to taste it to see if it really was coffee. 

Here was a cool looking sculpture that very hot water came out of. We wondered if this was where one of the springs came out. 

This is one of the many gorgeous flowers that surrounded the pools. 

Stylin in China

Here is my stunning little man in his totally stylin Chinese outfit. There is even a little hat that goes with it, but he doesn't like wearing it. I couldn't even get him to keep it on long enough for a picture. Oh Well, he is still just as hansome with it off. 

Chips AHOY!!!

Checking out the snack food aisle has been a highlight during our grocery shopping trips, mainly because there are so many different kinds of snack foods foreign to us. We have enjoyed picking out some and discussing what they might taste like. One snack item that has been of curiosity is the potato chips and their foreign flavours. We see familiar labels, but unfamiliar flavours. One particular Saturday when we both had the minchies, we splurged and bought every foreign flavour of the familiar Lays label, plus one bag of doritos and one bag of a foreign label and flavour. So, that is 12 bags of chips, all for under $10 Canadian. We ended up with sausage flavour, Italian Meat, Sichuan, Mexican Tomato Chicken, Texas BBQ, Blueberry, Lichee, Cucumber, Lime, Mango, D3, and Wasabi. We opened up all of the chip bags and poured half of each bag into a big bowl. We then ate the chips from the bowl and tried to guess what chip was what flavour. So much fun. The fun part was when we were surprised by a flavour. Expecting something salty and getting something sweet surprised us everytime. Or, then expecting something fruity and getting the spicy wasabi. I wish that I could have recorded our reactions. After playing our little guessing game we ate the chips left in the bag to see which ones we got right. And I must say we did pretty good. We then voted on which we the best and worst chips. The winner of the meat flavours was the Italian Meat. 

The winner of the fruity 

flavours was 

the Lime. 

The Absolute Favourite Flavour was the Wasabi.

And the Absolute Worst Flavour, we actually deemed it disgusting and threw almost the whole bag out, was the Blueberry.