Oh hey, I'm back

Hey there wonderful people. So, I'm back from Shanghai. Of course we had a blast, and I'm so glad we had another opportunity to go. We always have so much fun. We just can't help it! We got home Tuesday morning and the rest of that day I was running around and I was just a bit busy. I took about 6 bus rides that day, most of them by myself. I don't mind though... it's actually really great.

A couple mornings ago we met up with friends at our favorite noodle place downtown and then we walked to this huge park and watched all the old, Chinese people dance and sing. An old man set up a little speaker and plugged in his music. Then an old lady started singing in the traditional Chinese way. Another man danced with big, red fans and lots more people just sat around, talking and watching. Sometimes huge groups of people gather and dance all together. Most of it is just they're way of exercising.
That sort of thing is very normal here by the way.

Today is Friday and I've got a bit more school to do and the giveaway to figure out. I will indeed be figuring that out soon and hopefully everything will be ready super quickly.

Oh and I'm still listening to Mat Kearney extensively. (Katie)

And with all that said, I'm just happy.
Aren't you happy it's the weekend?

Love you all.

Love, a

p.s. I'm working on my blog right now... I have several options for the header and I'm figuring out everything else as well. Also, notice my background? Pretty indiscreet. Fun, fun, fun!

Girls, girls, girls

First of all I would like to say sorry to Lydia! She wasn't there on the day of the photo shoot so she wasn't in it :( I love you dear Lydia.

Leah came over and we shot some pictures in our backyard. It was a beautiful day and "I always enjoy myself some photo taking!"

Lydia and Leah are the best and they're both so very beautiful! I love them oh so very much!

By Becca Jones :)

Another thing: How are you liking my new blog design? And name? Have you noticed my watermark on my pictures?

Almost Downtown

I spent the night at my friends house the Wirgau's (awesome people) and the next day, my sister's and brother came and spent the day "Downtown." They live near the old part of the city, so we went and got Coco's and walked around and had a lot of fun and made jokes about stuff :) The big building is one thats near us and so far the biggest one in Suzhou.

Phone booth,
Girls,
Really big buildings,
Shadow's,
Limo's

There all good for photo's :)

Here they are!!!! I love you all my lovely followers!!! And only 21 days until home!!!!

Oh and one more REALLY cool thing. One year ago today was the first time I set foot in Suzhou. The day we came here to go to "The SIF" otherwise known as My church now!!!! It's really amazing.
Wow!!!!! (Some pictures are taken by Beth)

My Birthday part 1

My birthday!!!! Well, Well, Well, I along with my sister's, Mom, and Lydia, Leah and there Mom, went to Shanghai for my b.day. We got up early, took the bus to the train station (just my Mom and us three girls, were getting very comfortable) and there we met my Wirgau friends :)
We got on the high speed train which I think goes like 210 miles per hour of something! Shanghai was so great!!! We shopped at this fake market and bargained (and I mean really arguing and everything!) for lot's of fun stuff as you will see sometime soon :) Rachael and my Aunt Judy joined us and there presence is lovely!! haha. I love having Aunt Judy along! And Rachael was a must.
The bargaining was just crazy! Here's a little hint to what it's like...
Me: How much?
Her: 300 something qui (too much)
Me: No way to much.
Her: How much to you want to give me?
Me: 100
Her: No!!! We wouldn't make any money and you offer to little.
As I walk away not buying it she says something like "Rubbish, rubbish!" After awhile I think they usually give it to you, either when you come back or you can get it somewhere else in the store.
I don't know they just get loud. It' pretty fun bargaining!!!! Oh and most of them know quite a lot of english because of talking so much to foreigner's.
Anyway after that we went to Lunch at the "Blue Frog". We sat in a beautiful little spot over looking a little, tree covered street. We were upstair's on big red booth's next to a window. There were pictures plastered on the Rich blue wall and the air was sweet.
We ordered, ate and talked and laughed. I asked the waitress if I could get a refill on coke and she said "No, only on ice tea or coffee" Okay...
She then came back about 20 minutes later and said "Can I get you a refill!" I was like yeah! Maybe because she heard it was my birthday :)
They brought out three plate's of brownie's which I didn't order, and everybody (in our group) sang Happy Birthday to me... In English then in Chinese :)
It was lovely.
Back to the train station we headed and home again, home again we went, taking pictures along the way.
So here is some pictures of my day! I could tell you so much more in person.

Becca, Leah and I at the fake market 

Some laughter taking place :) 

The beautiful tree's! 

If you look at the top of the small building you can see a face. 

Train Station!  

Lydia and I lost in thought, or should I say Music. 

The train as I walk by (it's not going!) 

The four girls, as were about to board the train 

About to leave! 

                                                                           Love, A

Gearing up to say goodbye

This was a glorious photo shoot! We ran through the grass with bare feet and in the river. The sun was so bright like it always is, come 4:00 pm. The Summer air was so nice and down next to the river there was sand and, everywhere, big rocks. The sky was blue and clear! Mikayla, us three girls best friend did it all with us (of course!) It was about a month before we would be moving to China and it sounded fun to take 200 plus pictures of us mainly just to have fun but also to make a photo book out of and always have pictures of us together that night. My camera has never been that good but we were going to do the photo shoot with it so... All the pictures that night came out great!!! And very clear and pretty.
The weather was soooooo beautiful just like Colorado~

You can't even see most of the blue sky! 

Oh yeah! 

I like all the glasses :) 

The river was so pretty 

One, two, three ON A BIG ROCK 

Right over those rocks is the field we played many games of frisbee on every sunday!!!  So much fun!!!!

Mikayla got in a more comfy position! 

Even though I live in China and it is my home now (and you know I love Suzhou!), Colorado/USA (of course USA!!!!!!!!)will always be there and it will always be my "home". and I love it that way!
Love you Mikayla!

Big time difference.

I am about to go to bed but I think I will post about the time difference and sleep.
China is 15 hours ahead of Colorado so how we figure it out is, say its 8:54 pm here (which it really is, why am I going to bed?) You go back 12 hours to 8:54 in the morning for you guys (in Colorado) and then take off 3 more hours making it 15 hours taken off and making it 5:54 in the morning, ta da! It might be a bit confusing but its fun being a whole day ahead of you guys :)
I love sleep! We have this nice big bed (that I either sleep in with Becca and Beth or sometimes just Becca) and it, as Becca says "It takes away your sleep" what she means is that it takes it away when your sleeping and so you sleep all night! I just like sleep but I also enjoy being awake so i'm glad God invented both. Goodnight.

Oh and do you like my new background? I got a little tired of the last one (already) so I changed it to this one. Have a great day and if you want to, you can think about me sleeping. Here is a picture of us "Three little girls" going to bed~