All is calm,all is bright.

I wanted to share a picture with this blog,but it seems I can't upload it from my phone。

Tomorrow morning,I will leave for a visa trip to Hong Kong for a few days,so I was getting my room tidied up a bit. Whilst taking out the garbage,I looked up to the skies and saw the dipper. 

Eight months ago when I left Michigan,I looked up and said goodbye to the stars,sure it was the last I would see of them for at least two years. (Forgetting of course that i would have visa runs to make) 

Every time I see the stars here,it makes me happy. 

I am thankful for stars. I'm thankful to be able to see them at night. For some reason，reasons unclear even to me,they mean a lot to me. A reminder perhaps that Someone bigger than I abides over all. A reminder that I should constantly be in awe of the One who knows just how many of those bright spots there are up there in the expanse above my head. A reminder that nothing is too little a thing for my Creator. 

#itsthelittlethings 

Not feeling well

I wasn't feeling well tonight and decided 

to opt out of the group dinner out,and instead

 just stay in and since I feel like I've been kicked 

in the gut. Before she left,Georgie asked me if I needed anything  

and then she went downstairs,fed the dogs,and bought 

me chocolate poptarts for dinner,since all I needed tonight was chocolate. 

When she came home tonight,we got to have prayer together. 

I love having a roommate like Miss Georgina A!! 

Or more to the point I love having Miss Georgina A as my roomate!! 

#ItsTheLittleThings 

Catching up

I've not been keeping up like I should with my little things! 

But you see, life is pretty crazy here! 

Always something going on and happening or needing to be done. 

On Wednesday afternoon, my boss Pam fell on ice out back of

our home here, and broke her arm. She was taken to Beijing

and found that it needed surgery. So thanksgiving day in China,

she was in the operating theater having a rod and screws put in to hold

her shattered arm together.  

Tonight, we had our Thanksgiving meal and cornhole tournament. 

Here are a few #littlethings from the last few days that have made me smile.

Hearing Hector, one of our newest arrivals, call out "Ca-me-la!" when he sees me. 

Finding everything I need to make Pinwheels.

Getting to Skype my family and see them all

before they left for their Thanksgiving festivities. 

Seeing how happy Thomas was to see me when I called. 

Having my new phone arrive! {The not so 'make me smile' little thing

is that the SIM from my current phone does not fit in my new 

one so I have to go tomorrow to get a new SIM before I can even turn this one on!}

Having and entire conversion about important things in life, 

with my friend, Teacher Wang, in Chinese. 

Watching the Ayi's and workers play silly team building games and having actual fun!

Making paper snowflakes and putting them up all over my window and door. 

Playing Christmas music in my room. 

It really doesn't take a lot. I have so much for which to be thankful!

And I am! I am so very thankful. 

#ItsTheLittleThings

Already messing up!!

This was my #littlething yesterday 

This is of course on top of the fact that I was 1. physically able to go to Beijing for the day and 

2. I got to spend the day in Beijing with three 

awesome people!

{and I do realize the irony of saying I spent the day with them

 and then posting photos of them all on their phones.

 We did actually talk to each other....

some.}  

Today's does not have a picture. 

This morning at 7:15 I got to meet with four other women here 

to spend some time lifting each other up before the week started. 

It was a perfect way to start Monday. 

Im glad we plan to do that more often now!

#itsthelittlethings

The return....

Its the "Little Things"

   Monday evening, just before I was to get in a car with two of my friends to go to dinner and do some grocery shopping, I tripped over Stevie, one of our outdoor dogs, who had run in between my legs. I came crashing down on my right hip and the following days have been spent in recovery. I have been so thankful over this last week for not only the allowance given by those I work with, for me to beg off work as I get better, but also for the constant care shown for my well being. Everything from a "How are you feeling" comment when they see me out, the texts of the same nature, to our resident PT taking time out of her day to help me with hip traction and stretches! My roommate has been amazing, not allowing me to do anything that might possibly hurt me and always being willing to lend a hand. Yesterday, the little thing that brightened my day was two of our Inn Ayi's gushing over not having known I had been injured and offering to take me to the doctor and making me promise to call them should I need anything. 

     Today's was when one of our sweet interns here agreed to walk with me to the veggie market and convince store just down the street and carry my purchases home. 

      Walking a bit slower than my usual gate, and leaning on a borrowed cane, I felt very much like a little old lady who needs help to cross the street, enjoying the company of 'the younguns" on her trip to market. But she just sweetly said "No problem at all! This is getting to spend some quality time with you!" 

Over the past 12 years since my diagnosis, I have had many episodes similar to this one, each in varying degree of severity. As I have said many times since Monday evening, the fortunate part of this is that it has happened before and I know how to treat it,the unfortunate side to this is I know how to treat it because it has happened before. Each time this happens, I hear the same prayer being said over me by those who are closest to me. "Please allow her to have the wisdom to ask for help when she needs it." {Always said in the most loving way! I am not for a moment saying they are outright calling me prideful,.,,that is my own admission! I am prideful!} To be honest, this is a prayer I say for myself often as well in many other contexts. I wish to be rid of my prideful nature and fake humility that often plagues me. 

The good book says that I am to not only give thanks IN all things, but FOR all things. While I will admit that being in so much pain that your skin hurts to the touch is something for which is often hard to give thanks, the lessons it brings about  my pride are not so much, which then in turn makes the pain a tad {tad....I won't fake my humility here!} easier to say thank you "Father for this". 

That, and little things like someone being willing to

hold your box of milk for the walk home!

#itsthelittlethings.