An Ocean Swim

In mid April I participated in a 3 km ocean swim in Kenting, Southern Taiwan. 3, 700 swimmers hit the water with a festive flair and swam away from the beach for 1.5 km and then headed back again. I borrowed a co-workers floatation device. The device was filled with notes of encouragement, pictures and sayings. It also turned out to be quite the conversation piece in my group and while we were waiting to enter the water. I also received the encouragement as my own with dancing swimming joy in my heart.

The event began early Sunday morning with music playing, voices over the loud speaker and of course, our group warm up exercises.

Swimmers in the water!

And coming back to the beach again!

This was our post-swim bien dang (lunch box). I had opted for the vegetarian choice. I've had my share of vegetarian bien dangs, but never one like this. The shrimp were fashioned out of some sort of glutinous paste and colour. Nasty.

Back at our hotel after the swim. The ocean was incredibly warm and clear. I so enjoyed my time in God's big bathtub! It felt so great to swim again!

*Special thanks to Rachel for sharing her pictures. We went on this little venture together :)

A Grand Time!

Last Friday our company treated us to a grand dinner buffet at a landmark in Taipei - The Grand Hotel. We had a grand old time with our grand co-workers, friends, and family! What grand blessings they all are!

With the Changs and Angus - a grand group
Jeremiah and Alex think ice cream is grand!

Grand guys with grand smiles!
I think Steve is scheming a grandious plan

Love is grand!

Naomi's grand eyes get the prize.

Ashley's genuinley grand joy!

A grand group of gorgeous girls . . . and Alex :)

Daphne soaks in the grandiousity about her

A grand goodbye

School Rallies

Daniel was on our school rally island tour for close to three weeks from mid March to the beginning of April. I also had the chance to join the team for a bit over a week. These trips are always such blessings. It's great to meet the students, teachers, and see schools that use our teaching materials. The rally presents a 1.5 hour program to encourage students (much like a school assembly performance at home). This year the theme is, "Challenge Yourself!"

Our Redeemer Lives!

Happy Resurrection Day! I put our little Easter tree up on Saturday. I had found this little tree in a random market when I lived in Harbin, China years ago now. We give thanks for new life! Happy Easter dear friends! We give thanks for reconciliation and life in Christ.

Dragon’s Whiskers

I love my greens! One thing I love about Taiwanese cuisine is the abundant variety of greens from spinach to sweet potato leaves to the green goodness that I only know how to say in Chinese. A new favourite green dish is at a favorite restaurant - simply called “Yellow and Green” by us foreign folk. Why you ask? The sign and décor of this hole in the wall is yellow and green.

Last night Daniel and I went with our dear neighbour/friends Angus and Steve. Angus was able to enlighten me on the name of the dish! Literally translated from Chinese it is “Dragon’s Whiskers.” We inspected the dish carefully and did indeed concur that it looked like dragon whiskers. :) Yellow and Green serves these veggies as a cold veggie dish. The whiskers have been boiled and marinated in sesame oil and spices. I also appreciate the slivers of carrot they add to the mix. The carrot could symbolize dragon’s fire!

Later in the evening Angus surprised me and dropped a bunch of fresh dragon whiskers on the roof. He had just been to the market and found them there. Now I need to stir fry up some whiskers.