Never stop moving

Siah makes the most out of our apartment space...

the short mop

Lots of things in Taiwan are made for the average-height-Taiwanese. 

Our apartment is one of them.

Unfortunately, I don't fit well into that category. I pretty much tower above all the women here.  Not boasting about it, but not ashamed of it either. 

However, it does become humorous when you live in a Taiwanese-sized apartment. 

I'm constantly banging my head on the over-head fan above the stove. 

I practically bend over to do the dishes. 

My arms hit the ceiling when I wash my hair in the shower. 

Perhaps the most fun I have is trying to keep the floors clean.  Our first broom (which came with the apartment) threatened to turn me into a hunchback.  One of my first purchases here was one I could use while not on my knees. (Gave the first one to Siah.  Fits him well.) 

My mop is a different story.  It's a Taiwanese-size wanna be. The handle, when fully extended, is exactly the right length for scrubbing the floors without breaking my back. However, whatever you call the thing that tightens it into that position doesn't work.  So, as I mop, it constantly shortens and I lunge forward in response.  Slippery, wet floors and persnickety mop handles are a recipe for adventure! 

I try to mop at night so Siah doesn't track through the wet.  But I fear waking him with all the laughter that ensues when I mop these floors!  

The wanna-be mop

Ode to my mother

If I was a poet, I would write a blog post that would rival those tear-producing Hallmark commercials.

If it was mother's day, I'd dedicate it to my mom. 

Negative on both counts, I'll just simply say this post is to say thank you to my mother. 

Thank you for giving me chores to do.

Thank you for teaching me how to use a bit of elbow grease.

Thank you for making me get a bit dirty once in a while. 

Thanks for teaching me the satisfaction of a job well done. 

Thanks most of all for giving me the gift of enjoyment in my own home. 

You're the best mom. 

The couch that came with the apartment.  I've cleaned the middle cushion. 

Amazing what a bit of soap and water can do. 

A gift...

God is so good. 

He provides in abundant ways....even for things we don't need....but very much want. 

Like an oven. 

Most Taiwanese apartments only come with a stove top.  A friend gave us a toaster oven.  It's small...I can only bake half a dozen cookies at a time. 

But it is sooo worth it. 

So, we gotta work on the timing a little...

Where we buy our veggies...

As we discover our surroundings better, we've discovered many fun and exciting places. 

One of which is where we shop. 

We live right behind a RT Mart (which is similar to a super walmart). 

However, it's also quite fun to get out and about for shopping....

This is one open air market we found. 

Not sure how, but Siah is sleeping through all the commotion! 

Strawberries, anyone? 

So....we buy our meat pre-packaged.  Call us foreigners.  I don't mind. 

When I woke up this morning....

Last night, I put my baby to bed. 

This morning, he was all grown up into a little boy. 

How did that happen? 

Happy little eater...

It's definitely a contest between father and son for who enjoys the food more here in Taiwan. 

As for Siah, he's loving a chair all of his own....

Who needs a safety strap? I've figured out how to stay put!

Isn't it clever, Daddy? 

Hee, hee....I thought so! 

Our view

We wondered how God would combine our desire to be in the city and our love for Asia.

Now we're beginning to catch a glimpse. 

As I sit here, I can hear the din of hundreds of scooters zooming by on the roads outside my 16th story apartment.  If I glance out the window, I can see buildings and skyscrapers until the smog covers up my view and I can't see past the thousands of lights that represent some of the 2 million people here.  It's crazy city life and most of them are living in deep darkness.  The other night around three a.m. I was awakened by the sudden boom of fireworks literally right outside my window.  Daniel says it was probably from across the street where the hospital is and someone had probably died there.  I laid back down wondering if they were spending eternity in hell or not.  Given the statistics here, chances are not likely that they knew anything about the one True God.  And the thing that totally stinks right now...beside the sewers...is that I can't communicate a word of the Gospel to anyone on the streets.  

This gives just a glimpse into my heart struggles.  Also, it gives me a glimmer of the reason we have any hope at all for any kind of situation: Christ died and rose again.  It's the core of the Gospel and we can't get an inch away from it or we miss it all together. No amount of work or language learning can save anyone because Christ has already completed the work.  It gives joy in the midst of darkness. 

Here's a panoramic from one balcony: 

And the panoramic from the other balcony.  We're loving the fact our apartment is in the corner because it gives us two balconies to enjoy! 

Yep, those are mountains in the wild smog yonder....

King of Heaven, please grow our hearts!

Moving day

Of all the times I've ever moved in my life, this last one was the most hilarious.  We had been in Taiwan two weeks before finding an apartment that would fit our needs.  The search itself was fascinating as we followed many dead-end leads.  The apartment we finally found is pretty tiny, but it has a fantastic location...about five-ten minutes from school (depending on the lights), fifteen min. from the church, and walking distance from a supermarket.  

It also has a great community room with a ball pit/playground for Siah, a ping-pong table for Daniel, and a nice comfy chair for me to watch....

We're up on the 16th floor. 

That amuses me greatly. 

The wind howls outside and almost drowns out the traffic below...except for the sirens heading to the hospital across the street. 

Moving in wasn't the same fun party it's been in the past, but it was amusing in other ways. 

For example: 

Don't worry, Mama!  I'm directing this operation.  Everything is under control! 

Our moving truck was a four-door car and two shopping carts! 

What do you mean I'm not helping?  I'm supervising!!

The elevator was only big enough for one shopping cart at a time.  We also discovered that unless you have a passkey, the elevator doesn't move.  It was pretty funny figuring that out.  Fortunately, another resident helped us out.  I can't remember how he fit into the elevator with us, but somehow we managed. 

Honey, I'm so grateful right now that our apartment is furnished....

Daniel was amazing at getting things up to our apartment.  After the initial load, Siah and I just hung out upstairs.  David and Daniel took care of the tubs, suitcases, and other items we'd collected from friends from church. 

Hey, Dad, have you thought about the logistics of getting a fridge up here?  I don't think it'll fit in one of these shopping carts...

We did need to find our own washing machine and refrigerator.  God provided both through someone at church and Daniel arranged to have rent a truck and two movers to help get it up to our apartment.  They were pros at moving heavy stuff and managed to squeeze the washer through the kitchen door.  I think the door frame was bigger by about 1 cm....

Now, we're working to make the apartment home.  Soon, I'll post before we moved in and after we 'settled in'. 

Mama, those bars on the front door are perfect for keeping the dragons out!  Way to plan ahead.

I think I'm gonna love it here!