Ice 冰

In winter people flock to coffeeshops and supermarkets and malls to stay warm; their homes are cold or they figure, the heat is free in public areas. This day we had the same idea; got our hot chocolate but the coffeeshop was packed, no seats (aforementioned reason) so we joined another crowd in a strip mall and I did my Chinese homework at the electronics counter, very normal.

There's a joke that circulates every winter.

Somebody from Hunan says, "It's so cold, 30 degrees!"
Then somebody from Beijing [north] says, "Here it's 0!"
And a Harbiner [far north] pipes up, "Yah, well up here it's 10 below."

Then the one from Hunan speaks again, "30 degrees is our inside temperature."


Hunan winter. Anyone who has endured it agrees that its an unfavorable season, uncomfortably cold inside the house and dismal gray outside. But it's short enough; January and February are the two months to beat. I haven't the heart to enumerate the difficulties of winter here and I'd rather not dwell on it. I'm just sayin, it can be a melancholic, tiresome season. But things are lookin up.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

date with a close, comfortable friend

Drew got his phone working how he wanted it to

far view from mountain side, reminds me to keep my vision broad 

caring aunt sent a sweet note and hand-embroidered dish towel

Jon says, "oops!"

Mike says, "big kiss!"

Mike pointing to pictures teaching Jon the words

Titus reciting songs from school, correcting me

all our needs provided this past year, abundantly

enthusiastic help and encouragement from a friend

husband who never holds a grudge and is always quick to reconcile

we are warm, fed, clothed, clean, together, and we have Treasure

peace at the day's close