World Cup in China...

Just another funny cultural difference...my tutor asked me yesterday who we are cheering for in the World Cup, and then she laughed saying- of course the US. And besides them?- she asked. I told her usually the underdogs...including Mexico, S. Korea, Ivory Coast, most African countries. She told me that the Chinese people are the exact opposite. They love and route for all the favorites, all the "famous" teams...Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Italy- is what she said. So funny...I don't think we Americans get as much joy out of the favored team that we have no sort of connection with winning, but cheering for the teams that win a lot I guess makes sense, sort of!

After getting H & G in bed last night (after T), H & G came out a bit later and joined me in watching the last few minutes of the S. Korea/Argentina match. C was out with a friend watching the game. (And of course the vast majority watching with him cheering for Argentina...) H was pretty tired though and kept saying, "West Korea needs a goal!" or "North Korea needs to score!" I'm not sure he ever said South on his own... :)

More grace upon grace (John 1:16) that I'm grateful for today...

11. wide-eyed kids during "nap time"
12. growing up breathing good air
13. today's air quality rating of "unhealthy for sensitive groups" not bad :)
14. a packed out VBS at LGC- PTL!
15. the kids' 2 hardworking mimis and 2 hardworking papas! WOW. again I ptl.
16. all of our wonderfully wonderful family we get to Skype with, love...
17. a friend's recommendation of www.bookdepository.com (free shipping worldwide!)
18. our Little House on the Prairie that we found in our mailbox yesterday
19. my little girl who may be too young for little house who was not enjoying reading a few pages of it last night and was wanting to read "green eggs and ham"- bless her heart, one day soon you will realize! :)
20. that same little girl who picks up our chinese new testament and sings a chinese hymn, "shengming de he"
21. a husband whose joy in his salvation is challenging
22. Tues nights with our little chinese buddies
23. my boy mouthing the words to "Jesus I am resting resting" on the porch
24. cubs fans
25. getting to learn this language
26. fresh, home-made bagels, and our house helper's accent as she tries to say "bagels"
27. my girl who just helped me check our mail- repeating to me, "we're not going outside. but this is good news (she likes to tell me this is bad or this is good news) Chinese people can go outside, but we're just staying inside"
28. date tonight with my husband!
29. the all-satisfying bread (John 6:35) and despite my unworthiness, coming to Him
30. shoes always off the rack...