Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

Hello everyone, happy Friday.

In two weeks from today I will be on a plane flying to the states. This will be the first time that I have been home in a year and a half and I can't wait to give my family a hug. My gramma Wilma passed away last month, and I know that this will make it a difficult Christmas in some ways, but it has also made me so anxious to see my Grampa and Gram, and to spend lots of time with them over my trip.

My wonderful Gram and I are going to spend time doing one of our favorite things together: browsing the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City. I can't wait to have lots of lunches with her and for her to show me all of the new things that have been built in KC while I've been away. My Grampa and I are planning a day of looking through old pictures at his house, which I am so excited about. I can't wait to find and frame some pictures of my Gramma, who I will miss so much this Christmas, but who is healthy and happy in heaven right now.

Brian is going to be here in Saipan for Christmas (this will be the longest we've ever been apart since we've been engaged!). I am so thankful for him and how he still wanted me to go to visit the states when we found out we only have enough money for one plane ticket. I have a wonderful, thoughtful man! He will have many of our friends here who are also staying on the island for Christmas, but I also know that he would love lots of skype calls from friends and family. Also, I can give you our address here if you would like to send him a little Christmas note.

Happy Holidays from Saipan!

hello 2010!

Our New Year's Eve party- sparklers on top of a rooftop apartment- Brian is on the far right

We love hot pot, which was the meal for our NY party

Melissa's cool camera

Brian w/ our friends Kate and Katannya. We all went hiking last Sunday in the mountains of Wulai. It was so nice to get away from the pollution and busyness of the city for a day, and it was just gorgeous up there.

Me and my friend Jenna, drinking hot chocolate at our Christmas Eve party. Jenna wore her bright red Hess shirt to be in the Christmas spirit :)

Wulai has some really awesome sculptures and statues. It was foggy that day, and the mist rising off of the mountains was beautiful.

These temples are everywhere in Taiwan- each city has at least one. A little part of Wulai city is below.

Brian on our way to the trail- he looooves to hike in Taiwan

It's been rainy lately, but thank goodness it didn't rain while we hiked

two of the greatest people in Taiwan! :) katie and jenna- at one of Taiwan's few Mexican restaurants after a day of training

Out for some amazing Indian food for a friend's birthday

Exploring.... wicked fist statues

Me driving my own little red scooter- this is how I get to and from work everyday, and anywhere else I need to go in Neihu. Brian's is much faster, so we usually both hop on his for long trips, but I love to drive mine.

We drove by these people in front of a store singing and doing a traditional dance, and stopped to take a pic of them.

Hiking- Katannya's dog came with us again, and she spends the whole time going back and forth and making sure everyone in the group is safe :)

Christmas 09'

Hello, Merry Christmas!

Some cool things going right now:

- We have both taken some new classes in addition to our current ones. In addition to kindergarten classes, we will both be teaching a couple of classes for 8-10 year olds. We've also been working tonnns lately, subbing for a friend who went to America for the holidays.

- Our church is beginning a series of prayer-walks in an area about 30 minutes from our house, which we're both going to be a part of. I'm excited because I've never done this type of ministry before, although Brian has done prayer-walking in Italy. Soon, there will be some opportunities for mission trips to some neighboring countries, like Malaysia or the Phillipines, which we're really excited about.

-Yesterday, we went to a museum in Taipei to see a new Dinosaur exhibit- it was wicked- I've never seen a life-size Tyrannosaurus skeleton! They also had huge dinosaur models that moved, which were really cool.

-Christmas Day was good this year- we most definitely missed our family at home, but we had some cool traditions of our own together. We also got to spend some great time with our friends, both at a Christmas party and TGI Fridays, on Christmas Eve and day. We can't wait to see friends and family in America again, but Taiwan is really feeling like home.

Christmas Eve party food

and Jenny's cute little gift table

a little jade ring Brian bought me at the night market for 2 dollars- i love it

shoes, anyone?

choc etc. covered strawberries and cherries

mmm these are good

our favorite night market

Merry Christmas!!!
These photos were loaded in a hurry. We are going to the city's Dinosaur Museum and will be back to add more photos and put them in order.

Cheers!!! Brian

hahaha trying to get the corniest Christmas card pic- this one wins

me and my friend Katannya ran a 5k in the pretty city of Banciao