Tuesday in Taiwan!

This morning we watched our T.V. star sister, Rachel, film a show about the Olympics in the Studio Classroom. It was so cool! We went shopping this afternoon and then at 7 PM we left for the night market. You have to hold tightly onto the bus handles because traffic is CRAZY! We ended the evening with the shaved ice or "bing" dessert. It was fabulous!

Typhoon is coming!!

We are really enjoying Taiwan despite the rain, rain, rain! It's rained almost non-stop since we arrived in Taiwan on Friday... and we just found out that a typhoon is coming Wednesday! The rain doesn't stop the Taiwanese: athletes exercise, military men practice, scooters speed down narrow streets, vendors sell goodies, and plenty of people briskly walk up and down the sidewalks with their colorful umbrellas! (They are a bit pushy, too! Rachel said that it's not rude to push people out of the way!)

What a day we've had! We relaxed this morning and watched Micah after we took a walk in the park. Then after lunch, Rachel took us to Micah's doctor appointment. It's not unusual to pay just $6 to see the doctor! Micah is doing much better now.... he had a bad bug bite and a little sore throat, but the doctor gave him a little hand wrapping and liquid cough medicine.

Then Rachel took us to the subway and we visited an underground mall! Jason tried a bread stick for only 10NT (~$0.35), compliments of Rachel! We each posed in front of our favorite art hangings near the rest room. Colorful, eh?

As we walked down some side streets, we spotted a bakery with samples! Jason tried a light pastry for 35NT and I tried some grapefruit tea that was delicious! We ordered the tea all by ourselves! We also bought a few gifts for Jason's parents at a stationary/book store.

Matt & Rachel stay so busy! Matt is a great Dad and a great worker. He gets an A+ as a dish washer, diaper changer, Christmas decorator, and cleaner-upper. Rachel stays busy watching Micah, working as a TV star, tutoring in English, preparing & buying food for meals, keeping the house clean, exercising, and daily washing numerous loads of laundry! She and Matt are great hosts!

Uncle Jason, Aunt Liz, & Micah are bonding quite well. Uncle Jason loves to make funny faces and sing the "Mr. Micah" song and Aunt Liz loves to feed Micah and hold him close.

We had a great supper Monday night of salmon, sugar peas, yams, dragon fruit, rolls, and veggies! Matt also decorated the apartment for Christmas!

Taipei 101

Sunday in Taiwan!

We took this picture before we left for church!
We visited Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world! We ate in the downstairs food court and then got McDonald's ice cream cones!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday, Dad! We hope you had such a great day! Wish we could be with you!

TAIWAN

THANKSGIVING IN TEGA CAY!

If I get a little depressed because we just moved and I'm searching for work, I just start to list the things I am thankful for....

...Jason!!!!!
...my family & relatives
...the chance to fly to Taiwan to see Rachel, Matt, and MICAH
...2 adorable nephews
...warmer weather and sunshine in the Carolinas
...wonderful friends who keep in touch even when we move
...piano/organ/all music
...the public library where I can check e-mail free of charge
...Our Savoir, Jesus, the Bible, and the freedoms we have in the United States

Happy Thanksgiving!
We'll be flying to Taiwan the day before Thanksgiving!

CELL PHONES

Welcome to the 90s, Hildebrands. We now have cell phones thanks to Ben & Reba. Cool.
We made it through the rain and hills of West Virginia and are now in Charlotte, NC!
Daniel & Candice have graciously let us stay with them until our townhome will be available on Nov. 1.
Ben, Reba, and Brock came to greet us in Rock Hill, SC, this afternoon. We will enjoy getting together more often!

Wednesday night goodbyes...

We are very humbled! Our church family is very special to us! Tonight at church we were greeted with signs on the front door and a little party of granola bars and peanut butter cake and fruit! Then after the meeting they gave us another little party and even brought an ice cream cake and a disposable camera for us to take pictures of NC/SC once we get there. So many of the students gave us nice notes. One of my dear piano student families made me an amazing quilt and throw with two pillows that match my furniture!

It's hard to say goodbye...

We've had such a great week! So many people have made us feel so appreciated and loved ... it will be hard to leave our wonderful church family (including the Lorches, our dear Pastor and family), my many piano students & families, the East choir students, our great friends the Whites and their cool boys, and Michigan... the state where our amazing and loving and thoughtful and generous Mom and Dad live! .... But we are also so thankful that the Lord has directed each step of the way for us to go to North/South Carolina. We are trustnig that He knows best and will make a way for us there.

We're Moving..........

We'll be moving Oct. 26 to North Carolina! Jason will be working as an attorney for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association along with these other workers.

Pictures....

Larabars & Tagged....

I received a huge gift from my amazingly generous sister, Rachel, who surprised me and bought me 3 boxes of LARABARS on-line and had them shipped to my house! Rachel lives in Taiwan! These bars are so healthy and good! They only have 3 or 4 ingredients: dates, fruit, and nuts. They are so tasty that I start to hum just like it says on the package.

This carrot is from my garden!



Finally...
I was tagged by my sister-in-law, Candice, and I need to say 8 things about myself:

1. I love being married to Jason.
2. I love and hate to be busy.
3. I can still speed-recite the first 36 elements of the Periodic table.
4. I can do the soupy shuffle (thanks, Dad!)
5. I bite my nails.
6. I can't get enough of Dubliner cheese, corn on the cob, Larabars, or bananas.
7. I shot 77 free throws in a row a few years ago.
8. I've never smoked a cigarette, consumed alcohol, gone to the movies, gotten a cavity, or been pulled over by the police for a speeding ticket. (I'm a PK, ok.)