Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

** firstly, thanks people for your prayers. The last post was really clearing my head a bit.**

So yes.

We are back in China after two very short whirlwind weeks at home.

We had 3 nights in Sydney catching up with my family there.

My grandmother FULLY told me off for not being an ironing wife.

Three times.

THREE TIMES she sat me down to explain her concern and the seriousness of the situation.

In the end, she ironed MJ's shirt.

On Christmas day, my suck up sister rang her from NZ and ended her "Merry Christmas" phone call with:

Yes, of course I always iron Phil's shirts...

Further cementing my roll as a disappointment to women-kind.

We loved being home. TRULY, HONESTLY we did.

We are blessed with so many wonderful people in our lives.

But...

we were ready to come back to China.

In NZ we were living out of suitcases and it was a full and busy time catching up.

I think if we had gone to our actual house... it would have been quite different.

But...

because we felt nomadic in a sense, we jumped back on the plane quite happy to return to our life here.

To further emphasize this point, our Mr T, who had been struggling most with living in China (at least once a week he would come downstairs and ask us if this was the day we were going back to NZ) ... Mr T on the day before we flew back to China, told us that he wanted to go home. To China.

btw, his American accent is shaping up quickly. Eeek.

Yes.

We came back happy.

We needed those two weeks to refuel, refresh and reconnect.

And since Kezi passed away, we have also done a bit of:

reflecting and regrouping.

Those things that were on our

We have to go home because....... list

well, they kind of lost significance.

So we are staying here until June.

Mid-late June.

Another 6 months here.

not 3months.

And we are excited about it.

We have some plans in motion which are exciting.

We are pushing forward in our language study and taking it more out into the streets (where they speak with a completely different dialect that is impossible to understand...)

I am learning to cook Sichuan Cai (local food)

We are embracing further this amazing time and opportunity that God has blessed us with.

And we are MARVELLING at just how He is put it all in place.

We have come back here at the most fascinating time.

It's Chinese New Year and Spring Festival which also rolls into Lantern Festival.
It's the biggest time of the year for the people here. Millions travelling to their homes.

I have not experienced anything like it.

I did not believe China could shut down.... but aside from the supermarket and other food outlets... this place is closed. Like a ghost town. The busy, buzzing streets are quiet..... aside from the fireworks that go off at random times all day.... apparently for a good two weeks.



a rooster on the subway..... only in China.



We spent NY with friends.

It is the year of the dragon.

Apparently, this is the bomb diggity bomb.

I am a dragon.

So I am the bomb diggity bomb.

I need to, according to our tutor, wear red underwear all year.



the kids get into lighting the lanterns



MJ is a tiger.

We apparently are a very good combination.



fiesty combo. snort.



I have to laugh.

(hahahahahahaha)

But I shouldn't.... because it actually means SO MUCH to so many here.

And that to me it means... well, yeah. read between lines here

Anyways,

Chinese New Year was

AWESOME

Friggin'-crazy-insane-totally-mental-i-can't-believe-this-is-legal

AWESOME



this is my new FB profile pic - it is EXACTLY as it is!

Put it on your bucket list. PLEASE do.

explosives so powerful and so crazy heavy can be bought from one of these tents which are just everywhere.

I believe smoking is acceptable in this workplace ....

I was fireworked on.

Not so fun. But I laugh about it now.

Twice I thought I had lost hearing in my right ear.

Our friend's shoe caught on fire.



as the night progressed it just got busier, crazier and smokier!



There are NO regulations. None.

I think a world war has more rules.

Little kids lined up with their parents.... holding roman candles bigger than them.

MJ reverted to his teenage self - with the other sensible dad-folk.

They walked with new swag.

My kids cried... literally. Miss O screamed blue murder at her dad who was taking a photo of this man....



yes... smoking and playing with fireworks is completely recommended here.

 as another box of explosives was being lit behind him.



the ground.... covered... and still more to come. By the next morning this square was completely washed down and clean... not one little piece of firework remnant left behind!



We stayed up until 2am and the explosives were still humming.... and they continue to do so now.

It's an exciting time - lots to see and do!

Hopefully the video works... gives you an idea of the continuous madness....

Seriously... how long does it take blogger to upload videos, right? Ended up uploading to photobucket.