As a family tradition we always do extravagant decorations for each others' Birthday.   When I was awakened by me mom on Saturday  morning (my birthday) can you guess what awaited me in the living room?  A garden party!  My siblings made at least a hundred tiny flowers and put them everywhere.  On the dining table was a checkered tablecloth and picnic-like table settings.  Bouquets of colorful flowers brightened the room.  On one of the side tables was a group of potted plants (my Birthday present); they bought me the most adorable soft fern you ever saw, two types of  budding cacti, and a miniature bonsai tree!  I was so surprised!  They could not have picked a better theme for the decor.  I love gardening, and sorely miss the one I enjoyed in my house in Kansas City.  I had a wonderful birthday enjoying all the decorations and plants.  If you also enjoy gardening you can imagine the fun I had re-potting my birthday presents, watering them, and keeping them up the last few days.  This morning I was pleasantly surprised to find two of my plant's had bloomed.  I was thrilled and thanked God again for the joy I found in His beautiful creation!    

Though our apartment is small compared to the house we used to have in America, we are still thankful that we were blessed with two bathrooms (unlike a few of our unfortunate friends).  Well, one of the bathrooms is directly off our dinning room, whats more is that instead of a solid door there is opaque glass separating you from the person that has to "go".  Of course because it's opaque glass you can't see anything, but it still often secures questionable looks and a occasional "You can't… see anything, right?" by your visitor that has to "go".  Furthermore, the lock on the bathroom is broken.  So finally, before my 9th grade class party, my Dad told me and Maddie to put "a piece of paper or something" over it.  Of course I knew it was a good idea because I hardly thought the subject would pass, during my party, without jokes or awkward laughs.  So Maddie and I got on the job.  It took awhile because we had to cut a piece of the wrapping paper (yes, we used wrapping paper) to fit exactly in the window and secure it with tape (which is not as easy as it sounds!).  however, in the end it turned out looking better than I had expected and it was a realitivly "easy fix", compared to buying a curtain rod and a curtain and screwing it in.  Though it is still a bathroom without a lock, at least we won't have to go throught the whole "Really, you can't see anything.  Don't worry, it's opaque.  No, it doesn't have a lock, but no one will come in!"  thing every time we have a guest over…   

Though our apartment is small compared to the house we used to have in America, we are still thankful that we were blessed with two bathrooms (unlike a few of our unfortunate friends).  Well, one of the bathrooms is directly off our dinning room, whats more is that instead of a solid door there is opaque glass separating you from the person that has to "go".  Of course because it's opaque glass you can't see anything, but it still often secures questionable looks and a occasional "You can't… see anything, right?" by your visitor that has to "go".  Furthermore, the lock on the bathroom is broken.  So finally, before my 9th grade class party, my Dad told me and Maddie to put "a piece of paper or something" over it.  Of course I knew it was a good idea because I hardly thought the subject would pass, during my party, without jokes or awkward laughs.  So Maddie and I got on the job.  It took awhile because we had to cut a piece of the wrapping paper (yes, we used wrapping paper) to fit exactly in the window and secure it with tape (which is not as easy as it sounds!).  however, in the end it turned out looking better than I had expected and it was a realitivly "easy fix", compared to buying a curtain rod and a curtain and screwing it in.  Though it is still a bathroom without a lock, at least we won't have to go throught the whole "Really, you can't see anything.  Don't worry, it's opaque.  No, it doesn't have a lock, but no one will come in!"  thing every time we have a guest over…