Michael created for me this beautiful laser-cut acrylic free standing snowflake.  First, the job of designing the snowflake in CAD.  Next, the tedious job of marking all the laser cuts, and finally the actual cutting.  Two beautifully identical snowflakes that fit together into a free-standing ornament.  Thank you Michael!  You are so talented.

Sunday after church we walked to a new mall that we heard had a Starbucks coffee shop.  Along the way we had to side step cars parked up on the sidewalk.   Chinese drivers will park anywhere there is opened space….diagonal, perpendicular and parallel.

Unfortunately the Starbucks was not opened yet, so the girls went home for lunch, while Sean and I stayed to have date at a nearby bakery.

Many of you may have read in your news about the horrible pollution we have experienced in northern China over the last 10 days.  Today we see the sun!  What a beautiful sight.  I am so grateful to the Lord for HIS gift to us today and for HIS grace on our health.  We have stayed strong physically, without cold or cough.  Here is the sunrise from our 9th floor apartment window.