Henna has become a favorite hobby of mine since I tried it in my 7th grade art class.  I love the intricate designs, fragrant smell, and orangery color tattoo of the henna.  I am always eager to practice on people to improve my skills.  When I signed up to do Henna at our school’s Christmas Bazaar I didn’t know how many “henna fans” we actually had there.  I was literally doing henna nonstop for 4 hours!  Since it was such a big hit, the activity director at our school asked me to do henna at TIS’s 25th Anniversary celebration.  I knew that I might possibly be flocked again, and I was right.  Once I sat down at the table I did get up until the ceremonies stared two to three hours later!  Though I was very tired after wards I still enjoyed the experience and practice.

 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…   

Some will associate eye masks with grannies trying to go to sleep, or the noisy snoring middle-aged man in row 15A on your fifteen hour flight.  However since I have moved to China and share a room with all three of my sisters, I have found value in these dark eye covers.  They really help me sleep when it is midnight and Rachel is so capture by her book to put it down.  They are actually quote popular here.  In almost any small store you can find them for 10¥ (about a dollar).  Well, after so many nights being forced to wear one in order to sleep they become very comforting.  Even without lights on, street lamps can really put off a glare, so I have become very appreciative of wearing one.  For my Birthday I really wanted a new one. (My old one had been dropped under the my bed to the dusty floor one too many times).  In the picture below you can see me modeling the one Maddie gave me:

Some will associate eye masks with grannies trying to go to sleep, or the noisy snoring middle-aged man in row 15A on your fifteen hour flight.  However since I have moved to China and share a room with all three of my sisters, I have found value in these dark eye covers.  They really help me sleep when it is midnight and Rachel is so capture by her book to put it down.  They are actually quote popular here.  In almost any small store you can find them for 10¥ (about a dollar).  Well, after so many nights being forced to wear one in order to sleep they become very comforting.  Even without lights on, street lamps can really put off a glare, so I have become very appreciative of wearing one.  For my Birthday I really wanted a new one. (My old one had been dropped under the my bed to the dusty floor one too many times).  In the picture below you can see me modeling the one Maddie gave me:

As a family tradition we always do extravagant decorations for each others’ Birthday.   When I was awakened by my 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!    

As you probably know, this year I was voted class president. One of my jobs as president is to help prepare for our banquets and parties.  As spring approached so did the Spring Banquet.  Most often the banquets are held in hotels, however this year, we thought that a great way of saving money, and changing it up, would be to hold it at the school.  However, we didn't know what we were signing up for… It is a big job to transform the school auditorium into a "ballroom"!  After much deliberation we settled on a theme, Board Games.  As we started to brainstorm, the ideas came together very nicely.  However the execution is a whole different story!  Over half of our decoration ideas included the use of styrofoam.  For almost a week we couldn't find styrofoam anywhere. The week before the banquet we found a place that would print on styrofoam!  Preparation for the banquet that week was a mad scramble! I stayed at least 2 hours every day after school to paint, cut, and tape.  The day of I spent ten hours, from 8:30am to 5:00pm.  When we were finished, all the hard work was worth it! From the hanging cards on the ceiling, to the Giant face card paintings, to the 5ft candy cans and lolly pops (for the Candyland board game), to the awesome center peices (made by yours truely); it was amazing! It was a ton of fun to prepare for, (surprisingly), and even more fun to host.  Many of the older grades told me it was the best banquet they had ever had.

As you probably know, this year I was voted class president. One of my jobs as president is to help prepare for our banquets and parties.  As spring approached so did the Spring Banquet.  Most often our banquets are held in hotels, however this year, we thought that a great way of saving money, and changing it up, would be to hold it at the school.  However, we didn’t know what we were signing up for… It is a big job to transform the school auditorium into a “ballroom!”  After much deliberation we settled on a theme, Board Games.  As we started to brainstorm, the ideas came together very nicely.  However the execution is a whole different story!  Over half of our decoration ideas included the use of styrofoam.  For almost a week we couldn’t find styrofoam anywhere. Finally, the week before the banquet we found a place that would print directly on styrofoam!  Preparation for the banquet that week was a mad scramble! I stayed at least 2 hours every day after school to paint, cut, and tape.  The day of I spent ten hours, from 8:30am to 5:00pm decorating.  When we were finished, all the hard work was worth it! From the hanging cards on the ceiling, to the giant face card paintings, to the 5ft candy cans and lollipops (for the Candyland board game), to the awesome center pieces (made by yours truely); it was amazing! It was a ton of fun to prepare for, (surprisingly), and even more fun to host.  Many of the older grades told me it was the best banquet they had ever had.

Living in what I call the "desert city", because of the usual lack of rain and abundant dusty layers, I have learned to live with trees, plants and, well, about everything, being covered in orange-ish dust.  However, this being my second spring here in China, I am amazed once again with the new life.  After a very long and cold winter, I walk outside one day greeted by warm weather and, to my great surprise, green leaves!  I am shocked by the delicate light green leaves on the bushes that slowly uncurl, fresh and clean.  Then around the corner I turn to find a little tree, no taller than 8 ft, that is bursting with little pink blossoms.  The whole winter I stared at the bare twigs of that tree, and today I find it  covered in the sweet little buds.  It absolutely astonishes me when I see the foliage all around me turn from orange-ish color to vibrant greens, white, and pinks!  Isn't HE amazing, and so kind, to bless us with such unexpected surprises?!