all in a weekend's work

sorry lack of blog update this week. in fact, i should be working on my powerpoints for this week's lessons but blogging seems so much more appealing. i notice that when i don't take pictures, i don't blog. my blogs need pictures like my lips need chapstick. moving on, it's been QUITE a random and busy weekend. here's just a few highlights and happenings in harbin!

FRIDAY
--> taught 4 hours of post grad classes and it was my 14th and 15th time teaching an "Apologies and Forgiveness" lesson- i got to share the Lost Son story each time and i'm pretty sure i can quote the story in my sleep.
--> have you ever invited someone over whom you never met before? i did. cooked dinner for the team and a new teacher at another school who is the only young female foreign teacher at her school. she reminds me a lot of my first teammate rachael :)
--> heard about the earthquake/tsunami in Japan and Hawaii, a little overwhelmed by it all- especially when you have good friends and family in both of the places. i was in awe of how much people were thinking of those places and how the Father protected my family and friends...

SATURDAY
--> it's funny a day of "rest" involved a lot of cleaning, laundry, and a mountain of dirty dishes... i find it very therapeutic to have a clean home :)
--> traveled across town to celebrate a city team friend's birthday with a huge chinese meal, good ol' KTV, and then a sleepover at another city team friend's apartment! note to self: sitting in the front seat of the taxi is helpful to reduce nauseous feelings

SUNDAY
--> met up with a student and his "friends" at a coffee shop on campus for an oral project assignment... it was a VERY nice coffee shop and i'm not sure why i've never been there before! haha
--> made copies for the week at our copy shop on campus and the owner's wife was back from maternity leave with her big 4 month old baby! it's good to see old friends :)
--> hosted with my lady teammates a baby shower for our chinese teacher sister friend and got to eat DELICIOUS finger foods, mingle, encourage, and lift her up :)
--> CURRENTLY procrastinating lesson prep and about to finish this blog with some pictures... here ya go! enjoy!

happy birthday armin! (the birthday hat was SUPER special too haha)

waiting for the KTVness to start :)

me, my freshman student, his friend, his friend's girlfriend, and my non-coffee beverage :)

baby shower group pic!

olivia trying to give the baby a drink :)