Temple Blessings…

I am so grateful for so many of the things that I have been given in my life, but right now I am particularly grateful for the blessings I receive from the temple.

You see, today is a very special day…

one year ago today I went to the temple.

After singing “I love to see the temple, I’m going there someday” for so many years…

and I’m SO glad that I went.

Because of this special day and the covenants I made then and when Jordan and I were sealed almost a year ago, I have the opportunity to have my family around…sealed to me…forever.

Can anyone fathom any one thing that would make you more happy than to know that no matter what, you could have your family forever…for eternity?

I can’t.

I’m also grateful for the stunning sanctuaries they are…

and the fact that we have them all over the world.

It was so nice to have so many so close in the states…

then we were lucky enough to have one in Campinas, Brazil…

…and one day soon we hope to make it to the Hong Kong temple. Once you see the blessings, it’s hard to be away for too long.

Let’s go the temple sometime soon, OK?

I can’t wait.

xoxo,

MJ

If you have questions about the temple, feel free to ask me or check out these sites: http://lds.org/temples/home/0,11273,1896-1,00.html

http://www.mormon.org/

We’re Famous!!!

…well, only in Brazil I guess!

But, if you happen to be in Brazil and read any of their business magazines, you will see this…

xoxo

MJ & J

Over the Weekend…

This weekend we…

finally got our heat lamp in our Bathroom fixed.  I guess I sound pretty high-maintenance complaining about a bathroom in a foreign country without a heat lamp.  In Brazil, our bathroom was sort of like a camp ground bathroom.  It didn’t even have a sink or a mirror!  Needless to say, I’m SO glad we have one here…because it is FREEZ-ING!!!

Then, on Saturday, we went to this store called the Metro.  It’s basically like a Chinese Costco and has quite a bit of expat stuff.  We’re in love.

Most stores and markets here don’t have bags and you usually have to buy them for a low price.  BUT, this place didn’t have any plastic ones to buy!  So, we had a whole cart full, piled it piece by piece into a taxi, then unloaded it into a shopping cart that was luckily by the gate guard.  So, we pretty much just did it white trash style.  Gotta love it.

Then, we made pizza…the homemade variety, which was……OK.  The crust was awesome, but we’re definitely going to have to improve the sauce and get some semi-alright cheese. But, it was a first!

After, we went bowling…and J won BOTH games with his sweet skills.  I, on the other hand, didn’t break 100 either time.  BUT, I did get two whole strikes and didn’t jump lanes with the ball like I used to. Remember that, Jon and Nic?!

 

This weekend, we also went to a market to see what Tianjin’s flower market has in store for our Thanksgiving centerpieces. 

However, we were taken by a Chinese friend to an outdoor food market because she thought we wanted FLOUR, not FLOWER.  Pretty funny after 30 minutes of wondering where the flowers were!  Even though we were at the wrong place, it was wonderful! Colorful produce, barrels of grains and rice and of course, the meat department.

When we made it to the real flower market, I was amazed…my Mom’s going to love this place when she comes! We only had time for about 4 stores…but I could have stayed there all day. Next weekend…flower market date!

After, we enjoyed the best lasagna I’ve had in another country at a ward member’s house.  YUM! 

Today  is also Carson’s birthday!  Happy Birthday big man!  You are a great nephew!

So, how was your weekend?  We want to hear all about what’s going on at home. But your weekend isn’t over yet…you’ll still be in the middle of your weekend when we have to get up to start the work week tomorrow!  Dang.

xoxo,

MJ & J

Over the Weekend…

Over the weekend we threw our second big party for Wizard as part of our increased marketing efforts…but this one was for Halloween, so I’m pretty sure it was as much fun for the Westerners as anybody else!  There’s something about being in another country that makes you appreciate any little tradition from home you can get your hands on.

I Love this little guy’s face with his first jack-o-lantern experience! 

So these next few holiday parties will be extra special…a little more work… but a lot more fun!

And, guess what callings I received in our little branch on Sunday?

Enrichment Leader…

&

Activities Director.

I guess I’m a professional party person now…or at least I’ll have to pretend to be for the next couple of months. Wish me luck…sanity…and maybe shoot a couple of time saving, cute tips my way! Thanks in advance, Mom. ;)

PLUS

Last weekend we discovered that you CAN wash bunnies…

but they definitely won’t like it.

 

And that if you go to any of the big parks on a sunny Saturday afternoon you’ll find a bunch of Asians flying kites…

and they’re fun to watch…and extra interesting if this guy whips out his 300 foot kite (the kite itself was that long…not the string) and gets tangled with a bunch of other kites.

But it is a beautiful thing when he gets his dragons to “dance” next to each other.

We also found out that there is even more stuff to do near our house than we thought.  Now we just need the time to go and do it!

For instance, we went to this great place called Ancient Traditions Street.  Tourist Trap?  I think so… But I found out what I want made for myself…

and Jordan found what he wants to take home.  Christmas is right around the corner, honey… I know you were pretty excited. ;)

 

Then, we came home and I tried my hand at my first Navajo Taco meal.  It included 2 days of soaking beans and an hour and a half to prep the rest of the meal (I’m not THAT kitchen retarded…but you do have to get creative without some of your normal modern kitchen amenities and take extra care with produce!).  In the end, they were well worth it.  Jordan is still raving about them and I felt the most satisfied after dinner than any other meal out of the country. 

During the rest of the weekend we enjoyed seeing what’s new with family over Skype dates, going to church, catching up on “The Office” and having a hilarious dinner with some of the people from our ward.

I love weekends.

 

Let’s have a weekend again soon, alright?

 

Tell me about your weekend.

 

Miss you all,

MJ & J

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