ecca's irthday :)

So, whilst here in the USA, I got to be with Becca to celebrate her birthday. The whole family came over and it was a jolly o' time.

I was playing with my cousins and my niece, so I had little knowledge of what was gifted and what went on, but I did see that Becca got a new iPod... well, actually... I went with Mama to go pick it out :-P

Anyway...
I gave her her first pair of TOMS Shoes... not classic style, but TOMS nonetheless. Ask her to show you them.

See all the photos here:
Becca's Birthday

By the way...
You can download the full resolution versions of any of my photos by clicking "All Sizes" above every photo (after you click to see one)... then, to download the full resolution, click "Original" at the top and go wild :-P
All of that is provided to you for free... so please use it!!!!!

Peace

Octo 26

Well, today is my birthday and I really could care less. I'm not depressed or anything like that. I would say that I'm more apathetic than anything else. I feel like birthdays are such arbitrary occasions to celebrate. If you're going to celebrate something, celebrate your first steps or something meaningful. Being born is nothing you did. I am in full support of a tradition that Michael Jackson supported which is to celebrate your mother on your birthday. If anyone did some work and deserves a day to celebrate the culmination of 9 months of "heavy lifting," it is your mom. I have no idea what today will hold since we have no plans and we already had a "going away/birthday party" for me back at the end of Sept. Don't get me wrong... I love and appreciate the care that my family and friends show me, but I can live without a day to myself.

Gifts: I know that as my life goes on, various needs arise. I appreciate every single gift that I've been given. Even saying "happy birthday" is something I consider a gift. There are a lot of good people out there and a lot of people just trying to do the right thing. I know there will be times in my life when I need something or I could really make good use of something, so I appreciate those gifts that come to me to help fill a need I may have or that my family may have. However, from this day forth, any person who sincerely wants to give me a gift for any reason, please consider giving that money to a charity of your choice. You don't have to put it in my name or anyone's name other than your own (if you are also wanting to write it off). That is enough for me. Any organization that you see as worthy, give. If you are having trouble finding one, let me know. I have many in mind that could really benefit from your generosity :)

If giving to charity isn't your thing (and thats perfectly fine), I ask is that you do something kind for someone else. It can be anything. Being a good neighbor, helping a friend or stranger, or simply going a whole day without doing anything harmful... anything you'd like. The one thing I'd ask though is that after you do your good deed, that you say the little verse beneath the picture and just smile. Thats it.

May every living being,
Our minds as one and radiant with light,
Share the fruits of peace
With hearts of goodness, luminous and bright.
If people hear and see,
How hands and hearts can find in giving, unity,
May their minds awake,
To Great Compassion, wisdom and to joy.
May kindness find reward,
May all who sorrow leave their grief and pain;
May this boundless light,
Break the darkness of their endless night.
Because our hearts are one,
This world of pain turns into Paradise,
May all become compassionate and wise,
May all become compassionate and wise.


This verse, known as the Dedication of Merit, is available for download by simply clicking this link:
Dedication of Merit



I know this post turned out super random, but thats what happens when I write off the top of my head without a real subject.... get ready for more of it when I get to China and start posting some more. 


Talk to me... let me know what you think. Input?


Peace


by the way:
The pictures have nothing to do with anything. I found them on flickr and liked them enough to include them :-D

uPDATE

So its been a while since I started this blog, so I figure I owe it to the people who may check it to let you know what is going on if you don't already know.
With the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China at the beginning of October as well as outbreaks of some serious diseases, the Chinese Government is being extra cautious about who they let into the country. They don't want to run the risk of having a visitor, such as myself, bring nor acquire any viruses when I come to China. They also are very wary of terrorist attacks with the large celebration. Sufficed to say that my entry into China and the start of my new life has been delayed. In fact, this is the second time that my trip has been pushed back. There are basically two things I am waiting on. The first is the actual paperwork from the Chinese Government which certifies that I am coming to China for employment purposes and that I am working with a company that is legitimate. Once that paperwork is finished, it is sent to the Chinese Embassy here in America where I will have the second item, the Work Visa, stamped into my passport and then returned to me. The paperwork from the Chinese Government is the thing that is taking the longest. This is going into the third month that myself and the other teachers have been waiting for the paperwork to clear. No one has any idea when those papers will be completed and cleared so I cannot buy another plane ticket. We purchased our plane tickets for the last speculated date and some of us, including me, had to take it as a total loss; no refunds, no vouchers, no exchanges. We are all hoping that this week brings completed paperwork so that things finally start to move forward.
In the meantime, I have simply just been waiting. With no idea of the time frame I am now dealing with, it has been difficult to make plans other than working as Security for FBC whenever they need an extra hand. Most of my days are spent copying Chinese texts and books onto my computer, jamming to iTunes, cleaning, and eating.
My mom and I got to spend time with my niece (her granddaughter) this past weekend. We took her to butterfly world since she loves the pretty butterflies and the birds. I opened a new flickr account so that I could share the photos I take on my trip to China, but I'll just post to it the various events that go on :-P
Anyway, enjoy the photos and feel free to download them by clicking "All Sizes" above each photo. Until next time, thats it.