Give me wisdom...

It has been a while since I last wrote on this blog.  Since we have been home from China there have been a few challenges which make my heart heavy.  My husband is shouldering the world it seems as he works day and night to wrestle with the effects of the economy on our business. I struggle between two thoughts... 

1. Are we holding on to what is slippery and all that that implies about Gods will in our lives?
2. Is our steel being tested and is giving up Satan's victory?

What council do I give Bob?  I can justify both thoughts. 

Our daughter Katy has just lost her best friend, one she had hoped would be hers for for ever. How do you comfort a child's heart when it is broken like that?  The first and obvious words of council is to help her feel that she is better off, that God has a better plan for her but it is hard, in times like these, for the brain to reason with the heart.  If I have learned anything is this life, it is that the answer is rarely that obvious and is always elevated from worldly reasoning.  

One of the phrases from my current "favorite" songs says this...

"Lord grant me thy abiding love and make my turmoil cease". (Hymn "Oh May My Soul Commune with Thee)

So to Bob and Katy (and to all those who are suffering) I pray for the Lords abiding love to bring them peace and hope that their "turmoil may cease".  

 

As always...I love you

Christi and Mom

 

The Great Wall of China

Photo #1 - Yes, we cheated

Photo #2 - Yes, Dad and I thought we were in Hawaii...

Photo #3  - Yes, China needs help on their english translations for their signs...  I tried to resist adding this one but my humor won.

The Great Wall of China!  I called Katy but realized it was like 3 in the morning...sorry Katy!  Then I called Annie and talked to her!  Amazing phone service.

We were finally into some flora and fauna!  It was beautiful and slightly cooler.  Enjoy the pics.

I think I'm a rock star...

One of the interesting things that kept happening is that people would randomly ask Sunny if they could have their picture with me.  I think they thought I was famous.  Sunny finally asked me if she needed to get my autograph because she said this just never happens.  I assured her that I was not famous.  She was convince that they could feel my "spirit" and were drawn to it.  I don't know about that but later on we came across another photo op...and this is where I realized that I was not a rock star but the Empress of China!

OK, the truth is I was dying of heat and that robe was very hot and all I could think of is how many other people had worn this...dying of heat...gross. 

It was a hard sale...my being the Empress.  It think it is because of my hair color...and skin color and that I am considered large compared to these tiny women here in Asia.  Good thing the robe was one size fits all! 

The Forbidden City

This top photo is where the Emperor slept in the summer to keep cool.  All the stone was quarried from the bottom of a lake.  They apparently don't have a lot of stone in Beijing!

On front and back of every building entrance dragons were carved into the stone.  They are BIG on Dragons!  At the corner of every eave they had them carved as well. One large dragon and his sons in front with a little man to "drive" them to heaven.  Not sure on the translation of that.  I think that's what Sunny said!

The exterior wall that surrounded the Forbidden City.  It was huge.  It also had a mote around it to further protect the palace.

My experience here taught me much about the life of the Emperor and his family.  They lived a very secluded life even from each other.  The protocol was very strict.  The Emperor must have been a very lonely man.  Very few people, including his wives could see him without a ceremony or event.  I don't know what the inside of this city looked liked then but it was a lot of stone...every where.  I was a bit disappointed to find that there were no gardens to speak of.  A few trees and very little grass.  Beijing is actually very hot in the summer with little rain.  That is why they built the Summer Palace.  It was their attempt at getting away from the heat.  It seemed just as hot to me at both locations!  Each building has a purpose and a saying over each door.  Some were for celebrating, some for politics, some for worship, some for gathering, some for reading, some for holding court and counsels.  Lining the city walls 

were the buildings that housed the army and the servants.  I tried to remember all the history of the buildings as Sunny was teaching me but there were so many buildings and not enough memory!  I decided if I really wanted to know I would just go buy the book!  It was my first glimpse into the belief system of the Chinese people.  With communism, much of it is not practiced which is a shame.  It seems that Buddha had some things right.  

What I enjoyed most were the 

conversations Sunny and I had about our lives.  She is getting married next February during the Spring Festival. Over the two days we spent together I marveled at how similar we all are regardless of our customs and cultures.  She wants to be happily married and raise a child and wanted advice as to how to do that.   Our hopes and dreams are the same even on the other side of the world.  It was a sweet reminder of how grateful I am for my faith and my family and how I could not have one without the other.  I think everyone we met were intrigued by our life, six children, 10 grandchildren, 31 years of marriage, our Mormon faith.  There were so many opportunities to "see" the gospel in our lives that talking about it was easy because they kept asking.  

Summer Palace with Sunny

Top Photo: This is the top of the Summer Palace.  Inside the round building is the famous statue of the women with seven heads and 24 arms!

Bottom Photo: Sunny and me on our way up to the of the mountain.

We are fresh home from China with great memories and experiences.  A new country is always intimidating for me, especially when the language is so foreign.  I am grateful for the warm welcome and care given to us by those we were meeting with.  Since my visit was more in support of Bob I had made plans to work on projects in my hotel room while he went to his meetings.  To my surprise and with some anxiety they had arranged a chaperone by the name of Sunny for me.  We joked that she was to be my protector as she probably weighed in at 95 lbs. and stood 5 feet.  She was to stay with me as long as I needed her.  I think I was more nervous about having to carry on a conversation with her as I was to venture out into the historical sights of Beijing.  Sunny was gracious and soon we were fast friends.  She had a good handle on the history of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace and I learned much about Buddhism and the different dynasties that ruled China for so long.   I thought what a contrast to modern day Beijing.  So much of what they believe is about harmony, peace, union, prosperity.  As we climbed to the top of the Summer Palace and looked over the great city of Beijing I wandered what Buddha would have thought and the Emperors that lived by his teachings.  Sunny then told me about her grandparents making the pilgrimage to the top of the summer palace where Emperors went alone to pray for their people.  Her grandparents were both in their 80's and the hike up is pretty intense.  Her grandfather was determined to make that journey so that, as the patriarch, he could pray for his family.  So one step at a time and for much of the day they climbed those hundreds of stairs.  In the middle of all the tourists and commerce going on around him, he had his sacred moment.  He continues to practice his faith when most have forgotten or have never been taught.  It was a powerful story for me about enduring to the end and being in the world and not of it.