August 17-24, 2014

 

It is so nice to have a routine again.  School is very challenging in more ways than one.  Especially in High School there are very few caucasian kids.  Emmie only has one in all her classes.  It is her new friend from the ward Rebecca Gordon, who is a senior.  That is the first challenge.  To be the only blonde one with everyone staring at you all the time.  The second challenge is it is so academically challenging!  Tons of homework and the classwork is extremely tough.  Emmie luckily only has 5 classes, because of mandarin not working out in her schedule.  Most Asian kids here (which is most of the student body) are carrying a load of 8 classes a day.  There is 45-60 min of homework per class each day.  She was feeling bad about it until one of her new friends from the ward, Colton, told her he just dropped 2 classes. He is a sophomore and just moved here from Shanghai, but is originally from Idaho. He even met Britton Parker this summer when he was back 'home'. (The boy who cut Emmie's hair in 2nd grade and was one of Adam's obnoxious scouts.)  Lacie is doing well but has really been feeling her homework level.  She has an hour plus of work each night.  Good thing dance is during the day and right after school, and at the school.  Cuts down on our travel time!  Emmie uses her free periods to do her work or see the teachers for help.  She also has 40min. between Seminary being over in the AM and school starting.  On "A days" she has a free period 1st period and on "B days" it is last period.  Lunch is a crazy amount of time- 80min.!  School starts at 7:45a.m. and goes till 3:45p.m. for Emmie and Lacie goes 7:45a.m. to 2:40p.m..  She spends the hour after school in the Library doing homework while she waits for Emmie to be out or dance to start.

Early morning Seminary is killing us.  I am dragging around by the end of the day after getting up with Emmie at 5:20a.m. and going to bed at 10:00 or 10:30p.m.  We got more sleep when she was a baby.  Not sure how she is keeping up.  She  is only getting an hour more of sleep then us.  Adam is doing fine, but is hiking the mountain stairs a couple times a week in the early AM so he's pretty wiped out by night-time. We are on our second week of it and try to go to bed as early as possible!  Unusual in the Batteen home.  We now try to be in bed, girls no later then 8:30p.m. and us by 9-9:30p.m.  It doesn't always work but a worthy goal.  The nice thing here is it is light by 5a.m. and is dark by 6:30p.m.  SO you don't feel like you are missing out.  We have found, though, that Asians in general don't go to bed till late and get up late.  Most stores don't open till 10am and no markets are open on Mondays.

Lacie is starting to learn to play the flute.  This school is not only huge on academics but also the arts.  Lacie is required to pick one of the following ... Choir, Band or Strings.  She decided she already knew how to sing and does it every moment she can, so she would try Band or Strings.  Violin was her first choice but then decided because I played the flute, that it would be fun and I could help her. (It's been a very long time since I played in junior high! Hope I can be of help still.)  Plus it gives her a head start on Band in Middle School back home if she still wants to do it.  Since the school here provides the flute, she can practice on mine during Christmas and Summer and we will not have to pack it back and forth.

Emmie has to have a preforming arts as well.  Once you are Middle School you can dance.(next year for Lacie)  The High School has  levels you have to pass.  The first day of dance for Emmie- her schedule had a room number on it, so that is where she went.  It ended up being Dance 2 and not Dance1.  The teacher decided after watching her dance that she could stay in that class, they would wave dance1 and she could dance with the Sophomores and Juniors.  That will make it so she is eligible for International Dance Team next year as a Sophomore.  Otherwise you usually have to wait until you are a Junior to do this.  That is divine intervention!  Just because she went to the room on her schedule which was a mis-print, Emmie will get to be part of all the dance experiences here.  She is so excited!  Emmie had tryouts for the fall Dance production starting today- 3 days worth!  We won't know till next week the results.


Meridian Temple Ground Breaking!
One of the things that is hardest about being here is missing special events at home.  We would have loved to be at the ground breaking of the Meridian Temple!  Emmie's best friend Caylee texted her all about it and her lunch with Elder Bednar. (Caylee's Dad is the Stake President of one of the Caldwell stakes ??)  Lacie was sure Elsie was there without her!  We later found out that not only was she there but got to be part of the ground breaking- shovel and all!  LUCKY GIRL! (Elsie's Dad is Stake President of the Middleton Stake) What a wonderful day it sounded like.  We are so hoping we get back in time for all the celebrations when it is finally done.  Girls will be bitterly disappointed if it is finished before our assignment is over.  I remember when the Meridian Temple was announced.  The girls began jumping up and down and chanting "We get a temple! We get to see the Prophet! The Prophet."  After Emmie getting to be a part of the Boise rededication celebration, she is super excited about this one.  This time Lacie will be old enough!  We are going to try and get to the Sapporo Japan Temple open house if it is finished before we go home.  It is estimated to be done sometime in 2016. It will look a lot like Meridian Temple, don't you think? So glad we are living near a temple here!  Blessed to have the little Taipei Taiwan temple just 20 minutes away from us.

                                                         

Elders Die in Tiapei Taiwan Mission
Sad news from here.  Two Elders were found dead in their apartment on Saturday (8/23/2014)  They had missed an appointment.  A new member found them when they didn't show or answer their phone.  Other missionaries began to be worried.  Looks like carbon manoxide poisoning.  The Mission President and his wife are in our ward.  President and Sister Day and all the missionaries are having a difficult time with their passing.  We heard on Sunday of their passing, but I didn't know which mission it was in.  There are three missions in Taiwan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei.  Our friends, the Brinley's, son is serving in the Taichung Taipei mission.  He has been out just over a year.  We heard one of the elders was from Utah and I was worried it might be him.  We later found out it was not Elder Brinley.  We did get to meet these two special Elders when we first arrived (Adam doesn't think we did... but I think I remember them) and I pray for comfort to be with their families.  We have been asked as a ward to pray for their families and the missionaries they left behind. We are also praying for President Day and Sister Day.  This has been a hard few days for them.  What a blessing it is to know they are living again with Heavenly Father and their families will see them again. Families are Forever!  Adam felt impressed to pack our carbon monoxide alarm, so we have it in our condo.  Monday we had Elder Richardson and Elder Wilson over for FHE and dinner.  It was such a nice evening with them. We are hoping the missionaries are as big a part of our lives here as they were in Singapore.  We love the missionaries.  I made chicken enchiladas, salad, spanish rice, black beans and wacky-cake!  Elders were super excited, neither had had food like this for over a year.  At the end of the night we sent them home with Wacky-cake, left over potato salad and meat balls and fettuccini.  They buy all their meals here every day and rarely eat with the members. They were super excited to have something other than Chinese food (noodles)!  Here they don't have dinner appointments usually.  Batteen's are here. That is going to change!

Elder Connor Benjamin Thredgold, 19, Spirngville, UT & Elder Yu Peng Xiong, 24, Kaohsiung,TW

Good New from here....
The girls felt the need for some animals.  Yes animals.  Really not my thing in a condo.. But.. the night before school started we walked down to the bird store (about 3miles round-trip) and bought some tiny cute little finches.  I really do enjoy their happy little sounds.  They are very quiet.  We had them about a week and now there are 2 little eggs in their nest!  WHAT have we got ourselves into?  Girls are so excited!  YIPPEE!  Next they want baby turtles!  Can you tell they are country girls?

I have been invited to join several expat women's groups.  One meets on Mondays to ride the many bike trails in Taipei.  I am a bit worried I won't be able to keep up.  This Monday they rode 18 miles! The same group meets on Wednesday and hikes the trails in the jungles around Taipei.  This week was 30mins. of stair climbing then somewhat flat trails along the ridges of the mountains.  I am not worried about going up the stairs- just down. My hip gives out when it gets tried and I fall. (thanks to an injury during Lacie's delivery)  Adam has had to let me hold his shoulder and go down in front of me on the hikes we have done.  SO I'm a little worried about that one.  My new friend from Sweden, Jeanette and I might try them and be the slow ones in the back! :)  I met Jeanette at some of the pre-school appointments.  I like her very much.  Tuesday another group (a lot from ward in each of these) meets at the American Club for a choir practice. They perform around Taiwan.  So lots of invites, now what to do?

Adam is super busy with travel to Southern Taiwan and sub-cons here.  They treat him very well!  Even had a private car for him this week to send him home in. They want him/Micron happy!  The sub-cons are often sending us gifts. Some are good and some are not so good.  Not sure what to do with all the tea, the moon-cakes, and the pineapple cakes.  Most know he doesn't drink tea, so they send moon cakes and fruit.  He is liking his job and settling into it.  It is nice to have him around some days with him working from our condo.  We even get to have lunch together sometimes and he is here almost every morning to get girls off to school.  That is something that has never happened in all their lives.  Nice change after so much time apart.  If nothing else that was worth the move here.

Things I love about Taiwan...
There are families here!  In Singapore you didn't see families very much.  Here you always see little families.  Granted it is not the huge Idaho or Utah families but you see Mom, Dad, Baby or maybe 2 or even 3 kids.  Now that is a trick on a scooter.  I have been trying to get a picture.  They are stinking fast! Every morning I walk to school with 100's of other mom's and dad's doing the same thing.  I love to watch them gently tossel a child's hair or wipe a face.  I also see a deep tenderness for the elderly here.  Every day I see adult children caring for an aging parent.  They walk arm in arm down the sidewalk or you often see them holding an umbrella over them to provide shade in the terrible heat.  It touches me and I am grateful for such a tender people. 

I love Costco!  Not like home but still a bit of home.  They even have US prices!  Huge here where everything is so expensive.  We go about every 2 weeks.  Never loved those hotdogs like I do here!:)

When there is no place to eat you eat at your cart! 

Taiwan Moment...
Here everyone sorts their trash into recyclables, paper or cardboard, cans, glass and food waste. Which is used to feed the animals of Taiwan.(food is)  We are lucky- in the basement of our condo are cans to put our trash in and a freezer for the food scraps (you even do this in restaurants) Most people go out to meet the trash trucks (Boone you would love the garage trucks here, they come every day!)  You know they are here because you hear the music which sounds like the ice cream man in the US! :) 

Ghost Month just ended.  It started 27 July and ended the 24 of August.  During this month we often saw elaborate banquets layed out for the spirits of their dead ancestors.  People burn hell notes- paper effigies of money, houses, cars, clothes, toys, scooters, games, candy, etc, etc to send to their dead family members in Hell.  There is a lot of incense burned and parades.  The Taipei American School even opened up the gates (to let the bad spirits out) and put up their own banquet table feast for the spirits.  It was full of things children like to eat.  What I found interesting is all the elaborate things are all made of paper- just to burn.  Clothing, cars, computers, iPhones extra.  Here are few photos from celebrations around Taiwan.



Below is an interesting explanation of  Ghost Festival from the point of view of one who believes it.

What is Hungry Ghost Festival? 
It is the festival that the god from hell (god that guards the world below the earth) opens the door of Hell. It is called Phor Tor or Yu Lan Sheng Hui (盂兰盛会,it is read as yú but not mèng. They are different Chinese character that look similar.) as well that means to release souls from suffering or transgression (超度in Chinese, web translated into English). To Chinese like me, we're educated to be more cautious during this month as it is a month that most the souls were release that sometimes are meant to be back for revenge or take lives to substitute them on facing what they are suffering. Travelling around and celebration should be avoided.

What do we do during this festival?
For Buddhist, we read mantra or some might even hire monk to read mantra to make the souls able to undergone transgression and soon reincarnate. As Taoist, we burn paper shoes, paper clothes, paper treasure, Hell Notes which is consider normal.

Paper treasure, - See more at: http://alisonous.blogspot.tw/2012/08/ghost-month.html#sthash.0uyCleVP.dpuf

That is all from the Batteens for this week... stay tuned for the next episode of Taiwan craziness!

School is here!

      SCHOOL IS HERE!
   The day we thought would never come is finally here.  We spent the last week and a 1/2 doing all the required pre-school counselor meetings, placement testing (both girls), orientations (one for each girl + separate for parents for each girl), computer roll out and instruction class (for Emmie)... for a total of 6 days spent at the school (most of the day).  Girls and I did most of it while Adam finished up business in Singapore.

Emmie after her computer roll out class!  The picture says it all!

       FINALLY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 8-14-14
   Lacie had a good morning but Emmie's went from bad to worse.  She didn't have her schedule OR her locker, which totally stressed her.  Her assigned buddy to help her around school didn't show up.  So they scrabbled around to find someone to help her and ended up grabbing just some random student that looked like they knew where they were going and what they were doing to be assigned to help Emmie.  The high school is in two parts, two towers of 4 floors each- that doesn't count the other buildings they use on campus .... Music Department, Dance Department, cafeteria, library etc.  There is no way, even with the tour she got last week, she was going to know where to go.  She also found out that even though she re-took the math placement after studying for a week, it was not going to get her into the class she wanted.  This means she will not get to take mandarin at school.  This is what devastated her the most.  Emmie feels strongly about learning Mandarin.   (Good news is our personal tutor, Amanda, is going to let her join our lessons that we take on Tues and Thurs.)  All this made the girl who never cries tear up a bit.  It made me so sad to watch her climb the four cases of stairs with a girl she didn't know to go off to a day that was not going to be what she had planned.  She was nervous but excited for this day.  Now reality was here and not to mention she was the only Blond in the 100's of kids headed to class!  Lacie on the other hand met up with a girl she met at the orientation last night and walked down the hall with her.  Entering into her new room as she always does with total confidence.  She was still very nervous but very excited to have a male teacher.  She says she thinks he is like Mr. Fackerell. (who she was really looking forward to having in 5th grade)  Her teacher's name is Mr. Tim Martin. Only downer today was she was missing her best friend Elsie, whom she has gone to school with everyday since KG. For myself, I was a bit melancholy.  It is the first time in 17 years that I am not teaching preschool or have little ones at home.  Both girls came back from school happy.  I am especially happy Emmie knows how to bounce back from disappointment.  She did miss her friends, especial at lunch!  It was nice to text a few of them before she left for school.  She wore a bracelet that one of her dear friends made for her. It makes her not lonely and put a smile on her face.  Emmie did meet one of the only other blonds during her free period in the library.  As Emmie quietly sat by herself in the library an older girl (blonde!) walked up to her and asked where she is from.  When Emmie said Idaho she asked if she was Mormon.  Emmie thought that was an odd question since lots of people who live in Idaho are not Mormon.  She said she was and the girls said so was she!  They had found each other.  Two of the 8 youth in our ward had found each other in the sea of dark-hair Asians.  Her name is Rebecca and she is senior and has been here for 3 years.  Emmie says she reminders her of her dear dance buddy Hunter.  Rebecca declared she has been waiting 3 years for a blonde friend, now here she was.  Tender Mercy.


                          

 We met 2 families up at the school this morning from church. They saw us and came over for a chat. Two other families have either invited us for dinner or a family outing to the beach or water park. Unfortunately we had all these pre-school appointments to make and couldn't go. It was nice to be invited! SO glad everyone is back on the island!  Life will be easier for the girls now.  We won't be the only ones at church!

  
   Received the results of my endometrial biopsy and colposcopy on Thursday.  Adam was still in Singapore so he listened in on speaker phone.  We wanted to hear it together good or bad.  Bad news first.... I will have to return in 3 months for another pap. Depending on those results I may have to schedule a hysterectomy while I am home those 2 weeks for Christmas.  I really don't want to do one here.  Bad news is I have acute and chronic inflammation of the cervix.  Good news... The Endometrial sample of my cervix showed no malignancy.  Bottom line, I have to be seen every 3 months to make sure there is no change because the irregular glandular cells change faster.  Big relief.  No Cancer!  To celebrate and to have a date-night together after Adam came home from Singapore we climbed the mountain behind us. It was straight up the mountain! Like a million stairs! At the top are a few restaurants. We went to the Night Fever Restaurant- which sounds a bit odd but really the food was great and the view breath-taking (literally- after so many steps in the jungle mountains!). It was beautiful and a nice way to celebrate.  We are both hugely relieved.

View from the top of mountain and the outdoor restaurant we ate at.  SO pretty!

Spider we found right next to the path.  The body is the length of Adam's thumb!  YIKES!

   We are settling into our life here.  Girls are both back dancing.  Emmie even went to the movies and dinner with new friends from the ward on Friday night. They called her up and said they were all meeting at the school and then would walk to the movies- (everything is so close!). So there were a bunch of girls and a couple guys - all from the ward. They went to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and ate dinner at the Dairy-Queen (which by the way... doesn't serve anything but ice-cream!). They walked all over the place, but had a great time and it was one of Emmie's first forays into teenage independence here in Taiwan. (Very hard for this over protective mother!).  The seminary opening social was this weekend as well- which was a lot of fun. There are 10 students this year which is 100% increase from last year. Lots of new kids.  This Sunday, the Batteen family was invited to speak in Sacrament meeting. We all spoke, including Lacie. The girls wrote and prepared their own material and both girls did amazing. Our topic was our Faith in Jesus Christ and how we can strengthen our faith by overcoming challenges. What a great topic for a new overseas adventure!  Adam and I received callings in church today.  Adam is the Young Men's president and I am the Sunday school teacher for all the high school/ seminary age kids. (about 12 of them).  Later, we went to dinner at the Klomp's.  Jeremy and Tami Klomp have been here for 3 years already and have 1 more to go. Jeremy is in the air-force and serves as the Elder's quorum president. It was very enjoyable. Good food and great company. We are enjoying getting to know people here. 

   Things are taking on a more normal routine. Lacie has friends at school and looking forward to developing those friendships.  Adam and I took a drive while girls where at school to get more familiar with the area we live in.  One of the things that is easier then living is Singapore is this time we have GPS to help us get back home.  Last time we just had to remember, go on faith and drive till we found our way back again- praying the whole way that it wouldn't take all day.  I have even started driving a bit.  We walk mostly because things are so close, but yes I too am driving now. Watch out little scooter-dudes!!!

  Here are a few Taiwan moments..... Yesterday a man decided, while waiting for the light to turn, that he would urinate in the gutter drain in front of Lacie and I.  Nice!  Lacie says she is scarred for life!  I didn't see the whole thing go down or I might have had to say something.  Not that he would understand me.  Or at least grab Lacie and hide her.  Adam took me to lunch on the first day of school, while waiting for our food in the food court of a nice mall;  I looked at Adam and jumped.   There was a cockroach climbing up the front of his shirt.  He just calmly brushed it off and squished it with his shoe. Then we ate our lunch! I guess that's just years of being exposed to stuff like that... nothing phases Adam! (Plus Adam says it was just a tiny one... about the size of my little pinky! Not small in my book.)

  Missionary Moments..... Our Mandarin teacher is a sweet girl named Amanda.  I really like her.   On Tuesday Adam had to take a work call during our lesson.  She asked if she could look at the pictures on our wall.  So we left the table and walked up close to the frames I had hanging.  Amanda commented on our family pictures and liked them very much.  Then she asked what the others were.  I had hanging with our family pictures "The Family Proclamation to the World" and "The Living Christ".  She asked what they were.  I told Amanda it was how we felt about the family and our responsibilities as husband and wife, mother and father.  The other was how we felt about Jesus Christ.  She read them and said "Very nice, I like." "You have good family."  Then we went on with the lesson.  On Thursday when she came back the first thing she did was ask where she could get a copy of the "Proclamation" and "The Living Christ".  I was going to make a copy for her, but Adam said to just give the whole thing to her. So I took the frames off the wall and gave them to her. I felt bad because they were super-glued together after falling off the wall and cracking while we were gone in Singapore. (Got too hot in our condo for the hooks to keep sticking to the wall.)  It just felt like the right thing to do.  She was thrilled, so I carefully wrapped them up in some of the packing left from the move and she happily put them in her bag.  She is becoming a dear friend.  I enjoy her personality.  How can I not share what is so dear to us?  Adam will just have to get another one when he returns back to the US the next time. No problem!

8/14-8/22

  

Our return to Singapre video

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4445774e5445314f54453d0d0a&blogview=true

Our Retun to Our Beloved Singapore

  It is hard to believe it has almost been 9 years since we lived here.  Yet I look at my girls and remember they were babies when we were here last and it is not so hard.  They are young women now.  That is even harder to believe.  Time is racing by.  I am trying to make the best of every moment with them.  Life events in the last few weeks have reminded me life is so short and time together precious.

  Girls and I took a different flight then Adam.  With all the recent airplane crashes on this side of the world, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous. We ended up landing an hour ahead of him even though our flights where scheduled 15min apart. With delays and such He landed after us even though he was to get there before us.  This meant I had to navigate both Taiwan Taoyuan Airport and Singapore Changi Airport by myself and get us through customs, etc. alone.  So glad girls are bigger.  I remember how hard these long lines were when they were little.

   I had a long list of things to go and do while Adam worked all week.  We had hopes he could steal away for some family time.  Luckily he was able to spend most evenings with us and all of Friday.

   Took the girls back to all my favorites... Holland Village, Anne Lockets- China Collection (where we were stuck in huge thunder storm with Singapore rain), Little India (went in to a Hindu Temple) girls got to see first hand idol worshiping (which sparked a deep conversation), Chinatown (Dinner at the Food Street - So much nicer now), Jaw Stick Factory, Woodlands where we use to live (even had lunch at a Hawker Stand), toured SAS (Singapore American School), The amazing Zoo, and Sentosa Island.  We had a wonderful time.  For those family members that visited us... Singapore is cooler then Taiwan.  That is a scary thought because Singapore is HOT, HOT, HOT!!! 

  We enjoyed the swimming pool at the Swissotel where we stayed very much.  Spent as much time there as we could.  Girls made several friends there that they would make dates to come back and swim with through out the week. There was Sunny and her brother from Korea, Aydin from Perth, Australia. There was another boy the last night but I don't remember his name, and a darling three year old from Australia named Annie that loved the girls and wanted them to go home with her.  I love that the girls make friends so easily.  They truly enjoyed these friends they made and have exchanged emails to keep in touch.

  Lacie was a hoot to watch.  She had the guys Adam works with in the palm of her hand, including Adam's boss- John.  One of Adam's co-workers, BH, had been to our home in Idaho and remember her.  She walked hand in hand with him asking about his family and where he was from in Korea.  He then asked her questions.  They had a very grown up conversation. On the night we all went to dinner to meet Adam's boss and a few others.  Both girls where engaging and so mature.  It was fun to watch them be amazing.  I sat there and watched them and wondered again... When did they grow up and how did I teach them this.  They are both skilled at being charming!  I think they come by it naturally!  By the end of the night Adam's boss, John, was racing down the side walk with them to a sling-shot ride.  Totally scary!  Never get me on it.  When they found out Lacie was too young. (she had to be 12) he promised them he would take them on it before we leave for home in 2 years.  It was a good night.

  Our favorite time was Sentosa Island.  Girls and Adam did the obstacle course (intense!!) that he had done with the guys from work in June for team-building. It was super difficult, but wonderfully challenging. There are 3 levels, the first at 5m high, the second at 10m, and the tallest at 15m. Lacie went first on the 2nd level, followed by Emmie and then Dad. Then when that was over they went to the 3rd level.  CRAZY!!  Girls did great! They even made some of the grown men (another group there) look bad. I wasn't feeling up to it.  I was fighting water retention in my feet and face and still bleeding (had a procedure a few days before).  I might have over done it with walking all day in the heat for a week, but the memories are worth it.  I stayed on the ground and took the pictures.  Then we all did the Zip Line over the Jungle out to an island in the South China Sea.  SO COOL!  We had our friend along Soo-Hye with us.  He is from Malaysia.  We met him when we lived here before and he's visited us in the US. Adam has visited him a few times on his travels. He went to Chinatown with us also one of the nights and we treated him to a zip line ride for his birthday.  He was terrified and couldn't believe the girls on the obstacle course.  He kept telling them to hang on and be careful.  When they both flipped upside down on the Zip Line he about lost it.  It was so funny!  He likes to bring Emmie an apple, Lacie some kiwi and both M&M's.  Then delights in their excitement at his gifts.  We then only had time to spend a few moments in the ocean and then head back to the hotel.  Our flight was leaving in the morning and I had to get us packed. Adam has another week here.  Wish we could stay longer but have to get back for school interviews and entrance exams.

  Hope you enjoy the slide show.  It's the fastest way to show you what we saw.

Arriving in Taiwan

  Our flight from Boise was to leave at 11a,m but was delayed an hour.  This meant we would be pressed for time in San Francisco.  We did make it in just enough time to quickly walk to other end of the international wing at SFO airport and Queue-up (that's what they call lining up in Taiwan) for the next 11 hour flight.  We arrived in Taiwan, Tuesday the 24 June 2014 late in the evening to start our adventure.  It was so nice to come to the condo and have it all ready for us.  Adam has been living in it since February.  When he left it last time in May, he made sure the beds were made and everything was ready for our arrival. He even had the real-estate agent, Helen, buy and put an orchid on the table for me.  He knows I love flowers and wanted to get one for me and the house.  He wanted everything to be perfect for us all when we got here.  Adam is so glad to finally have us all here together.  It has been a long year and half for everyone.

  We received a call from my Doctor from Boise at 2am our first night.  Never a good sign.  After the breast cancer scare the week we left this was a very unsettling call.  My pap had shown atypical glandular cells.   I have another potential problem that can't wait till I return to Idaho in December.  I needed to have the test done in 4 to 6 weeks at the most.  Now the question is where and by whom.  I felt at peace as we prayed for guidance and to be lead to the right place and people that might help.  I felt very impressed that I need to talk to someone at church.  Not really a great way to introduce yourself.  "Hi, my name is Jennie Batteen and I need a gynecologist, know any?" " One that preferably speaks English!"  So when Sunday arrived you can imagine my nervousness.  Not only would it be our first week at church, but I needed help and fast.  There was no one there.  I mean no one!  No Relief Society President, YW President, YM President, Elders Quorum President, High Priest or Bishopric.  Yep only about 15 total people. Who was I going to talk to?
  
  I met a woman as we walked into the building about my Mother's age.  She was moving back to the states that week and wanted to give me her plants.  I love flowers and plants.  This truly brightened my day. I thought well maybe Karen is who I need to talk to.  The right moment just didn't present itself.  She gave me her contact number and we parted ways. She was teaching in primary so I didn't see her the rest of the day. (Lacie was one of 5 children)  Emmie went with Adam and I to our meetings (she was the only youth here).  I left church a little discouraged, I just knew I would find my help there, yet when there was no one there- it was a little hard.  Most of the members there were men who's families had gone back to whatever country they were from for the summer vacation.

  All I could do was to keep praying for guidance.  My heart was heavy with worry.  I did call Karen about the plants on Tuesday when she said she would be at her apartment and set a time for Adam and I to drive up and pick out some plants.  We went up the hill from our house about 8 blocks and had a lovely visit, Karen said as we were leaving to let her know if there was anything she could do for us till she left, to let her know.  Here she was packing a shipment, cleaning a condo and finishing up everything it takes to leave in 4 days and offering her help.  The voice in my head started screaming at me to ask her!  I worried it would be too much trouble but I swallowed my pride and asked for help.  She was so sweet and had been so kind to us. I quickly told her I was in need of a gynecologist.  She personally didn't need one in her 5 years here so she would ask some of the her lady friends and get back to me.  Well she did! Within a day she emailed the name of the best in Taiwan, who happened to practice at the cancer hospital and research center. How did she know that was the worry. Heavenly Father knew my needs and had placed this woman in my path. I hadn't mentioned my test or what the Doctor in Idaho was worried about. Then she made a point to tell me to make sure when I set the appointment, to get them to email the address in Chinese; so I could give it to the taxi driver.  Something I wouldn't have thought of.  After a 30min. call and 8 different people I finally had an appointment for my endometrial biopsy and colposcopy. I was a bit worried they knew what I needed as our communication was difficult.  Their English was very limited and my 4 hours of Chinese was NO help! Two weeks from now I will hopefully be closer to knowing if I have to worry about cancer again.  It is a real possibility and that is just not in the plan, at least my plan!

  DIXIE IS LOST!  Got another call today! We have only been here 2 days and Dixie runs away from the family who is taking care of her.  At least it gives me something else to worry about.  I am just sick with worry about this dumb dog.  She has been my constant companion with Adam gone.  She even stayed with me when I had heat stroke last summer and nudged me and licked me (which I hate) till I got up and went inside.  The girls will be devastated if she is gone for good.  We have decided not to tell them yet.  I pray for that dumb dog every time she enters my mind. I pray she is safe and will be found by someone kind and returned to us.  I know my Father listens to me even when it is for this sweet, dumb dog!
  
  Emmie and Lacie have both had their sad moments.  Emmie's friends are texting her on her ipod. I am so grateful.  It does make her miss home but it is better then being forgotten.  When she is lonely she reads all the notes from her friends they made for her and wears her bracelet one of them made for her.  Lacie is missing Elsie terribly.  We have let her call, FaceTime and send a letter already.  We often find her curled up in the blanket Elsie gave her.  With no one here it is hard.  We spend our days exploring around us and swimming and watching way too much TV.  The heat is so hard on Lacie.  She gets sick and turns red.  It has been an average of 97 with 99% humidity, which the weather report says makes it feel like 110!

  Our Air shipment finally came today.  It is so nice to have a few things.  It will be so much easier when the sea shipment comes in a few weeks.  It's been 2 months without the computer.  How have we ever survived?  I have very little to cook on and the girls have little of their stuff.  We only had 500lbs air and what fit in our suitcases.  LIVING SIMPLE!

  We met a Taiwanese lady at church named Grace.  Lacie hugged her and she started to cry.  She said Lacie gives pure love!  She gave us a bag of rice.  It was a bit scary looking.  As we got in the car and headed home we talked about whether to eat it or not and decided it would definitely not be a good idea.  Those friends and family of  my mine (you know who you are) can imagine the time I am having adjusting to the food here.  Yep!  The stomach is not being kind!

  SPEEDY GIRL... Got another call!  We have been here a week.  Emmie's cow was found dead in our field.  No reason.  Emmie is convinced she died of a broken heart.  She was very attached to Emmie.  Bright side, her calf is old enough now that he will be alright without her.  We are looking at it as maybe a blessing.  It will be easier on Todd to not have to worry about her.  No breading and one less to feed.  Total bummer but as we always say "It is what it is"! Got another call today and Dixie has been found.  So at least there is good news from home today.  Grandpa had made flyers and Harvey (who is taking care of her) took one to the pound and she was there.

  Taiwan moments  In Singapore everyday something happened that I called Singapore moments.  I am finding the same here.  Just a few... While walking down by Taipei 101 girls Emmie's age call out to her and reach for her ..."Elsa, Elsa..."  Emmie had her hair in a braid and was the only blonde, fair girl other then Lacie that we had seen all day. We like to watch people watch the girls.  They will literally walk into poles or fall down.  They see them and cannot take their eyes off them.  The girls are constantly being total they are beautiful.  Great self  esteem builder.

  We are loving the swimming pool here. It has been so blazing hot and humid, even the unheated water in the pool is warm like a bath. Since there is no one here in the condo, we pretty much have the pool to ourselves all the time. There have been a couple other people coming or going from the pool on occasion, but we've never really had to share it. It's pretty big but not deep and has no diving board, so the girls splash and play and like to race each other from side to side.

  There is a mountain trail just up the hill from us.  Adam and the girls have climbed it. On a second trip, this time at night, Lacie came back with a fire fly clutched in her 10year old hand.  I have never seen one before.  She said the jungle was magical with them.  We put it in a jar and watched it for a bit.  Then she let it go on one of our patios.  She wanted it to find it's family. That little bug was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.  How can any one say there isn't a God, when there are such amazing creatures.

Sea shipment finally arrived.  18 July feels like Christmas.  The girls literally jumped for joy!  Emmie unpacked her point shoes and put them on to finish the unpacking.  Lacie started to play her dolls.  How wonderful it will be to be able to have something to cook on!  Adam fired up his BBQ!  The condo is starting to look like home.

Typhoon is coming.  Got our bug-out-bags just in time.  Feeling very impressed to be prepared for whatever may come.  We really don't think we will need them but with the earthquakes here and Typhoons we would be fools to not be prepared.  Working on building a bit of a food storage.  Everything is SOOOOO expensive here. Loaf of bread $37nt, apples $10-17nt, peanut butter smallest container you can imagine $130nt.  There is a Costco here that prices are close to home.  It is 30min away if traffic is good.  We are headed there tonight to get a few things for the bags and some canned goods.  Typhoon Matmo hit us  evening of 22 and all day 23 July.  Slept through most of it.  They did cancel school and work. Lots of rain.  Downed trees, smashed a car. A plane crashed killing 180 headed to one of the small islands from Taipei.  Had to stay inside but we were safe.  NO WORRIES! Adam had to go to one of the subcon sites during the day before it hit and was coming back as the rain started. He carries a small umbrella but with the type of rain that was falling and the wind that blew it everywhere, there wasn't much that poor little umbrella could do- Adam was soaked from head to toe (and that was just the very beginning!).
          (check out Adam  facebook pages for pictures)

  Had my endometrial biopsy and colposcopy today.  I liked the doctor.  He seemed like he knew what he was talking about.  I did a lot of research before going so I would know what the test were for and what to expect.  The hospital was clean and very nice.  It was very different but nice.  They did do it without anesthesia or numbing of any kind.  I can honestly say it was one of the most difficult and painful experience I have ever had. Delivering both of my girls was no picnic either!  I was so embarrassed when I didn't fit on the table.  I had to turn side ways to slip between the stationary stirrups. I am not a big person but most everyone here is tiny.  Short and smaller in every way.  This was a table built for a tiny lady.  Adam went with me.  He was very worried about the whole thing. I stayed down for the rest of the day and most of the next before I felt  well enough to get around.  I am so grateful the girls are bigger now and can fend for themselves and take care of me.  We will be in Singapore next week so I will have to wait 2 weeks to know what they found.  Haven't said anything to anyone at home.  My mother is in the middle of health issues with her mother. I don't want to give her another thing to worry about.  I will tell everyone when I have something to tell.

GRANDMA DIED...  Grandma Gratton passed away at 10:30a.m. US time, 22 July 2014. A day before her 93 birthday.  As mom said she was getting reunited with Aunt Debbie, Grandpa, her parents and brothers for the best birthday party yet. I was able to call home and talk to mom for couple of hours.  It was a huge blessing to have Grandma finally go home.  Grandma has not been well the last few weeks and it has taken a toll on Mom. I  feel bad I cannot be there to help mom with the funeral and all she has to do.  Times like this, being on the other side of the world is hard.  I am so grateful to know where Grandma is and that there is life after death.  Glad I am part of an Eternal Family and know my Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us. I know He has sent the comforter to be with Mom.  This knowledge brings such peace.

Heading to Singapore and will make another post then.  That's our first month, give or take a few days, in a nut shell.

Taiwan Home Video

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4441354f5467344f44513d0d0a&blogview=true

If you are having trouble watching it here you can also view it on my Facebook page!