"dreams are the currency of the future"

   A big thank you to my wonderful dad who paid my overweight luggage fee so that I could READ. Yes, I brought some heavy intellectual stimulation in the form of books. It has proved to be fascinating so far to see how each one grows me so much!

   Yesterday while reading The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly, I stopped within the first few chapters to write down some dreams. You know what makes me smile? When other people are living/thinking about/planning their dreams too.

-when a friend sits down with his brother to talk about their goals

-when the dreamer lands her summer photog gig

-when a friend tells me in the pool at my house one summer where in the world she was going to live... and she does it!

-when a friend drives cross country in pursuit of his dreams

-when a friend scuba dives Rotan Island to lobbying at Capital Hill and everything in between.

-when a friend moves to NYC

-when a friend nails a tough interview to land a sweet museum gig

-when a friend survives an accident, comes to know Christ, and redirects their life

-when friends find true love

-when friends and family nurture children - natural and/or adopted

-when a friend becomes a rock star

   "The pursuit of dreams creates passion, energy, enthusiasm, and vitality. One of the most powerful dynamics in relationships is trying to understand the other person's dreams and helping them chase and fulfill those dreams. Every relationship improves when we are mindful of each others dreams."

    KEEP PURSING YOUR DREAMS!

no hui yuan = crazy day at the office

     Back in Beijing I was in the building (guarding the door to the conference room) where a major deal went down between Coke and Huiyuan (a major Chinese juice company). Well, the government had exactly 200 days from that day to decide wether they wanted to allow the deal to happen (both Mr. Muhtar and Mr. Ju were in agreement, but nothing here is final until the gov says so).
      The deal for 2.5 billion was presented one week before the financial crisis in the States happened. Had the deal been made one week later it would have been for probably half of that offer. Today in the Shanghai offices rumors were flying, and everything was 'a buzz'. There have been nationalist protestors at the building who want to protect their local brands. The 200 days just ran out... the government did not allow the take over. This could be a blessing in disguise for CocaCola, as with the economic crisis, they can use the money for other investments. More below:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2009/03/19/2003438821

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/shared-gen/ap/Finance_General/AS_China_Coca_Cola_Huiyuan.html

chasing geese

      If I were to look back at my journals  I could find the entry in one where I wrote about a special memory. It was a few years ago (maybe four) and I was on a jog through the neighborhood when two geese flew low over me. I stopped in my tracks because I felt a strong presence of the Lord. You need to understand that geese flying around our area is somewhat common because the lake being so near. This was different. I felt the Lord's promise of two things. 1) A call on my life 2) a promise of protection. From then on two geese flying has been a reminder to me of the Lord's presence. Right now I am living these promises.

     I am told that if a goose falls out of formation another will go back to be with it, they never leave one behind. What a reminder to us all of God's promise in Hebrew 13:5 "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

     Today I had a divine appointment with God through reading Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson.  The Celtic Christians name for the Holy Spirit was An Geadh-Glas, or 'the Wild Goose'. I resonate with the fact that the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed.  

     Within the first few pages of the book I had underlined, written notes in the margin, and stopped to reread a few lines. It was so closely related to my life right now, it was a though the words were jumping off the pages at me. 

      

...circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: ADVENTURE

...nothing is more unnerving or disorienting that passionately pursuing God

...otro dia, otra aventura (another day, another adventure)

...we have a primal longing to be uncaged 

...Soren Kierkegaard believed boredom is the root of all evil.

    If I listed all the quotes and notes I took away from this book, this post would be far to long. So I will pray for YOUR divine appointment with this book, whenever that may be for you. For me, it was today.

en route

Gen 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. "

around town

nice view along the river of the bund

Queen of SH?

Cooking with the girls

time with jingle

fun with Jun!

ordered steps

    Got to go spend time and J and R house before I left on this trip, and they were telling me about a sweet Chinese girl that is living with Tracy for a year. She got to come to J and R house and experience a lot of 'first times' with fun things you can do on a house with a lot of land -- like riding four wheelers and shooting guns. 

    Well, at the dodgeball tournament a few days before I left, Tracy gave me Baihong's information who lives in a town near where I was visiting for the New Year.

   I am so thankful that I got to spend time with this strong, smart, caring, hospitable, Chrstian woman. 

   Well, 'the link' I have yet to meet is CiCi, her daughter. Looking forward to having dinner with her when I return. 

eat more

...and that's me saying "chicken."