We also visited lookout mountain in Tennessee/Georgia, where you can see into 7 states. See if you can identify them by the flags.

Tour of the Deep South

Though I have lived only one state over from Southern life most of my life, I have never visited the true South. There are some who may try to say that Texas is Southern, but the part I live in definitely is not. So, two weeks ago I went with my parents on a quick tour of 6 states: Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana! I took the Greyhound from the downtown Dallas station (bad station to start from) and met my parents in Little Rock, Arkansas. From there we drove to Memphis where we ate really tasty barbecue ribs and then walked down Beale street to get apple dumplings at a place that takes pride in serving grease. - The next day we headed to Nashville and stopped into some Civil War famous cites along the way. In Nashville we visited a smokeless bar downtown that advertised no cover charge and open mike Bluegrass. We didn't really know what to expect, but we were not disappointed! Then we headed to Knoxville so that I could visit a friend and hike in the Smoky mountains (I have really missed the mountains). In Alabama and Georgia we visited things that had to do with my ancestors. Above I am beside the grave site of my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. It was neat to see the history of my family and to see where they all lived and went to school. It really is beautiful country.

Fourth of July 2007 (it takes me a while to get things posted). This was my first American holiday back in the states and it was small but enjoyable. With all the rain Texas had been getting, we did not have to worry about fire work bans! The weather cleared and there was a beautiful sky for all kinds of shows. We spent the 4th at the lake and put on our own Fire work display and watched the displays of our neighbors. It was fun, but I must admit that it was nothing compared to China. The Chinese really know how to put on a show!

Pray

Last Sunday we had a guest preacher do our morning service. During his introduction he mentioned our need to pray for our troops in Iraq and he mentioned that he has a family member serving over there. His family member is actually embedded in an Iraqi squad working with them and training them. When he said this it struck me as to what an amazing opportunity this is for the gospel to reach the Iraqi people. Now I realize that there are probably language barriers and rules of war that would limit these guys from overtly proselytizing, but still, what amazing close and everyday contact Christians get to have with Iraqi soldiers. Of course not all American soldiers in these roles are Christians. Anyway, my main thought was that we need to be praying for the soldiers in these situations that they would live as Christ would live and proclaim the name of Jesus with their attitudes, actions, and words when possible. I pray that the Christian soldiers would realize the opportunities they have and make the most of them.

Missing China

On Friday I will have been back in America for 3 months. Things have been going pretty well. I have been busy and have had many opportunities to make friends with Chinese speakers and speak Chinese with them. Last week I attended debriefing and it was a great time to hear what has been going on around the world and to spend time with people like me. But now I am home. Just a few minutes ago I was standing in the kitchen cutting a nectarine and I suddenly got an image of the streets of China in my mind (strange considering they have no nectarines). It was at that point that I realized that I am not going back (at least not for a few years) and tears started to flow. I loved China, not just a few things, but pretty much everything about it. I loved the city, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the food, the activity, the people. I loved walking down the street and buying fruit and vegetables from roadside vendors. I loved talking to a dozen strangers everyday, learning something new about them and getting to share a little bit of Christ. I am in America now, and that is strange. I have not so much experienced culture shock, but perhaps I am a little homesick.

I look Like My Momma

This is an old picture, but it demonstrates my point.

Although I am shorter, paler, blonder, and my hair is curlier, I look like my mother and there is nothing I can do about. It isn't that I mind looking like my mother- I have always considered her to be a beautiful woman, but after living at college and then in China where no one knows my mother, it has been interesting coming back. I can walk into a place I have never been before and a complete stranger will come up to me and say "You must be Patti Cable's daughter!" At which I respond, "Yes I am. And who are you?" Actually it is a great thing. It reminds me of what it is supposed to be like as a child of God. I may not have His eyes and His smile, but I should be able to go places and have total strangers say, "Hey, you're God's daughter!" I was just thinking about that as I enter back into American culture and materialistic Plano. I pray that I am being a reflection of Him in everything that I do and say, and praise Him that He disciplines me and gives me another chance when I am not.

I attended Asia Fest 2007 in Downtown Plano today and was very impressed by the multicultural turnout. In the Mayors speech she said that approximately 19% of Plano's population is now Asian. In the above picture some Indian American boys perform a Punjab dance. I quite enjoyed the Indian music.

This is just a view of some of the diversity and the green park. It was a beautiful day and the recent rain has made things gorgeous!

I was standing watching some kids do Indian block painting when a two Chinese Lions and a parade of drums came walking past me. I didn't have time to get a front view, but here is the back view. While at the huodong, I also found out about a DFW area Chinese corner type thing for people who want to practice speaking Chinese. I think I may check it out.