Wow! A new post!

Yes, it's true! The beautiful country we live in has blocked all of our favorite sites, including this one. Thankfully, we find ways around the Bamboo Curtain so we can give our friends and family updates.

We had a really fantastic time in Canada this summer. It was filled with great grub, fabulous friends and family, camping in the cold, and working on West St.! Even though the weather wasn't so hot, camping was the highlight for both of us. We were spoiled by Scott's parents who graciously lent us their trailer for the week. We spent quality time with lots of cool people, enjoyed the beach, and ate lots of ice cream at the local shop. It was just plain relaxing.

If you happen to go by our house in Thorold, you might actually miss it because it looks so different! Though we actually haven't seen the final outcome, we watched some of the green siding go up before we had to come back. We're still waiting for Doug to send us some final pictures.

Back to Beijing....they really had a hot summer here. And it was still smoking hot when we arrived. Some weeks it was 35-38 every day! It's cooled off a little now (25-30). School is back in full swing. I have 12 students so far and right now they seem like an easier bunch than last year :) We now have projectors in all the homerooms, which makes my teaching easier in so many ways. We both really enjoy our jobs here. Even though there are challenges that come with being part of a small school, the job is one of the main reasons we enjoy living here in Beijing.

In other news, I am still running regularly and a group of us from church and school have decided to run 9km as part of the Beijing Marathon in October! Someone had suggested it back in April, but I really did think I was capable. Now, I have a bit more confidence because I'm now able to run for 45 minutes. And even more exciting is that fact that all of us are raising money for Alpha Communities. They do long-term development projects all over the country. I've got to find my sponsors now!

The only planned visitors so far this year have already arrived in China, our friends Matt and Sarah. For those of you who don't know her, Sarah was my maid of honour at the wedding. We've known each other since we were infants! They are on a cruise right now out of Shanghai and they join us here on Friday. Can't wait to show them around! My parents are considering coming for another visit. Any other takers??? :)

Thanks for all your support. We do wish we could've seen all our friends this summer, but 6 weeks wasn't long enough!