Where on earth?

This spring the blossoms came later than usual and waiting for them, I couldn't help but feel disappointed and cheated out of one of Korea's loveliest attractions.
In the midst of this disappointment and doubt, one morning I took my bike down a road on the mountain that I hadn't been on before. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught site of a dirt path bordered by giant trees with thick dark trunks and topped with millions of blossoms. I slowed my bike and turned around. The site was breath taking. In my heart I named this place, "The Avenue".
I waited impatiently all day so that I could take my family over and walk with them underneath the trees and feel the magic of being in such a beautiful place with them.
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One day, I sat on a giant rock underneath a blossoming tree whose pink petals fluttered down around me with each gentle gust of wind. Miriam sat on the rock with me and as I listened to her excited chatter about hopes and dreams of the future I felt as though I was in an enchanted storybook. We caught a few of the air-borne petals and counted it a foreshadowing of extraordinary luck.
Another day, I sat with Daniel on the side of a nearby stream and wondered at his facination with throwing rocks and sticks into the water and watching them float down, down, down and out of sight.
This spring has been a challenging one for me, my children have been sick week after week since January. It seems I haven't finished the bottle of antibiotics before I'm getting a new one for a different child. Margaret was in the hospital with pnuemonia and Daniel's asthma has been out of sorts for a while now. Sitting in this spot of spring I couldn't help but think of the irony of my situation: I was feeling doubt and disappointment about the season while this little piece of heaven was so close and so perfect. I just had to wait and find it.

Spring at Last

On the last day of my parents' visit to Korea, we went to one of my favorite places on earth, Bewon-The Secret Garden. It was a cool morning in early spring and the garden felt fresh and new. It was just waking up and reminded me of a newborn baby yawning.

Timeless

After all this time, I'm so glad my parents love each other.

Captivating

Korea in the spring.

The Pearl Market

Haggling for a deal is not my idea of a good time, but I did it anyway. The Pearl Market is full of fake merchandise, everything from electronics to sunglasses, handbags to jeans, and of course pearls. I was able to get prices down pretty fast because none of the Chinese vendors could believe that I have three daughters and their admiration of my large family gave me an advantage. This would always make me smile and I would think to myself, "if you only knew". Unfortunately, as soon as I would get somewhere with my price war, Miri would take the side of the vendor and start saying things like, "It's a good price, Mom. I'll loan you the money so you'll have enough". Sabotage. "Whose side are you on anyway, Miri?" I would think as I looked at her reproachfully.
I bought a few shirts and sweaters for Jim and a few souvenirs, but in the end, the best thing to buy in the pearl market are pearls. Imagine that.

The Lake Park in Beijing

On our last day in Beijing we rented bikes and a paddle boat and enjoyed a spring morning exploring the Lake Park.
As lovely as the park was with spring at its fingertips, the water in the man made lake was grubby and sludgy and cold to say the least. I was shocked to see a swimmer moving from the shore to a nearby island. "Ew", I thought, with my face all tightened up as though I had just eaten a lemon. I couldn't imagine swimming in that dirty water on a warm day, let alone on a day when everyone else was wearing coats to keep warm.

It turns out there were quite a few swimmers that morning, all men and all in speedos. I hope they didn't swallow any water.

We also happened upon an older man playing a traditional Chinese string instrument. The instrument makes a sweet, melancholy sound, similar to the violin with a bit more "twang".

At the lake with the beginning buds of spring, my three oldest children and I embraced our last moments in China exploring and laughing together.