May 15th

I haven't given a full report of last weekend! So Friday we first went to the medical center in Tianjin. Dad had to pick up a perscription. On the way there the hospital in Beijing called and asked Dad to have some lab work done while he was at the medical center. No problem. The center here is just another office of the hospital in Beijing. When we were done they wanted full payment. Wait, our insurance covers it. Oh, but they don't have an OK from our insurance. If the lab work would have been done in Beijing that would be covered, but Tianjin doesn't have an OK from the insurance. So get an OK. That took several phone calls and about 30 min. At one point the girl asked for Dad's bank card! After that was finally figured out and we got to leave with the insurance company's blessing we went shopping! I spent 55 yuan, Dad spent a lot more! He bought a wooden carved warrior, about 2 feet high. It will fit in h is carry-on. Nelson teases him about having to put a rack on top of the plane! Then he bought 3 BIG kites and the string too. He did say he thinks he'd about done buying things. Saturday,my birthday, he got up early and went to Beijing with Wynn. Apparently Wynn needed company on his buying spree. Wynn bought a lot of pearls. Dad just bought a little bit, compared to Wynn. Dad also bought 2 suitcases to replace the two we sent home with Lori & Kari. They came home from Beijing full of Wynn's stuff. I spent the day as usual, laundry, ironing,etc. We were going to go out to dinner but Dad got home too late, so I walked down to KFC and then came home and made mashed potatoes, just in time for Dad to get home and enjoy my birthday dinner! Then we walked over and bought two ice cream bars! Dad did get me a beautiful shawl too. Sunday,Mother's Day, we were invited to lunch at our Relief Society Presidents home after church. She drove us there. She's a very cautious driver! She has a cook who made Pot Stickers and soup. It was very good. She kept bringing out more and more pot stickers. We were stuffed! Then we took the subway home and took a nap. That night we went to a student performance at the university. It was very well done. They had an orchestra and chorus and comics and dancing. We saw some of our students performing. It was a good show. Monday ,it was back to teaching. We met a couple here from Germany. They just live in the next apartment building. They're coming over tonight for dessert. I made an apple pie. Love to you all!! Can't wait to be home!! Mom XXOO