the sky today was awesome!

Blue Sky!!

First off the day started with a brilliant blue sky.  Now, this is nothing special if you live in Texas (or many other spots on earth).  I can’t stop staring at the sky whenever I go home. 

But, here, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the sky is normally gray.  Yeah, sadly it’s gray from all the pollution.

But not today.  Today it was a brilliant blue!!  It was so wonderful!!

Later, after classes this afternoon, my students called me to the office window.  And, then they showed me a beautiful rainbow! 

It totally arched all the way across the sky.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a complete (I know its really only half) arching rainbow in the sky,

Rainbow!!

Thank you, Father, for the reminder that you always keep your promises. 

thru my windows (Part 5)

My mission team has monthly meetings in downtown Kaohsiung.  The place where we meet is on the 10th or 11th floor–these are two pictures I took from that meeting room at sunset. 

kaohsiung city at sunset

kaohsiung city at sunset

These are all the pictures I have on hand that show you the view from my windows. 

I love windows and doors, so as I keep taking pictures from the other windows I pass or from homes I stay in, I will share them with you. :)

And of course, if you take a picture from your window . . . please do share your view with me!

thru my windows (Part 4)

Although the views from my classrooms and office are wonderful, the view from the windows in my home are a little  . . . well, they remind me that I live on a tiny, over-populated island.  Below are the views from my living room and my bedroom windows, that’s right, as my guest, you actually have the best view of all from the windows in my home!

thru my living room window

thru my bedroom window

Oh, how observant of you–that’s right.  That is a street lamp right there outside my bedroom window!  And, no, it doesn’t keep me up at night because I have bamboo shades that keep out ALL light!  But, thanks for asking and being concerned!

**UPDATED to ADD** The "bars" on the windows box in the window ledges.  I have two theories as to why they so many home here have them.  Theory one: they extend the "space" of the house–many people keep plants or hang clothes to dry in these spaces.  Theory two: when you live so close to your neighbors, it would be very easy for a theif to jump on to your (al beit) small balcony and then climb in thru the window–the bars/wire grid prevents this from happening.  All grids on my windows and laundry porch do however have another little "window" with hinges that supposedly open if unlocked (but, I’ve never actually tried).  Interesting, huh?

thru my windows (Part 3)

The view from my office is also quite awesome!  I love walking in and pulling back the curtains. 

Wanna see why?

the view from my office window

It is not always quite so beautiful though. 

Below you can see the same basic view from my office window–before, during, and after a rainstorm.

thru my office window . . . rain

thru my windows (Part 2)

Ok, so here is a much better view than from my guest bedroom

I love the view from my writing classroom!!

the view from my writing classroom

the view from my writing classroom

Isn’t it great!?! 

It is a wonder I am still able to teach when I’d like to be gazing out the window!

thru my windows (Part 1)

I’ve been wanting to share what kinds of things I can see from the various windows in my life–my office, classroom, living room, bedroom, and so on.  This is not the best view I could use to start this, but, it does fit this week’s other posts.

So, continuing with the landry theme, here is the view from my guest bedroom:

the view from my guest bedroom

That’s right–come visit me here in beautiful, tropical southern Taiwan, and the view from your guest bedroom will be of my "laundry porch"!  If you draw the bamboo shade, you will be able to see my tiny dryer and my clothes line along with my (American) clothes cleaning products.