We had some of my co-workers over tonight for a bbq. We just got our grill. It was it's maiden voyage tonight and it did a great job. I bought some charcoal when I bought the grill. It was the kind of charcoal that I see the street vendors so I assumed it would work. However, I could not get this charcoal lit. I used lighter fluid, paper, and some charcoal starters. I was in a bit of a panic. Marissa, Brannon Trevon and I jumped on our bikes and rode to the Suguo to get some normal charcoal briquettes. Luckily they had some. We raced home and got them going. The timing actually worked out perfectly. We got the briquettes lit and they had a good ash right as the people got there. We threw the burger and hot dogs on the grill and they cooked perfectly.
We had cheeseburgers with bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, pickles, mayo and they were even on a hamburger bun. I'm sure you are all thinking what's the big deal. Why is he going into detail about an every day burger. Because we are in CHINA!!!!!! We went to 3-4 different stores just to get these everyday burgers. One of the stores is 30-40 minutes away. It really makes you appreciate a burger, baked beans, corn, salad, chocolate cake and apple pie when there is so much effort involved. It tasted so good. It was also a lot of fun to have friends over to celebrate.
We also had an amazing fireworks display. As with assembling a burger, finding fireworks outside of Chinese New Year is no small task. We asked a few people where we could get fireworks. Everyone could tell us where to get them during Chinese New Year but didn't know where they are available now. Finally we asked our driver Yang Ning. He said there was a little shop in his neighborhood that still had some fireworks. He called his wife to run down to the shop to make sure they still had the fireworks and make sure they would still be open when we got there. We got there and while the selection was minimal there was enough to fill the sky with lights. While we were buying them, I asked the owner if we could light one right then. He took it out into the street and set it off. A couple of the neighbors came over and asked what the occasion was. He explain about the 4th of July and that we were from America and were buying fireworks.
We had the fireworks loaded up in the back of our van. We didn't want to do them in the compound because houses are pretty close so we had Yang Ning drive them outside the compound. When we walked out there he had all the boxes set up and ready to go. Brannon and Yang Ning lit all the fireworks. As soon as Brannon lit it, he turned and took off running. His little legs were moving so fast. It was fun to watch him get so excited about the fireworks. I think Yang Ning really enjoyed it as well. We really were amazed at the quality of the fireworks. They were very impressive with their height, colors and size. We even had a roll of 8000 firecrackers. When we lit it, it took one minute thirty seconds for all 8000 fireworks to explode. It was so much fun. It was great to see all the smiles on peoples faces. Alauna even played Stadium of Fire music during some of the fireworks. We even had a couple of local old Chinese come watch the fireworks. One of them had a little handheld radio an he had it cranked up with Chinese music. So the fireworks were "synchronized" with music.
We really miss being home and with family today. We would probably have gone to a lake or swimming or smoked some ribs or something awesome like that. Even though we missed all that we still had an amazing time. Tonight was a great example of our family really enjoying each other while living in China. So much was different about this Fourth of July but our family being together made it an amazing Fourth of July. I also was thinking constantly about all those battling the fires in Utah. I have been amazed by the pictures I have seen on Facebook. It's surreal to see the fire and smoke so close to home. We pray for those that are affect by it that they will be ok.
I have also thought a lot about what freedom means. I am writing this blog by using a VPN because Blogger is blocked in China, as is Facebook and You Tube among other things. So in order to write this blog I have to work around the system. I have always loved America. I am always proud to say I am an American. Not in a boastful way, but in a respectful way of America being a great place. Not a perfect place but a place where you express your thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. My freedom of religion, speech, right to assemble, right to vote, right to bear arms have all been removed or infringed upon while living in China. I want my kids to understand that while these are rights, they also come with responsibility to protect and defend those rights as well as a responsibility to exercise those rights so they are not taken away. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be living in China right now. I am even more grateful for the privilege that I have blessed to be born in America. I am also grateful for those who serve in our Military to defend my Freedoms. Specifically to my older brother Steve, my Grandfather Beeston and the many others in my family who have put our Country first and served with honor. While there are many things we as Americans don't agree upon please let us all agree that we blessed to be Americans.
I hope everyone else out there has a great 4th of July and it is not just the day after the 3rd of July.
This video is of a string of firecrackers. Each one is about the size of a M80.
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| Steve graduating from schooling in San Antonio Texas a few years ago. |
Great post Boyd. We sure miss our family on the 4th of July!
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