This book is talking about growing pains.  There are two heroines in this book – Hannah and Caitie. Both of the 10-years-olds are in the fifth grade of the new school.

Hannah is artistic and introspective, who loves sketching, dolls, long braided hair, and her eccentric parents.  She has no friends in the new school, often labeled as baby by the popular girls in the class.  Caitie is quick at adapting to the new environment.  She becomes the best friend of the most popular girl in the class.  They think themselves as grown-ups and their topics are always around dress, makeup, and boys.

As said, Hannah and Caitie are as different as can be.  However, to Hannah’s surprise, Caitie befriends her.  As they spend time together, Hannah finds that she does a lot of things beyond her imagination, such as putting on make ups, changing hair style by cutting off the long braids, sending one of her artistic pictures to the magazine the New Yorker, and writing play script to fool the boys, etc..  In the process, they gradually learn what “growing up” really means.  Everybody grows at his or her own pace.  Growing up is a lot more than the outward signs of maturity – the clothes, the jewelry, and all that.  Growing up also means to value friendship.  Caitie and Hannah are so different, and it wasn’t always easy accepting that. But when they quarreled, they make up again. They don’t give up on each other.  Through everything, they are still friends.

On the day, both of us wore the red T-shirt uniform of the company.  Although I seldom wear the bright red T-shirt, I thought the color red served just right for the occasion, to indicate me as a loyal employee and a supportive wife.

When we arrived at the company, co-workers noticed that both of us wore the same color T-shirts, they joked that we had his-and-her clothing.

After the ceremony, we asked the coworker who was in charge of photo taking to take a couple of photos for us. We were honored too that the CEO and GM had a group photo with both of us.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

One day in the afternoon during break time, I saw him peeling an apple in the kitchen of the company.  He then cut the apple neatly into small pieces and put them in a plate. After all done, he called his wife to come to eat. The couple both works in the company, but in different departments.

I was curious, so asked him, “Were you peeling the apple for G (his wife)?”

“Yes.” He replied as if all he did was granted.

“Do you prepare the fruit for G every afternoon?”

“Yes. Sometimes fruit, sometimes some snacks.”

“Wow, you are a model husband.” I’m pretty impressed.

“It’s ok, as long as she doesn’t ask me to help to eat. hehe…”

A model husband. Stamp.

“He is so happy because he got an accident?”  I joke with the teacher, Ms. E.

“Yeah, because Alex got an accident too. Both of them are like a pair.  Just now when Alex’s mom picked Alex up, Eric showed his package to Alex’s mom proudly, like saying, “I got the package too.”" LOL

Alex is Eric’s one of the best friends at school.  Cute kids.

When the dentist was doing the cleaning for hubby, she had a chit chat with me. When we finished one topic, she suddenly said, “last time when you were here to do the deep cleaning, you were very scared (怕).”

She spoke to me in Chinese, and her pronunciation wasn’t accurate, so what I heard was that “…I was very fat（胖）.” I was sure though that she was trying to flatter me, but the way she conveyed the message astounded me.

Last time… I was fat… so now… I am slim, right?  I thought in my little mind with a very good attitude.

On our way back home, hubby said to me, “she said that you were very scared last time, but what I heard was that you were very fat. Her pronunciation is terrible. Ha ha. It’s funny though.”

“Oh, really! Now it makes sense.  I thought she said I was fat until just now you told me.  ” I replied. LOL.

Who are you when I am not looking by Blake Shelton

(this picture is from internet)

Friend J has a daughter, I have a son. Her daughter is only 3 months older than my son; the kids are at similar age, so they can play together well. In this way, J and I have a lot of topics to  chitchat, and most of them are about kids.

J and I become good friends not only because of the topics about the kids, but also attributing to her great personality.

The first time we met was in our church. I was new there back then. When J was introduced to me, similar upbringing background helped us to have a good talk for about ten minutes. When it was time to go, J invited me and my family to her house for dinner.  I was pleasantly surprised and accepted her  invitation.  Since then, I trusted in her sincerity.

We take turns to serve the children at the church.  Sometimes we serve together. During the serving, J showed her caring character.  She takes care of the young kids with pure heart, which makes her own daughter feel jealous a lot.

During Church meeting, when we sit side by side, people usually ask, “Are you two sisters?” From their tone I guess J and I look similar in some way, either by looks or by disposition.  Either way, I am happy to hear they asking.

J and I are good friends, but first of all, we are sisters in the body of Jesus Christ.