On February 22nd we picked up our Special Girls at the Stake Center.  They were part of the youth dancers and musicians of the Young Artists of China.  They are from the China Secondary Art School of the Art College of Inner Mongolia University.   Most of these performer are ages 16-20, ours were 17.

On Thursday we saw them perform at the DeJong Concert Hall.  This number is The Rice Bowl Dance.  They have four bowls on the top of their heads while they dance.  The bowls are very heavy.  They left me their bowls and I tried it.  It’s hard to walk with them let alone dance with them.  The bowls are wrapped with tape in case one of them fall off.  No one dropped theirs that day.

While finishing their high school requirements, they attend classes at the university and are preparing for entry into the elite art college, of this Art College that preserves Mongolian culture and music.

The fourth gal from the left is one of Our Special gals.  She is very cute and it was fun to hear her talk.  She would hardly say anything at the house, but when we got her in the car, it was fun to hear her talk in her native language.  Cute dimples!

She is one of Our Special gals.  She is very pretty.  Notice the detail in the customs.

These gals come from homes with only one child.  China does not allow more then one child.  They love their parents and would do anything for them because their parents sacrifice a lot for them to be able to attend the university.

This is a picture of the back of the headdress, notice the detail .

Most of the youth board on campus, especially if their family lives a nomadic life on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia.

This gentleman is called a Throat singer.  Throat singing or overtone singing is a Mongolian art that consists of a person who can change the shape of their mouth, larynx and pharynx to create more than one musical pitch at a time.  He is a professor at the University and is 25 years old, he is an amazing Throat singer.  The Horse Head Fiddle is one of the most important instruments of Mongolian culture.  The two strings and the bow are made with hair from a horse’s tail.

Last Sunday he, along with the choir and other musicians performed with the Tabernacle Choir.  After the Tabernacle Broadcast was over they let them perform a few more numbers.  When the Throat Singer started to sing all of the men in the choir moved to the front of their chairs and when he was through they gave him a standing ovation.  All the the performers got standing ovations, they were very good.

The CCTV Galaxy Children’s Choir.  The choir comes from Beijing, the capital of China and they sang at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.  The choir performs across China, as well as internationally.  The specially-selected group visiting Utah has 31 singers, ages 8-14, who qualified because of their academic standing and singing ability.

After the broadcast Lloyd D. Newell said that his ten year old daughter had her tonsils out on Thursday and the choir had heard about it.  On Friday four of the girls from the choir showed up on his doorstep and sang some numbers to his daughter.

On Monday night when they got here, we had dinner then LaDawn taught them how to play Uno, they learned really quick even though they spoke Mandarin, their native language.  They spoke very little English but we connected heart to heart.

LaDawn became their friend.  We would take them shopping.  They loved shopping, especially places that were cheap.  LaDawn helped them pick out a few thing for their parents.

When the final day came and they were ready to get on the bus to take them to the airport we got to visit with the Throat Singer, I told him that John loved his songs and he sang a few notes for him.  It was amazing to hear two to three notes come out of his mouth.  He posed with us for this picture.

While in Utah they performed at:  The Tabernacle, Cottonwood High,  BYU, and many other places.

The final day came and we had to let Our Special Girls go home.  With much love, tears, and appreciation for the opportunity we had in hosting these girls we took them back to the Stake Center to get on the bus that would take them to the airport.  The love and bearing of  gifts, along with their talents that they brought into our home, money can’t buy.  We are so glad that we could be a host family to these girls and would recommend it to all.

Coming back from a shopping trip to Park City on the last day, I took this picture of the back side of Timp.  I love snow especially on the mountains.  It’s amazing how beautiful Gods creations are, From The Grasslands of Inner Mongolia to The Timpanogos Mountains of Utah!

BYU vs. Utah

and of course

BYU WON!!!

Enjoying the game on a little TV…

haha… just kidding MOM

We love your TV!

Michael praying BYU pulls through!

Ethan and Jordyn

check out the video of the winning touchdown

After the game we all went to the movies

we saw a really good movie… The Blindside

Love ya!

Thanksgiving Dinner

A  Graves favorite: Coconut Cream Pie

A new favorite: Stuffed Mushrooms

Pretty Jo, enjoying the appetizer

It’s always a great time when we are able together!!

Thanks for another great Thanksgiving!

John and I as we venture off to the Riviera

Ready to sail the ocean Blue!

Left to Right:  Vern, Chuck Marilyn, Dennis and John.

Puerto Vallarta

Here we swam in warm water and had many come and ask us to

purchase their items.

The movie The Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger was

filmed in Puerto Vallarta.

Our Ship The Carnival

The Catholic Church in Mazatlan

“John diving off a cliff  in Mazatlan!”  Just kidding, it was

a native diver that does that all day.

The Arch in Cobo San Lucas.

Beautiful Arch with a beach east of it where we went swimming.

Ellen, Pandi, and Chuck at Cobo Wabo restraunt owned

by Sammy Haggar lead singer and a guitar player for

Van Hallen.   The food was very good.

Each night we had an animal made out of towels

placed on our bed.

Our group of friends that traveled with us.

Michael The Judge at age 2 1/2 months

Michael the Cow Boy age 5 years

Michael The Race Car Driver age 13

Happy Birthday Michael We Love You

Michael always makes us Laugh and We Love Him For That!

Amy

September 7th

Marissa

September 18th

Continue to watch for more pictures of the progress