Monday, January 23, 2012

The Dragon




Today is the first day of Chinese New Year, and this is the year of the Dragon! Since our granddaughter us from China, our family usually has a party to remind her of her heritage. This year's party is this weekend, but here are a few pictures from ones a year or two ago. The second picture is a dragon cake we ate one year!! Dragons are deeply identified with Chinese culture.  To them, the dragon was a god, having power to make rain, control floods, and do most anything. In ancient China, no one doubted their existence. People showed great respect for dragons and they became the symbol of their nation. A dragon is made up of many animals, so is superior to all of them. People born in the year of the dragon are considered highly blessed, as the dragons represent optimism and hope. Can you think of two animals that we call dragons in modern times? They are the Komodo Dragon, and the Frilled Dragon! What a wild and wonderful world it is!!


“What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations. Oh, look—the deep, wide sea, brimming with fish past counting, sardines and sharks and salmon. Ships plow those waters, and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them. All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time. You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it.”
Psalm 104:24

33 comments:

Karin said...

Happy New Year to your little sweetie! It's so good that you plan parties to remind her of her heritage. Have a great week!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Ginny, That is so neat that your son and DIL are teaching Anne Marie about her heritage. As you know, George taught in China several times (before I knew him). He talks about the Chinese New Year--and educates me!!!!

Great post and pictures.
Hugs,
Betsy

Unknown said...

Happy New Year! Neat post! Thanks for sharing Joann

BlueShell said...

Happy New Year to you too.
How lovely ...and beautiful she is...
Thank you for sharing!
Hugs.
God Bless you.

SquirrelQueen said...

Happy New Year!
That dragon cake looks amazing and tasty. It is wonderful that your family does this to help educate Anne on her heritage. I love to learn more about different cultures. I was born in the year of the Rat which seems quite natural for the Squirrel Queen.

Reanaclaire said...

So nice of you to celebrate this special day with your grandchild.. over here, it is on a grand scale for the chinese... we give red packets with money inside to those who are unmarried.. :)

S. Etole said...

She is just the cutest little girl! Happy celebrating.

From the Kitchen said...

Have fun celebrating with your beautiful girl and take lots of photos. Love that cake!

Best,
Bonnie

Bobbie said...

I just love seeing pictures of your granddaughter, Ginny. She has the most precious smile... she always looks so happy! How nice that she will grow up knowing about her heritage. She is one lucky/blessed little girl!!

MadSnapper said...

she looks so sweet and precious in her pretty Chinese coat. the cake is a little freaky looking to eat..like it might bite.I always loved dragons in my fairy tales and stories when i was a child.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

That cake is incredible! How fun that you are celebrating!

Anonymous said...

Annie Marie is so cute. You all are blessed with such a beauty.
Glad to see you back. Missed you.
Jean in Memphis.

George said...

Thanks for this neat post to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Anne Marie is definitely a cutie in her traditional Chinese dress.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your little Granddaughter certainly does not look fierce like a dragon.It is such a good idea to have a special celebration for her,so she will learn what her heritage is.

FilipBlog said...

A happy New Year.

Greetings,
Filip

Lynn said...

Hi Ginny, Your granddaughter just is so darn cute. I love that your family has a party to honor your granddaughter's heritage. Hope over to my blog when you get a chance, I specifically said today's sunset pictures are for you! Tomorrow there will be the final two in that set when the sun truly sets in the "water". Blessings.

Ann said...

looks like you've had some excellent celebrations in the past, May this year be as special as all the others. Happy Chinese New Year to you

LV said...

A precious and such a pretty child. Nothing makes a better post than a little one. Trust the light is shining bright for you today.

Rose said...

I did not know all this about the dragon....learn something new every day.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Happy year of the dragon, to your Annie, Ginny!

Unknown said...

that is about the sweetest face I've ever seen - your granddaughter! How fun and special that you help her remember her heritage! Love your scripture verse too - God's Word is always fresh and new - thanks!

Lady Jane said...

Gee Anne Marie is the cutest little sweety... So glad you are keeping up with her heritage. That is very important and she will appreciatate it when she is older. Hugs to you all . LJ

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, Happy New Year to you and your family! How wonderful that you actively embrace your granddaughter's cultural heritage. Good! Have a great day tomorrow!

Marie said...

Happy New Year! Such adorable pictures and a wonderful, neat post!

LC said...

Anne Marie is delightful, and what a wonderful way to encourage a connection to her cultural heritage. Happy Birthday Anne Marie!

Tanna said...

It is a wild and wonderful world! Anne Marie is just too precious! blessings ~ tanna

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to share her heritage with little Anne Marie. Love these pictures, Ginny.

I visited an antique store and had my eyes open for any blue glass canisters....did not find any, only gold and pink today!

Fred Alton said...

That grandchild is beautiful! In my view, it's very important for her to understand her background and to know that she is loved like your son and daughter are teaching her. Do you every wonder if she may become a special emissary of Christ - possibly to her Chinese friends?

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

I haven't got a quilted top likee Ann Maire. i bought a thin black one, but it got too toght. LOL

We are having a celebration this Sat at Church.

Chatty Crone said...

Very nice you recognize her heritage. So I don;t know the story of her adoption. Are her parents still alive? She is so sweet. sandie

Reena said...

what a wonderful tradition to do with your granddaughter .. She's so cute!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

yes, we have people getting lost in our bush, usually tourist. Our weather changes a lot. It may be very hot during the day, at night, it the thick bush, people can die of hypothermia.

In December, when there was the sudden flood, a pair of Swiss young men, went over to look at the river, next thing, they clung on a tree for their loves.

DawnTreader said...

Somehow I missed this post, went back to look for it as you mentioned it on my blog... Wonderful idea I think for you to celebrate Anne Marie's Chinese heritage this way. I too always loved a good dragon story!

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