Some of my photography's going to be showing in Independence starting Friday. Drop by if you can. . .107 S. Main Street, Independence, 64050.

Lately, every time I open my email or facebook account I find another childhood or college friend is engaged, married, with child or has given birth. Besides making me nervous to open my internet accounts, with my 24th (25th in China) birthday looming in the near future (and yes, that is a hint...the 20th of March to be exact) I've started to worry that perhaps my life is substandard or dysfunctional on some level as I am single and definitely not pregnant. Naturally, I was much relieved to find that I have still not hit rock bottom. There's nothing else like someone else's absurdity to give your self esteem a boost.
Ananova.com:
Man marries himself
A Chinese man has married himself to express his "dissatisfaction with reality".
Liu Ye, 39, from Zhuhai city, married a life sized foam cut-out of himself wearing a woman's bridal dress.
"There are many reasons for marrying myself, but mainly to express my dissatisfaction with reality," he said.
"This marriage makes me whole again. My definition of marriage is different from others."
The ceremony was held at a traditional courtyard packed with more than 100 guests.
The 'couple' were led out by a bridesmaid and a groomsman and bowed to ancestors and senior guests for blessings.
Liu says he is not gay, but admits he's "maybe a bit narcissistic", reports New Express.

As one blogger on the faithful www.hangzhouexpat.com site commented, neither individual looks to pleased with the arrangement, but maybe they will fall in love eventually. Go figure. Wonder if it is legal in America.....secondly, how did the cardboard cutout bow to the ancestors. Thoughts?

My dear friend SiSi Jie introduced me to her friend's amazing blog (mostly filled with pictures because otherwise it would be in Chinese). She volunteers for a small school focused on both academic and spiritual formation and education. She, as a Christian, is in charge of most of the spiritual formation education. She is in the first few pictures, but otherwise it is a great view of rural Chinese life and school children. Something about it just lifts my spirit...hope it does the same for you! Peace