A Chapter Ends.

I've put off this post for a while. Mostly because Ryan's new job didn't have his computer ready for two weeks so he had to bring our only working laptop and internet-capable phone to work each day. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without the distraction of internet I got a lot more unpacking done and even started a daily tradition of reading for 30 minutes during the girls' naps. Yay for being 5 minutes from a library and house work taking SO much less time in America!

But mostly, it just seems so final. Our China chapter is done. There's so much to catch up on. So here it goes...

 After a week of packing and weighing and removing and repacking and too many goodbyes (TOO many...), we had our final dinner in Shanghai. Our last meal with this amazing group of people who became like family as we lived life overseas together. Our last tastes of yang rou char and the most amazing, fresh, thick yogurt with honey.

 The last dance on this stage. Not many restaurants can boast of one! ;)

 Our flight didn't leave until Friday evening, so Ryan took the girls out most of the morning so I could do the final packing and cleaning. Thankfully friends were going to move into our apartment, so we were able to leave a few things that didn't sell or get claimed as give-aways. So nice to have them willing to take care of it. Then, we made that final trek to the airport after teary goodbyes. It rained. Somehow that seemed fitting...

 And while we maxed it out at 8 maxed-out checked bags, a checked stroller, 2 rolling carry on suitcases, 3 backpacks, a diaper bag, a computer bag, and a carry on stroller, these two were still the cutest carry ons. ;)

Then, as we got there early to make sure all our bags got checked (thankfully there was no issue although a few were just over 50 lbs!), we had a lot of waiting to board our almost 10-pm flight. The girls did great all things considering, and mercifully slept for most of the flight. A couple who had just adopted a little boy graciously traded seats with us, so they could be all together in the middle aisle and we could occupy the very last 2 seat across seats on the side. Turned out to be perfect, as Ellie could lay across the two seats with me squenched on the ground in front of her. That way she could sleep comfortably and I could at least put my head on the seat and close my eyes, knowing she wouldn't roll off without rolling into me! But many many times I was glad this was our last 12 hour flight!

 After such a crazy flight, chairs for the girls to walk over and a strawberry smoothie was life giving.

 And at the end of the 30 hours or so of traveling, between three flights and three airports, having Ellie sleep on the last flight was such a mercy.

 Hadassah was more energized at the thought of seeing her grandparents and being in America. She told a stewardess very excitedly, "We're going to see my grandparents! First we're going to rent a house, then we're going to buy a house, then we're gonna get a pet!"

We were a bit crazy. But as we landed on Saturday morning and Ryan had to start work on Monday morning, we wanted to move in right away. My parents had wonderfully arranged the renting of a house we chose online, so we drove three hours (in four different cars!) to move in that day. But it didn't quite go as planned. We arrived and loved the house, though the first impressions of it were with girls who couldn't stop crying as we woke them up from their long car naps, and on jet lag it felt to them like the middle of the night. We discovered the water had gotten turned off because a leak had been detected and didn't have a wrench and couldn't find the valve in the mud. And my parents didn't arrive until almost 10 pm due to both of dad's back tires on his old truck SHREDDING, with him spinning around on the highway and ending up down in the median in the rain. But he was wonderfully okay. My mom was a bit behind so was able to stop and eventually find someone to replace the tires. It was all so so crazy. I told Ryan that if our first day was anything like what our life here was going to be, it was not a good sign!

So with no water and no parents there to help, we went to a hotel for the first night. It was comfortable, and the 24 hour Walmart provided food to eat when we were all wide awake at 2 AM on jet lag. Hadassah thought it was pretty funny to use a spoon as a straw for her yogurt. ;)

 The next day was much better, as we moved in with my amazing parents' help, and we discovered a lovely park just 2 minutes drive from home, against a beautiful blue blue sky...

 My sister who lives in town had brought over a ton of stuff her friends gave her for us (I'm still amazed at their generosity to people they didn't even know!) and also made a casserole to provide our first dinner in home on Sunday evening. With stuff my parents brought too, it was starting to feel like home.

 This chair was amazingly free from one of my sister's friends, and it has been SO comfortable. From bed time stories to cuddling jet lagged kids in the middle of the night, it has been a back saver!

 Then early Monday morning, Ryan was ready to go to work. First day at NASA. This man is seriously amazing. He did his first week still on jet lag, with long days learning things to craigslist pick ups in the evenings. He is incredible.

 And while unpacking plus jetlag plus girls ALSO on jetlag is NOT a good mix, it was aided a ton by our back yard. It's so easy to go outside. And our kitchen window overlooks it, so I can let them out as I do dishes. And tea parties are so much easier outside where I don't have to clean up the water they inevitably spill.

 Even amid the mess and stress of unpacking, with more whining and clinging that comes with jet lag, these two are such a bright spot amidst the chaos.

And having the help of grandparents all week was what made it possible. My parents stayed the first few days, then Ryan's mom arrived with her car stuffed full of wedding gifts we'd left stored in their basement. It's so nice to have a kitchen full of those amazing dishes and tools again! And we are enjoying this stroller friends in China gave (since elevator doors aren't wide enough for it there and sidewalks have poles on them preventing it from getting through!).

 We even found a park in OUR neighborhood, so perfect to walk to on warm evenings after dinner...

We truly love it here. What a wonderful, amazing blessing God has given to move us to this location of our dreams.

 And He keeps giving above and beyond! Mid way through the week we discovered that we had brought home an extra special gift from China! :D And yes, it gave me extra motivation to do as much as I could before morning sickness hit full force!

 We continued our letter-of-the-week fun the second week here, with treasure hunts for letter T made so much easier with our OWN back yard!

 And one of the best things about it is that the girls can go outside in their pj's! :) Our yard backs up to an open, empty field which adds a nice amount of privacy and nature. And yet we're just 5-10 minutes from so many stores and restaurants! It's crazy after being in China, where many things did NOT look appetizing, to pass so many things here that look delicious! ;)

 Our living room is great for twirls...

 And our yard has a little garden plot that Hadassah tends each day, pretending to water and dig and plant. Soon I hope to plant actual flowers and herbs to give her nurturing bent something to tend. :)

 We're swinging. OUTSIDE. Pretty much every day.

This one is LOVING all the outside time and being able to see grandparents more often, with them just a 3 or 4 hour drive away!

 There are wildflower bouquets given me,

 and picnics outside in the many green spaces around.

These two sweeties will continue to grow, and another will be added for them to embrace. Life is full and so so blessed.

We definitely do miss China. Especially the people. Goodbyes said on another continent are so much harder because there's no way of knowing if we will ever see those people again. Thankfully there are friends we know we'll see in heaven one day, but so many that don't have that assurance. We try to keep in touch, but it's not the same across the ocean....

But somehow "reverse culture shock" hasn't hit yet. Maybe because things are so much easier here. Laundry that was dirty that morning is clean and dry and in the closet again by noon. I hardly even have to iron as the dryer does it for me! My floors are not continually covered in dust so I don't have to sweep as often. The back yard and plentiful parks to drive to keep the girls happy and busy. And while the choices of what to buy can seem overwhelming, I'm loving the access to ALDI, the Walmart 5 minutes drive away, and the carts I can bring with kids and groceries straight to MY car waiting in the parking lot. No more struggling out the door with babies and bags in hand, hoping to find a taxi! And somehow, after a week of fresh air, Ellie's constant stuffiness, running nose and deep rattling cough disappeared. She'd had it for at least 6 months so it is pretty amazing (and wonderful!) to have it gone in a week!

I know there will be things we continue to miss. The cherry blossoms are full in bloom I've heard, and we're not there to see it. I miss walking 5 minutes over to my friends' house. We'll miss evenings discussing everything from politcs to parenting with our closest Chinese friends that felt like sister or brother despite the culture difference. As we've hardly gotten to know anyone as we're visiting a new church each week trying to find a place to land, the absence of community after having one so strong is especially hard. But, a new chapter is ahead. A new time to grow and connect and reach out. Only God knows exactly what it will look like.

And, as the China chapter ends, I'm bringing this blog to a close as well. It will stay online, and who knows, we may use it every now and then when we need a long post format. But with life just getting busier with a new baby on the way, and an ache for a more private life especially now that we're stateside, it's time. I'm relishing not being as connected online, with more time for reading and sewing and, hopefully soon, more in person connections. Of course I'll stay on email and Facebook and phone for long distance friends I definitely want to stay in contact with. But, at least for now, being an active blogger is a chapter that is ending once again.

To God be the Glory. Great things HE has done.

A Time to Say Goodbye

The time has come. We leave China on March 24th. We're moving back to America. Back home? In many ways, When I talk with Hadassah about this, she says "I'll miss our home" even though she is beyond super excited to think of moving to the land of her grandparents. She sometimes tells me she has trouble going to sleep at night because she thinks she hears suitcases zipping, and if I tell her that something is very exciting, she'll ask "Are we going to America today?!?" And we've talked about how, after a little while, our home in America will start feeling like home. She repeats that to me randomly throughout these days of selling and packing and preparing to move. 

But, this is it. Almost 3 years have passed, the three years we planned on being here. And while staying longer was always an option, we've both felt it was time for us to move. Time to establish a more permanent place to raise our family. Time to be closer to their grandparents. And God, in His gracious, amazing goodness, has provided.

We're moving to Huntsville, AL. 3 hours drive from my parents, 4 hours from his. I even have a sister there in town! And what an amazing place it will be. Everything happened quite quickly, when it happened. Ryan faithfully revamped his resume time and time again and applied to job after job for two months. Despite recruiters calling almost daily from random locations across the US, we stuck to our focus, and turned down any options that weren't in Huntsville. If God decided Huntsville wasn't the place, we had a timeline for exploring other options. But, in His grace, He has given us this location!!

On Wednesday, February 22nd, we met with some friends for our weekly time of sharing and prayer. There was nothing to report on the job hunt. Almost every application had been answered with silence. But, as most nights went, we stayed up late to do some more resumes. Ryan's been burning the candle at both ends in his desire to provide in the next step (he's amazing!). We finally got to bed, only to jump out again as we heard the phone ring at 11 PM. That 14 hour time zone difference means all of our important calls come in the middle of the night... It was someone in Huntsville! A job that matched Ryan perfectly! Could they do a skype interview? "Sure, I'm usually up early. 4 AM my time (2 PM there) would work some day." And we went back to bed, only to have a little trouble sleeping from the excitement. Turns out they wasted no time. Again, it was jumping out of bed at 4 AM when we heard the skype call on the computer. Ryan needs an award for how fast he put on a suit and sat down for an interview with coffee in hand!

They were impressed and immediately scheduled an in person interview for a week later. So we booked flights for him (that happened to be only $700 round trip - amazing price for China to US!) and he left Monday. He interviewed Wednesday morning, and got the job offer on Friday. And oh what a happy dance we did over video call (since he still wasn't home!). 

 Ryan got back on Sunday morning, after 6 whole days away. He arrived home to a sick family, and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the whole morning with our 45 minute-each-way church commute. I'd had a low grade fever for a few days, and Ellie was pretty congested. So Ryan prepared to go to church with just Hadassah. But Ellie wouldn't let him go. She clung to him after he put his shoes on, so I decided we'd all go, sit near the back, and leave early to avoid contagion. Ellie ran out the door after Ryan on his way to the elevator when I let her go. And she's had an extra special closeness to him since he's absence. She's always been more of a mommy's girl, but since Ryan was away, she's extra close to him. So sweet to see the love!

 We had what may be our last China date on Tuesday, thanks to friends babysitting. It may be the last, or one of the last times we ride the subway. With just 2 weeks 'til we leave, I'm realizing there are so many lasts...

After our date and the kids were in bed, we bought plane tickets and sent my parents info on the house that had stuck out to us in our searches for rentals online. We knew it might be better to look ourselves in person, but with Ryan having to start work 2 days after we get stateside and all of the craziness of jetlag, we just really wanted a place to land right away. This house kept sticking out, matching our requirements and even having extras like the paint colors in our bedroom and the kitchen being exactly what we'd painted our apartment here in China! The first time we'd told my parents we were considering this and a few others, they'd happened to be visiting my sister in Huntsville and had stopped by and looked at the outside. They gave positive reviews, so we said "this is it" and they immediately left (it was morning in America after all!) to try and get it before the 2-3 others that had house showings booked for that day. Have I mentioned how amazing my parents were? Making our dads our Power of Attorney while we've been overseas was also one of the best things we've done. With that document, they were able to get the house reserved for us, and we were able to complete it through an online application at our computer here in China. No problem that it was 2 AM... We were getting a house!

 I was tired the next day, but kept dancing around in a crazy excited way. Ellie laughed at me as she enjoyed her breakfast smoothie. ;) But seriously... It has closets! I told Ryan that living in an apartment in China - nice as this one has been! - has given me so much more appreciate for things. The kitchen is large. Granite countertops! The sink has a window overlooking the backyard. A backyard! With a fence! And a door from the dining room! A garage. 3 bedrooms. And wood floors! I am so excited and can't wait to move in. Even though we currently own almost no furniture in America. ;) But have I mentioned how amazing it will be live close to family? My sister in Huntsville has already found friends who are giving away a couch, a table, some shelves, and a recliner...  We'll be able to use again all of our wedding gifts (wonderful kitchen appliances and dishes!) that have sat in storage for  years. As we give away and sell things quite discounted here, I feel like God is blessing in return. And it has been an amazing journey to see Him provide.

And the location? 14 minutes from work. 12-14 minutes from two churches we're considering. 7 minutes from Walmart. 6 minutes from TWO thrift stores and a really awesome looking park. And a library. A library!! 15 minutes from ALDI and Hobby Lobby. Yes, I've been doing a lot of happy dances!

 So I've been bringing my camera more places recently. We've already captured so much of our life here, but I want to document every little thing. One day, our daughters will be able to look back and see where they spent their first 1-3 years, even if they don't remember much. They'll see the play place, with the cushioned stairs Ellie loves to climb...

 The ball pit Hadassah rolls around in...

 And the merry-go-around that makes Ellie shriek. :) I finally caved and bought the discount card to be able to go to this indoor play place once/week. It's a sanity saver through days of rain and winter cold!

 It's a place to play with friends...

 To climb and smile and get energy out when you live in an apartment on the 14th floor. ;)

 Then there's the day I'll want to look back and remember all of the shopping I did in Chinese... Thankful that at least the numbers are the same (though I'm constantly dividing everything by 6 still, to get the USD price!).

I'll want to remember the looks of "don't squeeze me to death!" though that will happen anywhere I know. ;) And yes, I know our cart looks super unhealthy. No vegetables. But all of those I still order online to be delivered to my door (they're safer/less pesticides, etc.). But the supermarket has better prices on bread and yogurt, and the occasional donut splurge. :)

 We had our last ballet "class" on Thursday. I've enjoyed teaching these girls (though with sickness and travel, classes have been sporadic!) but I have realized there's a reason I didn't teach 3 year olds before. ;) I enjoyed the experience, now know I can teach in my home, but may wait until my girls are a bit older before starting again. But still, it's just one more lesson learned in China. And oh how we will miss these sweet friends of Hadassah's...

Leaving friends will be the hardest. Two goodbye parties are scheduled for the 18th. And yet, there is so much to look forward to. Goodbyes are always hard. We've been closer to friends here than we may be for a while. Common goals and a foreign land does that to you. But there are a lot of "hellos" ahead. And I am excited about what God holds in the future!

Alabama Times...

 It's time to say goodbye again. Thankfully more wonderful time with family and friends is ahead, as we drive to Indiana tomorrow. But, we're saying goodbye to these Alabama family and friends for at least 6 months. Always bittersweet... But we have so many wonderful memories from the last 10 days! Tried to pare them down, but there are still a ton of pictures!

Walking our old road was still a highlight. Though the heat did get to us if we got out too late! But first thing in the morning with my big girl, still wearing pjs since it is so secluded, feet enjoying the sand, picking huckleberries and blackberries and teaching her how to get the sweetness from a honeysuckle... It doesn't get much better.

 My sister Maria and her girls came for the weekend - they were so sweet playing with both girls!

 Now there are TWO girls enjoying the swings! Every morning after breakfast you would usually find us here.

 Dad accompanied the girls and I on a trip to the park. So nice to have an extra pair of arms to hold one or the other!

 Little girl who likes to climb...

 Blue eyed baby in the old choo choo train...

 Ellie got more and more enamored by her grandparents as time went on. I loved the sweet smiles she gave them!

 Mom had already bought some cute clothes for the girls AND gave me multiple trips to thrift stores while she babysat one or both. Such a blessing! I shop for 6 months of clothes in the span of these brief weeks...

 Mom also babysat so we could have a double date with my brother Elijah and sis-in-law Megan. Olive Garden is the best. :)

 Both girls also enjoyed the trampoline. I am reaping the benefits of having to help dig the hole and cart the dirt from it away in wheelbarrows... Of course my siblings did most of the work, since I was only 8 at the time. But I love that my children can play safely on it now too!

 Board games were also a must. Ryan worked hard during the day, working remotely for his company in China, to make this extra trip possible. But he took a break here and there during nap times, as playing games with my family is a must!

Wagon rides with two are just that much cuter :)

 The toy room off of the kitchen is the best place ever, with all the classic toys we played with as children. And Dassah enjoyed this time of giving toys to TWO babies!

 Matthew and Ellie are just about 5 weeks apart, and as cute as can be! Matthew is the surprise 7th child of old friends and mentors of mine, and we were blessed by their company on Friday night. They even brought Moe's takeout so we didn't have to prepare or do the dishes!

We also had a drop-by picnic party on Thursday evening with many great friends stopping by, mostly previous ballet students and theatre participants. With the group there, talking, laughing, and playing frisbee, it didn't feel like it had been years since I used to see them on a weekly basis... We had so much fun, we forgot to take pictures!

 Saturday morning brought a trip to the zoo! Feeding the parakeets was a highlight this time!

 My parents have a great membership that gets grandkids and a certain number of extra adults in with them. It's always a fun time together!

All of the green in Alabama never failed to cause me to give thanks... God has made such beauty!

 Feeding and brushing the goats was another of Hadassah's favorite things ever! She loves animals, this one...

 And even Ellie got in on the fun!

 It's fun having two girls to enjoy the playground now too!

 Even if Ellie isn't quite big enough to swing by herself yet ;)

 This monkey was the friendliest we've ever seen. He kept hanging down right in front of us - such fun to watch!

 The zoo is never complete without a ride on the choo choo train!

Saturday we had a reunion of "the foursome" complete with spouses! Elijah and I and close friend Miriam and her brother Joel used to play together all the time growing up, but it had been years since we'd all been together. In the meantime, we all married and some even have kids now. Pretty crazy how time changes things.

But it was pretty cool how everyone just clicked, even though most of the spouses had never met. We had a lot of fun resurrecting the old game favorites, Taboo and Dutch Blitz!

Sunday we made just an "us" afternoon, after church with family in the morning. Hadassah's attitude was suffering after all of the get togethers and so many people she didn't know (but who knew her!) and less time with just mommy and daddy than usual. So after naps, we took things slow, enjoying the trampoline and swings, then picking up Arby's (miss that in China!) and taking it to a park complete with big geese to feed and a splash pad!

When we got home to get ready for bed, Dassah was thrilled to find Uncle Elijah and Aunt Megan waiting. We had to let her stay up just a tad longer, since she just wanted to snuggle with them. When we finally got ready for bed, she kept asking to give them one more hug, or one more kiss... How can you resist that? She loves them so.

Then we spent the evening up late, hearing stories from my parents about their time in Africa. Lots of laughter and "wow!" and realizing our "trials" in China in this modern age are nothing compared to their time in Africa in the 1980s!

Then today, I had the pleasure of the company of these girls for the morning. Once they were my ballet students and the children I babysat. They grew to be friends, costume design helpers and seamstresses, choreographers and teachers, and ultimately the ones I passed classes and leadership off to. Now they're in college and graduating high school and all grown up from little girls who did four twirls on stage. But what a blessing to still have them in my life, and in the lives of my girls!

Then it was packing and relaxing with family and more games. The car is loaded, and we leave first thing in the morning!