Life in the States... still not "normal"

Well, in the past two weeks, we have been from China to Chicago to Indiana to Ohio to North Carolina and back to Ohio. We have been living out of suitcases and making huge decisions for our family. We visited the school that I will be working at, turned in more applications for Brian, were approved for renter's insurance, car insurance, are the owners of a Jeep and minivan, and tenants of an apartment in Charlotte. We finally got a couple of days for rest at my parents house, and yesterday we started going through all of our stuff in the basement. I wish we had time for a garage sale, but I think most of our stuff that we decide to get rid of will either end up in the trash or at Goodwill. Right now, we are making piles of stuff to take with us, stuff to get rid of, a "maybe" pile to take with us, and a pile to leave here until we have more space in a house (thanks Mom and Dad!). We promise not to leave too much stuff here. :) These are the times when I actually feel a bit envious of the migrant workers in China and around the world who carry their lives on their backs. It reminds me of Jesus not holding onto earthly things and not having a specific place here on earth to call home. I wonder why we have so much stuff, but then I am so thankful that we do have so much and don't have to go and buy everything all over again. The item I was most excited about was my crock pot! It will be used a ton this next year! The items I was least excited about were the boxes and portfolios of artwork and pictures from my years pre-digital photography that I have to sort through and decide if I want to keep or chuck them. Brian and I are both in "trash it" mode right now, which I think is a good thing, but I still have to sort through it! Brian sorted through tons of baseball cards over the last couple of days, and has brought his stash down to a couple of boxes. We have to do this all over again in Indiana with his stuff that is all stored in a storage unit at the moment, since his Dad is moving.

While I am excited to get settled, I am also a little sad that we are going to be away from family. It has been so nice to have Mom and Dad around... and taking care of all of us! Peyton LOVES spending time with Papa. She looks forward to him coming home everyday, asks him to give her baths and tuck her in at night. He spends so much time reading through stories with her and loving on her! Taylor gets her cuddle time in too whenever she can. Nana takes care of and spoils the girls everyday all day. She is so wonderful to them, and they LOVE her! They have her wrapped around their fingers. I am so thankful for such fabulous family - who love us, take care of us, and pour generosity on us!

As I have been looking at budgeting for this upcoming year, I am beyond thankful for Brian's sisters and all of the stuff they have passed down to us to use for our girls. Our budget will definitely be tight, so not having to worry about clothes and cribs and car seats, etc. is such a blessing!

Well, Brian and I have a night home alone, so we made some popcorn, have caught up on some random things like this blog, watched some magic show and are now watching America's Got Talent... yeah, we're pretty lame these days! Oh, and I have to mention how thankful I am for the amazing, beautiful country side here in Ohio. Love this weather and these skies!

In other news, Taylor is rolling over all the time now, talking quite a bit, and still not liking dairy. Peyton is talking A LOT, loves spending time with her Nana and Papa, and goes over to the neighbor's house every other day to get eggs from the chicken house and visit with the roosters. She waters flowers with her "sprinkle bottle," picks veggies from the garden with Nana, plays in her pool, and loves playing "Go Fish." She is definitely missing little friends though. We went to the play ground the other day, and she didn't know what to do with herself without anyone to play with her. Brian and I had to climb around on the slides and stuff to help her understand that it wasn't scary, but fun, and show her how to do some of the things. I can't wait for her to have some friends to play with! She snuggles with Taylor on the floor a lot when she is awake and playing on her play mat.

Well, that's it for now. I will try to get some pics on here at some point - just too lazy to do it right now.

Katie :)

Saying Goodbye...

I am sitting in the love seat in our living room, looking out over the apartments of a people who have changed my life forever over the past seven years. It is fitting that an airplane just flew over, as we leave for the airport in just 1 1/2 hours to leave this place indefinitely. The people here have impacted us in so many ways. Some good, some bad. It is most definitely a test of character to live here in Chengdu. Rules aren't really rules, people stare at you and tell you your children are not warm enough, and every now and then you are ditched by the old lady throwing elbows and yelling at every one in sight. However, as I leave here, I choose to remember those things as opportunities to grow in patience, kindness, and love. I think about all of the amazing adventures that Brian and I have had here, and I think about all of the people (Chinese and foreign - most commonly meaning North Americans) who have loved me and shown me so much grace as we have ventured these first seven years of our lives together. The tears have not hit me yet, and I wonder if that is because there is so much to do once we land on US soil again, or if it is just because I am so incredibly thankful for God's providence on this journey. He has brought us here, and he calls us "home." He guides our steps, and I leave this place with confidence that He will sustain us in everything. I have already witnessed this truth for the past seven years, and I look forward to seeing Him over and over again in the leading of our path.

We came here after being married for two weeks. We spent five years with no kids, traveling the amazing country of P.R. China. We poured our lives into this city and our school. We landed here without knowing a lick of Chinese. Our apartment was surprisingly beautiful. The city did not expand much past 2nd Ring Road. We rode our bikes everywhere - yes, even to the bulk market. We bought a scooter pretty quickly. We met lifelong family friends - some we already even knew from the States.

We made a ton of amazing memories in the middle of everything...

And now we leave a family of four with two beautiful little girls who bring us blessing beyond measure! We take one last long flight (hopefully for a while). We can hold a simple conversation in Chinese. The city has expanded beyond 3rd Ring Road. We leave our motorcycle and scooter for a motorcycle, Jeep, and minivan in the U.S. We say goodbye (but not forever) to our lifelong friends and look forward to catching up with the ones who left us long ago. We thank God for all that he has made us in our time here, and we move on...

I am thankful on this day, as I leave this land, not knowing if we will ever be back, or if I will ever see some of my dear Chinese friends again. I am thankful for the conversations held, the hearts poured out, and the way that our world views have been changed and remodeled. We leave here a very different people from when we came. Thank you, Lord! Thank you!