Three Month Reflections

   I was thinking the other day about how long it's been since I wrote here. And then it hit me. One fourth of our first year here is already gone! And I started to feel discouraged.  A fourth of a year and I still don't know any Chinese. I mean, I know how to ask how much something costs, but when they tell me the price I'm lost. I actually asked a little girl, "how much does it cost?' when I meant to ask her for her name. Duh!

   It's frustrating. I want to talk to my neighbors that I see all the time. I want to learn their names. I want to reassure them that I'm a normal person and I don't eat children.

   I have studied Spanish, Russian, and American Sign Language. Chinese is crazy. Thankfully I have a really great tutor whose English name is Abby. She is studying at one of the local universities here. She does so good at explaining her language to me in English, but I often feel my eyes glazing over and my brain freezing as I smile and nod.

Little Bear studying Chinese

   So I ask myself, what have I learned over the past three months? I've learned how to survive here in this "foreign" country. I've learned where to buy groceries. I've managed to feed myself and Little Bear gluten and dairy free in a land where I can't read labels. We've started to develop a routine. Little Bear is FINALLY sleeping through the night.

   So although I'm still far from conversational in the local language, I can see progress. I will be at peace with my learning process. I will press on.

Apartment Sneak Peak

   It hardly seems possible that we left the states over a month ago. And yet it seems like we've been in China for so long. The first ten days we were able to stay in our friends' house while they were out of town. I'm so glad we had that time to adjust and get over jet-lag.

Bonking on Petting our friends' very tolerant cat

   Since then we have been in a hotel. We've been living it up really, enjoying continental breakfasts and room service. Just kidding. But they do come and "clean" everyday and bring us fresh towels and a tiny roll of toilet paper.
   We are so thankful for the abundant grace we have been given to help us with this less than ideal situation.

Bath time!
I don't have to worry about him splashing since the shower drain is right there in the floor!

   We did find an apartment! We put a deposit on it, and we have the key, but we can't technically move in until we get our student visas and all the paperwork is signed and stamped by all the proper authorities. So we are able to spend most of the day over there, we just can't sleep there or we'll get in trouble. Hopefully within the next couple weeks we will be approved and we can move in and start to get settled. In the mean time we are working on getting "our" apartment ready.

Our new living room

   I love how bright and airy it feels. Living on the sixth floor with no elevator does have it's benefits; more sunshine, and less street noise and smells. We also have a lovely courtyard with real grass! We are looking forward to moving in and getting settled.

We Made It!

We are finally in China! After 48 hours of traveling it is wonderful to have solid ground under us again. Most of the trip went really smoothly with Little Bear sleeping most of the 13 hour flight. Once we got to Taiwan we were able to get a room in the airport hotel and get some sleep, a shower, and a couple hot meals. Unfortunately something in one of those hot meals did not settle well with Little Bear so we spent the last 12 hours trying to console his misery and clean up messes. Poor little guy, he is such a trooper. But we made it. And so did ALL our bags! We are so thankful to be here.

(This post is a little late now, but getting internet is a little bit of a hassle here.)

Goodbye Is Not Forever, It Just Feels Like It

Today we finally leave for China. Woohoo! I'm so excited! We are finally going! This is what I have dreamed of doing since I was a little girl. This is the life Mr. Adventure and I have planned on since we met. This is what we have spent these last two years telling so many people that we are going to do. This is my dream. And I am living it.

Oh but I hate saying goodbye. I'm so sad to be leaving you. You are my family and friends. We may have cried together, or held back the tears. But they were there. I may not have said much because I stink at goodbyes. But what I really want you to know is that I love you. Our lives have been made richer by the time we have spent together, and I will treasure the memories that we have made.

Thankfully these are not the days of William Carey or Adoniram Judson whose mothers dabbed tears from their eyes with lacy white hankies as their son or daughter sailed away on a rickety wooden ship knowing they would never see them again on this earth. That's dedication my friend. Wow. I am so thankful for modern technology! We can stay in touch so easily through Skype, Facebook, emails, FaceTime, phone calls, and many other apps or social networks. It's not the same as actually being together, but it sure helps.

Those Who Stay Behind

You see us in Conferences with our colorful displays and presentations, and you think, "Wow, they are really doing something great. What a grand adventure!" But do you ever think of those who tell us goodbye? Grandparents, sisters, brothers, cousins, parents, friends. They let us go, not knowing when they will see us again or how often we will even be able to talk on the phone. They miss us, worry about us, and may even fear that we are endangering our lives. Do they want us to go? No. Do they want us to obey and serve the One Who left all for us? Yes. Do they think we may be a little bit crazy? Probably. But they love us, support us, hold the ropes, do their best to share our excitement, and ultimately trust us into our Father's hands.

Mr. Adventure is out in the wilderness teaching a survival course for the next two weeks so Little Bear and I are spending the time with my family. As the time approaches for us to fly out to China, I am so thankful for a few weeks to be together. We are cherishing every moment.

Happy times with Grandad

My dad was diagnosed with Lymphoma this past December, and is undergoing chemotherapy.  He is responding well to the treatments. We are trusting the Great Physician, and enjoying the time we have together.

Loving on Nana

Playing with cousins. 

I think they had more fun showing him how to play with their old baby toys than he did playing with them. :) Little Bear may not remember these times, but they certainly will. I am so privileged to have such a loving supportive family. Thank you for letting us go.

Sleeping Like a Baby

Sometimes I wish I had counted how many different beds we have slept in over the past two years. Hundreds, I'm sure. It doesn't bother me really. I can sleep just about anywhere. I definitely would fail the princess and the pea test. Put a pea under my mattress and the only thing that will change is the pea. Just don't mess with my pillows. Mr. Adventure gets a little embarrassed and annoyed that I have to haul my pillow into every hotel, prophet's chamber, and pastor's house. Especially when I was very great with child and insisted on bringing my giant body pillow with me everywhere as well. A girl's gotta get comfy!

He looks so peaceful doesn't he? Sleep is a rare and beautiful thing. Somehow I was under the delusion that babies did a lot of it. That was before Little Bear came along. I have since concluded that sleep is for teenagers and old people and the rest of us don't need it. Especially babies. OK, maybe some babies do it, but not mine. He's too much like his father. After all, who wants to sleep when you could be playing? Ooo, pick me!

 "We can sleep when we're dead." -Mr. Adventure

Between going to bed in a different place every few days, crossing timezones constantly, staying up late for meetings, acid reflux, and teething I'd say it's understandable that Little Bear has trouble sleeping. Not having more than a couple hours of sleep at a time for months on end is exhausting for me. I really struggled for a while. Until I found that Grace that is sufficient. But I am learning that instead of begging for a good night's sleep, I simply need to ask for grace to be patient with my baby when he needs me at night. He truly is sufficient. Yes, I'm still tired. But that's OK, someday when I am old and not needed anymore I will sleep. Today, I will just enjoy every moment I get to be with my Little Bear.