Kids, Spring, Movies, and Yogurt!

I have now been here for over a week. Some days, it feels like I just got here {so, it feels like it should} other days,  I feel like I've been here for a nice long time already!

Lots has happened, and I should get into my 'Little Things' again just so I can help keep track! {I am suppose to be keeping a daily three line journal too and that's not going so well. At least if I write in one of them, this or the book, I could update the other better, now and again.}

I will have to just let some photos tell the stories for now! 

I went on a walk with the Primary school kids class. It was 6 of the 7 kids, as well as Effie,me and an Ayi. Oh, and Stevie the dog. 

Brody! Gotta love that face! He is one of the most 

stylish little men I know! Always ready with a high

five or a hug! 

Lily is absolulty amazing! I am really 

excited that I get to live here, just down the

hall from her and get to know her more!

Practice for Childrens Day, which is June 1st

has begun. 

Dancing, dancing! 

It's gonna be fun!

SIAS had things like Culture Week that I got to

help with, here, we have Holiday parties

and celebration dances!

All dressed up with nowhere to go. 

I had been planning on going to a conference of

sorts, but last minute, as things are apt to do here,

the plans had to be canceled. The text came in to me

just as I had put the finishing touches on my makeup.

What are ya gonna do? 

Spring is here! And in such a pretty way! If these flowers don't tell 

you what time of year it is, then my congested nose, hacking cough, 

and disappearing voice nestled in a sore throat

should help identify it!

Tonight we went to see "The Jungle Book" in 3D. It was fun!

The movie was good {Yes, in English} 

Darker than the cartoon for sure. 

It was nice to get to hang out with many of the other 

staff members here. 

I got to have dinner with Effie at KFC. 

We did a little shopping after and I got some instant curry packs! 

{Effie made me one the other day and it was SO GOOD!} 

And we ended the night with frozen yogurt! 

That's all for now! More to come at a later date!

From sea to shining sea

What is up peoples?! 

Im back!

Back to blogging,

Back to China

Back to Shepherd's Field

Back to having to figure out  new things in this thing that I call my life!

Lets take a step back here. 

Before leaving the country of my birth, I was given the blessing of 

visiting with some amazing friends in California. I always find it cheaper to 

fly to China through the West Coast. And I have the great fortune of knowing really 

great people in the great Sunny State of California. 

Along with being able to see two of the teachers that became such a needed 

support for me while I was at Sias that first year, I got to spend some time on the ocean

side, just me and Father. And I got to stay in bed till whenever! haha!

They are such a fun couple to be around, and have never made me feel like the third wheel.

Thank you B and R for being such a great example of a loving married couple! 

You two are too cute, with your nicknames, notes and kisses before you drive. 

I love you two!

I love where B and R live!!! 

I could so get use to doing my 17 miles a week again

if I had this to walk along every week!

Hey guys, why didnt we take any pics together? That was dumb! :( 

The week before I left for the start of this journey, I had been telling Mum that

I was going to really miss driving once I moved to the other side of the world. 

She had said she could help me get my fill since we were down to one car and 

the schedule was full! {Ain't she the best?} 

Sorry Mum, you got topped! 

In order to go from staying with my SIAS friends to staying with my BMH friends, I had get down

the coast. Last time, I took  the train. But it got stuck on a hill and took a lot longer than it should have, I looked into it again, but we decided to instead look at renting a car. Turned out to be less expensive to rent it and I could decide the route and could stop along the way if I wanted and and and. It just all seemed like a better idea. So I put a hold on a hold on a four door five person car online. However, I stupidly put the check out time for 9am. We didn't get there till 11:30, sure that Alamo held their reservations for 12 hours. They hold them for 2. We had just missed the deadline and they were out of cars they could rent to me! :( But then, they said that they would check and see if there was anything else instead. Rather apologetically he said that they only had one car left.

"Do you mind a mustang?"
He queried.
I tried to look unphased and agreed that it would be fine.
He then went on,
"Well, it is a convertible! That should be fun for driving down the coast, right?!"
Just as he was getting ready to check it out to us {He though that B and R were going with me,
and when he mentioned convertible mustang they wished they were!} he noticed that I was
not making the trip back but instead dropping it at their LAX location.

"The mustang isn't one that can be left at another location"
he informed me sadly.

"Oh well, we can bend the rules this time and make an acceptation!"
Again, I was trying to play it cool and make it look like I did this kind of thing
all the time so that he would not feel bad about giving me a soft top mustang. But
upon hearing that not only would I get this awesome car, but really he wasn't suppose to rent it
to me given my needs, I really did nearly fall over!
The car was gorgeous people!

I couldnt get over it! I was allowed to not only get in this thing, 

but DRIVE it all the way from Monterey to Los Angeles. 

I didn't drive it with the top down much, cause I put my suitcase in the back and I wasnt sure how that would work out with driving on the highway. It was a tight squeeze, but I wasn't complaining! 

See that blown away look I got going on. Yeah, it was still sinking in that I 

was the proud temporary owner of a Mustang! 

If I had known I was getting a mustang when i woke up, I would have dressed more like a mustang owner and less like a compact car owner the way that I did. Lesson learned. Always dress for the car you WANT to rent! ;) 

It was a very long drive to LA, and I got lost once I got to the city since I had really only gotten the directions TO the city and not to my friends house! Cause Im brilliant and all ya know.
I was pretty proud of myself for getting down there without a GPS, but that all blew up in my
face as I sat in the Warehouse district, in a 2015 Mustang, at a gas station, nearly in tears that I
had made it so far but was probably going to destroy the car in the city traffic and not make it to
my next destination.

No need to fear though, my friends talked me through it and I made it not much later than I expected.
{I had been told it was a 6 hour trip give or take, without any stops and with light traffic. I stopped
many times along the way, got lost, and still made it there in like 8 or so I think it was}

For the next few days, I got to send time with some of my longest and dearest BMH friends.
One couple I have not even seen since their wedding years ago and they are now the proud parents of two young boys!
She was the first BMHer I met, actually. She came to my house
all the way back in 2008 as a tour stop and gave presentations at 3 different
brick and mortars.

I took this knowing my younger brothers would get a kick out of it

We went to the local Botanical Gardens and they

happened to have a special display going of Lego creations!

The boys thought these were real! At first they were a little scared of them.

Can y'all say awwwww

Palm trees are my happy trees. Gotta love a place that grows palm trees!

My friends live in the coolest places!!

I mean look at this! 

I don't even go to Lake Michigan all that often, 

but I know it is ALWAYS freezing so I just 

assumed that the ocean would be the same way.

It was surprisingly warm, actually,...well no, I guess

warm is not the right word. Surprisingly not freezing. 

I walked out into it a bit and let the gentle 

{it was actually gentle at the time!} 

tide splash waves on my feet. Made me think

of the year that I was in Yantai and took a scared little boy out into

the ocean to swim. He clung to me and didn't like being out very far,

but he did enjoy sitting on the edge and playing in the water.

Tommy was so little then! That was the first wave of 

"Oh my goodness,I am going to miss my family so much" that hit me!

My flights went pretty uneventfully. I even was able to get wifi for the longer of the two flights,

though it cut out  a couple hours before the flight was over. It was still pretty awesome. 

I was in a plane, soaring thousands of miles above land, making a trip of thousands of miles

and yet I could still log onto facebook! lol!

I have now been here at SFCV for less than 48 hours. When I am not occupying myself

with something, I am actually finding the jet lag getting to me! 

My roommate is a friend from camp, and it is so nice to not only get to catch up

but room with someone I know! One of the things I really love about it, is that she hardly

ever speaks English to me! And even times when I do speak English

she will often answer in Chinese, or repeat what I said in her tongue cause she knows

I said it cause I didn't know how to yet. 

I have been allowed to take the weekend to get settled and not have to work. 

Then Monday morning, I will head to the school at 8:30 to start as a teacher....of some sort!

I was talking with the head teacher and she was saying that she thought she might have me teach the older kids English. However, for now I will be helping with preparations for a performance 

on June 1st, which is Childrens Day.  There is so much to get ready. She said she was very glad that I was here when I am so that I can help with it. 

There was even talk of me helping with the English MC position and

singing a song as well to celebrate. 

We shall see how this all pans out and what I end up doing. 

Monday is the day!! 

It is strange to be here and 

1. No Tommy!! 

2. Know that this is not temporary.
This is now home!

WOW

I serve an amazing Father who has placed in my heart a dream to be here....and

then He gave me that dream come true not long after placing it there. 

I really hope to be an important part of the team here and that I can prove

to them all that it was a good choice bringing me in. 

In some ways, I feel like the new teen in school, on the night before the first day of high school

going "Oh I sure hope they like me!" 

Thank you to everyone who has gotten me here! 

I love you all! Please keep the buzz support up!

I have a DATE!!

No, not the dinner and a movie kind of a date. I have a departure date!

With the addition of one or two more supporters, I have come to the decision that, while I am still not 100% funded for my journey, it is time to take a leap of faith and get going. {I am, in fact, about 85% on my support, needing only $75 more per month.} Armed with that knowledge, I purchased my tickets, put in my notice at work, and began all the last details for the move. This included telling Tommy, who has approved of my going only because 1. I promised we will still see each other on Skype {Just like David, Lisa, and Isaac, he said} and 2. the kids at his former home will be glad to have me there.

When is this departure date, you ask? 

April 5^th. 

Yes, you read that right! Just one month away! 

That, at least, is my farewell America day, as I will be leaving Michigan on the 30^th of March in order to visit friends and supporters in California. 

OH.MY.GOODNESS!!!

I love that I finally get to go and start all of this and that this dream is finally coming true. At the same time, I do have to admit that I am emotional about leaving and saying goodbye. Right now, I talk more about going than I do leaving. {Yes, they are different}

Like I said, I am still $75 a month away from being fully supported. If you would like to help me, and you feel led to be a supporter of my life in Tianjin China, you have OPTIONS!

Checks may be sent to my family home in MI, where 'Houston' 

{my home-base helpers, i.e., Kade and Mum} will deposit it in my back account.

Send it through paypal using the email address – sajmakii@hotmail.com

If you would like to be a monthly supporter, please contact me so that I am aware that you are helping me filling those last spots! :)

One time gifts are of course also such a blessing, and I thank everyone who has been so generous in helping me with all of this in every way! Praying, contacting me, and sending money is all more than I could ever say!

If you would like to keep up to date with the goings on of this Ozzie in China, please check back here to see updates.

I also will be sending out email updates. If you would like to be added to those as well, please send me a private message, or an email at jiejiecarm@gmail.com so that I can keep in touch that way!

In China, texting me is also possible through an app on my kindle. I have an American number from which I can both send and receive texts. If you would like that number, please send me a message so I can get it to you!

Once again, thank you so much for joining me on this!

All my love!

Carm-Ozzie-AnYaHui

“I said 'Use me' He said 'CHINA!'”

Look at me, I'm adulting!

{For those who do not wish to read the 'backstory', please scroll to the end of this to see a bullet list version}

I read a quote today from Susan B Anthony that said:  

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."

And to that I say, well Miss Anthony, you would have to distrust me then, because I know very well at this point what it is that the Lord wants for me to do. And yes, it does coincide with my own desires, but to that I say 

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  Psm 37:4

I've said it befor, 10 years ago, I didn't want to go to China. I didn't have the desire to work with orphans! Sure, travel sounded nice, but moving to a far away place and leave all I have ever known? Not on my radar really. Sure I was WILLING to do it, in the same way people are often willing to help a friend in another state move! You would do it if you could, but hey, you're not there so you know they are not going to call on you to help....its the thought that counts though, right?

But when I stopped trying to do what I wanted and just delight myself in the Lord, look for what HIS eyes saw, that is when I wanted China all of the sudden. And no, you are not the only ones who think that these things come up in my life out of the blue and without warning. 

Making this sort of a blog post at 11 at night is never a good idea for me and yet I do it often! 

I am excited about this. Its true! This is my dream job, I am doing what I know the Lord wants me to do. But to say that I am doing it tearlessly, without fear, without any bit of sadness, would be a lie. I want to get that out there too. I need prayer! Thomas has only been home for three months and I am already going to be leaving. Kade, my other half, is just getting into her PTA program and will graduate and become a wonderful aid to the hurting after I have left, My older brother and sister are going to have another baby in August. Kat is going to turn 20 and has some big plans for her year. LeyLey just turned 18 and has started her own business with her best friend. Sam has graduated now, and the last time I left he grew five feet! 

My parents aren't in China. 

My best friend is not in China. 

My MI {and MI area} friends are not in China. 

Yankee Candle isn't in China. 

BUT:

I am 31, not 13. 

I have some great friends in China, and look to make more!

I will get to work with Children. 

I have been studying for this now for two years!

and most importantly, as with every time before:

*I*m not going...The Lord is sending me. 

He placed this desire in my heart.

He provided me with the position. 

He is moving the mountains in my way

He is going to take care of me and my heart. 

He will be glorified. 

So that tells you I'm scared.....but maybe some of you don't know about what!

Long story short, if you have read this blog before, you know that I fell in love with a place called Shepherds Field Children's Village in  TianJin China, which is outside of Beijing. The first time I walked through the doors, I felt I had found my new home. The second time I arrived, I was loathe to leave and managed to stay a week longer than previously planned. 

In mid December, I wrote to the director to ask if he might consider me for a future/summer time internship with the idea that I also be then thought of for a full time volunteer staff spot. In early January, after a 1:30 am Skype interview, I was told I 'got the job'. They are in need of a Preschool teacher, as well as odd jobs and such in the office and the like {all those working at SFCV 'wear many hats' as it was put in my interview.} While I had been thinking this summer was a good goal, they asked that I come as soon as the money was in order to begin. 

EEEKKKK

Shepherds Field, while they would like to, is not able to pay their foreign staff. They {and soon I will be able to say we} all work as volunteers and must raise their own support. Though I have had many dissenting reactions from those who have heard I will be 'working for free' {these reactions have not been from family! Just from those who do not understand the situation,...or me!} I would have no problem working my butt off and having no money at all.  Problem is, that doesn't really work. Don't get me wrong, I am going to work my butt off, and there will not be a paycheck, but money is still going to be needed! I have must find supporters to keep me over there. {I have had a few friends suggest that they feel they should NOT give me any money as it will keep me in the States instead} 

As of this moment, I have supporters totally a little over $100 a month already in place. This means I need either 20 more people who can send me $20 a month, or 10 people who can send me $40 a month. 

Asking for money is not an easy thing. 

I know that there many worthy and good things that you could send your money to! I ask that you speak with Father, to see if this endeavour is one in which He would lead you to join. 

If you are not able to back me financially, please please please back me as one of my prayer warriors! As much as I love China and love the kids, there are going to be obstacles! 

Pray:

That I would remain in the center of the Lords will at all times. 

That I would listen to Him, and be willing to follow where He leads.

That the money would be there when I need it. 

That I will stay faithful and trusting, not to worry. To always remember that His timing is perfect!

My back: My doctor tells me the disease has slowed and I am not degenerating at the same speed anymore. While this is great news, I will be working with little kids and know this is going to take a toll on my back. I still have daily pain which the Lord is always faithful to give me the strength to handle, and I know He holds the future of my back and my walking!

My heart. While I am going to love what I am doing, I will be missing out on a lot of things here in America! Having 2 homes on earth is a double edged sword! 

My allergies. I have them pretty well under control but they are my constant 'back of the brain' companion. Not knowing what could cause me harm at any moment means being a bit more vigilant....and I am not always the best watchdog! :)  

On a side note...this means I will not be at Bring Me Hope camp in the summer. This too, while I knew was bound to happen at some point, has been a bit rough on me. The saying is 'When God closes a door, He opens another one' but there is also the reality that when a new door opens, even if it is the door for whose key you have been searching, other doors and windows must be closed in order to go through! 

I can not say thank you enough to all of my friends and family 

who have been so incredibly supportive! 

I know I do not do this on my own, and it would not be possible

at all were it not for the fact that I have a team of people

who, no matter what side of the world I am on, are able to help pick me up

whether that is figuratively or literally! 

Should you wish to support me monetarily you can choose whichever method is easiest for you!

Paypal is sajmakii@hotmail.com 

Checks can be sent to my parents home address. 

If you wish for more information, or want to let me know you will be joining my 

support team {In prayer or other means} you can contact me at jiejiecarm@gmail.com or on Facebook 

Thank you all!

OK, for those that didn't want to read all those words! :)

What are you doing?: 

Moving to China

Departure date still unknown, aiming for Mid/End March

Non-paid/volunteer position at Shepherds Field Children's Village  

Working as a Preschool teacher, and helping in the office.

What do you need?: 

Need $500 a month from supporters for living expenses {my room and 2 meals a day are provided}

Must make a visa run outside of the country ever 90 days. Est. cost $500 per trip. I hope to save from my monthly supporters to cover this cost. 

25 supporters at $20 a month needed 

One time gifts for visa trips, savings, and other expenses needed/welcomed 

Paypal info: sajmakii@hotmail.com 

Checks can be sent to my  parents home address.

What will you do to keep me updated?:

Email updates with photos and stories will be sent. 

Should you wish to be added to this list, please send me a note at:

jiejiecarm@gmail.com 

I will be updating my blog with photos and stories. 

What do I need to pray:

That I would remain in the center of the Lords will at all times. 

That I would listen to Him, and be willing to follow where He leads.

That the money would be there when I need it. 

That I will stay faithful and trusting, not to worry. To always remember that His timing is perfect!

My back: My doctor tells me the disease has slowed and I am not degenerating at the same speed anymore. While this is great news, I will be working with little kids and know this is going to take a toll on my back. I still have daily pain which the Lord is always faithful to give me the strength to handle, and I know He holds the future of my back and my walking!

My heart. While I am going to love what I am doing, I will be missing out on a lot of things here in America! Having 2 homes on earth is a double edged sword! 

My allergies. I have them pretty well under control but they are my constant 'back of the brain' companion. Not knowing what could cause me harm at any moment means being a bit more vigilant....and I am not always the best watchdog! :) 

Milkshake

Even though I haven't started back to work yet, I have officially been hired back and so I am an employee. As such, my boss called the other day to tell me that I could come in and bring whomever I wanted to the employee sale days!! Mum and Dad will need little gifts to take with them to China for all of the people who will help them during the final stages of this adoption process. Because YC is made in the US, it makes for the perfect gift to give! 

While we were out, I stopped to get milkshakes at Steak N Shake. I had a buy one get one free coupon and wanted to treat my Mum, as she is always going above and beyond for everyone, both in my family and outside of it! She got a Caramel Apple Milkshake and I got a S'mores! 

THEY WERE SO GOOD! 

As much as there are days when I {already} get homesick for China and all of that life,

I have really been enjoying the little blessings of being able to talk to my family whenever

and about whatever. Not only talk, but spend time with, do nothing with {There has been a lot of 'Chuck', 'Star Trek Voyager', 'Call the Midwife' and 'Burn Notice' being watched!!} and

make plans for more exciting things. {Its also really great to finally be on this side of the adoption stuff and get to find things out the same time, in the same way as everyone else in the house!} 

Today was a good 'Mom' day! We talked a bunch and I got to hang out with her when we 

took the trip to get the candles. I may be 31, but a girl still needs her Mum!

#ItsTheLittleThings

Little things again

I was going to start back to this on the first Monday of the month, trying to get myself back on track as far as posting. Alas, as you can see, I muffed that one!! haha! However, seeing as how Monday was a holiday I could say it technically counts as a weekend and NOT the beginning of the week...so....yeah? haha. I also really didn't do a whole lot yesterday, not that today was any mammoth milestone of a day! 

We had hoped that today would be my first day back to training at Yankee, but my employee number has still not come through so it will have to wait until next Monday. Means an extra week to just try and tackle the heaps and heaps of things I left behind. I am trying to be ruthless, throwing/giving away or selling anything I can do without, that I haven't thought of all year in China, or that I just know is silly to keep. This evening I started a Facebook yard sale in order to relieve the space of some of my things and try to earn some money for my return trip and life in China. I still have lots to post on it and I am hoping to be able to add things for many weeks as I continue to go through everything and learn more about what my return will look like etc. 

The temperature has gone back up, which has been great in my opinion! I am not ready to let summer go just yet! I love that I can walk out in my bare feet to take the trash out, and yet not feel even so much as chilly! 

For over a week I have been trying to get a quilt pattern for a friend of mine. The first time I couldn't seem to find it, and then once we finally did it wasnt open. Again then, Mum and I went yesterday. but of course it wasn't open. Today I went in and YAY, it was open and I got what I came for. Then, ended up staying for like 30 minuted talking to the guy whos wife owns the shopppe! It was kinda fun! 

Friday, I went across the street to a neighbour's house when I saw her out. I got to introduce myself as I knew she had met my family while I was gone. She has a cute-a-bug one and a half year old which was one of my excuses for going over. The biggest reason....she is Chinese and I so wanted to be able to use Mandarin. We talked for five or ten minutes, all in Chinese which was awesome! I understood everything she said, and she seemed to have no trouble with my language either. In the end, we both said how close our homes were and that we should head to the others house when the desire to speak something other than English struck! She is here with her husband and son, but knows few other people and is often very lonely, I gather. "Everyday, we are here, just him and me. Nothing to do. You are always welcome" was what she told me. 

Saturday, us girls struck out and got to the farmers market. after which we stopped in at another produce stand. Mum has been making meals with the Goliath of a broccoli we found for only three dollars! I LOVE IT! First corn on the cob I have had in a long time....which is silly seeing as how there is a street vendor for them right outside the gate of SIAS! 

Sunday I went to the Mandarin speaking Church down the road. It was so nice to be back with Believers from China again! Because it was the first service of the month, they had the Chinese and English services begin together in order to share Fathers Supper. It meant there was only one song sung in Chinese, which made me kinda sad, but it was nice to hear it none the less, and thankfully I knew the songs that were sung in English. After the service I spoke with a couple of people and got high praise for my language, which always does me well to hear! 

Everyday I grow more and more excited that Thomas will be here soon! 

I still have a ton of things to get done and it is 11pm! But things are 

ticking off my 'to do list' and making room for more!!

#ItsTheLittleThings

Here are a few photos from the past two weeks!

The farmers market

The produce stand

Such a nice day!

Gotta admit, I enjoy being back in the drivers seat!

Well,...two of us are paying attention!

Is she smiling to smile with me...or is she smiling to hold in the laughter AT me?

Mum is pretending the camera is not there

"Shes NOT here!"

People say she is a mini me...I just dont see it!! ;)

I told a friend about our Tree Canopied roads and how beautiful they 

become in Autumn. This isn't the best example of one, and the

leaves have not begun to turn at all yet, but it is a testament to

how lovely and green it is here in my home town!

I got to hang out with this little one about a week ago!!

LOVED IT!!

My little Ember! Oh how I missed her. 

Ember doesn't want to look, as she is too preoccupied by her 

lemonade, but that is ok. Sparks looks beautiful as always!

Ah...close enough! 

<3

Sparks and Ember!!

Two 'hot' girls! ;) 

Home or home?

Today, well tonight, marks two weeks since returning to Michigan. I left China a month ago.

In the time since I've been back to the Mitt,I have hung out with my dear friend Sparks and see how much my little Ember has grown up! I have been given back my job at Yankee, in full! Not just a position there, but I have actually been given the 2^nd assistant position back! Though I have not started back, as we are awaiting the results of my background check {Though they had to complete one before my previous employment, because I have been away for more than 6 months a new check must be made. It would seem then that it is only for the time not employed by YC....to which my reply was 'Good luck finding anything on me! There will be no US records!!'.} I had hoped that meant that I would hear back right away and would be able to begin work again next week, but as of this moment I have not heard from my boss. If they do not get it done before Monday, then I will start back to work the following Monday. Either way, I am beyond happy to be returning to work there and to only have to have 'refresher' training rather than going back to square one at a job! I know that this is not only a blessing but a rare occurrence here in MI, to be offered a job so quickly and be placed in management once again. The provision here and the amazing gift of it all is not lost on me, to be sure.

Speaking of gifts, I am sitting outside, in my parents backyard {You see...I am just visiting. This is not my home any longer! ;) This is my parents house and I am a guest here.} We got an awesome storm last night, and now the sun is out illuminating the wondrous green that surrounds me here in the patio. Two weeks ago when my plane touched down, the weather was on the chill side. I had a bit of a sinking feeling that my summer was now over and there would be less and less sun light. Not being able to fully see the screen due to the shining of the sun on me is such a welcome event!

Many times over I have been asked how I am adjusting to life back here in my families world. I always want to say that it hasn't quite sunk in yet, because I almost feel too adjusted and I just hope that its because I am in a dream state. There are moments when it feels like I have never spent any time away from this brick and siding building which has housed me for so much of my childhood. At other moments though, something will happen that is an all to glaring reminder that I have called another place home for the last year. I have changed. But, while there are times that it does seem strange to be back where I grew up, all in all I am so familiar with it that I am still at peace. I remember during winter break, talking with a friend who was spending the Holiday with her family in Minnesota. She had about the same feeling as I do. “I feel at home and that makes me unhappy and nervous since home is in China.” Its not that I ever want to feel out of place here with my family, it is just that I feel like I have another place where I belong more and when I feel at home in another, it makes me unsettled! Its strange I know, but it is how it goes.

I think I will try getting back into my 'Its The Little Things' posts.

My translator,Casey, from 2010 when I had two girls in Yantai.

Kat, LeyLey,Me, and Mercy in the Erqi tower in ZhengZhou one Saturday

We are cool...and know it!

Me on my first class train ride. That seat cost me 200 kuai more!

I made it into Seoul! Me with my Oppa Chris driving around the city!

Kent along the sea side in Monterey California!

It was gorgeous there, California!! I loved it! Took walks next to the water every day!