Remember the little boy

who couldn't raise his head, sit or roll over.....

Look at him now!

The picture is kind of blurry but oh my! Being away from Paul for so long has been hard.  But having him in China to keep up with our little guys progress...fantastic.

In which I prove my theory.

We have been back in the US for almost a month now.  It's been pretty smooth and feels pretty natural to be back.  We spent the first three weeks in California, Washington and Canada.  Elisabeth flew to Minnesota for a Teen Re-Entry retreat and we met up in Missouri on Thursday.  Through the generosity of friends, we have a car to drive and a house to stay in during our time here.

While we are here we have to go to the dentist, go to the orthodontist, get a new social security card, re-new a driver's permit, get an adult passport for Elisabeth, take care of our house for new renters...oh and see friends and talk about our time in China!

We've had a few moments of being overwhelmed by noise and input.  We've been thrilled to go to the library, grocery shop and do "normal" American things.  We definitely have noticed that people are on their smart phones all the time and that portion sizes are big.  I've had to remind myself over and over again to cross at the light and that we can't walk against the red light.  Fortunately I have a teenager to keep me in line!

 Driving is great but I've had to readjust my awareness level.  In  China, we just ride our bikes.  There is so much going on on the streets that you just ignore half of it and keep going.  With driving, you can't do that.  I've made a few mistakes-almost hitting a man in a crosswalk in Seattle and turning down a street meant for buses.  But so far, so good- no accidents, no deaths.

However, today I proved a theory that I have about China.  When foreigners first go to China, they are often shocked at the amount of pushing and cutting in line. One of the first lessons that I learned in Beijing was that when the subway doors open, rush forward and get in.  If you don't push forward, the sheer number of people will keep you out.  No one will give way.  I also learned that Chinese people line up for  ATM's a different way.  What I thought was cutting in line was simply a different system and one that I had to learn.

My theory is that the sheer number of people in China makes Chinese people less aware of those around them.  The American habit of greeting total strangers who are walking by is just not possible in China.  As we've lived there for two years, we greet people less, walk in  a crowd with less awareness of who is around us, push forward through crowds, buses and subways.

However, we are in the US for the summer.  I need to re-adapt to American ways.  This morning we went to the Farmer's Market.  I love Farmer's Markets with the blend of Amish, Mennonites, earthy people, mother's and ordinary people.  It also cracks me up because shopping at outdoor markets is how most of the world shops every day...with out the ostrich feathers, native jewelry and honey ice cream.  Anyway, we walked through and looked at all the vegetables, sweet corn and homemade bread.  I saw some tomatoes that were being sold by two Mennonite women so I walked over and picked three and took out my money to pay.

Then I heard a horrified "Mom!  Do you know you cut in line." Elisabeth said it was like watching a disaster in a movie in slow motion. Yes, in true Chinese fashion, I had totally not noticed that there was a line to buy the tomatoes.  A glaring line of people.  No one can glare like American's observing someone cutting in line.  I apologized to the line and to the Mennonite woman and slunk away with my tomatoes.

I knew there would be some re-entry moments but I didn't think they would involved tomatoes.

Got these pictures today....

Our baby is growing up!  We are happy that he is happy but miss him desperately.  We are so thankful that Paul is still in China and can check on him and we are glad that he is doing so well.  The family that is caring for him really loves him and that is so encouraging.  Keep this little guy and his future in your prayers.

"Make new friends....

but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

Yesterday I had lunch with someone that I've known since about second grade.  It was fun to see her (we haven't seen each other since I was pregnant with Elisabeth).  She is now married with two young kids and it was good to catch up after 18 years!

I've also spent time with my dear friend, Sue who was my neighbor until 7th grade when she moved to another city across the street from my friend from church, Liz.  We have maintained our friendship for many, many years.

When we were in Seattle last week, we spent the night at the house of some new friends.  Previously I "knew" them through an internet connection (not a dating service).  No, this lovely woman is the ESL coordinator for our company and we have done some work together.  We were able to meet and spend a lovely evening with her and her husband.  They have served faithfully overseas for 18 years in Hong Kong and the Philipines.  They came back to the states quite a while ago and continued to serve in many capacities.  Now, close to retirement age, they continue to work and travel training different teams to teach ESL in many countries.  What an example to us!

When we left them in the morning, we drove down to the Ft. Lewis area and met up with my next door neighbor from my childhood neighborhood.  She is married to a really nice man who has served in the Army for almost 25 years.  It was interesting listening to him about the current situation in Iraq and other matters.  Best of all for Elisabeth, they have a teen daughter her age and they were able to drive away from all the adults and go and have ice cream.

After visiting with Christie, we drove further down Washington state to see my college friend, Tami and her family of eight children! 

Here we are trying to blend in with seven of the eight!

Any of my Chico friends remember this warm and truly fun friend?

What I love about Tami is that she is truly a friend of the heart.  We live such different lives- she home-schools , has eight children and is just so content.  We public school and have one child.  Yet, we each live by our convictions for our own lives and there is no division or tension at all.  That is true Christian unity.  I love her!

Tami's oldest daughter makes soap and it is just the best.  Do yourself a favor and buy some-it's wonderful!  http://www.chehalishills.com/index.htm

After leaving this fun family, we drove back through Ft. Lewis and spent about an hour and a half with some other friends.  When we lived in Germany, we were involved with the Bamberg Hospitality House.  Mark and Carol were the missionaries there and played an influential role in our lives.  We have kept up and it was sweet to see them now serving at Ft. Lewis.  The military has changed and they are serving many men with real needs and hurts.  They are quality people doing an important work.

Then we drove up to Canada and saw my aunt, two cousins and their families.  Somehow, I forgot to take pictures.  But it was a fun evening with nice people and very relaxing.

Tuesday we drove to a tour of Trinity Western and then we drove farther into the Fraser Valley to meet a friend that I  have known through an on-line community for about 10 years.  She is Sarah of Emerging Mummy fame -http://www.emergingmummy.com/- a writer, a thinker and everything she portrays herself to be.  She and her family are the real deal. Just lovely. Love is growing in their marriage and in their home.  What a joy to meet them in real life.

Tomorrow I leave California for three weeks in Missouri.  More friends, more sharing, more time in familiar places.  Looking forward to seeing many of you!

Places we've been.

I put Elisabeth on a plane to Minneapolis today and I am sitting in a hotel room near the Seattle Airport.  I leave at 7AM tomorrow morning to go back to California for a few days before we meet up again next week in Missouri.  I skyped with Paul for a while today, catching up on China news and sharing about our time in the USA and Canada.  Our little guy is doing well with his Chinese family but I just ache for him.  Maybe it's because we've been so busy and I miss our quiet days in our apartment.  
Anyway-here are some of the places we've been so far this summer.

Stanford.  The beauty of the chapel is amazing.

Santa Cruz-seals and beautiful beaches with fun cousins.

San Francisco- city hall, the Asian Art Museum and coffee with an old college friend.  There is nothing like a bright, sparkly day in San Francisco.

Seattle!  Aside from a being a nightmare to drive in, what a city.  So beautiful and so much to do.

The World Vision Headquarters in Federal Way, Washington.  Elisabeth has a great interest in this organization and it was an honor to visit this place that has done such great work for children all over the world.

Highways.  Many, many miles of highway.

Canada!  Peach Arch at the Border.

Vancouver-what a city.  I wish we'd had time to see more.

We happened to turn down a wrong road when we were driving back to Seattle.  This is what we found- a stunning sunset against the ocean.  Food for our souls.

Chinatown in Seattle.  Loved the dragons!

Seattle Pacific.  This may be the one for Elisabeth.  All the right things that make it a great fit.  Now let the scholarship work begin!

More blogging to come.

We've been in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Vancouver and Seattle.  We have met fantastic people, caught up with old friends and seen two colleges.  I haven't had time to blog but I'll try to catch up tomorrow.

But first...look- I saw my first yarn bombing!  Fantastic!

How I love the creativity of knitters.

Oh and this....a wonderful plethora of grossness.  The Gum wall at Pike's Peak Market.

Quick...replace those images with these.

Aren't amazingly weirdly beautiful?  This was the first time I had ever been to the Stanford Succulent Garden and we were blown away.

More updating soon!

Of cousins and such.

Yes, we do miss him.  The first few days were fine.  Then, on Sunday we were in church.  Babies were baptized. We got choked up. The congregation sang "Might to Save" right after the baptism.  That is our song that we sing over our little guy.  Elisabeth and I started crying then and we've been aching for him.  He is in good care and doing well.  Paul went to see him and he was fine.  But we do miss him...a lot.

We do have some good distractions in things that make us know that we are in Palo Alto!  Electric cars!

The Farmer's Market with food  from Oaxaca. Overheard by Elisabeth "No, that's just pesticide free.  It's not organic."

A hummus shop...coming sooner or later!

It's a little hard to see, but this is a group of veiled Middle Eastern girls.  We love the variety of people here.

Of course we had to go to Foothill Park for a barbeque.  Elisabeth and her cute cousin gave my youngest brother tips on the  hamburgers.

My dad.

Attack of the tongs.

Cold Cousins.

We also went out to Shoreline to see the pelicans.

We saw two in the sky.  It's a little early for them.

Sunset over the bay.