One thing has become clearer the longer we are here – living in China can be hard! After the novelty, proximity to great vacations, and adventures that await – you can’t underestimate how frustrating everyday living can be. Whether it’s the distance from family, off-putting sanitary conditions, sub-par medical care, or a translation gone wrong- it isn’t always easy.
As I look back 18 months living here, I’ve realized how important it is to keep our cups full – full of that soul-satisfying goodness that just makes your heart content. So while our last few months in China have been hectic, I’m so happy to report that our cups are overflowing after our hectic summer. Here is a recap.
#BlackGirl Magic #BlackBoyJoy (Mom Brag Alert)
The kids have been the true stars of this entire transition. They have not only survived the last year and a half, they’ve thrived. Robby rocked an excellent report card; not only getting high grades for his work ethic, but I’m pretty sure he will surpass my math ability by 5th grade:). He’s also a great athlete – his favorite sport is baseball.
Rachel continues to amaze us with her #blackgirlmagic – she is an all around great kid. In fact, at her 5th grade promotion assembly, she was recognized with the top award in the 5th grade, given to one girl and one boy student. That was truly a ‘drop the mic’ moment and it all belonged to her. My personal favorite award – both kids got Perfect Attendance for the year. #momgoals.
When times get frustrating, we just look at the kids, and they remind us we can thrive too.
#LivinYourBestLife (Over70)
For the month of June, my parents traveled from Virginia to visit us in China for a full month! Full disclosure, I haven’t spent a month straight with my parents since I graduated from college, so there was some adjustment needed! But, I wouldn’t change our adventure one bit. We explored Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Xian, Beijing and Shanghai. We saw The Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden Palace, Shanghai by night and so much more. We saw new things, tried new foods, laughed and explored. My dad told me he had seen all of China he wanted to see and some parts he didn’t even know existed. Despite the hectic schedule, adjustment to pollution and jet lag, we were so blessed by their visit.
#F(r)amilyOverEverything
This summer, our ‘break’ ended up being a tour of the US. In 6 short weeks, we visited South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. I’m tired even just writing about it. We visited parents, childhood friends, college friends, adult friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters – and we still didn’t see everyone. We went to a wedding, cookouts, restaurants, birthday parties, museums, and some good old-fashioned church. We were so tired; but, we were so happy. Every hug, smile, laugh, and memory filled our cups over and over again. And we needed each and everyone one of them.
So what have I learned? Filling my cup is: necessary, requires sacrifice and requires me to be intentional. I also learned that I can’t survive in China without a refill.
PS – For those who expected that we would be in Singapore by now, surprise! We are actually going to complete the entire assignment in China. So while we LOVE Singapore, and will surely visit often, we will be in China for the next few years. Please consider a visit, our cup always needs refilling.
(Star) Transition 