Xin Nian Kuai Le!!

Happy Chinese New Year! Which means a lot of red, many fireworks, and an abundance of celebration around Shanghai. This festival allows the Chinese to start fresh with new fortune and wealth. They clean away all the bad, by literally floor sweeping homes, and thus allowing good luck to be brought in. Following the lunar calendar, each year is represented by a different zodiac sign; and 2016 is the year of the monkey! I'm a monkey child too, meaning I'm smart, witty, and confident, but stubborn. Hmmm, I am sure some of that might be true!

As part of the festival celebration, Paisley's preschool put together a program parade at a local hotel. She was a little timid walking the red carpet with the many attendees watching over her, but as soon as she found her sweet little friend, it was all smiles!

The Decision

The fostering process happened rather quickly for us once we met with a couple different medical foundations. It was clear that the need was there, and we were ready; but the questions became real. We were "choosing" a child. And against all that I am, and all that I believed in, I found myself really, truly "choosing" one child over another. Whether based on the sweet smiling (or screaming) faces peering back at me, the medical condition in which they've been diagnosed with, the rehabilitation phases that were to come, the orphanage or province in which they came from, or the behavior and interaction between our kids... I began analyzing so many factors that played a role in the selection of a child.

Living our Passion

One thing holds true here in China... life is a journey that is unpredictable and often unplanned. Our journey changes frequently, and we've learned to become very adaptable to each day being different from the days past.

And, so we started another new journey recently. A journey that was pretty much a fairy tale just two years ago. At that time, I had recently quit my job, we were planning to move to China, and I knew that I'd need to find something to continue embarking on my non-profit, charity heart. I dreamt that we'd settle in Shanghai, and I'd devote my time to orphaned children waiting for an ounce of attention, love, and touch.

Eight Years of Sweetness

Somewhere along the lines, this little princess of ours turned into a young lady who is fun to hang with, full of smiles and giggles, and lots of silliness. She has a compassionate heart and a caring spirit, and she loves to help with anything she can. Did I mention her responsibility and maturity? She is growing too fast, even getting contacts on our last trip home. So proud of her!!

Holiday Hustle

We're half way done with this adventure of living across the world, and one thing remains true... I love going home! The holidays were extra special this year partly because we hadn't really intended on going back to America. Initially our hearts and sights were set on traveling and utilizing the nearly three week break to see the world.

But then the reality sunk in: A) we can't honestly afford to travel for three weeks, and B) how do you celebrate Christmas without your family, and snow, the fresh pine smell of a real Christmas tree, or a well-written homily by a Father who pours his heart and soul into priesthood, and C) were we truly ready to wait 10 months before seeing our nieces, siblings and parents? No way!

Year 2 of Home in China

We've begun our second year as expats now, and what an amazing shift from just 12 months ago. I remember getting here in August 2014, and Jarin leaving just days later for a business trip. I was stuck, dumb-founded, wondering what I am supposed to do with three kids... in China... alone. This year, the same conference approached just days after returning from the summer holiday, and yet again, I was here... with three kids... in China.... alone.

But life is good here. We went to the market and were excited for some of the treats we'd missed over the summer. We connected with friends (who, to us, are family) that we hadn't seen in three months. We explored the community and neighborhood, and hung out at our clubhouse which offers a great outdoor swimming facility. I realized quickly how comfortable we really feel here. It's home.

Our First Summer

Another season has come and gone, and what a summer it was. In June we finished all the school projects and class parties, and wrapped up grades 1 and 3. We raced out the door, earlier than expected, to first celebrate the life of our beloved Grandma Gladys.

Then it was the beginning of a 6 week vacation, and excited we were! We were blessed with the amazing hospitality of my parents, drank wine nightly, stayed up late catching up and sharing laughs, and spent the days busily running the town -- trampoline parks, outdoor concerts, pontoon rides, American Girl, bike rides and races, swimming pools, shopping at Target and playdates. Each day was an adventure. We visited with so many friends and family members, yet missed time with few. We built relationships with grandparents and cousins, and created memories that we'd have forever.

Gettin' My Hair Did!

So, it's been 9 months since we moved into Shanghai, and I've done pretty well at timing my need for new-do's, but let's be honest, 5 or 6 months in between cuts and colors leaves me with less-than-adventurous color choices, and some grown-out layers that need attention... bad. My girl, Brooke, has done me well though, helping me work it out until I returned to America again. But I'm getting to that point, where I'm realizing that a) "I live in China," b) "I'll be here for a while" ... and (drumroll) c) "We aren't coming home for Christmas this year." Which all leads to: d) "I need to buck up."

And if you are at all familiar with my hair experiences, you'll know that I like to try new things, but it's a MUST that I know that you know what you're doing. Take my post on Lesson #438 for instance... I just can't handle cheap haircuts by inexperienced people. I've learned that paying the cash for a upscale style is well worth it. And, with that, good ol' Harry (coincidentally, a very humorous American name for a Chinese hair stylist!) was recommended to me by a close friend who's hair is naturally curly with gorgeous highlights, so I thought I'd give him a try.

Gotta Love Shanghai Living

It's been just over eight months now since me and the kids joined Jarin on this magic ride through Asia. I remember him (six months into his journey at the time) all excited about us coming and bursting about how much we were going to love it. And then we arrived. And I was so annoyed and disgusted by the customs and differences. It wasn't Iowa! But, we have adjusted so well and have really begun to appreciate much about this culture.

It became clear as my girlfriends and I were at the farket (fake-market) with our three 2-year-olds. A few women flight attendants stopped us and asked if we lived here. "Yep!" we all smiled. They were intrigued and perplexed enough to continue the conversation and ask why. And so our explosion of Shanghai-awesomeness came. We raved about the jobs, the travel, the schools, the shopping, the friends and the food. It was an easy list to rattle off, and there was no second-guessing as to why we were here.

 
Made me start thinking about all the craziness that we endure here in Shanghai, and the many attributes that make this journey so adventurous. I'm sure the day will come when all this begins to annoy me again too. It'll be at that point that I'll know I've been here too long! In the meantime, here goes a few from my list:

You know you live in China when....

Here's the scoop, sis....

Growing up, I loved when you got into trouble. I would listen in as our parents spoke to you. I wanted to be sure they kept you safe, that they taught you right vs. wrong. It was important that they cared for you as much as I did, if not more.

I hated when you wore my clothes or hung with my friends. I didn't like that you dug in my closet, because it was private, and I didn't care whether or not you asked permission. The fact was that I never wanted to be at fault for leading you astray.

I sometimes heard you cry in your room, but didn't always run to soothe you. You were my baby sis, and I never wanted to see you hurt... I wanted you to grow tough.

I didn't care if the truth hurt you. I would say it as it was. Not to disrespect you, but to help you realize how tough life can be. I never tried to be the bad person, but I wanted you to see a different perspective.