I Think I Finally Know

So, I realized when talking to a friend about six months ago that I had no idea what my love language was.  Most of the reason is because I didn't really know how to accept love...I didn't think I was worthy of it...Well, I'm working on that issue in my life and I've been thinking a lot about what my love language might be.  I think I finally figured it out.
Physical Touch - I LOVE being hugged, holding hands, cuddling, a pat on the shoulder, a hand on the arm.  I love being touched.  It makes me feel loved.
Affirmation - So, I'm still slightly uncomfortable with words of affirmation, but I love hearing that I did a good job.  You don't have to overdue it...just tell me thank you or you appreciate me.  That's it.  That's all it takes and I feel LOVED!
So there you go.  I'm pretty sure this is how I feel loved.  Now, I just have to work on the not being uncomfortable being loved. 
By the way, I appreciate you guys.  I totally want to give you a hug too! :)

Friendship

This last week has been hard.  At the beginning of this week (really the end of last week) I felt like I was being crushed by my problems.  Every issue was so big and I was too weak to keep from being crushed.  My heart cried out to my father and he sent me FRIENDS! 
My friends have been so good to me this week.  Every person I have talked to about my problems has come to my aide and helped make the problem just a little easier to bear.  I have been blessed and blessed and blessed until I realized that I was no longer being crushed.  The problems are still there and they are still weighty, but many hands make light loads.  I thank you all so much for being my friends and for helping me through this time.  I will continue to lean on you until my problems are gone...and then maybe someday I can be there for you too.

Getting Settled in a New House

     I don't know if you have ever moved before (chances are you have), but I have moved more times than I really want to think about (ick).  In America when you are picking a new home, many thoughts may pop in your head when you walk into a house on the market.  Some of them may be "This place is SO clean!  Are there any stains in this place?  Did anyone actually live here before?  My kids could destroy this place in five minutes."  In America when a home goes on the market, a lot of time is spent cleaning the house and replacing things that we didn't bother to even replace when we lived there.  We want the house to "put its best foot forward" in hopes that people will buy/rent it.
     A slightly different view is taken here in China.  In fact, the opposite view.  Chinese homes give more of a feel of "Take me as I am." or "Please help me!  The last family tortured me!"  The floors are covered in dirt, the kitchen is greasy, people leave stuff behind, the furniture is often broken or stained...well, you get the idea. 
    So, needless to say, when I picked a new home to move into, a lot of work was put into it.  First, the school paid an ayi (a house helper) to do some initial deep cleaning.  Second, I moved in and had no time to clean even though I wanted to.  Third, my ayi spent time during the summer cleaning up even more.  Fourth, I get sick of the grime, stickers, etc. still left in random places and initiate my own cleaning spree.  It's such a nice feeling to watch my home come together a little more as I continue to find places for my things to live and as the house gets cleaner and cleaner (mostly due to my ayi's hard work).
    On a slightly different note (but still all about my new house) I am currently using my washing machine for the first time.  I have to be honest that I haven't tried before this point because I am or rather was terrified of my new washing machine.  Ok, so let me explain.  This washing machine came with the usual amount of trepidation because there is only Chinese characters on the machine.  Seeing as how my Chinese is still stunningly bad after 4 years, I honestly usually just push buttons until the water starts running and then call it good.  Well, this machine has two added points of confusion.  First, the water doesn't come from a handy washing machine hook-up in the wall.  The hose is actually screwed to the tub faucet in my bathroom (guess who has to use the shower head to fill the tub if she wants a bath...) and secondly, the drainage hose (which is usually normally somewhat hidden from view) has to cross the bathroom to fit into a drain in the floor (luckily they didn't also decide to use the bath drain as a washing machine drain (that could have been very bad...)  Honestly though, I'm not sure what the owner was thinking when they set this machine up, but today I decided to overcome my fear. 
     So, I shoved the hose in the drain in the floor (note to self: don't trip over that), switched my shower to come out of the faucet , turned the water on, turned the machine on (water was coming out!  yay!), put soap in the washing machine, filled it with clothes, closed the lid, and started to pray.  I kept anxiously popping into the bathroom for the next hour or however long it was to make sure nothing exploded or overflowed.  And I have to say that all went very well.  My clothes are now sitting on the drying rack in my living room (it's too humid for them to dry on the porch.  Did I mention that it's been 90-100% humidity almost every day during the summer?  My clothes get musty before they dry out there.) and I'm on my second load of laundry.  I feel so accomplished!  (And I'm choosing not to tell you about a few days ago when I incorrectly turned on my hot water heater and sprayed water all over the bathroom.  Who knew that button would do that?  Or am I the only one stupid enough to do that?  Ummm...definitely not mentioning that embarrassing mistake to anyone.)  Now the next big question is do I keep accomplishing things or do I reward myself with a nap?  Mmmm....super hard question.  I might have to continue to debate this while lying on my comfy couch.

A Summer of WOW!

I have no words…well, actually I have quite a few words…but I don’t have enough or the right kind of words to express how wonderful this summer has been.  I have been so blessed and spoiled by every person that I saw this summer.  I have never had so much fun in my life and I have never had such a full and active summer.  I’m headed home now for a much needed vacation from my vacation…oh wait.  School starts in a couple weeks…I guess I’ll just have to survive on exhausted.

         Ok, so before I tell you all the wonderful details of my trip, (well, at least enough details that you enjoy this post and not so many that you are bored) let me give you a few facts about my trip.

• My road trip was 44 days (6 weeks 2 days) long (if I include NM with my family, it was 55 days).
• I drove about 8,500 miles and it took about 140 hours to drive that far.
• I drove through 25 states and stopped in 14 of those states to see people.
• I saw at least 50 people I know on my trip.
• I went to several places I had never been to before, but the two highlights were Seattle and Washington DC.
• Washington and Oregon have the best roads to drive on...curvy mountain roads at 70mph.  Talk about a thrill ride. :)
• I only spent nine nights in hotels. 
• I slept on beds, floors, couches, cots, and air mattresses.
• I saw both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.
• I never made it swimming, I never burned (even though I have the darkest tan I’ve ever had), and I ate more fast food then I ever want to remember.
• McDonalds (for breakfast) and Chipotle were my two favorite restaurants to stop at when on the road.
• I made it back to China with two 50lb. bags and didn’t have to pay for either.

Ok, that’s enough random details.  Here come the highlights.  And if I visited you and you are reading this, THANK YOU!  You are the reason my summer was awesome.

• New Mexico with family – Well, spending time with family and mom keeping my calm through multiple panic attacks while trying to pack everything into two suitcases.
• Tucson with Mandie and Tim– A trip to the zoo :)
• Moreno Valley with Loraine and friends – Mission Inn, talking parrots, art museums, long lunches, and church
• Sacramento with Aunt Jeannette, Uncle David, Amanda, Clinton, and Jeremiah – Laughter, Panera, and amazing Italian food
• Seattle with me, myself, and I – Pike’s Place, King Tut Exhibit, and finally riding a dick bus
• Bellevue with the Herzog’s – Dinner with good friends
• Bozeman with Kari and Mike – Dinner with wonderful friends
• Minnesota and Iowa with Kelley and family – Stuffed burgers, old cars and ice cream, fireworks on the farm, and grandma’s cooking
• Baltimore with the Canner family – Brave, tours of Washington DC in 100F, and pickles ;)
• Sneads Ferry with the Doty’s – Catching up with old friends and drives on the beach
• Warner Robins with Ian – Dollar theater movie, homemade food, and Atlanta Aquarium
• Waleska with the Aldous’ – Stone Mountain, Spiderman, and a “Georgia worship” light show
• Maryville with the Moore’s – relaxation, wonderful 2 year-olds, birthday, zoo, attempted bowling, putt-putt, Pinterest, and wonderful friends for life
• Williamsburg with Tab – Dark Knight Rises, laughter with brothers, and touring a fire station
• Xenia with Terri – Hairspray and a wonderful friend
• Kettering with the Linden’s – Sleep deprivation, newborn babies, Cheesecake Factory, and baby whispering
• Denver with Kris – LAUGHTER!, Rick Springfield, gardens, and wonderful burgers
• Denver with Jon – Cheesecake Factory, great conversation, and watching the Olympics
• Phone with Anna - Good conversation with a wonderful friend!

Dear friends, I can’t tell you how loved I feel after this summer.  My heart is breaking to know that I have to leave you all here in America.  I can’t wait to see you again.  Thank you for making my summer so wonderful and memorable.  Thank you for asking questions about my life in China.  Come see me in China if you can.