wordless beauty and brokenness

Us in the East

 Here's some pictures from China!

Great Wall!!  We took a toboggan slide down the mountain-- so cool and highly recommend it!

Tienanmen Square. Very interesting history. Also, this was about 10 mins walk from our hostel. 

This is our entire group by the Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium! Well.... minus the lady on the left.  She was walking by and decided to pop on into our group photo and have her husband take a picture with her camera.  Very rude.  Also very China. So I just that's just the way things are-- just "different" ...not bad! :) 

Maybe she thought we were former Olympians.  Or maybe she just thought we were 12 Caucasian people. 

Back in the US of A

We're home! And what a trip!  There are 10 faces that I'm a little sad I won't get to see today... but we have LOTS to be thankful for and LOTS of great memories!

When I woke up this morning, I was very confused as to where I was. Also, I think I contracted some cold virus on that 13 hour flight because I've had some sore throat, coughy, sneezy symptoms ever since then. So I'm not really thinking clearly!

We've both been to China before this time for 2 months each.  Its fun to come back with a new perspective and appreciate some "simple conveniences" that I usually don't think about in my typical day-to-day life!

I mean, wow, our bed here is so comfortable.  I slept in 6 different beds in China and all were kinda like slim padding over plywood.

I'm glad for washing machines.  Washing our same 7 outfits in the bathroom sink by hand got a little old. It's also fun to see my clothes/shoes again.  I left several articles of clothing all over China.  A skirt and shirt in one hotel.... a t-shirt in an airport trash can... and another shirt and shoes in a Beijing hostel.  It was all intentional though-- I brought old and worn things anyways.

Also glad to not drink water only out of water bottles.  I enjoy forks and spoons.  I like speaking and listening to a language that I have no trouble with.

I'm also glad I can throw the toilet paper in the toilet. ...yeah, they don't do that in China!


So we came home to our half-packed basement home.... and packing the other half is on my to-do list for this week!  Ben starts work on Monday. We'll close on our house within the week or so and then move to a new city and new chapter of life!!

Some would say, "wow- you've got a lot to do after getting back!"  But right now, I'm thinking it won't be that difficult!  I know what needs to happen and I know how to do it.  I know how to speak the language to talk to people if I need to figure things out. I know where to buy anything I need and I know exactly how to get to that store.

This next week or so will be a piece of cake after our last 5 weeks!  :)