Things I miss #91-100 and Failures

So after reading my "Monday Reflections" post you would think that would be enough perspective to keep me thinking of others rather than myself but by the next day I had slipped back to the me-centered thinking.  My poor kiddos are so tired of transition.  I am so tired of transition.  I am ready for my kids to stop freaking out when they sleep.  I am ready for my kids to stop crying when it's bed time.  Emma is such a happy baby except when it comes to bed time.  She HATES sleeping.  Bedtime is supposed to be the time when mommy and daddy relax but when your 6 month old yells the moment you lay her down, though you know nothing is wrong with her, it's hard to relax.  I pray that my daughters' stubborn nature they get from both of us can be molding into a positive virtue of perseverance.  All of this exhaustion and pressure has had a positive:  I am reminded of my last 10 things I miss about China.

#91: No need to transition.  We were settled before (and I know we will again) but the part right now is painful.  I miss that China was normal and now life in America seems not too normal, especially for my kids.  The girls seemed to think it normal for us to sleep in tons of different places every night.

#92:  I miss the limited stock.  I love that I can buy anything here but when I walk into a store to buy groceries or clothes I am immediately overwhelmed with all the options.  We have also enrolled in WIC  to provide basic necessities for us (milk, eggs, bread, etc.) and going from shopping at super fast speed to avoid my kids being overwhelmed and knowing exactly where things are to having to look for that super small WIC sign on some items and back tracking cause I don't know where anything is, I am so overwhelmed!

#93: I miss speaking Chinese.  The other day we went to see some old friends of Nathan's family and they had an exchange student from China living with them.  It was great talking to her in Chinese.  I miss that!

#94: I miss cheap, fresh veggies!

#95: I miss the new things that will happen in the Shenyang community and school that we will miss out on.

#96:  I miss that my closest friends there will be my new long distance friends.

#97:  I miss NOT having to worry about gas.  I have to constantly remind myself to look at the tank and see that it has enough.  I also don't like thinking ahead about how to get everywhere since I don't have a taxi driver who will just take me :-)

#98:  I miss the great insurance we had with our company.  Ours now is pretty good but nothing compared to what we had before and probably never will.

#99:  I miss the small group, laid backness of fellowship.  We have only gone to a few churches so far and are currently looking for a place we can get involved in since we are used to being in a small community and being very active in speaking and music. Last week we went to the church we were attending before we left and it reminded me that we will have to do nursery sign up every Sunday until we settle.  The programs are very organized, which I love (I love someone watching my kids so I don't have to tag team with my hubby during worship.), but we may have to register at many places before we find the right one.  Filling out the paper work and learning the procedures and dropping my kids off to new people every week is hard.

#100:  As I think about TV shows starting back in the Fall and see this amazing new living room/entertainment room we have, I am sad that we won't have our Tuesday Night Dinners (from China, not Barbs') at my home with all those amazing teachers from SYIS!

-Though I'm done, I have one more!

#101:  I will miss being the hospitality type person for our Shenyang team.  I loved meeting new staff and helping them adjust to life in such a fun and unique place with such a cool community.  Now I am a stay at home mom, which I love, but I am no longer the pro at something.  I now blend in and my individualistic nature just doesn't like that ;-)

Shenyang people, we miss you and wish you many blessings and good times as you start your new year!