Reflections of a Previous Life

In August 2008 we jumped on a plane as young married couple and went to China. We had no idea what to expect and our minds were totally blown. We embarked on a two year commitment that ended in four, and this young couple returned with two children in tow. Here are some pictures to reflect the past four years of our life. The person that I became while in China is completely different that the person I was when I arrived. I landed in China a small city girl with very minimal cooking skills. I returned a mother who could make pretty much everything from scratch. My husband is much more grateful for the changes :-) 

 In July of 2009 we returned to the states for Nathan's brother's wedding and returned to China with an invitation to help a family foster a little guy on the weekends. The above picture is us at a newly opened coffee house with JB. Exciting news? This little guy was just adopted this past month and is now with a forever family. 

 In our second year we found out we were pregnant with our first and also took an unexpected trip back to the states for the loss of Nathan's mother. 2010 was a year we describe as bittersweet. Madeline was born in April of 2010 and I went from a full time music teacher & person in charge of our school grading operating system to a stay at home mom. I worked part time for the first year. The above picture is us one week after Maddy was born in the park by our new home in the city. The summer after Maddy was born we came back to the states and that was the first time our family met Madeline. We enjoyed our 3 month stay and headed back to China for another two year term.

 Just before Madeline was born we stopped fostering JB on the weekends and when she turned 6 months old, we welcomed in this little guy full time. His name was Fu Xiao Kang and we called him Jachin. He came to us as a 2 year old who couldn't walk or talk and possibly autistic. This little guy brought many challenges to our life but he also helped us grow as parents.

 A year after having Jachin, we decided to transition him to another family's home because we were expecting our second child. Emma-Mae was born in 2012. This was the year of saying goodbye to places and great friends. The above two pictures are from our walks around our town to say goodbye to some great places we came to love.

 This is the week of our departure and we are trying to squeeze 4 years worth of stuff into 9 suitcases and 5 carry-ons. We moved 3 times during our 4 years.

 Here we are fresh off the return flight and house hunting. As always, we connected with our good friends, the Thompsons. It's hard to believe that these pictures were taken just one year ago. Both of our children have grown so much.

Before we got down to business buying a house we did have some fun first :-) We went to Disney World. It was my first time and our girls' first too.

So here we are. We made it our first year. How do I feel? Adjusted. Thanks to the guidebook of "Returning Well", which helped me process through the drastic change we made in our lives and the great community of friends and family, we survived. I love being close to family. I love the many friends we have made. I know that this is where the Lord wants us to be. How do I know that?

Madeline - Since we have returned, we have gotten answers to our seizure issues. She has been seizure free for 2 months today, the most since they began when she was 9 months old. I feel so great knowing that my baby is getting the help we need to take care of her.

Fellowship - We have found a great church to get involved with and many opportunities to serve the body. I love helping lead a mom's group that allows me to be fed by other moms and to feed into women who give of themselves daily. 

Nate - Nate has begun the process of getting his masters. It is a slow process but it is something he has always wanted to do and we have been able to pursue that dream. 

I am so grateful for our time in China! I learned so much about myself, my marriage, humanity and Christ. I miss the adventure of our time overseas but know that in the midst of it it didn't really seem like an adventure but just normal life. I had many opportunities to share my faith. I learned how to see the gifts God gave me and to use them because that's the best way for me to serve others. I am much more crafty than before. Nathan and I have been married for 7 years this year and if you would have said to me on my wedding day, "Emily, are you gonna be a stay at home mom who makes baby blankets and enjoys DIY projects?" I would have laughed at you. Who would have known that living overseas was exactly what I needed to bring out those gifts that were deep inside of me? I miss China and my friends from China! This makes me so excited to heaven. One day I will see my old helper again and will see all my friends from China who will never be able to come visit me in America. I will see all my friends who we did life with. 

A special prayer and word goes out to those friends of mine who are embarking on this transition right now. You can make it. I know everything seems unsure and chaotic right now but just hang on! 

Thank you, China and ISC for an exciting story to my life. Thank you Shenyang ren for doing life with us for four years and loving on our kiddos and us. Thank you, new and old Greenville-friends who have loved us and helped us through our transition.