Having you here was the best of the year.

Here we are on top of Yuelu Mountain triumphantly overlooking Changsha!

Just a run down on the three happiest weeks of 2013 -- Jonathon, Michael and I went to a little island near Hong Kong for a week, with Drew's mom and Drew's sister Jennifer.

Then Drew showed up. And Titus all the way from the USA, plus Drew's dad, Grandma, and a crew of aunts and uncles for a grand total of 18 family members, all together in Hong Kong city for another week! (They lived in HK in the 60s/70s.)

After that, our family + Drew's dad & mom & sister & grandma & Aunt Betsy & Uncle David hung out in Changsha for a few days.

First, to the island! Cheung Chau!

Now to Hong Kong with the big group!

And finally, to Changsha!

How can I begin to express what an encouragement it is to feel loved by and secure in a big family? To share company, all the way from across the world. The rarity of this gathering makes it so much more precious. I love our family so much. My heart is still swelling with happiness. Drew feels the same.

Also, it was very significant to introduce Jonathon to the extended family that's been loving him from a distance for the past two years. Read about that HERE on the Butterfly Home blog.

I want to update you all about Li, our friend who passed away. Li's younger brother let us know that the family finally received financial compensation from the company. Whether or not the cause of death was clarified we don't know. There was a cremation time scheduled for last week at a hospital; we were invited but decided it would be more meaningful to visit the family later this fall. Some have asked if the family shares the same faith as Li -- no, they don't, and so we are wondering if we'll have opportunity to talk about this with them.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

Jared's company, arriving at a good time, and he's such a great fellow

windows open and wonderful breeze

some time to myself

looking forward to playing with my kids every day after school -- climbing trees, riding bikes, reading books, playing tennis

hand-me-down books from people leaving China