Planted and Content

First, thank you everyone for wise words, kindness, and support in response to what I shared last time about parenting a kiddo with special needs. If you didn't get a chance, check out the incredible wealth of wisdom and sincerity packed in the comments section. Thank you all.



Panning out for a moment, so you can catch a glimpse of the big picture.

We are at such a content place in life.

Drew and I decided a couple weeks ago that I'm going to quit graduate school; it was simply too stressful. Sad to let it go, but I am free now! The possibilities are endless, and I am available to all kinds of dear people in this neighborhood, starting with those inside my home.

We seriously considered moving across the city to be closer to Drew's office, which is also in the vicinity of the orphanage and our Chinese church. It became clear that there is no need to uproot as we are presently grounded in the ideal spot. So we're settled!


There's a long list of things we love about our apartment and location:

• local preschool & primary school perfect fit for our boys, many advantages in both continuity and unique school culture
• we could not possibly live any closer to both schools, right in between the two
• edge of the mountain woods for hiking and camping
• access to familiar vegetable market, shopping, city buses, restaurants, coffeehouses etc.
• safe and quiet university campus with grass, trees, ponds, running track, yoga studio
• Drew appreciates his 30-minute bicycle commute to work twice a day
• rent is cheap and our homey apartment suits us fine
• familiar faces everywhere

The list of opportunities to encourage, support, reach out, share is much longer. (For example, throughout today I was privileged to connect meaningfully with seven different women friends, all different situations but the same Spirit at work in all.) Now with me freed up to empower Drew and meet needs around us, we already have a greater sense of satisfaction and purpose in our friendships here. The Master's plan to let our roots stretch down deeper into this neighborhood is kinda brilliant, certainly could not have planned it better ourselves. Because the possibilities are vast, Drew and I are going to carve out time this month to identify a focus and goals -- nothing rigid you know, but it's important to have a plan for intentionality.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

yoga, I love yoga, and making true friends at yoga

kids expressing their appreciation to mom, earnestness to help and saying, "妈妈辛苦了"

dentist: quality work, no cavities, impressive play area for boys, friendly staff, inexpensive

bus line directly from dentist to our destination, Subway at Dong Tang

all eager to visit and hug Daddy at work during the day

never imagined what sweet depth of intimacy and unity could be shared in marriage

what XK is going through
all that you arranged for E in Dec & Jan, your care is amazing!

 Drew and I challenging each other during Sat am fit tests on the track, kids playing in the sand pit

Tim Keller's discourse to lift the soul while fulfilling some menial task like tidying the office

Mike's superkisses