Creatures of Habit

It's amazing how difficult change can be. People get married, people have kids, people change jobs, people die, kids leave for college - even the change in becoming a Christian is a big change. Most change is usually not fun or pleasant at the initial time that it occurs. Yes, there may be some excitement (depending on the event) but there is usually turmoil when lifestyles and habits change. I've found how poorly I adapt to change. I used to think I was pretty flexible. This trip has been both wonderful and stressful at the same time. I suppose any change produces stretching and discomfort in order for growth to occur.

I just spent 2 1/2 weeks in China for a little girl's adoption - and to think that Jesus left the comforts of heaven for 33 years to come to this earth with a purpose and a very uncomfortable task ahead of him so that we could be adopted into God's family by merely accepting what he had done for each of us. I only had to spend 2 1/2 weeks here in China and didn't come close to dying - although my wife might describe it differently due to all of the traffic and some traffic experiences that might seem like "too close for comfort". I'm ready to get back to my country, my town, my house, my bed, and my US food.

We've had a great time together as a family and getting to know Grace. Minimal computer time, minimal to no time in front of the television, no excessive texting, and very few outside distractions. Everyone has had enough of hotel rooms, hotel food, Chinese food, being a minority and stared at all of the time (especially when Grace is acting up), and not understanding 98% of the language that is occurring around us. It's sad to leave this time together and somewhat scary with all of the unknowns ahead as we make another change back to the US and a new living condition again with Grace. In less than 12 hours we will be on a plane headed for Beijing as the first leg of our 24 hour trip back to the United States. I can't tell you how comforted Sheryl and I were yesterday to sit in the US Consulate here in Guangzhou, China and see the US flag. It made us kind of feel like we were back home. We'll be staying home most of this weekend just to get readjusted with Grace and to the time change and will be laying kind of low for the next 1-2 weeks until we see how she is responding and adjusting. So far everything has gone very well but now she will be the minority and may feel even a little more uncomfortable for a while. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us for the past 2 1/2 weeks and even the past 3-4 months. Please continue as we travel back home and try to make a little girl feel at home in a new country and with a new family and as we get adjusted to having a new member of our family and remembering what it is like to have a 3 year old again. This will be the last blog entry until after we return to the US.

Kevin