HOME

We were warned that adjusting back to home would not be easy. We shrugged, but it was true. After all these months we are still adjusting.

When we arrived home we had many things to do. The first ten days were spent with buying a car and dealing with paperwork. We bought a car more quickly than ever in our lives, although we had enjoyed driving the Mustang we were lent when we got home. Buying insurance was not so pleasant either. The time on hold waiting for our health insurance companies and their answers was disconcerting. Living for the first time with no landline also had its trepidations., Then on to our bills and bank and how everything was now to be done. That was all before the tree in the backyard came down. In America you need to do everything now.

We had ten days because Renee had a class reunion the next weekend. We drove our new car across Pennsylvania to Beaver. Enjoying our time there with Renee's classmates was a good break from the issues at home.

From there we drove to North Carolina to see Ned and Lia and their family. We had not seen live our new grandson, David. What a nice experience to visit them and slip into their hectic life for a couple of days. We loved getting to play with Anna Rose and David, watch Anna Rose dance and then to see Lia best all of her times in a "fun" triathelon in Winston Salem. While there we met up with Renee's sister Melanie and family. Fortunately Laurel and Chad and their two children were also home this summer from Nanjing so we got to see them as well. On the way home we stopped and visited good friends Ann and Ed Rocap.

Arriving home we prepared for the arrival of Lee and her family. They are home from Turkey, and Lee and David and the four kids moved in just in time for Lee and Renee to celebrate their same day birthday together, a rare treat. It has worked out well all around. At first Lee took care of all of the meals and they helped with the shopping and tidying. Then as Lee's delivery date got closer Renee took over most of those duties. We have enjoyed renewing our connection with the Grandchildren - Rebecca, Joshua, Samuel, and Peter. They have enjoyed the space and the outside. The Fall leaves, of course, is always a special time. Now they stare out the window hoping for snow.

Lee's delivery date came and she had her fifth child in our home. The midwife arrived in the wee hours of the morning and by get up time we had a new grand child, Andrew Gabriel. We are remembering the experience of a newborn at home. Pleasant memories. Along with this, there have been several visits from Dave's parents from Maryland and his sister and her husband from nearby Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Renee has resumed many of her activites at church. I am trying to wait although I connect with two different groups of men, not all from church, each week. I have joined the Board of a Chinese mission group and I continue to study Chinese. We both have tried to keep up with our Chinese friends through QQ instant messaging. We have had two Chinese visitors, even though the Peace Corps said not to worry because it was doubtful any of these friends would arrive at our door. Ned has completed a fourth book, Clay, which should be published next year. Lee has also completed and published a book, The King Will Make a Way. You can purchase it HERE. Both are blessed and a blessing. It is also a blessing to be with our old friends especially at this time of Christmas. There is a lot of love around here.