The Planning is Half the Fun...

Eating gelado by the Square in Macau
Truly enjoying the historic Ho Tung Library in Moul fashion!

Dad is upset at getting beaten at Bananagrams once again in Xi'an (Yup! They brought me my own... and I will win one day!)


Dad at dim sum with my church and my buddy Brio

Mom and Maggie in the Advanced English Class

or more than half in this case. My parents have come and gone and I can't believe it is all over after years of dreaming and planning. Here are some of the highlights!

My favorite moments:

- walking in the local parks and enjoying the sunshine

-Starbucks and porch talks with my Dad

-my family's talks in my conversation and Advanced English classes...my students loved all my family photos, especially the ones of me as a kid, me in a construction hat at Peterson Farms, and of course, my oh-so-handsome brothers

-Maggie's times out on the town with my students

-passing out Bibles and good conversations

-Mom's flexibility with food AND when we got hemmed in by people in the market and she (mark this) DID NOT get freaked out! Go mom!

-Mom's connection with Christine and Basilla (two friends from church)

-SAFE travel!

-Mom and Dad's enjoyment of my porch

Funny moments:

- After the second night, Dad and I were sitting on the couch...he looked over at me and said "I don't think I have any of that...what do you call it? Flight damage?" He'll never live that one down!

-Maggie dropping her passport into the squattie pottie on the first day of our trip to Xi'an

-Maggie singingly informing us that her USB was totally lost while Mom simultaneously pulled it out of the one bag Maggie assured us it wouldn't be in

-my toilet getting fixed by a broom handle

-Dad getting into the driver's side of the car not once but TWICE (both while being driven by the same person)

Good times were had by all and I'm so glad we did this!