I believe that God is active in our lives. I believe that God answers prayer. And I believe that sometimes - certainly not always - but sometimes, God provides difficulty in order to help us depend more upon Him.
It was an evening when I wrote about needing to trust that everything will work out; about realizing that with God in control, I do not need to know the details. I don't need a roadmap, if I can honestly trust that God will lead me. And on said evening, I began to trust. My faith grew and my anxiety faded. And the next morning, we received an email.
Finally, communication from the people in China!
They are looking forward to our visit. In fact, others from the region will travel as well so that everyone can meet together. We will travel to China the week following Easter, first visiting Hong Kong and then visiting Shanghai. We both get to go, and we're crossing our fingers that we'll get sent business class!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
No News is Good News
I realize that immediately after sharing my website with many family and friends, I also stopped posting. The blame partially falls upon my computer, which was in the shop for a few weeks. But the rest of the blame, well, doesn't fall anywhere.
There is simply no news.
After accepting the job on February 14, we have heard nothing more.
That's not entirely true. We do know that Uncle H-- will be sending both Dave and I to China for a "look, see" before we move. And yes, that is the technical term. Even though it sounds rather unprofessionally like "oopsey." And we do know that Uncle H-- is leaning toward sending us to Shanghai, but that the Hong Kong option is still open.
But seriously, that's it.
And I've decided that's okay. I was feeling frustrated with the lack of information. I mean, I have decisions I need to make and actions I must take that are time-sensitive, dependent upon when we will leave the country.
But I'm not in a hurry. If it takes them a while to put this together, that's longer our girls have to hang out with their family in the US. And I have to trust that they will give us enough time to manage anything that is time sensitive.
So I'm not listing the house next week. And I'm not applying for visas. But I did get S--'s passport photo taken, and will send off the application soon. And that's all okay. I have made the conscious decision to be relaxed and take this entire process as it comes. And if a lack of information means that I just sit back, relax, and wait for details to come, then No News really is Good News.
There is simply no news.
After accepting the job on February 14, we have heard nothing more.
That's not entirely true. We do know that Uncle H-- will be sending both Dave and I to China for a "look, see" before we move. And yes, that is the technical term. Even though it sounds rather unprofessionally like "oopsey." And we do know that Uncle H-- is leaning toward sending us to Shanghai, but that the Hong Kong option is still open.
But seriously, that's it.
And I've decided that's okay. I was feeling frustrated with the lack of information. I mean, I have decisions I need to make and actions I must take that are time-sensitive, dependent upon when we will leave the country.
But I'm not in a hurry. If it takes them a while to put this together, that's longer our girls have to hang out with their family in the US. And I have to trust that they will give us enough time to manage anything that is time sensitive.
So I'm not listing the house next week. And I'm not applying for visas. But I did get S--'s passport photo taken, and will send off the application soon. And that's all okay. I have made the conscious decision to be relaxed and take this entire process as it comes. And if a lack of information means that I just sit back, relax, and wait for details to come, then No News really is Good News.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Living Simply
I went to the wedding of a close friend this past weekend. Their ceremony was beautiful, and reflected the couple in a touching way. Evident in their ceremony as well as their reception was the couple's commitment to living simply. The wedding has caused me to reflect upon my life. It seems to me that this move is the perfect opportunity to purge my house.
When we were considering moving to Chicago, I felt that we would need a large home with plenty of storage space. In planning to move to China, I expect to have a condo with less square footage than our house, and very little storage space. Although I should admit that we will rent a storage unit, I only plan to use it for the piano and some important heirloom quality pieces.
Everything we own will fall into one of four categories:
1 - Take it with us
2 - Pay to store it
3 - Loan it to family
4 - Get rid of it
It is my hope that most items fall under the lattermost category.
When we were considering moving to Chicago, I felt that we would need a large home with plenty of storage space. In planning to move to China, I expect to have a condo with less square footage than our house, and very little storage space. Although I should admit that we will rent a storage unit, I only plan to use it for the piano and some important heirloom quality pieces.
Everything we own will fall into one of four categories:
1 - Take it with us
2 - Pay to store it
3 - Loan it to family
4 - Get rid of it
It is my hope that most items fall under the lattermost category.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Full Information
As an extension of the last posting, I will offer all of the information that I currently have on our move.
1 - We will leave in 3 - 6 months.
2 - We will live in China for 2 - 5 years.
3 - We will either live in Shanghai or Hong Kong.
This is all I know. This lack of information is beginning to frustrate me, and hopefully will not last much longer.
When we will leave effects when I will arrange for passport photos, temporary housing, listing the house and closing on it, putting items in storage, and purging the house.
Where we will live effects the language we will speak, the amount of English which natives will understand, the size of home we will have, and the availability of western goods.
Again, how do I plan?
1 - We will leave in 3 - 6 months.
2 - We will live in China for 2 - 5 years.
3 - We will either live in Shanghai or Hong Kong.
This is all I know. This lack of information is beginning to frustrate me, and hopefully will not last much longer.
When we will leave effects when I will arrange for passport photos, temporary housing, listing the house and closing on it, putting items in storage, and purging the house.
Where we will live effects the language we will speak, the amount of English which natives will understand, the size of home we will have, and the availability of western goods.
Again, how do I plan?
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Infant Passport
Here's a funny thought.
S-- needs a passport.
I mean, of course she does. Crossing international borders requires a passport. Hence, moving an American citizen to China would require that citizen to have a passport.
Still, its a funny thought. A child's passport expires in 5 years. S-- is nearly 3 months old. I imagine that any child between the ages of 3 and 7 will be able to pass in and out of the country on her passport in five years.
That she is so young, coupled with the fact that we do not leave immediately, raises the question -
When do I have her picture taken?
On one hand, every day she grows and looks older. So, the longer I wait the better the picture.
On the other hand, we could conceivably leave as early as May. Let's count backwards - assume we need 8 weeks to get a visa. If we leave at the end of May, that's the beginning of April. Assume it takes 6 weeks to get a passport. That shows that her photo ought to be taken and application mailed in the middle of February.
Shoot.
But we won't leave in May.
Will we?
An illustration of my current frustration. How do I plan anything?
S-- needs a passport.
I mean, of course she does. Crossing international borders requires a passport. Hence, moving an American citizen to China would require that citizen to have a passport.
Still, its a funny thought. A child's passport expires in 5 years. S-- is nearly 3 months old. I imagine that any child between the ages of 3 and 7 will be able to pass in and out of the country on her passport in five years.
That she is so young, coupled with the fact that we do not leave immediately, raises the question -
When do I have her picture taken?
On one hand, every day she grows and looks older. So, the longer I wait the better the picture.
On the other hand, we could conceivably leave as early as May. Let's count backwards - assume we need 8 weeks to get a visa. If we leave at the end of May, that's the beginning of April. Assume it takes 6 weeks to get a passport. That shows that her photo ought to be taken and application mailed in the middle of February.
Shoot.
But we won't leave in May.
Will we?
An illustration of my current frustration. How do I plan anything?
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