Hello, there! It’s been a while since I’ve written here, so I thought I’d give a little update.

U.S. Travels

Charles and I went to the U.S. for the summer, and we enjoyed seeing family and friends. We spent most of our time in upstate New York at my parents’ home. During that time, we celebrated my sister’s wedding which was a complete joy. The highlights were reconnecting with extended family and good friends, being together with both of my sisters for an extended time, seeing my sisters’ former foster daughter again (she was the flower girl), spending time with my best friend (during the wedding and the week after), and celebrating the beginning of a God-centered marriage between my sister and her husband.

The time in New York was refreshing. I had some great conversations with my parents, and Charles and I had enough time to unpack and really relax in one place for a while. We enjoyed home-cooked meals (thanks, Mom!) and also going out to some favorite restaurants. We especially enjoyed the cool summer weather and beautiful blue skies and green green green everywhere.

After the wedding, Charles and I hit the road for about two and a half weeks of visiting family up and down the east coast. We spent time with my grandma and Mom’s side of the family in New Jersey, my other grandma and Dad’s side of the family in Virginia, and Charles’s parents and friends in South Carolina. We especially enjoyed our week of staying with Charles’s parents, and I felt like I had a chance to really connect with my in-laws during that time.

I am so thankful for the time we had this summer to enjoy the people we love in the States. It’s always tiring to make the trip halfway around the world, deal with jet lag, and spend nearly two months away from our own home, but it’s also so refreshing and encouraging to be with the people we love.

Home Again, Home Again

We traveled back to Taiwan at the end of July. We fought jet lag, and I got a bad sinus infection. Charles went back to work, and I spent some time at the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship conference connecting with friends and enjoying the speaking and music ministry of Michael Card. My favorite aspect of returning to Taiwan was getting my little dog, Emi, back. I sure miss her every summer when we leave.

What’s New?

This year is going to be different for me. I’m not working as a teacher; for the first time in ten years, I’m not gearing up for the school year. I will do some subbing and probably some tutoring, but my big goal for this year is to get healthy emotionally and physically. I’ve dealt with a lot the past year and a half, and I really want to focus on healing now. I think that will include reaching out to the community and working on friendships in Taichung. I’m also hoping to find some way to be useful to others while not overcommitting myself since I have so much “free time.” Not working as a teacher has given me a bit of an identity crisis, but I also feel great relief about not facing the stress of a school year ahead of me. This is a much needed rest period, and I am grateful that Charles and I are able to manage financially with just him working.

Yesterday, we stopped by the school and hung out in Charles’s office for a bit. I have a comfy chair in there that I can sit in whenever I visit Charles at work. I joked with him that the following picture is a view of what our school year is going to be like: me kicked back relaxing while he’s at work.

Okay, so I’m hoping to be a little more productive than that, but I am thankful for a husband who works hard and takes care of me.

Charles and I are looking forward to this year and what it will bring. Please pray for us as we serve the Lord in Taiwan and as we figure out what the new normal is with me not teaching. We are thankful for your support!