A Season for Everything

For the past 3 years our family has been living in China. We're your typical all American family, from a small town out in the middle of nowhere; a map dot, if you will. And no, we're not here for missions or military, just to clear that up.

I never imagined we'd be here and I've been whiny and annoying about wanting to go home most of these years. But now...the time has come to go home. And I'm sad. I'm actually sad. I can't believe that in 2 short months I will be leaving all of our amazing friends and the home we've made here. And perhaps most of all...leaving behind our wonderful ayi.

For those of you who have not had the amazing experience of having an ayi, I have to tell you, it's wonderful. The literal translation is Auntie, but she runs everything in our house. She cooks, she cleans, she irons (everything. seriously. I have ironed pajamas to sleep in!), she pays bills, she takes care of our daughter. Amazing. I can take naps, I can have mani/pedis, I can go out to lunch with friends, I can take my daughter out and not feel guilty about all the things I should be doing at home. And no, we absolutely are not wealthy. We just live in China and our ayi costs about $2 an hour.

So we're moving back to the US, to Pennsylvania, and suddenly this is all going to be up to me! Our daughter is 2, so I've never had to be a mom all by myself before. I can't imagine how everyone does it, all the cooking and cleaning and everything else. So this will be my journey! Any advice would be appreciated and we will desperately need some prayers!! But for now, I just want to share my thoughts and my experiences with anyone who cares to listen!