"You're never safe from surprise, 'TIL YOU'RE DEAD!" Thank you, Rachel Lynde. Well, that's not a new phrase, but it's my motto for China. Or maybe it should be, "You're never safe from surprise, 'til you at least leave China." The thing is, you'd think, wow, so many surprises in life should start to get predictable. You should be able to prepare yourself for the unexpected. But the unexpected is (as perceived) so unattainably random, that you can't possibly be ready. People talk about things coming out of left field. Well, here, something happens out of left field, and you somehow end up in that spot in left field. And then that is your new point of reference, and then five minutes later something happens in your new left field, when you just got settled on on your new pitcher's mound.

Even with this crazy truth, we are finding that it is becoming easier to adapt to new surprises. Whereas in the beginning, when we were reeling from change anyway and new things caused varying degrees of downward spirals, now, we can hold our heads a little higher. And we can take deeper breaths. And we feel a little more whole. What a thing to be thankful for.

Okay, slightly sick picture but in honor of Rachel Lynde (see quote) and the fact that we finished the 7th and final season of Avonlea! The picture is of us starting the last episode in Thailand. Boohoo, I guess we'll just have to watch them again! But it was Luke's first time seeing them! BTW, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you're missing out and you should watch them.

I'd like to share a few more things we're thankful for! 

Luke's family has been anxiously anticipating the approval to adopt their new daughter from here in China! And, the time has finally come. We will see them in just over a week, and are beyond thrilled to get to have them here in our home, for them to see a little of what life is like here, and then we get a new sister! She turns 14 in just two months, which would have made her forever un-adoptable according to the Chinese system. Thanks to the Father for his provision.

It was a long, cold winter, and the sun is shining it's warmth on us again! Five layers of leggings and long underwear really gets old. I just put all of those necessary winter items away, because there's no more winter for us this year! It's actually been perfect outside lately, with a light breeze and in the 70's and 80's. Soon we'll be crying because it will be upper 90's and nearly 100% humidity, but until then, let's party!

Another celebration we're having on an ongoing basis, is the slow but steady process of language acquisition! It's exciting to have breakthroughs like understanding 6 words out of a whole conversation, but because of that partially knowing what they were talking about! Or being able to explain a little of what I mean to kids that don't know any English. Or little pops of understanding here and there, that help us get a grasp on grammar and how the language is set up and used. Really, our level is SO elementary, but it's exciting to have these little milestones. 

One of the things that prompted my most recent thought on surprise, was, "Surprise! The Kindergarten is closed for two weeks!!" It's a policy that if there is an outbreak (5 kids) of an infectious disease in the Kindergarten, the school has to close for 10 days. We were at 4 kids with Hand, Foot and Mouth on Monday, and by Tuesday night there was another one down. So, I went in for a work day on Wednesday, and don't have to return to work until May 7! Unfortunately for Luke, the elementary is still in session, so I have an impromptu vacation while he's still working his tail off. Also (extremely) unfortunately for us, I technically have to make up those missed days of school in the summer. We are really hoping because of some extra work I'll be doing this next week on behalf of the school, that they'll still let us come home at the original time. If not, it's hard to say when we'll be home and it will cut into our visit to the States, not to mention unmentionable prices for plane tickets now (we bought ours for a good price quite awhile ago)!

We're really looking forward to the visit home the summer. (let's hope it doesn't get cut short!) We're doing fine here, but we miss home and people (you!). But the countdown is on! In just a few days we can say "We're leaving next month!" Technically we won't be in the States until July 1 (and that's if everything goes okay with the closed Kindergarten stuff), but we're leaving Wuhan on June 30.  And it's almost May! Yippee skippee.

Blessings on you!

Love, 

Steph

Even though it was a rainy day, it was so pretty out and we got to see the countryside.

Luke's group went on a field trip to a nearby university. This is a pretty building!

I went on a field trip with some of my little cute students. Cross your fingers for me, because he was one of the 5 sick kids! (don't worry, I think I'm past the danger zone time period)