Freedom!

Alright, so it is 3am and I am wide awake, so here goes the recap of the last few days of our return to the states.

We got an omen at a going away dinner with friends.

Dinner with the Reed's was great as usual, but just to be clear the tab was for 1776rmb not 1776usd, but a sign nonetheless that we're coming home:)

We said goodbye to Li Xiu Lan, friends and mommy:(

We packed up the dogs - as come-ups go, they are living right.  From hutong dogs to world travelers.

Meemaw and Pop-pop met us at the airport in my new rig:)

I checked in with the new job at Rock Ridge and got the hard-hat tour of the fields and athletics facilities.

We saw Alec and Jesse and Aunt Kathy at Reston Town Center.

On the drive up to Meemaw and Pop-Pops we had to reacquaint Bennett with the American corn field, hay bales, cattle farms, Gettysburg and the American Civil War, and of course, the road-side ice cream stand.  

Fireworks tonight, a baseball-watching weekend in New England tomorrow, and praying momma gets home to join us soon.  

God Bless America!  What a special time to be home.

Li Xiu Lan

The single hardest part about moving on from China is leaving this woman behind.

Train Home from Xi'An

I thought the warriors were cool, the Presidential Suite cooler, but I was utterly amazed by the views out of the windows of G666 as it whooshed us from Xian to Beijing in just over 5 hours. It seemed that every 30 minutes or so a nest if cranes erected a new city - no cars, not many people around, but piles of buildings being stacked up.

I have taken the train in China a few times to and from Shanghai, but this was my first time on this stretch, and the urbanization that seemed to pop right out of the farmland was awesome to look at.

Amazed!

All Last Everything

The daily run of lasts continues.

A last day at the ball park; a few "one last dinner with..."; a last village session with the guys; a last day driving in China:)

Today we finish up school - our last day at ISB.  There is a large collection of people I'll say my last "till next time" to today, as most here are wheels-up just hours after school gets out.  As Devon put it this morning,  "This goodbye is harder.  When we left Virginia, I knew I was coming back.  When we say goodbye today, it might really be goodbye."  

"Hang in there bud, I feel the same way."

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to ISB.  The whole family is better off because of the times at ISB, and I know we will never forget.   When we moved to a place so far away from home - as much in culture as it is in distance - this school community served as a safe haven for the kids, for me.  It became home, and we will always be Dragons, no doubt.  Thank You!

And today's one last bus ride - an ISB tradition - another great example of why this place is awesome!

So school's out, but we'll be here a few more weeks, ticking some more "last time in China" boxes:

One last trip to the Wall.

One last shopping trip to the market - any last requests?

One last party at 1201RG.

But today - a tough and tearful day of lasts - I commit to making this the last "this is the last" post of our China life, and we will turn our attentions to what's coming next - the new journey ahead!

SBJ Baseball is a Wrap!

Bennett and his pals finished strong

Parker and his team win

Goodbye Grey cai pan

Devon wore Parker's Shirt!

The Goodbye Dragon

An ISB tradition, Bennett got his "Goodbye Dragon" today and he brought it home decorated and signed by all of his 2ML friends!  He is the most nervous about going home - he is pretty sure THIS IS home.

Impact Project

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Benne Strokes One!

Devon and his buds created, planned and executed a project designed to impact the community. They chose to teach baseball to 2nd graders.

They advertised the clinic, taught the fundamentals, ran a practice, and exhibited their project and it's impact.

Silver Bullet

I had to part with the Silver Bullet last week, ironically the first car I ever drove in China - thanks John for tossing me the keys a few years back, when after a few months of no driving, I think you could tell that I needed to get out there and tackle the Beijing roadways.

Two owners later, I bought her for myself and drove it around this year.

Joanne's car will hopefully sell this weekend - we have a buyer, but the paperwork is tricky(TiC) - ticking one more item off the list.

Last Go Round at the Bird's Nest Cup

Just Be You by Devon