As soon as we returned from Asia we spent the next few days just trying to unpack and settle into our surroundings. Of course we had Austin and Meagan with us too, so there was all of this excitement about just being with them knowing they would have to leave in just a few days. As I’ve written about before, it was hard to see them leave, and I think particularly strange for Poppy, Willow and Barret because they had all bonded so well together in our absence. Those were big, special days.
Once Austin and Meagan left (Victoria and I had our “melt-down” the night before), I headed off to work for the first time in almost three weeks, and Barret also had to head off to school for the day. That created a huge vacuum for Victoria and the girls – the first time I’d ever been apart from Xiao Qian since having her, and the first time all of the girls were alone together. Huge adjustments, no doubt, and also for me at work (my mind was on my family at home the entire day). That was a big, special day.
The next day I went to Sacramento for a business trip and also had to attend an Elder’s meeting that night, so I didn’t get to see the family again for another whole day. Victoria ran several errands with all of the girls which got Xiao Qian out of the house for perhaps the first time since we had returned. Again, another big, special day! (These may not seem big and special in the scheme of regular life, but when undergoing massive amounts of disruption, they’re big, believe me.)
The following day Annie returned from college to see her new sister, and many of us stayed up late waiting for her arrival. It was a sweet union to be sure, but all were puckered out with the build-up of her immersion and all of the other changes undergone throughout that day. Another big and special day!
Victoria, Annie and Piper went shopping all day the next day to buy Piper clothing for school and just everyday life. Although fun and eventful, it was still life changing and new. The girls all had a great time together trying to figure out what Xiao Qian liked, while also identifying things that might blend in with her new culture. She’s pretty opinionated, so it wasn’t hard to determine her preferences. The clothing she picked out is adorable, and she seems to especially like bright colors – purples and pinks. Yes, another big and special day, again.
The next day Barret brought Xiao Qian into the City (San Francisco) to see me at work and the local sights. (Victoria came down with the flu that morning and ended up spending the entire day in bed. We all felt so bad for her.) Annie stayed home to take care of Mom and prepare for a wedding shower she was hosting in our home for about 30 other women the next day. Xiao Qian was thrilled to see the sights of downtown San Francisco, and was especially enthralled with what she referred to as the “Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Dings” (cable-cars). Yet another big and special day, especially because MaMa never really rose from the bed until the next morning.
The weekend was packed! The wedding shower took place at our home on Saturday (I took all of my sweet Chinese daughters into Oakland to explore some trails together), Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day were on Sunday (not to mention a full day of church and Xiao Qian’s first exposure to 100’s of our friends), and Xiao Qian’s fourteenth birthday was on Monday. Big events on every day! You should have seen our household, moving from a wedding party scene, to a Chinese New Year festive theme, to a Valentine’s theme, to a Birthday theme. We were wrapping, taping, surprising, eating… you name it.
The next day, yesterday, was Piper’s first day of ELD (English Language Development) at the local school. She was really looking forward to going, but also a little timid about the whole thing (so Victoria says). Registration and all of the preparations for that first day took a lot of work, but she made it through (the school administrators were so nice and helpful). Later that day Victoria took Piper out to get her some eye-glasses (she’s very, very near sighted). Now she can see (a must for school, of course, and just everyday life). You should also see her new glasses, they’re so chic. The umpteenth special day since we’ve been home.
Well, while all of this excitement and change is fun and rewarding, it’s also exhausting. Victoria and I (especially Victoria) are longing for some routine, and we feel that now’s the time to start settling into that. We believe that this week we’ll turn a new leaf and make progress toward that end. Bedtimes and showers will fall into a pattern, meals and clean-up, dressing and preparing, school and church, homework and play… you know. Today is perhaps one of the first where it just seems like equilibrium is starting to kick in.
We have some fun stories to tell later, so we’ll post about those soon. I think that’s about enough special excitement for one post.
Warmly in Christ,
1 comment:
It just dawned on me that your new family picture now has to be replaced with a newer one! =D
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