August 17--Day 406

Baby shower for Richard Dean Wait-For-It York III! American Pizza Hut. China presentation. Chuys with the high-schoolers. Yep. Ate for free. Felt bad. Left a Chinese tip.

August 16--Day 405

Painting today! And, yes, we improvised. No can opener, no screwdriver... let's just find a nail or something. And giant book sale! ...I might be a bit obsessed...

August 15--Day 404

Chilled with the teens again! And, America, I have some bones to pick with you. 1) Why on Earth are there golf clubs for sale for $500? I mean, really. (Insert happy story!) I was in Hallmark when I heard a familiar sound, coming from that little box. The Brady Bunch theme song. Smile. Huge smile. 2) Standing by the milk, listening to two roommates debate. "But, I just... I don't know. This little bottle is $1.29..." "But how often are you going to use it?" What? Ok, first, we drink milk, we don't use it. Second, it's not some obscure, fancy spice you're just going to set on your shelf. It's milk. It's a staple. It's a necessity. You should be "using" it often. And it kinda goes bad. So, "use" it all really soon. 3) I spent 15 minutes in Walmart, searching for a bottle of water. You know what? It doesn't exist! And, I can't keep talking about this because I'm still a little shell-shocked. 4) A real-life purge in Louisville? America! What is wrong with you! That's it, I'm going back to China. We may not have logic there, but things somehow make more sense.

August 14--Day 403

Another day with the cuties! Lennon and I are basically bffs now :) That covering of the ears? Yeah, that was his response to Queen. The other kids loved it. And you know in It's a Wonderful Life, when George wishes he had a million dollars? "Hot dog!" Taught them that too. These are things they need to know! Oh, and pet potty training? America, what is wrong with you?

August 13--Day 402

Practice at church after service. Taco Bell. Life's pretty good.

August 12--Day 401

August 11--Day 400

Wait. What does that say? Does that seriously say, "Day 400"? I can't believe it actually came. To be honest, there was more than one day when I thought I wouldn't make it. But I did. Because He is Good. Because He is my Strength. That was my theme for this year. And when I decided that, sitting at home, about to start my final semester, I could never have known how much I would need that this year. I've done things I never could have imagined I could do -- every day. Every day was a struggle, every day was a test, every day was a blessing. It's kind of anti-climatic that I'm spending my 400th day in China, but it doesn't matter. Because I'm going back. Here's to another 400 days!

Oh, yeah, and how did I spend that 400th day? Sorry, got a little distracted by my soliloquy there. I volunteered at my church's food bank. Saw packaged meat, you know, the kind that a thousand grimy Chinese hand's haven't actually touched. Jammed to Journey with Mom on the ride home. At hamburgers. Doesn't get much better than this. Well, it does. If my students were here with me. Or if I were in China with them. Four more weeks, everybody!