One last post from China...

The bags are packed. The kids are bathed. The empty Pizza Hut boxes sit outside our door, testament to one last fast food meal on this side of the world. We will be leaving for the airport in the morning for our flight to Beijing and then at 7pm China time (6am EST), we will get on the plane for our long journey home. I have mixed feelings. I soooo want to be home. I miss Nathan (even if he doesn't miss us :) ) and all the comforts of home. I have no plans on eating at a McDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut in the next year!!! Home cooked meals are going to be so nice! So will ice cubes, brushing our teeth in running water, and sleeping in our own beds. I'm even looking forward to doing laundry!
But I will miss China. I really do love this place, with all its oddities (at least to my American eyes), rich culture and generous people. This is the birthplace of two of my children - how could I not leave a little piece of me behind? So I am anxious to get on that plane tomorrow but I leave with a hope that someday we will be back to explore this amazing land again with my family.
Good bye China. We have had a wonderful trip!!!

ps - thanks for the prayers for our friends! They were able to get everything done and are leaving with us tomorrow - Praise God!!!!