One Lucky Nomad

And so ends another crazy summer!

If you’ll remember my last summer road trip of five weddings and no car, it was a doozy that taught me so much about trusting Father and letting others help me, and this summer was MUCH less painful because of what I’m still learning. Maybe one of the best summers I’ve had. 

But first!  Every get depressed while perusing facebook or instagram because everyone’s life is awesome, and you’re eating instant mashed potatoes and watching The Food Network?  Full same.  And I don’t want you to think that my life is all fun and adventure just because I refuse to post stati lamenting my dirty house, unnaturally unwarranted bruises, and struggles with the photocopy guy. 

Because the truth is….it’s lonely living in another country sometimes.  It’s debilitating to not be able to communicate.  It’s depressing to not have my parent’s home as a default destination for breaks. It’s frustrating to never have a permanent address; going to the bank, shopping online, or getting a library card is never an easy or always possible task.  It’s crippling to not have a car, depending on people to take me to the store to buy underwear at Target. It’s painful to say goodbye every few weeks, knowing that everyone you live with may float out of your life in a few months. 

But this summer I kept thinking, “I am so incredibly, ridiculously lucky.”

It’s lonely living anywhere sometimes, but I have a family in China that many don’t have…one that provided a juice bar and put on talent show for my birthday party because they know me. 

It’s debilitating to not speak Chinese…but I speak English like a boss and I milked that for all its worth this summer. I grew up speaking a language that so many work so hard to learn, and I’m trying to not take that for granted. AND the little Chinese I speak was just enough to make a few airport friends. :) It's depressing not to have my parent’s house as an option, but I was completely blown away by all the people that hosted me and made me feel 100% at home.  Also, skype, wechat and the modern cellular device allowed for a lot of good talks with the parentals.  AND I got to see DJ a lot!   It’s frustrating to never have a permanent address, but look at all the traveling I’ve gotten to do!  I’m living up this time of life, and I’m sure I’ll miss it when I have my own mailbox.It’s crippling to not have a car, but this summer I got to borrow my brother’s, which let me travel around Ohio for a week with zero problems.  Also smart phones.  Smart phones make all the difference. And it’s painful to say goodbye so often, but the hellos make them so worth it.  And I got to say a heck of a lot of hellos to family and friends from Venezuela, Spain, Cedarville and China.  And these people made my summer.  Thank you so, so much. 

So yes.  All that said, life is not as rosey as Instagram or Facebook would have us believe, but as I sit in the airport, ready for China year 3, all I know is that I’m one lucky girl, and it's all Him.  Now pictures!  Mainly of people because that's what really makes any summer.  :) 

Spent a week with the these classy Grandparents, rockin 90.  Sweet times reading Grandma's journal from nursing school and discussing all the things with the (Christopher Plummer Doppleganger) scholar.  

Next up, I visited DJ where he was working at Twin Lakes  Camp.  So proud of that guy.

*NOT PICTURED: the gorgeous, I-totally-cried wedding of Crucky and Fluffy, where I saw so many old theatre friends that I couldn't even handle it or stop to take a picture. 

I got to see Lynnette and Will in West Virginia.  Met her in seventh grade and now she and her husband are building a house. Whaaat?  So so cool to see her. :) 

Sam!!!  Too excited to take a non-blurry picture.  This girl just passed Step 1 of med school, and I'm so stinkin proud of her.  Also, her hospital stories make me laugh more than Brian Regan.  

Sharon Befus!!! We're going on 21 years of friendships and 6 countries .  We've changed a lot since the ol' barbie days, but she's still as thoughtful and wonderful as always.  

Nissi!  The upperlcassman who nicknamed me "pretty stagecrafter"  and then told me to go to her dorm and get her belt.  So glad she actually became my friend later and directed me because she's ridiculously talented and wonderful.  Got to see her thesis show in Chicago, and I was so proud. :) 

The cutest dog in the world.  I would carry him around in my purse everywhere, no shame, and I was this close to taking him to China.  

THEN, my favorite part of every summer: a week at the lake with awesome family.  This was on a hike in the UP.  

Then LA baby!  I got to see Emily Munro, my dear friend from Spain who sang allll the Wicked songs with me.  She took me to Pawnee's City Hall and Shakepseare in the Park. SO good. :) 

Nathanny Fanny!!  This first-cousin-once removed pretty much became my brother when he lived with us for a year in Spain.  So it was AWESOME hanging with him and his wife for the first time since their wedding.  Beach and international noms for dayyys.  Perfect ending to a whirlwind of a summer.