We did it! We made it back to the US! There were so many times when my faith was small and I was not convinced that we would actually make it together, but God was faithful and brought us home and brought me back to the people I love and the people who love me.

I am so thankful for the blessings that I received throughout the journey home. The people who helped me get the paperwork needed to leave the country with the cats, the people who drove me to the airport, the people who listened to me cry and complain (instead of turning immediately to God) when things seemed to be falling apart. The kind souls who comforted me and explained that the cats would be okay while I was away from them at the airports. The airport staff and crew members on every flight who were all so very kind and helpful, and the prayer warriors who followed my flight plane with prayer. I am so thankful for every one of you, even if you don’t know it, you made this process so much easier.

Journaling for Processing

As today is the second full day that I have been in America and it will be a pretty chill day in isolation, I am reminded of a journaling challenge that someone gave me months before I left to help me in the process of adjusting to being back in the US. The prompt said to remind myself why I chose to transition back to the US and to identify possible areas of personal growth in this season. I want to take a quick second to reflect on this question. Feel free to skip this section if you just want updates on my first few days back in the US.

On the surface, I decided to make this transition for love. I’ve had such an amazing time in China, but the love of my life wasn’t there so I decided to come back for him. From the moment I hugged him for the first time in three years, I knew that I had made the right decision.

On a deeper level, I have been struggling for a long time with feeling trapped. Though I was surrounded by amazing friends and colleagues, I was feeling trapped and that feeling was causing me to not be happy with where I was in my life. Being away from most of my family and the love of my life also intensified that feeling. Choosing to leave was also a way of holding onto the good memories, experiences, and life that I had while living in China so that those things would not become overshadowed by negative feelings caused by the new way of life I was living in China after the pandemic started.

Areas for growth? That’s a great question. I think one of the biggest areas I am going to need to work on is accepting help. This isn’t a new area for growth, but accepting help from loved ones after living alone for so much of my adult life. Also, asking for help without feeling guilty for inconveniencing other people, especially those who love me and I know want to help.

Other areas? I’m not sure I have been here long enough to really know yet, but it is a question I will come back to in the coming days and weeks.

My First Day

Though I haven’t seen my parents and grandparents yet since I decided to quarantine for at least a week or two, my first day was still amazing. I was able to get about 4 hours of sleep, then spend the day with Jay. I ate at Wendy’s (at home technically) for the first time in 3 years, and I cooked my dad’s favorite meal (pork chops) for dinner for Jay and his parents.

I still need to get into a regular routine, but it was an amazing first day!

Monkey and Stinky are adjusting well, and I think they are finally comfortable enough to wander around the room where they are living now.

Day 2

Day 2 was a bit more eventful than day one. I drove a car for the first time with my future-mother-in-law, and we survived (actually, I did quite well. I have really missed driving.). Then I just hung around the house with her all day. The next week or two will be spent at the house to try to avoid people and potential illnesses that I may not have been exposed to yet because it didn’t make it to China.

Prayers for Day 3 and Beyond

Things have been going quite well so far, but there are still plenty of things to pray for.

• Since the end of day 2, I’ve had a slight tickly in my throat. I think it is just the AC, which I’m still figuring out how to adjust it to a comfortable temperature.
• I’m sleeping pretty well at night, but I’m not back on a completely normal sleep routine yet. Coffee helps though!
• I’m making plans to go see my family as soon as possible, so safety in traveling and making sure that everyone is available when I can come visit.
• One of the big things on my list of things to do is getting caught up on my coding classes because I fell way behind with the end of the semester and this HUGE international move. Getting caught up over the next week or two is crucial for me being ready to get a job as soon as possible.
• I’ve also had some people reach out about potential job opportunities, and those are great, but I need prayer for preparedness, confidence as I’m making a career change, and people who are willing to give me a chance to show them what I can truly do!

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. I appreciate you and the time you are investing in me! More updates to come in the next few days and weeks!