The Final Week

Seven days and we're air bound! So far some of our week will look like this:

• lunch and dinner with various friends
• haircuts for all; manicure and pedicure for one :)
• sorting through the kids' clothes (90% will be given to the kindergarten to have on hand for "accidents" - E. has come home with her share of interesting outfits - or it's so stained it needs to be tossed
• sorting through the kids' toys - things like broken crayons and almost done coloring books will be thrown out, but the building blocks, soccer balls, etc. will be left near the tracks for those families that have so little
  
• last minute shopping - some which will be replacement toys for those above. Little things that will surprise and entertain on the long, long flight home
• and of course, all the final details of ending my university duties.

G. has been ready to jump on a plane (any plane) for a couple of months now. People wise, (soccer teams, tutoring, friends) he likes China. He's just tired of dealing with the "camping" lifestyle (I can relate). Surprisingly, I'm really not that anxious to leave. Yes, I'm looking forward to being home again, but I also am dreading all the work that lies ahead. Doctor appointments, kids' swim lessons and bible camp, registering for school, filing taxes, buying a car, going through nearly a year's worth of mail, driving here, driving there, etc. Plus, since we just moved to a new area and I was just beginning to get a feel for where things are, I have to start all over! But then, I only need to think of the all that I'm looking forward to...

There are some things that I'll miss. Such as, don't feel like cooking? Well, let's just walk down to the dining hall for a bite to eat. I've gotten quite used to that and I like it. However, I do miss having an oven. First real meal I'm serving - baked chicken!

So onward to our last hurrah...!