Thankful

I know, I know, It's been a while since I blogged, but we've been so busy blah blah blah. You've heard it too many times. Anyway, I felt the need to blog about this because it's something I am constantly thinking about. When I'm doing something in China, I think of how I would do that same thing in America, and vice versa. For example: In America when I am driving down the road in my car with the heat blowing in my face and it's 38 F outside, I think about traveling the same distance in China. There are 3 options:

#1. Taxi (the heat isn't always working in the vehicle. And you must wait an eternity to find a taxi at certain times of the day)
#2. Bus... I believe I've talked about the struggles of a bus ride before. Read about it here. Second paragraph.
#3. E-bike (or any 2 wheeled mode of transportation.)

By the way, all 3 China options cause feelings of frustration.

I am thankful when I am driving my car in America. In China when I have time to sit on the couch and enjoy time talking with my husband, I think about how much time we don't have for that in America. Life is just slower in China. It takes longer to do things, so you don't plan as much in one day and everything feels more chill. It's nice.

So, I am thankful. I used to work at the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the prevention of child abuse. I left that job to come to China to teach English and share some good things with the Chinese people. Things I experienced while working for the Carl Perkins Center (CPC) just stayed with me. Like any experience leaves a foot print on your life, this one walked all over my heart. Certain daily rituals of mine remind me of experiences I had while working for the CPC and the children who were positively effected by it. I almost feel like I'm in a movie having a flashback. Some of these are strange, but true.

When I am washing the dishes, specifically rinsing the soap off of the dishes, I remember a certain sweet grandmother of a sweet little boy I helped. I remember the first time I went to see her she was rinsing the dishes off and crying because times were hard for her. She took in her grandchildren because her daughter was not a good enough mother to take care of her own children. I so vividly remember the little boy coming in the house from the bus after school and showing his grandmother a picture he drew for her. She wiped her tears and thanked him for the picture. As he ran to his room, she sat down at the kitchen table with me and said she didn't mean to get upset, and that she is so grateful for her grandchildren.

When I wash my hair, specifically when I squeeze the shampoo from the bottle into my hand, I think of a 14 year old girl I helped. I think about her telling me of a time when her hair was pulled so tight from her scalp, her head ached the next day. I think about her giving me an angel figurine when I left the CPC because, "You helped me out of my hell."

When I use butter, specifically when I put the butter into the pan to cook something, I think of two little sisters who were 2 and 4 years old. I walked into the house and saw the 4 year old eating butter. Me and a colleague then looked in the refrigerator and found nothing but a stick of butter. The poor mother had nothing and thankfully the CPC was able to help her get on her feet.

It's very strange because these things consistently enter my mind in the same circumstances. Whether I am in China or America, these things come to mind. Yes, I said some of the things are weird, but it is 100% true and very specific. I don’t know why I think of these things when I do, but I feel like He is helping me to be thankful for the things I have. The grass is never greener on the other side. I'm thankful I have a good mother. I'm thankful I have loving parents who didn't abuse me. I'm thankful I have food to eat. I'm thankful I have a Father who loves me more than any person could. Be thankful and tell Him about it! Thanks for reading! I love you all!