Bittersweet...

This is by far one of the hardest post I have ever had to write....

About November of last year I was presented with two options about what to do with my upcoming summer. Both involving organizations which I love, but the sad part was I had to pick ONLY one. It has by far been one of the harder choices I have ever had to make, because only picking one meant that part of my heart would break. I love both of the organizations dearly and did not want to have to pick only one. It was not an easy decision by any means. It was one I went back and forth on for a while and when I finally decided my heart broke... For those that know me they know how much I love China and the children of China. I was planning and hoping to return this summer but that does not seem to be what I am suppose to do. I will not be making my trip to China and Starfish this summer liked I had hoped. It was not an easy choice by any means which is why it has taken me so long to post about it. I have prayed and asked God for his direction and his answer was not what I was hoping for. I so wanted to go to China this summer simply because I miss the babies and the people. It would have also been perfect because my roommate from last year would be in the city I would have been visiting and it would have been great to see her as I miss her dearly. But God has made it clear that I am to stay home this summer and minister to the children in a community close to where I live.

As much as it breaks my heart not to return to China and love on some precious orphans, many of whom I love dearly, I know there is a plan greater than I can imagine. I will be working with Freedom School Partners again this summer teaching and helping children between the ages of 5 and 11 with their academics. I loved my summer with them last year and I am thoroughly looking forward to working with them again. I have not found out where I am this year or the exact grade levels I will have, but I do know that I will not have to same group of kids I had last year, as my previous site has closed.

I cannot wait to see what this summer has in store. Please however, continue to keep Starfish, the children, nannies, Board of Directors and Naomi in your thoughts and prayers as they are still going through some rough patches with the Chin*se government. The children of China are always in my heart and I love them dearly. I cannot wait to return and love on them in the future.

Thank you also to all of those individuals who have supported me and my decisions about China both past and present. I am so thankful that there are people out there who get my passion and do not think I am crazy! Please keep me in your prayers this summer as I meet the children I will be teaching and mentoring. Those that remember from last year it was not easy, as so many of the children I will be working with have home life's unimaginable to us, and have experienced more in their short lives than many of us ever will. I cannot wait to meet my children and begin the summer with them though. I had a wonderful experience last year and think of my little ones often!

To end I will leave you with a picture of my fortune from my fortune cookie about a month ago. I so hope it continues to speak true! I know the children I have loved on, have helped me more than they will probably ever know.

Taylor

Updating award fail!

I know I am awful sometimes at updating my blog. I would totally win worst updater if that was an award. I have had an exciting last few weeks... More to come there. I have way to much I need to be doing to go into detail but I have not fallen off the side of the earth yet! Hopefully I will have an update soon. So much has happened lately. I will be back I promise so keep on checking in!

New Day Foster Home

New Day is currently raising fund for their Acute Care/emergency medical account. This particular account helps pay for surgeries and needs of children that just arise and were unexpected. It also helps them say yes to a needy child when an orphanage when they calls them asking for help. Because of this account and the available funds in it so many children's lives have been saved. Please consider helping New Day so that they can continue to save the lives of precious children in China. You can also read many of the children's stories whose lives have been saved and forever changed because New Day stepped in!

http://newdayfosterhome.blogspot.com/

Three Years ago

Oh how things have changed in 3 years. Three years ago today Ashton and I were in the lobby of the Wangfuijing Hotel in Beijing China anxiously awaiting the 4 children who were about to forever changed the families waiting upstairs. I remember that day oh so well. I remember the look each child had on their face as they walked through the revolving doors at our hotel. Each little one was so sacred about what was about to happen. But they didn't know how long the four families upstairs had waited to hold them in their arms. Our group had waited NINE almost TEN months for this day and it was finally here.

For most family/gotcha days are a blur full of tears and screaming children. But not one child in our little group cried but the pain of the day was on everyone's faces. There were 4 children not quite old enough to fully comprehend what was happening and 4 children who had just been taken from everything they had known. Those Beijing days were hard for just about everyone in our group and through it all our travel group became like family. We were each others shoulders and support during those many tough days we all faced.

Three years has brought us a long way though. All of the children that were in our group are doing amazing today! Jacob has come so far in the last 3 years it is amazing! He is above or at grade level in every subject in school. Looking back he has come a long ways from the little boy in China we were handed. He no longer runs at any given chance and he has learned what a family is, something he didn't even know about 3 years ago today.


Granted yes we were headed to bed this time 3 years ago as it had been a long day and with the time difference and jet lag we were all exhausted. If I could go back I wouldn't change a thing. Jacob was totally made for our family and we have grown so much over the last few years. We are truly the lucky ones not him for getting a family but us for being blessed with such a cool little guy. I am so blessed to be his big sister.

The First Week of Class

Well... The first week of class has come to an end. To that I am grateful! The first week always seems to be the most stressful.

• Where are my classes
• Did I read my schedule right
• Am I in the correct room
• How are my professors going to be
• Will I know anyone in my classes
• Can I make it from building A to building B in the allotted time
• etc...

I stress the most during the first week because my biggest fear is I will read my schedule wrong and be late for a class or show up on a day that I do not have that class. Those that know me personally know how I am. I will read my schedule 4 or 5 times and still question what I have read. Needless to say though the first week went wonderful!

My professors all seem great which I am so grateful for. The work load for the semester doesn't seem to unbearable. I have a lot of reading and a fair share of papers but nothing I cannot handle.

I am so excited for this semester and cannot wait to see what it holds. Most of my classes I am generally excited about and I am finally into some of my major ones. The one I am dreading is my FINAL science course! Thankfully it's only 50 minutes a day Monday, Wednesday, and Friday which I can handle, no more 2 and a half hour Anthropology lecture.

Family Ski Trip

This past weekend we took a rather random last minute ski trip. It snowed and we decided why not head to Boone and go skiing/snowboarding. The littles have never skied before so we put them in a class and it was great. It was not crowded at all this past weekend and it was great!

I decided  to be brave and snowboard instead of ski. We all should remember the class that I took last year 2nd semester. Thankfully I remembered just about everything and did okay considering I haven't snowboarded in almost a year. I only had one major fall when my boot because loose in my bindings. This was the first time I have ever used bindings. During the class I always had a step in. I loved being able to get back into it and it was so nice that I remembered how to do everything. 

The princess HATED skiing and she was the one who was SO excited about going skiing and being like her daddy. She dropped out halfway through the class... She complained the whole time probably about how cold she was or how much she didn't like skiing. When she would fall she would yell at her ski instructor "hello someone needs to pick me up!!" That child I swear!! Needless to say her instructors weren't upset she was a dropout. They seemed rather relieved that she left.

Jacob loved ski school and did very well. He graduated and was able to go out onto the slope with his dad. His instructors said that he was the best listener of the group. 

Other than the drop out the ski trip was a major success! We enjoyed the get away and change in scenery. 

Now on the the pictures of the littles ski class. I have a video as well and will try to get that up later and post a link here.Lily is in all pink and Jacob is in the all black with the red and green marked jacket.

 

Friends Date

You know how you have those few friends that what ever you do you cannot get rid of them nor do you want to.... Well I have two of those and I love them dearly!! I could not imagine my life without them. They have made me who I am today and have stuck with me through thick and thin and I couldn't be more thankful for their friendship.


Since going off to school I don't get to see them as much which I hate but we enjoy our time together so much. There is never a dull moment. We can find something to do anywhere we are and have a blast. We never leave without a good laugh and aching stomachs.

Last Friday we all had some free time so we headed out for some fun only we can have. A traditional dinner at our local Mexican restaurant then reminiscing at Dairy Queen where Collin and I use to work (we don't miss that place). The last stop was Walmart Sarah had to grab a few things while we were in town so we decide to go just mess around.

I love the time I get to spend with the two of them and hate that it is not more. I miss being able to just call them up and head out for a couple hours or movies at one of our houses. But I am so glad we have remained close since going separate ways and I can only hope that never changes. Haha it better not cause they know too much and would have to go!!

Mexican food!!

Sarah and I

It doesn't fall out!! DQ chocolate extreme our favorite!

Sarah being a goof ball

Random bike

Haha fun times! We really love to mess around. Sarah's was the best!!

Collin Creeping!

Creeping at its creepiest