I'm gonna roll home...

Chick-fil-A, slurpies, Auntie Anne's pretzels, ice cream, etc....a.k.a. my diet since I've been home. It's just too bad that all of the food I miss the most is the kind that clogs your arteries. As I drive through town, I just keep thinking "Ooohhhh! We need to stop and grab that!" If I keep this up, my company might have to pay for an extra seat on the airplane...just to fit me in. I wish I didn't have such an excuse that I use to justify these eating habits. Maybe then, I would be able to have a little bit more control.

"But eating ice-cream straight out of the tub is such a memory!"

"It's a hot day...we just HAVE to stop and get a slurpie and pretzel!"

"I know I just ate, but we are passing a Chick-fil-A...I really miss the fries!"

I know it is only my third day in America, but I am going to need to pace myself with all of these dearly missed foods. If not, I will surely be rolling home.

Officially Mrs. Evans!

When you get married and move your life half-way around the world within the span of a week's time, there are many details that are seemingly forgotten...at least for a little while. It's all about priority. We asked ourselves: "Do we have our luggage? Do we have our plane tickets & passports? Do we have each other?" If yes to all four, then everything else could be put on pause. It's to bad that the pause of officially changing my name to "Lauren Evans" would be a good 24 months long.

Now back in America and after a brief trip to the Social Security office, I am officially Lauren Renee Evans! Now all I have is my passport, driver's license, and credit cards to go.

And we're back...

After two years away from the "Motherland", every moment has had its thrills since we've been back. I wish we had a camera to capture the 50 ft distance that my mom and I ran to meet each other at the baggage claim. It was definitely a youtube worthy moment. We saw each other from a distance, screamed and then ran. Precious...simply precious. I was already chewing on my first Auntie Anne's pretzel when I saw her, but heck, that thing was flung to the ground when we collided and continued the excited screaming/hugging/jumping combination. As we met up with the rest of the crew (well most of them), the excitement continued! For the next 45 minutes driving back home, we talked "Chase family style" the whole way back. Basically...all fighting to get a word in edgewise, louder and faster than the last person. I am surprised we didn't fog the windows up with all that chatter!

After arriving into America, there are some things that I noticed almost instantly upon landing. As our first stop into America was at the LAX airport, I couldn't help but notice how many blondes there were walking around! What a sight to see! Almost instantly, I felt like I needed to put some life back into my hair, check my make up and fix my rumpled clothes. In China, every foreigner is basically gawked at just for the sake of being different. I must say, it was kind of nice taking a break from a culture where self-image is top priority. While now I feel like the struggle for vanity has set in again, it will be refreshing to just.....blend in.

Another thing...I feel like I am on audio overload! Now that I can actually understand everything that is being said around me, for the sake of comprehension I feel obligated to try and listen to all of it! I kind of miss my ability to zone out all the passing conversations. All I know is something needs to be done. I can't live my whole summer just eavesdropping. On the flip side, I have to remember that people can understand me too! I have already caught my tongue a few times as I have made small comments about clothing choices or complained about some situation.

There is so much more to be said, but I will end here for now. Looking forward to updating you with our next post!

"I keep losing my pencils!"

I couldn't possibly seem to realize how one of my students never had a pencil when needed. Watching him always in the pursuit of looking for one, I began to wonder what had happened to those pencils. I was sure that before every week started, he had a fully stocked caddy with everything that he could possibly need. Yet week after week, we would stock him up from scratch. That is of course, until I helped him clean out his "Writer's Toolkit" today. "Oh, let me just help you organize your papers (turning it upside down)......oh my....(as about 30 pencils comes spewing out)....what do we have here?" We both look at each other in shock. And then we lost it. We both just sat there laughing and laughing...now disturbing the whole class. It was uncontrollable. Now everyone was dying of laughter. I guess at this time of the year, anything that used to be annoying is just plain funny. Interesting how bonding moments come about.

From May 26, 2011

It takes a garage sale...

to finally meet your neighbors.

The other day our team was having their annual garage sale for any staff who were leaving. We decided to hop on the bandwagon, and saw it as an opportunity to get rid of some of our....well...precious junk. We soon realized the curse of having lots of storage space. It's like having a big purse - the bigger it is, the more stuff you fill it with. That is until you decide to purge.

What we didn't realize was that our next door neighbor would soon catch wind of our little garage sale. All of a sudden, we see her mosey on in still wearing her pajamas to have a look. That little "have a look" turned into 30 minutes of her bargaining with me and laughing over how fun it was! It was so surreal to be on the end of things...this time the market was in my house! She was so delighted when she left that minutes later we were invited into her house to sit and have some juice with her husband. What a sweet couple, and what a memory! I wonder where this new friendship will take us.

So thrilled to get rid of all this extra stuff. This sure did help to put things into perspective of how much we don't need.

Modern Toilet

So you know those taboo things that should never go together like toilet talk and food? Well, someone dared to break the rules and create a food chain filled with toilet seats, urinals, squatty potties (Chinese toilets) and yes...even swirly chocolate ice cream. Even though I was told that it was decorated "with taste", I had my doubts when a friend took us there for dinner.

Look at the chairs you sit on! They even had little flush buttons and everything!

And yes, chocolate ice cream served in a squatty potty....."Don't think, just eat" I repeatedly told myself.

And then ending the meal with a little bit of DDR! We sure did bring quite the crowd of people behind us...but hey, good thing we can laugh off how ridiculous we looked.

So surprisingly, everything was decorated with "with taste"...I would even say a bit classy. Apparently it is a well known European food chain. Very interesting...

Blessed.

This goes out to the coolest mom on the block (yes I said cool...).

For a mom who year after year wants only words as gifts, it's surprising that I never run out of genuine things to say. It seems as though each continuing letter has started with "P.P.P.S...." since I first began writing letters to mom. Every year I see her from a different light, a new appreciation, an admiring perspective. Let's just say the well of affirming words never runs dry in regards to Barb Chase. Anyone who knows her could say that very thing.

This goes out to you Mom...
From the moment that I left for college, my whole mentality and perspective began to change. At moments, I would almost feel an out of body experience as I would watch my life with new eyes - eyes of appreciation and respect...eyes that noticed the mold both you and Dad carefully shaped me in...eyes that would frequently tear up as I recognized all that you sacrificed to demonstrate your love to us. I am so proud to say that I had a wonderful model for marriage, parenting, and a servant's heart to the community. "How did I ever deserve such a beautiful description of His love?" I would think to myself. Every good and perfect gift is from above...that is definitely you mom.


I love your desire for sincerity. You seek after the raw, genuine heart of all people. You cut deep and fast - yet in turn, people confide in you with their deepest emotions and secrets. You often feel burdened by the troubles of those around you, but that is because you live, breathe and feel their story as they share with you! Not many people can actually hear information and care enough to have sleepless nights about it. While you see this as a negative thing because it takes a toll on your rest (which that is an entirely different note), take a step back and notice what a precious gem you are. As I have watched this servant heart about you, I have frequently found myself in similar situations. Yet looking at your life and the sacrifices of sleep, emotional strength, and even some friendships, I can only wish to do the same. It is just such a beautiful thing to not want to replicate...no matter the cost.


I love your desire for sincere apologies. How silly this may sound, I absolutely esteem your negative reaction toward putting a "band aid" over conflict. Your willingness and persistence to talk about tough stuff is a treasured characteristic about you. Even when the subject will most likely result in unwanted emotions and even irrational comments that might fly back and forth...you are willing to stick it out for the betterment of the relationship. While I might have not said it before...THANK YOU for being the strong one! I now see the foundation of each conflict - your desire to mend the relationship for the long haul...not just for smiling faces that facade the real issue.

While physical distance between us is difficult and emotionally trying at times, rest assured that these foundational memories of you make you closer than you think. You are frequently (if not more) in conversation in this house. The imprint that you have left on my heart has outlived the day I graduated high school...or even college. My memories of you are still strong and will forever e remembered. I am looking forward to your legacy of sincere love and compassion being passed down through the generations. Thank you for instilling this longing in me.

I love you Mom!