New Teammate

L2R: Catherine, Valerie, Emily and Grace @Xiabu Xiabu

Our first chance to eat out as a team (right after our second team building session of the year)... we chose a popular hot pot chain.  Emily (pictured on Grace's right) is the newest addition to Team LX (LiangXiang)... but she too has been in China longer than we, so we can still can't shake "newbie" status!

Back at BIT

We arrived to blue skies and a crowd of proud parents helping their incoming-freshman sons and daughters settle in... Grace and I remember being in that role ourselves with Bonnie, Kara, Nate, Tim and Will... and miss them already!

Summer Wrap-Up

It has been a whirlwind of a summer... back in Jax now for the last few days before our flight back over the north pole.

It's been fun sharing with friends and family, and even with former students like these young men (Andy and Stanley) who both had Grace as their 6th grade Math teacher. They're Chinese-Americans and have worked in their parents' restaurant "China 1" for as long as we've known them!

Connect Group

Bill and Sharon Grady have been our hosts for the past couple of days; tonight they hosted a reunion of the Biltmore BC class that Lana and I were a part of during our time in Asheville... needless to say they are all very dear to me, as they've helped me through some challenging times, cheered as they watched God bring Grace and me together, and most recently supported our efforts in China!

Mission Accomplished

At the top of our priority list this summer was the hope that our time in the States would afford us a chance to be together with all five of our kids and their significant others... this had never happened, even before we moved halfway around the world. What a blessing to spend a weekend with this crew in the Kelly's beautiful mountain cabin!

Family Photo - July 20, 2013 (L2R: Will, Grace, Andrew, Joshua, Bonnie, Greg, Nathan, Kara, Eddie, Anna & Tim)

Tim and Kara Join the Fun

L2R: G&G, Tim, Mike, Caitlyn, Betsy, Jordan, G-Faye, Nicole, G-Mom, Susie, Kara, Kim, Jay, Eddie, Steve, Ryan

More Family

L2R: Steve, Susie, Jay, Jason, Jordan, Lauren, Mike, Ryan, G&G, Leif, Brinley, Caitlyn, Jennifer, Nicole, G-Mom, Betsy, G-Faye

It's still far from everybody, but a nice gathering at G-Mom's nonetheless... Tim and Kara arrive tomorrow!