Just wanted to share... Many times our American friends will say "Do you still talk to your friends in China?" 

Occasionally is the proper answer. 

E-mail is easy... but hard at the same time... 

But this morning I got an e-mail from my good friend Terence :) 

With pictures included-- I LOVE that he included one of him diligently studying :) 

I imagine the kind person that took this for him :) 

 Here is his e-mail... just because it is special

 My dear friend Avery
I am so happy to receive your letter and to know you are living a so wonderful life! I want to say you are the best mother and the best wife I have ever seen among my friends. Nowadays, in Chinese opinion, if you have a house, a car and a happy family, you are a successful person. So God really really loves you! :)
No doubt, Parker is so cute, he is a consummate charmer, the proverbial Sunday's child. I still keep the pictures you have sent to me which we took at the photo studio. But, is he still makes you restless? I hope he is doing well, now. lol~
And how about Wes? Does he find a new job? I know the situation of employment is not as good as people expected, but such a diligent man like him deserve a nice job. And I have a long time no hear the news of him. Please give my regards to him. I appreciate you invited me to your home. Actually, go to America is a dream of mine, I do really hope to visit you at your hometown, too! I wish it won't be a long time if it possible.
Now, how about me? I am living a simple but busy life. I go to the library to study from Monday to Friday, and I go to the Haidian Church to learn B on Sunday. I join in a brother group which lead by a priest whom comes from America. Last Sunday, we studied John 1. But I will take some lessons about postgraduate entrance exam at the weekends in the future, so I maybe couldn't go to the Church every week. The time is more and more less, it's only 82 days left for me to prepare. So I should be more diligent and be more care about my health situation. Some times I will do some running, I noticed that it's very important to my healthy.

And, I have to say the girl I have ever mentioned is not my girlfriend, I had met her just once, and she didn't come to Haidian Church often as she told me, but she is a nice and kindhearted girl. Haidian Church is so big and there are so many people in it, so it's hard for you to recognize people you have ever met.
Well, I attached some pictures about my study and living environment to you, my friend. If you will please pray for me to pass the exam. :)

 Terence
 OH I hope he can come to America so all of you can meet him. He is an incredible friend. Will you pray with me that Terence will pass this exam? It is very important for his future.

New Home

Many of you know we moved :)
We moved to Old Raleigh area... and we LOVE our new place. We live in a 3 bedroom apartment and it is home!  I thought I would make a list of some the things that we love about our new place...
So here goes- Top 10
1. Convenient to everything!!
2. Wooded areas and trees-- the complex backs up to a huge park in Raleigh... these pictures are from P and my morning run... right outside our door-- beautiful sky on fire in places and baby soft colors in others.  Fall leaves changing... the beauty of God's creations make me want to SHOUT :) -- good thing the rocks aren't crying out.

3. Regular running grounds-- about 5 mornings a week I load P in the jogging stroller and we head out for a run.  I love not having to get in the car to drive to somewhere to run.
4. Close to our church- Capital Community Church
5. A space of our own to decorate :) My fall decor is a work in progress... but currently I have "Thanks" on the mantel and a "T" pumpkin. (recently added but no picture-- a beautiful Mum that Wes brought home for me.)

6. Huge covered porch on the back.  We don't have porch furniture yet... but oh I look forward to sitting out there with a cup of coffee and my Bible.

7. My office/P's play room :)  Everybody says "what do you need an office for?"  I guess nothing super important expect-- Bible study, paying bills, meal planning, blogging, reflecting, reading... it is a well used space!!

8. A ministry opportunity with neighbors.  I am excited about building a relationship with my downstairs neighbor (a mom with two kiddos)

9. Nice kitchen for all that cooking I love to do... overlooking the dining and living room.

10. A wood burning fire place (haven't used it yet... but oh I look forward to it :)

Books

Don't you hate it when a good book/author goes bad?
I do!!  I have been reading these mystery/thriller books by Vince Flynn and really enjoyed book 1 and 2 of his Mitch Rapp series... but then book 3 starts to get too political... making historical good guys (Ronald Reagan) bad and bashing parties... come on!!!  I am not a huge political girl-- in the fact that I don't like to talk about politics (most people just argue their own point)
I am torn between overlooking it and chucking it up to his own personal beliefs and tossing the book in the recycle.

So blessed

Have you ever felt... 

So blessed that the words "thank you" don't feel appropriate ... like it doesn't quite express what your heart feels?

Our church has blessed us beyond measure!!  They are hosting a "pounding" for us.  Nope-- they aren't beating us to a pulp literally but rather they are pounding us with blessings.  Actually a "pounding" is stocking cabinets with foods and such.  It isn't easy moving back and having to repurchase everything ( I mean EVERYTHING) Here is some of the items we have received...

And - Renee (CCC's amazing Pastor's wife) came over for tea last week and noticed we only had two mugs-- a CCA mug and a Christmas mug.  She came back the next day and blessed me with 8 new coffee mugs and a set of ice tea glasses.  WOW... 

Like I said-- the words "thank you" feel lame compared to the amount of blessing we feel.

Fall

I adore fall!!  I love the temperature change, football, leave colors changing, the fall smell in the air, the State Fair, Pumpkins, lattes... literally the list could go on and on.

Wes, P and I had a fabulous weekend-- get this -- relaxing :)  Saturday we went for a walk around the Art Museum trails and Sunday we enjoyed church with friends at Capital Community and a lazy day around the house.

Here are some of my fall favorites in picture format :)

This beautiful tree is just outside our new home.  So beautiful... although it didn't last long-- I'm glad I got a picture because most of the leaves are now scattered among the pavement.

 Here is my little Wolfpack cutie!!  Cheering us onto victory against FSU :) Woot Woot!!

 And just a delightful treat-- homemade Pumpkin Spice latte and pumpkin bread.  I simply adore pinterest... although I do have to confess-- I don't go searching for my own "pins"  I simply repin what everybody else has already pinned :)  Thank you "hard searchers" for all those WONDERFUL pins!!  Recently, I have been cooking dinners from my pins and trying some of my crafty skills.  This pumpkin spice latte was a success.  (If you check out my boards-- another one that was FABULOUS - Baked Pasta with Spinach and Sausage.  I made some small changes like- chicken sausage instead of the fatty stuff and cottage cheese instead of ricotta-- but I would HIGHLY recommend this dish.  

Cousins

And BFF :)