She pleaded to go to, literally begged.
We said she was too young; she said she could handle it. We said it would mean long days; she said she’d rally. We said there would only be Chinese food…and no forks; she said she’ll eat anything and that she’d practice. We said we couldn’t cover her entire cost, that she’d have to raise enough support to cover her plane ticket; and she said she’d do it.
We said yes, and she did some figurative cartwheels and then got moving, painting beads to sell and sending out support letters. She even asked for support for her trip instead of birthday presents, putting every spare dime in this jar that she decorated herself. We watched that jar fill up over the months. Now, days before we board a plane together for China, she has emptied that jar to the tune of $920 towards the plane trip and $200 to spend there.
To say that she’s excited for this adventure would be an understatement.
While I’m looking at t0-do lists, stacking up piles of stuff that is all supposed to somehow make it to China, putting away Lydia’s winter clothes so that Grammy can find something to put her in everyday while we’re gone, and organizing our freezer so she can feed the rest of our clan, Ashlyn’s fully packed. Like done. Like ready to zip that baby up, check it in, and say zài jiàn.
Yes, that’s an “I love China” shirt right on top there.
The good news is that all her goodies fit very nicely into half of her suitcase. Saweeeet. I’m claiming the other half.
#5daystogo
