Sunday, after a long night meeting family and friends at the coffee house for one last show, James and I once again headed separate ways to tie up loose ends, finish packing and play one last set. Our paths have constantly split during this month of preparation, knowing that we were heading towards a common goal and would eventually end up back together again - on a plane to China.

Last night we said goodbye to our closest friends. I have so fallen in love with our community! The freedom, laughter, genuine care, and closeness we have all experienced together makes up the most unique body we have ever been apart of. The house was packed with our closest friends; Megan floating around with camera in hand, Andrew driving the jokes until he quickly dipped out for bed time around 8, Joy and Cory coming up with topics for our Pictionary competition while preparing lesson plans for the week, and everyone stuffing their mouths full of my junk food binge from a trip through the last American grocery store I will see for months.

While watching this incredible group of friends play and dance their hearts out, all for the sake of making one another explode into laughter, it started to set in once again just how incredibly blessed we are to belong to this family. We have genuine hearts that care and fight along side of us everyday. Friends who bring strength and light wherever they go.

This morning, we arrived to the airport a few minutes after 4:30. The Murdock’s gave up a night’s sleep before a long week of teaching to drive with us to Daytona and take our car back home. We were immediately met with challenges. Wouldn’t be life without twists in the road..

We were greeted with a sympathetic look and the advice that we should probably drive to Jacksonville as we were 10th and 11th on the stand by list & there were only 9 seats available. With what was likely perceived as dumb persistence, we decided to wait it out, knowing that this was the only flight to Atlanta leaving for the day. Sure enough, grace intervened and we were seated on the plane right before take off.

So now I sit, slowly melting in the airport after less than 6 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours with Starbucks in hand and a flight just over 5 hours from take off. Even exhausted and cranky (because I can’t [read: refuse] to sleep in public places, unlike James) I can’t believe how blessed we are to be heading to China after only 6 months of newlywed “bliss” with my best friend. We are so excited to get immersed and fall in love with the Chinese all over again.

*ATL International Terminal | Monday, 10:05am Eastern Time*

Something I stubbornly refuse to do... James does not mind. — *Something I stubbornly refuse to do...* *James does not mind.*

*3rd leg of our flights: Tokyo International Terminal | Tuesday, 4:50 AM Eastern Time*

Next stop: Shanghai, CN

Through a whirlwind week, a burden was felt and our lives are changed. The time has finally arrived.

For months, I have been asked the question, “Do you want to move to China?” My gut response each time has been simple: yes. Everyone has known it was in James’ plans long before we started dating. He jokes that he brought me to China the first time because he knew I would fall in love and the rest would be history. Of course, I was semi-expecting a proposal while we were there, but that’s a story for another time...

We didn’t know when or how we would end up there, but the feeling was there and our hearts were open. We were simply waiting for the right time.

It seems that the time has finally come.

At the end of August, we will be packing up to move to the other side of the world for an extended stay. James will be enrolling in Wenshan University and continuing his study of Mandarin with hopes of pushing closer to fluency after another 4 months of immersion. Meanwhile, I will be working to finish arranging the iU Band’s December tour and other upcoming events while freelancing whenever possible for clients in the US.

I can’t speak a word of Chinese and my comprehension is pathetic at best. I can pick up on context in a rare circumstances, but that is because of my perception of body language. I’m expecting to experience complete culture shock and to be stretched and challenged in ways I never thought possible, but that is really the source of most of my excitement.

It has been an incredible chain of events that has led us to this move, coupled with a few very hard decisions that have impacted some friendships more than we would have ever wanted. But the time is right and the opportunity is being laid at our feet. We just have to answer the call and dive in head first.

Here’s to diving in.

Here’s to a month of wrapping up loose ends...

... to applications, hoop jumping, and consulate contacts.

... to planning and re-planning and last minute changes.

... to consolidating, prioritizing, and sacrificing.

... to tearful goodbyes and excited ni hao’s [hellos].

... to the end of one season and the start of a new.

We're going to China.