The Big News

When we signed up for this gig in 2012, we knew that our time in Shanghai wouldn’t last forever.  Last year, Chris signed on for another year in Shanghai with the understanding that if a better offer within his company came along, we could move early.

We NEVER thought another opportunity would present itself this soon.  When Chris’ great grand boss presented him an opportunity that aligned with his professional and personal goals, we had to jump at the chance.  So, we have an announcement.

To make the announcement a little fun, I created this word puzzle for my parents.  Feel free to solve it if you have a little time on your hands.

If you are feeling lazy, and want to see my parent’s reaction to our news, watch the clip below.

SPOILER ALERT:  THIS VIDEO CONTAINS DETAILS ABOUT OUR NEXT ADVENTURE!!!

To prevent you from seeing our news on this screen, I am going to post pictures of my darling nieces and nephew.

Annabelle enjoys her first Den Pop at Purdue.

Amelia cruises around the driveway.

Hank plays with gravity on his first birthday.

If you opted to not solve my cryptoquip or watch my video, the big news is we are relocating to Florence, Kentucky (Suburban Cincinnati, OH) in a little over a month.

For me, the move is met with mixed emotions.  Part of me is elated.  For the first time since we married, Chris and I will be only a 4-6 hour drive from our families.  I will more than likely be able to attend my 20^th high school class reunion, and will be able to celebrate holidays with my family and friends.  Food will be cheap, air will be clean, and I will be able to convey a simple idea without playing charades.  We are leaving knowing this is the best move for our family.

However, there is so much of Shanghai I will miss.  The days of traveling to exotic locales, services that deliver pretty much anything, and having an Ayi who takes care of our needs are OVER.  I am also heartbroken to be leaving my family of friends, many of who supported us from the time we walked off the plane that crazy day in the summer of 2012. Worst of all, for the first time in 33 years I will be spending the school year outside a place I am meant to be…school.  I’m going to miss my kids.

While leaving is bittersweet, I am grateful that we are leaving the party while the party is fun.  I haven’t reached the disgruntled expat stage of the overseas experience, and I am excited about the future that awaits us in the Midwest.  I have faith that I will find what I am called to do while I am there, and look forward to sharing my American adventures!!!! 

In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers.  Repatriation isn’t going to be easy.  I look forward to sharing my final Chinese experiences over the next 40 days, and will reveal my new website in the near future!  (I have decided I’m not quitting blogging, but I do need a new domain.)

Most importantly, thanks for reading!!  Stay tuned for the next chapter!!

Chaos!

If there is one word to describe my last week in South Carolina, it is chaos.  Aside from the ordinary stresses of preparing for an international move, we decided to makeover parts of our home so it will be rented…quickly. So let the makeover begin!

Currently, I have nice gentlemen painting our kitchen, half bathroom, hallway, guest bedroom, and master bathroom.  Downstairs, there are gentlemen preparing to tile our kitchen, and upstairs bathrooms. 

Our Kitchen Before

More Before Pics

Marion, the painter, prepares to make the master bathroom a paradise!

Chris reconstructs our stone patio.

Our tile man prepares the glue for downstairs.

Leia supervises her new friends.

Needless to say, I am extremely jealous of the family that rents this home.  It is looking better than I ever imagined!

Since we are 99% certain our apartment will be furnished, we are trying to determine which belongings we are are storing, which items we are selling, and which items will be shipped via airfreight.  So I am currently wandering in the construction free zones tagging our belongings with yellow post it notes labeled sell, air freight, or storage. 

Yep, I need to label everything for the movers. 

As soon as the rooms are finished, I will post pics online. 

All I have to say is,

“Calgon take me away!!”

Cinco de Mayo Garage Sale Extravaganza

So the first Wilcox family garage sale is officially in the books.  We had two goals for this sale, get rid of stuff and make a little cash. 

This was our original Craig's List Posting.

The sale was supposed to start at 8 am.  Despite the fact that Chris threatened to feed early arrivers to attack Dachshunds, people started to arrive around 6:45.  It is a very good thing we decided to roll out of bed at 5:30 or else we could have had issues.

While we were thrilled to sell our stuff, the race to get everything out was a tad stressful.

After almost 11 years of marriage, I am ashamed to admit that I had no clue that my husband knows how to push merchandise!  His $1 tool bin idea was amazing! 

People were loving the $1 tool bin!

We got to visit with many interesting people.  Our next-door neighbors, Nathan and Nolin hung out in their new beach chairs for a while.

Nolin did a GREAT job of brining people in.  

Around noon, there was a lull in business so Chris decided to take a snooze.  Retail was so exhausting.

Sleeping on the job!

His nap did not last very long.  Two of the more amusing customers of the day, Chatty Cathy and Chatty Charlie, decided to visit our sale.

Chatty Cathy talks about how she is half blind.

I learned too much about Chatty Cathy during the 30 minutes we visited.  She would not stop talking, and the conversation was bizzare.  Some of her direct quotes were:

“My Chihuahua farts so loud it shakes the walls of our double wide.”

“I have put many things on Craig’s list, but every time I do they get stolen.”

“What is bad about my dog is he eats my hair.  Every time he walks around, he has dingle berries dangling.”

We could not cut her off, she was a paying customer. She bought a $.05 plastic cup she claimed she could enhance with fingernail polish.

She then engaged Chris in a conversation about firearms. 

Just when I thought things could not get any stranger, they did.  The “Only True Conservative” house candidate, Jordan Bryngleson, decided to make a campaign stop at the sale. 

Jordan Bryngleson on the Campaign Trail

While it was swell of him to stop by and share his views, it would have been nice if he would have purchased something.  It was a good thing that Bryngleson is an ultra conservative.  If he was liberal, Chatty Cathy may have pulled out one of her concealed weapons.  (Did I mention Chatty Cathy claimed to pack heat?)

At the end of the day, we dropped off 4 bags of leftover clothes to Goodwill and posted some unsold goodies on Crag’s list. Fortunately we made some cash that will be used to furnish our Shanghai home.

If you are interested in any of the following Craig’s list items, or some GREAT beach reading let me know. J

http://charleston.craigslist.org/fuo/2997908394.html

http://charleston.craigslist.org/art/2997926251.html

http://charleston.craigslist.org/vgm/2997973638.html

http://charleston.craigslist.org/hsd/2997935056.html