Day 7 in China on Spring Break, a "Down Day"...

It's Monday and the maid comes tomorrow so of course I am doing some straightening up now...I decided to take a "down day" and not do anything, plus the driver has his monthly meeting so if I wanted to go somewhere. I would have to brave a cab ride by myself with the kids. Not much to report here but it's good sometimes to do nothing. I am glad I am still going to be able to do this while here in China. Although, I am sure they would consider it "Wasting Time". During the day today I spent many moments thinking about how much my life would change when we are here. I realized that I am going to loose a LOT of my INDEPENDENCE...I have always been one to go out and do what I needed to in order to get things done. I don't like to rely on anyone, it's been my experience that people always let you down in one way or another. Because of me feeling that way, I have always tried to do what I can when ever I can to help anyone out who may need it, not be that person who always lets you down when you need them. My expectations of others are high which I have realized in my 30+ years is because I would hope people are good and treat people the way I do, such is not always the case. I also realized that most recently I have met several friends and reconnected with old ones that I really do not want to loose because of my move to China. It has made me less excited as I was say over a year ago when I was less involved with many of my friends. I am still excited but also thinking I need to make sure I am better at keeping in touch with them as opposed to how I was in the past, the "low maintenance friend' i.e. no calls, no notes-just when I see you, I see you and when I get a call and talk to you, I talk to you...no worries, right? Well now, I am going to have to call or write in order to keep the good friendships. I used to be a huge planner until I had kids and realized they often throw a monkey wrench into the plan. I then adapted and went to the opposite end of the spectrum by doing everything on a whim. We'd go on vacations and decide that day what we were going to do for the day. This has been a bone of contention for my husband who had to plan our entire two week trip to Europe because I like to wing it. You can't really do that in another country. That trip by the way was great! But Here, I am going to have to plan ahead when I want to do anything because I have to see if the driver is available or need to make sure of the hours of the places I may want to go, etc., etc. If Suonllen and I have a disagreement or I don't feel like dealing with something, I can't leave the house and just go...which is what I do sometimes in AZ, learned behavior from growing up I think. I guess God is putting me in this situation to maybe realize it's ok to rely on others from time to time, you have to work on relationships more to continue to have good friends and maybe just plan things out once in awhile! or stay and deal with the disagreement even if it's easier to just ignore it. Not really sure what's in HIS PLANS for me or for us here in China, all I know is I have to faith that it will all work out and there is a BIG picture that we do not always know. Kind of a deep thinking day today, tomorrow will visiting friends and maybe another outing on our own....until then.