Four more months!

My passport is back with a new visa! Woohoo! My new visa is good until September 15th, so we have a little while to relax before it'll be time to renew again.

In celebration, my mom and I are heading into Beijing tomorrow morning and spending the rest of our week at a hostel and sightseeing. Tomorrow we'll be hitting the Great Wall, and then will continue the week with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, etc.

My mom has also booked a return flight home. She'll be departing from me on Monday evening, so it will be a bittersweet final week together. I'm so thankful that we've had this opportunity to be together in China!

Will check in again next week. Love you all!

Back in Beijing with bountiful blessings!

After a week of sightseeing in Hong Kong, I was issued my new 30-day visa. Yahoo! I had absolutely no problems getting through immigration and was welcomed back into China with open arms.

Our apartment balcony on Hong Kong Island.


The Peak overlooking Victoria Harbor.


My super mom is still here with me. She's decided to hang out until my next visa is issued. Yes, another one! We're trying for something longer than thirty days, and hoping I can avoid a trip back to the States to reapply. My current visa will expire on Thursday, so you'll hear from me and the status of my renewal before then...otherwise you'll be hearing from me from Nashville!

I can't begin to tell you how great it's been to have my mom here. I'm not only thankful to her for making the sacrifices to be here, but also to my amazing dad who made the sacrifice of staying behind. They're the best parents EVER!

We have a TON of photos we're excited to share with you all, but we've been having too much fun being together to spend our time sitting in front of the computer getting them all uploaded. Soon, though. Soon.

Love each of you!