Good Beginnings, Rough Endings

The day started early and pretty anxiously for me this morning.   I woke up well before I wanted to worrying about something I had no control over...and it was happening half way around the globe in Nashville, or more specifically Antioch.  By the way, the city we are staying in is really a great place.  It's a bit like New York City with huge buildings everywhere, shopping, good restaurants..like I said yesterday, very international.

This has been a fantastic trip but there are a couple negatives.  First, and most of all, Nicole and I miss the boys a bunch!  They are sweet to send videos saying hello to their baby sister.  Today I got a video of Jackson and it was him reading a book for Bo...and what did he choose but my favorite to read to the boys when they were little....Oh The Places You'll Go. I am so very proud of them both for being such troopers through this.  Second, it was extremely difficult leaving one aspect of my job, coach of the DCA Lady Wildcats.  To this point in my life, it is what I have been most passionate about professionally.  Don't get me wrong, I like my job...but this one part of my job has always been special. 

During my weeks in China I will miss seven games and too many practices to count.  Yesterday at 6:00 Antioch time, 8:00 am China time, the  girls and coaches traveled to Ezell-Harding for a very important region basketball game.  I was very anxious to say the least, just ask Nicole and Bo.  At 8:00 am we were preparing to go to breakfast, in fact, Nicole and Bo had already left.  I dropped to my knees and asked God to be with the girls in a powerful way.  I got said a very selfish prayer, because I wanted them to be victorious.  I asked God to honor and bless what Nicole and I are doing by giving the girls a competitive spirit and a strong will to win.  It was a bit of an emotional couple of minutes.  I knew it wouldn't be easy, but it was harder than I thought, knowing that the kids were playing a game, actually their second since I have left, and that I would have no say, no control, no way to "encourage" (you can take that in a number of directions).

So I get down to breakfast and I knew that I would be getting text updates from my father and I had a feeling our A.T., Clint, would be keeping me up on the game status as well.  By 8:23 am I had received no info, and Nicole can testify to this, so I set my phone out on the table and yelled at it.  Just as I was "encouraging" my father to get the info to me the text popped up and I heard the first news, not so good at the end of the first quarter.  Anyway, to make a short story long...I don't know how many times I checked my phone and said "C'mon girls" 

This is the part of the story where Bo comes into play.  The game ended when we went upstairs after breakfast.  I was sitting at the desk by the computer when I got the text that informed me of our 62-52 victory.  I screamed "Yes."  Bo was sitting just to the left of me and when she heard me scream her head swung around, she looked at me, smiled, and threw her hands in the air. Already a Lady Wildcat!

So most of the day was spent on this great island kind of in the middle of the city.  It's called Shamian Island and it is bordered by a river and a canal.  It is a very small island and it reminded Nicole and I of an old town in North or South Carolina...very colonial.  It is where Bo got her picture taken for her visa and received her medical exam.  It took a little more than an hour to complete the events...which by the way Bo came in at 70 cm (27 inches) and 8.2 kg (18+ pounds)...the medical exam was assembly line, not very sterile and I'm not sure that the medical personnel knew what they were really talking about...not by American standards anyway.  But she passed and her health will not keep us from getting her home.

Nicole and I then went shopping.  We bought her some traditional Chinese dresses and outfits.  Jackson and Gunner, look out....there is some pink headed to our house.  But I guarantee you this boys, you will like the pink with Bo inside of it.  We put a couple of the outfits on her and I have added a picture or two from that adventure. They might appear sideways because I don't know how to rotate them before I put them on....just tilt your heads...and on the way home we stopped by a grocery store for baby formula, diapers, wipes, and bottled water...oh, and Gatorade...and Coke Zero...and Lay's Potato Chips....and Snickers....and some Peanut M & Ms...went a little overboard and I really did want those snacks which will certainly gone before we go, but I was also buying a little taste of America.  Not too often that I can buy Peanut M & Ms at the same store where I can pick up some eel or squid....

The day ended with Nicole completing a ton of American paperwork with the group and then a nice dinner at a local Thai restaurant.  A nice end to the day.....however...Bo got home and threw up twice...as a result of overfeeding or it may have been the mango at the restaurant..and Nicole is getting sick...not stomach but a sore throat.  So, let's hope nothing serious.  We were supposed to do some touring of the city tomorrow, but I think that Nicole, Bo, and I will stay in and rest and bond and maybe watch a little of the playoffs that will actually on in the morning here on Sunday and Monday (Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon in the states)

God, I have to pause and thank you.  I know it's just a game, but I have to believe that in some way, you were with the girls on Friday night providing them with some measure to empower them to victory.  Thank you for honoring my request and continue to bless them and the coaches. 

God, please be with Nicole.  I need my partner to be well.  There is much to do and her sweet spirit has a strong attachment to Bo....help her through this and give her a great night's rest..please help her to feel well and refreshed in the morning.  Bo and I need her well.  If she is not well, meet us where we need you, please. I could use a good night's rest as well.

God, we are in the home stretch.  Get the three of us across the finish line....and back to our entire family. I pray there are no glitches or problems from here on out.

God, also there are some friends at home in a good deal of pain. When they read this, they will know who they are...encourage them.