Irish Stew

November has arrived! I always like this month because there is a lot going on. Russ has a birthday in November, Thanksgiving is coming up, and we are winding down to the end of 2015. This year, the weather has still remained warm, and despite some cooler days in October, we have spent the first few days of November with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. I’m not a huge fan of this, as anyone knows…I like cool weather and I’m waiting for my time to bring out the sweaters and hot chocolate!

Yesterday was Russ’ birthday. I think of how many birthdays we have celebrated together and how many years I’ve known this wonderful man! We are blessed again to be celebrating and to be thankful for another year together. Since it was Tuesday, it was a normal work/school day. In the evening, we went to Chik-Fil-A for supper. A new branch just opened nearby and we decided to check it out.

When JQ lived in the U.S. while he was in the hosting program, the family he stayed with took him to Chik-Fil-A and said that he loved it. We have pictures and videos of him eating there and his excitement over being able to go. I admit that I have been to Chik-Fil-A less than a handful of times. When we were adopting JQ, we knew that he liked the place, but we thought he would just have to learn to like something else around here. It’s possible, right?

Then, this summer we learned that a branch of Chik-Fil-A was opening near us! It had some delays but then finally opened last week, just before Halloween. While we did not make it there on opening night, it was still incredibly busy for being open a week, with lines stretching out the front door and no place to sit inside. We still really enjoyed it and will go back and Jia Qing was so very excited!

Last year on Russ’ birthday, we were still living in our apartment and had hopes of moving into our house soon. Things have changed so much in the last year. It’s funny how every year when a birthday rolls around, we are amazed at how much life changes—as if it is supposed to stay the same! It’s also exciting to think about what we might be doing a year from now…when we celebrate yet another year of life and living.