Beyond C – Part 5

 Hello, Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,

How was your week? Did you get any reading or writing done? I did some reading, and some writing. I also went up to visit my grandparents for a day which was really nice. Since they moved to an apartment they no longer have room for us to spend the night, but they moved 20 minutes closer, so we just drive up and back in the same day now.

Writing Camp officially ended Wednesday night, but the camp doesn't shut down until tomorrow, so there are still sprints going on, and chatting being done.

One thing I've been working on is preparing for our church's Widows' Valentine Luncheon next month. I've been in charge of the windows' ministry for four going on five years now. It's been a blessing. I love planning the Valentine luncheons because that's the day the widows find out who their secret sisters are, and I get to decorate.

I've also been working on helping Sarah Holman promote her upcoming book, Fanny's Hope Chest. It has such a good message about giving up your dreams to God and letting Him do what is best for you.

And yes, I am still writing Lawrence & Lenexa. I'm about to hand 8k over to my editor. But I have no idea how many thousand words are left of this story.

 Now here's the final part of Beyond Comfort. I have no idea what I'll post next.

 

Beyond Comfort

Part 5

    With a tip of her head, Cherish studied the face of the one who held her. Then, when the song was done, she looked around and reached out for Jessica again.
    “She doesn’t like my singing,” Melody remarked, handing the child over.
    Jessica laughed and rubbed noses with Cherish. “Sure she does. She just has to decide that, don’t you silly girl?”
    There was no answering smile on the girl’s face, but Jessica didn’t expect any.

    To Jessica, the days flew by faster than any days in her life. Cherish became her almost constant attachment either to her hip or her arms. It was Jessica who helped Cherish take her first steps. A few smiles were finally coaxed from the tiny girl by Jessica’s persistent efforts, and under Jessica’s care the child began to gain some weight.
    “Jess,” Eric asked one evening as he walked beside his sister and Jessica back to the guest house, “what is going to happen when we have to go back to the States?”
    Tears welled up in Jessica’s eyes, and for a moment she couldn’t answer. “I . . . I’m trying to get Cherish used to others, but it’s hard. She clings to me so tightly and–” she broke off unable to finish.
    “You’d take her home with you, wouldn’t you?” Melody asked, slipping an arm through Jessica’s.
    “In a heartbeat.”

    The day for goodbye came sooner than Jessica wanted. She clung to Cherish and tears raced down her cheeks. “I love you, Baby,” she whispered. “Jyeh Jyeh will always, always love you.” She used the Chinese name for big sister unconsciously for all the children had started using it for her. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. Be a good little girl, Cherish, and always know that Jesus loves you even more than I do.”
    Reluctantly, she handed the child to Miss Pendleton and with a final kiss on the baby’s cheek, she ran from the door and down the path, joining the rest of her team just as they boarded the bus for the next city and the airport. Tears blurred her sight, and she was thankful Melody didn’t ask her any direct questions.

*

    Months passed. Jessica video-called with her friends at the orphanage as often as she could and got to see Cherish, but it wasn’t the same, and after every call she would fling herself onto her bed and cry. She knew she couldn’t adopt the small girl, and she knew her parents couldn’t do it either, but still her heart longed to hold little Cherish in her arms again. “I have to go back to China again,” she told herself.
    But the first opportunity for a trip overseas was at a time when Jessica was unable to go. She e-mailed Melody, with whom she had remained in contact, and begged her for new pictures of “her girl.”

    Then one Sunday before church had started, Jessica turned from a few words with one of the older ladies and froze. A small child with black hair and a round face was looking around from the arms of some visitors. It looked just like Cherish. But it couldn’t be, could it?
    “Cherish?” Jessica gasped, walking closer as though in a daze. “Cherish.”
    The small head turned, dark eyes fastened on her, and the child almost pitched out of the arms which held her while a baby cry of “Jyeh Jyeh!” turned many heads.
    But Jessica didn’t notice. Her arms had reached out, and the next moment she was hugging the little girl who had stolen her heart and crying tears of joy. Cherish, delighted to be with Jessica again, laughed, patted her face, hugged and kissed her, and laughed some more.
    “Aren’t you going to say hello to us too?” A merry voice asked.
    Jessica used a free hand to brush back her tears. “Melody?” She hugged her friend with one arm. “Eric? What are you– How–” She shook her head, laughed through her tears, and hugged Cherish again.
    “In a few words, the whole family is here. We’ve adopted Cherish, and we’ve just moved to your town,” Melody answered with a laugh.
    Jessica stared speechless.
    The sound of the piano caught her attention, and she looked toward where the rest of her family were gathering. There were enough chairs for their visitors, she hoped. “We should sit down.”
    “Before you fall down from shock,” Melody whispered.
    Still holding Cherish, Jessica walked in a daze to her seat. Her two sisters leaned over to touch the small girl and smile at her. Vaguely she noticed Melody, Eric, and their family sitting down in the same row. She couldn’t believe they were there. They had moved, and adopted Cherish. “That means I can watch her grow up,” Jessica thought, giving the little one another hug.
    Suddenly, she leaned over to Melody and whispered, “I didn’t even ask if it was all right if I held Cherish during church!”
    Eric leaned across his sister and answered, “It’s okay. We already knew you’d probably need to hold her.”
    Satisfied, Jessica tried to pay attention to the songs and announcements, but the warm little body of the child who had stolen her heart completely was somewhat distracting, and she had to keep fighting back her happy tears. When the sermon started, Cherish nestled her head under Jessica’s chin and fell asleep.

*

    I was jerked from my memories by my husband’s kiss.
    “Are we going to eat or just smell the food?” he teased.
    I laughed. “Let’s eat. If you’ll carry the spaghetti sauce, Eric, I’ll put Jillian’s bib on her.”
    Eric agreed quickly, and soon we were seated at the table celebrating our oldest daughter’s birthday. We didn’t know if it was her real birthday, but it was the day we had chosen for her when we adopted her from China five years earlier. Now she was six.
    “Mama,” Jinan said, picking up her fork and preparing to dig into her favorite meal, “Is Aunt Cherry coming over after supper?”
    “Yes.” I thought about my husband’s adopted little sister. Cherish had been the flower girl in our wedding, and was the children’s favorite playmate. I looked over at Eric. “All this because I said yes to going beyond the borders of my comfort, my country, and my known world.”
    “Have you ever regretted it?”
    I shook my head. “Never.”

 Have you ever looked back at hard things and seen blessing?

Are you interested in reading Lawrence & Lenexa?

Have you read any good books lately?

Beyond C – Part 4

 Good morning, Readers,

I think it's supposed to be sunny today. Right now the sun hasn't fully come up yet. I wouldn't mind a sunny day.

This week has been filled with a lot of Camp stuff. Yep, KDWC opened her doors on Monday and Camp started on Wednesday. We have over 50 campers for our first ever mini-camp. I've been able to get some good writing on "Lawrence & Lenexa." It was hard getting past my stuck part and figuring out where to go next, but things are moving along now. I really hope to publish this story this year. Would you be excited about that?

Yesterday was the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century. Someone mentioned it at camp and all sorts of ideas were tossed around about what we could do. It was finally decided that anyone who wanted to would write a 21 word story. I wasn't sure I could, but I did. Want to read it? Of course that would mean you get a double feature today. 😉 Here you are:

    A scream split the air. It was my scream. I hadn't meant to. Then arms held me safe. My Daddy was there.

 And now for the featured story.

Beyond Comfort

Part 4

    Scooting over to the wall, Jessica just sat quietly a few minutes, then began to sing. Since she had last been to China she had learned to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in Chinese, and now sang it softly.
    And then she sang it again. Over and over she sang the song. The other babies and their caregivers disappeared from the room to eat, but still Jessica sat and sang. Finally, when the room was empty and quiet and when her voice didn’t want to sing any more, Jessica reached out to the child again and smiled.
    The tiny child looked at her but didn’t shrink into the corner even when Jessica slowly leaned forward and brushed back a bit of the girl’s black hair from her face.
    “Will you let me hold you, baby?” Jessica asked in English. “I won’t hurt you.” Tenderly, she lifted the girl into her lap. “You need a name, baby,” she whispered, rocking from side to side. “What should we call you?” As she rocked, Jessica hummed and thought. She didn’t want a normal name, she wanted a special name for this wee tot.
    All at once, she tipped her head and looked into the little face so filled with conflicting emotions. “Cherish. That’s what I’ll name you.” She pressed a light kiss on the child’s forehead. “Little Cherish.”

    “Jessica?”
    Trying to turn without disturbing the sleeping child in her lap was difficult. “Yes?” she whispered.
    Miss Pendleton came into the room. She stopped short with a quick intake of breath. “She let you hold her without screaming?”
    “I named her Cherish. Is that all right?”
    “Cherish.” Miss Pendleton smiled. “Yes, I’m sure that’s all right. Lunch is nearly over. I was sent to bring you.”
    Jessica looked down at Cherish. “Can I bring her with me?”
    For a moment Miss Pendleton hesitated. Then she nodded. “Perhaps if she wakes up, you can get her to eat. She has been refusing most of the food offered her, even her bottle.”
    “Poor baby,” Jessica murmured, shifting the child and wondering how she was going to stand up. Miss Pendleton helped her and soon she was heading toward the dining room.
    Before they reached it, however, Dr. Lewis met them in the hall. He looked at Jessica and then moved to the side and looked at the sleeping face of the child who had snuggled her head against Jessica’s neck. “Have you gotten her to eat yet?”
    “No,” admitted Jessica. “I just got her to let me hold her, and I named her.”
    He shook his head. “That’s more than anyone else has done.” Looking at Miss Pendleton, he said, “Can you make sure Jessica has something to feed–” He broke off and raised one eyebrow curiously.
    “Cherish.”
    “–Cherish when she wakes up?”
    “Of course.”

    All the rest of the day Jessica took care of Cherish. She coaxed her to eat a little and drink most of her milk. She sang to her, and changed her, and when evening came and it was time for the babies to be put to bed, she sat beside her crib stroking her hair and singing until Cherish was asleep.
    Walking back to the guest house, Jessica found Melody and Eric walking with her.
    “How’s that baby?” Eric asked.
    Jessica knew which baby he was talking about. “She was sleeping when I left. The poor little thing. She kept looking up at me as though trying to understand all the problems and suffering she’s gone through.”
    “Where did she come from?” Melody asked.
    Pausing before they reached the door, Jessica looked back at the lights of the orphanage. “I don’t know.”
    Eric opened the door for them and they all went inside.
    That night Jessica lay awake for a long time. Part of it was the time change, but part of it she knew was little Cherish. She prayed for the girl who had already touched her heart; she prayed for a forever home for her. How Jessica wished she could provide that home. “Some day,” she breathed into the quiet night, “I want to adopt.”

    The next morning, Jessica hurried to the other building to see Cherish.
    “She’s been crying for an hour,” Miss Pendleton said, looking relieved to see Jessica. “Perhaps you can calm her.”
    Slipping into the room, Jessica instantly went to the crib where her baby lay crying. “Hey,” she said softly, reaching down and lifting the upset child. “It’s all right,” she soothed.
    But Cherish struggled and fought the loving arms that held her.
    “Cherish,” Jessica said, speaking a little louder. There was no response or recognition, so she began to sing.

“Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.”

    Cherish stopped fighting.
    “Yes, Jesus loves me,” Jessica sang, “Yes, Jesus love me.”
    The crying eased.
    “Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” As she finished the song, Jessica realized she had sung it in English. Glancing down and realizing that Cherish hadn’t relaxed, she started the song again, only this time in Chinese.
    Gradually, Cherish relaxed and rested her head on Jessica’s shoulder; worn out from her crying, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

    All that day Jessica took care of Cherish. She took her outside and swang on a swing with her in her lap. Once she tried to get her to let one of the “aunties” hold her, but Cherish clung tightly to Jessica’s shirt or hair and refused to let go. Melody came over and by dint of much work and time, finally persuaded the little girl that she was almost as nice as Jessica.
    “She likes me,” Melody exclaimed softly, delighted to finally hold Cherish. “Well, maybe I should say she doesn’t dislike me.”
    Jessica laughed. “Maybe if you sing to her she’ll like you better. That’s what I did.”
    “But I can’t sing in Chinese.”
    “Sing in English then. She doesn’t seem to care.” And Jessica stood up from the swing to let one of the children have a turn.
    Melody looked self-conscious. “I don’t have a great voice even if my name is Melody.” But she started to sing a familiar children’s song.

Have you ever written a 21 word story?

Do you think I should make it longer?

Have you ever tried singing to a crying child?

Beyond C – Part 3

 Good morning, FFFs,

It's cold and snowing right now. It just started snowing so not much is on the ground. I don't know if we're expected to get much, but I'll take what snow I can.

How was your week? Mine was good. Trying to get writing in when I can. I actually reached the end of a new story. I still have to reread and edit it, but at least the end is reached. We'll see what happens with it. I'm trying to work on planning for blog posts for Read Another Page this year. It always seems a little overwhelming at first, but somehow I always find something to blog about. :) As for this blog, it's still going. This is its 11th year. Kind of hard to believe.

Hey, I wanted to mention something. One of the Indie Authors that I've really enjoyed is getting ready to release a new story. It's titled Fanny's Hope Chest and is about a single young lady. I am hoping to read it today or this weekend, but it looks so good! If you have a blog and would like to be a part of the release, just let me know I can get you information.

 I'm going to stop talking and let you read the next part of this story. I hope you enjoy it.

 Beyond Comfort

Part 3

    When the baby woke twenty minutes later, May Ling handed the bottle to Jessica, and in another minute the baby lay cradled in her arm sucking the warm milk and staring at her.
    Jessica smiled. “You’re a little jewel, sweetheart. A precious little jewel.”
    With her tummy full, the baby fell asleep, and Jessica finally consented to laying her down in a crib because she knew she couldn’t be held all the time.

    For the rest of the trip, Jessica spent every moment she could in the Baby House with Jewel. The staff had allowed Jessica to name her, and Jewel was the only name that fit the small baby girl. The thought of leaving her behind tore at Jessica’s heart, and she wanted nothing more than to either stay in China or take the baby back home with her. But she couldn’t do either, and it was with tears rolling down her cheeks that she said goodbye and joined the rest of her team on the bus to head back to the airport.
    She wasn’t the only one in tears, and it was a sober group that at last bordered their plane for the States.

*

    “I want to go back, Em,” Jessica said. “You should come with me.”
    “Me? Go to China?” Emily linked her arm through that of her best friend as they strolled around the neighborhood. “I hate Chinese food, remember? And I don’t have the money for a trip like that.”
    “It won’t be until next summer. Unless I can find another group going back.”
    Emily glanced at her. “You really loved those kids, didn’t you?”
    Jessica simply nodded. She couldn’t put into words the feelings she had for each of those children she had played with, those babies she had held and cuddled, the aunties who had let her be a part of what they did. Yes, she had to go back.

*

    “Can I carry your bag, Jessica?”
    Glancing back and up, Jessica laughed. “Didn’t you ask me that last year, Eric?”
    The tall, blond young man shrugged but grinned. He took the bag she offered and said, “Are you ready for another life changing experience?”
    Drawing a deep breath, Jessica looked around at the crowds of people. “I’m not, but God is.”
    “Amen!” Eric agreed. “Oh, did you meet my sister Melody?” He nodded to a tall girl with blonde hair who was walking nearby.
    “Not officially. I saw her at our training.”
    Eric make the introductions quickly before the team made their way into the hot, smog-filled air to board their bus.
    This time the ride to the orphanage passed quickly for Jessica, for she and Melody sat together, with Eric across the aisle and talked. Jessica could hardly wait to arrive back at the place where she had left so much of her heart. Would her babies still be there or had they been adopted?
    Orientation and settling into their guest house seemed to take forever, but at last they were there. Jessica saw the eager, smiling faces, the dark hair, the bright clothes; she heard the sing-song language which had been so foreign to her last year, and drew a quick breath of delight. She was back. Eagerly, she stretched out her arms and hugged the first child who ran to her. Greeting the “aunties” and walking about the familiar grounds while toting a child made Jessica feel right at home. It was hard to remember how strange she had felt just last year.
    “Jessica, welcome back.”
    Turning, Jessica smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Kelly. It’s so good to be back. I didn’t know how much I had missed these little ones until I had them hanging onto my hands again.”
    Mrs. Kelly laughed. “All our kids love visitors.”
    After a glance back at the noisy bunch enjoying time on the play equipment with the other volunteers, Jessica nodded. “Mrs. Kelly, is Jewel– I mean–”
    The woman knew instantly who Jessica was talking about. “Jewel was adopted three months ago.”
    An unexpected lump rose in Jessica’s throat, and she had to swallow hard to be able to speak. “I’m so glad. She needed a loving home.” But her heart ached. She had only known that tiny girl for a few days, but she had stolen a large part of Jessica’s heart. Shifting the toddler in her arms, she hugged her and blinked back a few tears.
    “Dr. Lewis and Miss Pendleton were excited to learn you were returning,” Mrs. Kelly said, walking beside Jessica toward one of the houses. “There is one little girl, barely a year old, who needs some extra love. Would you like to–”
    “Of course!” Jessica didn’t wait for Mrs. Kelly to finish. “Can we go there now?”

    “That is our little unnamed one,” May Ling said, pointing to a small, frightened figure crouched in the corner of the room. “She cries when anyone picks her up, doesn’t want to eat, and crawls into every hiding place she can. No one can think of a name for her.”
    Jessica looked at the forlorn child, and she wanted to cry. To cry for the little one who was alone, for the mother who had given up her child for some reason, or had not wanted her, for the hundreds, no thousands, of other children she knew were being left alone all over the world. “They need love,” she murmured, moving slowly closer. “They need cherished. They need an Everlasting Father.”
    Forgetting the other babies, the other “aunties,” and the noise they made, Jessica, her eyes on the little one in the corner, moved over and sat down on the floor nearby. “Please, dear Father,” she prayed quietly, “let this little one know she is loved. Let me cherish her because her mama can’t. Let me comfort her as You comfort me.” Slowly, she reached out her hands toward the child.
    The small girl drew farther back into her corner and stuck her fingers in her mouth, her dark eyes watching Jessica in a frightened way.
 

Would you want to go back to the place where you had experienced joy and pain?

How is your weather?

If you have a blog, do you like to plan posts ahead of time?

Beyond C – Part 2

 Good morning, FFFs,

After the troubling news of this week, and the difficult news of yesterday, you may not feel like calling today a "good day." But it is. It's good because God is already here. He already knew what was going to happen. It didn't take Him by surprise, and He still has a plan. His purpose is so much greater than our own. I know it's hard to see beyond the right here and right now, but let's look up. Let's turn our eyes to the ultimate Author and Finisher and rest in the fact that He will finish the story. He will use even this seeming disaster for His glory.

Okay, my little sermon is done.

I haven't done much writing this week. Part of it was because I was finishing up some things, part of it was because of the trouble going on and I just couldn't seem to focus. However, I did write my "Anything" story. If you don't know what that is, a group of us from KDWC decided it would be fun to all write a short story for the title "Anything" and share them at camp this month. I had originally planned to write something different, but . . . *shrug*

Speaking of camp, we only have a little over a week left before it starts up again. The time has gone by very quickly. At least for me.

How has your new year gone so far. (All politics aside.) Mine has been good. I've gotten some things organized and tidied, and have taken care of odds and ends. I still have more that I'd like to do, but I feel like I've made good progress.

But here is the next part of this story. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Beyond Comfort

Part 2

*

    The whole room smelled. And it wasn’t a pleasant smell either. Jessica glanced around and saw cribs lining the walls and bumped up against one another to form a sort of island in the middle. Every crib had at least one baby. Some babies cried, others whimpered or lay with wide eyes. Some had bands of cloth tying their arm or leg to the side of the crib. Jessica felt tears sting her eyes. How could anyone treat these precious babies this way? She wanted to gather them all up and take them home. She knew families who would open their arms and their hearts to these unwanted little ones.
    “Jessica,” Miss Pendleton called quietly.
    Blinking back the hot tears, Jessica hurried across the room.
    “I know this is hard,” Miss Pendleton murmured. “I want to take the babies away myself. But these caregivers are doing the best they know how. That’s why we came. To help. Can you change diapers? Cuddle babies?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Then let’s get to work.”
    Soon Jessica was busy. She cuddled babies, changed diapers, sang softly to some, played peek-a-boo with others, gave bottles, and tried to give every child she could a little attention.
    When she reached out an empty arm to take another baby from Dr. Lewis, he gave her a quizzical look. “You already have a baby, Jessica.”
    “I know, but this arm is empty. I have twin nephews back home, so I’m used to having a baby in each arm.”
    Dr. Lewis made no comment but placed the crying infant in her arm.
    Softly, Jessica began to sing as she gently swayed and bent her knees in what her mom termed “the baby bounce” move. When the little one began to quiet, she pressed a kiss to the wispy black hair. One of the Chinese women came to take the other baby who had fallen asleep, and when her left arm was empty, Jessica cuddled the still fussing baby close and began to hum. The child calmed and relaxed, one hand gripping the neckline of her shirt. If only . . . Jessica bit her lip and refused to finish the sentence.
    “Keep these little ones safe in your arms, Father,” she whispered as tears blurred her eyes.

    Leaving that orphanage and all those precious little ones was the hardest thing Jessica had ever done. She didn’t say one word on the drive back to the compound, and when Mrs. Kelly asked her if she was all right, she nodded. But she wasn’t all right. Not really. Her heart had been broken, torn into pieces, shredded by each tear, each soiled diaper that hadn’t been changed, each smelling baby she had cuddled in her arms.
    She went to her room that night and lay staring at the ceiling in the dark. She had known this trip would take her beyond the comfort of everything she had always known, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite so hard.

*

    The weak crying of a small baby made Jessica look up from the weeds she was pulling in a flower bed near the front gate. It was too windy for the youngest members of the orphanage to be outside, but she knew she heard a cry. Standing up, she looked around. The gate opened and she saw May Ling, one of the caregivers at the center hurrying toward her with a blanket-wrapped bundle in one arm and a basket in the other.
    “What is it?” Jessica asked, reaching out for the bundle without thinking.
    “Someone left a baby.” May Ling released the crying baby to Jessica. “A girl. We must get her inside.”
    Jessica cradled the baby in her arms and crooned to it softly as she matched steps with May Ling. “Poor little thing, did you get left? It’s all right now. You’re safe. We’ll get you clean and warm and put some milk in your tummy. Shhh, now.” She wondered if the baby would understand her better if she could speak Chinese. Did babies understand any language?
    There was a flurry of Chinese words when May Ling and Jessica entered the Baby House, as one of the buildings was called.
    “You go on,” Jessica said, waving away one of the other volunteers who offered to take the child. “I’ll stay here with the baby for a bit.” Nurse Pendleton took the child, and moments later Dr. Lewis arrived. Jessica could only stand by and watch helplessly as the baby was examined, washed, and dressed in clean clothes. A bottle was fixed and held to the baby’s lips, but the child continued to cry.
    Dr. Lewis turned his head and saw her. “Do you want to try, Jessica? You seem to have a way with little ones.”
    Nodding, since she didn’t trust herself to speak, Jessica took the infant and held it close to her heart, humming the first thing that came to her mind as she gently swayed back and forth, bending a knee slightly with each movement. Gradually the crying ceased, and Jessica shifted the baby so she could see her little face.
    The little eyes were closed and the tiny mouth moved in little sucking motions.
    “Poor thing,” Jessica murmured to the baby. “You are hungry but were too frightened and tired to eat.”
    “It looks that way.”
    Startled, Jessica turned her head and saw Dr. Lewis, two of the “aunties,” and the tall young man who had carried her pack at the airport. She couldn’t remember his name. They were all watching her, and she looked away feeling shy.
    “You want me to take her now?” May Ling asked, coming forward.
    “No, I think she’d wake up and start crying again.” To her relief, Dr. Lewis agreed with her, left directions for a bottle to be ready when the child woke up, and then left with the tall volunteer.
    Jessica didn’t mind how long she had to hold the baby. Somehow it helped ease the pain of the day before, knowing that this child would have love and attention. “Precious little thing,” she murmured, dropping a light kiss on the tiny head nestled under her chin.
 

How was your week?

Are you still enjoying this story?

Would you like to write a story titled "Anything"?

Beyond C – Part 1

 Happy New Year!

I don't usually get to say that on the first day of the New Year, so make the most of it.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I did. We celebrated on Christmas Eve day with my brother and his family, and then on Christmas Day with just my family. Both times were enjoyable. The first was more noisy and busy. (Eight kiddos to keep things lively.)

Have you made New Year's resolutions or plans, or anything? Found any reading challenges you want to do? Or writing challenges? I have. I don't usually make resolutions, but I do often try to write down some of the things I'd like to work on this year. And yes, I do have a reading challenge that I'm going to do. My own. ;) You can find the list on Read Another Page, but there will be a blog post all about it on the 12th. There are other reading challenges going around, but I realized that I really needed to focus more on writing this year, so I am only planning on doing mine, and my "read 1 non-fiction book a month" challenge. You are welcome to join me on that one too.

As far as writing goes, I have all sorts of stories that I'd like to write this year. Some are started, others are not. The King's Daughters' Writing Camp is hosting their first "mini camp" at the end of this month. I am looking forward to seeing what I can get done in a week of focused writing. Want to join us?

How's your weather? Right now it's raining and freezing. Things are covered with ice since it did this all night. I'm glad we don't have to go anywhere today. Of course I'd rather have snow, but . . .

Today is the start of a story that will last through all of January. Originally, it was going to be a story titled "Beyond the Border" for a writing challenge some friends and I were doing where we'd all writing a short story with the same title. But this story ended up longer, so I changed the title. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Beyond Comfort

Part 1

    Standing at the stove, I stirred the bubbling spaghetti sauce and smiled as the sound of childish voices drifted in through the screen door. My husband’s deep laugh and the high pitched squeal of Jinan told me I was missing out on the fun. But supper wouldn’t fix itself. And this was Jinan’s favorite meal.
    I switched spoons and stirred the long, thin noodles boiling away in another pot. They were almost done. Opening the oven door a bit, I sniffed the aroma of garlic and butter.
    After another stir to both pots, I hurried to the door and called out, “Supper is almost ready! Come and wash up.”
    Six-year-old Jinan gave another squeal and dragged her feet as her daddy slowed her swing down. Her black pigtails bounced as she raced toward the house with Jayson running after and Jillian staggering along on stout little legs.
    A smile spread across my face as I hurried back to the stove to drain the noodles and get the bread out of the oven. Who would have thought that ten years ago life would change so drastically for me? But I’m so thankful it did.

*

    “You’re going where?” Emily’s eyes were as wide as they could be, and she stared at her best friend.
    “China.” Jessica settled herself cross-legged on the floor of Emily’s room and grinned.
    “Alone?”
    At that, Jessica laughed. “No. You know the Summer Camp I attended as a counselor last year? Well, I’ve stayed in contact with several of the people, and there’s a group from there going for two weeks to work in an orphanage for special needs children. I was asked if I wanted to go along and–” she shrugged. “I’m going.”
    “To China. Do you even know anything about special needs children?” Emily looked skeptical.
    “Not really, except that they are children who God created and loves too. I was told we’d probably get to do some sight seeing and maybe visit a state run orphanage. But we’ll mostly be working with the children in the home.” Leaning back against the wall, Jessica looked at her best friend. “I can’t believe I’m going. I mean, I’ve never been out of the country before, and now I’m going way beyond the borders of everything I know.” Her eyes drifted to the window, and she added in a lower voice, “New language, new culture, new foods, new people, . . .” Her voice trailed away.
    Emily scooted a little closer and placed a hand on Jessica’s knee. “But not a new God. He’ll always be beyond any border you cross, Jess.”
    Drawing a long breath, Jessica nodded. “Thanks, Em, I needed that reminder. I was getting a little anxious. I just can’t believe I’m going.”
    “You can’t believe it? I’m the one who can’t believe you’re going! You, who said you wouldn’t even go with me to Canada, are now going across the Pacific ocean.”

*

    Jessica shuffled along in the long line and tried to take deep breaths of the hot humid air, but each breath brought strange and somewhat unpleasant smells to her. Her shirt stuck to her back, and she wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt before picking up her suitcase again. Her shoulder ached from the heavy online bag she still carried, and she knew she was going to have at least a few blood-blisters. Would the entire two weeks in China be this miserable?
    “Can I carry your bag for you, Jessica?”
    Jessica glanced behind her–and up. It was one of her fellow mission partners. They’d only had a short time to introduce themselves in the large group, and Jessica didn’t remember the guy’s name, but he was tall. “If you want. It’s rather heavy.” She slid the strap off her shoulder and couldn’t keep back a sigh at the relief. “Thanks.”
    “Sure. Don’t worry, it won’t be quite this hot and miserable once we arrive since we’ll be out of the city. There’s our bus.”
    The line moved forward, and the teenagers and their chaperones boarded the bus. This was almost worse than waiting in the airport, for the streets were thronged with cars, buses, bicycles, and people. Tall buildings towered overhead, and Jessica longed for a fresh breeze and green grass. She was thankful that she didn’t get carsick very easily or the ride would have been miserable.

    The trip was over at last and everyone climbed stiffly off the bus. Jessica felt dazed and lightheaded. She never could remember the rest of that day. The next was a blur as well. But then the teens settled into working and playing with the children. Though she couldn’t understand Chinese, and most of the children didn’t understand English very well, Jessica found a way to communicate with smiles and laughs.
    She held babies, changed diapers, played outside with children, blew bubbles, colored pictures, and even picked up a few words of Chinese before the end of the first week.
    In the second week the group took a little break and one day did a bit of sight seeing before returning to the guest house where they were staying.
    “Before you all go off to your rooms,” Mrs. Kelly called, as everyone was preparing to scatter for the night, “I wanted to let you all know about tomorrow.”
    Jessica turned around and looked at Mrs. Kelly. To her surprise, Jessica didn’t want another day of sight seeing. She wanted to return to the babies and children who were quickly stealing her heart.
    “Tomorrow there is an opportunity for five of you to travel to a state run orphanage in the next city with two of the medical staff from the orphanage we’ve been helping. If any of you want to go, please let me know tonight.”
    Jessica paused. Did she want to go? She’d miss more time with the children she knew, but should she go? Something tugged at her heart and almost before she realized it, she was walking toward Mrs. Kelly.

    “If you don’t have five already,” she said softly, “I’ll go.”

     Mrs. Kelly looked at her and smiled. “I needed one more.” 

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