Yesterday after Christmas dinner I talked to a relative from out of state. He owns a local, brick-and-mortar music retail store.

Problems he faces:

His bank came to him and said, “There’s no way you’re ever going to make any real money based on what you’re doing and we don’t want the business. Sorry, we’re getting rid of you.” The banker remarked that contrary to what a lot of people would like, banks are not in the business of losing money.-Competition from Big Box stores, deep discount online retailers and Amazon. There’s no way he can compete with their prices…

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A week ago today we touched down from our 13 hour plane ride from Hong Kong. That’s a long trip under any circumstances. It’s even more interesting with a 1 1/2 year old who’s only known you for 2 weeks!

She was a little clingy and a little fussy but other than that – great. Couldn’t possibly ask for better.

This entire process has gone w-a-a-a-y better than expected. A month before we went to China…

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At today’s 4-Man in Hong Kong: I had a Malaysian from London living in Australia; a German, a Scotsman and guy from Liverpool living in Thailand; an American living in …

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We got Zoe exactly one week ago today.

After lunch last Sunday, the director of the orphanage came to our hotel and brought Zoe to us.

Wow. So here’s our new daughter!

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The picture below is a normal day in Nanchang China – view from my hotel room:

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