- Even though our MIL apartment overlooks I-5, it's still quiet, tucked into a little side street. And even though it's a small place, the flow of the apartment helps us to have people over for pleasant dinners together as often as we want.
- Everything the family really needs is within walking distance: the University and Wallingford branches of the Seattle library, Safeway and Trader Joe's, Half Price Books, the YMCA, the bus stop I get to work and back from, and UW, which Daniel walks to for Tuesday math seminars.
- Daniel and I have finally resumed some sort of exercise routine, thanks to YMCA's free child care from 8am to 12pm. I was so very proud of our boy for playing up a storm and not minding us doing cycling or lifting in the other rooms. My apprehension due to the fact that we have never hired a babysitter i.e. always traded off having Declan with one or both of us turned out to be a moot point. Praise God!
- All the good food we eat together as a family: organic vegetables and fruits...especially the blueberries that Declan and I snack on like candy. It's nice to not wonder about our food sources, or wash beans I bought only to find out they've been painted.
- Getting to church and Christy's place takes about 30-40 minutes on foot, which is just right for a decent walk without getting too tired. I am really thankful for the church community we're starting to know here. Even though Declan's the only toddler/child in a congregation filled with seniors, the warmth and support of everyone who doesn't mind his noises during service, etc is so nice to experience.
- I do miss the friends we made in China, but I am increasingly glad we made the decision to leave.
