Sorry, excited. :)
Also, really stressed. Lots to do. Every day something gets checked off the list and something else gets added. Packing. Sorting. Trying to clean out boys’ toys and clothes and books. Working on church presentations and prayer cards. Home school. Supply buying. Going through the motions of granola baking, yogurt making, bread making...
Lots of emotions about going back to America. Some stupid stuff like “Are my clothes totally out of date and I’m going to look like a geeky missionary?” “How are we going to afford $4 a gallon gas?” and some deeper stuff like “How has everything I’ve seen and experienced the last 3 years going to affect who I am and how I relate to my friends and family?”
Many years ago, well, maybe only 4, :) an older missionary told me she hated going on furlough. I thought she was crazy. I love America. I am thankful to be an American and I’m praise the Lord my children are Americans. We have friends and family we love seeing while we’re there and I plan to consume gallons of ice cream in America. How can any sane person not love going on furlough?
But, I can now see what she means. Life here is settled. I have pictures on my walls and food in the fridge. My kids know where their toys are and where to hang their bath towels. We have a schedule, a routine... it’s not always easy or fun, but it’s familiar. America, on the other hand, is unfamiliar... particularly for the little boys, who study the 4 seasons in their school books the way some kids study the Pyramids.
So, while I could write a book on the things I am looking forward to during our trip to the States, I thought I would take a couple minutes and write out things I will miss about our life here....
Nasi kunning... aka Fried Yellow Rice... which we get every Sunday night.... $4 for all of us to eat. Amazing mix of spices and lemon grass and coconut.
Passion fruit... pretty sure they don't sell these at HEB. I think I will crave these the whole time we are gone.
Papaya... Ezra's favorite fruit. We eat at least one a week. Never knew I would love a fruit so much.
Beach... um, they don't make them like this in America.
Cream bath... $6 for an hour of pure bliss - deep conditioning hair treatment with avocados, followed by a scalp and shoulder massage. Great for moms who need a break from their kiddos and can sneak out at night to chat and get de-stressed and get a great hair treatment. If we ever retire from the mission field, I will start a salon to give cream baths and I think I will make millions (and yes, I will charge WAY more than $6!) :)
I will NOT miss this, but I know the boys will.... riding everywhere on a motorcycle with Dad. Car seats and seat belts here we come!
How many American kids get to ride in helicopters? I'm thankful for all the unique experiences my boys have had and will miss the uniqueness of the life we have now.
Pizza Hut - has literally been a sanity saver over the past couple years. It's such a blessing to be able to go someplace nice to eat out occasionally - and fun that it's less than $20 for tons of cheese crust pizza and fancy drinks and ice cream for dessert.
The view from our house... going to miss it. Have never had a house with a view before and have decided if I am ever rich it will be worth the millions of dollars to get a house with a view. :)
Ditto on the notes on passion fruit and papaya. I know you can get pineapple in the States, but it's just not the same as going out and picking one out of your own yard and eating it right then. Elijah ate this whole one himself. :)
My friends... the Lord has really blessed me with some incredible friends here. The small community and the single-mindedness of our purpose here really makes people close and builds a sense of community that I love.
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