Well SURPRISE! We are IN AMERICA! Wahoo!
It may seem unexpected and spur of the moment, but Matthew
and I thought long and hard about this trip! We bought tickets 6 weeks before
leaving, and didn’t tell a soul! Okay… that’s a lie… we told 2 people… My Sister,
and Matthew’s brother-in-law…only because we needed them to help carry out our
plans to surprise everyone else!
And no… we are not here to stay… not yet at least.
For my Saban Friends... This is what "America" looks like to me! This is what I call home! This is why if you have been to New York City, I say you don't know "My America" ;)
At Matthew's parents house
Visiting my parents property
Gorgeous pictures my brother took of my parents farm
Just traveling from one place to another, in wide open flat spaces
April 23rd (exactly 1 year from getting on the
airplane to come to Saba) we got on the airplane to go back to the USA! Matthew
came with us (it was his school break). We surprised as many family members as
we could!
(Airport and travel excursions... 3 flights and nearly 24 hours!)
For 2 weeks we stayed with different family members for only a few
days at a time, then going on to surprise the next person. It was fantastic to see everyone we have missed so dearly!
It was hard on the kids (and therefore hard on the parents) to be changing
places every few days, but it was worth the visits! In my effort to be present with those we visited, I didn't get many pictures! These are a few we got in some of the different places, though they are just of our family. I knew Daddy was leaving soon and wanted to capture some moments.
During this time we got to surprise my Mom who was flying in
from seeing another child and was expecting a friend to pick her up at the
airport. Instead it was us! It was incomprehensible to her that we could be
there! We were also able to be at Matthew’s Parents home when they come home
from their 18 month mission! The surprise there was just as shocking and incomprehensible!
The time for Daddy to go back to school came all to fast! Emotions
were high as we all said our tearful goodbyes. I can’t imagine Military Moms
who have to be without their husbands for months at a time!
(The picture of me holding a stuffed snake, is actually from a date we snuck in before he had to leave)
(Driving to the airport)
The kids and I stayed for a little bit longer. We were
needed here for many reasons, and none of those reasons could be addressed in
only the 2 weeks of visiting. So here we are, sticking around a little bit
longer! We count Sundays. Those are the family days that Daddy doesn't study, that he has to get through until we are back with him. 3 Down, 4 to go!
It has been fun, enjoyable, and great to be here. Sure it
has its own challenges, as everywhere does, we especially miss Daddy! It has
also been a little culture shock all over again. I mean, wow! Have we missed
how CHEAP EVERYTHING at the store is! How is it even possible to be so INEXPENSIVE!
Haha. I also still have a hard time letting the faucet run and waste water. I
definitely do NOT miss the bugs. I do miss the simplicity, and basic-ness there
was to life in Saba. I can honestly say, Saba changed me, and I hope to hold on
to some of those changes.
A few fun pictures the first few days "on our own" after Daddy sent back to Saba
While we are here, we are striving to continue with our
learning activities (homeschool), and daily outdoor play... when it's not too cold and rainy! I also am teaching online again in the mornings while the
kids are sleeping (knock on wood!).
While we have been here, we have helped work on projects... and trust me, we only did a fractional part of these projects, but they were fun to participate in regardless.
Pantry Matthew's siblings made for their parents before they came home.
Bedroom at my parents house that had been started in December and we just finished last week!
We also enjoyed cousin time as we teamed up with homeschool activities (story time, homeschool skate, etc.), while their Daddy worked on the sheetrock or "one man jobs" from the pictures above!
(Finding a butterfly, it is IN Hannah's hand)
And sharing lots and lots of story time
Having a Mommy-Daughter Date!
We’ve made sure to get in all our doctor appointments, dentist
appointments and vision/hearing tests. Things are looking great and kids are up
to date! Now just to get a few cavities filled, and a minor surgery done
(Endometrial Polyps & Ovarian Cysts) before we head back! We are glad we
came! We will go back just in time for Daddy’s last semester! December we are
done and start the next phase of the Med School process.
Here are a few more pictures of our sillies.
Due to our time being short here, many appointments, as
well as trying to maintain some sort of normalcy and routine, it's just not possible for us to visit everyone! I'm so sorry! If you want to visit us we would love it! Please don’t expect us to come to you; with
all of the family and friends we love so dearly, we could spend 2 or 3 months
just traveling to visit everyone. Unfortunately we did not go "home" to where we lived before (Nampa, ID) and are staying with my parents in SouthEast Idaho. Message me and maybe we can work something out!
