A Month in the States

As you may have heard, my parents flew me home for Christmas in Wisconsin. Wisconsin sometimes seems like the opposite of Kenya.

Wisconsin:
Kenya:
Wisconsin (Eating Out with Cousins):
Kenya (Eating out with blankets):

I wondered how it would feel to be "home" in the USA. At first I kept marveling at pleasures that we do not experience in Kenya. Things like quick trips to the grocery store. Things like stop signs and smooth traffic flow. Drinking fountains and fast internet and clean public bathrooms. Church nurseries. Skim milk. Predictability. Blending into a crowd. Somehow it caught me by surprise to feel at home in a different world, even in this town where I grew up.

We have been very thankful to be with my family at this time, especially when my dad underwent emergency surgery in early January. So we stayed a few weeks longer than planned in order to help with his initial recovery. Honestly, two small children and I offered minimal help, but at least the granddaughters offered some distraction. Reading children's books and watching Veggie Tale videos probably can only aid in the healing process.

Being with my family at this time reminds me not to waste any opportunities, since truly, life seems very short from this viewpoint. We are more than half way through our term in Kenya. My dad is recovering slowly from a major operation, and life even seems to speed by for my five-year-old who has her first loose tooth. It has been such a joyful gift to seize opportunities this month to spend time with family and friends.

And now it is time to return to Kenya. We are so excited to go "home" to Jason! Something tells me the girls will look forward to Christmas in the USA again next year.