[Maine]iacs and other such adventures at home

Hello from the lovely U.S.

It's been quite a whirlwind few weeks back. So different from the whirlwind several MONTHS that I've had.

I said a tearful goodbye to the two cars full of loved ones that accompanied me to the airport back in Kenya. I cried all the way through baggage-weighing, checking in, the last look at Chris and Sister Theresita standing in the window watching to make sure I was okay, the visa people, and the wait for my plane. I finished crying half way to Amsterdam. Although I was unbelievably excited to return home and that was what had kept me going the last few weeks in Kenya, I hadn't really realized that although I was returning to one family, I was also leaving one behind. One that I loved very much. I am thankful that I get to spend two days in Nairobi with this family before continuing on to South Africa.

I landed in Minneapolis and was shocked at the billowing, blowing snow that covered the world outside the small plane window. I decided that I LOVED it. I made it through customs without a hitch and although my checked bags were without my cell phone when I finally got them, I did get them. One cell phone down compared to the infinite ones that Chris lost or broke is okay with me! :) I ran into my mother's waiting arms and raced out to the car to see my dad. We threw my baggage in the trunk and were on our way-with a quick stop at Panera of course to have a bagel and the most wonderful soup... YUM!

I rested for a few days and then went up to campus to spend the last weekend of the semester with all of the lovely CSB/SJU-ers that I missed so much. I particularly enjoyed people's reactions when they saw me. Almost an unrecognition, then a slow dawning of who I was, that I wasn't supposed to be there, and that they were very excited to see me. It was fun. Lots of catching up, coffee, meals, laughing, and hugging. I also especially enjoyed being back inside the monastery again. Although I loved the Franciscans, nothing can compare to the Benedictines. I felt peace instantly warm my heart as their spirit filled me as soon as I set foot in the chapel. Mmmm I love that place and those women. More than I realized.

I came home and began to see people around here. I made soup and drank wine with Jorden, got fitted for my bridesmaid dress and went to happy hour with David and Kayla, snuggled a bit with Collin, and spent some good time with my family.

Then I went to Maine for 10 days with my parents to visit my cousins, aunt, uncle, and grandmother. Although my initial feelings about traveling (once more) were less than enthusiastic, I ended up having a pretty good time and really enjoying getting to know my awesome cousins and sweet aunt and uncle. This was only the second time I've ever met any of them and it was quite lovely. We had a lot of fun and laughs and I gained new wisdom about things like asprin and turtle necks :) I was sad to leave but left with promises that they would all come to visit this summer which I'm really excited for. No need to ask, I absolutely did NOT have lobster or any other kind of gross seafood while I was there. ICK! A highlight was I think hanging out with my cousin who's my age and we went to see It's Complicated which happens to be like my new favorite movie and then we went out for Mexican food and shared margaritas. It was a good time. Junk food night without the adults was a blast too :) Maine truly is absolutely stunningly beautiful. Wow! I consider myself blessed to have seen three of the four oceans in the world within a four month time period: Pacific in San Francisco, Indian in Kenya, and the Atlantic in Maine. Wonderful.

I came home from Maine and immediately unpacked, repacked, and headed down to Savage (by Shakopee) for some much needed time with one of my favorite women in the entire world: Miss Shannon Elizabeth Preston. We wore little black dresses, went to dinner at Buca's, had a glass of wine at the bar and admired the adorable bartender, ate wonderful food, then returned home to our pjs and drank wine until we fell asleep in front of the fireplace and candles. In the morning we spent hours looking at each other's pictures, made lunch for ourselves, then watched the second half of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince together, then each talked on the phone to our respective people for a while then made dinner with her parents. I made them ugali-a staple food of Kenya and much of Africa. They graciously tried it and liked it. The conversation was good then Shannon and her dad left for a bit and I took a two hour dip in their jucuzzi accompanied by a glass of pinot noir and candlelight. Oh my goodness, I loved every minute! God is too good to me I think. The rest of the night was spent sharing a couch and good conversation with this woman I have come to regard as a soul sister and most certainly a friend of life. We made plans to open a vineyard together someday. It was a lovely couple of days spent with her-just something to tide me over until I see her again in 6 months :)

And I'm home now. Relaxed and free of obligations other than meeting up with other people around the cities who I have also missed dearly. I am set on enjoying the next two weeks until South Africa as much as I can. I can honestly say that I am absolutely not ready to go back. I think it took slowing down and resting and being comfortable again to realize how hard the last four months have been on me and how exhausted I really am. I would not take a second of it back, and to steal Chris' words, the semester was what it should have been. God does place us in certain places at certain times and not all of life should be easy. I learned what I should have learned and this experience will affect me in ways that I cannot begin to imagine. However, it was hard and taxing, like climbing a mountain for 4 months straight. I'm exhausted and ready to be stable for a while and the thought of plunging, yet again, into my third brand new culture within a year for a long period of time once again makes me quite weary. I am comforting myself with positive thoughts and the reassurances of practically everyone that this semester will be easier than the last. Don't get me wrong, I want to go, I still feel called to go and know that South Africa is where I'm supposed to be in two weeks but I'm just... weary right now.

So until I have to leave, I am spending the next two weeks with friends and family, reading, drinking tea, hot chocolate, and lots of wine, cooking a lot, and eating tons of soup and Malt-O-Meal and watching movies to my hearts content underneath lots and lots of blankets surrounded by fellow snugglers and comfy pillows. Mmm life couldn't be better in this moment :)