The New Normal

It has been so wonderful to be here in Ohio with my parents, able to visit family and friends in the surrounding areas. We are so thankful for them. I wonder how many people know that they can live with their parents at any point in their lives, no matter how many kids they might have or how much of an inconvenience they might be, and feel as though they are right at home and no inconvenience at all. My parents sacrifice so much for us to stay with them, and we are so incredibly grateful for their generosity and love!

We only have two more days here in the Midwest, and then we begin a new phase of our lives in the South. It's overwhelming, exciting, wonderful, scary... all at the same time. There have been lots of times that I have wondered what we have gotten ourselves into. What were we thinking taking a job so far away from family? Why am I the one working? What is life going to look like down there? Will we fit in? Will we find friends and a good church family? And I have to continually remind myself that this is the way that God has provided for us. He knows what is going on. He has a plan, and it is a good plan. In fact, it is a wonderful plan - to grow us and prosper us. I have to let go of my pride and be okay with the fact that Brian will get to spend time with our girls at home while I am at work. (I know this will be so precious and good for him, but I don't want to admit it because I also know how much I loved being home with Peyton for the past two years!) It's also hard to know what to get involved with and what not to. There are so many opportunities here, but sometimes you really have to make an effort in a new environment, while still somehow maintaining a balance of family time and focusing on transitioning well. Right now, my prayer is that Brian and I will find mutual friends at church that we will be able to hang out with. I also am praying that we will find a couple of things to be involved in and that that will be enough for this first year. Thankfully, there are quite a few people around us who seem to understand or empathize with our transition.

I still find it hard to drink water from the tap here. I am not used to having to take care of my vehicles - filling them up with gas, washing them, vacuuming them, etc. My standard of clean has definitely changed since living in China. I am feeling a little more afraid again as I see and hear about all of the violence that goes on here in the States. I miss my normal life - knowing what each day is going to look like. But, I look forward to creating a new normal! This next year just seems so up in the air still as Brian looks for a new job and we try to decide if we want to stay in the South.

We have had a couple of really great days with my brother and sister-in-law, and we are so thankful for them! I feel like we are all finally kind of on the same page in life, and I look forward to growing a lot closer to them now that we are back. It's been weird being treated by them for lunch, etc. and watching them be grown-ups in their home, but it has also been really nice! I hope that we can return the favor when they come to visit us! :)

I am really hoping that I can focus on being thankful this year, and I am praying for strength and wisdom to trust God and continue to walk in His way for us as a family.