Living and loving life

Oh. This was fun reading all of your comments! Looks like Fatimah is the winner of what people want to hear about. And you haven't even heard about us at the Pakistani Circus or at her family 'farm'. Those are good ones. I plan on getting more of these written about this summer while I am home, and life is much less interesting. Much more safe and normal, but still, much less interesting.

You won't want to miss when I gave Fatimah one of her gifts from London, a really cute blingy blue jeweled pen and she said, "Thank you. But I would like pink better." She cracks me up, and has no idea why I have to laugh at her. Can you imagine at 25 year old in the states saying that about a 15$ pen/gift? (BTW, I knew she would like pink, but they were sold out)

It has been a week of emotions and reconnecting to life here in the USA. We were met at the airport by family with a big welcome home sign, and the house was decorated with balloons and signs as well. What a wonderful treat. The welcoming of friends and neighbors has been overwhelming as well. Imagine that you lived somewhere for a long time and moved away, then nine months later moved back to that very house. People have been SO kind and loving!

I laughed an evil and excited laugh when I drove the first time; then sat in the parking lot and cried. How have I come to a life that makes me so thrilled to drive a car? Once inside I cried again in the produce section. We have SO much here and I love it. And I can't believe how little the rest of the world has. Yes; I believe I was/am suffering from culture shock. I think I have a tiny understanding of how missionaries feel. It has been strange. One day I said to my kids in the car, "Look at me! I'm driving, annnnnnd?! I'm wearing short sleeves, too!" We all laughed at that one. I came out of Costco on the second day home (Costco?!!! Be still my beating heart! I LOVE YOU!) and a car horn or something was blaring for just a second, the wind had caught the sound and for one quick second I thought, "Call to prayer? Already? Wait. There isn't call to prayer here. Ha! This place is awesome!"

I don't write much about church on here, but let me tell you that it is a challenge. Who knew a handful of people in a branch could be so much work? It's exhausting physically and emotionally. So I have been thrilled to have scout leaders and primary teachers at our door welcoming my kids home and inviting them to scouts and primary. (one even brought us a Welcome Home cake) Oh, happy day! Sitting in sacrament meeting was such a treat. Hundreds of people singing to an organ? Could have have been heavenly angels, I tell ya. It's just been great.

Being back in my house has been very strange. As you know, I LOVE the big blue house. We all do. To make myself adjust to life in the Middle East I had to pack up my feelings of home, put them in a box, and store them in my emotional closet. When I have moved before, I've done something similar, but I have never gotten to unpack them. So all my months of dreaming of home, are actually happening. It's hard to comprehend for me. AND, I have all of these knew feelings and experiences that I have to now do that same to. Pack up and put on hold. I am learning to compartmentalize my feelings and 'lives' that I now have. This fall will make one full year though, and then I'll know better how to live in two places.

I haven't seen my kids so happy, I don't think ever. They have taken off with their friends right where they left off. Samuel said, "Mom, when Alec and I play warriors, I can talk to him about the Book of Mormon warriors too, because he's Mormon and it's okay to talk about stuff like that here. It's awesome!" And later, "Mom, did you realize that like everyone here in Orem is Mormon? I mean, I think all my friends are Mormon here." Cute. We've talked a lot about the freedoms of religion here. What a true gift to each and every one of us.

So there you have it. The emotional tickings of a family that leads two VERY different lives. Thank you for all of your welcome homes. What a nice treat. As for the fireside, it will be at 7 p.m. at the Stake Center on Center Street in Orem. (Tuesday the 14th) It's about 450 (or so) East on the North side of the road. It's very easy to find and I would love to have any of you. So Stacey, I have finally awoken from jet lag - so you better be there. I'll try to get up and see you first though! (BTW, jet lag has been a stinker as usual. Not as bad as going there, but bad enough. Sheesh! I hate it.) And SIL of Christine, I'd love for you to come if you can. How fun to meet you! Christine is so great, that I'm sure her SIL must be too!

I'm loving the amazing weather of a late and perfect spring here on the Wasatch front, man this place is beautiful. I forget how awesome it is here, how blue the sky is, how green the trees are, how clean the air is and how striking that mountains are. I feel so blessed that we have been able to have these amazing experiences so far away, that we have grown from and learned so much. AND so thankful that we are getting to be home, to 'fill our buckets' and be with loved ones. We truly are blessed.