Home

We just got home from a ten day extravaganza of visiting family, friends and attending Nate's brother, Josh's wedding. We flew to Pittsburgh, drove to Indianapolis to visit Nate's brother Tim and his family, then drove to Ft. Wayne for the wedding. Next we were off to Detroit for the day to catch up with old friends, then to Toledo for a visit with Nate's parents, and finally back to Pittsburgh to return the car my parents to graciously let us use and on the plane back to California.

I love going home. Everything about the Midwest is familiar to me. I love the reds and oranges in the changing trees. I love driving through rain on a hazy afternoon. I love the hills of Pittsburgh and the green all around. I love driving through endless corn fields and through the little towns of Indiana and Ohio. All of these things are things that we don't really have here in California and and being home makes me miss being there with all it has to offer.

I wish I could call a Grandma to come babysit every once in a while, without having to fly them out. I wish I didn't obsess about the education system that I am so uneasy about here. I wish our kids could play with their cousins, jump in leaves, and ride sleds down a snowy hill.

When I was at my parents' house, we went to my old elementary school so that the girls could play on the playground. As so many memories came back like playing football with Mr. Jedinak in the field or Graham Kendrick breaking Stephen Lenick's arm during dodgeball or lining up for fire drills outside, I realized that I want for our girls exactly what my parents gave me. We lived in a great neighborhood with great schools. I had every opportunity and am thankful for those more and more.

We are content with our life here in California and know that God has called us here to do His work. I have never doubted that or thought of living outside His will. I just sometimes miss being close to our family and friends and appreciate the foundation that got us where we are today.