6 Months Later...

It is hard to believe that 6 months ago, we were packing up to move here.  I had never seen our house, our vehicle or the kids' schools.  I was 31 weeks pregnant with no doctor and no real plan of where to have the baby.  There were so many unknowns and even more things to learn.  But now, looking back, time passed quickly.  Here we are 6 months later settled in our house, saying goodbye to our kids' teachers for the summer, and enjoying our sweet baby girl, Cora.  All of those things that seemed so different and new are just part of our normal life and routine now.  I don't even have to think about driving on the left side of the road.  I am used to doing laundry in the kitchen and taking it out to the dryer in the garage, even if that means I have to go out in the rain.  Speaking of rain, we no longer hide inside when it's raining.  Our wellies are broken in, and we learned that as long as it is not pouring, we can play in it.  It is truly amazing how quickly we adjust.

After 6 months, I have to wonder...am I gaining or losing?  Wow, you might think I am quite brave to write about my weight on here.  HA!  I am not talking about my weight, but rather about gaining or losing life experiences.  During these 6 months, I have missed out on so many special events with my family.  I missed my Goddaughter, Lily's, first birthday party (although I was able to Skype when they sang to her).  I missed having my sister tell me in person that she was expecting a baby.  I missed seeing the new houses that my brother and sister recently purchased.  I missed celebrating Easter with our families, getting pictures with the Easter Bunny and hunting for eggs with the cousins.  I missed Mother's Day and Father's Day get togethers with our families as well as several family birthday parties.  I also missed out on keeping up with family and friends simply due to the time change making it difficult to talk.  It just makes me wonder if I am going to look back someday and regret living so far away.   

I have to look at all of the experiences I gained too.  I learned what it was like to move to a different country...that's a big one!  I experienced maternity care from a midwife and delivery in a birthing center.  I learned how to drive on the opposite side of the road.  We've been able to explore new places and visit castles.  We enjoyed a visit to London with my parents.  We got to travel in the Eurotunnel, visit Paris and enjoy Disneyland for a week.  I made new friends that I never would've met.  I know what it feels like to be the one with an accent.  I now walk to places much more than I did in the past.  And although we missed out on family time in St. Louis, we strengthened our own family relationship through all of this.

Just as I tell Dylan and Amelia, it is not about who wins or loses.  It's about having fun when you play the game.  I feel the same way about living here.  I need to make the best of it while we are here.  Sometimes I wonder why God brought me here, but I may not find out that answer for many years to come.  It is often when you look back on something that you realize why it happened.  So we will continue wearing our wellies, exploring places we've never been and making memories with our children.

Is it too early to start a countdown?  Our plan was to be here for two years.  Eric started on October 1, 2011.  So that makes 9 months down and 15 months to go.  That's not too long, and it will fly by quickly.

Tomorrow morning, we depart for St. Louis.  I believe 6 months is the longest I have ever been away.  Our parents visited and met Cora, but she will finally get to meet her aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.  I cannot wait!  Tomorrow will be Cora's first plane ride and the longest day of her life.  Literally, we add 6 hours to our day tomorrow.  Please pray for safe, on-time travels with well-behaved, happy and quiet children.