OOOOkay!

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted.   I figured I needed to get my tail in gear because people were beginning to comment about me not blogging. And also, A.P. mentioned our blogs in the newsletter he wrote today. So, I guess a little pressure did me good!

I mean, life has been a little crazy for sure. But each day I have given myself the pep talk that I will sit down and write a blog today...and then I lay my head down on my pillow at the end of the night with that undone.Part of the reason I have slacked is that I wanted to document our leaving M-ville and traveling and time in Thailand and returning to the States. The more I got behind, the more it just added up to be an insurmountable task that overwhelmed me and made me hide in a corner instead of tackle.

So, needless to say, a lot has gone on in the last few months.  Mostly good, some challenging, a few things just plain hard. Through it all, we have been amazed at God's patience and provision.  We have been blessed so richly and are so thankful for this season of life.  

It is kinda weird to be here in the States. We love it for the most part, but our hearts are torn and I think that is also a reason for my silence.  Literally every day Little t asks if we can "catch a plane" and go back to M-ville.  Literally every time he asks, my eyes tear up.  He talks about kAkA and his friends there.  In our first few days here, he was being more of a stinker than usual and talking about leaving a lot.  Looking back on it, we realized that he was confused and missing what he knows as home.  At one point he very matter-of-factly said "I going bye bye, Momma! I go to M-ville!" I told him that we live here right now and asked where he would stay in M-ville. He replied, "I stay kAkA's house!" and marched out of the room.  It broke this Momma's heart. I was ready to hop back on that plane with him!

A few nights ago, he very persistently asked about leaving to the point of driving me crazy. Finally I asked him if he knew why we were here right now.  His blank look conveyed the answer, so I went on to explain. I told him that we have to wait patiently here for the new baby to come and then after the baby gets a little bigger we can go back to M-ville.  It was a lightbulb moment for all of us.  He finally had a reason behind why we left. We had the realization that he had been missing that vital piece of information that was so obvious to us.  We try to be good about telling him what is going on, so I am not sure how we missed that...but we did.  After that, he began catching himself most of the times he would ask. He would follow up asking by saying something like "after the baby comes we go back, right Momma?"

Like I said, we are all a little bit homesick for the place that has captured our hearts.  We are so deeply thankful for this time, but not long goes by before our minds begin to drift to that place.  I think that is good. I hope it is good.  I feel like it is not unhealthy and we are striving to make the most of our time here...it is just that we aren't the same people anymore.

We are back in our house in Iowa and loving it.  The first night we came home, an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me.  I remember feeling that way before - that this is a peaceful place - and we are deeply grateful for that.  There are times where having our own space feels frivolous and we feel guilty to enjoy such a gift. But for the most part, we soak it in.  Sure, we could do time here living with family, but it is so good to have our own space.  If you are ever in Iowa this summer, look us up! We would love to have you over!

In baby news...we are both getting bigger, according to Little t.  He is infatuated with all things baby and is constantly talking to my stomach, kissing it, feeding it, etc.  He asks every day when the baby is coming out.  I am feeling really good...large-ish...but good.   I am 35 weeks this week and thankful that we are still holding out.  The hospital bags are packed and ready. We LOVE our midwife and are really feeling positive about working with her. I still joke every day about just delivering the baby at home (it would be my first choice if possible). Andy doesn't entertain that so much anymore because he knows how tempted I would be to try it!  We haven't found out the gender of the baby, but A.P. has picked winners of names for both.  Little t frequently talks about Baby Princess and Baby Wayne...the names A.P. has coached him on. It will be a shock for Little t when the baby comes and it will have a real name...not Princess or Wayne! It may be a shock to Andy as well!

It is getting late and I have curtains to make, so I will close for now.  Now that the ball is rolling, I will be better about blogging.  Thanks for not giving up on me and reading!