This whole "re-entry" thing could have been awful. I was fully expecting that. Well before we ever made the decision to travel for a full year we considered how hard it would be to go back to a somewhat typical life and how we would manage that. For a brief moment it was frightening enough to make me rethink the whole idea. Would it feel like hitting a wall or more like a slow slide into home base?
The initial blast is now over. It is something of an emotional roller coaster ride. When I think of selling our big rolling home, tears spring to my eyes. But when we looked at rental homes yesterday I was almost giddy with the thought of being a bike ride away from good friends (not that you would see either emotion -- I am very iguana-like that way). There is much about re-entry that is very difficult but in a different way than we expected. Those tough emotions are the things we will blog about in the coming weeks. For today I wanted to just share the joyful part.
The initial blast is now over. It is something of an emotional roller coaster ride. When I think of selling our big rolling home, tears spring to my eyes. But when we looked at rental homes yesterday I was almost giddy with the thought of being a bike ride away from good friends (not that you would see either emotion -- I am very iguana-like that way). There is much about re-entry that is very difficult but in a different way than we expected. Those tough emotions are the things we will blog about in the coming weeks. For today I wanted to just share the joyful part.
Thanks to so many amazing friends here in Tampa, we have had a soft landing. Last week I spent a full afternoon with my friend Tracey, pouring over the year and home schooling stuff and life in general and how to make a book out of this experience. This past Monday I spent three excellent hours just lounging on the sofa of my friend Lisa, talking about absolutely nothing that I can even remember except that it felt so good to just pick right up where we left off. On New Year's Eve we had an lengthy brunch with the Stuarts and shared all those belly-laugh moments that had made me wish for a Star Trek transporter beam the minute they happened so it could be experienced together. On New Year's Day the Walkers hosted a "Welcome Home" brunch and we were able to catch up with a whole lot of people we love. Later that evening we sat with Dave and Lisa again for dinner and shared videos and stories. At the end of the night I looked back with extreme gratitude to God for all the friends He has brought into our lives.
Sprinkled in all throughout the last ten days are random visits from friends in both Tampa and Orlando plus our own drop in surprises at friends' homes and workplaces. We even got to visit our cat, Harley, who has gained a couple of pounds and appears to be holding a huge grudge for being left behind. We still have trouble remembering what day of the week it is and our brains are worn out with the myriad decisions facing us in the coming days, but God is good and we are not worried.
Anyway, we have plenty of shoulders to cry on if we need them.
-Jenni
Anyway, we have plenty of shoulders to cry on if we need them.
-Jenni