A little more than a year ago, we came back from Kosova. 
Since we had first gone, six years earlier, so many things in our lives had changed. We of course grew closer together as a couple - it's bound to happen when you are that close of a proximity with your better half all of the time - We became parents for the first time, and then the second time. We learned another language, culture, and many of the details that come with that. I grew into who I am even while I had to keep it bottled up some because of the different culture. Those differences only helped to cement my beliefs, convictions, and personality.
It's hard to believe that we lived such amazing lives. For heaven's sake - we traveled Europe! What young couple wouldn't love to have that opportunity?! I love the liberalness of the European outlook on many things, but also their grasp on traditions. I was grateful for their family attitude and see a lack in the current American culture. I wish at various moments of the week that I could go visit some such spot that I can picture in my head, but I am so happy that my home, and house, are in the United States.
Since we've been back, we've had so many changes and transitions! We lived in a garage, Dan entered the 'normal' job world and we miss him daily, the boys have friends who speak the same language, I'm always the over-dressed one, I miss Arta and the workers and Alban and Leslie and Dave and Cindy, but... I can run outside here and not get strange looks from every single person. We won't even discuss how much fun cooking and eating can be when you have a plethora of ingredients available to you!!!! So much traffic, so many things to do, sometimes too many, but all good. I had thought that eventually we would feel settled, but I'm starting to wonder.
My life will be in constant change. Of course I knew this before, but for some reason it didn't get applied in my thinking towards this one change. We loved our time in Kosova - so many wonderful memories, pieces of life that will forever shine, dear, oh so dear, friends that we loved, but we couldn't stay there. Just as we can't stay in any one place or time in our lives! I know we try, don't we? Change can be a little bit painful, isn't it? I kind of thought I had somehow learned who I was and that was that. But, in learning more of who I am, I am now learning how to BE who I am. How to live everyday as me, as the masterpiece that God created amidst the rest of the world - and all of its change!
I'm in love with my life, because I know who I am, who I was created to be, and now, I'm learning how to use it for Him. That excites me. That's what the point is. We will always be changing so that we are a better and better reflection of the Creator. He's made us each amazing so that we can share pieces of His wonder and Truth with the world. I had a rare opportunity to be in a place where I had to stand up for my beliefs, convictions, and personality, or I would have lost them, or been changed possibly for the worst. And, now, I'm moving into a new time when the strength of knowing will hold me when I might want to give up, or hide, or run away. I don't get to. That's what the change in our lives is supposed to do, strengthen us. Cuz guess what? There's MORE planned for us. There's more planned for me, and there's more planned for you. Are you excited? or scared? If you're scared, let's chat. I've been there. I'm still there sometimes. But, I have discovered more of who I have been created to be, and I know that because of that, there's good stuff coming! Let me share it with you.
