It's almost over, what have we gained?

   Well I couldn't end this journey without taking time to be thankful for this adventure. As I sit here on this plane squished between Jimmie and a little elderly woman from Oregon who seems to be passing gas, I have a mixture of feelings. I am happy to be landing on the same land where my family and friends live.  I miss the welcome I get every day at home from my little king Louis ( my Shitzu dog)  who always loyally loves me and wants to be with me all the time. I miss Bella our giant old dog who has been such a faithfull member of our family for nearly twelve years. I miss rio, my favorite horse, who teaches me the value of trust and letting go and gives me so much peace and comfort. So of course home is good and I want and need to be going home now, but I don't look forward to things just being the same as they always are. The kids will go back to wasting countless hours on video games, Jimmie will be completely immersed in work, and I'll be heading to Oregon and dealing with the sadness Parkinson's disease has brought our family. My heart sinks to think that maybe dad won't know who I am.

   Will our life will slip into the same monotony it had before?  Change . Oh how I love change. It's the only consistent thing about me, I never get bored of change.

  But as I said, this is a page about being thankful. How can I not be thankful that we had two monthes to spend together without all the distractions of daily life. We were able to see so many beautiful and interesting places. We opened our minds and hearts to new ways of thinking and doing things that can only be gained by exposing yourself to new people and places. Travel helps you to grow in a special kind of way. The faces of people we met on our travels are stamped into my heart forever.  My kids have true friends on the other side of the globe and saw firsthand as one of Jehovah's witnesses we can have family wherever we are at. Visiting bethel heightened our appreciation for all of the work that goes on behind the scenes.  There is so much to be thankful for every day. Even the bad days are an opportunity to learn and grow. The simplest things are what I remember the most, for instance the sunsets or playing in the sea with the boys and quiet candlelight dinners in our luxurious trailer. You don't need a two month European tour for these things, but I highly recommend it anyhow. 

   So as I walked through my front door I was both happy and sad at the time. Happy to be home , because we have a good life here filled with wonderful people but sad the journey is over.