Back in Kansas City

Well, it sure was an interesting Christmas. Everyone in the house got the 24 hour flu starting on the 23rd, and by Christmas Day, our little Taylor was in bed sick all day long. The good thing is that we have a few different Christmases this year with all the family and friends, so she still got to enjoy opening presents here in Kansas City.

Yes, we're in Kansas City now! We flew in late last night and I'm already enjoying every minute of being here and drinking it all in. Dad and Joanie flew in from CT to have Christmas with my brother and his family, and to be here with us for the next few days. It's been so much fun being with both sides of the family, and also seeing friends today. I 'just happened' to run into a couple of friends at the mall and at ihop ~ it's so special to be able to see people here that I love. Yes, it's my first day here and I've already managed to hit the mall, this time with Dad and Joanie. Here's a couple of pictures of Taylor and us on the Merry-Go-Round:

Couldn't be happier

It's been a fun week here so far! We've enjoyed seeing our friends again and having time together; it's just like old times. It's going to be so fun having Christmas up here; the next few days leading up to Christmas will be full of parties and celebrations with their family and friends. These are good times. I'm so grateful that we can be here; I'm holding on to every moment of each day and enjoying it thoroughly.

I'm also lovin' being back in America. It's so nice to be in a 'real' winter again ~ cold air and snow outside and central heat and warm fires inside! The U.S. still feels like home, and it's so refreshing to be back amongst 'my people', to drive around town and see familiar stores and restaurants, to walk through Wal-mart and see familiar items on the shelves, and to eat American food. It all tastes just as good....no.....way better....than I remembered it! Good thing I worked out hard this morning. I'm going to have to keep that up the way I've been eating recently! :-)

And it snowed....

It was snowing in Spokane before we got here, there were snow flurries as we were landing, and we woke up this morning to more snow flurries. With 5 inches of snow on the ground, I might just perhaps be the happiest girl in America this morning. It's amazing here and I'm so, so thankful to be here. Can't wait to play in the snow with Taylor!

The trip here was great. A long 26 hours, to be sure, but this may have been the easiest trip we've done yet. Taylor was absolutely incredible ~ no meltdowns, no attitudes. She was happy and pleasant for 26 hour straight. At 10:30 this morning, she is still fast asleep ~ one tired girl, to be sure.

Christmas music playing, snow falling, cold outside.....I seriously couldn't be happier. It's gonna be a great month.

Off within the hour...

The bags are packed, the itineraries are printed, passports in hand, hopefully nothing forgotten. We're about to leave our little Shire and head off on yet another adventure; this time knowing at least in part what awaits us.

I'm planning on posting from the States, though I'm not sure what our internet access will be for the first week of the trip.

We're off!!

Maybe I need to make something clear...

Lest there be any misunderstanding in the mind of any reader, bringing Aaron to the airport is never a good way to start the day; it would be the mother-daughter date at the beach that absolutely is. :-)

Seems like posting at 1am has gotten the better of me......

What a fantastic way to begin the day

After dropping Aaron off at the airport first thing this morning, I decided it was the perfect opportunity for a little mommy-daughter date. With the airport being only a 5 minute drive from the beach, off we went for a little morning adventure. At 8am, we were the first Starbucks customers for the day, and after purchasing two muffins and some orange-juice, we wasted no time heading for the shore. Unfortunately, it wasn't the warmest morning that's ever been, but we enjoyed a simple breakfast picnic regardless, and then took our time for a little walk on the beach to collect shells. It was a great morning to be alive. And a great morning to be a mom.

We had the whole day (and evening) to ourselves, Taylor and I. The rest of the family are in other cities around the nation, so we kept ourselves busy cleaning and packing, cleaning more and packing more. I did spend a bit of time on the phone with United tonight sorting out their schedule change to our itinerary which resulted in a less-than-sufficient layover in L.A. Though we have now gained another connecting flight to our journey Stateside (bringing the grand total to 5), we have gratefully lost the stress caused by merely thinking about clearing immigration and customs, waiting for luggage, and racing from terminal one to terminal eight - in less than one hour and forty minutes. With a 3-hour layover now, we can now enjoy a more leisurely pace before gearing up for 3 more flights before we reach Spokane. I am already praying for grace for our little one. And for mom and dad, too. If you think of it, please pray for us, too, as we begin our month-long adventure: for grace in the long travel, for health for the whole family during our entire time away, for no delays (weather-related or otherwise) as we fly throughout the entire U.S., and finally that this would be a refreshing time in which our hearts and bodies are strengthened and prepared for the season to come. Speaking of rest, time for me to get some. 'Night.

Really in the homestretch now

With less than 7 days to go until we leave, the excitement is really starting to build. I can't believe that soon I will be home. It's almost too good to be true.

But in the meantime, life here is full-go until the day we leave. Tomorrow we have class at our house, and an end-of-year BBQ in the evening. Thursday I'm in the prayer room in the morning, and then out for lunch with a friend. Friday evening is the intern graduation. Saturday morning brings an early start, as Taylor and I will drop Aaron off at the airport. Believe it or not, he's on his way to Wellington this weekend for At Thy Feet, a solmn assembly in which many are gathing to fast and pray for New Zealand. He will return home Sunday night, and then we fly out Monday evening. And somewhere in there I'm packing and getting ready for the trip. I wasn't kidding when I said it was full-go until we leave!

It will all be worth it. In less than one week, we will be relaxing and enjoying this view:

A mere coincidence?

Maybe. But maybe not.

Check out this cool story about Friday night's storm.

Lovin' the stormin' weather

I need to preface this post by providing a bit of explanation that New Zealand doesn't have anything close to the kind of storms we had in Kansas City. Thunderstorms are very rare here, and hardly ever will you see a really good one. One of the things I miss about Kansas City are those spring-time thunderstorms. Not the wimpy ones, but those really intense ones with loud cracks of thunder, lightning that streaks across the sky, straight-line winds that make you feel as if you're about to blow away (but do nothing more than blow a few leaves off the trees), pounding rain, and - if it's a really good one - a nice display of hail. As for the tornadoes, well, I certainly don't miss those.

Well, last night, we had one heckuva good storm 'round here. The thunder and lightning weren't much to write home about, but the hail sure was. It wasn't all that big (not complanin' 'bout that), but the impressive part was the amount of it. Truth be told, I don't think I've even seen this much hail produced in a good 'ole Kansas City storm. Don't believe me? Check out these pics:

Hail in the garden

Our back yard....

...and our deck.

Taylor discovers hail. She kept calling it snow! :-)

Gotta say, it sure was a nice little taste of home.

Promised Thanksgiving Photos

Better late than never!

Our $80 golden turkey. Much to my dismay, I did overcook it - just a little.

One of our good friends, Karina. She's a Kiwi who's a self-professed "should have been born American", who loves Thanksgiving.

Good lookin' spread of t-day favorites!

Our other friend, Chelsea, who made some killer pumpkin pies