BACK HOME!!!

I am more than excited to let you know that we've had a safe trip over the big pond and are finally back HOME!
I was overcome with emotion when the plane touched ground in New Zealand this morning!
Amazing what 4 years can do! I definitely didn't feel the same way when we arrived 4 years ago...

I don't know if it was exhaustion or what, but I couldn't hold the tears back...
I'm SOOOO glad to be back home!!!
I've never run a marathon but this morning at the landing I felt what seemed the emotions of somebody that's run a marathon - and come to the end.

This trip has been good and important in many ways, but also very stretching for me and our whole family. I can't wait to get settled again, unpack and get organized - AND - get into somewhat of a routine again. You don't realize how important routines are (all the little everyday things like shopping, cooking, driving places, laundry, communication, emails, finding "stuff" and more) until you don't have them anymore and you spend so much time and energy in what normally goes pretty much effortlessly.

We were BLESSED during our trip in many ways - most importantly through so many BEAUTIFUL people and the friendships we have with them (including some of you)!
WOW!!! How truly RICH we are!!!

It almost felt like we were eating "rich desserts" every day - relationally speaking.
The kind of visits we had, we would you normally space out over say, a year or more. We had one after the other - and even if it's scrumptious desserts, if there are too many too close together, you can get indigestion :)

Not that we have indigestion from getting together with YOU, but we are definitely VERY TIRED (and not just from the plane trip)!

Anyways, I'm rambling. Am just so happy to be back!

Within just a few hours after our arrival, we received several phone calls, were offered dinner, had visitors with welcome cards and yummy food.
We felt so loved!!! WOW!!! We've never had this kind of treatment before and definitely not when we arrived 4 years ago and didn't know a soul in this city besides the Cole-family that moved the same day as us (from Auckland).

It is wonderful to be loved by so many wonderful people - not only in Germany and the US - but here!!!

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

And - by the way - it's full-on S U M M E R here!!!! YAY!!!

Kylie had barely come into the house when she walked out of her room in full princess attire - and Shayden was very happy to spend time outside in the warmth and rediscover his toys. I am thrilled to have him back in his highchair for meals! And he can't crawl out of it either - yay!

Leilani went to the orientation meeting at her new school within an hour after we arrived back and Jeremie is OFF - with his friends... :)

Rich and I are looking forward to being back in our bed (with Shayden next door!).
We've slept in all kinds of beds over the last 9 weeks - from bunk beds, to twin, to double, to king - with all kinds of different "feels"...

There's no place like home - 'night!