Back-2-Cali & a Mug Swap

We made it! 

Here we are in California, with a lovely evening breeze blowing through my window and absolutely NO humidity to be felt! It is truly wonderful, and I had nearly forgotten what perfect weather feels like. 

The hubs and flew in on Thursday, and it could have been the worst trip of our lives. 

Firstly, we were being uprooted from our home for the last four years; leaving dear friends, our creatively put together nest, our jobs, our schedules and routines and all familiarities.

Secondly, we were flying home with our cat. 

30,000 feet in the air, for over 12 hours (including a layover in Vancouver), with our dear fur-baby. 

Thirdly, we had to pack and clean and pack and clean and train new teachers and pack and clean and move out of our little and loved apartment. 

Needless to say, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. 

And here is where I report that despite all of the obstacles in front of us, 

GOD WAS FAITHFUL TO US. So faithful! 

And even if the trip had been horrible, He would have still being faithful because He just can't stop being faithful, but the trip (all things considered) was FANTASTIC!
What could have been the worst 26-ish hours of our lives, turned out to be great! 

So, God was faithful and MERCIFUL! 

Our dearest and bestest friends in Korea drove us to the airport. 

That was not an easy goodbye. I mean, how in the world do you say goodbye to folks that you just love with your whole heart and then some? It was so hard, there were many tears, but I wouldn't have traded that time for anything. I was so glad to have them there, supporting us, praying with and for us, loving us, and sending us off. 

Moto, our dear fur-baby, did exceptionally well with the traveling, praise the Lord! 

This was the aspect of the trip that I was most worried about. Our dear cat is such a lovey thing, but he's also very vocal. I didn't want to be those people on the plane who had the cat who didn't shut up for the 10 hour flight and kept everyone awake. 

BUT, he did so great! He was meowy and uncomfortable, but once we were on the plane and in the air, I covered his travel bag with my blanket and he kept quiet. We were also sitting next to a dear old lady who loved animals and didn't mind the cat at all! 

OK, before this gets too long, I'll sum up the rest of our trip: 

We flew through Vancouver (Canadians are SO NICE!) and on to San Francisco, picked up rental car, drove down to my brother's place (he and his new wife are kitty-caring for Moto for the time being until we get our own place), spent a few days with the cute newlyweds and let Moto adjust, drove back up to the airport, got picked up by one of my best friends, and arrived at my parents house yesterday evening! Wooo! 

Aaaaand, when I got here, there was a wonderful package waiting for me! 

Thank you, CuppaKim, for a wonderful Mug Swap! 

And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, sweet Cindy, for such adorable mugs!! 

I've wanted these mugs for a looong time, they're the kind where you can stash your tea bag on the side pocket when it's steeped long enough--so nifty! 

And that, my friends, is how the last couple of days have been.
We are missing our Korea-home and Korea-family whilst still being excited and happy with Cali-family and Cali-friends. It's very strange to be feeling both emotions at the same time.
And since we gained a whole day when flying from Korea to California,
we're also adjusting to a different time zone and trying to figure out what day it really is.

But for now, I'm just going to relax with a cup of tea in my new cute mug.
Here's to being unemployed! 

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Twenty-seven.

27 years of life. 

14 years walking with Jesus. 

5 years with an amazing husband. 

4 years adventuring in South Korea. 

8 more days until California. 

An uncountable amount of people who love me. 

I am so thankful. 

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Déjà vu

Around this time, in August 2008, I was crying. 

We had quit our jobs, sold or given away most of our stuff, moved in with my parents for a month, and we were just a few days away from moving across the world--far from cultural familiarity, family, and friends--to South Korea to take jobs that we didn't know how to do. 

I woke up in the middle of the night, weeping. 

I felt so scared, so not ready, so overwhelmed, so emotional, so inadequate, so insecure. 

I didn't want to leave my family and friends, my home, my idea of happy. 

I wept and wept, hot tears covering my pillow, until I couldn't breathe. 

My brother and my husband rushed in to comfort me, 

but they couldn't take away the fear, the pain of being uprooted. 

Anne said it best, 

"'I've put out a lot of little roots these two years,' Anne told the moon, 

'and when I'm pulled up they're going to hurt a great deal.'"

Little did I know then what God had in store for me. 

As it turns out, it was way better than I could ever have dreamed. 

And now, four years later, with a heart full of new framily members (framily = friends that are as close to you as family), a head full of new memories and experiences, and a hand full of new skills, I'm crying. 

And I can't stop. 

There's a big chunk of my heart that is SO excited to be returning 'home' to California. 

I am overjoyed at the thoughts of seeing and doing life with family and friends again. 

And, I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to go to Target and the Safeway produce section.

But...

the other big chunk of my heart HURTS. 

I feel so scared, so not ready, so overwhelmed, so emotional, so inadequate, so insecure.

I don't want to leave. 

I don't want to leave my framily, I don't want to move across the world again, I don't want to make a transition,  I don't want to feel culture shock in my own culture, I don't want to tear apart our little apartment, and I just don't want to 

stop doing life as I know it. 

That tear-stained night in August 2008 helps me believe that these tear-stained days of August 2012 will bring forth more of God's good plans for my life. And just as I didn't expect it then, it may be better that I could ever dream.

 And yet... 

I have put down many roots these last four years,  

and when I'm pulled up, it's going to hurt a great deal. 

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