We are happy to be staying, although missing our families makes staying a lot less fun. But we will be going home for a visit in the fall and some of our family will be visiting us. We are trying to make the most of our last year here. There are still many places on our "to see" list. We still won't make them all, but it nice to know we have another year to see some.
3 years into our adventure and it's interesting to look back at how the three years went by. The first year was getting our feet wet. Learning our way around, learning the language and customs, making friends and just plain figuring it all out. It was exhausting. The second year we were settled, but not rooted. Ford started sending people home early and for the longest time we didn't know if and when it would be our turn. Then half way through the second year we were evicted from our home and for 3 months we were in a temporary living space and even more unsure with what would happen next. Then the 3rd year began and we quickly went from talking about moving home to possibly extending our stay. That went on until May. So now finally it is our 4th and final year and hopefully we can just relax for a least the first 6 months, because I am sure that after Christmas we will have to start planning for our move home.
I have to say I am a little scared about moving back home. While I still don't feel rooted here, there is a comfort level here. I dread the thought of buying a house and the stresses that go with it. Then finding one fast enough to get the kids into school on time. School alone is a scary idea. While I'm sure bullying happens here, it doesn't to the extent of what it seems to be in the US. Reading the news about US schools would turn off any parent. And then all of the economic cuts happening in the schools. We are so blessed here with our schools and all of the accompanying programs. Then there is getting Landon situated once again with new therapists and all of the insurance worries that go along with that processes. I'm stressing out just writing about all of it!
So where will we go this year? Northern Italy this summer, Michigan this fall, hopefully family will come here for Christmas and we still need to figure out our one last hurrah before we leave. In between we will have short car trips including one to see a Woman's World Cup Soccer match.
So that's it for now. I did ask Larry to post some of his thoughts about the past 3 years, so stay tuned for his post.
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