Returning: Part 1

In the months that have elapsed since my "Spring Cleaning" post, we have flown back to the U.S. to have Micah checked out for medical issues (he's fine); returned home for a week and a half and then flown to Spain to join Deron's family for a cruise honoring his mom's 70th birthday (it was wonderful); returned to Kenya with Deron's mom to visit with her here, share Kisumu with her, and visit the Mara (a happy, happy time with so many memories); and then flown back to the U.S. with Deron's mom where we hit Baltimore, Walnut Creek, and Atlanta (a whirlwind packed with many special moments).

Returning to the U.S. (without the underlying tension of medical issues, as we had with Micah) was a happy whirlwind--time passed way too quickly in each spot, but held so many wonderful moments and so many familiar and nice to see again sights. We came nowhere close to doing all we had planned to do or seeing all the people we had hoped to see. We probably underestimated how quickly a tri-city tour would zip past. If we saw you, it was fabulous and cherished and we thank you! If we did not, it was largely due to how quickly time zipped in Baltimore and Walnut Creek--we had large contigents of family gather to see us in each place--and we sure hope to catch you in the next wave!

Even beyond the obvious interpersonal connections, there were lots of things to love about being back in the U.S. There are way too many to list them all, so in no particular order, here were some often-taken-for-granted-but-newly appreciated aspects to being back:

Deron and I both loved the freedom of movement. Roads are so good in the U.S. (not to mention signage, police regulating how people drive thus decreasing the truly crazy and obnoxiously aggressive behavior that might otherwise ensue, rest stops, and roadside assist services should something go awry) and we loved the feeling that should we wish, we could jump in the car at any time and to be able to go anywhere (heck, I just loved DRIVING again!).

I had a giant grin on my face every time I stepped in Target. Whole Foods and Publix as well. There are products and produce items I have missed. There are ingenious products I did not even know existed but discovered. (Hello Munchkin diaper discs--looks like the start of a beautiful friendship! These little guys totally work on the diaper pail as nothing else ever has! We may be on the tail end of life with diapers, but what a happy note on which to end our run thanks to these brilliant little game changers in the fight against yucky smell in Tiras's room.)

I cannot possibly overstate how much I enjoyed having clean, running tap water with which to brush my teeth and wash my dishes. So nice! (And, yes, I do fully appreciate how lucky I am to have running water at all and to have the distiller for my drinking water. I am not marching for ages to a water source and then painstakingly carrying my water back to my home. I still have it easy and I am grateful. Still, clean water so easily accessible as it was in the U.S. was something I relished.)

Speaking of doing dishes, garbage disposals. Ahhhh...

Chocolate cream pie at Chow in Lafayette. Had it three (yes, 3!) times while we were in Walnut Creek. Also had fish tacos at Chow the day we arrived in California and they were so delicious. I basically ate whatever I wanted in the U.S. since I knew it would be a year until I would have access to certain flavors and types of food again. I savored and fully appreciated all manner of food and beverage.

And on that very sweet note, I will end my written reflections on the U.S. visit. I can't do it full justice, so just suffice it to say that it was a fun and refreshing time.

Below are some pictures of the kids enjoying Atlanta's Fernbank Museum (run, don't walk to see their amazing new children's exhibit on the top floor--so well done and so much fun even for an adult to explore) and Destin Beach in Florida (a road trip our family took during the Atlanta portion of our trip).