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Jimmy and I got to go home for 3 weeks for Christmas.

It was lovely.

Cool weather. Great food. Much-missed-completely-wonderful-family. More great food. Precious friends and fellowship. Even more great food.

Have I mentioned there was lots of good food? For real, neither of us felt hungry even once while we were home, but we definitely spent a lot of time feeling full and put on the pounds to prove it.

There were a few things that were weird about being back in the States - like driving fast, brushing our teeth with tap water, having hot water, how many white people there were, how many over-weight people there were, how nice and clean everything is, and how everything is s o s p r e ad o u t. It seemed strange not to have people and buildings and more people and motorcycles and trash and animals and cars and and more people all crowded on top of each other. The other extremely weird thing was going places by myself. I never do that here in Haiti. The first time I drove somewhere alone in the States I found myself afraid, and wondering if I could do it. Then before I could really start to freak out , it hit me that for the last 10 years of my life I have gone and done many things by myself everyday. In fact I am a grown adult fully of capable of doing things independently. After I had this revelation, I wasn't afraid anymore, but it still felt weird anytime I did anything alone, which just made me laugh. How quickly things can change.

However even with all these little differences, for the most part being back in the States felt really normal. Felt like being back home. I guess that's what happens when you spend your whole life in one country. It becomes home.

It was hard to leave home to come back to Haiti. Probably more than anything to leave my mom- to come back and have my first baby here without her.

The funny thing is, now that we are back in Haiti, it feels like home too. And I'm pretty sure that is a new feeling for me. I may have been just beginning to feel that before leaving for Christmas, but coming back I really do. And more than ever I see how much I love life here. We are so blessed to live here, to teach here, to learn here, to go to church here, to get to know people here, to garden here (I'm sure Jimmy will fill you in on that soon), to enjoy the slow pace of life here, to see God show up on our behalf here, and in a small way to get to be part of the unique and important ministry Heartline is doing for the Kingdom and the people of Haiti.

Sorry we haven't updated the blog in months. Now that we're back here we aim to get back on track and update every week. Please continue to pray for us. For the birth of our baby coming in only 7 weeks. For the children we teach. For Heartline and the Haitians it works with. Specifically right now, for Heartline to be able to buy the rest of the property it is hoping to build on. We are thankful for all of you who so bountifully love and bless us and take the time to read our rarely updated blog. :o)