This month I got to take a trip back to my hometown of Falls Church, Virginia. It's been almost 3 years since my last visit, I can't even believe that. It was such a special trip. It was so fun to just have Koa and enjoy time with him, my last baby. I got to see family, friends and enjoy the goodness of life in the U.S. of A.
It's funny because living in Costa Rica, I kind of tell myself that it's really not that different. I mean, we have a KFC right down the street. McDonald's is only about 2 hours away. We have grocery stores, we have paved roads, we even have sidewalks.
But you know, the truth is, it is really different. It is totally different. I love living in Costa Rica, don't get me wrong, it is such a blessed life that we live. But at the same time, it is really fun to go home and enjoy my home culture and those things that we don't have here.
I especially enjoyed eating. I think I probably gained about ten pounds. My family kept commenting that I was eating like I had never eaten before in my life! My favorite eats included:
tomato Basil soup at La Madeleine
bagels and broccoli cheddar soup at Panera Bread
pita chips and rye tricuits with hummus and spinach dip
freshly grilled hamburger cookout at my Pop Pop's house
deep fried pickles on my mom's birthday
blueberries and rasperries
fresh tomatoes from my Pop Pop's garden
toasted english muffins with real butter
cinnamon bun flavored coffee creamer
chili cheese fritos
7 eleven iced coffee
swiss cheese on a sandwich
salmon
I also enjoyed some shopping. My mom and I hit up thrift stores. I about cried walking into Unique thrift store. Furniture, children's desks, chairs, strollers, you name it all for dollars. I couldn't even look at that section, knowing that I couldn't take anything that big home with me and knowing that I don't have access to anything like that here. I feel utterly convinced that I could live off of the excesses of American culture. That kind of excess just does not exist here. I did enjoy the toy section and book section of the thrift stores and found some awesome stuff for homeschool, including some great books, board games and toys.
I also cleaned out a bunch of stuff I have in mom's attic. Wow, boxes of photos, letters, journals (I've kept a journal consistently since I was 10 - that equals a lot of journals), an extensive china doll and rag doll collection, which will now never be passed on to a daughter, but I was able to give them to my niece. I wish I had more time to look through all the memories. All I did was condense everything down to a few boxes and put them back in the attic for now.
But all of the fun of eating, shopping and digging through memories aside, the best part by far of my trip was spending time with the people I love that I do not get to see nearly often enough. And there were so many more people I would have loved to see, too.
Seeing Ellen, such an important person in my life, and meeting her son Charlie was extra-special!
Old friends are the best friends. These ladies and I have known each other since before I even can remember. Seeing them just feels like coming home.
At Panera Bread with one of my favorite families!
Hanging out with Laura, and meeting my precious godson, Jackson meant so much to me! This is one of those friendships that stands the test of time and when we see each other it feels like no time has passed - I love that!
Sister time is the best! Especially hanging out in mom's tent in her backyard!
My Pop-Pop and cousins. What a special day to have all his grandchildren together in the same place at the same time.
My adorable niece, Sadie. Just wanna squeeze her!
Koa and Sadie enjoying their breakfast on mom's beautiful backporch. Koa was one happy baby on this trip, being held constantly and getting so much attention!
My momma's birthday. I love my family!!!!
Homecoming - lots of love!
Coming home has been harder than expected. I've been getting some "payback" this week from the boys I left behind, especially from Jude. Emotions running high, it's taken us all a little time to settle back into our normal patterns of relating and functioning as a family. But we're getting there. And Scott did so great taking care of three boys by himself. He's such a superdad!
