Hello from the USA!
Hi from the USA!!! We've been back now for a week, spending quality time with Cam's side of our family in Colorado. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind, so I'll rewind...
The last night that Cam, John Shea and I spent in our Okinawan home was a memorable one. The first set of movers had taken almost everything we owned, except for John's crib, his books and toys, and our bedding, that was to be packed in the small shipment the following day. Cam and I pushed open those beautiful, wide, sliding glass doors leading out to our deck, made a bed on the floor in the middle of our empty living room infront of them and fell asleep, exhausted, to the crashing waves of the East China Sea, one last time. We woke up early to the singing tropical birds, that I always joked were there to dress me for the day.
Before we had gone to bed that night, we heard the doorbell ring. We opened it and who was there, but our favorite yakitori restaurant owner, who came to say another goodbye, with Okinawa gifts in hand! She doesn't speak any English, and we only understand a tiny bit of Japanese, but that didn't hinder our friendship with her and her family in the slightest! She brought a friend with her to translate, and with no furniture in our house, we sat on the floor, Japanese style, chatting and laughing with her one last time. Her friend told us that Kinuko-san had intended to write us many notes before we left Japan, but because we found out only weeks prior to our move, she only had time to write us one with translation. She promised to write through snail mail and begged that we do the same. I teared when I read her words, "Your sweet smiling faces are always in our hearts. The saddest part is that we can't speak English, but we are so happy to be friends with you. We cannot wait to see John-kun growing up and being a cute little man." I cried after they left. In a joyous, bittersweet way. What a gift to be friends with such precious people. After three years living in Okinawa, we had significant roots {I get so attached!} and it was hard to say goodbye. The easiest way to live our gypsy-like lifestyle would be to not dive into relationships or fall in love with the places we live, but I don't think that's right at all. I want us to always keep our hearts as wide open as possible, everywhere we go.
We got to spend our last nights in Mere and Hunter's amazing home (miss and love you!!) before we snuck out at 2am to get to the airport terminal. It took over 24 hours of travel to get to Seattle and I am not joking, John Shea probably cried for about 20 of those. The 250 other Marines and Airmen on the flight were so lucky, haha! He's had a rough time adjusting to the time change and has been wanting extra love and affection. He is such a tender soul. His sweet little world has been turned upside down, but he's getting loved on by his wonderful Grandparents, had an absolute blast meeting four of his nine cousins, and Cam and I loved the time we got to spend with John and Lin at their beautiful new farmhouse in Grand Junction, which is where all the photos are from. Love you, Marshalls!
Also, culture shock! We've been out of the country for three years so we forgot some things. I think the biggest for us has been the shopping centers and consumerism that seem to be on every corner in the suburbs ... we got used to ordering almost everything online and having to wait 2-3 weeks for it to arrive to our PO Box, so excited when it finally did. Everything I can think of is now at our finger tips. It's wild. I'm sure that as soon as I walk through Pottery Barn and Anthro with a coffee in hand, I won't think it's weird at all anymore ;) I still haven't driven yet...When Cam was driving us to Grand Junction, he kept looking over at me in the passenger seat, asking if I was ok. Finally, I laughed outloud and confessed that I was scared. We were going 80MPH on the right side of the road!! We've spent the past years driving on the left side with a top speed limit of 46.
We are so very thankful to be back and with our family. We fly to my parents on Friday before heading to California. Can't wait to see you! It is so great to be here.
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