WARNING: Living overseas touches everything!!!

After some very positive posts, I thought I would share the 'other reality' of moving between cultures. Perhaps it goes without saying, but we are learning that having lived overseas for 2.5 years touches every facet of our lives.

When we were still in Minnesota, I reconnected with a mom at the French Immersion elementary school that I had known when we were there before.  She had lived in Madagascar as a missionary with the Lutheran church for 9 years.  As we chatted and I explained our return from France, she warned me, "It will take a while to get your head back in the USA."

I dared to ask the question, "How long will it take?"

She answered based on her own experience, "It took 3 years for me."

UGH!!!!!

This was not the answer I wanted to hear!

And, of course, (probably like everybody else in this situation) I was certain that my story would be different.

After all, she lived overseas for 9 years, we only lived overseas 2.5 years.

Certainly it doesn't take 3 years to readjust to your own home!?!?!  Right?

Well, I'll have to keep you posted on how long it takes for me.  All I know, is that I am not there yet.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I am thrilled beyond belief to be here.

I love so much about life here - being near family, our new home, our new neighborhood, the kids schools, our new church, and Mark loving his job so very, very much is absolutely a huge blessing in our lives.

Yet, at the same time, that sense of 'my insides being caught up with the outside world' has not really arrived yet.

When we first answered the call to missions, I knew it was a huge decision.  But, I didn't really comprehend HOW huge it would be.

Moving overseas and then moving back touches everything.  Literally everything.  I find myself searching for things it hasn't touched, but I haven't yet.

I fill so much of my time working to 'change life back' to what it once was.

It is absolutely daunting re-purchasing everything we sold or gave away in order to move to France.  Ladders, hoses, tools, lawn mower, vacuum, sprinklers, lamps, spices, file cabinets, everything that plugs into the wall anywhere in the house (alarm clocks, kitchen appliances) and on and on it goes.

The repeatedly high totals at Lowe's can get down-right depressing.  I have forced myself to think of the specific people we knew in France and got to share truth with each time I go to Lowe's.  It IS ALL WORTH it for them!  But, as the cash register cha-chings away, sometimes it is just downright a battle to keep all my thinking straight.

And then there are the projects.  Our entire filing system had to be re-done to fit the American way of life again.

We had to compress our stuff into the smallest space possible in order to move back, so everything in the 'toy' category got put into Ziplock bags and stuffed into bins and boxes.  The kids' closets are an organizational nightmare!  And, it's even worse when they decide to play with something!  No, no, no...don't do that!!!!  Let's just say, they are not very keen on putting things back into Ziplock bags.  But, how can I blame them?  I would leave everything laying on the floor too, if all my stuff was in Ziplock bags.

The little pieces of furniture that could conveniently hold things like table linens, games, piano music or library books that we owned in the USA before we moved, and then owned in France but got rid of to move back are seriously lacking.  Eventually, we need to re-find and repurchase those things. 

UGH!!!  Truth be told, I am tired of trying to fix our life so that it functions the way it did in our other homes.  I am sick and tired of re-buying things that I bought in the USA, then bought in France, and that I need to buy yet again in the USA!!!!  UGH!!!!  I am sick of shopping!!!!!

See what I mean?  Moving overseas touches everything!!!!

Not only has it touched our entire lives as a family in our home, but it has touched our children's lives in unexpected ways as well.

For some ridiculous reason, our two oldest children were arguing about how many different types of triangles there are.  (Such a fruitful disagreement, huh!)  They didn't even know that their argument was half in English and half in French.

It struck me, they don't know lots of things in English that they know in French.  This year is going to be another big year of learning for them.  They have only, ever studied math in French.  As we were meeting each of their math teachers in their new schools, we are explaining, "They know a great deal of math, but they may or may not know how to explain what they know in English.  They need to learn the English vocabulary and begin to connect the dots to their knowledge in French."

Thankfully, kids are rather flexible, and they will learn fast. 

Here's another thing.  Lena has been scared to death to go to a new school.   I have wondered why.  Is it her personality?  I do recognize that nobody likes to start as the new kids in a school, but this fear seemed almost irrational.  Until I remembered what school was like for her in France.

School was hard.  School was NOT fun (expect for being with friends, which was the only fun part).  School was teachers yelling at you...or the kids around you.  School was loads and loads of insane rules that don't always makes sense - you just have to follow them.  School means you don't miss a beat or step out of line for a millisecond or you are toast --- your entire future could be altered if you mess up, and the teachers will remind you of that more and more as you climb grades in the school system there.  Mind you, the education level is very good, but the environment is not really very positive.

As school has begun, I can see the joy on all 3 of the kids' faces.  Teachers are nice.  Teachers don't yell.  The environment is so encouraging.  The hallways are colorful and positive.  The other kids are relaxed versus stressed out.

On top of that, all the systems around school are different.

Backpacks are used differently. 

No one uses a trouse/pencil pouch here.

Most of the writing is in pencil here.  In 1st grade in France, Todd was required to write in cursive with a PEN by the 2nd month of school!  He's re-learning how to write the English way.  It is so hard to see him concentrating so hard to make his letters big enough to touch the bottom solid line, the middle dotted line and the top solid line - the letters need to be so HUGE in comparison to before!

Lena's math teacher explained this week that any math homework done in pen would receive a zero.  But, in France, her math teacher had explained that any math work done in pencil would get a zero.

We went to the pool at the Indiana Wesleyan pool and there was a prominent sign posted:  no speedos.  The pools we swam in in France had a sign posted:  no swim trunks.

Honestly, I could go on and on and on and on if I wanted to.  But, I know this will get very boring fast.

This is the funny thing.  I want to live here, in Marion, Indiana 100%.  But, it's hard to live here 100% when my mind is still remembering how different life was just 5.5 months ago when we lived in France, and when my everyday life is still full of the adjusting that continues day after day. 

This is my fear:  will it take 3 years like my friend in MN said?   I really hope not.

I have to be patient. 

I have to trust it will come, in time.

But, here's one super positive thing about our adjustment here.  Even though we lived in a very wealthy part of Paris in an apartment that is worth well over ONE MILLION dollars to purchase, our kids cannot get over how great it is to live in America.

My 7, 10 and 12 year old kids still say on nearly a daily basis, "it is just so great living in America!"  They say things like, "I love this neighborhood" and "isn't our yard the best" and "can you believe I get to play volleyball on a team?" and "Mom, when is my next baseball practice - I love baseball" and stuff like that.

Have you ever found yourself saying things like this to your kids, "You have no idea how good you have it.  Kids in most parts of the world don't get to....(fill in the blank)."  Perhaps you have, and then your kids look at you like you are some kind of alien.

Well, we don't have to say that to our kids.  They totally understand how different life can be.  And, their lives in Paris were honestly pretty great.  But, nothing compares to life in America.  This is a great country.

We have space.  We have incredible wealth.  We have opportunities galore.   Bathrooms are clean.  Stuff doesn't cost an arm and a leg here.  We just have so, so, so, very much!!!

I am so thankful for how our kids really understand that and cherish being here.

And, so, I know in the long run, all of this will be very worth it.  In time, we will all totally adjust.  Even though the adjustment back to the USA is not terribly easy, the positives of living overseas still far outweighs any discomfort at this time of life.   And so, I will trust the Lord, try desperately to be patient, and wait for all my insides to catch up to the outside world.

In time, in time, in time it WILL come.  Right!?!?!!!

Things that make me very HAPPY!!!

We have lots and lots of happiness all around this home for lots and lots of reasons.  Photos speak a thousand words, so here are a few photos to tell the story.

What is it about a boy and his bat?

The boys are loving baseball!!!!

This is the 'before' photo of Lena's bathroom.

This is the 'after' photo of Lena's bathroom.  A nice pale purple.  So much more fun!

This is the 'before' photo of our bathroom.

These are 'after' photos of our bathroom.

We were a bit scared at first.  Would the lime walls work?

When we put it all together, it was perfect!  (I'm not sure why the towels look so orange-ish.  They are actually more of a coral/pinkish kind of color.)

This next photo is of Todd, but it displays the work of all 3 of my kids.  The youngest, as usual, played along beautifully as the older two painted and 'dressed' his face.  He was oh, so willing to pose for silly photos.

And, lastly, this was my lunch spot a day or so ago. Beautiful!

I'm so thankful for the ability to smile often.  God is good!

So VERY Thankful!!!!

We were driving away from the doctor's office after school today and Lena said, "Mom, I love everything about my life - absolutely everything!"  And, then she repeated herself three times with great excitement!  It was as if she just had to say it three times.

She went on to explain all the things she loves about her life right now.  She made the volleyball team at her new school and is pumped about that.  She loves all the girls on her team, too.

She went to her first FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meeting this morning and loved it.   There were 30+ kids at the first meeting and she was told the attendance will double by the end of the year.

She's excited about our new church and the potential that exists there among kids her age.  She'll be in youth group soon.  How did that happen so fast?!?

And, she loves school.  School is just great for Lena.  Great teachers, great friends - even after just 8 days.

Not to mention, she says about every other day that she loves our new house and neighborhood.  Lets just say, things are going fabulously for this 12 year old kid!

I just cannot tell you how thankful I am for the obvious ways that the Lord is taking care of our kids.  It is simply remarkable. 

Here are a few more examples.

We found out Wednesday at the 7th grade open house that Lena's choir teacher went to a bi-lingual school in Berlin, Germany when she was in elementary school.  She looked us in the eyes and said, "I totally get Lena.  I was her when I was a kid."  How amazing is that?

And, there's a boy in Todd's class who is from the Congo.  Todd asked him the first day of school if he speaks French, and the little boy said, "Yeah, a little."  Are you kidding me?!?  Amazing!

Now, I challenge you to open a new tab on your browser and go to www.mapquest.com.  Type in Marion, Indiana and really take a look at where we live.  We are in the middle of small town farm country.  Also, check out the population of each of the towns in our area:  Marion, where we live is 30,000 people.  The neighboring towns where our kids go to school are Converse, Indiana (population 1200) and Sweetser, Indiana (population 1200) and Swayzee, Indiana (population 981).  Is it not just crazy that Todd has a child from the Congo in his class? 

Then, there is Ryan.  He has only ever done school in French.  He's a really good reader in both French and English, but when it comes to writing, it is very clear he is much more comfortable writing his thoughts in French.

Ryan has the capacity to write well in English, but it is going to take work for him to get strong in this.  This is a critical year for him to really grab hold of English.  So, guess which teacher and which subject is Ryan's favorite so far!?!?!?!  He came home saying ENGLISH WRITING is his favorite class!!!!  He loves, loves, loves, loves his writing teacher.  This is so very huge for him!  Halleluia!!!  The Lord is providing just what Ryan needs most right now in school.  Yeah!

I just marvel.  And, I am just so thankful.  I have believed that the Lord would be always mindful of what is best for each member of our family - whether in the USA or some foreign country, and it is evident that this is definitely true.  We don't always get to see it, but right now it is so clear. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that He is on the throne, and He is directing our paths.   Yeah God!!!

First Day at New Schools

That dreaded day has finally come.

The kids had to walk into yet another new school yesterday.

But, before taking that fateful walk into the new school building, we had to snap the traditional 'first day of school' photos. 

Here's Lena, age 12, entering 7th grade.

Here's Ryan, age 10, entering 5th grade.

Here's Todd, age 6.98 (his birthday is this coming Sunday), entering 1st grade.

I still cannot believe I have a junior higher!  I still cannot believe my baby is turning 7 in two days!  Time certainly flies by...

Anyway, I have digressed from the subject at hand, which is school.

Mark and I prayed our heads off through-out the entire day.  There's nothing like that feeling of going to pick up your kids at the end of their first day.

You try to assume the best.

You hope your kids behaved.

You hope you are not going to hear stories of misery.

You hope they found someone to eat lunch with.

You hope they found kids who would acknowledge their existence on the playground. 

You hope they like their new teachers.

You hope they didn't get lost.

An so forth and so on.

So, you can imagine my joy when ALL 3 kids came out of school with enormous smiles on their faces!!!!  The ride home was a competition as to who could be the first to tell all about their GREAT day!

Wow!  Praise the Lord!!!!

We know it has helped enormously that we've had a few months in Indiana before school started.

Each of our kids have been able to meet and get to know at least one child from their new school during the summer.  As it turns out, on the first day of school each of our kids have been introduced to lots of kids in their grade by that one child that they had gotten to know over the summer.  What a blessing!!!  And, what an enormous answer to prayer!!!

So, we are off to a great start for this year of school.  As a mom, I cannot tell you what this means!  We are praising God in a major way here in Indiana!

The Office

I promised a photo of Mark in his new office and here it is!

His co-workers (all women at the present time) have been teasing him that it's awfully bare.

He brought in one of my Mom's paintings to help.  But, even Mark admits it needs a decorative touch.

So, we'll be working on adding a little interest to this space in the coming months.

What fun!!!

Sweetser Switch Trail

We are still in the discovery stage here in Marion, Indiana. 

One of our favorite recent discoveries is the Sweetser Switch Trail. 

We've walked it, and we've biked it.  In both cases, it is a BLAST!  

The trail was once a railroad track.  This means, it is smooth, flat and wide.

In the actual small town of Sweetser, they have an old train functioning like a museum.

There's even a war memorial.

This is what happens when I try to get a simple photo of Mark and the kids.  Oh dear!

This what happens when we hand the camera to one of the kids and ask them to take a photo of us, the parents.

At the present, the Sweetser Switch trail is 3 miles long, and it has miles/kilometers clearly marked every quarter mile.  (It connects to the Cardinal Greenway trail, which goes for miles and miles and miles.  And, they have plans to make it go farther west towards Converse, another small town.)

From this trail, you get fabulous views of the fields of green.

It runs along a railroad that is still in use.

The kids were loving being on real railroad tracks. 

Lena carried Todd for a while.   So sweet.

Lena taking a rest after being a stellar big sister to Todd!

The sun set on the silos while we walked.  Love that glow!

We even passed this fence with the very cool red panels.

But nothing could compare to this incredible sky.

Just spectacular! 

You can bet we'll be back to the Sweetser Switch Trail many times in the coming years.