Setting up shop

Man how life can move! It's March now! In the last 7 months (when I blogged last) Justin and I have gotten married, moved back to Wellington, and started new jobs. Three life events which can be high on the stress level I'm told. We're seeing how that plays out. And besides just our lives moving along- everyone is growing up! A bit of a look-back before moving to today's stuff:

Getting married was so much fun! I truly loved our wedding and thinking back on our memories is a new favorite past time:) It was so awesome to gather our friends and family to celebrate. And being married is such a great adventure, too. Justin and I are loving finally getting to stay together with no good byes and learning how to love each other through plenty of bad moments. He loves waking up next to me, but since I just hate waking up period... I love laying down next to him at night. I'm so grateful for all of the things he knows and skills he has! He doesn't so much love my need for organization, but he's learning that everything has a place:)

During the whole wedding process we got to spend 3 months at home! It was great to get so much time- I think it was not too long, not too short. We'll see if we can get 3 months vacation time for our next visit:) The definite highlight was time with both of our families!!!!: staying with Lib & Josh at their new house in NY, Lib staying in Ohio for a month with me, time in Florida with Mom & Dad, Settlers with Jake & Brittany, days and days with Steph, Ella and the newest Speck- EASTON WAYNE!, walks with Jamie, meeting the most adorable ELLE!!!!, good catch-up conversations with Jenn & Wade, amazing games of euchure with Jim & Brian (of course J & I coming out victourious), goooood laughs with Mary:), and lots of story telling with all 5 of our grandparents! I needed all of these things and am so, so thrilled that we got to spend lots of time with each other's familes! I do think it's true that as we get older- our family truly is our best friend. But we can't not mention that time with our friends in the States was an amazing blessing as well! We even got to spend the night at a lot of our friends' places as we campainged around the Mid-West (at least that's what it felt like). Our friends taking the time to tell us about their last year, and listen to us tell of ours was so appreciated! Experiencing life through all of them and knowing what they're learning through their experiences is crucial for us. Realising that moving thousands of miles away does change friendships is another part of life that we continue to process- but our frinedships are something we hold dearly. Like tightly. Like a todler holds her blankie:)

And then we moved back to New Zealand! Crazy! Who knew? Moving back to a foreign country is a strange feeling. Upon arrival I kept thinking, "Yeah I know this place. Totally normal." And just like the first time we were here, the longer I'm here, the more I realize how much I don't know this place. And now that were working full time with and for Kiwi's and living with Kiwi's and doing church with Kiwi's-- I sometimes feel like a total foreigner. But I think this comes and goes in phases. I'm learning the ways here. And loving watching how our friends go about doing simple things like laundry, shopping, and cleaning. It's different than at home!

So I think I'll stop there. Yes so much more to talk about- our jobs, our new place, our "bit of a lemon" car, and our Mosaic community... but for the sake of anyone actually reading this all, I'll stop and catch up more later. I'll end with what has been so helpful for me as Justin and I have been setting up life here. I have realized that there is truly always something to be upset, worried, or frusturated about. But there is always something to be thankful for. And life is sooooo much better when you choose to be thankful and grateful and overwhelmed by graciouness. But it is a choice. Gratefulness is not our default. But be awed by what you have and not what you're missing. It's amazing!

All my love from Kiwi-land. -- Lace