Life back in NC

I left Seattle in mid-February and, overall, it really has been a great experience moving back home and adjusting to a new life.  I have enjoyed reconnecting with family and friends.  It has been hard at times because I miss everyone in Seattle and I have been so disconnected from people in NC for many years (outside of family and close friends).  I miss rock climbing, potluck dinners, coffee dates, going for runs along the Puget Sound, local hiking, walks around Green Lake, HOT yoga, runs through the Sculpture Park and along Myrtle Edwards, the beauty of the water, Mt Rainer, the Olympic Mountains, Lincoln Park, ferry rides.  I miss the food!  There are so many great restaurants in Seattle and organic, gluten free options are plentiful.  I think of my favorite spots- Mashiko, Circa, Purple, Black Bottle, Long Provencial, Buddha Ruksa, Seastar, Jade Garden dim sum ...to name a few.  I enjoy keeping up with friends and their adventures and dining experiences through Facebook.  I do miss my life there a ton, but I know I am on the path that I am supposed to be and I look forward.

What do I love about NC?  Well, I have loved getting to spend so much time with family.  My parents and I have enjoyed lots of time talking, watching a few movies, putting together puzzles, sharing meals, sitting on the deck, talking about our day, and the adventures ahead.  I don't think any of us ever imagined I would be living at home again, but I see this time as a gift.  Life can race by and we sometimes don't make time to really spend time together.  This time is very short in the grand scheme of things, so I am going to make the most of it.  I actually love being in a family.  I realized after living alone for 2.5 yrs that I really missed being in a "community".  Don't get me wrong, I love alone time, but I believe we are made to live in community.  I certainly had community all around me, but I mean living together in a community.  We are not made to live isolated and disconnected from people, as many of us do in this very independent country.  I am thankful for community, thankful for family and pray that people all over the world are brought into loving "families" (however those families are defined).

I have gotten to spend quality time with my grandmother, one of the absolute highlights of my time back in NC.  She has been a huge help to me by allowing me to store my things in her basement and using her car to get around before I fly out next week.  We've shared stories, laughs, run errands together, and been to church together a few times.  I've gotten to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, even though briefly at times, it is always a treasure.  Below is a picture of me, my Dad and my Grandma.

What else do I love about NC?  I love the sunshine, the warmth, the spring blossoms, the clear skies, the cool evenings, the sunsets, the morning birds chirping and thunderstorms.  I love the friendliness of people.  I love being acknowledged when I pass someone.  People smile, wave, ask how my day is going, and it feels good to be seen.  Have you ever walked past someone on the street or in the hall, said hello and been ignored?   It is as if some people look past you, right through you, as though you don't exist.  That is so hard for me to understand!  

Some things have been challenging, like being chased by dogs on country roads while jogging, finding something that isn't fried at some local favorite restaurants (for all you dessert lovers, you can find banana pudding on the vegetable list at many local restaurants- but seriously people, banana pudding is NOT a vegetable), needing to have a car to get anywhere, driving 25 miles an hour through a bazillion school zones (lots of great schools around these parts), and occasionally getting stuck behind a tractor (fortunately the DMV provides instructions for how to handle approaching farm equipment in your vehicle- the correct answer on the licensing test is NOT to lay on the horn constantly while approaching at a fast speed- no charge for that helpful tip;)!).

Seriously though, this is such a gift in my life to have this time with family, friends and to know that God is leading me to something so exciting.  I can't wait to see what unfolds!  Thanks to each and every one of you for your support during this journey!  My heart is full:).