right where i am

i'm inspired enough right now to create the world's most amazing blog post, yet it probably won't happen that way, as i'm not quite articulate enough in any language to express myself in any particularly amazing way. but, nevertheless, i can try.

i woke up this morning at about 8am-- nobody was at my house, as my parents had both already gone to work-- i felt cold as this house is normally kept that way by a mother who has the most insane body temperatures in the world-- yet as i walked into the living room and saw all the christmas decorations, grabbed my cereal and came downstairs to do the old famous check my email thing in the computer room, things felt just so right. right where i am, is where i want to be.

so i got home a few days ago to a family of 7 (mom, dad, grandma, scott and andy, tracy and emily) greeting me at the airport with sombreros and ponchos on and arms out to give me the greatest hugs of welcome, ever. what could have possibly been an embarrassment turned out to be such a laugh, such a fun time, that i didn't even care what others in the airport were thinking about us crazy people. it was my homecoming, we could celebrate it any way we wanted. ;) i was home, really home. kansas city, missouri. i told mom that as much as i didn't want to return to the states, i was mostly thankful that the place i DID return to is kansas city, and to the family that i am from, because neither could be any greater. i could see the smiles on my fam's faces, and it made me feel... just so right. again. home, really home.

got home, had great homemade mom food (man i missed that stuff), opened very unexpected christmas presents (thanks to everyone who remembered me for christmas!!!!!, my goodness i have an amazing family, tracy and emily completely included in on that), watched a good movie, had some laughs and just a plain ole' good time... the next morning, church at chapel hill, with a big smile on my face and immediately welcomed back by a clapping congregation when i said i made it home safely the evening before. dottie found me first thing when she walked in and asked if we could sit together-- the service was great and talking with her afterward was just like good ole' times, sharing about families and everything-- she invited me to go to darby's dedication at mike and carla's church next sunday with her, just as though we'd lost no time together, just as though i were still a great part of the family like old times... she about got tears after asking how the family was doing, saying she just thinks the world of my family, and i said "you know that goes both ways completely." who would have thought, who would have ever thought. what a beautiful woman, what a beautiful mother, and friend. another instance where i was so glad to be right where i was at that moment and time.

after church-- talking with mom, watching movies, playing games with mom, grandma, and sarah (scattergories-- with the classic grandma story-- we were on the letter A, and the number said automobile. mom says, "whatcha got, mama?" and grandma replies, pretty sure of herself, Oldsmobile." and we laugh, and mom says that that'd be great, except we were on A and not O....... good times, had to have been there though, i suppose). more movie watching, more eating, more game playing. still have crap alllllllllll over the floor of my room but it doesnt matter much. i'm with my family and that's what matters. so glad to be where i am.

i've been receiving emails from great people i met this semester, and have been writing more emails than usual, as well. it's been so wonderful, such contact. friendship is truly so important so with every email i receive, i am thankful.

sigh. so there it goes. not as profound and not as meaningful as it is up in my cabeza, but at least i tried. the gist was mostly that i'm glad to be right where i am, with a wonderful family and with wonderful new, and old, friends.

am finally home.
can't believe it.
thank you to everyone, and i really mean thank you........ mom, dad, grandparents, scott and tracy, andy and emily, dottie, joe, jody, dawnielle, mari, allen, jonathan, mayumi, naoko, shaun, rocky, ethan, ........ everyone.

blessings and peace to all!