What. A. Whirlwind.
We knew our time would go quickly but we really had no idea.
Between May 31 and June 22 we spoke in 5 churches.
In the past 7 nights alone we have slept in 5 different towns.
I'm not even going to look back at our calendar to see how many doctor's offices we have sat in.
During our weeks in Kentucky all but a few days were packed with appointments. I had no idea how re-fueling it would be to see so many old friends and visit so many special places.
While we didn't get to see everyone we wanted (many were on vacation, one had to cancel because of sickness), we got to see more people than we expected! Below is just a sampling of pictures (because I really did a horrible job of getting pictures with everyone we saw).
From early morning coffees to dinners with conversations that lasted 'til late into the evening, tried to make the most of every day we had.
One of our first visits was to see Abby and her parents! We didn't tell the kids where we were going! They were thrilled to reconnect with their old teacher (and see her horses too) ! ;-)
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| Ellie with her 2nd cousin, Lisa |
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| I think anyone who has been abroad for any length of time has fantasies about food from home. This was one of mine. I can't believe we only made it to Fiesta Mexico one time. |
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| Check-up at Shriners |
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| Many an Albanian study session at a Playplace between appointments (I'll let you guess who was studying and who was playing) |
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| We got to see our old dog (and his owners, our friends Jonny & Siobhan)! |
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| How cool was it to visit home after home and see postcards from the Portrait Project hanging in there? I love my friend Amy's clever way of displaying pictures her friends from around the world in her quiet time corner of her home! |
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| For the most part, Reni is a good patient. Poor guy had to get four shots. Then the next day 2 fillings. He was NOT a happy camper after those two visits! |
I don't think we've ever laughed more at a doctor's appointment.
Thanks, Dr. T., for making check-ups so personable!
It's been important for us that the kids reconnect with their old friends and remember the relationships we have on this side of the ocean...
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We may have bought a selfie stick...
...which we have put to good use!
You may not recognize the special woman below but we met her in Albania during our weekend visits to the Hope Center where she worked as a social worker! We were sad to say goodbye when she finally got her visa for the States in December, but we knew it wasn't goodbye forever because her fiance` just so happened to work at ASBURY!!! I know, SMALL WORLD!!!
We thoroughly enjoyed every minute catching up with Anila and hearing about her transition to the US and talking about her mutual friends in Albania. What a special gift to get to see her!
Our last visit in Kentucky was a quick stop in Louisville with our friend Peter for ice cream cones at McDonald's! (The kids insist we don't eat there enough!)
As I look back through these photos I can't help up but think of all the other things we did and people we saw -- it's just more than one post can contain.
I have told many a person I wasn't homesick for Kentucky while I was in Albania, but as soon as we hit Kentucky-68, south of Lexington, a wave of homesickness for what we have left behind washed over my heart. It's such a paradox! Our hearts hold a great joy and love for our new home in Albania, but we will always call Kentucky home too and so we deal with sadness for what we miss while we are not there.
Thank you, friends and churches, for loving us and welcoming us back so warmly -- like we had never left.
Good bye Kentucky! We can't wait until we can come back!
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