Family

There is something magical about being with family. We can do everything or nothing and still be happy just to be around each other. I am so wonderfully blessed to have a family that loves me and wants nothing more than to be with me. (Well, be with me and drink wine!) The last two weeks have been so incredibly amazing that I can honestly say with 100% certainty that I do not wish them to end. My family, as crazy as we are, is who I am. And I wish that I could stay here in Switzerland, while I finish my year of growing, discovering and finding myself with them by my side. But that horribly cheesy line "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true. Being away from my parents, my brothers, my friends has made my love for them grow and change. Not only am I a new and different person, but so are they. And trying to find that middle-ground, those common things that brought us together in the first place. It's easier in the internet age, I can hardly imagine doing this journey in a time where my only communication would have been via phone (at outrageous costs) and letters. I like to write, but let's face it, I'm lazy. Not so much lazy, but I'm usually on my computer anyway so it just seems easier to sit and type something out while uploading photos, syncing my iphone or downloading a video. And I apologize for that. I should be more active in my writing, especially handwritten notes.

One of my friends whom I met while in Switzerland and has since returned to Vermont, will soon be starting her 4 year adventure at Norwich Military Academy and she will no longer be able to use Facebook (which isn't so sad) but also will only be allowed a brief amount of time to check email weekly. But she is such a beautiful, inspiring, young lady that I know I will do my best to continue to keep in touch with her, because I know she will always have something of importance or value to say.

My time with my parents is slowly coming to an end. They leave in just 3 days. I know I will be sad, but I also know that the more time we spend apart, the better my "homecoming" will be. I'll be home for Christmas, and that is a wonderful gift beyond measure. The hard thing that I know I will have to do when I visit home, is divide my time. It won't be easy and I certainly won't have enough time for everyone and everything I want to do, but I will do my best, to equally divide my wants and feelings of needs.

This blog sort of got forgotten, so please accept my apologies for the weirdness of which it ends I began it last week and then was distracted. My parents are in the air, on their way home and I am off to Amsterdam this evening. I will write when I'm back and life has settled itself into routine as normal.

Thanks for everyone's support, love and prayers. You are all truly family.