Anniversary, Blogaversary, or How did we get HERE???

It's has been 4 years and 3 days since we've lived in the United States of America.

Hmmmm.....................You would think that I would have remembered that. And maybe thrown a party.

I didn't. September 2, 2005 we drove out of our church's parking lot and started out on the drive to get to Madera, Mexico, our first international destination on this road trip of life.

It was monumental
frightening
exciting
wild
crazy

and I hardly remember it. :) I wonder why? I think that some years anniversaries are BIG things. Some years they SHOULD be big things. Other years? Well, this year it's more of a looking at the tapestry fabric that is our life and seeing that pretty gold thread weaving back and forth; in and out; up and down. It does stand out - but it blends in and accents too. It just is. I'm okay with that... this year.

We've had a few bumps in the road. Changes of destination, changes of purpose, and boy howdy, have we had some changes in perspective. Change is a good thing right? Good golly, I hope so because we do it a lot.

For the blog we're going to start a little thing called Looking Back, not to wallow in the past, but to give our current readers an idea of where we've been, how we got there, and how that's made us US today, because we are not the same people anymore.

I hope we're improving.

I'll post some of our first 'blog' posts with some 'today' perspective also known as my commentary on the vague recollections I have of those days. :) I wish I could just link you to them but due to various crashes, server switches and my current 'up with the times-ness' (don't laugh at me) verses the past, 'I-have-no-idea-what-this-internet-world-of-blogging-is' abilities, I will have to baby this along.

Before we start all that though....I am issuing a disclaimer for this blog. A few in fact. This is not my original idea but I'm adapting it to hopefully give you some ideas for how to read this - us.

1. Knowing Us. - If you only know us from HERE - you may think that all we do is drink large amounts of coffee, complain about the lack of grocery options, throw some humanitarian work in for good measure, and spend our days looking for creatures for our children to dissect in order to give grandparents quasi heart attacks. As much as we would love to be able to - we can't communicate the essence of our lives here. We do our best, but words and pictures only go so far.

2. This blog cannot express true reality. This is a hard and cold fact. There is only so much I can talk about in a public arena. Some things just can't be expressed. Or they've been expressed in the past and writing about it AGAIN would be boring. For example - I thought I communicated something. Why is this person back here asking the same questions? Or why are we having the same issues? I thought I asked for X, why am I getting Y? And who is Z? Why am I still battling the expectation monster? And yes, we're having to leave the country again...

Are you bored yet?

See - I told you.

2. Post Popularity - the posts that get the most comments are never the ones I think are the best. And my husband jokes all the time that HIS posts don't get any comments. This is slightly true....

3. Kids. We have three -and we like to show them off. Some of the good and some of the bad.

4. Balance. We don't always have this. Our work runs in bits and spurts here. (Have I mentioned that the biggest thing I've learned in our time 'on the field' is to be flexible???) So - sometimes the blog will be family/home/homeschooling/grocery shopping heavy, sometimes it is work project heavy. Maybe if you start commenting more on Alan's work posts he'll feel encouraged to post more. Yes, that was a hint.

6. Guilt over the blog - I am chucking this sentiment big time. My writing isn't perfect. Our blog isn't as fancy as some out there. Our pictures aren't as pretty, sharp, or brightly colored. Our layout is frustrating. The slideshow STILL loads up backwards and as I feel that I have more important things to do that fight with flickr for the ENTIRE. DAY. every. time. we. try. and. upload. pictures., I just let it be backwards. You'll still love me right?

5. Thankful - This I am.
Thankful for the technology to keep in touch with the 'outside world'.
Thankful for the ability to use words and pictures to share the pieces we can.
Thankful for those of you that read and comment.
Thankful for the friends and community that the internet has given to us.

I tend to resist relationships that are only two dimensional as I feel that it's too easy to have no accountability yet at the same time I am SO GRATEFUL because this is the only way we are able to continue relationship with some of you for the time being. Plus, the friends, blessings and opportunities we've gained through it? I won't ever discount that.

So - if you're still interesting in getting to know us in this two dimensional option and listen to us only communicate what we can of things in, around, and through our living as we do, we're happy to have you along for the ride.

(Would you post a comment and remind me who you are and where we know you from because my brain leaks out information in due relation to the amount of Spanish I have to retain and not butcher each day. It will give me a good starting point.)

Faith