Chicken Feet Dose of Reality

Hi! My name is Keri and I live in Singapore. Freakishly tall. Two boys and a cute husband. Does it ring a bell? It's been just about forever since I've written anything on this blog.

Actually, there are four posts I wrote and then abandoned this summer. The honest truth is that trying to put into words how it felt to be home was really, really difficult for me. It was wonderful, frustrating, emotional, comfortable, frantic, and unforgettable all rolled up together. Depending on the day, or even the time of day, I could be feeling any one of those emotions. Add in a healthy dose of insecurity that flared up often.....geesh! I'm not sure what my problem was.

If I can ever figure out how to adequately explain what it's like to drop in on your old life when your new life is about as foreign as it can get, then maybe I'll finish one of those posts I started.

Maybe.

We've been home for four days and those days have been filled with catching up with friends and trying to unpack the seven suitcases we brought back with us. And then there's the jet lag to contend with. Oy vey.

It has given me some time to reflect back on the last eight weeks. I didn't realize how few pictures I took of this summer. There are events I have no record of. Or, in one case, I took pictures of doors and scenery and totally omitted taking pictures of the people I was with.

I'm telling you......I was a mess!!

We spent the first part of the summer on the West coast visiting my family.

Where my dad got to hang with his three grandsons...

Where cousins wrestled.....

Where my parents enjoyed having all their grandchildren in one place.....

Where the newest cousin was cuddled....

and kissed....

(It kills me that this sweet little girl will be walking and probably talking

the next time I see her. Who in the world thought putting Singapore so

far away from California would be a good idea? Yes, I know the answer is

God, but I can still be a little annoyed about it!)

Where there was an epic wrestling match between my boys, my brother,

his son, and my dad.

Where I got to celebrate my other brother's birthday.....and meet

his new girlfriend that I absolutely adored. Even if she's about

5'3" and he's 6'8". Normally we'd hold that against her except we

just really like her.

I went back to Baylor to see friends I haven't seen in 20 years.

We took a trip to Dallas where I got to spend time with this amazing lady....

Where we picked blueberries after a day of zip lining with some good friends

that I have no pictures of.

Where we ate the amazing blueberries....

Where the boys learned how to drive a tractor....

Where we ate amazing peach cobbler......

Where we enjoyed the view so much we apparently failed to actually

take pictures of the people!

Where the boys got to mix it up with a real live Air Force Colonel.

There was the 11th annual Girl's Weekend with these friends minus two that

couldn't come.

Where the kids had fun catching up.....

Where these burgers were devoured!

We went to our favorite beach......

With a favorite friend and her family.

And there was still time for Mexican food and good conversation

with my sister (the gorgeous one on the far right) and these friends...

and these friends.

There were so many people I never got to see. Running into someone for a quick chat outside the doors of Target or in the hallway of church just doesn't do it for me. I'm a sit down and let's get to the nitty gritty of what life has been dishing up kind of girl. That part of all this is the hardest for me.

The dance between letting go and holding on. I need lessons because I'm awkward and gangly in handling it all.

I was reminiscing about the whole summer with Singapore friends here. It's funny that in our group there were those that couldn't wait to come back and others who came back kicking and screaming. For the first couple of days I felt like I was here physically but still in the states mentally.

And then I went grocery shopping today.....

Yep....I'm back in Singapore.

Honestly? I am happy to be here. That is a very, very good thing......but doesn't mean I'm going to be buying any of those bad boys any time soon!