Where to begin?
I cannot believe how fast time really does fly by. When you anticipate something for months and months, trying to picture it in your head, and then it comes...and then just that that; its gone. You find yourself in a spot where you are trying to process what you just went through while also being thrown back into the reality of the busy, everyday life.
I feel that way today...tired, processing, but choosing Joy, because there is no reason not to!
I thimk this summer in Alaska is kind of like a missions trip, or a trip you come back to and you try to explain it, but it just doesnt come out right. You try to realize..."Did i really do that? Are you sure...?" Well....yes! I can say we did, but ask me to explain it, and it will take awhile, and plus, I need Josh with me to explain it, we are better at explaining it together.
The day we left Alaska, it was a bittersweet moment. We were so excited to go back and see family and friends, but we realized that we would also be leaving a new set of family and friends that we made in Alaska as well...and it was hard (mostly for Josh because, well, he got to fish in Alaska...totally his element) We were not ready to get back to the crazy busyness of our lives and for Josh to go back to a hot welding shop, but we knew that it was time to go home.
We got picked up by our Mama (Joshs mom) Laura and told her all about Alaska while we drove to Yuba City from the airport late Saturday night. We woke up the next morning at 10:45! (we needed the sleep!) We came home to our apartment being close to 90 degrees and sweet notes from Libbie and went through all our mail! It was surreal opening up our door to apartment. It felt way longer than 2 months. I went over and kissed my dishwasher and jumped on my bed in pure Joy that I had these things (kinda sad huh?)
I sat up late talking to Lib as much as I could about trying to explain this trip. Poor Josh had to get up bright and early for work on Monday (we got back to Redding Sunday night) and he was exhausted, but ready to work hard. Today is the first time I finally stopped moving, stopped unpacking (but definitley still doing laundry!) and it kind of hit me. I realized today how truley fortunate I am to live here. Yes its a small apartment, but its just perfect for Josh and I. We dont need anything else but one another.
It took me 20 minutes total to wash my dishes and put them in the dishwasher and push a button. It took a second to light the stove, and one hand movment to flush my toilet. I didnt kiss our communal washer and dryer, but i shouted for joy oy knowing I didnt have to wash clothes by hand. I took one trip to the grocery store two minutes from my apartment to get all the necessities I need. I took a 20 minutes shower enjoying every moment..... Oh how easy we all have it!! I didnt have it this easy in Alaska as a wilderness wild woman (haha) I had to plan each meal (because we only brought one large sum of food for the whole two months (so I had to use everything we brought...we couldnt just go to a store) I had to do dishes by hand in a bucket, one wash bucket, one rinse bucket and heat up warm water which took about an hour. I did laundry in a 5 gallon bucket with pond water and some laundry detergent. I rinsed them out by hand and placed them on the rocks to dry. I did have a nice shower there, but definitley wouldnt spend 20 minutes ( we didnt have that much water)
I am so blessed to be able to have all of these things by just the touch of a button. This summer made me realize how the little things in life mean the most. ReallY! I know its easier said than done...but when you go from doing everything on your own, it really is a lot of work until you have fully expereicned it without the stuff we use in our daily lives.
So today as I sit and reminise as I try to process this amazing, yet stretching and challenging summer, I keep realizing and reminding myself how blessed I really am, and I hope I never take this experience for granted.
My heart has been changed, for the better. I want to be a better wife, friend, sister, family member, etc because I know that no matter what is thrown our way, it comes down to community, to loving other people, to choose the good in life and most of all, to believe in ourselves. We are capable to do anything we put our minds to, especially with our faith. The lord was my company, and worked on my hearts in ways I didnt know he could. I also came to realize that I can choose how I react, how I deal with the things that come my way. I can CHOOSE to love life and not focus on all the things i WANT to have, but to WANT and cherish the things I already have.
So I hope today, wherever you are at, you get a realization on how truly blessed you are. It may be a hard season, but you arent forgotton, YOU are loved, just open your eyes and look around you.
Oh Alaska...you will always have a special place in our hearts, because it was just so DANG beautiful, but Redding is our home, and we love coming back to a place where we are loved by so many.
I will post pictures soon, so stay tuned.
Love you all.
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