Well, we’re here in America and been having “fun”! We’ve done a lot of culture stuff since Ieva’s been here, including the high school homecoming football game, 4-wheeling in the creek and helping re-roof the house! Ieva also got to spend a day at the high school, shadowing another student. We’ve been hanging out with some friends and just spending some time actually RELAXING! It’s been great!

People are asking already… how did you get so dirty on the 4-wheeler? Ieva and I were riding in the creek… not deep, only about 2-3 inches of water in most places. We were going to ride it back down to my parents’ property, but saw that our Amish neighbors had strung a wire fence across the creek. So, we turned around… we were going through the water, from dry to dry, and I guess we hit it at the wrong angle, slid, and got stuck… and sank. Most of the creek is sand and small rocks, so, the more we tried to get it out, the more we buried it. After an hour of digging out the wheels, getting sprayed with mud (I wish I had a picture of that!), trying to lodge large rocks under the wheels for traction… we finally gave up and I climbed the hill to the Amish neighbors and humbled myself and asked for help… so yes, we asked the Amish neighbors to help us pull out our 4-wheeler… strange. By this time, we had literally BURIED the back wheels in sand… we couldn’t even start the thing anymore for all of the water in the exhaust. Fun, fun. But, it worked and we got out and it was some of the best fun I’ve had in a LONG time! My dad laughed when we told the story and my brother almost cried… he said it was from disbelief… I think it was jealousy! LOL

Yes, we re-shingled the house, too. It was fun. Between Me, Dad & Chris, we did within 3 days… mostly only working a few hours a day because it was just too hot. It was actually kinda fun… nice to do something you can point at and see accomplished.

Ieva left for Orlando today to start DTS. We’re so proud of her, but we’re gonna miss her!

I’m not sure what to call the US anymore. It’s not really home, as I truly feel at home in Latvia, but it still is in some ways. “Historical home” just doesn’t roll off the tongue so easily. Ok, let’s try this again…

I’m headed back to the US. Ieva’s brother will be here in about 2 hours and will take the 3 of us to the airport. Our plane leaves around 7am, so we need to be there at 5am, so, we leave here at about 3:15am. Crazy.

Chris is napping on the loveseat, the Travel Channel is playing in the background, and in all of my years of packing and traveling, I’m experiencing something right now that is truly a first… I’m done ahead of schedule! I’m leaving in mere hours and I have free time! I’m trying hard to stay awake so I can sleep on the plane, though.

I had this insane task of, not only packing us for 6 months in the US, but also of somewhat packing up our house so our friends could move into it while we’re gone. Someone has to take care of our psycho cat! So, in 2 days I’ve sorted, cleaned and packed the two of us, on top of doing a million other things. Honestly, I’m not 100% packed. I have to do my carry-on and I have one more backpack to do, but I really need our toiletries to pack that one, and we’re both going to take showers yet tonight, so I’m waiting. But, everything is sitting here ready to jump into the bag!

I’m not exactly sure what I’m expecting from this trip. Sure, some time with family and friends, support raising, sharing with people what God is doing here… my dream is to go on vacation over our anniversary. In January, Chris and I will be married 14 years and we’ve never been on vacation, just the two of us. Didn’t even go on an actual honeymoon. But, yeah, I’m not sure what to expect will happen. Jetlag? Culture shock (yes, even in America)? Yes, I’m sure, and I’m sure there will be more.

I think I’m looking forward to it, though, it’s hard to even imagine right now… I mean, it’s hours away, but the last few weeks have been so totally hectic and busy I haven’t had a chance to think about the trip at all, let alone that it was so soon and will be for so long.

We’ve received many “farewells”, both verbally and in message form, and I have very mixed feelings about them. I’m happy that people here will miss us, because that means we’ve effected their life, but it makes me so sad over how many people either don’t think we’ll return or beg us to promise to come back. Of course we’re coming back! I guess it’s just hard for them to believe.

So, for all my American friends… keep your eyes open for for us! We’re going to be all over the country! If you have some free time & wanna get together, let us know! And those of you in Ohio… you may get the chance to meet Ieva, as well, before she takes off to Orlando.

See you soon!

PS Geesh… that’s random! Can you tell I’m tired?