In anticipation of home

I can't believe it. The time I have been counting down to since...well, let's just say it's been awhile, is rapidly approaching. And I couldn't be happier. In 16 days (!!) we will, at long last, board a plane for our much anticipated visit HOME! For more reasons than one, we haven't been able to go home since we pulled out of my mom's driveway last July and we are more than excited to see family and friends and entrench ourselves in our home state. I haven't seen my parents in nearly a year and we haven't seen the vast majority of our family and friends since we left. We are ready to soak up some CA sun and fun and make us some memories!

One of Jason's best friends is getting married while we're home and he is a groomsman so our visit is extra special this summer. We have so much planned and when we look at it all laid out, day by day, we're fully expecting to feel like we need a vacation from our vacation haha But it will be the best kind of busy and we simply cannot wait!

I've been forewarned by friends who have made the trek home after being gone for a really long time, that the leaving is harder the 2nd time (doesn't seem possible, but it's true) than the first time. Thus, I completely expect to be a teary mess. The sad reality is that no amount of time spent at home will ever be enough. We'll always want to stay longer, see more people, do more things, but our life is here now, and return we must. Once we touch down in CA, I am going to try really hard not to dwell on the number of days left before we have to come back. I don't want to ruin our time with family and friends by tinging it with sad feelings. I want to enjoy the moment, not dread its departure.

The truth is, we like it here. We like where we are, and the people we've met, and experiencing new things and going to new places. It's been a wonderful adventure thus far, it's just too bad that Indiana is so far from our home and the people we left behind who make home so wonderful.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Winnie the Pooh

Jason and Kobe at the beach, Kobe's favorite place on the planet :)

Me looking out to sea - photo cred: Jessica Hardy

Pretty awesome, isn't it?

See you in 16 days, CA :)