Home Sweet Home

August 25, 8 PM:

I finally set foot on Texas soil!

Spilling over with excitement, I left the plane and descended the longest escalator of my life into the arms of my amazing family. I won't extend upon the sentimental details, though one passerby exclaimed "You're going to make ME cry!"

We headed back to a totally decked out house...I was met with a huge sign, a giant cake, and two of my favorite things in abundant supply: fresh flowers and margaritas. My best friend Sara, the neighbors, David's fiancee Augustine, and her daughter Atheena all joined in welcoming me back. It was quite the evening of adrenaline, laughter, and merriment. I slept SO well that night!

2 days later family and friends congregated once again for the grand Elizabeth/Nate/Dad Birthday Bash. Festivities began that morning with a little surprise from Anna and her new Guinea Pigs, Julius and Mulch.

That evening I distributed the countless souvenirs I had accumulated during my year in Bolivia...Indigenous-style aprons, hand-carved spoons, genuine loofahs, organic roast coffee, alpaca wool clothing, and purses, candy, and cookies hand-made at Hogar. It was great to so tangibly share a little bit of my year with everyone.

What a fabulous day... I think my 24th even beat the unbeatable Barbie Roller Skates Birthday so many years ago. (I recently came across this photo and just had to include it. Man, if only those skates still fit!)

So, this is somewhat how I imagined my first few weeks back:

Well, life ended up a bit more hectic! Nonetheless, there's sure no place like home. My 3rd day back I was offered a job and began work a week later as the office manager for Irving Gymnastics. I love my job so far, especially when customers speak to me in Spanish.

A few days after that I went to my cousin's school to give a fun presentation about my year in Bolivia. Sara has already entertained me for a weekend at her house in Fort Worth, and I happily saw much of my extended family at a Labor Day weekend gathering.

In my "free" time at home, there are no spare moments. I enjoy all that keeps my busy, from cooking meals for the family to taking guitar lessons from my Dad and brothers. Plans for the near future include bread-baking lessons from my Mom. I enjoy tutoring Gus and Anna in their Spanish, and hope to find time for some long-awaited reading.

I am so content to carry on life as it is until the new year. I have no certain plans for 2011, but perhaps it will be time to move on to something or somewhere new. I do not have any hopes of leaving the country for a long time; one year abroad was sufficient for me! We shall see what the future holds. For now, I'm simply proud of accomplishing a year of mission and happy to be home.

Thank you to everyone who followed my blog this year. I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks a million, too, for all of your prayers and support.

Adios!