FINAL FOUR: Part 4 No Place Like Home

I have finally worked up the courage to write this final post. We arrived home the night of November 16th and have been back a month now. Our first month home has been a whirlwind of reunions and activities. Coming home for the holidays is a pretty good idea. In many ways it has made the transition easier. Yet in the back of my mind and in the pit of my stomach are tiny little reminders that a wonderful adventure has ended and we have left behind a beautiful country and many dear friends. I really do like being happy much more than sad! (Sorry for stating the obvious.) Consequently, I kept finding reasons to put off this post, but the end has come!

Here are the top ten reasons I am happy to be home (not necessarily in order of importance):
#10 So many people speak English- American style. Learning a little (chogum) Korean was fun, but I never really became conversational. I have come to realize I like to talk!
#9   We have a garbage bin... ONE!!! Everything we need to discard goes into it and a truck takes it away.  I have become much more conscious of waste and recycling after living in the land of garbage sorting and multiple bins. One of the many lessons our Korea adventure taught me.
#8  I can read all the billboards and signs. Not just sound out the symbols and try to guess what it means!  I might actually miss sounding out Korean words. It became quite a hobby.
#7 Reading the menu and having some idea what will be on my plate. Plus full glasses of water brought to your table instead of the little four ounce cups you refilled yourselves.

I did get used to the guessing game of eating at Korean restaurants now and then, but I think I like ordering in English a little better.
# 6 Seeing the wide open huge skies of Montana. You really have to see them to know what I mean. To me they are freedom, adventure, beauty, comfort and clean fresh air. Granted the fresh air often comes about 30 miles an hour.... but I even missed the wind.
#5 Running into neighbors and friends everywhere we go. It creates for me such a sense of belonging.
#4 Knowing where I am, where I am going and how to get there. We spent quite a bit of time trying to find our way during our mission. It was part of the adventure, but the familiar has it's appeal also.
#3 Driving "Princess",  my cute little Ford Escape. Well, actually just plain driving! I drove very little during our mission, and mostly on the military installations. I missed the feeling of freedom that comes from sitting in the driver's seat.
#2 My home. We have lived in this house for 35 years. We designed, built and remodeled it ourselves. It is filled with priceless memories. Memories of celebrations, new babies, sickness, struggles, growth, blessings and even miracles.
#1 My people! Especially my family. I love looking out the window and through our backyard to see the light on in my mother's living room. It warms my heart to hear little voices calling for Papa and Grandma as they come into our front door. It's such fun to come home from running errands and see one of our children's cars parked in the driveway and know they are waiting inside. Yes, I think having family close by is the number one reason I am glad to be home.

We are truly home. We have plans for working on our cabin in Lincoln and plans to travel during the coming year. We will fill our time with family, church callings and chores. There will be more adventures and much to enjoy. I really am glad to be home. I will cherish our memories of Korea and from time to time I will feel a little sad that its over. Above all I will ever be grateful for our time serving in Daegu and I will always appreciate our wonderful home in Montana.

One adventure ends, another begins!