June 6th came and went without fanfare this year. Last year, it was the day I dreaded. This year, I didn’t even notice its passing until a week later. Two years ago, on June 6th, we flew home from South Asia on medical leave. The kids and I never went back. Isn’t it funny how life is full of sadness and happiness, all mixed in together? For awhile there I was afraid to say I missed South Asia because I didn’t want to sound ungrateful. I’m healthy now, aren’t I? I’m able to be the wife and mother and friend I longed to be and couldn’t when we lived there. I…

I’ve been dreading this day, June 6th, for months and months.  And now it’s here.  One year.  One year since we stepped on a plane and said good-bye to South Asia.  And, because of the time difference, also one year since we stepped off a third plane twenty-four hours later into a hot Columbia summer evening. I guess I’ve dreaded this day because the one-year anniversary of our departure seems to hold a new kind of finality.  Like a chapter forever closed.  No longer can we say, “This year, when we lived in South Asia.”  No, now it’s, “. . . over a year ago.”  Another life. And so I’ve…

Thursday was “Container Day,” as my dad aptly named it. We found out about a week ago that it was making its way down from New York to Charleston, then learned on Wednesday that the truck would arrive Thursday. The moving company sent men to unload everything, then unpack and assemble all the furniture. It was wonderful! Thanks to my parents for bringing Chick-Fil-A for the kids’ dinner, and to Miriam for giving us a much-needed date night to escape the madness. It was 51 boxes in all … so our house was in chaos, as you can imagine. We were disappointed to find several things were broken in transit: my…

I woke up this morning and had a fight with my husband.  I was such a jerk, so mean-spirited and distrustful.  And afterward I didn’t feel repentant, but so angry.  The anger just kept welling up inside of me and spilling out all over the place while stomping around the house and while in tears at the breakfast table as my kids brought me handfuls of Kleenex. I feel like I’m failing as a mom, failing as a wife.  My kids pick on each other and bother me and I snap at them to stop.  I hole up with my cooking project or my books or my blog instead of…

We’re still nomads. The other week I asked my nephew, Owen, if he wanted to come play at our house and he asked, “So … which house are you staying in now?” He also told his mom in the car, “I’m so happy David and Julie aren’t going back to South Asia and get to stay here with us.” I’m so happy too, Owen.  I don’t want to leave you again, ever. And our kids are amazing, truly amazing.  They are faring one hundred times better than I am.  They are being sweet to one another, affectionate with Mommy and Daddy, happy with all the places we go and the…

Some of our dear friends gave us a sweet farewell party at Skyline last night. The menu: Chung’s chinese delivery (my request!), and to-die-for ice cream sandwich cookies by the lovely Maggie (a big thanks to Maggie’s mom for our first real chocolate chips in a year!). Please forgive the poor quality of these photos due to my flash.  I just couldn’t not capture the festivities on camera . . . Princess dresses and dancing . . . what more could little girls ask for? Annie and Hadi taught everyone what they’ve been learning in ballet class. Amie learns to twirl Josiah throws caution to the wind and joins in…