Misty, you are not in Indiana anymore!
Just as Dorothy had to be reminded of the fact that she wasn't HOME, now that I am back in Seoul, South Korea, I too am well aware that I am far away from home!
I had a rich and meaningful time over the holidays! Family bonding over loads of home-cooked meals, sibling rivalry with card games and dominoes, much needed TLC with my nieces and nephew and good ol' fashioned laughter and catching up with some old and new friends!
The time home is never enough, but just like every close to a vacation, I put on my "big girl" panties and head back to the airport - destination - my home away from home!
It was a much needed 'shot in the arm' to be back home for the holidays. For the past two Christmas breaks I have traveled around South America - last year I was in Rio de Janiero, Brazil over the Christmas and New Year and the year before that I was basking in the beauty of Buenos Aires, Argentina - men included! I love to travel, but there is nothing better than coming home! This Christmas was special because my younger brother and sister and I were all together for the first time in three years. My mom made a comment about how she loved having her kids all under the same roof....then I think right after she said that, we started wrestling with each other and arguing over the remote control! :) I was able to enjoy some quality time with my Dad and step-mom and they spoiled me with new luggage and times out in the city of Lafayette to see the rest of my family. I always love being in Cincinnati because I have friends that treat me like a celebrity. There are parties thrown in my honor and it is so good to catch up with those wonderful relationships.
I have been a bit homesick in Korea and I think it is so cool how God works sometimes. For those of you who don't know, my mom and my step-dad will be moving to Beijing, China in February! It is a two year commitment and my step-dad would be the project manager for his job. My step-dad is in his 60's and my mom will forever be 29 years old - her words, not mine! They have 13 grand-kids, family close by, a wonderful church home and they have a great support of friends and family there in Indiana. I am awe of their adventurous spirit. My step-dad was keen to the idea of moving to China since he is an overseas consultant and this move would help him with his Chinese relations and also with his business in general. My mom, on the other hand, was a little apprehensive at first. She didn't want to leave her grand-kids and was worried about life in Asia! She prayed about it for a bit and then told Wayne that she supports him and quote, "I can do ANYTHING for two years."
Sometimes I wonder about my wandering life. I seem to be discontent with staying in one place for too long. I have always had a gypsy lifestyle and have never placed too much importance on roots or settling down. Not that I don't want to settle down, I am just afraid of growing complacent no matter where I am in the world. I look at my friends and family and realize that I am the outcast. I am the only one that is NOT following the 'norm' of getting married, buying a house and having 2.5 kids. I have always wondered why I have this DISEASE.
Having done the overseas thing for a while I have had time to reflect. Now, I don't think that my vagrant lifestyle is a disease, but instead it is a mindset. I hate the fact of waking up one day and realizing that I have nothing else to learn. For as much as I like to think I am never wrong, I know that I can always improve. It isn't so much that I am discontent with my location, but discontent with ever being too content. Now, I know there is a fine line here....we need to be content in all circumstances, it is biblical. But it is also the words of Jesus that tell us to grow up, grow in faith, grow closer to Christ. GROW is the key word here. We are never suppose to get to the point where we say, I am done growing. I enjoy growing, bottom line! This is evidenced in my life in obvious ways like picking up and moving to South America when I didn't know a single soul or then moving from what is familiar in South America to things that are completely foreign in South Korea. My desire to grow in also apparent through obscure actions such as making GRAND New Years Resolutions every year and never keeping them past March. Another way I continue to grow is through my numerous collections of work out DVD's and programs. I attempted Insanity in September and now have moved on to P90X. I am hoping to commit to the 90 days, but we will see how it goes with THIS growth process.
My point in all the rambling is that I now know where I get it - It is in my BLOOD. My dad went back to college in his 40's and worked a full time job and received his degree. My step-mom is now doing the same thing - working full time and taking college classes for her degree. My sister has decided on a career change later in life and is working and going to school full time WHILE raising three kids. My mom and step-dad are picking up and moving from everything they hold dear and are entering a VERY foreign territory. They are willing to be submersed in the culture, the language and the rhythm of Beijing, China - WHY? Because they don't want to ever grow complacent. They know they will grow from this experience. They will grow closer in their marriage, they will grow more aware of other cultures and people and they will grow on a personal level that maybe only those two will ever talk about. I LOVE the fact that my mom and my step-dad are only going to be a two hour flight away, but more importantly, I am thankful that I am not the only one that chooses to BLOOM or (GROW) WHERE I AM PLANTED!
