My Time Back In Seattle

How fun it was to be back in Seattle with such wonderful friends and family! My trip home was so last minute and very unplanned, but I tell you God really took this time and used it to its full potential. There were many unexpected events and situations that only He could have choreographed. Here is a brief snap shot of my month back home. Thanks to all the friends and family who rearranged their schedules to hang out with me. Sorry to those people who I really wanted to see but never got the opportunity to do so. I miss you all already and can't wait until we get to see one another again.

Medical - As you all know the reason I came home was to see a doctor and have a minor surgery. I have to say I love doctors! They make me broke, but the gift they are able to give people is priceless. After living in the DR, I have seen many cases of people who cannot afford to go see a doctor. When medical missions come to our clinic and serve our people, they are literally giving sight to the blind and legs to people who cannot walk. Here in America we have the privilege of being treated for our symptoms before our sickness or injury becomes to extreme. In the DR, many don't have that opportunity. After seeing the miracle the teams of doctors give to our people, I just love doctors!
The doctor I saw here was amazing and gave me a gift of healing! Doctor if you ever read this page, know that I am truly grateful for all you do! Hope to see you in the DR some day or at church when we get back home!

Family - This trip for me turned out to be more about family then anything else! The week I got home I took an unexpected trip to Arizona to visit my extended family. My mom was already going on a business trip and had extended her time for a short family vacation. The doctor gave his approval for me to go, so 2 days after my surgery I flew down! We got to visit my grandpa and stay a couple nights with him. He took us around his town and through the Gila National Forest. We went out to delicious places to eat, including a wonderful restaurant called Adobe Springs. If you are ever in Silver City NM, be sure to stop by! I got to listen to he and mom reminisce about old family relatives and learn who was ornery, who married who, what happened to so and so's farm, and who famous I might be related to. Darn...I wish I had a tape recorder. Thanks Grandpa for such a wonderful visit. I am so grateful I got to see you! I can't wait to Skype! Love you and miss you tons!



After visiting grandpa, we went to my uncle's house where we had a big family dinner and I got to see cousins I haven't seen in a couple of years. Of course it was non-stop laughter, teasing, goofing around, and reminiscing about the past. My uncle just bought a bug (shown in the pics), which is my dream car, so taking a ride in his bug was definitely a highlight. My uncle also has all of Great Gramma Houses' recipes so we took a lot of time going through them and picking out ones we wanted to copy right away and remembering family gatherings where gramma cooked "THE BEST" pies, donuts, cakes, etc. No one cooks quite like Gramma! Thanks family for such a wonderful visit! I love you all!

As many of you also know, my gramma Cruze died the last week I was in town. While this was a sad event, it is comforting to know that she is now resting in God's hands. This time also brought up opportunities for me that I wouldn’t have had. My dad had to drive to Portland for a work meeting the day Gramma died. I decided to drive down with him to give him some company and it turned out to be a really special time for me. I got to hear dad talk about his mom and what she was like as he grew up. I felt lucky to hear stories I never heard before and to learn more about who Gramma was in her younger days, who she was as a mom, and who she was as an elderly lady. Thanks dad for sharing your stories with me. It really meant a lot to me!

Friends - I LOVE OUR FRIENDS!! Where would we be without you guys?!! So many days and night I spent with our good friends catching up and eating well missed food or drinking another dose of coffee. It was so good for my heart to be with all of you hearing about life and processing mine with you. Thank you for investing in our lives and continuing to support us on our mission. We wouldn't be down there if it weren't for you!

Food - I love choices! I love all the food option in America. Wow..we sure waste a lot though.....

Weather - Where the heck is summer in Seattle? I have to admit that while I feel sorry for all of you as you ache for the sun, I selfishly loved the cold weather. Scott and I have so missed cuddling up in blankets, sitting by a fire, and the closeness that cold weather brings. While I complained with you (out of moral support) secretly I loved it! Thanks mom for always letting me turn up the heater and for the 4 blankets I slept with every night. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Home - While I loved every minute I was back in Seattle, I missed home in the DR horribly. Mainly because Scott was back there and it killed me not to see him everyday and be able to tell him I love him. It was odd to be home without him and to be having this experience without him. Boy did I ever miss him! Being back was also good because it helped me take a break from all the overwhelming cultural experiences and reflect back on our life there so far and be able to process it in a not as stimulating environment. I was going through quite a bit of cultural adjustment in terms of figuring out who I am as a woman and a wife down there. Gender roles are different and it has been somewhat hard for me to adjust. I began to feel somewhat lost in who I was while trying to figure out what I needed to change in order to fit the culture and what characteristics or behaviors I needed to keep in order to be myself. I know who I am in my culture in America, and being back home helped me get a more clear picture of who I need to be down there in order to survive.

The time back in Seattle also revived my energy and motivation to be down there. I have more vision for what I want to do. I have more desire to share my voice. I have more motivation to keep learning and growing. And most of all I have more of a desire then ever to depend on my God for all I need, cause living cross culturally is a hard process and "taking it all to God in prayer" really matters in a time and place such a this.

So I have to go back! Like Scott wrote on the blog a couple weeks ago, we both feel like God is not done with us yet. There is still more to learn, more ways He wants to shape and change who we are, more people to be influenced by and to influence, and who knows what else. I also need to go back because I am getting way to attached to friends, family, and white chocolate mochas. If I stay any longer I might stay forever.

Thanks everyone for everything! I love you!

Kel