The Stars and StripesJuly 2007
My iTunes: Home (Live) by Chris Daughtry
Some of you may be wondering a bit still about my hectic life the last four weeks. I am finally settled and ready to explain what has been going on in my corner of the world. Short answer....I have moved to a different corner! :)
While my husband is finishing up some work in London, I have moved home to the States with our children ahead of him. We knew our family would be returning at the end of the year so after much discussion and prayer, we decided it was best for me to bring the kids back to get them started in school and get them settled. Thankfully, my husband will be joining us soon and we cannot wait to be reunited with him. Awareness said it best in her comment on my post yesterday...she said she feels disjointed when her brood isn't under one roof...I TOTALLY agree!
London was incredible. There are not enough words to describe our time there....all the things we were taught and expereinced are knit closely into our hearts and minds. We had lots of highs and lows, we were stretched in in so many ways and our whole family dynamic was changed forever. We found joy. The friendships which John, the kids and I are moving away from have been such a blessing for us over the past two years. I am amazed at God's provision with these friendships. Somehow they made 5000 miles away from home seem like A LOT less. My heart doesn't easily say goodbyes so I opted to say "see you soon"...I could physically and emotionally feel the ripping that was going on as we left. Personally, living there was an extreme time of growth for me on a spiritual and emotional level. Being so far from all the things and people in my life that I counted on daily really challenged me to lean on Jesus for all I need...some days were better than others. I am grateful for that even though at times saying it was painful would be an understatement (my friends there know this well)...thanks for loving me and being patient despite me! You all are missed so much!
Our family is looking forward to another chapter of our lives starting here and the reality that we may be planted somewhere for awhile has us all excited and nervous! The kids and I have already been going through some pretty overwhelming adjustments but having the love and support of both our familes, our friends and our Savior has carried us through. We are eager to see what God has in store for us in the future and how he is connecting all these paths together that He has so purposefully laid out for us.
Thanks for continuing in this journey with me!
36 comments:
Anna, it was such a touching post.....i hope u all are under one roof soon and the friendships you cultivated last lifelong ....as a child I have grown up in different places as my parents jobs required them to move every few years......by the time we would settle down in one place, make friends, start liking our school, it was time to move on ...initially i and my brother hated it ....but today we know how it enriched us and we made friends who come in all shapes, sizes and colors :)
take care and love and hugs for you :)
Welcome home Anna, and my beautiful grandchildren of course! Oh, John ..... you too! I can hardly wait to see you all. With love always... Meemaw
What a wonderful post Anna. I too know what you mean about leaving family. My small family unit left our extended families 18 months ago to live some 3000 kilometres away. It was a big move but one I appreciated because we 'grew' and love it! Hope all goes well in your next chapter.
Moving from friends is so hard but coming "home" is wonderful. Your kids' lives have been so enriched because of your time across the Pond.
I pray that your hubby gets home soon and you can proceed with the next season of your lives.
Have fun getting settled.
wow, didn't see that one coming...probably very wise - am sure the time will go quicker than you imagine. will be strange not to see london through your eyes....look forward to seeing new lanscapes through those same eyes though....
Just got back and you're already waving our colors.
Uncle Sam would be proud Anna :)
Glad to hear you got back safely :)
Anna,
Your stay in London had another benefit for all of us: getting to know London through your eyes and your camera. Can't wait to see your pictures now that you're back home! (And remember to drive on the right side of the road...)
It's so good to have you back on home soil. Let us know when you get settled and John's back. God bless you!
Susan Ingraham
Anna,
welcome home and I pray for you that the future is giving you all you need. :) That you settle down soon.
:) JoAnn
Great Daughtry song.
...I voted for him ;)
Wishing you all the best in this new chapter - somehow it all interconnects - I pop by often but don't often comment...love your images though..
Hope the time passes as quickly as it can until your husband can join you..
Katie
Welcome back to the USA! Being gone for such an extended time might give you a fresh vision for photographs back home.
That was a surprise! There is, after all, no place like home!!
A beatiful and thoughtful post, Anna. London will look a little more dreary since it won't have your lens to make it shine. But on this side of th epond, we're happy to have you back.
Welcome back! As you have no doubt heard, not too much has changed here... the same idiot is still in charge and his plan to force democracy down the Middle East's throat is proceeding swimmingly!
But enough about all that, the country just got a little bit better now that you're back!
Mike
Welcome home friend! It was so good to see Old Glory in full color on your post. My prayers will be with you during this time of being apart. It will be good for the kids to start a school year at the beginning.
I look forward with tremendous excitment as to what you will capture in your camera in the Colonies.
i saw you officially changed your location on your profile. :) i am sure it is painful, but exciting at the same time....with all the possibilities that stretch ahead of you on this new venture.
and from experience, i know God will have opportunities for you where you are... to use what you learned overseas... things you may not have been ready for without that time of stretching and growing.
i wish you many more wonderful friendships and blessings in your new location while your roots start to dig down into that new soil.....
Welcome home, Anna. I can speak for all of us that we are looking forward to getting to know your new home through your photographs. I hope that you and your family will come to love your new home, that you will make many new friends, and that you will look back lovingly on your years and your friendships in England.
I miss you! When are you going to post your front door from the Hill?
I'm quite glad you all (or ya'll, as you're probably hearing a lot now) were in London, even though our time there together was so brief! I'm sure London misses you and your camera already, but I'm sure you'll see all sorts of new things around your new home! Miss you!
ahhhhh anna thank you so much :)
you make me realize that everything will be alright in the end.
you are the best.
college is actually not that bad thogh, i set up my room and it looks really cool. imet a couple people that seem like fun.
but i just know that nothing will compare to my friends back home. maybe im just being close minded right now. but i really wish i would be waking up in my own bed tomorrow. haha.
ill let yo know how everything goes.
thank you for everything. i always enjoy hearing from you.
I also know what it is like to leave home, live in other places, make new friends, and then having to say goodbye to them and in hopes one day we will see each other again.
You post sounds like you have a very loving family and I pray your husband and you and your childern will reunite soon.
Welcome home Anna. What a touching and poignant post. I know all too well the feeling of leaving family and friends, and the option to say "see you soon" rather than "goodbye".
Been thinking of you and sending you {{HUGS}}
xox
Anna!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi. :)
just in case you haven't heard it enough (have you?) everyone misses you here.
No really. They're all weeping and crying on me all the time. I have to buy tissues and double wash my clothes from all the snot.
:)
You and your family are amazing and amazingly well-connected, despite the miles between. My prayer is that you and the kids are doing well and are well-supported during your transition...and check out your blog. You've got a city of Anna lovers!! ;) Looking forward to your new photos.
love you!
Welcome Home! I can't wait t see photos from your new place, here.
I am so excited for you guys!! :) Praying for everyone...
Can't wait to have margarita's (or the drink of the season) together!!! :)
Love you,
R
Welcome back to the US--although I know it was difficult leaving London.
(And of course I meant "spoked"! That just shows the state of my mind the last couple of weeks.)
It's good to have you back. I have so enjoyed your photos of England. I know that your lives are richer for having spent the time there.
It's surely an experience that your children won't soon forget. I know your parents are thrilled to have you back.
The end of an era but the beginning of a new one. You can call it AE - After England. Or AL - After London. And the corresponding BE or BL.
When you're older, you can say things like this when recounting a story:
"Yeah, that was AL. Or was that BL? I can't remember, but it doesn't really matter."
I'm anxious to see how you share your world with us on this side of the pond.
I guess the first thing you'll have to do when interacting with the folks around you is get used to the funny accent.
Yo Anna, two years back my husband was based in the United States for one year and yes it was difficult but somehow absent makes the heart grow fonder.
You would be fine and it would be Home Sweet Home soon :D
That is a very nice photo of "Old Glory"! Wow! Now you have a new playground for your photography! :-)
Welcome to your home Anna! What a touching post. Every time we move we make friends for life, never knowing when we'll be able to meet again in this life, but knowing that we have eternal friends. They all shape our lives in one way or another, and that makes life so good!
Welcome back to the States, Anna!
Welcome back to The States. I hope everything goes smoothly for all of you.
I've never been out of the US but we've always tried to take advantage of the things each area we have lived offers. It seems that you and your family did that with your time over there, so you should be able to look back with no regrets.
Love the flag photo. Nice.
The Chris Daughtry song is perfect for this post. Sounds like a bitter-sweet homecoming.
I wish you the best on your move back to the states. But, how could it go wrong when you are so firmly in God's will.
Wow...A lot's happened while I've been away! This sounds like quite an upheaval, but a good one.
Not that it makes any difference, but I loved the way that we were connected by living in the same country although I knew you would only be here temporarily! So I will miss that, and your lovely pictures/ takes on life in the UK...yet am also looking forward to seeing how life treats you on the other side of the Atlantic!
Many thoughts and prayers as you settle into your 'new' life back home, and await your husband's permanent return home - it must be so hard to be apart for so long...
Take care
Rachel x
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