Nothing seems to have changed. It was a blizzard when we left, February 10th, and a blizzard the day we returned, the 18th. If I didn't know better I would think we never left and that the entire trip was a dream. I suppose that's how the Penvensie children felt. It was a good dream, I mean trip.
First we spent a couple of days with Nathan and Janelle (and their tiny frog-like baby, Elizabeth; she's adorable). We had fun. Dawson got hooked on the Hobbit video game. "She's the Man" is actually a lot funnier then I thought it would be... Nathan has some good stories, and Janelle cooks enough to feed an army. Next we found ourselves spending the night at Nathan's twin sister's place. Nicole and her husband Caleb are also fun people, kindred spirits. I can't believe he's actually going to sell his piano! And there we got to play Wii for the first time. Caleb was only too eager to have us line up infront of the screen. Ah... yes, so that was the night we got maybe 3 hours of sleep before continuing on to San Antonio, Texas, where we saw Ryan graduate from bootcamp (airforce)! Sheena's first thoughts were ofcourse how relieved she was that he looks cute with glasses and a shaven head. The airforce base could be called boring but I enjoyed seeing the different trainees and their families interact.
The days spent in Texas were good ones. We saw the Alamo, twice! As well as the river walk, twice. The river walk is amazing, like being in a small piece of Venice, Italy. The food made me homesick for Brasil, as did much of the architecture... It was beautiful. The Alamo was also awesome, especially the grounds- the land around it. I would have been tempted to climb a beautiful, old tree had its branches not been supported by wires. Apparently they'd grown too long for their own good. *smiles.
Never stopped reaching... It was a lovely, old thing. The fish in the moat were gigantic... And there were these black birds who came in flocks at nightfall and perched in all the trees to call at eachother and drown out all other sound. I honestly could not hear the siren of a cop car (police vehicle) just down the block. I really wish I'd acquired a bowie knife, or a flint-lock rifle. No, not to murder the birds. The musicians on the streets were friendly (I liked the banjo guy), as was the Indian family who ran our hotel. In the end Sheena stayed, and Andrew, Dawson, and I embarked on a 21-ish hour drive home. I spent much of the time reading, much as I had on the way down ("Talking to Dragons" then "Howl's Moving Castle"). The entire week- on the road and being with different people- gave me a feeling that we're all connected. And reading Howl's moving Castle the last few days helped feed that feeling. I really love that book. There's purpose to every meeting- every person you come across in life, to every circumstance you find yourself in, to every gift or ability you have, and to every choice made. All the intricate plans and interweaving of fates... I'm glad there's an Author to it all.

Speaking of the Author, He gave us a beautiful sunrise on our way home, but we missed the sunset. Confounded Michigan weather. I know... God is in the snow too. ("God is in the rain"- that quote's for you, Robert). Andrew and I also spotted a shooting star. It made me think of "Stardust" and the last time I watched it, with Sheena, Becca, and Seth in the house Sheena has now deserted. In Brasil it was always a shower of shooting stars... and I miss how they actually looked like twinkling diamonds as they fell instead of hazey streaks of light across the sky. Well, I am home again, and unpacked, which is always the most tragic part for me. Unpacking means I am finished and I don't want to be finished... The kids were ecstatic to see me at work yesterday and today, as were many of the workers, which made me laugh. The moon has decided to eclipse tonight.
The only way I can bare its disappearing and appreciate the beauty of it is knowing it will soon return. As Kahlil Gibran said, "Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." There's a beauty to missing something or someone. "I dream about Your promise to return. And I wake up hangin’ on Your every word. But for now my feet are planted here on earth. So I’m missin’ You. And even while they say that I’m a fool, I know you see me waiting here for You. Oh, and prayin’ that somehow You’ll get here soon. 'Cause I’m missin’ You. How much longer will it be, till I get to see you? Though I know you’re right here with me, tell me when can I be there with you? ...Oh, I’m missin’ You." I know exactly what you mean, Chris Rice... I love you all, and I am finished. (*thia