relearning home

what i feared would happen, happened: i came home from europe and gave up on blogging since my life was back to normal. i love my normal life, but honestly, it's just that=normal, and not worth blogging about. but i don't want to focus only on the extravagant that i forget the everyday.

coming back to america was an emotional thing for me. i had my hand over my heart when i landed on this sacred soil. we've been soaking up, or trying to, all that we love about home. 

since we've been back:

we pulled off, fantastically if i may say so, our best christmas surprise for our families. after getting delayed for two days because of a snowstorm in europe we made it back in time for christmas eve. both mothers were in tears. i've never missed my family, nor been so homesick, nor wished so badly to be back as i did while in belgium. christmas was at it's pinnacle this year.

we lived out of a suitcase for the first two weeks of being home because we couldn't leave family.

when we finally moved back home, we were certain our house was a mansion complete with carpet, closets, and a garage!

we went to the ballet.

we bought an $8 couch i'm attempting to reupholster.

we had the best donuts from here. trust me and just try the fritters.

we've driven to provo at least every week, usually more.

we have frequented redbox, wendy's, the mandarin, neighborhood walmart, cafe rio, guru's, and deseret book and took heart at all it's american glory:) yes, i'm proud.

we've been floored with the size of the mountains, the frequency of temples literally everywhere, and the joy we get from pronouncing produce.

we've seen friendly faces that truly make home, home.

we've finally, almost 18 months since moving in, unloaded every box in our townhome.

we've felt almost sick about the amount of stuff we have, but, admittedly we have taken a fancy for texting again, re-adored our sweet mac and lovable cars, gobbled up every appliance in my kitchen, and put to use my beloved nail polish and blow dryer.

we've had thumb wars frequently, rearranged our front living room, decided it's time for our bed to be refinished, spent lots of time with the youth in our ward, been in grateful awe that the sun comes out so often, and relish in the fact that everyone can understand us and we them.

here's to all the blessed, normal things about home.