Home

Home is where...you fill in the blank. I've heard the saying many different ways--your toothbrush, your pillow, your heart, your shoes. I cannot honestly say how I fill in that sentence. I can't quite say home is where my heart is, because my heart is split between Ethiopia, Atlanta, and Washington. We just returned back to Omo after I spent two weeks in the states for my sister's wedding, and one week in Addis doing shopping for supplies and things before heading south. It was an incredible high to step off the airplane in Addis Ababa and know I was finally back on the same continent and time zone as Caleb and the kids.
As wonderful as it was to be back 'home' in the US, I felt the separation from my family sitting on my chest the whole time.
It is strange though, to have come off the last few months of feeling quite 'home'-sick, and then to go back to the US and miss my other 'home' so desperately, my home that consists of Caleb, Elsa, Ezra, and the life we're building together by the Omo. I think it was good for me, to go back and realize that no matter where I am, I will feel the pull of a different place. That is simply the reality of the kind of life we've chosen. Hard at times, but amazing as well, to be able to call opposite sides of the world 'home' at the same time. To always be leaving home, but to always be going home as well.
So I am home...with my husband, my kids, this world over here.

Joanna in the USA

I'm not going to tell you how long I've been here. Granted, it hasn't been long, but considering the fact that I am leaving in the morning, I defnitely should have taken advantage of the last week of internet access to easily update this blog!

I was informed by my friend Britany that she LOVES the blog, but she finds my habits in updating the blog a tad reprehensible. She did say she would give me a break for the month of August because she said "I know you've been busy". (Her words, not mine! I won't correct her). So I'm coming away from this quick trip with one strong resolve--I will be better about writing more! Britany convinced me that there is at least one person out there who reads it regularly.

I'm jumping ahead. Most of you did not even know I would be in the USA. My beautiful sister, Jonelle, married an amazing man last night.

I landed in Atlanta last Thursday. I was able to spend the weekend with Leah and Tim and my new niece, Isla, before coming out to Washington state on Monday. I loved getting to be with Leah and Tim for the weekend, it was like I had never left the street we both lived on for the four years before we moved to Ethiopia. And their baby is without exaggeration the most precious little girl I have ever met. My kids are unbeatable, but you could never use words like "good", "calm", or "perfect" to describe either Elsa or Ezra. They have kept me up too many nights to give them those particular words. But Isla...she is beautiful. And precious. And I love her.

I came to Washington on Monday and have spent the last week doing all of the crazy wedding business that comes in the last week before a wedding.

It has been a great week of seeing family and friends and getting to be here with my sister and to spend some time with her husband. Coming from my quiet life down at Omo, I've definitely been going hard--they dragged me up Mt. Pilchuck and we water-skiied and did brunch in Seattle and family dinners and wedding rehearsals and more family dinners and lots and lots and lots of pictures. It has all been precious, from getting to see my 2 week old nephew, Benjamin, to seeing one of my nephews play football and another play soccer and most of all to be there to watch as my sister married her best friend.

It has been an eventful and busy week and a half, and tomorrow I head off to start my trip home. I have missed my kids and Caleb so much during this time and I am so ready to be back home with my family. I cannot believe that I have survived this much time without them! Caleb has been very brave to be in charge for two weeks, and Grandma Donna has been a lifesaver to help Caleb every day. Caleb and the kids will meet me in Addis to pick me up from the airport. As much fun as it is to reconnect with family and friends on this side, I am counting the hours to walking off that plane.

Many congratulations to my family here who have all had such momentous events in the last weeks and months...much love to the new babies, Isla and Ben, and to the new journey begun by Jonelle and Aaron.

Samuel and Benjamin Judy (my newest nephew)