Countdown starts

It is hard to comprehend that our vacation is almost over. Three weeks has already flown by, and the last week will go by even faster. It is also difficult to say goodbye once again to this place where I became familiar with that I call home. Each time we leave, I wonder when we will be back again. For good.

I have enjoyed so much spending time here with my in-laws; eating so much food, and just do nothing. I was also delighted to see how much Caleb and Abby grew to love this place. One day, I tell myself, we will be back. Although, not soon enough.

This weekend, I am looking forward to our 10-hour drive to North Carolina, to visit families, and to meet up with our best friends, who now live in Georgia (I miss the mobility of living on the East Coast. You really can drive to anywhere, and to everywhere). It is also the big weekend for our princess Abigail. She is turning one. I am excited to report that she is almost ready to walk. She now is able to stand on her own and walk a few steps. My little baby is not a baby anymore. This is such a big milestone for us parents; I am excited, but devastated at the same time.



Until we start packing, I will enjoy the last week and a half here. Wow, how time flies. We will go home next week; the countdown starts.

Beauty. Here.

I once thought I could move to Hawaii and live there for the rest of my life. I was so sure that I would attend University of Hawaii, and marry a Polynesian, and have a dozen babies. When I die, I would be cremated. Then, my beloved husband would dump my ashes all over the Pacific Ocean, overlooking the beautiful horizon, for the rest of eternity.

Yeah, I know. Corny stuff.

Then, when I did finally marry, I moved to New Jersey, some 5,000+ miles away from the original destination I vowed to spend the rest of my life in. And eventually, fell in love with this place.

I never thought I would become adjusted to the harsh winter cold, and the muggy summer days. Growing up in the Golden State, I could not imagine living in a place where people embraced the first signs of spring. I could not comprehend the beauty of the fall, where every part of land became different shades of red. Yet, my eyes were opened, and my heart sang, when I finally experienced the differences of the four seasons, six years ago.

When we drove through Princeton a few days ago, sitting in the car, I was once again awestruck by the beauty of this historic town, only some 20 minutes away from where we lived. It is early May, where every branch of tree blossomed new life. The neighborhoods elegantly stood, where every house was curtained behind tall, slender woods. The cobble stoned walls, the wood planks that showed off their old ages, and the antiquated churches all displayed the quality character of this 1756 town. I wish I could jump out of the car and snap away every bit of beauty I saw. But I did not. I could not. It was too dark, and I did not have the right equipment with me. But I will. I cannot wait to go back and try to capture a very small scale of what I saw in photographs. Still, I will not do justice. You will have to be here to feel the essence, the experience the spirit.

Beauty, is here. It is in these old walls, and tranquil streets. In the end, God knew me better. He moved me here, instead of Hawaii. And I owe it to Him.

This is one photo I found from the internet. I did NOT take the photo. This is a very typical house in Princeton.

Some

Photo shoot opportunity today:






Click here to see the rest!

It rained today

I know I have mentioned this before, but I just can't get over how green the world is around here....




It rained today. We stayed at home, played a few games.



I lost, of course.

This afternoon, we..

..were on a hammock.

Breakfast

I forget

There are many things that I forget from time to time. I came to realize today as I was driving around town this morning, how green everything is around here. And how beautiful an ordinary church can be.





I also realized how much I miss living here. It is during this time of the year that everything comes to life: acres of new grass, fields of flowers, children playing outside.

I forget how much I loved this place.

4.27.09--Terere

Click here to learn more about Terere.

4.26.09

Vacation is...

food..



..time to relax..



..free roaming on the grass, and not afraid to be ran over..



..no worries..



...driving through our old stomping ground...




..driving through the Lincoln Tunnel into the City..



...being in Time Square..


...and being able to leave the kids at home and revisit our pre-engagement site, on our 6th anniversary.

Ahhh...Vacation

Sorry everyone, this is not going to be a long post. I know you are just dying to know how we are doing. How our 4 1/2 hour plane ride was, and how the kids were...

Well, besides the Benadryl failed to work on Abigail, besides the fact that she struggled to get out of her baby carrier the whole entire flight, besides dirtying her diaper during the time when we were not allowed to get out of our seats, besides turning green while the plane was circling around in the New Jersey sky for 45 minutes before landing, besides being starved because we refused to pay $4 for a bag of peanuts...our flight was great. No major complaints.

Driving on Route 1 on the way home, seeing familiar buildings and shopping centers, sensing that home was not too much further away, smelling the not-summer-yet-but-spring-is-in-full-bloom aroma, I was glad to be here. So glad.

Seeing Caleb roaming free on the green grass, eating, exploring in the nearby woods, eating, wrestling with his uncles, eating, and cuddling with his Nana and Papa, I knew this was going to be a great vacation. I also know, that these four weeks will fly by, nevertheless, I will savor every minute of it.



We had arrived home.