Sunscreen to Snow Shovel

I was so excited to arrive back home!!! My bed, cold water ( that didn't taste like lake water), a hot shower and the sun was shining in Salt Lake City!!! Never mind that I was so exhausted from not sleeping on the plane that I felt like I had the flu, or that my skin was already starting to tighten and dry from the lack of humidity. My girls were going to be sleeping in their own rooms and I was turning the fan on so that even if they did wake up, I wasn't going to hear them. Oh, the comforts of home. It feels great to take a long enough vacation that you are ready to come home. I don't even feel that bad that I shoveled 6 inches of snow off the walks ... feels good to be home.

Going to another country is an experience like no other. Epecially if you go and live the life of the people there, not simply visiting as a tourist. I had a small taste of this when I went to Holland in 2006. It makes the world bigger. And that sort of change in perspective is very hard to describe. I feel pretty spoiled and ungrateful... I feel like my house and all my garbage cans are huge! Also, spending 3 weeks next door to a 98 yr.old woman forces you to realize a few important things. Here are a few of the nuggets, that from this experience, I will take with me-

1. There is no greater blessing in life, than to "joy in your posterity".

2. We have no idea what poor is... and seeing it makes you realize what you can be happy without.

3. Only speaking 1 language is kind of embarrassing.

4. No wonder Cuyler and Marissa go crazy over the food in America!
Costco should be an American symbol- not McDonalds. And when it comes to cheese, most Americans don't have a clue :)

5. The truest things, are true no matter where you go!

Uruguay was the experience of a lifetime. There are so many places to see in the world that we will probably never go back. But I have great memories and many stories to tell. We took over 400 pictures and tons of video. I hope we get to share more of these precious moments in detail with you! Come over for Mate...