Home Safe and Sound

I just wanted to let everyone know that we all made it home safe after a good 30 hours of traveling! Just a tip for you in case you decide to go to India - don't try to print your plane ticket @ the Kolkata airport (they won't let you through the doors without it printed already and if you get there 7 hours early you might end up hanging out outside for a bit...) Yeah...all is well though, we made friends with a cool British guy who works for the UN and was in the same situation we were. He was able to get us all in after 4 hours. You may be wondering why in the world we got to the airport 7 hours early...That way Father could catch the bus back to Raiganj and make it in time for work the next morning. Yep, he's a hard worker - bringing smiles to faces left and right! :) Father was the toughest to say good-bye to. Yes, we'll be in touch, but still, I'll miss all the laughs and all the joy that he brought to each day.

Anyway, things are going well at home. It's so nice to be home - warm showers, cozy bed, toilet paper, carpet...! And of course my family and friends! :) I'm still not quite done unpacking, but I don't see any more ants, so that's a good thing! (A few hundred ants decided they wanted to come home with me.) But no worries, all is well now (and clean)! Of course I'm realizing that this whole experience is quite difficult to share. Many people have and probably will continue to ask me how they think this trip has changed me or in what ways. That is a such a hard question! I'm still internalizing everything! It's like asking someone on their birthday how it feels to be one year older! That's a silly question, you can't possibly know immediately! All I do know is that the biggest change has happened in my heart. I can only hope that my heart may lead me to think and act in different ways to reflect this experience and growth.

Thank you all so much for sharing in my experiences by reading my blog and for all your thoughts and prayers! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)