Home For The Holidays

As most people know, we came home to the U.S. for the holidays and have been having a wonderful time. Some of those who receive this blog have been a part of what has made this visit home so enjoyable, and there are more than a few who are on the "coming attractions" for the days we have remaining here in Michigan.

I won't bore anyone with a description of the weather we've been missing in Brisbane while we have been home - let it be sufficient to say that Michigan is very different! I have put a brief video at the bottom from the first Sunday evening I was back, shot after we had undertaken a quick trip to Toledo, Ohio that afternoon (to deliver Kevin's girlfriend (Ellen) to her Mom). For about the last 60 miles of the return trip we had blustery, snowy winter weather to drive though with more than a few "white-outs" and arrived home to what you will see below.

We've been doing our darnedest to see friends and family and trying to be "on vacation" as much as possible but I have been finding it difficult to get back into my North American sleep mode. I'm not sure if it's the 15 hours of time zone difference, the lack of "Portside" noise or the presence of the Michigan winter sounds but Ambien has been my best friend (even tonight)!

It feels a bit strange to us that we now have "adult" children and this time of year brings the reality into sharp focus. We had everyone home for a Christmas Eve sleepover so we could jump up and do Christmas morning before Nancy's side of the family arrived for our traditional brunch and it made us realize that it's time to get intentional about this stuff because it doesn't just "happen" any more! Yikes!

I have had to get out my cold weather running gear and literally force myself to get out onto the snowy side-of-the-road to get my required dose of exercise. The good news is that I am nearing the 1,000 mile mark and if I can get that last ~100K in before I return to Australia, I would consider that a very big accomplishment.

O.K. - that's all for now. I need to check in at work (since they're just getting up) and then hit the sack. I hope to be able to put together an "end of the year" post before 2007 is done so, until then....

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (not)

I just returned from a quick walk to return some movies at the local Video EZY and I have to say, I've never experienced " near Christmas" weather like this before. It's about 75 degrees tonight and a beautiful "summer" evening while Nancy tells me that we're well below freezing at home (with a driveway full of ice) - something to look forward to when I get back next week! The first picture in this entry is a view out of our apartment window from tonight - note the presence of a Christmas tree (to the right of the ice cream shop) and the absence of snow or ice.

The reality that this time in Australia is soon to end has really taken hold and I'm trying to get a bit of information on "what's next". So far, not much detail is available but I'm not worried - I need to focus on "the now" and make the most of the time we have left. I hate to admit that I had differed many of the things I intended to do while living here for "tomorrow', believing that I would have a bit more time to get to them. Reality check - there are no guarantees that there will be a tomorrow (and not just in Australia).

Probably the greatest difficulty in leaving will be the people we have gotten to know. We have met some really amazing people - both through work and at the church we are attending. While we are bracing ourselves for saying "goodbye", it is really exciting to think that we may be able to have some of our new friends as guests in the future. We are hopeful that we can help a few Aussies get a better understanding of real Americans in the days ahead as guests at our home in Muskegon. We have found a great church here (Cornerstone Christian Church) and many of the people have gone so out of their way to make us feel welcome. As I have mentioned to many, we have always been the "insiders" and I have a whole new appreciation of what being a "visitor" means. I especially value the relationship that I have been able to establish with Pastor Charles Newington - the "Senior" guy here. I won't spend time here with specifics but I am very encouraged as I have seen some real New Testament behavior and love expressed - something I hope we can bring back with us to share. I have included a few pictures from our recent "Christmas in the Year 2207" party - (Pastor Charles is wearing the winged hat).

Right now - the focus is on getting stuff "in order" so I can have a relatively stress free vacation over the holidays. We are going to give our apartment over to friends here to use so they can enjoy the riverfront location for holiday gatherings (for example - fireworks over Portside on New Year's Eve). At home, there will be lots of gatherings and time spent with friends and family while in Michigan. I hope that we return to Brisbane exhausted!

It's The End Of The World (As We Know It)

I'll make this entry fairly short - last week I found out that my assignment here in Australia was going to end sooner than I thought. Given my last posting about the things we miss - I guess this should be considered a blessing and, in many respects, it is. This news came at a point in time where Nancy and I were just getting used to the idea that we would be here a bit longer and had been (at least, in our minds) getting our act together here.

My Boss and my "replacement" came into town last week and I was given the task of introducing them to the staff - part of a bigger initiative that is going on regionally and something that was going to happen sooner or later. For me, the next step is a bit unknown but I will be headed back to Muskegon sometime in the first quarter of 2008 to assume what is currently a somewhat nebulous role in the parts business. What I do know is that I will not be rejoining my previous role but I'll be working out of that office as part of a team at "Corporate".

I will have more on this topic a bit later but I need to focus on getting things in order here while I prepare for the transition and get ready to go home for the Holidays. Nancy is already back in Muskegon, turning up the thermostat and getting ready for some Christmas and New Year's festivities - we are really looking forward to seeing as many friends and family as possible.

So - this as been an adventure, it still is an adventure but the end is now in sight. The picture of the apartment and our "weekly visitor" (the P&O ship - Pacific Sun) is all I have at present. In the picture, our apartment is the upper left - so you can get an idea of what we wake up to each Saturday! Next time I'll put together some pictures of the local Christmas parties and some of the other "color" so stay tuned!

There Are Things You Dearly Miss

In most of my blog entries, I have delivered a lot of "here's something that's interesting" or "here's something that's different" as well as the "this is SO not Muskegon". After correspondence with several friends and family, I've realized that this could be interpreted as a celebration of not being back home - even a bit of derision for the familiar. I'd like to clear this up.

Certainly, there are many things that are different and interesting and there is much that is not just like home; but the emphasis on those subjects should not be interpreted as "good riddance to bad rubbish". Rather, trying to share the new and different is an attempt to nourish and enhance the connection with those we love and miss back in "the real world". This time in Australia is a tiny blip on the radar of life and focusing on the new and interesting here is a bit like describing a vacation - you emphasize the stuff that is different and minimize the stuff that is mundane and boring.

I'm sure that those who have read blog this would not have been nearly as interested in the work we did to renovate a rather horrible office area at work into something slightly more current and enjoyable. To recount the mundane elements of the day-to-day working and home life doesn't make very interesting blog fodder - doing the laundry is still doing the laundry. Cleaning a toilet is still cleaning a toilet (even if the water swirls in the opposite direction).

That being said, there are also many things we miss - that sometimes you even try to put out of your mind because you know that you probably didn't assign them the proper value when you had them "at your finger tips" and now they are all but inaccessible. Given the distance and time zones, a simple impromptu telephone conversation is a seldom enjoyed experience.

So - here's a list of a few things that we miss a bunch:

A sky full of stars - you never see them because of the city lights
Breakfasts with friends - and the conversations they allowed us to have
Spontaneous events - the "Hey - are you guys busy tonight?" encounters
Cooking with our kids, or friends and family - times spent in the kitchen are some of the most fun!
A house (and a yard) full of family members for a special event or holiday
Grabbing a lunch after church with someone we want to spend time with
Reading in our living room with the fireplace going - no fireplaces needed here!
Grabbing a quick cup of Starbucks coffee with someone (even though Caribou is better)
Watching a sunset over Lake Michigan - especially with friends
Having to drive to Grand Rapids for shopping or eating - because the time spent driving gives us a chance to have a conversation
Running outside - way too hot here
Sharing a beach fire with friends & family (which provides an excuse for S'mores)
We miss being able to see our children - a lot!
Being able to celebrate (or commiserate) "face-to-face" when the opportunity arises
Many other things that probably seem trivial "back home" but because we are here, they are sorely missed

So - being "gone" has given us a renewed sense of importance for what we no longer have at hand. Count your blessings, make sure you don't neglect them because they're so available and remember us when you experience them.

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