Just over a year ago, we returned to the US after living in China for two years. We came home with no plans at all and were uncertain of what was to come. We started some projects to help out my parents, which they desperately needed. I took a job at the dance studio to sub for teachers on maternity leave and Justin began trying to get everything up and running with his recording studio.
We got into a bit of a groove and got used to our normal. We started attending our church that we attended prior to leaving for China. However, we could not be as involved as we were, because it is far from where we live. We began reconnecting with family and old friends.
In the summer, I was done with my short-term commitment with the dance studio and ran two weeks of camp with my sister. Our friends returned from China and Justin got his business partner back. They got busy trying to build up their business and I started looking for a new job. I applied at a church as an administrative assistant, but I did not get the job. Then, I decided to look at nannying jobs in the area. After lots of back and forth with different families, I settled on a position with a family with a baby boy. I then accepted a job with the dance studio teaching a couple of classes and working at the desk.
Through all of this, Justin and I have been doing what we can to be fully functional on our own, without the help of our families. We had hoped to have a real idea of what we were doing and where we were going by the end of the year. We had hoped to be on our own and self-sufficient. However, God had different plans for us.
Justin and I like independence; we like not needing anyone. In China, we learned so much about needing the emotional, mental, and physical support of others through our church community. We would have NEVER made it there two years without it. However, coming home, we had different expectations. Everyone around us seemed to want us to have all the answers and to hit the ground running. It just did not pan out that way.
Our families have been so supportive and understanding. They have done so much for us and have given us time to learn and grow through the "repatriating experience." We look forward to the new year and what it holds for us. We know that God has us in his hands and that he has big plans for us! We look forward to what lies ahead.
Happy New Year from the Ures!!
