content

I went and ran a few silly errands tonight after Mr. F got home from work.  As in, errands only I deemed necessary...like new baskets.  It was serious business, let me tell you!  While I was driving home, with a half priced shake from Sonic, I was struck by how content I was.  Not just at that moment, but the past week in particular.  Blissfully, wonderfully content.

Mr. F has been working for a week now and he is happier than I can describe.  Each day he comes home with a bigger smile than the day before.  Why?  Because he loves what he is doing.  He loves only working ten minutes from the house, having the freedom to go to the gym before work, being employed...all of it.  I find myself basking in our lifestyle.  The familiar rhythm of him leaving in the morning for the office is mixed with my new need to take Daivd to work.  We come and go freely.  Everything seems so at ease.  All this ease really juxtaposes our time abroad.

A friend told me that you never really know how stressful it is to be an expat until you're back on native soil.  Menial tasks like getting groceries or getting to the gym are compounded tenfold in a wave of things you just don't fully understand.  Even though neither of us are from Florida, America is still America.  We know the big name stores, how to drive, hours of operation..it just...fits.  Add to this sharing a common mother tongue and things just got awesome.

I am so grateful for this peace I'm feeling right now.  Even though we don't know how long Mr. F will be working, I needed this moment, to be reminded that we're exactly where we're supposed to be, doing what we need to.  And that, my friends, is all I could really ask for. 

written friday, june 21, 2013