Life didn't end for us when we left Italy in September as this neglected blog might suggest. Instead, it's been happily busy as we readjust to being back in the States, visiting with family and friends, and searching for a new place to call home. We spent this past month at my family's home in NC, using it as a hub for his job interviews in the Southeast. It's been wonderful seeing Luke with all my relatives and watching him enjoy playing in the yard I, too, played in as a child. He went to his first Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School, as small rite of passage I had been so looking forward to. I myself had been morosely homesick for it every nearly every fall since I left for college; I couldn't even remember for certain when I last attended. It was everything I remembered and more: beautiful crafts and art, great food, first rate music and dancing, and a mountain backdrop you could not improve upon if you tried. The gorgeous fall weather in the mountains made me grateful we'll be near the area more often and should have little excuse to miss another festival in the coming years.
Ben has enjoyed far less leisure time than I have with the job hunt always looming large on his agenda. He's mulling over a few offers now and will hopefully find the right fit very soon. We're very thankful he has a marketable and needed skill set in the difficult economic times we found when we returned to America. You can follow it on CNN from abroad, but it doesn't really hit you until you see the aftermath of the turndown in real life played on the streets of your town. Times are hard for many families, but we hope things for everyone are on the upswing and that we, too, find meaningful and gainful work in the coming weeks.
Luke is adjusting very well to all the changes the move created for him. He has remained dutifully commited to feeding his "wooies" (AKA dogs) every morning and evening and still loves his bathtime with all his heart. I'm relieved to see so little in his general routine has changed and that he as embraced the elements that did. He loves spending time with my parents and sister, as I know we will with Ben's family when we are able to visit with them soon in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. I'm excited to see Wisconsin for the first time and to revisit the farm in PA in the fall; it's a beautiful time of year to make good travel memories with Luke as he gets reacquainted with everyone.
I still have yet to rename this blog, so forgive the misnomer a few more days. Maybe I'm nostalgic for the thought of living abroad, so for our friends still overseas, make the best of it and don't wish it away...even if you can't drink your water! And while we miss certain things, we're happy to be where we are right now: homeward bound and enjoying the journey.
Life didn't end for us when we left Italy in September as this neglected blog might suggest. Instead, it's been happily busy as we readjust to being back in the States, visiting with family and friends, and searching for a new place to call home. We spent this past month at my family's home in NC, using it as a hub for his job interviews in the Southeast. It's been wonderful seeing Luke with all my relatives and watching him enjoy playing in the yard I, too, played in as a child. He went to his first Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School, as small rite of passage I had been so looking forward to. I myself had been morosely homesick for it every nearly every fall since I left for college; I couldn't even remember for certain when I last attended. It was everything I remembered and more: beautiful crafts and art, great food, first rate music and dancing, and a mountain backdrop you could not improve upon if you tried. The gorgeous fall weather in the mountains made me grateful we'll be near the area more often and should have little excuse to miss another festival in the coming years. 
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