... In Which Craig Gets His Way

I held them in my hands yesterday. I'm referring to our plane tickets back to the States. I can still recall the first magazine ad that Craig ever showed me of the luxurious airline that is... Emirates. He got that twinkle in his eye that comes when he's pondering a "bucket list" item. I knew he'd eventually get his wish. He did, in fact, get to fly Emirates on a business trip in May.

One of the countless things I love about my man is that when he has a remarkable experience, he's eager to share it with the rest of us. So, he's arranged for us to take a brief detour through Dubai later this month when we move from Moçambique back to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. What a guy!

These tickets represent many things for me. Here are just a few:

* Lunches and shopping trips with my mother

* Going to the farmer's market with my dad

* Bible study with friends in our home

* Braces (finally) for #3 child

* Resuming my running routine

* Lots of special time with my great-niece

* Mail delivery

They mean that I'll miss some things, too. For example:

- Spectacular sunrise over the Indian Ocean

- Hearing multiple languages on any given day, depending on where we go

- Wearing our very curly hair "au naturel" without giggles and smirks

- Beautiful mosaics interspersed about the city

- The people we've met

- The gorgeous beaches

- Regular trips to South Africa and Swaziland

- Safari drives

Perhaps we'll have another opportunity to live overseas in the future. I'm totally open to that. I look forward to the comfort and convenience that characterize American living; but I'm very thankful for the privilege of having spent a year in a unique country, learning a new language and having our perspective broadened in many ways.