Almost 3 whole months post-Palau. You guys are probably sick of seeing these posts. For those strong enough to bear with me, I appreciated it. It's a process.
It has been bitter and sweet. There have been nights of tears and reminiscing, and days when we are so happy we are just a road trip away from family and Chipotle (& Target).
I'm still working on making our house feel like "home" but it's taking me a long time because I'm focused on SCHOOL! The first few weeks of school are busy! I definitely also came down with the nastiest sinus/allergy thing and it was not fun, but I'm hanging in there. So I'm trying to stay patient about the house, knowing that I'll have more time to give it some love and attention AFTER I get in to the swing of things at school. (I HOPE!)
Back to the re-entry processing. It almost feels like an out-of-this-world experience. You travel so far, do things you've never done, give your heart in ways you didn't know you could, and make relationships with people that will forever tug on your heartstrings. And then you leave. It feels SO FAR AWAY. And it kinda is... If you're lucky, you might live close to people that you served with, and even if you don't live close, life has its sweet moments that will bring you back together again. But never the whole group. Never the way that it was. THAT is really hard.
Palau is literally in the back of my mind every single day. I don't know if there will ever be a day when it isn't. It's weird to always have this place on your mind...
As far as being a teacher back in the states... I don't think I was very well prepared for that. I came from a very simple, but wonderful classroom. I made the best of what I had and rocked it. I LOVED my classroom (and students of course). Now in my classroom there is too MUCH stuff! I'm overwhelmed with materials and programs and half a dozen curriculums that need to be integrated. It's been a bit much for me. Pray folks.
Our new church has given Joey and I the opportunity to share our stories about Palau in October. By then we will have been back for 4 months. This will be the first time that I would have shared about Palau in a way like this and I honestly don't know what I'll say. I know it's still a ways out, but please keep us in prayer as we share our love story about Palau in October. And if you want to come, please let me know and I'll gladly tell you the day and time!
So that's my supposed to be two-month blog, but I waited too long and now it's a three-month re-entry post.
Night for now.
Rachel
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