Home, Sweet Home

And so, my four month trip has come to an end.

I can't believe this is over. It seems like it was yesterday that my parents called me down to the kitchen and told me, "Yes! You can go! You can start making plans." It seems like it was yesterday that I phoned and e-mailed all my friends telling them my exciting news. Whoa, where has time gone? 3rd of May is as fresh in my mind as if I were living it today. *Sighs*

This trip has been incredible. I can't even start to explain how much it has helped me to grow personally and spiritually, and it has been such a huge gift to be able to meet all my pen-friends!

Things haven't really changed here. My bedroom is still a mess [grin, just kidding].

Well, some things have.

No, seriously. My little big brother is a head taller than me, and his voice has changed to a deep, low manly voice that I really like. That is one huge change that I have to get used to. But we're still as close as before... or should I say, we're closer than ever? After my darling Mummy and youngest brother had picked me up from the airport (the latter repeating that I was the best present ever, because it recently was his birthday, although I'm wondering if he really meant it as a hint :P), we went my little big brother from school, and when he saw me he smiled and hugged me in front of all his friends! That was so special to me =)

The other big change that almost broke my heart was the news that Black Jack, my favourite kitten, ran away a couple of months ago. It really made me sad, but Scotty, our other kitten (he's well over two years old now, but I can't stop calling him my kitty) remembered me, and that same night, when I went outside to just think, he came over and plopped himself on my lap.

Let me add something to this post: even though I miss my friends terribly and I wish I were back in Holland, I LOVE BEING HOME!

After picking up my brother from school we went home. The house was still painted yellow. The flowers still invaded the garden/yard, and Skitty was still slumbering in the shade. It almost looked exactly as I had left it four months ago. But...! Surprise! There were two balloons at the gate. And once I had gone into the house, I saw balloons ALL over the place, and hand-made garlands hanging from the lights and the ceilings, and posters with "Welcome Home, Anna!" all over the place. Do you wonder why it's good to be home? It made me feel so good inside. My family had really looked forward to my coming back, and are really making me feel welcome.

They're so awesome. :)

You know, it's also lots of fun to introduce the new treasures I have to the old ones I had. I hope they get along fine when I'm not in the room!

And so, as someone said somewhere, this is the end of my trip... but it's also another beginning. Thank God. ♥

Goodbye America

By the time this post is published, I will most likely be high in the sky watching the stars from a huge aeroplane window.

Yep. I'm flying back to Europe.

I can't believe my four month trip is almost over. I have one week in Holland left, and then I'll be home again. Home! I haven't been there for such a long time! I can't help but being excited about seeing my family again and walking among the vineyards once more, even though I am very sad I have to leave the places I've visited during this time. But... there's a time for everything, right?

I would appreciate your prayers as I will struggle with jet-lag!

By the way... aren't scheduled posts useful? ;)

Wisconsin, Wisconsin

I'm saying goodbye to Wisconsin! But hopefully, not for long. =) I am flying tomorrow so please pray for safety.

But until I come back (for I hope to one day), I will say farewell to all the beauty of this state, and to my favourite horse, Amigo. =) Cantering with him was amazing.

This New Hat Of Mine

I find myself sitting on a huge rocking armchair, with a nice black laptop on my lap (heh. You wouldn't think a laptop would be on my head, would you?), and most of an afternoon before me, without much to do - except writing!

By the way, I still find myself in the U.S. of A, in case you didn't know. I've spent almost two months and a half here, and I still have three weeks (more or less) left in this place people like to call America. But - where to start? I have had "writing on my blog", or "writing a general e-mail to all the people" in my mind for quite a while (a.k.a., a thing called newsletter), but somehow I never got around to do it. Don't ask me why.

Why?

Told you not to ask. But in case you're expecting an answer... whoa, I don't know where to start. The list of reasons is endless. I will tell you I was too busy taking walks with my friend from South Carolina, taking along our cameras, and capturing the beauty of a magnolia flower. I will tell you I was too busy visiting a donkey farm with the said friend, and getting all covered up in dust because of the donkeys' affections. I will tell you I was too busy going to Greenville's Zoo and trying to take a picture of a lion who would fall asleep with its back at us. I will tell you I was too busy visiting Biltmore House (that was exhausting!, but enjoyable, of course!) I will tell you I was too busy playing basketball with my friend's little brother, or too busy attending a puppet show, in Texas. I will tell you I was too busy marching up and down the streets chanting Left! Left! Left, RIGHT, left! with them. I will tell you I was too busy watching a musical called Texas!, and visiting Palo Duro Canyon, staying overnight at a motel during a terrible thunderstorm. I will also tell you I was too busy tubing in the river five minutes away from here in Wisconsin. I will also tell you I was too busy tenting with friends, or playing volley-ball for a whole afternoon, or swimming in a lake for a whole day, or even, jamming around a campfire late at night. I will also tell you I was too busy laughing endlessly (take that literally) with three other girl-friends, scheming and conspiring in the darkness of the parking-lot after a very much enjoyed Wissmann concert. I might also tell you that I was too busy playing with three certain little (and believe me, active!) kiddos, or talking for hours with their mother, back in Nebraska.

What!? I told  you the list was endless! I could go on and on, and I wouldn't be able to finish till tomorrow at sixteen minutes past three o'clock in the morning!

And are you wondering about the title? Yep, I have a new hat. And it's adorable!