THE HOME-LEAVE WHIRL

Dearest Friends,

Our first home-leave with the kids can be described in much the same way as the one John and I took as newlyweds: "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Disney World was fabulous, except for the parts where our son kept wandering off and getting separated from us, causing his poor momma to panic. I guess he'd been in a safe, enclosed environment for so long, he'd forgotten all about "stranger-danger." He managed to survive but, I'm sad to say, I seem to have misplaced every single picture I took on that trip. Doh!

Dress-up tea parties with Granny Kay

I'd thought the original multi-stage, two-day journey to Indonesia with John and the kids had been a nightmare, but compared to making it twice in one summer without him -- just me and two exhausted, grumpy kids? Well, it was a piece of cake!

The idea of shopping for a year's worth of clothes, toiletries, gifts, crafts and party supplies seemed kind of exciting at the beginning of the summer. But, as the budgeted funds and the space in our suitcases dwindled, it became less and less fun, and more of a cause for panic.

Slumber parties with the aunts.

Finally getting to see our parents, siblings and best friends, after a year away? The best! Having to stay in other people's houses and living out of suitcases for the whole summer; trying to keep the kids entertained by filling their days with all the enriching activities that weren't available on our little compound in Sumatra; being apart from John for two thirds of that time; and, most of all, having to say goodbye to everyone again, after so little time together? Well, not so wonderful -- especially when it came to John's parents. John's father did indeed get himself kicked out of the rehab facility in record time, but we hoped that, once he was home in familiar surroundings, maybe he'd be more motivated and successful with outpatient therapy. We also hoped he would be much nicer to the young aide Theda had been lucky enough to hire, than he had been to everyone at rehab, since she was the only thing that kept poor Theda from losing it altogether. Unfortunately, things weren't looking too good on either front.