730 - three digits, but a lot of days

Now you know what I'll miss about Mongolia: all those things that make this land so unique, novel and quirky.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the sadness of leaving a whole life behind you. It's a meloncholy process ending a chapter and it can be painful to get uprooted. In the scheme of things, two years isn't really much of a big deal, but a lot has happened in the 730 days I've lived in Mongolia that seems to have created an aura of distinct momentousness. It hurts, my friends, when you leave things and people you love.

However, we all have to leave sometime. It's not easy, but it's inevitable. After all, the world continues moving and there are plenty of new adventures ahead of you. It's time to go for me, and maybe for some, it's time to go for you, too; and we'll both make it through just fine. I'm pretty certain, despite the vast unknown America has become for me, that there are good things ahead. There are people and jobs and ministries and travels, hardships and disasters and frustrations that will not be void of purpose or meaning but rather filled to the brim with all that allows me to "taste and see that the Lord is good." I may not be 'happy' in every circumstance, but I will have joy. Of course, it's healthy to accept sorrow when those feelings are appropriate, but hope is always so much larger and more meaningful.

So, here's a new question to ask myself (because no one is really ever interested in asking me this particular question nowadays): What are you looking forward to in America? After thinking about it, my answer is surprisingly specific:

-seeing the faces of my family in the airport when I arrive. And being able to see their faces again and again and again...in real life and not in photos
-my bed
-warmer winters
-fresh air and Iowa's incredibly beautiful landscape
-Chik-fil-A
-any fruit ending in 'berry'
-consistancy, convenience, variety
-Target
-fluency in the majority language
-an apartment to myself (after a few months...hopefully)
-a motorcycle ride and BBQ (curtesy of my Uncle Dave)
-normal, functioning oven
-Jen
-traveling with my dad
-babies and weddings (friend's and family's, not necessarily my own...although I am looking forward to those things; they just won't happen for awhile probably)
-Fran the cat
-Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter
-deli meat
-driving...maybe
-'normal' toilets
-getting caught up on Lost, The Office, Heroes, Chuck and Antiques Roadshow
-making suutei tsai for those who are curious and want to try it
-being of average height and weight compared to those around me
-teaching 'language arts' as opposed to ESL
-drinking water from the tap being certain it will not cause diarrhea or give me parasites

...I figure that's a good place to stop. If I think of anything more, I'll be sure to add it.

See you soon.