As my flight from LA to Minneapolis was coming to an end and the flight attendants were doing their final check, I excitedly looked around for someone to talk to…someone to share in my excitement that I would finally be seeing my family IN PERSON after 322 days apart. But as I looked to my left, the uptight looking business man clearly wasn’t interested in talking as he sat with his arms folded and eyes shut. The older grandmotherly looking woman to my left was sure to be excited for me but as I tried to strike up a conversation with her it was clear she wasn’t in the mood for chit-‘chatting. So instead I sat patiently, waiting for the plane to land, taxi into the terminal and allow all of us off the flight. As I sped walked 
through the airport (probably the only time I’ve ever sped walked in my entire life) my excitement grew and grew. 
As I walked down the stairs to where my family was waiting for me I was greeted with a surprise. Not only was my whole family there but my entire small group from Duluth had made the drive down to the airport as well as my brother-in-law’s parents from Wisconsin and my 2 best friends…all of them holding signs, balloons and flowers. I’m pretty sure I was in shock not knowing who to hug first, trying to figure out what in the world all of these people were doing at the airport! It was better than I could have ever imagined.
through the airport (probably the only time I’ve ever sped walked in my entire life) my excitement grew and grew. As I walked down the stairs to where my family was waiting for me I was greeted with a surprise. Not only was my whole family there but my entire small group from Duluth had made the drive down to the airport as well as my brother-in-law’s parents from Wisconsin and my 2 best friends…all of them holding signs, balloons and flowers. I’m pretty sure I was in shock not knowing who to hug first, trying to figure out what in the world all of these people were doing at the airport! It was better than I could have ever imagined.
So far, I haven’t had any meltdowns in the cereal aisle due to too many choices, thrown away all of my clothes because I have “too many options”, or shut myself in my bedroom so I didn’t have to see anyone like they warned us might happen. On the other hand, I did make my sister ride with me the first time I drove, American food made me feel like I had a parasite for a good week, I couldn’t figure out my cell phone even though it was the same phone I used for over a year before I left and I still have a hard time sleeping through the night. For whatever reason, writing in my journal has been really difficult and it didn’t help that 3 different time I went to write my pen stopped working so I took it as a “sign” I shouldn’t be journaling. A lot of the time I just don’t really know where to start so I just don’t start anywhere.
I still don’t know what I’m going to do next besides find a job somewhere. I don’t really have any leads and job searching is probably my least favorite activity. I would be lying if I said I never feel frustrated or discouraged because let’s face it, trying to find a job when you have no idea what you want to do is both frustrating AND discouraging. But I just try to cling to the fact that I am the daughter of the King and He’s not going to leave me high and dry. Month after month on the race He showed me that He is good and trustworthy and that His time is the best time and I’m holding on to those truths.
So 19 days of being on American soil as been good to me. It’s been full of drinking drip coffee, watching 24, talking about nothing and everything, eating good food, and feeling extremely loved and blessed. But sadly no Caribou Coffee…that’s on the agenda for today. 🙂
