Here are a few things that have been super exciting for us after two years in Africa that you may be taking for granted…

1.     Microwaves. I’ll start small. It is so nice to be able to pop leftovers in the microwave rather than heating them up in the oven or on the stove. Microwaves are also great for melting butter, reheating forgotten cups of tea/hot chocolate, and popping microwave popcorn (although I’m pretty good at the stove kind now)!

2.     Grocery stores. This is probably a place you go at least once a week, but do you ever stop to marvel at just how many different kinds of food are available to you?? At our grocery store there are three separate cheese areas, each with at least ten different kinds of cheese (or more). You can also get all kinds of berries, in spite of there being two feet of snow outside right now, and anything from staple fruits (apples, oranges, etc) to weird spiky yellow melons (kiwanos) that I’ve never even seen before. There’s a WHOLE AISLE of breakfast cereals, which in Namibia would pretty much only consist of cornflakes and all-bran. Anybody who has lived overseas can probably understand the wonder of an American grocery store.

3.     Libraries. I don’t know if this is true everywhere, but Fort Wayne has an awesome library system. There are fourteen branches and you can order a book from any of them for pick-up at your own branch. There are quiet study tables, free wi-fi, movies, and tons of books! I wish my kids in Namibia had access to something this good!

4.     Specialty stores. Office Depot, Best Buy, Michael’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods…Each of these stores is easily five times bigger than the biggest department stores in Namibia, and they specialize! So many office supplies! So many electronics! So many crafts! So many sports items! There are also specialty stores devoted to body products, candles, games, spices, cookware… You can find ANYTHING in America.

5.     Restaurant Variety. Within a twenty minute drive from home I could be eating Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Greek, or Middle Eastern cuisine. I could also be eating steak, seafood, fondue, burgers, or breakfast. So many CHOICES! Of course I can also make most of these at home thanks to the international foods section in the grocery store!

Hope this makes you take a moment to appreciate American life. =)

Guess what? It's February, which means we have officially been back in America for just over one month! And we chose the snowiest January in Fort Wayne history to be here! I'm not exaggerating - we beat the old record by about 3 inches. I'm loving it because it's my first proper winter in three years, and this is what January SHOULD look like! Dylan is a little less enthusiastic. He recently escaped to California for a week, but came to - yes, more snow. =)

So what have we been doing for the last month? First of all, we were greeted at the airport by my mom, dad, brother and all the grandparents! Sherlock (the Beagle) was waiting for us at home. We enjoyed New Years and "second Christmas" with my family and took a new family portrait - it was the first time all five of us have been together since Christmas 2010. We played lots of games, including new versions of our favorite, Ticket to Ride. =)

We're still playing games, but after the holidays finished we felt like we should add a few productive things to our routine. Dylan's teaching himself computer programming and I'm teaching myself statistics. The local library is a great resource, both for textbooks and fun reading. We've been regularly exercising in an attempt to combat the great American calorie intake. Dylan's starting a part-time job with a local tutoring center, and I'm volunteering as a tutor with church and singing in the church choir. There's been a good amount of snow shoveling in the last month too!

Otherwise, we're enjoying the luxury of not having to rush around or struggle through the many snow storms to work or appointments! We're getting to know a few people at our church here, and also have time to catch up with old friends around the country - thus far in San Diego and Cincinnati. We're also enjoying luxuries such as washing machines, central heating, and having a car!! 

On kind of a side note, this weekend we went to the Fort Wayne Farmer's Market, which was surprisingly well attended considering the rain that was turning the snow to sleet on Saturday morning! Dylan and I used to go to Wheaton's farmer's market all the time. It's always fun to meet people who actually grow/raise/make local products that are useful and good for you! Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal Vegetable, Miracle, is what got us started on this. I recommend it if you haven't read it!

Hope you have a lovely February!