We moved back to the US one year ago this week, so here is an update on our lives in 2021!

A year ago, we got on that plane with no job or house waiting for us, but the safety net of family and a church we love waiting for us on the other side. And quite literally, they were all waiting for us at the airport with masks and signs welcoming us home to a place we had lived before but never together and never as a family. We knew our time in Taiwan had come to a close (God was generous in that our departure was healthy, happy, and hope-filled)) – but there were so many unknowns waiting for us.

The summer was…hard. Travis had to wait almost 3 months for a job, which was frustrating for him to navigate as we all tried to find routine and stability. But with almost no effort of our own, we found an affordable rental house with a fenced in backyard for the boys. Our landlord lives two houses down and has become our neighbor Grandma who we like to go visit (Ben knows exactly where her snack drawer is).

Finding community in a pandemic was challenging – but we were given abundant time with our families who all live nearby, time we didn’t know we needed. (Update: Caleb likes my sister more than me – his own mother!). As things begin to open up again, we are spending more time with old friends and praying for opportunities to make new ones.

In March, I went back to working at a restaurant a few nights a week so we could get some money stashed for a future home (or whatever God has in the works for us). As an extrovert I love the connections I can make with my co-workers and customers and even squeeze in a few adult conversations here and there!

Caleb is 15 months old and has yet to walk his first solo steps! He loves to walk holding someone’s hand, but as soon as we let go he plops right down on his behind and forgets all about it. He’s never been in a hurry to do anything, which is in stark contrast to his brother! He has a few words down pat: nana (banana), dada, mama, lala (the aunt who holds his heart), and papa. He is truly a delight of a boy.

Ben turns 3.5 today! We went to look for a pedal bike for him over the weekend but couldn’t find one that fit his size. Yesterday I was at the thrift store buying something and tripped over something on the way out – it was a red bike that was the exact size we needed, for $10! He had it mastered 20 minutes later. He is our independent, strong-willed, and brilliant boy. If we are prematurely gray he may be the reason, but we can’t imagine life without him.

Travis and I have gotten involved at our church (they were our primary sending church to Taiwan) and are so thankful for the community they have been and continue to be. We were careful not to rush into too many commitments right away as we found our feet in America. My kids are my primary ministry in this season, and I’ve also had lots of great opportunities to share my faith at work. Travis oversees the facilities at our church and is involved with the 6am Men’s bible study on Friday mornings (my 6am friday morning study is my pillow).

We have seen God’s abundant faithfulness this year in the big things (house, job, family, etc) but also in the little daily things. Travis doesn’t wake up every morning dying to get to his blue collar job, but God meets him every day in small ways. Leaving a tropical island and keeping two boys busy indoors in a 4-month winter was hard, but God was there with us too.

Psalm 121 was so clear to us as we were packing and leaving Taiwan – and its truth has carried us all the way through year 1.

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.