Life Has This Way of Marching On

Today, I heard that my 12 year old nephew got his black belt in karate.

And, along with being ridiculously proud of him, it also made me think of all that is happening back at home while I strive to focus here.

In fact, it's been something that I've been thinking about quite a bit recently. The first few months of being here in  Costa Rica were filled with constant internal conversations and pep talks... "Focus, Lindsay. God brought you HERE for a reason. Don't waste it, wishing you were home."

And now life seems so "normal" down here that I find myself suddenly thinking about home and feeling slightly guilty that it's been so long since the last thought.

And yet, since the bombing in Boston where my heart and mind were wrenched back to my beloved New England with a vengeance, all that I've missed seems All Too Real.

In the seven months since I've been gone

Weddings are being planned

Goddaughters are walking and talking

Loved ones have finished their race here on earth

Nieces and nephews have had birthdays, been in plays, advanced in karate & Boy Scouts, gotten new pets, lost new pets,

Thanksgiving, Christmas & Easter happened

New cars have been purchased

Babies are on the way

New relationships have started... and some relationships have ended

Not to mention the countless family dinners, pedicures, trips to Target, pistachio martinis, movie dates, and couch snuggles that I've heard about via phone, email or Skype -- and been 2,500 too many miles away to participate in... actually 2,440.9. I googled it.

And yet, in the seven months since I've been here

Gotten so many more stamps in my passport

Seen Jesus heal broken hearts

Learned to sing in Spanish

Prayed for hundreds of people in a language that they don't understand... but that God does

Sat on the ground with the destitute in San Jose

Loved on children who love back with abandon

Been led into a deeper relationship with Jesus in ways that I didn't think was possible

And in the midst of all this, knowing on a deeper level that all of these emotions are going to be flipped at the end of my time here... while re-integrating into North American life, wondering about and missing the lives of the ones that I'm currently intermingling with.

What a beautiful, painful, and vivid way to learn the truth of Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in Heaven..." With a heart split now in thirds... a part in NH, a part here in CR, and a part desperately longing for what comes next.

My Real Home.