Saturday, September 26, 2009

Ok, I'm done.

Update: It's Sunday morning now, and I am feeling much better. I thought about deleting this post but decided against it because it is true and honest. I don't want to be all "sunshine and roses" on this blog if I'm not feeling that way. But now I'm off to teach my little babies at church. :)

Well, this little Illinois adventure has been great so far, but I think I'm through. I want to go "home." (Home being within driving distance of my parents' house and/or Abilene.) I actually surprised myself with how well I adjusted to living here, but lately it's been hard. Seeing everyone's updates on facebook about the ACU game makes me wish I was there, tailgating with the Westgate college group and wearing my purple and white. I wish I could see my sister's apartment in Dallas. I wish I could go back and visit the people I worked with at ACU and all of the people we knew from Westgate. I wish I could have seen my parents on my birthday (although I am happy I at least got to be with Darby's family that day.) And the hardest thing of all has been seeing pictures of my friend Em's new baby. I want to see her in person! I'm hoping to get to see her at Christmas, but I don't know if that's going to work out. Darby and I have so little time to see everyone we want to see.

Obviously, I am exaggerating a little. I do overall still really like it here, and I want Darby to finish his degree. And I guess I want to live with my husband. :) But it's hard sometimes. I just wish there was more time to spend with everyone at holidays. We have to cram so much in every time we go home. And it's too expensive to just fly home for a weekend here or there. Part of this rant is precipitated by the nearly $600 we are about to spend on plane tickets for Thanksgiving (that's to drive 3 hours to St. Louis and then fly to Dallas). To fly out of Champaign, Bloomington, or Peoria would be over $1,000. I'm ok with not having much time or not having much money, but not having either really stinks!

Sorry for the rant. I'm sure I'll feel better in a couple of days. And I am really happy that we're able to go home at all this Thanksgiving. Only 2 more months!

6 comments:

Mary Kay said...

I am done with you being so far away too! :) I miss you! BUT, I also know what a very special time this is for you and Darby. Family and old friends and places are great...but this little "adventure" the two of you are one...all alone is something you will look back on with the fondest of memories! It is amazing what "being away" does for your marriage...in a good way! So, hang in there, enjoy the "ride" and also enjoy the changing of the seasons!!! Love you friend! (if it makes you feel better, I think I have seen Amanda ONCE since you moved! Sad, huh!!! And I am in Abilene!)

Kalyn Gensic said...

I feel the exact same way. What can we say? We're Texans. It was great seeing everyone last week, but I was so busy running all over the state I felt too tired to really enjoy my time. And, yeah, Abilene is home. Maybe one day Brittany will be a rich lawyer and can afford to fly us all there for a weekend. Let's face, Brit is the only one who really has a shot at being that rich, so she's our only hope. If you get too depressed, come down for a weekend. I'll make Mexican food and make you feel like you're in Texas. Love ya!

Jenn said...

Don't ever feel bad for wanting to be home! Why do you think I ended up right back in Champaign after college? There is a sense of belonging and comfort where you are from - it's a part of who you are... and for the record, I like who you are! :-)

I'm glad you are adjusting to life in Illinois, but understand your love for home/family/friends. Just so you know, Illinois is lucky to have you - even if it's just for a short time!!!

Mrs. Gray said...

I live in Texas still, and I miss Abilene and Westgate all the time! It's not home to me anymore without all of you guys, though. I could go back, but I wouldn't have anyone to hang out with since way to many of you guys got married and moved away.

Sallie said...

Sniff....sniff....sniff. I miss you guys, too! Love, MOM

Anonymous said...

I never enjoyed the times when Mark and I lived away like I wish I had. I was alwys too busy being homesick and wishing for babies. Now I look back and think "Man, we should of done this or that." I think I wasted alot of time that could have been a fun adventure. I hope you and Darby can have as much fun together as possible during this time in your lives. You'll be back in Texas, closer to family before you know it! I know it probably seems far away now, though. From your blog and FB posts it sounds like you are making some wonderful friends up there. That is a neat thing about moving around - you make friends all over the place.

Tere