The Journey...

There's a bit of excitement around our house these days. The reason is that on Monday we begin our holiday (vacation). What's amazing is this holiday involves flying back to the States to be with family and friends for four weeks. Our kids, along with their mum and dad, are thrilled to see parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that they have not seen, some for over two years. Many of these have yet to meet our own latest addition, little Kate. Reunions like these bring such fun, anticipation, and joy. I'm not sure how often we'll be journeling our stateside part of the pilgrimage over the next four weeks, but we will give it our best to at least provide a couple entries.

Yesterday was a big day for us as we had our annual visit to the Irish Immigration Bureau, and thankfully we were given approval for another year. This is not to be taken for granted by any means as new laws have come into place making somewhat of our stay, and the stays of others like us, a bit uncertain. Nothing to be too concerned about at the moment, but enough to make us depend once again on the God in whom our hope and confidence lies.

As we prepare to go on holiday Monday, it's interesting thinking about 'home'. Andrea and I had a conversation about this a month or so ago. Someone asked us if we were excited to go home for a bit this summer. We both kind of looked at each other and responded in saying that we're excited to see family and friends, but it's hard to say 'where' home is really. Makes me think that truly our home has become and is more mobile (new meaning for 'mobile home') rather than a permanent place. I guess in some ways that's what makes this a pilgrimage and us pilgrims.

Ireland in many ways has become our home because it's where we are now. It feels like home, whatever home is supposed to feel like. It also is the place our little family will look forward to coming back to once our holiday in the States is complete.

As a pilgrim on this journey for over two years 'home' has a different feel. The pilgrimage has brought a new, different, perspective to 'home', especially when it comes to going 'home' for our holidays.

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