Feeling Like a Tourist . . . at Home

For the many of you who don't know yet, after a sudden change of events, Jess and I are back in Canada. Temporarily, however :)

We discovered at the beginning of the month, while renewing our tourist visas, that the only way to obtain the necessary visa in order to begin our job next month was to leave the country. After researching our options, we realized that we needed to return to Canada, and were just as surprised as all of you to be going home. And now, here we are.

I had already prepared myself to be gone until July, and with that preparation, had all the necessary homesickness in place. So now it feels like a special treat to be here. I'm enjoying absolutely everything. I can appreciate things I never appreciated before. As we drove home from the airport after Jess' dad picked us up, I was admiring how all the trees look without their leaves. Yes, dead-looking winter trees are indeed a thing of beauty. Silos too. Even the bitter cold is beautiful. It's amazing what being away does for you. I wish I could capture this feeling of appreciation and gratefulness that I have right now, and remember to feel this way every day for the rest of my life. It feels so good to be thankful, for the small details especially.

I'm excited to see what what the Lord has for us when we return to Brazil, but right now I'm especially thankful to be able to enjoy the present. I'm thankful for this selah. Pause, and calmly think of that.