After 9 days in Southern England, we flew to the Netherlands, officially completing our round-trip ticket which had begun back in October when we repatriated to the US (I’ll explain that one later).  It was a delight to return to people and places that we had grown to love over our four years there.  It was so very comfortable to insert ourselves back into the community and culture for a very short period of time. The kids especially had an absolute ball, seeing old friends and teachers, and enjoying the freedom that comes from biking, and knowing your surroundings and neighbors.
 
Highlights:
 
1. Biking culture of the Netherlands
2. Scattering kids across the community
3. Renewing friendships
4. Public Transporation in the Netherlands
5. Eating out at favorite neighborhood restaurants
6. Escape room Date night
7. Church youth group activities
8. A very favorable Shell policy on repatriation transportation
 
Lowlights:
9. More acute recognition of the loss of an employer (Shell)
10. Our nuclear family unit temporarily dissolved.

​(Click below right to read more . . . . . . . )

After a fantastic two weeks in Dallas and Utah, we hopped on a flight with only our 4 youngest kids and headed to London.  All of us, except Megan, had been to the city before. It was fun to return to see new sights and some old ones. We spent a few days in the city, visited some friends in London and Kings Langley, and then began a week long-journey along the coast of Southern England - which we loved from start to finish.
 
Highlights:

1. Old English and Norman Castles
2. Learning about English History
3. London Shows on West End
4. English scenery along the southern coast (Dover cliffs, Beachy Head and Seven Sisters, Durdle Door and Jurassic Coast)
5. Windsor Castle preparing for the Harry and Meghan Wedding
6. Stonehenge Celtic Site
7. HMS Victory at Portsmouth Naval Museum
8. Roman ruins at Bath 

 
Lowlights:
      9.  6-person single room Airbnb in a slightly uncomfortable house
      10.  Some dreary cold and rainy days in May

(Click below right to read more . . . . )

We had a triumphant return to Grapevine, and received a very warm welcome by Tera’s parents. The house was immaculately clean, and I felt a bit guilty as we unloaded the car and brought all of our “stuff” back into their house, filling up the hallways and corners. We promptly settled back into the house, to the room attic upstairs where all 6 kids sleep, and the guest room that Tera and I get to claim when there. But we still had a lot to squeeze into 2 weeks -  one week for the upcoming wedding, getting driver's licenses for Nathan and Anna, and repacking everyone for our next 8 months of the year; and one week to settle in the two oldest kids at BYU.
 
Highlights:
1. Week full of activities at Grammy and Grampy’s
2. A full house with relatives
3. Playing string quintet music for Mary’s wedding
4. Getting Nathan and Emily settled at BYU
 
Lowlights:
5. Spending 7 hours to get Anna’s driver’s license
6. Packing and repacking

(Click below right to read more . . . )

While our original trip through Mexico to come to Guatemala took almost 10 days, we decided on a faster trip back home.  The temple schedules weren’t lining up at Villahermosa, and the Veracruz temple was closed, and we were a little mayan ruin’d out, to want to take the time and effort to go to Palenque (notoriously bad roads, and many hours out of the way, though apparently an amazing ruin site).  So we chose a more direct route along the southern border out of Guatemala, then cutting up north past Tuxtla Guttierez to the Atlantic border from Veracruz to Brownsville, lasting only 5 days.

(Click below right to read more . . . .)

​After 6 weeks of living here, followed by two trips of departure to visit Northern Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, we finally arrived at our last two weeks of living in Panajachel, Guatemala.  Our almost 3-month adventure was coming to an end, so we had to savor every last moment, and squeeze in all the things we hadn’t done yet, and repeat the things we loved.

​(Click below right to read more . . . )