I can't even BEGIN....

.... to describe to complete and utter rapture I'm feeling as my big move home to Oregon approaches. Honestly, I keep myself awake at night thinking about all I want to do! I have not even set foot on American soil in almost 3 1/2 years, and I'm feelin' it! I could publish a NOVEL about all the things I'm looking forwar to, but let me give you just a peek into my overstimulated mind...
grocery stores (I'm going to need to be sedated I'm sure, I'll be so excited!)
the ability to buy products with NO added sugar or salt!
green green green!
no dust! ok, well, no SAND (that moves on it's own, for miles, and takes over whole cities!)
family, including a nephew we've never met who'll be 2 in a couple days, and COUSINS for the kids to play with!
FRIENDS!
alcohol
shorts, tank tops, AND being able to not dress up to go to the grocery store (read: I can wear sweatpants if I really wanted to, or no makeup.... hahaha!)
the beautiful Oregon Coast
Tilamook Cheese
enviromentally conscious people
recycling!
organic products!
and.................
ok, so like I said, I could go on and on and on
But truth be told, I will miss things about here, too!
For example:
the amazing cultures and ethnicities of people here, and their incredible traditions they've held on to for thousands of years!
$7 a TANK gas.... no joke.....
palm trees
camels
being loved for being American
meeting people from places like: India, Bangladesh, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan.... seriously, how many people from even 1 of those places do we run across DAILY in America? And no, they aren't bad people, but in fact amazingly similar in that they just want to make an honest dollar (ok, well dinar, which is almost $4!), with families, and great stories to tell! Amazing.....
and again, there is SO much more I'll miss, that I will be able to think of better when I'm away from it and missing it....

I feel so fortunate that I have been given the opportunity to live in such a different, beautiful and amazing place. I wish every person with a bad view of the middle east could have this opportunity, to open their eyes to see how similar all the people of the world are. Yes, there are bad people in the world, but there are LOTS of bad people in the United States, too, so we can't say America is perfect. No place is. In fact one of the things I envy about here is their utter and absolute dedication to their religion and traditions. Our freedom of religion in America is amazing, and I'm grateful for it. They have it here, too, though it's not as obvious. But the people here base every choice of their daily lives on strongly held beliefs and morals, and I find that amazing. It's like the common thread that holds them together. Too many people in the world are lacking in those two areas, which leads to chaos, lies, and sadness. I'm not religious, but I can appreciate people who hold fast and never waiver from what they believe, which doesn't have to involve religion. Just in this case, it does.
And I've see how everyone is just trying to make their way, in a beautiful world of diversity. I am thankful for that diversity, even when it causes difficulties. Because being exsposed to those differences, and learning how to live, learn and love them has made me a better person. And for that, I'm blessed beyond measure.
Though I'm feeling incredibly blessed to finally be going home, too!