1 Year

Last week we passed 1 year of living in Spain. What a year it's been.

It's been a little surreal, b/c in spite of how cold it's been here, as if on schedule the trees have started blooming this week, just as they did a year ago. It has been so cold for so long that it has been so nice this week to be outside enjoying the sunshine.

I was watching Katie at the park across the street from our house the other day - she was throwing grass pieces into the air and they were raining down on her head as she ran through. It just struck me as a picture of total joy - and as a snapshot of how far we've come in 1 short year. A year ago we were at that same park but in a totally different scenario: alone, b/c we were on an American schedule instead of a Spanish one, b/c Katie wasn't in school yet like all the other kids her age, b/c we didn't know anyone in Madrid; feeling so tentative about life and the foreign environment we found ourselves in; having more days of tears & anger than of joy. This year we were surrounded by kids and their moms or nannies b/c we were there after school; feeling comfortable with the mix of cultures and languages we always find around us; more content to be "alone" as foreigners in a foreign land. But we are no longer truly alone: this year we have dear friends who live on the street behind us to deeply miss when they leave in 3 short weeks for their next adventure. And many others dotted throughout the city.

God's grace is amazing. In good times and bad, in hard times and easy, He gives us grace to handle each day that comes. We have seen His grace in abundance this last year. Although at times we still long for home, at times we still beat our heads against the wall in frustration at navigating a foreign culture, we have settled in well to life in Spain and really feel at home here. It's hard to describe, this crazy life we have found ourselves in. But God is so good and His plan is good. I'm glad we came along for the ride :-)