Our Life Overseas ♥
Happy New Year from the Blaaks!
MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Blaaks in South Africa (and the Blaak in Australia)!
For the past two weeks, we’ve had radio silence on the blog because we’ve been Making Merry—eating, resting, partying, and enjoying our Joshua who has come ‘home for Christmas!’ Yaaaay!
This momma’s heart is almost full. The only thing missing around here is our other little chickie in Australia. Unfortunately, Raelynne wasn’t able to get away from work during the Christmas season, but we’re hoping to see her soon.
In the meantime, we’ve been doing some good soul searching around here. Before we can adequately start something new in 2018, it’s essential to FIND THE GOLD IN THE OLD.
So today, on a road trip to Port Elizabeth, we discussed this question:
WHAT IS THE GREATEST LESSON YOU LEARNED IN 2017?
Here’s what each of us had to say…
Day 10 – Finding that ‘Home for the Holidays’ Feeling when Everything is Different
I remember the first time I saw Santa Claus in a swimsuit. Not a pretty sight. It was our first Christmas in South Africa, and we were walking through a local mall. There before us was a Christmas display showing Santa on a surfboard with board shorts and sunglasses. [gasp]
SOOO wrong on so many levels.
Erwin and I looked at each other and said, “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
We were about to experience a VERY DIFFERENT Christmas.
SHOCK #1 – SWELTERING HEAT
What a shock to experience a HOT Christmas on this side of the planet. We’d only ever known the snowy, cold Christmases in Canada—freezing temperatures, warm fires in the fireplace, ice skating and tobogganing, and hot apple cider to warm up afterward.
Snow wasn’t an inconvenience—it was our friend.
Day 8 – When Happy Hearts Hurt, FIND a Reason to Celebrate!
“Hey, Shauna! Did you remember that the Queen of Games is leading a game tonight at our year-end celebration? Are you ready?”
I cringed. That’s the last thing I wanted to do. There are sometimes in life when, despite my best intentions, those old familiar feelings of sadness and depression sneak up and bite me in the butt.
This week has been one of those times. Some of our closest friends moved back to their home nation of Sri Lanka, and our hearts are sore. Don’t get me wrong. We are honestly and legitimately thrilled for them! They are ready and capable, and it’s THEIR time to fly.
But my heart is struggling to get on board. The Rajapakses have become our ‘adopted family’ over the last decade, and we’ve lived life together—babies, birthdays, and teenagers… Christmas parties, curry nights, and worship times together… ten years of laughter, tears, and countless pots of coffee.
How can one person be so torn in their emotions?
Am I losing my mind? Happy one minute, sad the next.
But isn’t that just the irony of loving people? Just like the emotional rollercoaster that mothers and fathers experience when they see their children blossom into adulthood and move away from home. Happy because they are becoming who God has made them to be, and sad because they are no longer running around our house.
My happy heart hurts.
