Auckland #3 - Homeward

With home now on the horizon, Melody's voice rung with song from the backseat as we headed back towards Auckland. At last, big doggy, friends, her room, & home were in sight!

Pulling into Steve &Therese's was a little homecoming of its own. The kids ran straight on in once we pulled up, knowing the warm welcome that awaited them. And as always, long form conversations over tea, whether it be late into the night, or stretched across the morning, it was so lovely to just be with family again.

In the morning, the kids and I accompanied Therese on her weekly trip to the market. It felt like traveling internationally again, a bustling marketplace colorful in every sense; from the vibrant produce to the culture. We popped around, purchasing produce, and relished in the exchange and interaction of purchasing food in such a human-to-human way.

Around the corner was another marketplace of people selling their wares, and I came upon the most beautiful jacket of my dreams that a beautiful Polynesian mamma was selling. It was so delightful, and I was so overjoyed, I couldn't help but hug and thank her again and again!

Grocery bags full of color, we went for a walk to stretch our legs and move our bodies before the forecasted rain hit.

Therese and I enjoyed long-form conversation, which continued on well after we arrived back at home, while seated out in the car as the rains poured down. It was so special to connect and form this forever-family bond even though we're a world apart. Steve wondered if we were trapped because of the rain, and came out so sweetly to the porch a couple times to offer an umbrella for us! But we finally let him know we were just enjoying talking :)

After lunch and tea, we shared about the last stint of our travels, and then we started officially packing. More conversation continued afterwards and late into the night.

Corey got up up for a 3:00 a.m. call, a reminder that He was officially getting back into the saddle.

I woke up pretty restlessness the next morning, as it was flight day. I had lots of pacing, packing, & eating going on.

Steve & Therese saved me from the anxious loop, with a proposed outing with everyone to One Tree Hill.

It was perfect to be immersed in yet another realm of New Zealand's natural beauty, and bring the traveling anxieties into perspective. To just be fully present in the grandeur of these massive tress, enjoy the grazing cows and sheep, the sweeping vistas, and Therese's descriptions of the lush stunning blossoms that would come in the spring.

Then the time came, and we were in range of needing to start to move towards the airport. Once the rush of final packing was over, we said our final goodbyes. I was so grateful for the solid sense of family to now feel with Corey's Uncle Steve & Aunt Therese, and am certain we will cross paths somewhere out there in this wide beautiful world again.

I suppose I could go on to tell the story of our return flight;

of how the hours passed in a blur of writing journal entries and watching movies,

of the airplane late night snacks and desserts,

of the absolute mess of the Chicago Airport zoo,

of our shredded bag,

of standing for in hours in the hot stuffy customs line,

of getting turned around at the airport multiple times, hauling all our bags, back and forth, and ending the the wrong spot multiple times for our hotel shuttle pickup,

of the crossing guard lady yelling insults at travelers just doing their best to navigate the mess of vehicles and people,

of the exasperation that sinks in when you realize how long it's been since you've actually laid down in a horizontal position and slept,

of how over-caffeinated Corey couldn't sleep when we finally had beds,

and how Melody couldn't sleep because of Danforth's snoring,

and so, Corey and Melody were wide awake our first night back in the States and had all kinds of middle-of-the-night stories and adventures together.

And then how after the long night, within one extremely short flight, suddenly all in a blur we were...home.

Out of the comically small Marquette airport,

and into the rural Michigan vast wintery expanse,

And to the paradise of our own space that is home. 

And family.

And how suddenly, New Zealand wasn't happening at present anymore,

it suddenly became past-tense,

a story held by pictures and journal entries...

But if I were to fully delve into capturing all that detail, I would then feel the urge to continue on in telling the story of rediscovering this beautiful place that is home. Of the many mini adventures, discoveries, insights that arise day to day. 

I would realize there really is no end to the story.

Since being home, I've realized so much of life is an epic adventure, and it's just the taking a moment to capture it, where you start to notice the details, that makes it really come alive in the memory.

Sure it helps when you’re far from home and the sights are beyond believable. 

And sure, since this journey I've gotten wrapped up in the monotony of the days at times, especially in post-winter pre-spring doldrums that are April in Northern Michigan. 

But realize, the highs and the lows are all a part of the journey. It doesn't necessarily take crossing the world to appreciate the spectrum of what this life really does offer us in experiences.

So for now, for this particular chapter and all its lessons and gorgeous sites for the eyes, I will simply end here.  I hope you’ve relished the beauty, felt camaraderie in the lows, and felt inspired to open wide your eyes to see what adventures might be just a nudge away from stepping out your door to see with fresh eyes what is at hand.  

Thank you for traveling with us,

-Meg, Corey, Danforth, and Melody