a year later

This week was the anniversary of Trevor graduating and our move. It's kindof been a mix of emotions as I've looked back a little over the past year. When Trevor accepted his job, I think he was more excited than I was about the area we were moving to. For me, it was like moving home...but not quite. We were moving close to the community where I grew up and we were going to be in the same stake, but it was a whole different town. I loved growing up where I did, I loved high school and felt it was a great experience. That being said, I wasn't sure I was ready to move back. Trevor and I always talked about moving to this area eventually, but I expected we would have a little adventure somewhere else first. I have grown to really love it (again!) even though I miss some things and some people terribly!

Here are a few things I've noticed being back:
The consistency in this area is incredible. One of the things we looked forward to with this move was not having to say goodbye to old friends at the end of every semester. For the most part that has been the case and we love it. It's been fun for me to run into so many people I went to high school with. It's also slightly amusing to know so much "history" about so many different people and a little embarrassing/funny to know that some of them know your "history" too. :o) I also have to give myself a reality check every once in awhile. You see, I've found that everyone I went to high school with has stayed 18 in my memory. I have to keep reminding myself that they are in their 30's and are old enough to have six kids, real jobs, houses, and basically be grown up adults. :o)

Another unexpected thing has stayed the same...the radio station (and I do use that singularly) plays nearly exactly the same music it played during my junior high and high school days. (Ace of Base, Savage Garden, Alanis Morissete, music from Robin Hood, I even heard "How do you talk to an Angel" one day...I'm pretty sure that was a Homecoming theme one year!) I associate memories with music, so it's like a walk down memory lane every time I turn on the radio. Strange.

One thing hasn't stayed the same...the little kids have gotten older. I said the kids I went to high school still look the same age, but their younger siblings have gotten huge. All these kids I babysat are getting married and going on missions. It's CRAZY! I even got introduced to a guy and his wife at church that had a huge crush on me when I was in junior high and he was probably in kindergarten. Of course I remembered it when I heard his name (he was a persistent little guy), but thought he probably wouldn't since he was five or so at the time. He did. It ended up being a little awkward.

We have really started to feel at home. It's been good for us to have some stability and consistency during this time in our lives. Even though I wasn't excited at first, I'm really glad we've had the opportunity to be here for the past year.

those of you who moved the same time...What have you noticed about being back? How has the transition been for you?