We ARE going back

Kazakstan was always a stepping stone to long-term in central asia. We are back in North America to have our dear Liberty, and then after 6 weeks in the US, and 6 weeks in Canada, we fully intend, plan, desire, aim, crave, dream, work towards going back, possibly as soon as mid-late June. Maybe not that soon what with various Baby papers and shots we will need to get. We will return to the original place you all know about, the place with amazing food, horse riders up in the mountains, wild bus rides, and vast deserts. Right beside Kazakstan.

Not to mention how hard it will be to leave with Michelle's family's first grandchild and great-grandchild, and my family's 4th grandchild. Have I taken for granted the sacrifice the families I meet overseas have made? I think so. It was hard for me to go when I was single. It was so much more hard to leave taking my wife: she is someone's daughter, and my mom loves her so too. Now, we go as a family. It has been 10 years since I began (I first left Nov 11, 1996) but in some ways it feels like the "real deal" is only now just beginning.

The baby is coming...

And I had my first ever Baby Dream. Yes, that's right. I had a dream last night in which our baby had been born and I was able to take her for walks, show her birds, sing to her, help her stand. Perhaps the most touching part of this dream was when I would hold her up to my face and we'd just look at each other.
I imagine the real deal will be better than a dream!