January 3 marked two years in the UK for the Ludwigs. Really?! Already?!
Ryan is now Lane's age when we arrived, and is coming home with assignments that look familiar. Both kids have developed their sweet little British accents and, unknowingly, are turning into little British kids... unaffected by the cold (with Ryan in shorts all year!), enjoying their baked beans with breakfast, and looking for sweets after every meal.
People are constantly asking when we will be returning to the States and, honestly, it is hard to say. When John was promoted to Sr. Director in August, he signed on for another year in the UK office (through August 2014). Sometimes (especially in these cold, dark days of winter), I cannot wait to get back to family and friends in sunny Southern California. But when I look out on our lovely green and our big backyard, when I see all of the ways the kids are stretched at St. Piran's in sports and academics (and the ways I, and others in the Thursday morning prayer group, have been allowed to be so involved at the school through the Explorers Club and chapels), when I go to church on Sunday morning and am so enjoying the ways we are part of the family and ministry at Jubilee Church, I know that it will be hard when we leave.
I think that it might be hardest on Ryan. His memories of CA are definitely through rose-tinted glasses. He recalls a house with a big yard (not even a quarter of the size of our garden now) with a huge (2'x2') sandbox and a playhouse. He remembers that school was "easy" (1/2 day kindergarten), but doesn't remember that PE consisted of doing jumping jacks on the blacktop once a week.
When we left, he was young, and he didn't really have any deep friendships. Meanwhile, he has some really good "mates" here. He loves spending time with Charlie and Dilsher. In fact, the weekend of Lane's birthday party, he had his first sleepover at a friend's house when the Bagris took him for the afternoon/night. He has no idea how much he'll miss that kid. Dilsher is a dear sweet friend.
Lane, who had an authentic group of "besties" in CA, will (I think) adjust back more easily. But even she has said that, if we start the school year here in September, she might like to be here for the year to enjoy the Year 6 trip to Paris with her friends! (Honestly, though, I think she'd be happy to head to warmer temps and time with cousins at any time!)
While there are many things John and I both love about being here, including John's job, neither of us love his travel schedule, which has become busier and busier. At the end of the year, he was gone three weeks out of four and he's on a plane, it seems, at least once a week.
And so, we are praying that God will make it clear to us when it is time to move back to CA, just as He made it so clear to come here just over two years ago!
