The flight back was long and uncomfortable. After driving more than 3,200 miles in the U.S., more time strapped into a small seat with no legroom was hard to stand. Leaving Virginia, we were parked on the tarmac in the blazing sun for ONE HOUR before we actually got to take off. During the flight, the plane was inexplicably warm and the cabin stuffy, and while I've never been claustrophobic, I was beginning to understand why someone might become desperate for space and fresh air.

Belgium greeted us with pristine skies and perfect weather, and I smiled at the aerial view of red brick buildings and red tile roofs as the plane descended. Petey the Cat was nonchalant about our return, acting like a typical adolescent male. After spending five weeks in tight quarters, we're all happy to have space to spread out in and mentally we can finally relax.

For the last year, we've wrestled with so many major decisions regarding our future. It's a relief to finally be able to plan and visualize our life after we leave Belgium. I've returned home with a sense of purpose and a long "to do" list to tackle to prepare for the school year, our move, our new home, and my career.

For so long, my life has been in a bit of a holding pattern, and that hasn't been an altogether bad thing. Now, however, I'm eager and ready to move forward and make some changes and see what's NEXT.

August 5, 2007