It's been 2 months...

A couple of days ago was my 2 months back in the US mark. I can't believe it's been only two months and already two months. In many ways I've settled into life here, and in other ways I still feel in a state of limbo.

Since my last update I got to spend time in Nice, Florence, Rome, and Montefiascone. They were all amazing in their own ways and I should probably share some pictures, but I'm not 100% sure that they're on this computer. So maybe I'll just do a picture post in the near future; especially since there are a few posts that have been lacking pictures.

Along with those places I also was able to spend one last night in Aberdeen with Gillian and Calum. I wish it could have been one last month instead of just one last night. Fortunately my mind was too full of logistics of getting to the airport and getting on the planes to really think about the fact that I was leaving Scotland. But even now, as I think about that morning, I'm tearing up. I really miss Scotland and all my friends there; the places and faces that became home this last year. In French the way you say you miss someone more or less translates into: "you are missing from me" and that's really how I've been feeling; like I have a Scotland gap in my heart now.

It's not all been sad, mopey, times since getting back, though. I have had a great time getting to spend time with dear friends whom I had not seen for at least the last year, if not longer.

Almost as soon as I got back from across the pond I came down to Southern California to visit family. I stayed a bit longer, crashing on my brother and sister-in-law's couch, in order to see some friends and job hunt. The day I traveled back to Sacramento I received an email that I had an interview for two days from then. So I spent the night back in Sacramento, hopped in my car the next morning and drove back down. I've been working at that job since. It's been a blessing, and lots of fun. I've been working at the warehouse of a bookstore. Wait let me say that again, I've been working with BOOKS! For a bookstore!!! It's not necessarily a dream job, but it's been so much fun to be around books and to learn more about the book retail world. Fortunately getting this job enabled me to be around So Cal for some fun things too, like a Color Run and a good friend's wedding.

And now, before I had a chance to think about it, it's the end of November and my job at the warehouse is wrapping up, and the graduation date for my programme is approaching. Unfortunately along the way, I had the hard job of realising that I didn't have the funds to go back to Aberdeen for graduation, so instead I'm trying to figure out a fun way to celebrate this weekend. With graduation approaching, that Scotland gap has been aching more. But God's continued to remind me that I need to continue to be present where I am--where He has me--and to be brave in moving forward.

I'm sure there's more to be said about the last 2+ months, but to be honest I'm not sure I remember everything. Hopefully it won't take too long before the next update.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, Happy (early) St. Andrew's Day!