HOME! The word has taken on a whole new meaning. Being immigrants to NZ, we have had two places to call ‘home’ for a long time. We used to travel ‘home’ to Switzerland for many years, and now, we travel ‘home’ to NZ. Home is where the family is. It is a blessing and enrichment to have family in different places in the world.
Arriving home just over a week ago, we had all 10 grandchildren lining up for cuddles along the railing in the airport arrival hall, calling out “Grandma!” and “Papi!” – it was just beautiful and moved us to tears. I could even ‘feel’ the smiles of some onlookers who must have wondered how many more there would be… – Big hugs for daughters and sons-in-law, more tears…. HOME!
All Ten
It’s NOT overwhelming being in First World again. Our brain just ‘switched over’. We know what do in this environment; it’s familiar. We just slid right back into it. Get-togethers with family and friends over the Christmas period, eating more meat and sugar in 24 hours than we had in the previous five months…. Not good. But yummy!
Today, we drove down to our beach house with grandson Noah in the back seat, the rest of the family is either already here or still to come. This is our Happy Place, our haven of peace and relaxation, of family fun, our own little piece of paradise. The drive down heightened our sense of the beauty of this country: the hills, the forests, the vastness which we started to miss on the little island of Tonga.
Cyclone season has started in the South Pacific – we see on the News that Cyclone Sarai has been battering Fiji and is on its way to Tonga. Stay safe, our friends.
Love your heartfelt post. Welcome home and hope we can catch up before you return. xxxx
Welcome home to New Zealand, Rolf and Sabine!
Wonderful to hear of the airport welcome from the family, and that you are sharing a relaxed time at the beach house – weather is being kind, too.
Many blessings to you all, both here, and in Tonga, in 2020.
Lovely to see you both, even if we did not get the chance to chat. Would love to catch up when you are back from the beach, we could even do a meal close to airport before you fly back if you would prefer. enjoy your special time. blessings Ann