You know that saying that time flies when you’re having fun? Well, they’re not wrong. We had a whirlwind three weeks of fun and family in Maine and New Hampshire, and as of about 7 PM last night, our little family is back in South Korea. I remember when we went home for my mother-in-law’s funeral that we came back and said that Korea has become home…and that statement stands. While New Hampshire and family time was heaven, coming back to the peninsula was truly a homecoming for all of us. Since we’re back though, it’s want to remember some of our trip including the highlights – spending time in Maine, New Hampshire and the 4th of July all together.
Maine, New Hampshire & the 4th of July
If you’ve followed me for some time, you might remember that we spent the last 4th of July in quarantine. So, being able to spend the 4th this year together and on American soil was such a treat. Plus, we got to spend the holiday with friends who’ve become family at one of the greatest places on Earth…Maine. We’ve been visiting Kokosing since I was a baby, so bringing my own babies back to Maine is always such a treat. You may remember we actually visited Kokosing in 2019, too! This was the first time they’ve all been old enough to really appreciate it though.
This was Ryan’s first time visiting Kokosing though, as Army obligations have always prevented his joining us there. He loved it. Every moment. And getting to enjoy it all together? Priceless. From traipsing our way through the pine-needle covered campgrounds to putting out the docks for the season, it was allllmoostttt worth the ticks we kept finding on ourselves. I kid. It was 100% worth it.
We had all sorts of plans to meet up with friends while in the US, but it turns out that when you’re crushed by jetlag for the first 5 days and you’re trying to see as much family as possible, time becomes hard to come by. So, unfortunately, we had to sort of pick and choose. We didn’t get to see our old neighbors from Fort Drum, but Ryan and I did take a quick 36-hour trip from Boston to Philadelphia to see my little sister and my newest nephew, Nathan, which was a huge treat.
We made some time for ourselves, too. We got out on the trails and remembered why we love hiking so much in the USA. Hiking in Korea is a lot of fun, but it’s definitely different (and 10000% more humid!) Most of all though, we got to spend time with Oma and Opa, as well as my older sister and brother-in-law, Auntie Nikki and Uncle Adam, as well as our other nephew, Rhett. I even got to do their family maternity session, which was every bit as special as I’d hoped it would be.
If you look at our trip on paper, it wasn’t an elaborate trip beyond the travels, themselves, because that was an ordeal all on its own. Getting to spend time with family though was everything. While I wrote in my last post that we’d decided that we won’t extend our time in South Korea, I’d by lying if I said our homecoming on the peninsula didn’t have us second-guessing that decision. Time here is precious. Time with family is precious. Everything is fleeting, and everything comes with its own unique set of checks and balances.
Truth be told, I don’t know what the future holds, but this trip was everything we could’ve hoped for and more. I feel refreshed. Revitalized. Alive. The kids loved every moment, and coming home? Just as priceless as going home to the USA.
