The last time we came to Europe we were running away. We were running from our reality. We couldn’t cope with life. It was difficult, to say the least, to get up. Physically I wasn’t able to sometimes and thinking of the immediate hour was bearable, as our life had been turned upside down. 

And here we are, two years later, in Switzerland. The emotions that were stirring the days leading to our trip reminded me of the ocean. I cried. My body ached feeling the pain of loss. There was excitement and there was joy, sprinkled with a little emptiness that will never be filled. 

But since we have arrived, the adventures have been over abundant and seamless. They seem to happen with so little effort and my heart is overflowing with joy. Yesterday, I honestly felt pain in my chest from how much I was laughing, while we got poured on, standing on a cliff in what seemed like a forest but was really the mountain region. We drove through thunder, wind and rain for a very important task, snail hunting! Yes, we drove to hunt for snails and ended up with HUGE ones and a small green frog
thatEric chased up a hill and Nathan grabbed to put into his pet cage ( we released it seconds later). 

And all this happened within a couple hours. I laughed so hard as my wild bird clung on to my body, confused as to why we were being rained on and Mama was bending over backwards in histerical laughter.

Our babies have filled my heart with so much joy that I can’t help but feel extremely thankful for everything that happened and how it happened. It’s like “Inside Out”, Joy was sweeter when Sadness had been there, and as much as Joy tried to avoid Sadness, it was inevitable. Now I’m not saying you have to go through severe pain to truly experience joy but our circumstances definitely have the ability to make life sweeter. 

Nothing about life is supposed to be perfect, or easy, but the way we come back can make or break us. Looking at our journey, I am so incredibly happy that Eric held my hand and pulled me along when I couldn’t go on. I am overjoyed that we got our little bird and that she’s brought nothing but joy. 

My heart has been made whole and Emme rides along side, looking down and experiencing joy as she watches us move forward.