Our 1st trip back "Home"

Over Labor Day weekend we were able to travel back home to South Bend/Elkhart for the first time since moving to Arizona. The Saturday we flew in was also Notre Dame's first home football game of the season.. so you can only imagine Eric's excitement. As soon as we got off the plane, Eric headed to the parking lot to meet his grandma who drove him straight to the stadium, and I waited around the airport for my luggage. My mom and brother were the first family members I saw; lots of hugs and tears from my mom. Then each person slowly started to trickle in. My sister Katelyn and her boyfriend Tim walked in to surprise me. Then I saw my brother-in-law walk in carrying a little bundle in his arms with my sister following behind. I ran over to my sister and cried like a baby. I had missed the last 3 months of her pregnancy and missed the birth of her first son, my first nephew. It was so awesome to see them walk into the airport and surprise me. Then I saw the most handsome little face of my nephew, Zephaniah. I got to hold him in the airport, it was all I cared about doing at that moment. It was great! Not only did I get to spend lots of time with him and my family while we were home, we also attended the first Notre Dame home game. My brother and I drove to the Notre Dame area, as close as we could get, then literally ran about 1.5 miles to Notre Dame stadium to make it in for the kickoff. It was like walking into my home when I walked into the stadium. Funny how even something massive like a football stadium in the fall can feel so much like home.
Besides the game, we got to spend lots of time with Eric's family as well. Sunday we celebrated Eric's sister Candice and her fiancee's engagement with a party at Eric's grandparents. It was so good to be laughing with family again and making memories. We got to see our dog again, Rockne, who remembered us and even wanted to snuggle in bed with us every night. We've missed him too. We spent time with my family and close friends too, sharing what has been happening in their lives and letting them know the adventure God has brought us to in Arizona. It was hard to leave. I didn't realize how much I missed all the big trees and grass, cool air, and open land. More than anything how much I missed having family so close. But then I realized too, when I was in Indiana, how much I missed the mountains and warm air. How I love the independence Eric and I have here in Arizona. We knew after coming back home to Arizona that God has us here for a reason and He is aways good. He is teaching us what it means to rely on Him and each other. Our marriage is growing and maturing and God is showing us how to really trust in Him.

Here are a few pictures of our trip home.