One Year

We have now lived in Iowa for one year and I have to say, "It is good!" Of course, we miss our family and friends. Of course, there are lots of good memories from before we moved here. Of course, we miss the familiar places and routines from before the move. But, Iowa is good too.

Before we moved here, someone advised us to think of it as though we were moving to a foreign country. I'm not exactly sure what the intent behind that comment was, but I think there was some wisdom there too. When you go to a foreign country, you do not expect things to be the same as home. Instead you set out on adventure and embrace all the new experiences involved in being in a new and unfamiliar place.

I think we approached our move the same way. We did not expect Sioux Center to be like Holland (or like Chicago, where I grew up). We expected it to be different and we delighted in the experience of getting to know this new place. Along the way, we also made new friends, new memories, and new routines. Iowa is a good place to be.

Plus, we have the joy of being able to go back to Michigan, back to Chicago, and see all the family and friends that are there. We didn't lose friends by moving, we made more. We are so blessed!