Steve and Kammie and the other ones too.: The end is almost here

Well, its official. We have our plane tickets to fly back to San Diego on Sept. 27. I am both excited and scared about this next adventure. This is the moment Steven and I have been planning for since we got married 8 1/2 years ago, so its exciting. But at the same time, we have been in our comfortable cocoon of School Attendance since we got married and its scary to leave that. I'm so proud of Steven and everything that he has accomplished this year. I know this is where we were supposed to be so I just need to hold onto that knowledge as we head back and look for a job.

Right now I am busy getting the flat cleaned up and organized. They have a huge list of things that need to be clean in order for us to get our Deposit back, so I've already started on that. We also are trying to save some money by only taking 4 suitcases back with us instead of the 5 we came with. We don't want to pay to check another suitcase if we don't have to, so we have been diligently going through everything and deciding what's really important for us to take back. Its actually been easier deciding what to leave here then it was deciding what to leave in Cedar City. I think its because I knew that whatever we took to Scotland was going to be ALL we had while we are here, but when we go back we still have all our stuff in Storage. It doesn't feel like we'll be left with nothing. So that's good.

Its also been a little emotional lately. Sometimes I find myself just staring out our flat window, looking at all of the things that remind me that I'm here, in Scotland. I've definitely cried a few times at the thought of leaving such a beautiful place. Luckily, all I have to do is think about my family and how wonderful it will be to be so close again and that cheers me right back up. Its always hard to leave a place you're comfortable with but you usually go to some place that's better. I'm just hoping that's the way it is for us this time.

I've also gotten a little emotional lately when I realized just how much weight I've gained while being over here. I was expecting to gain some, since there are all these amazing new foods that I knew I was going to want to try. So, its not a complete shock. I was just hoping that with all of the walking we did while we were over here that it might keep the weight a little more at bay. Sadly, it didn't work. I don't have a scale here, so I don't know EXACTLY how much I've gained, but I know its got to be about 30 pounds. Maybe more... who knows. The only thing that comforts me is the knowledge that most people, on average, gain about 10 pounds on vacation. We've lived here a whole year so it really could have been worse. A LOT worse. Of course, Steven didn't gain any. He didn't lose any either, but he didn't gain either. HOW DOES HE DO IT!?!?

I've been gearing myself for the diet I will be starting again when we go back. Luckily, my Mom and Little sister Kati decided that they needed some good motivation to lose some weight themselves. They decided to do a Biggest Loser Challenge. Everyone who wants to do it is welcome, but everyone who joins has to pay $10. They're starting on the 15th and going to the 23th of Dec. That's 99 days. Whoever can lose the most percentage of body weight (Not actual pounds, which is nice) will win all of the money. There's at least 10 people that I know of who are doing it, so the winner will get at least $100. That's pretty good incentive. I'm excited to get to join them. Of course, I won't be able to officially start until the 27th because we don't have a scale so I don't know my starting weight. But, I guess that means I will just need to work that much harder. Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll be posting some good news in December. =)

Also, here are a few pictures we've taken these past few weeks.

Rhys on his first day of school. Primary 2!