While everyone back in the states is buying tickets for Friday’s record breaking lottery, we feel as though we’ve already won. When I got to work this morning Borche, the driver/delivery man/comedian/go-to-guy informed me that I have two packages waiting for me at the post office. Yeah that’s right, we live in a small town, and when a package arrives from the states it’s big news.

One package was from my parents, but the other came all the way from our favorite other “O” state, Oregon. I picked the packages up from the post office around 9 A.M. but had to sit and stare at them until Lori came to pick them up to take them home around 1 P.M. (she gets off work early on Thursdays). When work finally ended at 4 P.M. I raced home on my bike (oh yeah, I haven’t told that story…well, next time).

Rather than describe everything that was in the package, I figure I’ll just let you see for yourself:

Jello, chunky peanut butter, Ducks shot glasses, nail polish, Nutella, Seattle’s Best coffee, jelly beans, Euphoria chocolates and an awesome soccer picture.

While the larger gifts can only be described as awesome (peanut butter, coffee, ducks swag, etc.), the best part of the package was the cards. Tears welled as we read the warm wishes and the jokes (Mike). For the most part you don’t really think of home during your everyday routine. But, at times like this, the tides of memories from your past life roll in and quickly drown the present. You look into the waters and see all of the moments you shared together, times of joy, times of sadness, times of struggle, times of rest.  We cannot describe how much we appreicate the package. Know that we love and miss you all Sanjuanita, Kelly, Wesley, Mercedes, Keenan, Sanjuanita, Kris, Sophie, Amelia, Randy, Kathy, Matt, Mike, Tracy, Haley, Sydney,  Carrie, Ryan, Tom, Judy, Aerin, Sky, Erma, Daphne, Mike, Katelyn.