It’s been just over a week since I’ve been back from America, and things have been going well. Seeing as how I didn’t have the chance to update you guys on how my two weeks back home went, I thought I’d fill you in now.

I got home pretty late Monday night, so there isn’t much to fill you in on except the fact that my mother took it upon herself to make my room super duper pretty – complete with a new bed and lights and frames for me to hang up. It was awesome, and I like to think I slept better that night knowing I was sleeping in a room done up with a mother’s love.

That first Tuesday was my first time back in the church, as well as the first time I saw my fellow Redefined worship team members and being able to play with them. It was also the first time I’d seen my granddad and little sister since I’d been gone, which was beyond exciting. Although I was taken aback by how big and cool my little sister has gotten. I would very much appreciate it if you would stop that, honey.

Throughout the rest of the week I was able to spend time with family and friends. I was reminded of how competitive my family gets at board games when we broke out the Monopoly (the choice of game was not my idea, I promise); I thought of how proud my Mexican friends would be when I found myself watching “futbol” with my family and and actually enjoying it; I was reminded of how funny my family was when we did literally anything together – I realised how blessed I am to have a family like them, even if they are a little crazy sometimes.

Trying to set up meetings with my friends reminded me of how we’re growing up – having to work around jobs and other adult things was a nice dose of reality. Down here, I am living like an adult. I live by myself, I take care of my house, I pay bills, I go to work, and I buy groceries. I do adult things. But I’ve never had to look that reality in the face, because it doesn’t feel as real when everyone around is doing the same thing – all my friends here have pretty similar schedules. My friends in America don’t. And so to have something as simple as “let’s hang out sometime” turn into complicated Jenga puzzle of who can and can’t make it on these days was irritating and eye opening all at once. Though to be honest, I’m dealing with it a lot more gracefully than I expected I would. Perhaps that’s just another mark of adulthood?

It was nice to be in America for the Fourth of July, even if we didn’t celebrate it as lavishly as others did. I just had dinner and played some board games with my family, and it was enough.

My last week was the most hectic week I could imagine having on “vacation.” You would have thought I would have learned from the first time around, but I still attempted to fit in too much too late. Time with friends and time with family left little room for preparation time. But, I have the best mother in the world, and she was the one who made sure I was able to get everything done before I had to get on my first plane back to Mexico.

I’m so grateful for the time I had back at home, but I must admit: it’s good to be back in Mexico.