Sometimes, the only way to celebrate is to have a party.  To gather friends and family.  To bring them to one place with banners, balloons and bunting.  To play music, to eat, drink and to fill the room with the buzz of conversation. 

We celebrated the end of our adventure in California with an Open House that turned into a party where the house was filled with chatter and laughter.  Our friends gathered, some travelling quite a distance, to mark the end of three years.  Life long friendships have been made and I know that despite the distance we will still bless each other as a season shared is somehow sealed in time and memory.  I can remember before we set off on this adventure a work colleague commented on how when you are away, friends become family and it is so true.

And so to new beginnings.  We have returned and we are settling back into a life that we know, whilst at the same time there is so much to learn.  There are boxes upon boxes to sort, a home to make and plans to unfold.

We had a party at the weekend to celebrate a birthday and our home coming.  It would not have happened without a wonderful group of lovely local friends who pulled together, organising, decorating, baking and generally working their socks off to make it a party to remember.  We are truly blessed by their kindness, generosity and heart.

There is more to write and more to share.  The scrapbook of life continues and hopefully snapshots will continue to make their way here to mark the passing of time as the adventure moves into a new chapter, a new season.