Anderson Family Dinner Night!

Anytime I hear the words, "Anderson Family Dinner Night" I know I'm in for a good time! This time, family dinner night was in my honor, which was awesome! Before I left Korea, Kevin's mom asked me what I wanted to have for dinner, and I quickly answered: brisket, mashed potatoes, fruit, and cinnamon muffins please... as if I had been waiting for her to ask me for an entire year! She laughed and said, "That's my Jillers!"

I could barely contain myself when Kirstin (Kevin's sister), Jay (her husband) and their 2 boys, Caeden (4) and Caleb (1) walked in the door! I instantly hugged Kirstin, picked up Caleb...

gave Caeden and huge auntie Jiller's hug... and unloaded the gifts! :) Caeden was a good reminder. He looked me straght in the eye and said, "Auntie Jillers. Where's my gift?!" haha! He got this bathtime shark glove, since he's going through a fish and animals phase! I think he was a big fan!

The boys (Jay, and dad) got some chocolate "Crunky Nude Balls!" (Those were given more for the name than the taste!) There were plenty of jokes to be made with this one!

Then the girls got their funny English T-shirts! (Kirstin)

Mom and Caleb... (Double click to read the ridiculous message on her shirt.)

I also gave Caeden some Korean style crayons. We sat down at the kitchen table together to do some coloring, and he asked me to write his name for him, so I spelled in it Hangul (the Korean alphabet). After looking at it for a couple seconds, he looked over at me, very puzzled, and said, "Jillers. My name doesn't have an "F" in it!" We all died laughing!

Dinner... mmmm!!! Always delicious when it's made by Molly!

Caeden wanted to sit right next to me, which was a fun treat! :)

(My nephew Caleb) Can you believe how adorable this little smooch is?! The last time I saw him was when he was a week old!!! I think he loves me! :)

Yea, I'm pretty sure he loves me!

Kirstin and I... always so happy to be in the same room together!

The whole gang! :) Me, Molly, Chris, Caeden, Jay, Kirstin, and Caleb!

I couldn't have asked for a better 1st day home!! :) Love you guys!

 

Mrs. Rusch!

My sister in law is getting married this April, and it just happened to be that I got to be home for the family wedding shower!

I have to take a moment to showcase the cake, which was gorgeous and delicious! This was the first cake I'd had in over a year! I couldn't eat it fast enough!

Being that I'm living in Korea, I decided to give Kelsey a Korean style wedding gift... so, she got:

*** a handmade, hand stitched, one of a kind apron, from muah! (Because once you're married in Korea, it means you're gonna start cooking - every night!)

*** couple undies!!! (for the bedroom!)

*** and some couple socks, so everyone knows she and Jameson are together when they take their shoes off!

Somehow, I always seem to be put in charge of doing something creative (not that I'm complaining!!) This time, Kels asked me to assemble the bows for her wedding rehearsal night bouquet! I was honored to have such an important duty (wink wink) Lovely, huh?!

The women from Kevin's side of the family were all there to celebrate with Kelsey: Annie, Lisa, aunt Gail, Kelsey, Mom, and Me. It was a real treat to get to catch up with all of these beautiful women after so long!

Kelsey... May you and Jameson have decades and decades of unfaltering and unconditional love for each other... and beautiful babies, of course! I love you both! Congratulations!

 

Sweet Home Welcoming!

I arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport around 12:30am this morning to a practically empty airport! I guess no one else is crazy enough to fly into Phoenix at that time of the night!

As I was walking through the baggage claim area, I heard a women giggling to my right. When I looked over, it was Julienne!!! (Most of you don't know about the Julienne and Augustin Nivyabandi, so, I'll give you a quick rundown: Before leaving for Korea, Kevin and I volunteered with an organization called the I.R.C. in Phoenix, where we were matched up with this family from Tanzania to help them settle into life in America, teach them English, and just love on them. We became really close with them, and spent at least a night together every week for about 2 years!) So, here's the story:

Julienne had been standing there, waiting for my plane to land so she could see me for the 1st time in over a year! I couldn't stop smiling when I saw her, and jumped over to her with my arms wide open! Then, minutes later, Augustin walked in the door from outside, and we both laughed and smiled, so excited to see each other again! They literally came to see me at the airport for 3 minutes before I got picked up! I felt like a million bucks!

The 3 of us walked out to the passenger pick up area together, and within minutes, Kevin's dad arrived to pick me up! :) It was sooo great to see him after a whole year!

When I jumped in the car, he said "Your mom wanted me to bring these for you, incase you wanted one on your drive home." (I'm a diet coke FEIN, and she had 1 with caffeine, and 1 without, depending on what I wanted!) She has definitely never lacked in the thoughtfulness area!

Then, when I go to their house, there was a welcome home note in the kitchen, and when I went into the guest room there was another note on my pillow, and all these treats on my nightstand - 3 of my FAVORITE things!! Molly knows me so well!

I was actually able to sleep a full 6 1/2 hours, and then, as if things couldn't get any better, I woke up to fresh baked cinnamon rolls (my favorite breakfast treat)...


... and my mom and dad in law, sitting, waiting for me to eat breakfast with them!

It was such a special home welcoming! Thank you guys! Love you!

No big deal...

... I just flew the plane with the help of my friend, Captain Kurt! :)