so changes...

"If the beat of the drum changes,
so changes the dance of the feet."
-proverb of Benin

I found this quote a while back, have applied it to our and others' lives since, and find it very applicable in this time in our life. Times they certainly are a changin,' for life has taken some unexpected turns and we find ourselves making new decisions. No, we are not pregnant.
Our news is that we are coming home. Yes, we were always planning on coming home, but in the past few weeks some things have happened at home to speed up the process a bit.

My Grammy, with whom I am very close, has taken some major hits at her health. She is a beautiful, almost 93-year old woman who has lived through so much, been a cancer survivor (several times), raised 3 daughters, loves her family and friends and strangers so well...and who has taught and continues to teach me (and so many) so much about life and love.

When Chris and I planned for and agreed upon this trip, it was under certain conditions- one being that we had healthy-stable grandparents. It has become true that Grams' health has been compromised considerably, and we have made the decision to follow where it seems life is leading...to dance to the new beat of the drum that we are hearing.

It has been really huge for us to make this decision and really sad to put our original dream on hold. We know that we are young and we have years to continue exploring what lies ahead in life. But right now LIFE calls, and we´re going where it feels right to be in this important and fragile time for Grams. We are so grateful and have learned so much in our time here already. We are sad to go and have been grieving and living intentionally since considering the idea.

It's funny how things can change so surprisingly and so quickly...how a "plan" to live somewhere for 9 months can suddenly turn into 3 months. But it's life, right? We don't live in this world alone. And as my grandpa used to say so often: "Life's for livin'!"

So, how we'll be living our new life (come mid-December) will be in a little place on Raymond St. in Danville...close to Grammy's house and walking distance from many places. I'll be spending most of my time with family, being and helping where help is needed. And Chris will be putting that Teaching Certificate to use at one of the local public schools. We hadn't dreamed that we would be returning to our homeland and our home-city, and under such conditions...but we embrace the turns that life has taken and go willingly, looking forward to what lies ahead.

Always together, be it grieving or celebrating (or both)...
always dreaming, and dancing as life leads.
Your Bolivian-lovin' friends,
Korie and Chris