my life: December 2014

I have thought many times over the past months how I should write a blog to update all my friends and loved ones on what is new with me, and I just haven't done it. Logging into my blog, I see that it's been 10 months since I last wrote--I'm sorry not to stay in touch better.

I have been staying busy with work, but I have also been struggling to feel ok and have energy to live life. After beginning to work with a functional medicine practitioner in the States over Skype about 3 months ago, I am hopeful that I will start to see some improvement--I found out I have adrenal fatigue (after 3+ years full of hard losses and moving away from friends and family to a somewhat stressful job) and am still fighting a parasite that has been really affecting my quality of life. I'm starting some treatments that I hope over the next few months will help me start feeling back to normal.

This is not to say the year hasn't been full of many great experiences and things to be thankful for! Some of the highlights of the last year for me have been:

Several long weekend trips to beautiful beaches in Fiji for snorkeling and relaxation
Finding a couple of string players to meet up with and play chamber music--I had not played in a group with my viola for years
A trip back to the Venezuela with Alex for a visit and to the States for training, visiting friends, and spending time with family for a few days
Welcoming my nephew Hunter into the world
Several trips to Tonga to provide consular services (and a weekend swimming with whales!)
Receiving tenure and being promoted at work
Weekly soccer games with a nice group of friends from work
Game nights and dinners with friends
A visit from Gerry Smedinghoff to run the Suva Marathon
Diwali celebrations with friends
An amazing R&R trip with Jenn and Alex to the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney
Alex's starting to work in the embassy here, in a similar job to what he did in Caracas
Countless amazing sunsets and beautiful views

In November, I found out that I will be heading to Guayaquil, Ecuador, next July, and now this final year seems it is really flying by. Two years feels really short to try to settle in to a new place, and I am really looking forward to a 3-year tour for a change. We're looking forward to a visit from Dad and Tammy next week; we'll show them around Suva for a day or two and then get out to one of the scenic areas to enjoy snorkeling and relaxing. We think of our friends and family who are so far away from us here often and miss you all. We are thankful for the important part you all play in our lives.