when things come to an end

i find it hard to believe that i will ever forget any of the memories i've made while living in sweden.  the end of my adventure draws near, and i can't help but think of all the things and people i will miss, but also what i have to look forward to.

my 3 best friends here, kate, madeleine, and mathilda, were over for a long overdue ladies night at my house...it was convenient how the kids were "borta" (gone for the night).  the mom, jenny, also had to go to  seminar so it was just the 4 of us, and we had plans to watch "breakfast at tiffany's."  it was while we were sitting at the dinner table sipping on wine that i felt as if i was in a movie, and how much i will miss these ladies nights. i can't wait to see all my girls from home, but these girls are so special, for they are most of the reason why i was able to survive a lot of the culture shock here.  just the conversation and jokes with 20-something ladies created such a bond between us.  it will be weird not getting to see them at least once a weekend, walk around town shopping, and finding all the cutest cafes around göteborg.  it is not the last time i will see them come december, but i will hate saying goodbye to them.

i can't even begin to think about all the things i will miss about the kids without crying.  kids, from my personal experience, are the most difficult to say goodbye to.  i had to do it before i came, and now i have to do all over again.  but instead of crying about it, i'm just going to list all the things i will miss and the images i will hold on to.

what i'll miss about living in sweden:
cheap travel
summer berries from the woods (cherries, razberries, blackberries, huckleberries, wils strawberries, red currant)
gorgeous old architecture
living on the water
the summer house
every single little adorable cafe
H&M on every corner
sunsets at 10pm in the summer
those sparkly blue eyes (i've never seen them like that before)
walking everywhere
public transportation (rare in small southern towns)
practicing my swedish

what i'll miss about my swedish family/kids:
having tea with jenny after the kids go to bed
twirling with emma to "princess" music (a.k.a. disney soundtracks)
elias little feet curled up on my lap
building legos with erik
making them american pancakes
going to the playground
butchering bedtime stories because of my swenglish
elias screaming "maaaaamaaaaaaa or NAAAANNYYYYY" first thing on a saturday morning
taking erik to swim school
coloring with emma
elias pouty face, giggles, and other hilarious expressions
erik's svengelska (equivalent to my swenglish, except the opposite, of course)
emma's girly-ness ALL the time, except when she whines
our own version of hide & seek (where i hide and then come up behind them and scare them!)
how excited the kids are every day when you pick them up from school
their little heads popping into my skype dates

there is so much to be kept in my heart that is not listed here, but more will be added as i think about them.  again i'll say that i am not looking forward to saying goodbye, but knowing that it is not a "forever" goodbye will keep from tearfully thinking about it until it comes.  plus, my family will be waiting for me in new york. "i'll be home for christmas..."

and scene