The DeBrIeFiNG

okay, I think it is time... Today is my 3 week mark from walking off that plane and stepping back into... here. HELLO here... how are you? I cant believe it has been 3 weeks. I cant believe I'm actually home- I cant believe I actually left- has it HONESTLY been 18 months since I have been in this home? with my friends? in... UTAH?!

Well I am sure all of you are wondering how the debriefing process is going. I sure am. :) I never understood why when you are leaving on a mission you spend 3-9 weeks in the Missionary TRAINING Center where they teach you how to live and act as a missionary- But at the end of the mish- what do they do... they drop you like a hot potato- no debriefing. no quarantined room or maybe 3-9 weeks of doing NORMAL stuff like "okay today we are going to have you talk to the opposite sex WITHOUT a companion- Go. " or "I want you to back up WITHOUT someone behind the car- GO" But nope. none of that- They just put you on a plane and BOMBARD you with family and friends who want to go SWIMMING the very next day (give a RM a HEART ATTACK!)

BUT- I must say... I feel as though I have been debriefing myself- quite nicely. I dont know if my close family and friends would agree- but I would say I am a good "Debriefer" ah yes... very good. Here are some of the activities that I have been doing to help myself "Debrief:"

1- I was called to the O'Hare Airport Mission *for 24 hours*

Ah yes, So remember how I was suppose to come home Wednesday? Well as many of you know- I didnt. Because you see- on the short- plane got delayed- plane got cancelled- 5 missionaries got stranded in Chicago for 24 hours. oh joy. OH and lets not forget the "Frumpy Missionary Dress" I DISCOVERED and HAD to wear as a joke to my family- Mental note- 24 hours in Frumpy missionary dress complete with shoulder pads... not so funny anymore- (was worth it when I saw Syds Face though... ah... seester). 24 hours later I was walking off the plane so so nervous- wondering maybe staying in Chicago in the Frumpy dress wasnt a bad idea... But it was a JOYOUS reunion. I couldn't believe all my nieces and nephews! we laughed. we cried. and in the end... we went home.

Say hello to the Frumpy dress- Amish friend anyone?

Chillin By the poolside... soakin up rays...

Chana always does it- so I thought I would carry on the tradition

HOME!!! FINALLY!!!!

actually I am going to show you my debriefing my pictures- We all know how I am NOT a woman of few words so if I go by pictures- maybe this blog wont be 18 months long. :)

well first and foremost the BEST debriefing has been Hanging out with the family. I heart them. It was so wonderful to be able to hug and kiss each of them. I love them. It has been fun. We have done tons of stuff too- from Lagoon, dinosaur museum, swimming, and of coarse- LOTS of EATING! :)

Ahh... Family... (sorry didnt have one with all the others...)

When I left- She was still being carried around in her car seat.

Like I said- a HUGE debriefer is... I WENT SWIMMING!! I know- hold the phone. It was kinda awkward at first- it took me a week to actually go. I know, you all are so proud of me :)

Another GREAT thing is I was able to go on SPLITS with the missionaries! WAHOOO!!!! what could be better right? I could try to be that member missionary I always dreamed about in the mission- it was fun. I LOVED it. I'm not going to lie though- it was nice not to have to stress when one of the apts. fell through... I could sit back and be just the member- not the missionary trying to think of a back up plan

I hung out with Married Folk-

Remember how I told you all my friends got married while I was gone? well I hung out with my two favorite- great news... even after their MARRIED they are STILL my best friends and NORMAL!! what a relief!

bought a car-

Ran a 5k (talk about HARD!! I was dying by the end)

and last but not least- Remember the Wedding of Brooke that I kept threatening her if she had without me? well... SHE WAITED! AND I WENT!!! Brooke and Shaun got married last Friday the 16th and it was SO fun. I actually got to go in! It was a beautiful wedding! The trussel all came together too- Love them. AND... I was even a bridesmaid (that means I held flowers... be jealous) I love my friends so much- They are very good debriefer helpers

So- Yes... I am back into the real world. no longer Hermana Taylor la misionera but Erin... The RM. thats weird. Its funny how coming home is almost like coming out of Rehab. This whole blog is about "desensitizing myself to the "real"world" once again. When I will tell people how long I've been home I usually get a response like ... "and... how are you adjusting...." (with real concern in their eyes) and suddenly an invisible label gets put on my forehead- shhh... she's an RM... She hasnt been home long.... like I'm radioactive or something... But- I'm still me. I just like god alot more. :) and now... I'm just trying to figure out who I was- and who I have become and most importantly how I can continue to become the person God wants me to become.

So the Debriefing continues- as I try to figure out school, work, responsibilities, boo. me no likey. But ah... all we are is dust in the wind... right? right? so now my dust is being blown in another direction... But hopefully soon that dust will be blown back to Kentucky... I left my heart there, gotta go pick it up :)