She's baaaaackk!

Zyn is back!! The five months is Austria are behind her, thousands of dollars spent and she is returned. Four of her friends, her dad and I met her at the airport and wisked her home for pizza and gifts. It was like a second Christmas for her as she was lavished with "welcome home" gifts, birthday gifts and a few Christmas gfts that we had held back to share opening with her. It surprized me when Cynthia called back to her host family, the Lipps, to announce her safe arrival in the U.S., and Franziska wanted to speak with me. She thanked me for making the exchange possible and taking good care of Nicole when she stayed with us. Even though she has just left their home, her absence is strongly felt and they miss her... even Nicole. We met Nicole for the first time on January 15th, 2005 and Cynthia returned to us January 16th, 2006, almost exactly one year. The exchange was exciting, nerve-wrecking, sad, happy, funny, miserable, loving, fighting and now that it's over very bittersweet - like my favorite Austrian candy. I am very glad we did it, not just for Cynthia but for our whole family and the Lipps.