When 2 years become 3

Do we stay or do we go? That was the question we faced. Our time here in Ho Chi Minh City has flown by and its now time to decide whether to extend our contract or go home. There are huge pluses for both sides of the argument. We all miss family and friends so much that that is an enormous reason to go home. Mikaela will more then likely return before the year is out and I am not sure whether I am brave enough to send yet another of my children out into the world without me by their side. But if you can separate the emotive reasons from the practical ones that leaves us with Bella and Josh. If we return to Australia Bella will somehow have to slot back into senior years, whereas if we stay she can finish school here. And then there's Josh, we left Australia before he graduated Primary School is it fair to ask him to leave Viet Nam before he graduates Middle School. Then there is Italy. I dreamed of holidaying in Italy as a family years ago - but we eventually holidayed here instead.. Now an opportunity has arisen for us to go to Italy this summer, which I have to say I am so excited about - but it does impact on our plans for next.year. What about Zander? if we stay another year here by the time we go home he will have only one year left of studying in the States, what will he do, I don't know but it is still a consideration.....

All the above was written quite a long time ago now - well it seems a long time ago but in reality it was probably about 5 months ago. We have since made the decision, not easily I will add but to quote my good friend "we made the decision and have since murdered the alternatives" ( thanks Christine). We are staying.
Have we made the right decision? Who knows but I can say we will be home by this time next year and that in itself is exciting but scary. After 3 years away will we just pick life up again as we once knew it - I can't imagine we will, for our experiences as expats, our experiences of life in a third world country country as well as our many opportunities to travel - have changed the way we see the world.
But as I sit Under the Tuscan sun and think about the last few years I have to be grateful for the opportunities that I have been given and for my family that willingly gave up the normal and accepted this challenge.