Possession

So, we have the keys.  After a bit of craziness on Friday, and a stuttering possession time, we got in.  I decided on my paint colors, ran to the city and Ian and I started the long evening of painting.  And, we got up early and painted ALL day. So thankful for the help of family and friends, with painting and kids. Auntie Andrea is *Super Auntie*!! This morning, Ian finished the last of what we wanted to paint before moving in!  Woohoo!  Now just to finish up the packing and be ready for the UHaul Saturday morning.

The forest green in now my favorite olive green.  Love it.  I nailed that color choice.  And the yellow you see...well, I chose Hampton Green, which appeared to be a perfectly green toned beige that I was so sure about.  Not so much.  I found out it was actually Hampton Yellow, with an alias. Aghh.  I could have stopped painting once I was concerned, but I figured it would change as it dried. Then I thought it will change with the second coat.  Yeah, not so much. Hampton Green??! Pffft.  Well, life goes on, I'll get over it.

It's getting so exciting.  After feeling so overwhelmed on Friday, then having so much help and being at the point we are at tonight - well, I feel so hopeful that I won't lose my sanity during this moving and settling process.  I am so blessed.  Must go pack....

packing and fishing

More packing has been done, thanks to lots of help.  I really can't wait till this is all done and we are resettled.  Perpective is getting difficult.  So after naps today it was time to bring out the canoe and cheer up a bit.

 And do some fishing.

 And try to take pictures of snack breaks together.  The little monkey grabbed my banana and went for it right when I snapped (and she had her own in her other hand.)

 They beg to go fishing, but there is always a whole lot more exploring and playing than fishing.

 Neve and I entertain each other.  Mostly she entertains me.

 Peek-a-boo!

Back home for a late supper of fresh fish and kale chips.  Yum.  Tomorrow its back to packing :)

Garden visit

We were invited to plant the garden at the soon-to-be our acreage.  Lovely - lovely evening, lovely kids, lovely place.  And so our excitement builds.  Just over a week to go...

Beautiful Promises

I'm listening to Ian read a bedtime story to the kids in an:  Australian accent, sing song voice, unidentified accent, loud singing...  Which is why the kids often ask me to read to them.  Getting them to agree to Ian reading involves some promising involving the phrase "normal voice."  This promise is always broken.  In good fun.

Kellen asked on the way home from our bike ride to the beach, why would God kill the baby bird?  I told him, as we looked at the little blue crushed egg on the sidewalk, that it was an accident, that the wind maybe made the egg fall out of its nest.  Well, God did it then, he told me, because God controls the wind.  So, I decided to be honest and tell him its hard for me to understand all the time, but I promised him that God is good and God loves us and He's there all the time, and maybe when he's older he'll be able to understand (or accept) how with such a good God there are bad things that happen.

Its good to have time to just be these days and breathe quietly at the beach, because stressful feeling are building.  The crazy busy time is approaching rapidly.  I told Ian its time to get into panic mode, staying up late and getting things done already.  Part of the stress in knowing how much work is coming up during this transition but at times it feels like more than that too.  I feel I'm second guessing myself and then I realize my faith in the One who has been leading us and who holds the future is seeming blurry.  So I remind myself to trust.  See the little promises. 

A phone call from a new friend and finding out what close neighbours we'll be and I feel excitement about the commonalities and the support. 

Snow waiting for us to take him home.

The kids love to visit him.  Kellen wanted to scrapbook pictures of Snow today, so I helped him on the digital scrapbook program put in a picture, and typed in the story he told me of his "new best friend."  Beautiful.

Definites

This week, I found myself appreciating some definites in my life.  I also noticed some things that are changing, raising my awareness of some new questions and pondering.  My favorite definite - we have a real, for sure, exciting possession date.  We know we can start moving May 26th.  We know we have renters for June 15th and we know we like them and it will be a good arrangement.  I am being filled with motivation to pack boxes:)

And, I am thankful I mentioned that need for boxes at knitting club this morning, because I was lent a great big stack of needed boxes.  While listening to the chatter of the wonderful group of ladies this morning, I was thinking, this is definitely one of my favorite times of the week.  I relax, knit, and get away from the 3 little wonders demanding my attention!  There are 3 of us with plans to meet with an experienced carder to learn this first step to spinning our own yarn! This morning I also appreciated the wisdom of lives lived beautifully, even through challenges.  I heard about breast cancer and saying goodbye to kids leaving home.  I was reminded of how much is going on around me in others lives.  I was encouraged to be wholly grateful for this blessed and beautiful and messy life.  So much grace, I saw in others this morning.

A coworker stepped into my office one afternoon, laughing about needing to get away from the "youth" conversations in her shared office.  And, for a fleeting moment, I was bitterly aware that I am no where near the new young one in the office anymore and I had to ask myself, "am I middle-aged?"  Well, I'm not sure what middle-aged is considered.  But this moment, led me to being way more aware of my age for the rest of the week.  Oh my, I am soon not going to be the young mom with babies!  Before I know it, I will be the mom of school aged kids.  These little "age" thoughts that kept popping up this week made me realize this journey has been steadily moving along.

These little people just keep on growing and learning new things.  This morning Kellen helped make breakfast, I did the pancakes and he made smoothies all by himself, and he was so proud.

 

Oh, Nevey, still a babe, but the language changes are happening so quickly and the demand to be independent is loudly insisted. 

I am definitely thankful for the gift of growth I see and feel as I think about these rapidly moving years.  I believe God has opened my eyes to see the crazy, amazing blessings in my life and is shaping and changing me.  Such an amazing gift this journey of life is, definitely.  Don't you think?

Rest & Relaxation

We've enjoyed so many beautiful days this last while.  It's not helping us to quit procrastinating and get packing.  I'm always happy to get the sprinkler out and enjoy the squeals and laughter.  Lanelle is the real little water bug who usually initiates this activity and is always so excited to wear her "swimmings".  I love her words.  Like how she called my bag of raw alpaca wool that Ian picked up for me.  "Mom, we got a surprise for you!!  Some KNITTINGS!"

It's been good to take time to rest, by biking over to the beach the last few evenings and watching the sun dip low.  Everyone is so relaxed, to be out of the house, and enjoying the beauty around us.  It's so easy to feel guilty about that when there is so much to do and so much to get accomplished, but in looking at how good it was for relationships and our outlook on life, I think we should change perspective.  What if we felt guilty for always trying to get stuff done and NOT taking the time for restful activities and refueling times?  Even though I was finding myself having to do dishes and housework after the kids were in bed, I didn't feel the usual drudgery of dish duty.  I'm going to need to remind myself this next little while how rest improves life and keep things balanced.

Between the lines.

haha!  I noticed I had a drafted blog that I'd never published.  Perhaps I was so tired I thought I should reread later before deciding to publish or not.  It does make me think about the battles I engage in - trying to see the sunny thankful side of life even when there's some real struggles to complain about.  Not sure if I managed to keep my thumbs up that groggy December day...It must have been okay though, I can't recall this particular day.

What a relaxing day we are having here.  (Read: Confession, the kids have been watching too much backyardigans.)  It was so beautiful to sit under my wool blanket on the couch with a cup of coffee early this morning. (Read: the baby got up way too early and I had to struggle to open my eyes while she played around on the floor)  I decided we would not be hard on ourselves today.  (Read:  I haven't been getting enough sleep and have reached a point of complete exhaustion.  She was up repeatedly for long periods of time.)  We will let the day unfold as it will, and not give thought to any to-do list or goals.  (Read:  I will attempt to keep guilt out, although likely there will be some, in which I accuse myself of being lazy)  We will count blessings today, no matter how small they are and we will smile. (Read:  The only plan I have for the day, is to not get discouraged, because, remember, I am severely sleep deprived.)  I will remember Johnny Breggers Two Thumbs Up that I listened to with Neve so early this morning. 

I know its early
But I'm awake
I've got to get up and
start my day.
I hear birds singing
and now I'm singing too.
Oh, what'll I do?
I've got two thumbs up today
and that's exactly how
I want it to stay.

Yep, just keeping my thumbs up today.  And that's okay.