Fall Family Fotos

Annual trip to the local orchard - gotta get our annual family photos (of the kids anyway).  Funny first, then "serious" (we got one clear one after all that with everyone mostly smiling and looking at the camera... they do love to fool around, and they're not too fond of the camera, but they put up with my requests as well as any foursome).

It's tradition, and the apples an honey sticks are the best!

Missing my daughter

I'm mostly just going for similar titles.  My daughter isn't and won't be gone long enough to "really" miss her.  But it's a first of its kind, much like her younger brother being in Estonia.

Today I took my oldest baby to my alma mater.  We walked around a bit and I showed her a few buildings.  Not very exciting to be honest (and it was cold and windy - though it was beautiful w/all the trees in bloom  - I love the spring down here).

Then we met a current student (I introduced myself and my other two kids), and the two of them walked away.  She's there overnight staying w/current students, sort of doing a college visit (learning what that is).  It's to give her categories for what college life might or could be like for her.

And it's the first time she has ever spent the night away from home, not with family.  As a kid w/diabetes, that's actually a huge deal.  Major.  Independence.  And she's got to manage it ok w/o me there to check on my way to bed.  Or in the middle of the night.  Or remind her in the AM.  And so on and so forth.

This is her Estonia.  And mine.

Not only does she have to handle this well, I have to let her go and trust her to execute well.  If she has an emergency (she might), I (we) have a plan.  But I refuse to predict it.  I am a little over an hour away, and I have friends w/in minutes of her.  They don't know it, but they might get called in the middle of the night.  Seriously.

But probably not.

I'm hoping this goes well  - for her sake.  She can do it - and I hope she will.

She is so grown up, so mature, so responsible... yet so often she falls back on me as the "safety", when she's tired, not feeling well, etc.  Not because she needs me, but because she wants me, and she wants reassurance that we're here and it'll be fine.  Guess what; she was tired and not feeling well today.  High blood sugars, and a cold.  She felt miserable and was grumpy.  She let it dictate her interactions w/us.  I had to point it out and correct it.  I refused to stuff her pillow in her sleeping bag bag.  She was not happy w/me.  I figure she's going to need to do it tomorrow morning.....   and I needed to know she was going to do it.  But I encouraged her and walked the mile with her.  I praised her efforts and her success.  And I let her go.

No direct word from my boy in Estonia this week.  We miss him for sure.

Two texts so far from my girl.  "OK" (when I told her we'd arrived safely back at the grandparents) and "Fine" (when I touched base w/her to check in about 45 min ago).  Assuming the timing was bad or she had nothing else to say.  They're in character enough so I know it's her.  I hope it means she's having a good time, some great conversation w/some great girls, and building connections and categories for the community one can build in college.

And I do miss her.  But I'm proud of her and who she's becoming.  I trust her.  And she needs this opportunity to stretch.

Looking forward to reconnecting with her tomorrow.

And my son the following day.

I love being a mom.

Missing my son

My son left this morning on a bus to Newark, from whence he'll fly with a group of 59 others to Estonia.

I think he may well have taken a piece of my heart with him.  As a homeschooled child, I'm accustomed to him being around more than most.  Even when I'm not.

We dropped him off early because I worked today.  I'm sure many arrived soon after, but it was odd just leaving him there.  And all day, I "remembered"  him.  You see, when I'm at school substitute teaching, I usually check in with him whenever possible to see how he's doing with his work, to answer questions, clarify expectations, and just to say "hi" so he doesn't feel alone at home.  So today, when I had free moments, I thought to call him.  But of course, he wasn't at home to call.

I miss him already.

Soon, he'll board a plane and fly away.  It's a great opportunity for him, and a stretch for us all.  He's in a group with folks we know and trust.  He's off on a great adventure, and he'll have chance to understand what it means to be an American in a new and profound way.  He will serve others and it will be wonderful.  Christianity will become bigger for him seeing Christ worshiped and adored by another people in another place - yet still the same God.

We have our own plans here.  And we're looking forward to them.

But this is a new thing and a harbinger of many more to come.  You see, our kids will all eventually leave.  We know that - but we (I) forget.  I was only a year older than him when I left home for a whole year as an exchange student.  I can't even imagine doing what my parents did.  Also, I can say that even though there is a hole left behind where he normally is, it is not that hard.  It is just that different.

Very different.

And a good reminder.  Our goal is not to keep them here, but to prepare them to fly away.

Those preparations include the practical (like how to cook, clean, dress, use your debit card, where to keep your passport when you travel so it won't get stolen, and how to drive and purchase auto insurance...) and the more abstract (What exactly is insurance and why do we need it?  How to be aware of others and serve them, be a good friend.....   Who is God and why do we go to church? What is the Gospel of Christ?  Do you believe in Him?)  They are all intended for one purpose: to prepare our kids for life, living independently, and eventually life without us.

We've all taken another step.

We are intentionally trusting Christ in every respect with this adventure.

It is He who will (or will not) keep Andante safe.  And us.

It is He who guides our steps - and guards our hearts.

Thank you Lord for taking care of mine.

Welcome to the Frigid North (and our Blog)

We recently (yesterday) sent out our annual letter.

Just to note, the low last night was NOT -14 as predicted and mentioned in our family letter, but -19.  We broke a record (-18 degrees Fahrenheit in 1914 in Burlington, VT).  It was cold this morning.

And Andante went skiing!  Yup.  Crazy.  But then, we live in the frozen north.

He had a blast.

You may be thinking, "Who's Andante?" "Am I at the right blog?"

Yes, You Are.  Our names etc are  explained briefly in the area to the right of this post (the green sidebar).  And you can also read THIS POST for clarification and a little more depth.   That post is a bit out of date on the ages (it was written six years ago) but we haven't changed that much.  

Patience was at the same mountain all day w/the church high school youth group.  She did NOT ski (not her thing).  She's not home yet, but rumor has it she spent the day playing Dutch Blitz.  And beating people at it.  She's like that (and loves it - I think she got that from me... too much fun.  I did teach her how, so it's all my fault).

We like our winter vacation even if it is cold.  While the older two were out in the mountains doing their thing, Constance got together with a friend, and she and Vivace had their piano lessons.  I tagged along - and fell asleep on the piano teacher's couch.  I guess we're tired!  He actually said to his teacher something to the effect of "Really?  We have to stop?" when his lesson was over.  I was thrilled.  We also tidied up and vacuumed the house in preparation for Papa Bear's birthday tomorrow (he likes it cleaned up!).

And we made cookies. Yum.

Thanks for stopping by - we hope you're all well.  Feel free to come visit us up here in our winter wonderland (if you don't mind the cold)!

Pancakes 101

We're having a class during our week long winter vacation.  I'm calling it Pancakes 101.  Each and every one of the kids is learning to make pancakes.  The goal is all four kids knowing how to make pancakes anytime they want, w/o my help.  From scratch.  Finding the recipe in the book.  Finding the ingredients in the cabinet(s).  Mixing, cooking, and cleaning up.  Yup, the whole enchilada.

As of today both the younger two can cook them independently, w/supervision.  Tomorrow they mix w/o supervision, and probably the next day they cook w/o direct supervision.  Andante is the kitchen manager Wednesday (making sure they don't burn the house down while I'm out at an appt. w/Patience). 

Even Patience has been involved (she's my most reluctant chef).  I think she can do it and we'll put her to the test Thursday and Friday.

I think they've got it!  And they're having a blast.  

Thankfulness

Our fall has been a whirlwind, fraught with transition, as well as blessing.

I have loved homeschooling Andante
and I have also loved substitute teaching.

I would prefer to be home full-time with my kids,
so it is bittersweet.

But to be able to do something I enjoy as work is a gift.

This Thanksgiving,
I rejoice in how God has taught us, cared for us,
and is leading us step by step through job and family transitions.
I rejoice that Papa Bear is still employed - for now and it would seem for a few months to come -
and is getting practice with interviews and applying for jobs;
surely He is leading us right where He wants us to be.
And I will come out on the other end -either in 2015 or 2016 -
w/teaching certification and perhaps a classroom to call my own.

And I am very thankful for my father's preventive care.
A routine cardiac check-up resulted in double bypass surgery a few days ago.
The heart attack could have happened - but didn't.
The clot is gone.
The blockage is remedied w/the bypass,
and my sister was able to be there w/her family for my mom's distraction.
So far all appears successful, and he is recovering well.
My mom and he appear to be weathering it all ok.

Two sisters-in-law are pregnant,
and we are enjoying time with them this holiday.

We are truly thankful for all our family,
and for abundant provision for all our needs.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

A Celebration - 5 Years and Done!

Today was Andante's last shot.  He's been undergoing immunotherapy for five (5) years.  For the past 4+, the shots have been monthly.  They call it "maintenance".  And now, we're done.  And we hope the allergies stay away.  Maintain indeed, only w/o the shots.

Every month for four plus years (more that first year) we've made a date of this time together.  We drive over, sometimes stopping to get a soda or a hot chocolate en route, get the shot, and play games for 30 minutes in the waiting room. They check (to see if he's reacting "too much") and then we're off.  We've had a few incidents - one scary one (needed the epi-pen - yikes), one "oops we took our pre-meds early this morning and then got the shot much later in the day than expected", and a few others.  Mostly, however, it's been pretty routine.

While we've loved the time together, his being done is an event worthy of celebrating. So we splurged (and he pitched in a bit too out of his own earnings) and he and I did lunch at the local Japanese Steak House - Hibachi time!  Chicken for him, steak for me, noodles all the way around, yummy soup and salad, and even a couple spring rolls.  I even caught zucchini on the first toss!  We had a great time.  Congratulations Andante on five great years of allergy shots!