Yep, you guessed it...we had a white Easter a very white and stormy Easter! And all I can really say about it is, WOW! The only thing that gives me hope that it actually might be spring is the ocean across the street is no longer frozen. My little seedlings say it's spring, but I am concerned they are ahead of the seasons. I suppose spring is bitter sweet anyhow, because once the weather really does clear I have more work to do than humanly possible.
Gabriel and I have come to many realizations recently: We knew it got cold here and that winter lasted a long time, but we never could have been prepared for living in it. It never occurred to us how difficult having no other family around would be. We never could have known the timing of the economy collapse and our international move. Just to name a few!
There are many things I can safely say we would change if we got a 'do over'. On the other hand we know that stepping out of the comfort zone even if only for a year or two is what we desperately needed. It sure is scary though, but it is building an even stronger faith within us, and I did not know that my faith could grow stronger or be tested as it has in the last 6 months. Our experience has been filled with signs from God and encouragement from God. We have had guardian angels and bountiful blessing that are too numerous to even explain. I am very eager to see how the next few years will play out. I wonder if our hearts will completely turn and we will no longer long for our California, a place we thought we hated. Or if we will be back there sooner than we could have ever imagined with new eyes and changed hearts and spirits. As of right now I feel this is temporary, but that God will not allow us to return home until he is sure the changes within us are 'for keeps'. We can not and will not go back to the life we had, we both want something more.
On to another serious topic: Our eldest son, Will, has a goal at his young age of 12 years he is determined to go to Yale University. We could not be more thrilled and nervous for him. Getting into Yale is like winning the Lottery, but then again so is immigrating to Canada. This little guy of ours, who now wears a larger shoe size than his dad, has to start working on this goal now. It is going to be interesting to see what he decides to do. Will he have enough drive to cut childhood short and pursue this goal, or will he settle for something less than his ultimate dream? Gabriel and I have no intention to push him in either direction. We simply told him if he wants it, now is the time to start working for it, but if he does not really want it he can become a doctor through a number of other schools. This child has wanted to be a doctor since he was 4 years old, it amazes me to think about that. My little guy that slept with books instead of teddy bears and is infatuated by anatomy and disease over any other subject. I guess we will all stay tuned to see what happens over the next 6 years...
The sun is out and the snow is starting to melt...life is good!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Two months Too long.
It's been nearly two months since tending to this blog...sorry! We have been on an emotional roller coaster. Immigration combined with a really hard winter was nothing we could have prepared for. We were sure we wanted to rush back to California only weeks ago, but something happened...something changed. Somehow in the frenzy of desperation to reattach to our former life, a calm came over us. We suddenly could see the life we wanted when we first set out on this journey. We realize we can not return home until we are strong in our new found selves.
Spring has brought great hope. Spring is so welcome. The rain has come and the snow is almost gone now and the water ways are thawing as spring trickles in to this place that is beyond the word beauty. There are more colors than can be counted, it looks unreal. It seems impossible that there is a place that everyday you long to capture in your memory the majesty of it's nature. The ice floats in the bay across from the house and the steam rises up from the melting snow. The birds are all flying home and the buds are peeking out on the apple trees. I walk on the lawn with the squishy sounds beneath my feet as the grass yawns before it's new year begins. I feel the presence of his spirit all around.
The Islanders have been very kind to us this winter: Helping Gabe out of sticky car in snow bank situations and plowing our driveway. This coming Tuesday I will make a huge social venture by going to my first Women's Institute meeting. The kids are adjusting splendidly and show no signs of Pacific longing lately. Gabe is doing well and on fire to write for the first time in years. It is wonderful to see him starting to romance the career that God gifted him with. He has a fellow American at work that he seems to have formed a brotherhood with. This poor fellow just like Gabe has the great misfortune of being in love with a woman that is drawn in by this Island, she has a better excuse being born here though! During winter I was very unsure of my longing for this place, a love affair that started about 20 years ago with no explanation, but as we settle in I know that we had to come even if only for a short while. This was part of our destiny. Here we are learning so much: About who we are, who we aspire to be, what we believe, what we want, appreciation, creativity, survival, kindness, judgement, immigration, global awareness, the human spirit and I could go on and on honestly. So no matter weather we are here for 1 year or 10 or 20...we will be better for it. We will have more to offer the world because of it.
We have seedlings started for our first green house garden. I will start actual outdoor garden seeds in a few weeks, because they can not go out until June. Despite my anxiety of growing veg in a new climate things are going as they do every spring. Hopefully my years of knowledge gained will work for me on this part of the venture. We are depending on that garden like never before. We are contemplating our barnyard flock who knows what new creatures will make their way into our life by summers end. Will needs chickens back in his life, he has never been without them. Maybe we'll raise our first pig...anything is possible. Winny is very excited to get her herb garden planted she takes great pride in her herb garden every year. Josophine has many flower seeds and many plans for her flower gardens. Sam as usual is obsessed with planting corn and sunflowers...every year...it's corn and sunflowers. If he is not an actor he'll probably be a farmer I swear!
Spring has brought great hope. Spring is so welcome. The rain has come and the snow is almost gone now and the water ways are thawing as spring trickles in to this place that is beyond the word beauty. There are more colors than can be counted, it looks unreal. It seems impossible that there is a place that everyday you long to capture in your memory the majesty of it's nature. The ice floats in the bay across from the house and the steam rises up from the melting snow. The birds are all flying home and the buds are peeking out on the apple trees. I walk on the lawn with the squishy sounds beneath my feet as the grass yawns before it's new year begins. I feel the presence of his spirit all around.
The Islanders have been very kind to us this winter: Helping Gabe out of sticky car in snow bank situations and plowing our driveway. This coming Tuesday I will make a huge social venture by going to my first Women's Institute meeting. The kids are adjusting splendidly and show no signs of Pacific longing lately. Gabe is doing well and on fire to write for the first time in years. It is wonderful to see him starting to romance the career that God gifted him with. He has a fellow American at work that he seems to have formed a brotherhood with. This poor fellow just like Gabe has the great misfortune of being in love with a woman that is drawn in by this Island, she has a better excuse being born here though! During winter I was very unsure of my longing for this place, a love affair that started about 20 years ago with no explanation, but as we settle in I know that we had to come even if only for a short while. This was part of our destiny. Here we are learning so much: About who we are, who we aspire to be, what we believe, what we want, appreciation, creativity, survival, kindness, judgement, immigration, global awareness, the human spirit and I could go on and on honestly. So no matter weather we are here for 1 year or 10 or 20...we will be better for it. We will have more to offer the world because of it.
We have seedlings started for our first green house garden. I will start actual outdoor garden seeds in a few weeks, because they can not go out until June. Despite my anxiety of growing veg in a new climate things are going as they do every spring. Hopefully my years of knowledge gained will work for me on this part of the venture. We are depending on that garden like never before. We are contemplating our barnyard flock who knows what new creatures will make their way into our life by summers end. Will needs chickens back in his life, he has never been without them. Maybe we'll raise our first pig...anything is possible. Winny is very excited to get her herb garden planted she takes great pride in her herb garden every year. Josophine has many flower seeds and many plans for her flower gardens. Sam as usual is obsessed with planting corn and sunflowers...every year...it's corn and sunflowers. If he is not an actor he'll probably be a farmer I swear!
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