There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse! As I have often found in traveling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position, and be bruised in a new place. ~Washington Irving

Saturday, April 19, 2014

When it rains, it pours


Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I can't help but think back to two Easters ago, when we moved into Birch House on Easter weekend. The boys had an egg hunt a day late and all seemed right in the world. 

Today, things are not so perfect. Things are broken, and confusing, and downright scary. My perfect vision for our family has been ripped out from under me and I am not prepared for the emotions (plus pregnancy hormones!) that have replaced it. Some days I feel determined; some days angry. Today I felt sad. I just grieved for a lot of things that are lost forever. The rain egged me on. Every time a sad thought consumed me, I'd see that rain falling down...that gloomy sky...and the tears would start.

I know it's good for the soul, though, and grieving is only necessary. When I told God I couldn't take any more, when the feeling of devastation overwhelmed me and I just wanted to crumple in a ball and give up, when the boys wouldn't stop fighting...at the very end of the day, that's when he sent someone in my path to give me hope. It was like a ray of sunshine. Sometimes we all need to know that even in the terrible, consuming darkness, we are never alone. We have to keep pushing forward, baby step by baby step, tear by tear, and start over. It won't  be easy. I wonder, When will I wake up feeling joyful again? When will this feeling, or that feeling, return? I don't know. But tonight, about a million tears later, I have hope.

(Dyeing eggs at Ninny's)
(Local Easter egg hunt)



Saturday, April 12, 2014

A New Year

The beginning of 2014 has brought nothing but one thing: CHANGE.

Due to some unfortunate events, the boys and I have relocated to South Carolina. This post signals a new start for us. As we adjust to a different life, we are trying to make the most of it... doing fun things together, surrounding ourselves with loved ones, and embarking on lots of mini adventures.

Maddox and Jude love playing with their cousin Abbie. This week we went to Rectory Square Park and they made new friends. The biggest hit at the park wasn't the playground or the fountain, but the cut down tree trunk! This is what every backyard needs, apparently.


We took them to Old McCaskill's Farm on Friday, when they serve a "farm to table" lunch. It was crowded and a little stinky, but we loved eating lunch outside (homemade brick oven pizza, Greek salad, and apple crisp) and the kids got to see lots of chickens, goats, pigs, and even bunnies. Their favorite thing was the tire swing though. I need one of those, too!


They sell all sorts of things there in a little store. I picked up homemade jalapeno pimiento cheese. It's my latest addiction, along with dill pickle chips. I'm pretty sure I jumped from 13 weeks pregnant to 20! Haha.

All in all, life is a rollercoster right now. The boys are adjusting way better than I thought they would, so I'm happy about that! I love the quiet country living...they love digging in the dirt and riding their "dirtbikes." Anything with the word dirt in it.
(Maddox practicing his duck call early one morning.)

Uncle Jody promised the boys he would build them a mini bike ramp and even though he had food poisoning, he stuck to his promise.
They are in love! (Obviously!)



I have lots of exciting things to come. I start paralegal classes in two weeks, and of course Easter is right around the corner. It's always fun to play the Easter bunny!

I can't say what life will be like down the road, or even tomorrow, but I have lots of hope and I know that good things are in store.
Now, to get these boys to sleep in their own room all night long!
That is my next goal. :)







Monday, January 13, 2014

December: Part 2!

We spent Christmas week in SC, seeing family, eating too much food, and even seeing an old friend from college. It was so sweet to see her again and meet her awesome little family!

Andrew is going to Germany soon and I'm excited to spend some time in SC, catching up with old friends and hanging out with family. I'm a little jealous he gets to stay in Germany (because there is almost nothing I love more than traveling!), but I'm sure I'll have a pretty good time myself.

Back to Christmas. Here are some of my favorite pictures -










































Wow, that took a long time to upload all these photos!
I was going to caption them, but...maybe another day!