Who needs a watch dog? She's on top of it!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Six Months and Still in Shock
Y'know when that time comes when you just fall behind? With everything?! It's happened slowly but surely here and I'm just now--thankfully--getting back on my feet. The problem I have is that once I start to feel like I'm losing (ie. the clutter war or the laundry battle), I all too easily feel completely swamped and defeated. And all this happens while I'm not really noticing, just feeling that slight undercurrent of chaos...
Of course it doesn't help when one suddenly comes down with a sort of flu/salmonella?/headcold episode and yet must maintain a decent quality of life for a one year old while deciphering certain internal voices saying it would be good to lie down or sleep or find something nutritious to eat but lacking the creative energy to follow through. All I can say is that Caitlin's 2-three hour naps a day saved me. The going up and down the stairs did not though (note to self: move Caitlin's room to main floor).
And so at the end of the week when every toy was strewn about, every dish was out of the cupboard and dirty on the counter, most of my clothes were in a pile on the floor in the bedroom, we ran out of bibs and rags and practically underwear, the fridge was empty, not to mention the few yet-to-be-unpacked boxes within reach of tiny, grabbing hands still laying about, I was officially overwhelmed. And in a totally unmotivating kind of way! Thankfully I have an understanding husband who didn't once gripe at me for the state of things and would even come home for lunch to help with Caitlin so I could rest. I don't know that I would have survived without him.
So here we are, almost in the middle of another week, and heading strong into the last half of June already. Let's just say I'd imagined having been here six months would feel alot more settled than it actually does. I wonder when that will kick in. But at least the boxes are moved, the dishes are done, the fridge/pantry are restocked and I'm back to my old self. Now onto the laundry! One day at a time, right?
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, I've really felt them in this challenging transition time. We are definitely looking forward to the time when we can offer something back to others and get involved in ministry instead of being so needy and overwhelmed. We just have to trust that that time is coming and will be upon us when we are ready.
Who knew all this would take so much out of us?! Praise God for his graciousness and unending patience.
Of course it doesn't help when one suddenly comes down with a sort of flu/salmonella?/headcold episode and yet must maintain a decent quality of life for a one year old while deciphering certain internal voices saying it would be good to lie down or sleep or find something nutritious to eat but lacking the creative energy to follow through. All I can say is that Caitlin's 2-three hour naps a day saved me. The going up and down the stairs did not though (note to self: move Caitlin's room to main floor).
And so at the end of the week when every toy was strewn about, every dish was out of the cupboard and dirty on the counter, most of my clothes were in a pile on the floor in the bedroom, we ran out of bibs and rags and practically underwear, the fridge was empty, not to mention the few yet-to-be-unpacked boxes within reach of tiny, grabbing hands still laying about, I was officially overwhelmed. And in a totally unmotivating kind of way! Thankfully I have an understanding husband who didn't once gripe at me for the state of things and would even come home for lunch to help with Caitlin so I could rest. I don't know that I would have survived without him.
So here we are, almost in the middle of another week, and heading strong into the last half of June already. Let's just say I'd imagined having been here six months would feel alot more settled than it actually does. I wonder when that will kick in. But at least the boxes are moved, the dishes are done, the fridge/pantry are restocked and I'm back to my old self. Now onto the laundry! One day at a time, right?
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, I've really felt them in this challenging transition time. We are definitely looking forward to the time when we can offer something back to others and get involved in ministry instead of being so needy and overwhelmed. We just have to trust that that time is coming and will be upon us when we are ready.
Who knew all this would take so much out of us?! Praise God for his graciousness and unending patience.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Visitors from Up North and Other News
It's been a pleasure having my mom and sister here visiting for the last few days, especially for Caitlin. They spoil her rotten! I don't mind the break from full-time mommyhood either-!
Thanks to their continuing efforts, the house is coming together more and more. A highlight of the weekend was putting together our dining room table and six chairs (that's ALOT of screws!). Oh to have an actual place to eat at now, what joy!
Summer is also peeking its head around the corner lately and it's been fun pulling Caitlin's summery clothes out from storage. It's like a whole new wardrobe! She's definitely a summer child too, bursting at the seams with energy when it's warm out and she has minimal clothing on. Maybe it's this climate change, but she's started zipping around the house on all fours, which also means she's *quite* the challenge to "lay" down for a nap--let's just say the excitement of all the exploring to do has foiled many attempts at successful midday quiet time. Another reason to rejoice that I have "backup" here for another week!
Another newly discovered hobby on my part is garage sale-ing. I love it! There's no better way to "refurnish" a whole home--I mean, you can't beat $8 lamps, $5 bookshelves, and $1 framed art. Aaah it makes me smile!
But yet another recent realization is how much my lungs dislike the humidity that has arrived with the warmth. They just can't seem to function efficiently when the air is so moist, and being that we are right at the transition point we haven't got the ac OR heat running so there's nothing we can dry the air out with. This too shall pass, right?!
My last thought to share is how stressful it can be to attempt to buy color coordinating towels! It took Natalie and me 30 minutes for four bathrooms, two of those only needing handtowels-! Sheesh.
Happy June everyone! I can't believe it's already a "summer" month. And I also can't believe we're coming up on having been back for six months. In some ways we feel so unsettled still, but I guess that's to be expected-!
Thanks to their continuing efforts, the house is coming together more and more. A highlight of the weekend was putting together our dining room table and six chairs (that's ALOT of screws!). Oh to have an actual place to eat at now, what joy!
Summer is also peeking its head around the corner lately and it's been fun pulling Caitlin's summery clothes out from storage. It's like a whole new wardrobe! She's definitely a summer child too, bursting at the seams with energy when it's warm out and she has minimal clothing on. Maybe it's this climate change, but she's started zipping around the house on all fours, which also means she's *quite* the challenge to "lay" down for a nap--let's just say the excitement of all the exploring to do has foiled many attempts at successful midday quiet time. Another reason to rejoice that I have "backup" here for another week!
Another newly discovered hobby on my part is garage sale-ing. I love it! There's no better way to "refurnish" a whole home--I mean, you can't beat $8 lamps, $5 bookshelves, and $1 framed art. Aaah it makes me smile!
But yet another recent realization is how much my lungs dislike the humidity that has arrived with the warmth. They just can't seem to function efficiently when the air is so moist, and being that we are right at the transition point we haven't got the ac OR heat running so there's nothing we can dry the air out with. This too shall pass, right?!
My last thought to share is how stressful it can be to attempt to buy color coordinating towels! It took Natalie and me 30 minutes for four bathrooms, two of those only needing handtowels-! Sheesh.
Happy June everyone! I can't believe it's already a "summer" month. And I also can't believe we're coming up on having been back for six months. In some ways we feel so unsettled still, but I guess that's to be expected-!
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