When a Season has Changed

These days, as I've observed Tehya prepare for her first trip back to her home in Indonesia, I've had some time to wonder about the ebb and flow of this life we've shared. 

Thinking back to that very teary day when we said goodbye to her as a toddler, I never could have imagined a day like today. Grown up Tehya, stepping up to the check-in counter at the airport and taking care of all the details pertaining to travel overseas. On her own. 

Not like seventeen years ago, when I packed up tiny gifts for her mom to give to her in future days ... a favorite cup, a story book, band-aids, smarties, a stuffed toy, bubbles, a purse with tiny treasures inside, thoughtfully wrapped to evoke memories of her Grammy and Papa. There was no good facetime way of communicating, but today it's all just like the tide that receded and returned.  

While we get glimpses of that sweet baby face and attitude that will tackle any problem, it has been a time to move on and go deeper. Our rooms have been filled with joy, music and spontaneus dance, as she has helped us settle into our smart home. We've observed her pen and paper journaling, aritistically putting into words or art, the things that inspire her.  We've shared unexpected moments, such as going through her box of treasures, while unpacking my long ago unfounded fear of not being able to have a relationship with grandchildren so far away. We've happily survived driving lessons, last minute made plans, snow shoeing, bike rides, baking fancy cakes, laughing through movies, meeting new friends and finding her gone to watch the sun rise. 

These have been days of catching up and being blessed in ways that only came about because her home was once far away. 

One Year in our New Home

I can hardly believe a year has gone by ...

a year like no other, for many reasons.

One would wonder if it feels like home yet and, yes, 

there are times I still feel like I'm on vacation here.

Not really a bad thing.

I heard this week from friends who also moved and

they noted that a home only feels like home once you've made memories in it.

Something harder to do when socializing is limited.

I remember not wanting to wait to have friends over last year,

and I have been so thankful for the ones we squeezed in before we had to stop.

Making shared memories is a big part,

at least for us, to make it feel like home.

Family has been about for the most part and that has helped.

New to our visitor list are the deer!

Last year I was so frustrated about my first buds being chewed off,

but this year, with some extra care, they have not done too much damage yet. 

We put lupine seeds into the ground last year

and I think we'll have them for good now.

This year they came back in full force, with many blooms on them!

I love the color combinations

and it's been fun to bring them inside as well.

When I think about this past year, 

I can compare it to just that - the planting of seeds

that will produce in due time.

While I've been in a waiting room of sorts, 

preparing, hoping and wishing to share our life and our home;

it's also been an unplanned way to rest

and to truly appreciate our new space and season in life.

What I Always Want to Remember

His sweet, happy smile when his pre-school teacher sees me in the pick up line and lets him leave the class. I observe his confident gait, proudly holding his latest artwork in one hand while the other takes my hand.

Oh, and the ride home, peeking in my rear-view mirror and listening to him chat about life from his four-year-old perspective. It would be a good idea to find a slow way home.

 "So what are we going to do when we get to your house?" he wants to know. I tell him that I have bun dough rising and that we can bake buns. I suggest that we can make chocolate muffins if he wants to and tell him that we can play games and maybe watch The Donut Man.

"Those are four plans." he says, processing just a tad ahead of me.

He talks for a while and suddenly I hear, "and that's the end of the story ... but now I want to tell you something that's not a story." Too late, I realize I missed it.

He wants to know what I do when Papa and he are not with me. Good question.

Is it possible that he enjoys entertaining me because he doesn't have to compete with three sisters on this ride? I hear him make mention of his job site. Although this is familiar language in our family, I am surprised how young they start these days! I ask, "you have a job site?" to which he responds that he has seven job sites! Obviously I have some questions about his involvement!

At home we work and play together, from pinching buns to reading a stack of books of his choice, which is most likely my favorite thing. His mind, like a sponge, taking it all in, every picture, every lesson, every detail. Would that time could stand still!

I treasure this time, knowing that in reality, one day, after many other days, I may barely remember it! So how will he? And yet, specifics remembered or not, life has a way of taking that invisible thread, gathering experiences and love shared, to play a part in who we become. No matter how far he goes, may this love go with him all his days.

❤❤❤

Tribute to my Mom

 A gift more precious than gold. 

First Spring

Although it's close to a year since we moved, 

this is the first time we get to watch all that died over the winter

come back to life. 

We had some amazing weather after Easter;

it felt like a promise of wonderful days to come. 

I planted these tulips in a planter by our front door,

a mix of cheer, even for the few that enter. 

Just off our porch we watched the small magnolia tree 

blossoms open for the first time. 

The joy was short lived, but it will be green all summer

and I love green. 

Beside the back porch we have this landscaped area 

leading to our bedroom window.

Oma's rose bush is one we tranplanted from the other house

because of its sentimental value.

Many years ago my mom gifted us with a stem cutting from 

her rose bush called by that name, in lieu of her mom, namely our Oma. 

A new to us climbing vine is this wisteria.

Since planting it, some have warned us of its intrusiveness

but we hope to keep it in check.

I'm trying to convince my H to let it grow up onto the Juliet balcony. 

Wouldn't it be beautiful?

We can always chop it where it strays.

Those are my thoughts.

The back yard slopes quite a bit, so these retaining walls

were made to create some stepped areas with some landscaping.

This area is our very tiny orchard, that includes

apple trees, a pear tree and a plum tree.

Inbetween, there are blackberries and grapes.

Coming around the bend,

some blueberry plants as well. 

At the very back/bottom of the yard 

a small dogwood tree has shown off it's blooms this past week.

And that's it for today.

This first year is an exciting time of discovery,

kind of like a honeymoon stage,

and I may find myself posting updates. 

 

 

Beauty of the Season

About a week ago Tehya drove us to Vancouver

so that she could practice her driving in the area where her road test was scheduled for.

It's been difficult to book locally, so our carefee, brave girl opted for the city.

One of the things I love about Vancouver in spring are the blossoming trees.

I am so happy to see that they let them just arch over the street.

I could not get enough of the view.

Once we were done with locating the school zone and practicing parallel parking,

she decided to drive through downtown to Stanley Park. 

Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world, mostly surrounded by water.

It borders the downtown of Vancouver and that is one of the beautiful things about it ...

an oasis in the city, which literally keeps the city from expanding.

We walked the seawall for a ways on this beautiful day.

So special that she didn't mind spending the day with us, when she had other options.

Two days later, I drove in with her again

and I got to see her return from her test with a big smile and thumbs up!

Nervousness was replaced with the thrill of achievement as

we savored our coffees and banana bread on a sidewalk bench before driving home.

(The picture that never got taken but remains in my heart.)

What a joy and privilege it is to be able to be part of this season of her life -

even while it takes her one step closer to freedom.

❤❤❤