Hello Dear Sisters and Brothers...
It has been three weeks now and we are beginning to feel a little settled. Much happiness for all of your encouraging emails! The children have been outfitted with bikes (Kevin and I are borrowing bikes until ours arrive from the states) and they are real champs, biking up to 4 miles a day around town. I understand how to order my groceries online and have them delivered to my house. We have enough furniture and dishes to manage for the first few months, and on Monday we meet the childrens teachers. Some peace can come into our lives now. Taking advantage of the space for this, I weeded the overgrown garden behind the house and found some beautiful treasures.
*There are red currant and gooseberry bushes ripe for the picking.* Some plantain has made a robust patch as has some lemon balm. There is a pink rosebush that was obscured by vines, and today a rose has blossomed for us. I rescued several wild pansies and put them together by the front door. In addition, our lovely neighbor divided her fuschia and I planted it at the back of the deck. We will put some daffodil bulbs and sweet pea seeds in over the weekend, and they will bloom in yellows and purples for us this spring...
I am reminded of how tough and prickly creating a space for growth can be, of how heartwarming it is to see the first bloosoms of that work, of how much hope the effort builds. This garden can be a great resource for me over these two years, as I dig, plant, weed, and re-arrange to create a space of beauty both within the land and within my heart.
Thanks for sharing my journey.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Children
Well,
There are several tantrums every day. We finally had the house professionally fumigated, and the fleas are gone. We have some furniture and a school assignment, so now there is emotional space to rest a bit. Aurora said earlier this week, I feel so sad and I don't know why. Our adult bed has not arrived from the states yet, and because of the fleas on the floor, we have been sleeping in the bunk beds with kids. This is actually good, they need to be close to us. I am going crazy being super patient wonder mom while I hold them through thier tantrums, listen to them process, and get them out to explore a little each day. Thier highlight has been a thrift shop around the corner which has tons of puzzles and books. We can get a puzzle for 50pence, and have done one almost every day. We also walked a mile to the big shopping center and bought thier school uniforms this Friday. All grown up in slacks and jumpers with fancy dress shoes! I love that the public schools require unforms here, it will allow the kids to focus on thier studies and on making friends. Thier particular school is partially funded by the church of England, and so it makes a big deal about its caring ethos and the safety and confidence of each child. This gives me some hope, as it really does take a village to raise a child, and I think thier school village will help them to adjust. If anyone would like to send them letters and cards, this would be great. Let me know and I will email you our address privatley.
Love, Blessings, and Thanks.
I really appreciate all the reiki! And so do those kids...
There are several tantrums every day. We finally had the house professionally fumigated, and the fleas are gone. We have some furniture and a school assignment, so now there is emotional space to rest a bit. Aurora said earlier this week, I feel so sad and I don't know why. Our adult bed has not arrived from the states yet, and because of the fleas on the floor, we have been sleeping in the bunk beds with kids. This is actually good, they need to be close to us. I am going crazy being super patient wonder mom while I hold them through thier tantrums, listen to them process, and get them out to explore a little each day. Thier highlight has been a thrift shop around the corner which has tons of puzzles and books. We can get a puzzle for 50pence, and have done one almost every day. We also walked a mile to the big shopping center and bought thier school uniforms this Friday. All grown up in slacks and jumpers with fancy dress shoes! I love that the public schools require unforms here, it will allow the kids to focus on thier studies and on making friends. Thier particular school is partially funded by the church of England, and so it makes a big deal about its caring ethos and the safety and confidence of each child. This gives me some hope, as it really does take a village to raise a child, and I think thier school village will help them to adjust. If anyone would like to send them letters and cards, this would be great. Let me know and I will email you our address privatley.
Love, Blessings, and Thanks.
I really appreciate all the reiki! And so do those kids...
The North Sea
Hello,
We were so lucky for Kevins lab to take us to the north sea for a weekend shortly after arriving. The weather was beautiful, sunshine and cool breezes, and the kids and I even went swimming. The water is icy cold, the waves are about 18 inches high, and there are many many seals to swim with us. Silver and black seals, some stretched out and floated alongside me while I swam. Later we all got dressed in sweaters and coats and laid on top of the sand dunes, drinking beer and eating snacks, as Kevins lab is all German folks. They really do drink a heck of a lot of beer! We cuddled up in our tents at night under the full moon and then packed up amid a downpour Sunday morning. It really does rain some every day. It was so nice to get out of the city and feel the fresh breezes, to see the silvery north sea, to talk to the fishermen and camp among friends. If you want to look up where we were, it is Waxham Holiday Campground.
Love and Blessings,
We were so lucky for Kevins lab to take us to the north sea for a weekend shortly after arriving. The weather was beautiful, sunshine and cool breezes, and the kids and I even went swimming. The water is icy cold, the waves are about 18 inches high, and there are many many seals to swim with us. Silver and black seals, some stretched out and floated alongside me while I swam. Later we all got dressed in sweaters and coats and laid on top of the sand dunes, drinking beer and eating snacks, as Kevins lab is all German folks. They really do drink a heck of a lot of beer! We cuddled up in our tents at night under the full moon and then packed up amid a downpour Sunday morning. It really does rain some every day. It was so nice to get out of the city and feel the fresh breezes, to see the silvery north sea, to talk to the fishermen and camp among friends. If you want to look up where we were, it is Waxham Holiday Campground.
Love and Blessings,
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Adjustments
Hello Dear Ones,
We made it, we are here, happy, healthy, and together. Our house is beautiful, original wood floors from the early 1870's but a modernized kitchen and bathroom, complete with stand up shower and washer/dryer. There are 4 fireplaces in our house, a stone arch entryway we share with two neighbors, and two sheds: one for firewood and tools and one for bicycles. The house had fleas from the previous tenents and we have treated it twice, hopefully they will be gone. The bus system is expensive and confusing, the city is bustling and loud. Luckily, we have a vegetable stand and a co-op right on our street corner. We are in Romsey Town, the neighborhood for many ethnic groups, and so we have halal grocers, chinese grocers, indian grocers, and many great restaurants. Kevin will start work part time this week and hopefully we will find good second hand furniture. So far we have a beautiful dining table with ornately carved legs, and I think we will find many treasures from the old world here. Sending my love....
We made it, we are here, happy, healthy, and together. Our house is beautiful, original wood floors from the early 1870's but a modernized kitchen and bathroom, complete with stand up shower and washer/dryer. There are 4 fireplaces in our house, a stone arch entryway we share with two neighbors, and two sheds: one for firewood and tools and one for bicycles. The house had fleas from the previous tenents and we have treated it twice, hopefully they will be gone. The bus system is expensive and confusing, the city is bustling and loud. Luckily, we have a vegetable stand and a co-op right on our street corner. We are in Romsey Town, the neighborhood for many ethnic groups, and so we have halal grocers, chinese grocers, indian grocers, and many great restaurants. Kevin will start work part time this week and hopefully we will find good second hand furniture. So far we have a beautiful dining table with ornately carved legs, and I think we will find many treasures from the old world here. Sending my love....
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
On Our Way
Hello~
In the morning my family and I will be leaving for a fresh start and new discoveries. Tonight I am up until the sun rises and then some more. We have one CD left out and are listening to it over and over again. Aurora dances, Mathias snoozes on the floor, I cook for our long journey. We arrive Wed morning or Thurs morning depending on airline punctuality. We are carried by a wave of love and prosperity in this move that I am ever more grateful for. Every detail is falling into place right on time, including this blog. Many many heartfelt thanks for all of the love and generosity we have experienced in Durham!
Anon~
In the morning my family and I will be leaving for a fresh start and new discoveries. Tonight I am up until the sun rises and then some more. We have one CD left out and are listening to it over and over again. Aurora dances, Mathias snoozes on the floor, I cook for our long journey. We arrive Wed morning or Thurs morning depending on airline punctuality. We are carried by a wave of love and prosperity in this move that I am ever more grateful for. Every detail is falling into place right on time, including this blog. Many many heartfelt thanks for all of the love and generosity we have experienced in Durham!
Anon~
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