Small Things

Hope's fourth birthday

I know I have been scarce on the blogosphere lately. I am just tired of repeating the same old complaints about hating the stress and mess of moving, and until more boxes are out the door, my tune stays the same. But today I've managed to be be not so pre-occupied, enough to bake a cake in honor of my daughter, Hope's, birthday. She would have been four years old today.

Each year we celebrate, I realize how infrequently I think of her now compared to our first year after her birth. I suppose that's just how it is. What is very interesting is how Jimmy and Mary ask us about her, and force us to think hard to come up with answers to their questions. It's . . . comforting to find each time that the simplest and best answer is just the truth.

We tell them Hope is with God, and Jesus loves her very much, and she is happy. Yes, we miss her very much. Yes, she had a boo-boo on her head. No, doctors couldn't fix it. Yes, she would probably like cake. Yes, it's ok if we eat it all for her.

 Happy Birthday Hope!

At home at last!

Yes, we are offically at home in San Diego. It is great to not be living out of a car, and to be able to cook our own food once more! But there is so much to be done, I am overwhelmed once more. Our almost three weeks on the road was like a sandwich of serenity, three weeks when there was nothing to do but enjoy the trip, after the stress of packing up and the chaos of unpacking.

Today we spent two hours at the Lowes trying to buy everything we needed at once with our 10% off coupon (thanks for that, Jill), which is no pleasant task with three whiny children. Our poor children. We are so short-tempered with them when there is endless stuff to do. They love it here so far, though--they love the back patio and the park on the corner, they love playing with their friends Spencer and Nico everyday, and they loved going to Seaworld for Father's Day.

One day soon I will post some new pictures! But Jamie will deploy within days, so each hour is precious . . .

Quck update from the road

I am in the lodge at Grand Tetons National Park, grabbing some internet time while my laundry dries. We are here in this magnificent place for one more day, and I will be sad to leave! This week here, and our week in Branson, have been so relaxed and fun. A much needed vacation after all the stress of packing up in Virginia Beach. It's weird, though, how traveling makes me forget for awhile the sadness of leaving our last place, and the chaos of setting up the next place. I am in this temporary in-between state right now, and it won't last long.

Must get going, Jamie will wake soon to find himself alone in our cabin with all three kids and have a minor freak out when he wonders where I am. I promise to check in again when we hit San Diego!