We finished our journey through the Anne of Green Gables series. It took us ten months. And as I looked backward I realised how much had changed in those ten months. I stared out reading the series with a just-barely one year old in my hands and ended the series with an almost 5 month old and a toddler in bed nearby. Wild to think of the amount of change that happened in our world between chapters. Heck, if we went back today and met those people ten months ago we would find ourselves strangers.
I began thinking today as I listened to Tarzan in the background of Matt and my lunch date in the dining room once the kids were all in their rest places. I wondered how culture shocked adventurers, missionaries and explorers must feel in “visiting” the States, or even just cities. So often we city/suburb folks think of vacationing out to somewhere quiet and how de-stressing that thought would be – a place to avoid all the noise of being home. And yet between expeditions, adventures, or missions trips there must be the opposite affect. How some days I long for the quiet and then on those days I get the quiet I suddenly have no idea what to do. Funny how one can find themselves in both places and be such strangers.
My sister wrote a blog entry on her birthday about enjoying the thought of becoming older. I think she and I share the desire to have a greater usefulness of our lives for Jesus. And I think we also share the same “disillusions” that coming in age is not a bad thing. Apparently our culture feels hat wrinkles and gray hairs need to be masked – as if youth somehow holds the key to all understanding and knowledge. And I was wondering after reading Jes‘ post if when we are old we will be respected, or if our culture will have successfully written off the possibility that wisdom can indeed come from experience, even experience that shows itself in gray hairs. Nice to now that after 20-some-odd years Jes and I still think quite similarly and have not found ourselves to be strangers.
Rachael’s been sick for about a week. We missed church Sunday and were unable to attend again on Wednesday night. While I’m sure people are appreciate Rachael’s ability to be selfish with her cold when it comes to their toddlers sharing far too much, there is an odd sense of isolation in he quiet of this un-interrupted week. We usually find ourselves visiting with cousins, planning play dates with friends, and playing in the mall during any given week. But Rachael’s nasty coughing and fire-hydrant nose screams “run for your life” to all mothers and their children. And it’s funny how one week of shut-in can make me feel like we’re strangers.
In less strange news =) :
– Abi’s rolling over (occasionally)
– Abi’s trying new baby foods
– Abi’s enjoying being put down more = YAY!!!
– Rachael’s quite creative – sometimes to her detriment
– Rachael still says the funnies things with such sincerity of heart
– Rachael’s now sleeping in a toddler bed – the rail is officially gone off her crib.
– Matt’s busy with school but is looking forward to the last 2 weeks of school ahead
– Matt and I are going away for a night after Thanksgiving to just be the two of us w/o kids and we’re SO EXCITED.
– And well me… um…. yeah, I’m good. Really am. Just humming along here.
Oh and we’re starting reading the Chronicles of Narnia now before nap time. Yay fun!
– hope you’re doing well!
