Wednesday was Maeser's birthday. The best part about being 5 is you are very enthusiastic, about everything. And Maeser had lots of expectations today... leaving a lot of room for disappointment.
The first being he specifically invited Violet to come to his birthday.
Requests like an airplane cake are impossible unless Rocky lives close enough to bake and decorate. We bought a plane to throw on top of a cake. A friend offered to prep fondant (frosting that looks like playdough) and when she sent it over she said "Give it to the kids and let them decorate the cake." Scary. I was super impressed as it turned into the funnest birthday party ever. And so much sugar. We're kinda off sugar, so it was actually disgusting. I was so happy to scrape plates of cake into the garbage after the children couldn't finish their piece. (Note- Abe finished off his own and Scout's before we realized we was working his way around the table.)
I'm learning how to ponder. Like really meditate. It has always been a difficult thing. Like the time right before you fall asleep, when you should be winding down is when my mind is reeling. I'm always grabbing a notebook to write something down, or a thought, or sending a text. Even in the morning, I'm in a rush to start. To get as much done as I can before children wake. Hopefully no longer. I love it. I love that I'm finding a peaceful moment that I'm making time for. That I can think about one thing, hopefully, and just be open to new ideas. I feel like I am learning better how to communicate with God, and it isn't because I am doing more talking, but because I am trying to do more listening. I don't know if that makes any sense. But I am trying to be still. And I have a desire to understand. And I know, that eventually it will all come together and these things, pondering and quieting my mind, will become easier. I kept running into the verse in JSH 1:11-12 "While I was laboring... I reflected on it again and again..." It is active participation in the process. There is a difference between the kinds of laboring, I'm learning.
I spent an afternoon walking through homes near the school. I think we will be moving to Woodland this summer. I love the idea of the children walking to school. I loath the idea that Dan will be so much farther. His commute will take forever. We could chose to be within minutes of the office- and bus the children an hour to school. We're choosing the lesser of two evils. One, of the 40+ homes, seemed promising. I actually have a short list with 4-5 homes on it, but this one really stood out today. I rarely make very many large financial and lasting decisions (with contracts) but the home makes such an impact on everything. I know we could be happy anywhere, a cardboard box in Central Park even. But it wouldn't be very comfortable and I doubt the children would want to spend much time there. The market is a riot. That's beside the point. We will be here for years, and I think we've found a place that we can be in for an extended time. That also sounds superb.
The school called while I was in the neighborhood, Mary was sick, and instead of the 20 minutes commute I was there in 3 minutes and driving her home. That was also comforting.
I hope I never forget what it is like to have a teething infant, I'll forever by sympathetic to a young mother with an infant. And I hope Moses gets over it quick. Without exaggeration, he cried for 5 1/2 of the last 7 hours.
Love, Amy and Dan
Photos: Birthday cake, playing Sleeping Queens on the Singapore Flyer for Maeser's birthday, trying to swim laps with Dan.
