the busy week

This week has been a busy one.  On Tuesday, my dear friend Caragh dropped off two parrots for us to bird-sit. They are beautiful creatures but, so loud and very demanding of attention. Aruba is here in the photo. She is adorable. She loves to dance and play peek-a-boo. She took to my Beloved and loved to sit on his shoulders and nibble (sometimes bite) his ears and neck. 

Boca is the other parrot. He was more shy and took a while to warm up to us. Once he did, he loved to do "kisses" and have his feathers petted. He is a lovely green color with a blue head. 

We worried about the cats initially. They steered clear of these two, noisy birds. Pup-Pup on the other hand loved these birds. He would try to lick any feathers that stuck out of their cages. 

On Saturday, one of my nieces, Ava Kate Howell Warren, flew in to Boston from Virginia. She is 20, looks younger, but has a mature and thoughtful mind. She is a joy to be with. Her precious husband wasn't able to join her this time as he had to work. 

We walked through Boston after parking under the Common and looked for discount tickets at our favorite kiosk across from the Boston Public Library. They weren't selling any for Mary Poppins. 

We walked to the theater district and went into the Boston Opera House. They had matinee tickets for Mary Poppins on sell. We had just enough time to grab a quick lunch before the show started.

The Boston Opera House does not look like anything special from the street. Once inside, the place is magnificent.  It's hard to believe this landmark was closed for over 10 years. It opened it's doors in 1928 and hosted vaudeville. When vaudeville lost it's popularity, it became a place for movies, then concerts and then opera. Financial troubles closed it. Thankfully, it was rescued and restored and the first show performed in the renovated building was The Lion King. 

The interior is lush. Elaborate French Baroque floor-to-ceiling detailing is overwhelming. Everywhere I look, is details of marble, brass, gold leaf, decorative plaster, wall murals and mirrors. The grand staircase is just that, grand.

We settled into our seats and the show began. This production is from Broadway Across America.

Photos are not allowed but, I must say, Ava and I were impressed. 

We even found ourselves wiping tears away at the end.

Bert was played by Nicolas Dromard. Mary Poppins was played by Steffanie Leigh. The supporting cast is phenomenal. The set designs, costumes, music, dancing, singing and acting is top notch. 

After the show, we walked to China Town and ate a light supper at my favorite dim sum restaurant. Winsor Dim Sum Cafe. The wonton soup is hearty and the dim sum is fresh and inexpensive.

The remaining three days of her visit were packed. She helped me sort the playroom and shed stuff the kids just don't play with anymore. We bagged the Panera bread donation for the bread ministry Saturday and Monday night. She joined me Tuesday morning at the ladies Bible Study. She helped me with our Charlotte who got very sick with a high fever and hallucinations. Before we knew it, it was time for her to fly back home.

Our only healthy child, Ben, rode with me to the airport. Pup-Pup demanded riding along too. It was bittersweet saying goodbye to Ava. We don't know if we'll be in Boston together again.

On the drive home, I saw Boston in a different light. This is the city where our triplets were born. This is a city that holds so many precious memories for me. I grieve leaving. 

(This is a photo of the Zachem Bridge that Ava took last summer)

I came home to three sick children. Charlotte with a high fever. Into the cool bath she went.

Grant was sent home early from school with a high fever and a bad cough. 

Max with the same. 

I'm not feeling well either. I suffer with scoliosis and spina bifida occulta and today sciatic nerve pain is almost unbearable. 

I look forward to Spring when we can open up the windows and enjoy the fresh air. I look forward to this next journey although I will miss the one I'm in right now.

winter break in minnesota (road trip)

We decided to load up the van with the kids and Pup and head to Minnesota last week. It was the children's winter break from school. 

We had planned to leave by early evening on Wednesday but, my Beloved had an assignment due for school and I was still cleaning and packing. We put the kids to bed after 8 and by 10 our Ben was vomiting. 

Bless his heart. He fell asleep on a pile of clean blankets on the floor while I was changing his bed.

I began another load of laundry. By 3 in the morning we were ready to go.

We weren't sure if we should. Benjamin is emotionally intelligent. He is articulate and reasonable for a 6 year old. He was ready to go. No fever, no sickness so, our little troupers found their seats and buckled in for the 26 hour drive.

Pup joined us and usually sat between the driver and passenger seats on the center console. Our Honda Odyssey has made the trek to and from California, to Wyoming and back, and up and down the Maine to Massachusetts coast. Now it's made the trek to Minnesota and back. We pray before every journey.

I began the drive and drove and drove while the others slept. I drove through sleet and freezing rain; through hail and snow. Driving the toll roads gets expensive but, they are clear and salted and sanded and safe.By morning it was time for me to have a break. We entered Indiana  covered in ice. The morning sun sent silvery spikes through each blade of ice. It was magical looking. Every tree encased in ice. Miles and miles of trees encased in ice. Pennsylvania covered in ice. Ohio covered in ice. Indiana covered in ice. Illinois covered in ice. Wisconsin covered in ice. It was surreal.

We made it into Minnesota by 5 in the morning. 

We crashed into beds and had naps.

We promised our children a day at the Mall of America.

We dropped Pup off at the best doggie day care. Peanut's Place. They were ready for him.

The Mall of America is in Bloomington, MN. It is ginormous. 7 acres BIG. There is a theme park in the middle of it and a Lego store smack dab next to the amusement park. It is a young boy's dream of a place.

The wall of Legos is impressive. Of course, Lego is smart in it's marketing. The store is like a museum with little cubbies filled with characters and buildings and themes. 

Walls are packed with Lego boxes. Lego statues are on the ceiling and in the store. The whole store structure looks like one big Lego.

We had to pull the boys forward and out of the store. Thankfully, the amusement park is eye candy too.

We purchased the all-day passes for all 6 of us. That seemed to be the most cost-effective.

We spent the day riding the rides. Over and over again. I highly recommend going to this amusement park on a Thursday when their schools are in session. We had the place to ourselves. There were no lines to wait in, no pushy people or restroom stalls to wait for. It was our own private playground. Fun!

We hadn't had fun like that in a long while. With the prospect of income in the very near future, there was a burden missing from our shoulders. It was a lot of fun watching my Beloved with his sons. Grant and Max are the roller coaster riders. They went on the log ride over and over again. Charlotte and Ben are the more gentle riders. They loved the Backyardagain swings.

We took a lunch break at Johnny Rockets. The vanilla malts and french fries are the best!

It was fun dropping nickels in the counter top jukebox and selecting songs. The Lollipop song, In the Jungle, and Joy to the World (Jeremiah was a bullfrog) are the favorites.

By late afternoon, we were all tired and ready to fetch the Pup and rest in our hotel.

Pup was thrilled to see us and his newly trimmed nails looked great.

We slept well. Friday we explored Minnesota. We checked out my Beloved's new place of employment, looked at neighborhoods and schools and lakes and towns.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions. When will my Beloved begin work? How long until we need to move? Should we try to keep the kids in school here? Will we break even on the sell of our home or lose money? Where should we live there? What can we afford?

One day at a time. Sometimes, one step at a time.

Thankfully, we have the love and support of many.

We left for home on Saturday. It was good to be home. Home is here.

A Journey of Faith starts with a single "yes".

Eighteen months (a year an a half) ago my Beloved was laid off from his job. The company he worked for was purchased by another. Over a years time, this new company let everyone go. My Beloved worked for this company for 9 years. He was a dedicated employee, giving his company more time than many other employees. He has always been a loyal employee with every company he's worked for.                           

This is a new experience for us. We didn't expect it to be a long journey. My Beloved is smart and talented and educated.
After about a month of processing the loss and coming to terms with it, he began the task of searching for another job. 

He put together a map - a guide to find the next job.

He takes the classes offered by his now past company. He tweaks his resume', he searches Monster.com and   joins Linkedin (a professional networking site). He begins to cold call and contacts co-workers from past jobs. He sends out a multitude of resumes and attends job fairs.

Nothing, for a long time.

We are grateful for a severance package that lasts three, yes 3 months. 

We then apply for unemployment.

We live in a nice home. We pay a hearty mortgage to live in a nice home, in a nice neighborhood.

Where were we going? What were we going to do? 

How were we going to stay in our home and provide for our family on unemployment? Our triplets were not yet in school. Should I go back to work? Not yet. My Beloved believed he would land a good job soon.

There were obstacles in the way. My Beloved had phone interviews, in person interviews and had recruiters call. People were interested in him.  Still, no job offer.

We prayed. Our family and friends prayed for us.

Our fellowship supported us. People brought us food, gift cards, cash.

An anonymous donor sent us a large money gift. 

We felt we could stay a little longer in our home. Maybe three more months.

Our family supported us. 

We continued to live in our home and had funds to pay our mortgage and utilities. We were able to put gasoline in our car. We have friends who allowed us to spend a summer week in a cottage in Cape Cod. My
Beloveds parents paid for our trip to Wyoming to spend a summer week in Grand Teton National Park with them and my Beloveds older brother and his wife.  My mother was faithful in sending money to us.

Our children have not suffered. In fact, they loved having their Daddy home in the mornings to make breakfast for them and send them off to school. He was also home when they got off the school bus in the afternoon. He has gotten to know them so well.

We were blessed in supernatural ways. How could we still be in our home after a year and a half?

How could this be? We have been thrifty with our money and had a little amount of money in savings but, never enough to continue to live in our home. 

I babysat, helped others organize and made beaded light catchers to bring in some money but, never enough to live on.

It is not because of anything we have done.

It is because we live our lives with promises from God.

"I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in." Malachi 3:10

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7

"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

We love living here. We love the friends we have here. 

We like this place and our roots go deep.

But, God has a different journey for us.

"You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21

My Beloved flew to Minnesota a few weeks ago. 

The company interviewing him loved him and this past Monday, they offered him a job. A very good job.

One of my friends (Joy Fenton) told me that if this job had been available 3 months into unemployment, my Beloved probably would have turned it down. She says that God knew he needed 18 months to accept it. She is one smart lady. I think she is right.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." James 1: 2 and 3

A new journey awaits us.