Looking for adventure

I really want a change of scenery. And not just any change of scenery - one that I feel certain is in the center of God's perfect will and somewhere I can (ideally) feel excited about.

We've been really hoping that this next season will open up doors to new places. Our hopes have been set on Canada, but we're not sure if that's really in God's plan for us just yet. However, I love the idea of "going home" and living in Ontario again.

Thankfully, I'm also ok with staying put. For now anyways, not for always. I don't want to be in the Cleveland-area ten years from now. Maybe not even five years from now. Or two years. But God has a way, thankfully, of making things happen at just the right time, whether quickly or not too soon. The trick of course, is finding contentment in those holding places that God keeps us in sometimes.

I feel like Cleveland is a holding place. It's always been a layover between more desirable locations. A place to rest before moving somewhere else. I didn't think I'd be camped out here for so many years - in fact, I'm starting to feel like we may be stuck here forever! But then lots of good has come from staying, so I just have to keep trusting, trusting, trusting.

We're praying that even if we are here for a few more years that change will still come but more from within, I suppose, than from obvious outside circumstances. As we look ahead to the very near future, we're praying for:

1) A true sense of close-knit community

2) A new job that provides for our family

3) Support for when the next baby comes

4) A closer walk with God - the kind you can't go back on; the kind that transforms you forever.

I'm trusting God to provide all these things. I've been reminded over the past few days that God is the only one who can work this situation for our good.

Answers

For the past year, Tim and I have felt somewhat unsettled with the path we're on. Not because we felt it was out of God's will, per say, but rather that we felt He wanted more for us and more from us. However, either of these things just didn't seem to be happening with the current situation.

More and more we've been pressed to ask for God's clear direction on what's next for us and in the last month (since finding out I was pregnant) it's become a desperate plea. Even though our hearts were being pulled in a new direction, we wanted God's confirmation before taking any definitive steps and I was beginning to think that He was just going to let us figure it out for ourselves.

But of course, as God's timing often calls for patience, it wasn't until this week that we finally received confirmation on what to expect in the coming months.

And it's good and it's freeing and it leaves so much room for uncertainty. Which could (and should?) freak us out, I suppose. But for the first time in years I feel like an adventure with God, free from any obligations to man, is truly in front of me. And I'm excited.

Still sick

I've been sick for two months. And not pregnant sick - just normal person sick. Except not normal because this chest and head cold is hanging on for dear life. It's resulted in a whole lot of laziness and lack of motivation across the board. On top of that, I am pregnant sick. Thankfully (I suppose) I just suffer from a whole lot of nausea that never results in a trip to the bathroom - just a whole lot of moans and groans and generally feeling sorry for myself. Speaking of pregnancy I have my first appointment with the doctor today to check on how things (or the baby, rather) is developing. This pregnancy has been one of shock more than it has been... excitement.... so I'm still sort of in a daze about the whole thing.

Oh - and did I mention that Jack turned 1 year old?!! I debated writing a whole post about it the day of but as I said... sick and tired doesn't equal much motivation to put things down on virtual paper. His actual birth-day was a quiet affair at my parents with dinner and cake (vegan banana cake) which turned out to be scrumptious and we had the joy of watching Jack literally shovel it into his mouth in the way that kids do. He got a dump truck and a pail with tools for the beach (we're going to Goderich!!!!!!!!!) which he was very excited about, as well as some nice outfits which he didn't pay much attention to, but we loved.

And that is the story of my current health and Jack's first birthday.

The End.

One plus one equals...

In case you've ever wondered, the subtitle to this blog, "one plus one equals three" is a simple, creative way of explaining the math behind a family of three (one parent plus one parent...you get it.) I first heard the phrase a few years ago at my mother in law's house. It was Christmastime, Tim and I were engaged, and we were helping Susan unpack her decorations. There was a small plaque of the holy family and underneath read, "One plus one equals three." The phrase, in relation to us, was quickly (with tongue in cheek) changed to "One plus one equals three... if that" due to my uncertainty of whether or not I even wanted children. Eventually the "joke" became a point of concern and Tim and I had to have a pretty serious talk about the difference between "if we had kids" and "when we had kids" - I always argued for the former, Tim the latter.

Well, here we are 2 years later and clearly I moved from "if" to "when" pretty quickly. I've mentioned a number of times that I'm not a baby person, nor even a kid person. If that sounds harsh, let me define what I mean:

baby/kid person : someone (most often female) who likes holding babies, thinking about babies, can't wait to have babies, loves to play with babies, wants to hold other people's babies and/or likes playing with kids, being around kids, having their own kids, having LOTS of kids.

I am not any of these things, unless said children belong to close friends or family (and sometimes not even then) or of course, if the child's name is Jack Elijah Myers. And I mean that - I'm always amazed at how deeply I love my baby and how I oodle over him in ways I wouldn't have ever expected. That said, before he was born, it was hard for me to imagine actually raising children and doing so with flying colors. Thus, I felt unqualified (and still do) to be a mother. But, I could handle the thought of raising one child. Just one. Tim always wanted just one too. Perfect.

That was ... until we had Jack and then he wanted another. Wait a minute - I signed up for one! This was always my defense against the suggestion of adding to our family of three. He even made it one of his New Year's resolutions to get me pregnant by December (no joke, you can read about it here). I nervously laughed about this but had to admit that I didn't necessarily maybe sort of mind the idea of being pregnant again... although that's as far as I went - being pregnant. Not necessarily having and rearing another little creature.

Then we had a couple of experiences with parents (honest to goodness, lovely parents who we respect and love) who have 2+ children and seeing the challenges they face with that extra +1 made Tim rescind a bit of his eagerness over adding to our little trio.

At this point I'm sure you're wondering where the heck I'm going with this. Of course, most of you who read this space already know that one plus one will be equalling four sooner than expected. January 2012 to be exact. Yep - somehow a baby slipped in there when we weren't paying close enough attention to ... ahem... details.

I'm just under 7 weeks along, so it's still very early and we're holding it all lightly in our hands, but amidst our shock there is absolutely excitement in there too. And trepidation - I'm not going to lie. Two babies sounds like a lot at this very moment, especially since they'll be less than two years apart.

So I have to keep coming back to the knowledge that God is in control - this pregnancy is so much more about Him than it will ever be about us, and when the time comes, I'm trusting He will give me the extra grace and patience required to mother these children in a way that brings Him glory.

(FYI - I debated holding off posting about this until I was 12 weeks, but I couldn't wait to use the great little "Bun in the Oven" widget over on the right panel! Our baby looks like a little salamander at the moment)

Blossom Festival

For the third year in a row, we went to Chagrin Falls for the annual Blossom Festival. We all gather at Aunt Kim and Uncle Daniel's, meander down the road for a glimpse at the parade and then eat delicious food back at the house. This was Jack's first taste of a small town parade and we were curious to see how he'd respond. We had quickly handed him off to Tim's sister when we got there, expecting that he would start to cry, especially since he's not been feeling 100% lately, but were pleasantly surprised when he sat on her lap, quietly taking it all in as his little cheeks grew more and more pink from the 80 degree weather.

Also in the rookie category to the whole experience were Cameron and Ellie who tagged along with us - they are, after all, part of the family these days. I still can't believe that at the age of 23, Cameron had not been to a parade up until today.

One thing they introduced us to was Jeni's Ice Cream Shop (they'd visited one on their honeymoon), which just so happened to be situated in the town square. The prices were a bit high ($3 for one half-scoop. That's right... a half scoop) but as Tim put it, "Would you rather pay $3 for two scoops of cheap ice cream, or $3 for a half scoop of really good ice cream?" And truth be told, Jeni's ice cream is pretty high end. Any ice cream shop that sells flavors like Goat Cheese with Red Cherries isn't going to come cheap. And for all those unique flavor combinations, I ended up going with boring dark chocolate though the taste was far from boring - and ok, almost worth the $3.

Goderich, please

A good part of my summers have been spent in Goderich, Ontario - a place so close to my heart that it pains me when we can't go. This year was looking to be one of those sorely-missed visits, but a change in my parents plans just might make it happen.

There have been talks over the years of relocating our all-family vacation to somewhere within the States to keep it closer to home, but I always insist that it won't be the same. There's a legacy that exists within our family of summers spent at the cottage in Canada (not America). Returning to Goderich is a reminder of all the memories of old and an opportunity to make new ones with the up and coming generations in our family. It's a place to remember and reflect - to think on and thank Nanny and Grandpa, the two very special people who are no longer with us, but without whom the tradition might never have been started. My sense of loyalty to this place and pastime runs deep which must be why I feel it's an insult to suggest that we should ever carry on the tradition somewhere else.

All that said, I'm praying that plans are finalized to go up in August. Due to the growing size of our family (8 grandkids and counting!), we've had to up the rental to three cottages (we started with 1!) and seeing as this is all very last minute, it will be quite the small-time miracle if it actually all comes to fruition. I so hope it does. It would do my heart good to return to the sparkling shores of Lake Huron.

Hal and Jude enjoying the sunset :)

Reunion!

The newly married Philipses returned from their mini-honeymoon to some very eager neighbors: US! We've missed them and have been really excited to hear all about their first few days together as husband and wife. We celebrated our reunion with oatmeal raisin cookies and about thirty rounds of Dutch Blitz.

For as much as we've had beautiful, sunny weather the past few days, today we experienced a small taste of what middle America has been suffering lately; there's nothing quite so frightening as a sky that was as black and ominous as the one we saw today. My heart is aching for all those people who lost someone this week from the tornados, especially this family. I just can't imagine the grief that this mother must be experiencing..... Lord recover this little boy safe and sound. Comfort this family in their distress with the knowledge that their youngest is in your safe-keeping.