October 6, 2013
I really want to be able to sit on a comfy couch with Anna and Sarah someday, and read this blog. I want to remember these days. They are so cute. I love watching Sarah waddle. I love watching Anna dance and sing and run. How am I ever going to remember all of this? It is too much. I'm overwhelmed with goodness.
What are we up to tomorrow, Monday, October 7th, 2013?
Well, we have to get out of the house, girls! We're painting your bedrooms, or what Bryan and I hope will someday be your bedrooms, tomorrow.
We were going to go to Whidbey Island and visit Brooke, Bella and Annie Stout, but Bella has a stomach virus so we need to stay away. We'll visit them in two weeks. But, tomorrow, what we'll do is anyone's guess.
Tonight, I'll pray about it, ponder different options.
I've had a lingering sense that we're meant to explore our neighborhood more. Go on foot. Stay out of the car. I want to pay attention to the neighbors. I want to visit local parks. I want to get to know the people on our street.
Our new neighborhood is lovely. It is not gritty or dirty or sketchy. Why am I missing those things? Why am I missing sketchiness and weirdness, randomness and dirt? Every one seems to be doing well here. Every one is pleasant. Happy, nice. I used to get anxious that our neighborhood wasn't safe, stable, clean or pleasant. Now, I feel lonely and isolated. No one wants to be our friend in our new neighborhood because they already have everything they need.
I know that's not true, so I need to pray. The Lord gave us this house for a reason. Our 9th offer. At asking price. No other offers but ours. Lord, please give me patience to love my neighborhood and most of all, my neighbors. Let me be intentional about relationships and getting to know them. Let us dig in to this neighborhood, without fleeing to the familiar all the time. Without fleeing to the exciting and new. Let's be bored. Let's have lazy, unstructured afternoons. Let's get in sibling arguments and make a mess. Let's play dress up and make believe. Wouldn't it be nice to have friends in the neighborhood we could invite over to make a mess with us? There's little Emily on the corner, Will & Charlotte across the street. Their moms are so nice. Carolyn, across the street, wants to have play dates but I haven't seen her. I need her phone number so I can text her, to see when would be a good time. Our afternoons are always free. Sarah naps, Anna watches a movie, and I take a deep breath after our busy mornings.
Oh, our mornings! What have I gotten us into. It started with just MOPS on Tuesdays. I think the girls have an okay time, but that feels like it's mostly for me. I love eating, sitting, listening and being ministered to. Then I signed Anna up for Gymnastics on Wednesdays. Only 45 minutes though. Sarah needed something so she is going to Friday co-op preschool from 8:30am - 9:45am in Magnolia, because they had room and there is a play room for Anna while I'm with Sarah in her classroom.
Then...Anna got off the wait-list for the Magnolia Co-op, a W,TH,F class from 9:15 - 11:15. Well, there goes our week. Except for Mondays. Mondays are the only variable. Anna and I just finished up our Farmer Jayne Little Farmers class at Kelsey Creek Farm Park in Bellevue. My mom watched Sarah and loved having time with her. So, we may continue to go to Bellevue on Mondays, or we'll keep that day open for things like visiting Brooke on Whidbey or seeing Nicole, Lachlan and Ryan.
I met with Angela today about co-leading Refresh, the MOPS Bible Study at University Presbyterian Church. I know Refresh will be the best thing about my Fall. The Lord has some deep things to do in our lives if we'll surrender.
Which brings me, I need to sign off and go pray. I need to remember who is my Master. Not stress, not this house, not the lack of heat, not food. It is Jesus, who loves me and wants to talk to me tonight. Why do I avoid Him? Please have mercy on me, Lord.
