togetherness

We like to be together.  We don't like to be apart, though it makes me realize how much we rely on one another and I love that...living life as a family.  We each miss him in our own way when he is gone and we are whole when he's home. 

The days are very nostalgic now.  Last dinners, conversations of when we will see each other again.  Christmas music playing and putting up a tree, but not ours.

We are anticipating much.  That helps in the midst of change.  Those around us are such beautiful people.  That, of course, does not make the change easier except that I don't feel alone in this journey and for that I'm thankful. 

pants

And just like that, we are out of the "wearing dresses every single day" phase.  Trying to grow and adapt with her since, at many moments, there is a young lady before us.

ironing

I don't usually like to iron, but as I ready his shirts for packing I find how grateful I am for this man and how thrilled I am that he gets to spend a few days with a dear friend in the city...just as we get ready to leave this specific spot on earth.

boxes

While many put up trees, lights and ornaments we pack up, put things in boxes and throw extras away.  Oddly enough, I'm feeling okay about it. 

Maybe it's because we will be with such dear people for the next eight weeks...starting now.  

thankful

The day started with a 5k.  I didn't run, but I cheered.  I absolutely love cheering and feel quite passionate about it (probably got that from my dad, now that I think about it). 

A friend's friend brought me coffee.  I'd never met him.  The cup was warm. 

We headed home, slowly got the turkey going, scones made (not me, but Abby's fantastic baking skills), got ourselves ready for the day.  

Shanna brought a turkey craft for Evee.  Together we used the kitchen, we all made different dishes and it was fun to all be apart of it.  My first whole turkey turned out and we shared what we were thankful for and there is so much. 

Football, talking, eating, game playing, moving watching and a needed conversation with tea in our hands. 

I am thankful.  Hoping your day and weekend leave you feeling blessed.

Sweet Evee is a shy one.  Oh, it is tough at times as a parent.

Today, though, as I buckled her into her seat (after a whole lot of shyness, even among friends) I thought,

"oh world, just wait until you find her out." 

And I loved that thought.

 She is a beauty.

for you (if you'd like)

I mentioned in this post that we will do another musing garland this year.  We are looking forward to starting it on December 1st, which is coming quite quickly.

In that post, I mentioned that I would make a few extra to share and I've started on those.

The basic concept is that each day we answer one question that is about the year past (2011 this year).  We do this from December 1st through December 25th, Christmas day.  Then we take December 26th through the 31st to look ahead and answer questions about what we hope for the year ahead.

Even at 3 years old, Evee participated well last year and it's fun to look back at our answers from 2010 and hopes for 2011 (and whether they happened!).  After it is complete, we put it on the tree (or, last year we took it off and put it on each day).  I dream of a tree full of these garlands as we continue this tradition through the years.

So, all that to say, if anyone is interested in one, I would be more than happy to send you
:: the garland (with 25 looking-back tabs and 6 for looking-ahead), some are yellow, others white, and others a light green
:: the list of questions we use
:: and possibly a marker to write with (we'll see on that one)

I'm already sending out two, but am happy to send more to anyone who wants to join (unless, of course, it gets to be a crazy amount).  Just email me (jamieussher@gmail.com) your address and I will strive to get them out this week or early next week so that they arrive before December 1st.

Blessing to you in this season of anticipation!

"When A City Falls"

In tears...

Will you please take 2 minutes to watch this video (or you can get there here)?  It's really amazing (Evee has watched it 3 times and counting).

This is the city we are moving to (oh so soon).  It shows a small glimpse of what the people of Christchurch have endured.  And even though we cannot relate or imagine what they have been through, I am proud to be apart of the huge rebuilding process they have started and are currently in.

Thank you to so many of you who are a huge support to us as we make this transition.  I pray that we are the same hope/encouragement/love for those in Christchurch.

thirty (!!!)

family breakfast, sitting at my favorite table
sitting and crafting
making and eating cakes (yes, cakes - one for a friend...(lots of celebrating this weekend!), one for home, one a friend made for Saturday night's party, and one that I don't have a picture of, but a friend made and gave on Sunday morning and it was absolutely amazing)

homemade cards and amazing gifts
brunch at another favorite spot and seeing fall as I drive to and fro
beauty of normalcy - baths and work
cards and emails and messages (thank you)
a little get together of dear friends
an afternoon alone to listen and ponder my 30 years
a night out with my love
and I'm looking forward to dinner out with friends tonight
indeed, much fun for a 30th birthday
and I actually feel quite young
and I actually feel content, at peace and thankful for where these 30 years have brought me

this week (it's been awhile...)

...in (no more than) 48 words.  A rhythm for the weekend.  Taking time to look back on the week past.  A simple way to remember the weeks, the moments and to stay present.

I would so love to read your words!  If you take time to ponder the week and write, please share them.
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 Sunday - back into the weekend routine; seeing volunteers, kids, families
Monday - (another) delayed flight, but together with Clint
Tuesday - family day, sculpture garden, general togetherness
Wednesday - work, meetings, ballet
Thursday - ladies, brunch, coworkers
Friday - (early) birthday breakfast...and to see what the rest of the day brings (!)

home

We went to Hungary.  I've never been there before, but it is my parent's home and it felt like home to be there.

We came back to New Jersey and I see people I love and it feels like home, both at George and Kim's and at CRW (seminary housing).

We will travel to Indiana, right before Christmas, on our way west.  We will stay with friends, see dear friends and we call it home.

We will be with family (and friends) around Christmas, both Clint's in Australia and mine in California, and there will be comfort and peace in being together, home.

And we will make our way steadily to New Zealand and I know that soon, as we settle in and help create our environment there, it will be home.

Clint traveled back on Monday night and we are together...and no matter where we are that always feels like home.  

places and people

right now I am so thankful for

• time with my parents.  peace and moments simply to be...we were simply spoiled.  Not sure what more to say...it was wonderful
• seeing places that are beautiful and old and have lived history
• seeing Jeanie, just to be together
• Evee who so easily adapts, who lets her sister walk all over her on an almost 10 hour flight, is an actual help to me and wants to be by me because she's sick (and says it in the sweetest way)
• Iris who has no concept of being "well behaved", "talks" to anyone who is around, fights sleep on an airplane to no end, makes me about lose it and then makes me laugh
• ladies who sat behind us on the plane (a group of 9 traveling together)...one who talked back and forth with Iris through the seat and another woman who gave Evee and I a break and took Iris around the 7 hour mark of our flight...luxury
• Emilie who made yet another trip to JFK to pick the girls and I up and heard me tell my stories to her, to Clint and to my parents and will possibly read them again here :)
• coming home to Kim (and George and Hana and Aida) who makes chicken noodle soup for all of us, even though she is the one who is most sick.  Evee has her playmates back.
• seeing friends and catching up (or knowing catch ups will happen soon)
• fest-o-fall, which our friends throw every year, this being our 4th year going to it and it's nice to have seasonal happenings that are familiar and comfortable
• Clint coming home tonight, which is close enough that I can make it because it's been too long

There have been moments in the last 3 weeks where there was uncertainty with flights and questioning if decisions and timing were right, but I look back and know that it was as it should be and that we can make it through delays and sickness and frustrations...it's all worth it.

Vienna, Vienna

The girls and I arrived back to New Jersey last night.   We made it on the almost 10 hour flight home...yikes.  But, we arrived and are rejoining normal life again. 

One more post about being away, though.  I'm ending where I started...Vienna.  Simply because I never shared pictures about it.  This is going back to our first week.

 

It was wonderful and beautiful and what you'd expect it to be.  And to be together with the girls at my parents was also as wonderful as you'd expect.

I already mentioned the glorious train ride.  Sitting, reading, being quiet.

We toured and walked and saw a good bit of the city.  We went to the summer castle and the regular castle (for lack of knowing it's name).

We went to dinner.  A little place with a few tables that sat close together.  It seemed to be true Austrian food and had a nice atmosphere. 

It was an interesting evening since maybe I had some stuff I needed to get out of my head that hadn't been there too long, but long enough.  You know the sort?  So, I talked and cried for a portion of our dinner...even in Vienna.  The couple sitting less than a foot away were also American and spoke English.  So, that was awesome.  I probably killed the atmosphere of their dinner, even though I talked softly and didn't make a whole lot of sense. 

Even in the sites of Vienna, we are on a journey and even on the crying days, the journey is good.  In the end it was a beautiful night and I am more than thankful for my husband and life partner. 

grandparents, jeanie and almost leaving

Well tomorrow is our last full day here.  It's been wonderful...to be with my parents, see beautiful places in Europe and have time, just to be.

 

Another super special treat was to have my dear friend Jeanie come visit from England.  Thankfully Clint even got to see her for a day (maybe less) before he left...and then she stayed another 3-4 days beyond that.  Although I don't have but 3 pictures with her, it was so nice to be together.

Really, we just hung out, walked around, ate and drank coffee.  We finished most nights playing Dutch Blitz or Speed Scrabble.  It was wonderful.  And to see her baby bump, in person, was perfect.

Besides that and all I've shared in previous posts...
my mom made raspberry pie and it has been awesome
we've gone out for coffee very regularly
ridden the trams multiple times each day
lots of walking
Evee carved a pumpkin with my mom
we are decorating for Christmas (early)...putting out decorations and a little tree...dancing to Christmas music

yes, Halloween and Christmas in the same week :)