Nor'Easter(s)

We've been having a lot of storms here lately. True Nor'Easter storms. In fact, it's snowing right now. I've been trying to figure out exactly what a Nor'Easter is and how it compares to storms in the West. From my limited experience, there isn't much difference. There are just more people here. Lots of people who like to panic and bombard the grocery store to empty all the shelves. It's crazy. I've never seen anything like it. I wish they'd all just calm down. I laugh until I have to run to the store and get stuck in line for 45 minutes (no exaggeration).

With all the storms have come snow days. I was all for snow days until I learned that Lainy's school adds a day to the end of the year for every snow day lost. Since they're already scheduled to middle of June, we're looking at her being in school until July. Yuck!! Oh well, there's not much we can do except take advantage while we can.

We've had a lot of fun sledding on the perfect little hill in our yard, building snowmen and igloos, and making treats inside.

 My kids are so fun.

Mobile

Samuel has been getting himself into some predicaments... usually ending up under a bed:

He is still not crawling, just sort of scooting along on his belly. We've been trying to motivate him. Leah thought Minnie Mouse might be the ticket, but they just ended up having a stare-down.

Minnie won.

I love this boy.

Refresh

Well folks, I think I am pulling out of my funk. Things are looking up. And do you know what the crazy thing is? Nothing in our lives has really changed. All of the things that have made life hard for the past few months are still there: Boston is still expensive, Brad is still crazy busy, Lainy is still not herself since starting school, and I still feel like I have to be the one holding everything together. But I have learned something. Or maybe I already knew it and just needed to remember: That slowing down and just being grateful changes everything.

Yes, Boston is expensive. But it's also a beautiful and fascinating corner of the world full of promising opportunities for our family.

Yes, Brad is busy. But he's busy learning a trade that he really loves. One that will virtually guarantee him a good job for the rest of his life. How many people have that?

 I'm still looking for a bright side to the changes in my Lainy girl. Though it breaks my heart, I am grateful for the extra hugs and talks and glimpses into her life it has brought.

And I am grateful for the continual wake-up calls that I can't be everywhere and do everything for everyone. That I don't need perfectly groomed kids and a clean house in order to be a good mom: I need patience and a positive approach to whatever the day throws at us. My husband and my kids just need me and my love, as flawed and silly as I am.

So I'm trying to focus on gratitude and love. And I'm realizing that even though our life here is different than I expected it to be, it is still a beautiful life.

To Leah on Her Birthday

My dear Leah,

You turn 4 years old today! You are getting so big and so smart and so beautiful. Usually you are excited about this (and so am I), but sometimes you cuddle up next to me and say: "I just want to be your baby girl". And my heart melts a little bit as I squeeze you and tell you that is okay with me.

This year has been a big one for our family. So much changed! You became a big sister in March, moved across the country in June, started preschool in September, discovered cannoli's, and many more small and significant things. Through it all you have remained our steady, calming, tender-hearted girl. I think, perhaps, that you have handled all these changes better than anyone else in our family. You are one resilient girl.

"I like things that are beautiful," you admitted to me yesterday. And that, I think, sums you up pretty well. You try to create beauty all around you, whether it's in the multiple outfits you put on every day searching for the perfect one, or the pictures you draw, or the smiles and love you share with others. I think it is your gift.

I hope you have a wonderful, beautiful birthday! I hope you know what a blessing you are in our family. I hope you love being a big 4-year-old girl!

I love you, my sweet girl.

Love,
Mommy

Goodbye 2013

In case you haven't noticed, all my promises to get back to regular blogging have sort of vanished. Apologies! Still, I want to do a little recap as we end 2013 and ring in the new year.

The truth (and the real reason behind my lack of blogging) is that the last half of 2013 was hard. Really hard. And I hate to admit that because I was so looking forward to it! New adventures in Boston sounds so promising! Turns out it's not so fun when our new life across the country requires some extreme adjustments for all of us.

Needless to say, we have learned a lot. We've had wonderful experiences and made some amazing new friends. We have also witnessed the hand of the Lord in our lives in very real ways, which has been quite reassuring when we have sometimes questioned our sanity.

I guess the biggest lesson of the year (for me) is this: I believe that God has a plan for me and my family. Brad and I have done our best to figure out what that plan is and we've tried to include the Lord in our decision making. The spiritual promptings we have received have led us here: to Boston, to Tufts Medical Center, to this house, with 3 kids. So, really, I can't get too down about everything because I know it is where we are supposed to be.

I guess 2013 wasn't all bad. Afterall, it did give me one of the biggest blessings of my life, our little Samuel Bradley.

Goodbye 2013! Here's hoping 2014 is a little easier on us!