Life has been good though, I am really enjoying this year off with Callum. I've had a lot of time to think and reflect. One of the things I've been convicted about lately is my stuff. Even though I don't spend a lot of $ on stuff, I'm constantly dealing with it and focusing on how to get more stuff that will enhance our lives. I feel God is challenging me to live with less and focus more on my family than having to deal with my things. I started going through my clothes and bags and have a box full of stuff and want to go through my kitchen and sewing stash. I know I can live with way less!
Justin and I have been working on the outside of the house now that the weather is warmer. Last weekend I cleaned our front porch and love the space now! It had layers of dirt and grime. I first swept, mopped then went through four basins of warm water scrubbing on my hands and knees. It was so worth it though. We live on a dead end street and really enjoy sitting out there and chatting over a drink.
Yesterday we walked to church! We'd been talking about it and finally did it. It only took us 25 minutes, and it felt so good to have that time to walk and talk in the morning. On our way back Callum feel asleep in the stroller so we stopped at a Bistro by our house and ate lunch on the patio. It was still a bit chilly but we were dressed for it, so it wasn't too bad. We live a couple blocks away from Wortley Village which has a few stores and restaurants. We really enjoying being able to walk to a lot of things!
Callum's eczema is still a struggle and I'm working on better sleep solutions for him. Right now he sleeps in a sleep sack with the arm holes sewed shut so that he doesn't scratch. I made him a zippadeezip, but I tried it out the week he was teething so it didn't go over so well. I think I'll try it again this week. I'm happy with how it turned out though. I want to make more and do a few tweaks to my pattern.
Justin and I have been getting our puzzling on lately! We feel like we watch too much TV and Justin's brother and his wife started doing a puzzle so I picked one up at Goodwill. It's a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I find that I'll sit down for five minutes and an hour will go by. My 2 years old niece was over the other day and wanted to "help" do the puzzle. I was out of the room for a few minutes getting lunch ready and when I came back she had taken apart half of the puzzle! She thought she was helping and was really upset when she realized she had messed it up. I felt bad that she felt bad!
Justin and I have been talking a lot about our trip to the Philippines. We really want to do it soon before my parents retire but it's so hard to figure out when a good time would be. We were thinking November, but since Melody got engaged, my parents want to go to the wedding and we would too, hopefully. So now we might go to the Philippines in August! I still won't be working and we won't have to worry about getting Callum out of daycare (he'll be in part-time). The only thing is Justin might not be able to get it off, so we'll see. It's been a dream of mine to go back. I know that it'll work out if God wants it to and he has the perfect timing for us. It's really hard though to be patient after years and years of waiting already and now we have the money and time to go. Sometimes I just want to be done learning life lessons! :)
Well, I should go eat lunch. It feels so good to blog and share about life. I'm so thankful for this blog even though I'm not on much, it's great that it's still here!
Oh Candice, I almost wanted to cry reading this, because I SO remember that feeling of newness...only I don't think quite as much, because at least i still had my family close by. When Shea was born, we moved a month later to Port Orchard, and I remember going to moms groups and library groups, and making a few "friends", but there was no one to connect with and just talk to about frustrations.
ReplyDeleteAnd when our babies need us and we can't even seem to sit down and be a part of an event or talk with people when we do have the rare chance. It took a huge shift for me when I had Hailey, I had to almost pep-talk myself before going to something, because I knew I would have to miss out on adult conversation and disappear at times to tend to Hailey or Shea. It is HARD. I hope you can find at least a little comfort in knowing you aren't so alone in that, even if it feels like it right now! I'm praying that you are able to find some ladies that you really connect with. It is a brave thing to go out and be "new".
If you want some inspiration for simplifying/purging, a short and fun, but still with nuggets of truth is "Seven" by Jen Hatmaker. I read it a few years ago and it changed my perspective on material things and simplifying a lot. Although, lately Jeremy and I have been looking around and feeling a lot like we need to purge and simplify again. We have never lived anywhere for this long, and stuff accumulates a lot more when you aren't concerned about packing up in boxes and moving all the time.
I'm praying things work out for the Philippines!
Thanks for your comment Becca! :) Sometimes I can't believe what an adjustment it is to have a baby (and Callum is an easy baby)! It's really nice knowing I'm not the only one going through this. Thanks for the recommendation of "Seven", I'll have to get it from the library.
ReplyDeleteCandice I will be praying for you! It seems weird for me to say I know how you are feeling, because I have lived in the same place for years and gone to the same church for years as well. But just becoming a mom changes you, changes how you are able to hang out and connect with people, and like becca said, its a lot more work to go out knowing you will have to step away and take care of your baby in an environment that isn't as easy as home. My transition from working full time to staying home 95% of the time was rough at first. There is no one I would rather have taking care of Eli than myself, but it's hard to find "you" time. I didn't realize that even though work was exhausting and stressful it was nice to have somewhere to go, a pay check to bring home, days off to look forward to, and adults to talk to! When Eli was 7 months old I started going to the gym 5 days a week (because thats when I found out the daycare was only 15$ a month!) and that helped me be around adults, and now I just joined a local moms group and went to my first get together today and it was great. I am sure it is slightly different with new moms in canada since you all get a year off but here even my new mama friends were busy all the time after 3 months as they had to go back to work full time.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the simplifying. I have been purging and organizing lately. I feel like I purge often and organize constantly but I still have stuff that I haven't used in years that is obviously not necessary.
Your porch looks absolutely amazing! I would love to come and sip tea with you there!
I hope you guys get to go to the Philippines soon, that would be so awesome for you. :) I used to think I wanted to wait till Eli was one to go on vacations or long flights but I am so glad we went to Hawaii when we did. There is no way I want to travel extensively with Eli now, it sounds like way more work than it is worth.
Callum is adorable! So sorry you are still struggling with eczema, I am glad you are figuring out little things that work for him though!