Consolidation Notes

Having caught up on last semester, Christmas break, and my favorite little Californians, it seemed fitting to give a brief update on the Bible School consolidation.

So here you are: the facts, plus a few feelings thrown in for free.

• Our campus's last semester has started, which is all kinds of strange and sad and hard to believe.

• I was asked to continue working at the consolidated school in the same primary roles I currently have: guest hospitality and business/finances.  It will look a bit different, I'm sure, but it's a less dramatic transition than some of my teammates are facing.

• My tentative (though not 100% confirmed) timeline for moving is mid-July.  This year.  (How is it "this year" already?!)

• I am thankful for those, particularly those in leadership, who have made an effort to reach out to us as individuals, to listen to thoughts or concerns, and to communicate regularly as more information becomes available.

• Some days I'm surprised by how routine and steady life seems.  Even though I know there is a big move looming on the horizon, daily life - for the most part - is a simple, predictable routine with a productive-but-not overwhelming pace.  I count this as complete grace, and I'm so grateful for the things the Lord has shown me in this area.

• Making lists and writing things down is infinitely helpful to me.  It helps me process things (like a big move).  It settles the ping-pong thoughts that sometimes bounce around in my head crazily (if they're written down, I don't worry about forgetting them).  It also gives me a better idea of the big picture (the visual of a list, whether written down on real paper or on the computer, is much easier to work with than a nebulous bunch of thoughts in my head).

• I will miss this place so much...the school itself, my church, our quiet unassuming little town, the state's gorgeous scenery, my cute house.  Every place I've ever lived has felt like home eventually, and I know that will be true for this move as well.  Still - for now - I'm quite sad about leaving and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise.

• Not all of my teammates here will be making the move, and that makes me sad.  So many layers of change and goodbyes we're facing.  BUT...I'm so glad that some very dear friends will be moving with me.  Again, I know this such a grace-gift.

The Cuties at Christmas

Pics from Christmas time ~

Although she had her first birthday, Gracie-Poo is still so delightfully tiny that it made me feel as though I hadn't missed out on quite so much.

She loves music, my parents' dogs, clapping (a skill she's exceptionally proud of!), walks around the backyard, looking at pictures up on the wall, FOOD!, and is generally a happy little camper.

We had a sleepover - just Kai and Ava, Gracie isn't quite old enough for that yet - which meant Grandma's deliciously buttery popcorn, hot chocolate, and watching Tumble Leaf and Shaun the Sheep.

I'm not sure which I like more - the evening of the sleepover, or the following morning, when they wake up with their cute pajamas and bedhead and I make us all a hearty breakfast.  Tater-tots usually make it onto the menu...what kid doesn't like tater-tots?  (Frankly, I'm quite fond of them myself!)

- - -

On Christmas morning we had brunch together (minus Beck, who couldn't come until the evening).  Tahoe brunch casserole was something my grandma used to make when we'd go up for Thanksgiving - we'd have it Thursday morning before tackling the work of cooking the Thanksgiving feast.  I'd been hungry for it again, partly because it's delicious, and partly, I suppose, for sentimental reasons.  When I was prepping it on Christmas Eve, the realization hit me that the last time I'd eaten it was Thanksgiving at her house...many years ago.

After brunch and sufficient amounts of coffee, we moved to presents.

Looking at these pictures (Brian took some, and I took others), I had to chuckle at just how many different expressions are captured on Ava's face.

In His Hands - a book from our childhood!  Sarah and I had fun paging through it, laughing at the pictures and the parts of the story we remembered.

She melted my heart...so sweet and genuinely excited over her gifts.

When she opened the gift Kai had picked out for her, she exclaimed, "Kai!  Thank you SO MUCH!  That was SO SWEET of you!"  ...and then leaned over and patted his foot appreciatively.

Kai was a little more even-keel about his presents, or at least, didn't make quite as many faces in the process of opening them.

Still, I think he had a good time.

(Also, isn't that flannel shirt the best?  So cozy, so cute, so Christmasy.)

Puzzles!  The other day, Mom told me that Ava called him as a "whisperer-puzzle".  As in "puzzle whisperer".  Because he's good at them, and being a puzzle whisperer is totally a thing. ;)

Gracie, well, she was happy to be in the middle of it all.  She found the wrapping paper and the set of popcorn seasonings her mommy got to be infinitely more entertaining than her own gifts.

All ready to open her own bakery!

Their faces...I can't stop laughing.

- - -

Kai, still obsessed with dinosaurs (as he has been for months), considers it necessary to declare himself a dinosaur with great frequency.  These declarations are accompanied by roaring, claw-hands, and the above-pictured face.  

The night before I leave to fly home is always sad.  Sarah steadfastly refuses to sanction me taking the kids back in my suitcase, so alas, I have to leave them in California.

I squeeze them and kiss them and squeeze them some more, but it's never quite enough.  Sigh.