Changes

I have started several blog posts but I haven't finished or published any of them. So here is another attempt at starting, finishing, and posting something new on this blog. I find that my discretionary time has been drastically cut. Rori has discovered the ability to move around and my job as her mother just got more labor intensive. It used to be that I could lay her down on our piece of carpet and she would play happily while I did the dishes or folded laundry or made dinner, but now if I lay her down I have to make sure that everything on the floor is OK for her to have. She gets into everything and all things must go directly into her mouth. This is true for all things but especially paper. Rori loves to eat paper. I would have to say that her favorite paper is my sudoku book. If she sees it she goes as fast as she can to get to it before any interference. She also enjoys getting her little hands on the kids scriptures. I've tried to explain to her that chewing up the pages is not what the leaders of the church mean when they council us to "feast upon the word" So far this explanation has fallen on deaf ears. So I spend the majority of my time chasing after my adorable little girl, and trying to get her to eat the proper kind of fiber.

Jason only has a couple more weeks of the term and then his studies will be focused on preparing for the USMLE Step 1. We have all been sick for the last few days with a rotten cold, and we are hoping that it doesn't cause too many problems for Jason and his end of term studying. We are excited about leaving the island life and hope that it has brought a few positive changes to us and the way we live and see life. I don't really see how anyone could have such a drastic change to their living situation and not come out the other side a little different than when they started, but I hope our changes have been for the better.
As we close this chapter of our lives and look back on the friends we've made and the experiences we've had it is truely humbling. The journey has been long and filled with every imaginable emotion. I love it, I hate it, I want to be done, I don't want to go. There were days the only thing stopping me from getting on a plane and going back home is that fact that I had no money and I really didn't want to be stuck on an airplane with 3 small children by myself. I have learned so much being here, and I know I take many lessons with me. I hope I have done some good in this part of God's world, and helped a few of his children.

Leaving Grenada is just one of many changes to come into our lives. Not only are we spending the next several months as vagabonds bumming a bed from whomever we can until we settle somewhere in NJ, but Dyson will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. I can't believe that he is old enough to go to school. I remember so well the day he was born and I have many sweet memories of his life growing up. He is so smart and I know he will do wonderfully in school. He begs me all the time to let him go to school. I am so proud of him for learning how to read and that boy can do just about any physical thing you ask him too. He can do a cartwheel, a headstand and a back bend. Plus he loves to run and is getting quite good at soccer. He loves to be outside running around which is a good thing since he has more energy than the energizer bunny! He keeps me busy and entertains his younger sibblings.

Ridge is so different from when we first came down here. When we arrieved he was 7 months. He had no teeth, couldn't walk or even crawl, couldn't talk, and didn't eat much other than milk. Now he is almost 3, has a whole mouthful of teeth, runs most of the time (usually chasing his brother) talks all the time, but he still doesn't eat much. (the child is living on pb and j, mac n cheese, and apples!) He goes to preschool with Dyson and loves it. He likes to be included with the big kids and does a pretty good job of keeping up. He is still my little snuggle bug though, and I hope he stays that way. He is the sweetest kid...when he wants to be. Lately he has developed an attitude and we have been working on getting his sweetness back. I'm not sure how well it's going but hopefully he will get it soon.

As you can see our house is pretty busy but it's full of all the normal "life" stuff. Growing, changing, learning. We are doing our best to savor every new moment as a family before the moment passes. I know this post is pretty personal and I'm sorry if it's a little much, but there you have it. We are all doing good and ready for the next big change.