New & Old
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If I'm honest, change is just hard sometimes. I think I've gotten better at it in my own personal life over the last 30 something years, and at times I even look forward to it. But with the nature of our life right now, and change being such a constant thing in the whole 'youngish family working our way through med school' it does get to be a bit discouraging at moments. Its interesting to me how much the life I am leading and giving my kids in so many ways greatly resembles mine [with me being a STAHM mom and Lester out there working and striving to provide for us while we make ends meet], while at the same time seeming so very different [I never left home, or ever moved until I was a young adult, or thought college was necessarily an option for me..I also had the luxury of never having to GO to see cousins, Aunties & Uncles, or Grandparents bc they were all right there, which is different then my kids]. Like I said-it is hard feeling like right when you start to make headway with where your at and your surroundings, its time to uproot again. I don't know how Mary Poppins did it. I do hope though that this life we're living will lead to good adjustment skills for my children, and give them the tools they need to thrive in whatever and wherever life takes them. I also hope it gives them a sense of home not being a place, but something you take w you, and that all these changes WILL someday lead to a bit more stability as we strive to invest in our future.
All this to say of course that we are now here, in our new home for this next phase of Lester's medical school journey. We found a beautiful little dream home that has all the things on my check list and more somehow, and its 5 minutes away from some family members we love dearly. So far we've been impressed with the little we've seen of our new area, and are doing ok. Its all the things on the peripherals I think that are making things a bit difficult. For one, pandemic life is still in full effect with no end in sight. Its been a bit emotionally draining on all fronts, in the physical things like going less places, and wearing a mask when we do, and also emotionally draining, like often feeling like we are taking it more seriously then many around us and being a bit judged for it, or watching it all be politicized which I find so disappointing and confusing. Then you have the very real social justice issues which our country is still facing and trying to grapple with and fix. This, coupled with some other health issues that both Lester and I are managing has being weighing heavily on me lately. Moving while trying to not be in contact with anyone, including ppl we've grown to love immensely in Boise made for a really difficult situation with Lester doing what normally 6 or more of us would do. It also meant we had less of a chance to say goodbye and thank you to so many friends that became like family there. And now that we are here, thank goodness we have Chio and family, bc w/o them we wouldn't know, or have the ability to get to know a single other person out here, which has me and the kids in particular feeling a but like wilting flowers for lack of a better term, especially with out the connections we would usually have to start us off with through church [as it has wisely still been closed due to the pandemic]. Because its also a new phase of medical school, Lester will be much busier and less available then he has been in the last several months. He still definitely does all he can to balance things [including cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids when I am feeling my sickest], and he always come through when we need him, but I know its a blessing and a temporary thing to have him so available to us. I will say, its been such a tender mercy to see the kids still doing well and paving the way for me in how to adjust and make do and find the wonder in things here, with simple things like laying on the grass in our backyard to watch the clouds or stars etc. Still-we trudge on, Bc what other option is there? And bc hopefully, good things lie ahead.
And despite all the tough, there definitely has been some good things in the last several weeks that I would be remiss without posting about and being grateful for. I'll share those now, and hope that I have even more good things to share in the near future. Until then, we keep keeping on.
All this to say of course that we are now here, in our new home for this next phase of Lester's medical school journey. We found a beautiful little dream home that has all the things on my check list and more somehow, and its 5 minutes away from some family members we love dearly. So far we've been impressed with the little we've seen of our new area, and are doing ok. Its all the things on the peripherals I think that are making things a bit difficult. For one, pandemic life is still in full effect with no end in sight. Its been a bit emotionally draining on all fronts, in the physical things like going less places, and wearing a mask when we do, and also emotionally draining, like often feeling like we are taking it more seriously then many around us and being a bit judged for it, or watching it all be politicized which I find so disappointing and confusing. Then you have the very real social justice issues which our country is still facing and trying to grapple with and fix. This, coupled with some other health issues that both Lester and I are managing has being weighing heavily on me lately. Moving while trying to not be in contact with anyone, including ppl we've grown to love immensely in Boise made for a really difficult situation with Lester doing what normally 6 or more of us would do. It also meant we had less of a chance to say goodbye and thank you to so many friends that became like family there. And now that we are here, thank goodness we have Chio and family, bc w/o them we wouldn't know, or have the ability to get to know a single other person out here, which has me and the kids in particular feeling a but like wilting flowers for lack of a better term, especially with out the connections we would usually have to start us off with through church [as it has wisely still been closed due to the pandemic]. Because its also a new phase of medical school, Lester will be much busier and less available then he has been in the last several months. He still definitely does all he can to balance things [including cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids when I am feeling my sickest], and he always come through when we need him, but I know its a blessing and a temporary thing to have him so available to us. I will say, its been such a tender mercy to see the kids still doing well and paving the way for me in how to adjust and make do and find the wonder in things here, with simple things like laying on the grass in our backyard to watch the clouds or stars etc. Still-we trudge on, Bc what other option is there? And bc hopefully, good things lie ahead.
And despite all the tough, there definitely has been some good things in the last several weeks that I would be remiss without posting about and being grateful for. I'll share those now, and hope that I have even more good things to share in the near future. Until then, we keep keeping on.
-On the Fourth of July, we got together with all the best things. Great food from all over the world, great company, and lots of great memories. Giddy and her family is one of the things we miss the most after leaving. It was one of the best 4th of July's we've ever had.
-Before everything shut down again, we were thankfully able to get together a few times with some friends [as we were in phase 3 in that part of Idaho], whether it was at lakes or parks, baking cherry pies, playing in the backyard, or just visiting at our respective places. Although the sting was still bitter that we didn't get to necessarily hang out as many times as we liked before we left, all of it was memories I'll cherish and I'm grateful for the friendships we made while we were there. I would count them all lifelong connections.
-Once we finally officially made the move, we quarantined before as my father in law came to help us move our stuff over. It was quite a different transition then what we have done in the past, moving mid pandemic, but in the end all went well and we are happy to be in our little house.
-While he was here, we spent most of the time at home, visiting and unpacking. My father in law made them breakfasts in the morning which was nice bc we were able to sleep in for me haha, which I desperately needed. We got a few outside things in as well, like trips to the zoo, a local dairy, and then to celebrate Lester and Isla's birthday with some presents from family, cake and camping in the backyard just like she always wants. It was low key and special. And it was nice to have him here.
-Right after my FIL headed home, my sister and her family came for a visit between our house and Chio's. So much fun cousin time for all of us, and we were able to do all those fun things we did when we were kids. Cousin sleepovers, backyard splash pads, parks days and river walks, and even a chance to celebrate all 7 of the July bdays we had together. It was magical, and I'm so grateful for all the family time and fun we had.
-Since then we've celebrate our Bear boy's 3rd bday, with a trip to the local dinosaur exhibit, paletas, trips to the farmers market, cupcakes and presents. Again-low key and just what we needed after all the good craziness. Now, we are just getting used to our new home, and routine, trying to cook at home again, and taking care of each other. I feel so blessed to have Lester, our kids, Chio and her family all so close by. Especially in the hard moments-there are good things amongst the hard, and those are the ones I will choose to try to replicate and remember.
