Our little life is fun but different. I get looks of confusion every time new people we meet try to figure out where we live.
Here is a typical conversation -
Other Person: "So, where are you from?"
Me: "Well, we came from Colorado and have a house there we are renting out."
Them: "So you will go back there?"
Me: "Someday, but not for a while."
Them: "So then where are you going?"
This is where I hesitate - it sounds too dreamy or something. Like I'm being prideful or boasting - but I want to be honest too. But I certainly feel spoiled that the honest truth does sound dreamy.
Me: "We'll we are going to Hawaii and South East Asia before we spend the summer back in Colorado with family."
Them: "So you will move back to Colorado?"
Me: "Kind of, were just there for the summer and then going back to Hawaii for the school year for me to work in the schools. Our goal is to live in Colorado and Hawaii."
Them: "That sounds nice. Why do you want to be all over the place?"
Me: "Partly because we enjoy traveling and partly because that is how we've figured out how to make our finances work."
Of course the answer to the last question is quite a bit more complicated, travel and finances kind of sums it up. Seems strange that traveling around can be more financially stable than not? I guess it is mostly true - but it is also true that we could buckle down, try to find jobs somewhere and be stationary. But then we'd loose all our flexibility - one location, Aaron possibly being salary and working 50-60 hours a week and little vacation time. So we must choose between stationary, stable and committed or flexible but somewhat unknown. Right now it is taking both of us to make things work for insurance and finances. Aaron can work from anywhere and has been really blessed with plenty of work for his business. I can find contract or PRN work almost anywhere and make more money doing that kind of work. More money for less time is very appealing at this stage in life. So right now we are choosing flexible and adventurous over stationary. We really feel our hearts belong in two places - Colorado and Hawaii, but to make this possible we have to be a fair bit more flexible.
Although it is a bit of a crazy life and certainly strange and very foreign to most people - it is a life we like. Everyday I'm very thankful that Autumn goes with the flow and is happy where ever we are! The best thing about the little adventure we started at Christmas time, is that everywhere we have been and will be going includes really great friends and family! Sharing life and experiences with those you love is really what life is all about! Well, second to following what Christ has for us! We are excited to see how God will use our flexibility in this life to serve Him. We do not have a clear picture or calling, but are ready to follow what he lays before us each step of the way.
It will be interesting how this life will turn out and where home will eventually be! What will we do for school for our children? What will work look like when we fall into more of a pattern of living in both places? Where will we live? Will we try to buy a home in both places? Time will tell our story!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Christchurch Update
Christchurch has a special place in my heart. During a semester abroad in 2003, I lived about 10 miles outside of the city - but we spent a lot if time in town at the park, at coffee shops, shopping and such. It is such a beautiful city with truly lovely people. Seeing the City Center in rubble breaks my heart. I still have several friends that live in and around Christchurch - all of which are okay. Please continue to pray for the city - here is an email sent today by my friends that live just outside of the city.
Here's an update on the current situation in Christchurch, and our part in it. It is two weeks yesterday since the earthquake struck, and very obviously it is still a very big part of everyone's life here. Aftershocks are continuing on a more or less regular basis, and some of these have been fairly strong, with an occasional one up to about 5.0. After the first quake in September more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded so I guess we are in for quite a few more yet. While most do no damage, they are nevertheless unnerving and emotionally draining.
We escaped lightly from the quake. This time round we had more damage than in September, with some movement of the house, cracks (mostly hairline) in both outside and inside walls, and doors not shutting. The concrete area in front of the garage also has a few new cracks. Our biggest problem was a burst water main pipe into the house. This prevented us from having a continual supply of water, but we could turn it on for short periods to have a quick shower or do some washing or flush the toilets. This has now been fixed so we're back to normal in this regard, though still boil all drinking water. Our electric power and sewerage system were unaffected.
Tim's house on the other side of town (Avondale) is a mess. It has multiple serious cracks and still has no power, water or sewerage. 98% of the city has power and water and about 80% has sewerage so his is right in the middle of the wrong place. There was also a lot of liquefaction (sand and silt coming up through the ground) in that part of the city and it took a couple of days to wheelbarrow it from his property onto the road, from where it was later removed by the city council. At this stage Tim is still living in his home while he awaits assessment by structural engineers. I would not be surprised if the house is deemed not repairable.
At the moment the death toll stands at 166, but this is expected to rise to nearer 200. Several of these were overseas students who were studying in a language college that collapsed. An estimated 800 buildings in the Central Business District are flattened or so badly damaged that they will have to be demolished. The centre of the city will remain out of action for several months. While there is a lot of work to be done before final decisions are made, many houses will have to be demolished as well. Currently they think about 10,000 will be involved.
Many thousands of residents have left the city, mostly on a temporary basis though some have permanently relocated. About 500 university students have gone to Australia to do their first term or semester of studies. Some schools have reopened, some are awaiting repair, and others will need to be replaced. This has caused huge problems regarding schooling. Some students have been relocated to schools that are open, other schools are sharing facilities with one school using the premises in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Many businesses have been lost and about 9,000 people have lost their jobs. Several churches were also destroyed.
While many are understandably traumatized by the events, the people generally are in good heart. There has been tremendous pulling together to get done what needs to be done. Several thousand students mobilised and took their spades and wheelbarrows to remove liquefaction from people's properties. Churches and other groups are daily providing thousands of meals for those without power or water. And many people from around the country are also helping in many ways. Providing free accommodation for those who need a break away, fund raising, etc.
You will doubtless have seen much of what has happened on TV. I understand that, as is to be expected, the most dramatic of pictures and scenes are the ones that have been given the greatest prominence. While these are true, life continues, though in a rather different and more restricted way. We will get over it, however long that might take, but in the meantime we appreciate your continued concern and prayers.
Here is a rather dramatic photo taken of the city just moments after the earthquake struck.
Here's an update on the current situation in Christchurch, and our part in it. It is two weeks yesterday since the earthquake struck, and very obviously it is still a very big part of everyone's life here. Aftershocks are continuing on a more or less regular basis, and some of these have been fairly strong, with an occasional one up to about 5.0. After the first quake in September more than 5,000 aftershocks were recorded so I guess we are in for quite a few more yet. While most do no damage, they are nevertheless unnerving and emotionally draining.
We escaped lightly from the quake. This time round we had more damage than in September, with some movement of the house, cracks (mostly hairline) in both outside and inside walls, and doors not shutting. The concrete area in front of the garage also has a few new cracks. Our biggest problem was a burst water main pipe into the house. This prevented us from having a continual supply of water, but we could turn it on for short periods to have a quick shower or do some washing or flush the toilets. This has now been fixed so we're back to normal in this regard, though still boil all drinking water. Our electric power and sewerage system were unaffected.
Tim's house on the other side of town (Avondale) is a mess. It has multiple serious cracks and still has no power, water or sewerage. 98% of the city has power and water and about 80% has sewerage so his is right in the middle of the wrong place. There was also a lot of liquefaction (sand and silt coming up through the ground) in that part of the city and it took a couple of days to wheelbarrow it from his property onto the road, from where it was later removed by the city council. At this stage Tim is still living in his home while he awaits assessment by structural engineers. I would not be surprised if the house is deemed not repairable.
At the moment the death toll stands at 166, but this is expected to rise to nearer 200. Several of these were overseas students who were studying in a language college that collapsed. An estimated 800 buildings in the Central Business District are flattened or so badly damaged that they will have to be demolished. The centre of the city will remain out of action for several months. While there is a lot of work to be done before final decisions are made, many houses will have to be demolished as well. Currently they think about 10,000 will be involved.
Many thousands of residents have left the city, mostly on a temporary basis though some have permanently relocated. About 500 university students have gone to Australia to do their first term or semester of studies. Some schools have reopened, some are awaiting repair, and others will need to be replaced. This has caused huge problems regarding schooling. Some students have been relocated to schools that are open, other schools are sharing facilities with one school using the premises in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Many businesses have been lost and about 9,000 people have lost their jobs. Several churches were also destroyed.
While many are understandably traumatized by the events, the people generally are in good heart. There has been tremendous pulling together to get done what needs to be done. Several thousand students mobilised and took their spades and wheelbarrows to remove liquefaction from people's properties. Churches and other groups are daily providing thousands of meals for those without power or water. And many people from around the country are also helping in many ways. Providing free accommodation for those who need a break away, fund raising, etc.
You will doubtless have seen much of what has happened on TV. I understand that, as is to be expected, the most dramatic of pictures and scenes are the ones that have been given the greatest prominence. While these are true, life continues, though in a rather different and more restricted way. We will get over it, however long that might take, but in the meantime we appreciate your continued concern and prayers.
Here is a rather dramatic photo taken of the city just moments after the earthquake struck.
Friday, March 4, 2011
1 and a half!
Wow! Autumn you are one and a half and time is not slowing down! We have had a fun month - your last one living on the Palouse. We moved out of the Farm house and back in with the Watsons. We spent a weekend in the mountains and lakes of Northern Idaho and you and mommy drove to Olympia to see our friends Oli, Laine and Kevin. You were a trooper - we were in the car for 6 1/2 hours, sat at the shipping dock for 2 hours, in the airport for another 2 and flew back and you never shed a tear. We stopped in south Seattle and walked around the mall and ate at the Rain Forest Cafe! You loved all the monkeys and birds up in the trees and got to sit next to the fish tank for dinner.
In general your life is pretty similar to last month except that we have been sick the last week and so you have spent extra time with mommy. You have spent many days playing with Kaitlin and Mara and really missed them while they were out of town for the weekend. I told you they'd be back on Sunday and when they got here you excitedly said "Mar back!" Hopefully you will get well soon and be able to play with them again before we move.
The TV: You continue to love Elmo - no other monster or character catches your eye quite like Elmo. We have been letting you watch your Elmo movie more often and you seem to really be able to follow what is going on. You have also become interested in watching the TV when we are watching something as well, which you never used to do. It is interesting to hear what you have to say about it. Daddy was watching Karate Kid and you kept saying eye, eye when the little girl and boy were shown. Below you are holding the $2 Elmo we scored at the goodwill.
New Skills: Your interest of the month has been clothing. Taking it on, off, doing zippers, snaps ... One morning instead of waking and crying you took your pajamas and diaper off. You really like working the zippers on your jamies and jackets and want to be able to start them. Last week I was trying to get you dressed and you took your clothes to the step, sat down and tried to put them on yourself. You would not let me help you. You were able to string your legs into the holes, but finally accepted my help to pull them up. The shirt - well, we just left it off for a while because you couldn't get it on and wouldn't let me help. One of the babies has a dress on and you've been unsnapping it, removing it and then asking me to put it "back on."
You've mastered your 26 piece letter puzzle. It totally amazes me that you are able to locate where all the letters go and you can also pick up many letters and know which picture goes with it. If you pick up the M you say milk, W you say wagon, L you say lion... I'm not quite sure what is next for puzzles as I think the next step is large set in jig saw pieces - maybe we'll give it a whirl just to see!
Language: You continue to explode with your vocabulary. We were at the store and you label things as we walk by them - bread, apple, cado (avocado), sawbeay (strawberry) ... it was so cute. You talk in 2-4 word sentences and try to repeat us all day. You also went through a strong 'no' week. Saying 'no' to everything - it was usually a fairly nice no, but we are glad it has worn off a bit. You said "I lub you" for the first time on Valentines and say"baby lub," which is what I call you. You enjoy saying "bye bye and night night" to everything.
Sleeping: You went through a couple week streak of taking 3-4 hour naps most days, but now you have a cold and napping has become a challenge again. It is also fairly common that you will play with your books and babies in your crib 30-60 minutes before falling asleep. You are sleeping most of the way through the night again, only occasionally do you need cuddles around 4am and then will sleep until 6:30 or 7:30.
Autumn you are such a joy and adventurous spirit! We love watching you figure out this world! This next couple of months you are going to see so many new things - we will be traveling to Maui, Big Island, Thailand, Myanmar, Oahu and Molokai!! We can't wait to enjoy the beaches, ocean waves, new foods and good friends with you!
Biggest Hugs and Kisses,
Mommy and Daddy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)