Jan 15, 2011 | South Africa, Stories
Ever feel like you’re a little behind and a big behind at the same time? Nevermind. I am trying to get things together now that we’re back in SA and baby brother’s arrival is 40 DAYS AWAY. {I know that’s 5 weeks, but 40 days seems more imminent and pressing!}
So far, three suitcases have not been unpacked from our travels to America. Baby clothes have not yet been sorted or organized. The Bear hasn’t learned to sleep in a big boy bed yet because we haven’t found one. {I am, however, very busy looking for things on Gum Tree!}
If I’m not potty training, clothes stacking, laundry-catching-upping, or big-boy-bed-training, {and I’m not} would you like to know what I am up to when I’m not in the kitchen? {Energy to cook is always the last thing to go — energy to eat makes this a priority!}
Well, I’m hanging puffs.
You heard me.
I’m hanging puffs. Here’s to throwing one back to the New Kids on the Block, who are apparently on their way back in.
The Bear and his baby brother will be sharing a room sooner or later. Well, the Baby will sleep in his crib in our room, but his stuff will be in the Bear’s room. And the Bear’s room is so sad and bland at the moment, I needed to give it a little colour and life.
While we were in the States I bought some tissue paper with this in mind. And yesterday and today, I’ve had the energy to make puffs.
Like these:
These sassy lassies are now hanging above the Bear’s crib…the spot where big boy bed will be before too long. {That’s a Bear’s eye view.}
Here’s a different view, so that you can witness our eloquent hanging methods.
{Raffia + tape = job well done}
The guest room got a splash of colour, too! {These are hanging above the headboard of the big guest bed.}
Care for a couple more shots so you can see the full effect?
Great!
Here sleeping Bear lies:
And there are the delicately placed puffs, smiling over him with wispy, friendly, colour-y goodness.
In case you weren’t reading around here a gabillion years ago when I shared the ridiculously easy process of how to make these “pom-poms” or “puffs” or whatever you fancy calling them, here is the post with the tutorial. So easy. Great party decorations. Cheeeeep and cheeerful. Win, win, win.
Hopefully I’ll get around to some more productive nesting over the next few days. In the meantime, at least we’ve got colour! 🙂
xCC
Jan 13, 2011 | Hometastic Goodness, Stories
Have we known each other for more than a few years? If you knew me before I flew across the pond to spend a few years in Edinburgh, you would probably have summed me up, if asked, with a few simple descriptive words or phrases:
- Girl who loves Jesus.
- Pretty happy most of the time.
- Hates vegetables like few people I’ve ever met.
- Loves bacon like few people I’ve ever met.
- Can devour a chicken supreme combo with fries and Mountain Dew from Bojangles like she’s getting paid.
If I’m real honest, I think either number three or four, or perhaps number five, might’ve come at the top of the descriptive list.
But. Good News.
If you’ve known me for that long and were beginning to get concerned about my cholesterol level or my heavy sodium intake, there is good news. I’ve really been reformed. And a majority of the blame for the reformation belongs in Hero Hubs’ corner. When we were engaged and discussing our future together, he pointed out two important facts:
- He is eight years older than me.
- Heart disease runs in his family.
He summed up these two points with the comment, “If you want me to be around for a while, we’re going to have to eat differently.” My twenty-five year old eyes grew wider than a four year old kid who’s about to sit on Santa’s lap for the first time. And the journey to healthier eating began. (more…)
Jan 10, 2011 | Stories, The Parenthood
A couple nights ago, heartburn and back pain combined to keep me awake a lot longer than I wanted to be. I scribbled down my thoughts in the moment, my journaling software marking the time as about 2:39 am. I sort of forgot about it and then found it just now, and thought you might find it amusing. Unscripted and unedited, this is me, pregnant and awake at 2 am.
I lay in bed awake after having visited the loo no less than five times in the past few hours. I am worried that it will clog if I don’t flush but worried that flushing will wake up the house, so I decide to go once more and use as little toilet paper as possible. (more…)
Jan 7, 2011 | Stories
Hey guys and gals! I’m only quiet because I’m recovering, deep in thought and still slightly out of the time zone. But I thought I’d take a quick minute to share a bit of what’s coming up in this space in the days and weeks ahead. (As a promise that I haven’t forgotten you on the other side of the pond.) First let me mention that it is really, really good to be back in our own place. Even though I said it in application to my Mom’s house back in the USA several weeks again, I’m saying it again now: There’s no place like home. Still true.
So here’s what’s on tap in the weeks ahead! {I hope it gets you excited. And if this list is missing something you’d like to see, you’ll say so.} (more…)
Jan 5, 2011 | Stories
Friends (and family), it’s a good thing I can type with my eyes closed because I’m too tired to keep them open long enough to write you this message! I just have three important things to share:
1. We are safely back in South Africa. Yay! We’ve gone from cold enough that the Bear always needed a jacket and an extra layer to, it is so hot, boy just run around in your diaper.
2. That was one of, if not the most grace-covered, smooth and peaceful international trip I’ve ever made. Peace met us around ever corner. These testimonies deserve bullet points.
- We never had to be in a hurry.
- We never had to wait in a long line. (Seriously. Incredible.)
- Time just seemed to agree with us at every stage and we strolled from arrival to pick up to departure, bus to train to brief stop for rest on London layover, terminal to terminal to gate to take-off…
- The Bear slept more than 3/4 of the first flight and a decent amount on the second, and a little on the layover in between. He only began complaining and asking to get down during the last twenty minutes of the last (eleven hour) flight, and even then, colouring and candy and extra attention were enough to keep him at peace until we were off the flight and on the way home. Wow.
3. I share all of this for one specific reason: To thank you SO much for your prayers. They were answered by our gracious and amazing God. I remember marvelling in the middle of the last flight (the eleven hour one) at how smooth and peaceful things had been. Thank you again and again for your prayers. They were indeed answered!
As it is at the moment, we have returned to our place, attempted to cool off with some time at the pool, and fought to stay awake and go to bed at a reasonable hour, because that usually helps with jet lag. So here I am now, sitting on our bed at 8:36 pm, so incredibly tired my eyes are closing without me even realising for a while. And my head is doing that falling over thing that you were embarrassed of if it happened to you in class in grade school. It just happened again, so ignore typos, if you please.
Thank you friends. Your encouragement and support is amazing. And for those of you who were a part of the incredibly warm welcome we received in the US, we can’t thank you enough. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! And goodnight. 🙂
From Africa, With Love,
xCC
Jan 3, 2011 | An Expat, Stories
No matter how hard things get out there, how tight our finances, how challenging the stuff of life is, the hardest part always happens right here. In driveways and airport entrances, choking back tears and wiping noses, the goodbyes we say on the day that we take off are always the hardest part of my life and work at the moment.
The last time we said these goodbyes, I had no idea it would be such a long time before we got back. I don’t expect it to be nearly as long before we’re back again this time, but the leaving is nevertheless hard.
We take off this afternoon and will arrive in Cape Town in the morning on the 5th. Please say a prayer for safe travels, peaceful transitions and happy Bears, and especially for my Mom and Dad and our goodbyes.
xCC
P.S. I might be able to catch you during our long layover in London…if not, I’ll catch you on the Southern side!
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