Understatements

Two understatements: 

We spend a lot of time together. It's a good thing I like him.

~Katherine

September Trip- 2019

For a while today a heavy ocean fog swept inland, sending fingerings of white clouds streaming over roofs and palm trees towards us. Michael grabbed his camera and took an opportunity for a study break, while I looked on from my workspace thinking about fall. For a moment it felt a bit fall-ish, even though the temperatures here are only rising this week, while dry SoCal winds are picking up and fires are raging. But for that moment I let the imagined feelings of autumn linger. 

Crisp temps, colors, scents, sweaters, apples, lakes and rivers, cool city streets, rain.

Of course, I began to miss my family, my native land, and my mother tongue. 

When I uploaded pictures to my computer yesterday, I came across this file from a visit to my sister's one year ago this month. Jacob and I had traveled home for my youngest brother's wedding. I had the distinct pleasure of helping prepare for the ceremony and reception with my sister. Working like this with her was an experience I relished, one I've not had opportunity to experience much with family because of geographical distance. 

Jacob, on the other hand, loved being the oldest cousin for once among a small gang of boys.

My camera lay largely packed away because it was a busy week of work and visit, and the fact that Jacob and I lost a full day stranded in Michigan meant the work was extra focused. (It was yet another tale of travel mishaps that no longer surprise me... lightning storm and flooding, missed connection, lost luggage, no vacancies, seedy motel, stolen credit card, little sleep. Still worth it, though, hands down.)

I did capture a few moments anyway. Below, the old airplane tire swing that was ours when I was little.

Obviously, Tante Katherine needed to swing with the boys, too!

I enjoyed catching up with extended family as well, even meeting many new family members, like spouses of cousins. I think the last time we saw each other would have been at my grandmother's funeral, nearly 10 years ago. (Images of that trip HERE.)

It was a simple and beautiful wedding for these two in our town's covered bridge over the Gatineau River. The funny reality is that I met my brother's wife for the first time only after the ceremony! Things like that are definitely not perks to living far away!

(Image not mine)

There was a smaller, more intimate reception for family the following morning. Here is my mom with four girls now. (Left to right: My sister, Melissa; my newest SIL, Dale; my mom, my Maman; my SIL, Melanie; and me)

And the gang of boy cousins... My two older boys were missing, obviously, and now we have a brand new baby boy born this summer. I couldn't decide between the two pictures: the one above was their own pose, and the one below was how they repositioned when someone suggested moving in close. Both show a group of really wonderful guys!

A short hike in the Gatineau Park was a real treat for me. My old stomping ground...

Lookout and, er, old make-out point!

And then, once again and far too soon, homebound. We've long been accustomed to lengthy airport wait times and layovers, but how wonderful it was just to flash a passport at customs instead of a visa with an alien number. I do feel like a real lucky girl to have two homes I love!

It's been nearly three years since Jon and my older boys have flown home, and Covid regulations don't make it very hopeful that we'll get there anytime soon. Nonetheless, a trip back through pictures did me some good today. 

And as a bonus, this little blog lives on for another post...

~Katherine

Who's ready for summer?

I spent some time cleaning out our bunkhouse this afternoon as a way to bring in summer. We’re hoping for a bunch of sleepovers like summers past, possibly even with cousins this year. Who really knows? All of our summer plans are being made with open hands.

Jacob is my last and only homeschool student; we wrapped up the year a bit early as usual. The two of us celebrated together one day late last month by heading up the coast for some early morning exploration. It didn't bother us one bit that the marine layer loomed heavily over us all day. He's the sweetest guy to hang with.

At this point, all my kids are finally done with academics for the 2019-20 school year. It was an anticlimactic ending to the oddest year ever. But YAY! Welcome summer! 

Exploring a new-to-us beach

Clear water and tide pools

His face when I asked him how he felt about school ending...

He looks so much like my youngest brother to me in this shot.

We'll look back one day with the same face when we remember the bandanas for masks and the weird ending to our school year. I hope we will carry with us some fond memories through it all.

In keeping with the year’s theme, another twist of events has reduced our mobility to get out and play: I took Jacob into the orthopedic clinic of our children’s hospital and we left with a knee brace, crutches, and an x-ray image showing the consequences of an active boy outdoing his growing bones.

The beaches are loosening their restrictions bit by bit. My favorite swimwear for the season is ready for hot days coming next week. I’ll have my little buddy with me on the sidelines for a couple weeks, but fortunately swimming is not weight-bearing so he’ll be out riding the waves in no time. Also fortunately for him, this mom is going to be like a drill sergeant with rehab exercises! ;)

~Katherine

Tinkering

Jacob always finds little projects to work on, lockdown or not. These pictures were from a rainy day a few weeks back. Presently he is learning about and building traps. He just demonstrated to me how he could either squash or capture a rabbit (depending on the need). I remember the days when all my kids worked for hours on projects like traps for rabbits and bad guys.

Jacob is one to tinker in the garage nearly every day. He often starts while still in his pajamas–carving, grinding, drilling, banging. He's always dreaming up new ideas and plans, and this lockdown situation has afforded him more time for his projects. If I can, I let him do his history or literature studies on audio, allowing him the freedom to tinker (or to wander). He's currently listening to a +30 hour biography on Andrew Carnegie. Homeschool isn't forever, but for now this sort of freedom is one thing I've been thankful for.

Here he is shaping a scrap of metal into knife blade. He has also been working with wood and leather. Oh yes, and fire.

For those who are kind enough to be concerned about my kids' safety, he was adequately geared up. We try to find a balance between safety and independence around here.

Safety and Independence...

I've tried to keep my opinions to myself about our current quarantine situation. Who really needs my two cents? I think there's far too much opinion floating around, and assumptions posing as conclusions. Everyone seems to be interpreting "data" and "science" based on their personal agenda or desires. Many go looking for reason to be more fearful of potential threat, with their suspicions clouding rationality.

Some want safety (health, predictability, provision, etc.) while others want independence (mobility, choice, free market, etc.). It seems to me that safety and independence seem to be the great dividers, while the great unifier is fear. 

People will always fear losing what is deemed most important, and if we're not careful fear will become the motivator and controller of thoughts and actions. It's important to discern what it is we fear, and why. It's important to question where our security lies. It's important to evaluate where and on what/who we place our confidence and hope. We should seek to understand the root of our fear, and be open to discovering some hidden idols. Be OK with the discomfort of honest heart evaluation.

An observation I've made over the last couple months: Fear, greed, pride, and discontentment have been contagions far more dangerous than any virus. These contagions cause us to prize our opinions, ideologies, and idols over living for God and loving others. We should never expect to find security and joy here.

Someday, not so very long from now, we will stand before our Maker. How will our words and actions regarding this current situations stand? Will fear of losing our temporal worldly comforts and privileges justify a single word or action? Are we adorning or reviling God's Word and the gospel we claim?

Listen, we are not entitled to anything regarding safety and independence in this life. We have security and freedom in Christ alone. 

Yes, we are privileged to have a particular process in which we can participate with the governance of our affairs, but this is not something God has given to us as a right. We are not entitled to have our way, but if we engage in political endeavors we must do so in honorable ways. Our preferences are not the mission of our lives as believers; don't get too sidetracked in this short life. It is grievous and embarrassing to see Christians stir up fear through gossip and slander of God-appointed leaders in the name of democracy. Likewise, a lack of trust in God's goodness and protective care demonstrates a puny view of God. The world is watching, friends. We are responsible for our behavior. 

I may not know much, but this I know to be of greater importance in our present state:

Fear God alone.

Love one another.

Pray for your leaders.

Submit to authority.

Be thankful.

It is all so very clear that these must be our primary focus. Be attentive and wise by leaning in to your Heavenly Father, and know that blessing always follows obedience. 

Be careful what you tinker with.

I wasn't intending on dispensing opinion. I've never really wanted to use this place as a platform for broadcasting my position, or for being preachy. I guess I just want more for each of us: peace that endures, trust in the unfailing goodness of God, and hope for an eternal future already made secure. May that consume our attention and open our lips in praise, no matter what threatens our safety or independence. God's purposes override viruses and governing authorities.

~Katherine