We’re about to embark on week six of our time in DC and I have TRIED to blog repeatedly. I have stories galore filled with blessing after blessing. For now I'm going to post a few things I wrote a few weeks ago to give an idea of what we've been up to . . .
(Written in week 3) After jet-lag and sickness we’re on our feet and life feels a little more normal. After the first ten or so days I felt as though we were done with our little holiday and I was ready to go home. Thankfully this week I feel like I belong here and this is our home. The house still needs to be made a little more homely (lamps, wall hangings, rugs etc) but I have ideas!
Lyle began work which I’m sure has helped us in the settling in process. It felt like an eventful week for the children and myself also.
Monday: cutting Jane’s nails I managed to chop off the tip of her finger on her right thumb. One day I’ll tell her that story and she can respond with “Now I know why my thumb is weirdly shaped! Gee, thanks mum.” Having limited medical supplies here we walked over to the church office to ask Miss Kristen the receptionist for the first aid kit. She was greeted with the children saying “MUM CUT JANE’S FINGER AND IT’S BLEEDING!”. Oh yes, I’m so receiving mother of the year award at this rate (and it’s only monday) . . .Miss Kristen is a good nurse. Maybe a better nurse than receptionist - she did leave a lady on hold for a little too long while she cut bandages in to fairy size for Jane’s petite thumb.
Wednesday we were invited to join friends at a splash park. It’s called Navy Yard (yes the same Navy Yard that is in the news for shootings occasionally). In fact there was one reported the previous week in that exact area. There are so many safety restrictions there though that I do feel safe. So this day was PERFECT for a splash. It was humid with 33 degrees (celsius). Unfortunately I completely underestimated the distance and made the children walk back home -all 2km’s back. In that 33 degree heat and humidity. I apologised to the children and said we’d never do that again!
Another day (can’t remember which day) we had a gas leak downstairs. Now our house is three stories but underneath these DC row houses are basements. A lot of them are converted to 1-2 bedroom apartments and make for a great source of extra income. We have a converted basement which houses interns. It was the stove (that has now been ‘condemned’!) headed out for an hour and am beginning to figure out how to order from OK on to my story…the result of that was our vacating for a couple of hours. We headed to our local (and new favourite) Mexican restaurant. I barryed up my nacho’s order because in response to the cashier asking “what topping do you want? (something) or (something)”?
I responded “the first one”. Not because it sounded like right but because I didn’t have the faintest idea what she was saying. It was wrong. So wrong. It was a massive amount of melted cheese on chips with a spoonful of avocado. Luckily they had the extra’s corner where I was able to procure masses of pico de gallo (the one mexican restaurant food item I know and love) to cover pour on top. The children have discovered their love of this little restaurant also which has thankfully allowed me an easy ‘out’ when dinner supplies are running short and we’re car-less (usually I order groceries online and they arrive the next day, so when things are lacking I’m often unaware of it until it’s too late).
Week four: The children were asked to dog sit our neighbours dog Wallace out for walks/potty each day while they were gone for a week. We had a lot of fun playing with him, he’s a beautiful chocolate labrador with a darling typical lab personality. Just sweet and loving. He’s only a puppy still so his fur is perfectly soft, his paws are oversized and he loves to run, jump and chew. They kindly paid the children a whole five dollars so it was an excellent opportunity to teach them about stewardship. It's exciting to teach them this life skill at such a young age.
By friday the grocery delivery had ice blocks so I finally felt like a bit of a good mother again!
Life isn't uneventful for us on the hill. I know it's going to take a long time to settle in but it's so sweet to have this blessing. I plan to blog about our church and shares the joys of that also.
