So, some of you have heard, we are ending our time here at Camp Tulahead. Andy got a phone call, this past Mon., to tell him that he was being let go. To put it simply, he was told that he is not the 'best fit' for camp at this time. So, that was a shock, this news.
Since then, we've been sharing the news with people, talking about and praying about what could possibly be next and I've been trying to focus on trying to clear my mind via taking my burdens to the Lord in all this in order to sleep. I have been having some sleep issues, anyways, with my bladder anyways (up about 4-5 times a night to go to the bathroom and lots during the day too). I would have to report, the first night since the news was the worst and things have improved a lot with regards to thoughts keeping me up.
Anyway, Andy does not have to work this month. We are to be moved out of our house by April 5, 2009. It is very helpful that he does not have to work because he can search for another job and help pack.
There is much to pack...garden stuff (he began dismantling the greenhouse already) and all the stuff we have in this big house. We've been talking about the need to downsize over the past few years, if we ever move to a smaller place (very likely). We have to figure out what to do with our laying hens. I'd love it if someone would adopt them, so we don't have to kill them. Thankfully, we didn't have any chicks growing in our house yet - Andy cancelled that order yesterday. He had started leek and onion seedlings that he continues to care for becuase we don't know if we can have a garden where we might go to next.I have been doing some filing that was on my list for normal life anyways.
Today, Sarah and Andy went ice fishing. I visited for a bit and saw Sarah catch a little fish. It was so cool seeing him come up out of the hole, flipping and flapping.
We have another midwife appointment on March 10, in Kelowna, which will be my last with these midwives I'm imagining. I am not concerned about who will be my pregnancy care provider or where I will give birth. We had a nice little plan set up re: Kelowna, but even if we have to have a doctor instead of a midwive, I think that would be ok, we'd just need to have more of a 'birth plan' and be ready to communicate what we desired (re:possible interventions).I have been feeling movements of this baby which is super super cool. I hadn't felt Karina move in my last pregnancy. I started feeling this baby's movements at 17-18 weeks. I will be 19 weeks on Friday.
I checked the eggs today and also noticed some of the greenhouse plastic Andy took down was blowing away, so I collected it from the field, including one piece from the creek. We don't want to let random pieces of plastic clog up the creek - no.
Andy and I started "Horton Hears a Who" and that is fun.
We've recieved many encouraging and sympathetic emails from people - thank you for your care and prayers.
Andy recieved some cheesemaking supplies in the mail and he is starting plans for a cheese press. If you learn about how to make cheese you will understand why it costs so much. It is quite the process and it has to age sometimes for months, before it is ready (or at maximum taste).
I hung sheets OUTSIDE on the line today to dry. The snow has melted off the deck, but is still everywhere else. They almost dried.The camp driveway has a patch along the side that is showing grass and there is concrete on the bridge showing (a larger patch).
I went on a nice ski again Saturday and today, to visit the ice fishing time.
Last night I put 2 sweaters on and went out on our porch to look at the stars and talk to God and sing a little. It was a good time. We have lived in such a beautiful place where we drink in so much of God's creation.
Andy has been filling the bird feeder each day. We usually don't fill it that often because they finish the seed in one day. I think he's filling it more because he knows we'll be moving.
Andy told Sarah the news today. I don't know what he said or how she reacted because I wasn't there. She did say, he told me, that she'd like to live in Princeton. I asked what she liked about Princeton and she said, "The playground would be close by." Ah, yes, a close play ground. I know that would loose it's fancy wonderfulness for me, but maybe not for a child eh? I do never get tired of walks out here though.
I am wanting to leave our house nice and clean for camp and the next person/people who will move in. When we moved in here there was no one living in it so we had to clean it ourselves.
We have a lot of flour and meat in the big camp freezers currently and that will have to find a new cold home. Anyone have extra freezer space. It's mainly the meat that will need it.We also have a lot of canning which will be heavy to move. We've alredy been eating more canning.
Sarah and I went to Strong Start on Monday and she made a necklace holder - piece of wood with four nails to hang necklaces off of. She painted it yellow with purple spots. I had a good time talking to another Mom who seems to have a similar lifestyle to us with chickens and a garden. Her little girl, also four and the only child, is learning about baking at a young age, as well.
Oh, I also taught Sunday School on Sunday and had an absolute blast doing it. I was just filling in. I didn't know how many kids would be there, but it went good. There was seven kids, ages 2-4 years. I was thankful a couple Moms stayed because they helped a lot as we had a little bit invovled craft we made and the snack was people shaped biscuits, so kids needed butter and jam spread for them. We read 2 books (on the theme of God making everyone different and special) and also played a game that spontaneously came into my head as I asked the kids if they wanted to play a game next or to read another book. Each kid drew a picture of something they liked to do on a small card. I wrote the words of what it was on the card and collected them. We sat in a circle and when I read and showed the card, whoever also liked to do that thing stood up and jumped up and down. We played the game twice, at their request. The second time the kids each had a couple cards to show.
The craft was a magnet with a felt fabric frame and inside the frame was a fingerprint scene. They kids put their fingerprints on the paper in the middle and then turned them into flowers or whatever they wanted to.
So, Andy and Sarah have had colds and he bought some kleenex the other day that had Vicks something in it. We call it spicy kleenex and I can't stand the smell of it. It bothers Sarah's nose too. I think as you breath the fumes you are supposed to clear up in your nasal passages or something. I think we'll go back to our other kind with the lotion in it.
I have had a grateful attitude for a long time about where we live. I often find myself, while Sarah is sledding down the steep hills, standing on top of the hill (which is a great view) and just thanking God and enjoying what I see.
A lot of things don't make sense to us about this whole turn of events, but I don't want to dwell on it. Andy does feel misunderstood and like his employer never really got to know him, so that is tricky. We are hoping to get away for a few days to think and pray, so that will be a good break.
