Bliss

This was the week of our annual family vacation

at my parents' cottage in Wisconsin.

Not everyone could make it,

but we feel especially blessed this year

to have two new family members

who were able to join us.

One is not pictured: our sweet foster-to-adopt baby

who joined the family in early January.

He is so entertaining at 8 months old

that his uncle observed, "He's like a campfire,"

when he noted all the family members 

sitting in a circle around TJ, 

oo-ing and ah-ing over his antics

as he played on a blanket on the floor.

He was already in bed for the night when we took the picture,

but since he is a foster child, 

his picture is not allowed to be shown on social media.

(We took another family picture the next night 

before he went to bed,

but I can't show you that one.)

The newest member is TJ's 3 week old little sister, 

born to TJ's foster-to-adopt parents

on the 4th of July.

Fireworks went on all over 

just hours after her birth.

The flowers pictured above right are from my garden

(former garden, that is - the sale was closed today!)

and were arranged for Norah -

the bee balm (Monarda) blooms remind me of fireworks.

It's been a wonderful week.

.

Change is in the air

Lots of changes at the moment:

 

I quit my part time job at the for-profit firm last month 

after several months of realizing it was not a good fit for me,

and now I feel like there is a big weight off my shoulders.

Phew!

At the non-profit where I work part time, 

we've welcomed a new executive director
and said farewell to our interim: 

we loved our interim, but she was just that - 

came the rescue until the permanent replacement arrived,

and she was fabulous.

It's a new dynamic now, and still a very good one, 

and our interim made it an easy transition for the staff.

This will soon be my former home.
Yesterday the movers came and took away the furniture,
and tonight, after days of help
from family and friends to wrap and pack boxes,
I finished cleaning the empty house,
locked the door for the last time,
and said a prayer of thanksgiving
for the home this house was to me for more than 27 years.

Now on to the next chapter...

Birthday Boy

Oscar's birthday is today.

Ten!

We adopted him 5 years ago, 

when he was a shy and chubby 5-year-old

with a very short haircut.

He wouldn't leave Gerrit's side that first day.

Later he got bolder and would hang out with me, too.

Now that he lives with my parents, he follows them around.

Until I show up.

(Hmmm.  Note to self: Must. Get. Selfie.)