Making It Real

In mid Febrary, Ben brought a "Maybe" home from work with him.  It was a big Maybe, and we've discussed, hashed, and rehashed that Maybe for two months now.  Somewhere in there, the Maybe turned into "Probably".
Until last Friday, when Probably turned into "Almost Definitely".
As in, We're Almost Definitely moving.
To Singapore.
Tonight, it became a little more real when I actually said the words "We're moving" to my Bible Study friends.
Singapore is 10,000 miles from family.  10,000 miles from Harris Teeter.  10,000 miles from nearly everything that is familiar and comfortable.
And, that's ok with me. 
Part of the reason it's ok with me is that seventeen summers ago, I spent 12 weeks in Singapore as a BSU summer missionary. It's undeniable that that experience has enabled me to know without a doubt that we'll be ok in Singapore.  We'll be better than ok; we'll love it.  Will we miss family birthday celebrations?  Certainly.  Will we wish sometimes we were in Charlotte instead? Absolutely- especially in the fall when the leaves are changing. When the air is cooler.  When there's football to watch on Saturdays. 
Not that there's an absence of all apprehension; I have plenty.  I'm anxious about what we'll take with us and what we'll do with the stuff we leave behind. I'm anxious about making those decisions in every cabinet and closet in every room of this house.  I'm anxious about spending t w e n t y-f o u r loooooooooooooong hours in transit with B3. 
I've got plenty of questions, that's true. But I'm thankful that God began to prepare me for this new adventure seventeen years ago.

Who would have thought??

Back to Normal

This time last week, I was just emerging from a drug induced state.
Appedectomy last Tuesday. 
To say that it's not what I had planned for last week would be the understatement of the year. 
Ben was in London, and the to do list was lengthy. 
And so, my appendix decided to require attention.
I took the kids to school, and then I took myself to Urgent Care.  I had called my regular Doctor's office, but they couldn't see me before 4 pm.  I requested that a nurse call me to see if I could get a different appointment time. 
The Urgent Care doctor told me he couldn't do a blood test, so he gave me my $10 back recommended that I go to the ER 
Except I didn't WANT to go to the ER; I knew I'd be there forever, and WEE School pick up is at 1:00 pm. 
Oh, how niiave of me to expect to be at WEE School Pick up.
The nurse did call, and she wrangled an appointment for me at 12:15.  By 1:30 pm, I was on my way to CMC Pineville for a CT Scan.  The scan confirmed that it was, indeed, appendicitis. I was instructed to walk over to the adjoining ER and have myself admitted for surgery.
Surgery.
While my husband is on another continent.
While my children are with friends, who graciously picked them up from school, took them home, cared for them, loved them, and kept me posted via texts and phone calls. (Side note:  I got a text while at the Dr's office that said, "I have Ben.  I won't feed him any dairy.  Does he nap?".  I texted back:  "Thank you so much!  Yes, he naps. Who are you?"  I suspected that it was my friend Laura, and it was. Chrystal had Anna Kate, and I knew they were both in good hands. 
I had emailed with Ben earlier in the morning, around 5:30 am when I was feeling miserable, so he knew I wasn't feeling well.  I wish I had seen his face when he received my 1:25pm text that said, "Going for CT scan.  Maybe appencicitis."  Ah, the glamorous life of the international traveller.

By 8:30 that evening, I was appendix-less.
A week later, I'm nearly back to normal.
I'm thankful for friends who stepped in and took care of children and us by providing meals.  I'm thankful for parents who jumped into their car to drive to our rescue. 
And  I'm thankful that I'll never, ever have to re-arrange my schedule for my appendix.
It will probably be my gall bladder next time.  I just hope Ben is in the country to enjoy the fun.

The Note

Today Anna Kate had her semiannual trip to the dentist.  While I was getting ready to go, she asked me if she could make the denist a card.  Of course I said that would be fine. 

Here's the finished product:

It reads:
"Dear Dr. Savage,
I hope you do a good job. 
Love, Anna Kate"

She reports that he did, indeed, do a good job. 
And, no cavities.  Hooray!

New 'Do

Everytime AK complains about tangled hair, I offer to take her to have it cut.  Every time I offer, she grabs her hair and lets me know that a hair cut is NOT on her list of good ideas.

Until last month. 

Instead of protesting, she got a big grin and said, "Yeah!  Just like Lily's!" Lily is a classmate, and her hair is short.  Really short. 

Monday was the day.  The stylist didn't exactly get to carry out AK's vision for the cut since it involved the words, "up to my ears", but she's thrilled.

I can't decide if she looks older or younger, but I love it.  And so does she.

Better Late Than Never

About 4 years ago, I made a large, flower shaped floor pillow for my niece, Emma.  That same summer, I adapted the pattern to make a huge turtle pillow for my nephew.  After the turtle, I immediately bought fabric to make Anna Kate a flower pillow.  I cut out the pieces and stored them in a plastic bag until I was ready to sew.  Four years ago. 

In February, I decided I was tired of moving that bag full of pieces around.  So, I decided I'd make her the pillow for her birthday. 

I had forgotten what  a PAIN this pillow is to sew! 

Regardless, she loves it.  It was worth the aggravation to see her enjoy it.  Just don't tell her it took me 4 years; I'm not sure she'd say it was worth the wait.

Give a Hoot!

For the three years that we've lived in the Greylyn neighborhood, we've enjoyed hearing the neighborhood Barred Owl in the evenings.  Last fall, however, it seemed that he had relocated.  None of the neighbors had heard him either.  Then, on Friday, we were playing in the yard.  There were Chickadees in the trees raising quite a ruckus, and Ben looked up to see why.  There sat our owl.

Anna Kate named him "Hoo Hoo Owl Anna".  We're thrilled that he's back in the neighborhood!

03-02-11 Bible Scholar

Tonight, at bedtime, Anna Kate was discussing what she learned from reading her Bible.  Here's the summary.
"The Old Testament is full of people doing bad things and God.  The New Testament is about people fighting a little and Jesus.  The disciples said, 'No, He's busy.  Leave him alone [Visualize her little hands pushing invisible people away]. Then Jesus said, 'Let them come to me!' [as she motions towards herself].

I think she's pretty much got it...