Vacation Bible School aka Packing Time

Usually I teach the youngsters at vacation Bible school, but this year Jeff had the week off and we used the time for a house hunting trip and to pack. It was truly God's timing...we needed every minute of it too!! Let me give a run down of the time because it has been a c-r-a-z-y time in our lives...Sunday afternoon my mom arrives. Sunday evening we have a huge good-bye party (mostly church, playgroup and a few neighbors) hosted by Kelvin and Yolanda Wong. Jeff and I left early Monday morning for San Fransisco, meeting a realtor to look at house on the peninsula at 9am. Mom took the girls (who were super worn out at this point) to VBS then went home and helped clean, put up blinds, take down pictures, and puddy holes. Kate had a stomach ache on Monday so she went early to hang out with her and finish the day at VBS.

The next day Jeff and I met a different realtor to look at houses on the East Bay while Mom took the girls to VBS then to a dentist appointment. Kate again was nervous, but Mom held her hand to calm her nerves while holding RL. Yes, she is THAT good. We made an offer on a house in Fremont. Jeff and I flew home late Tuesday night, arriving slightly before midnight.

Wednesday Mom and I took the girls to VBS, we grabbed a quick coffee then headed home to pack for the family vacation in Coronado and our two month temporary housing stay. Our offer on the house was rejected, and while we talked about offering on a different house Mom picked the girls up from VBS. We decided to offer on a different house, continued packing then at 5pm my friend Jen came to get me for a good-bye party with my book club. I forgot about that, so I quickly threw on something nice and headed out the door. Mom and Dad went home that night and Jeff and I stayed up super late so we could finish packing.

Thursday and Friday the packers/movers came and packed and moved everything onto their huge truck. We stayed in a hotel in Mira Mesa, and I continued to take the girls to VBS while trying to clean the house so we could get our deposit back.

Friday was the big push because we had our landlady coming to walk through the house, and an Ice Cream social for VBS. We made it, but by the time we arrived RL was limping (see earlier post about her accident), Hannah was crying (friend issues with a boy names Josh...) and I was a sweaty mess from all the cleaning. BUT, we made it, and all three girls sang and played and seemed to have a fun time. I am thankful that at this busy time the girls were able to have some fun time and forget about the stress of moving. I am also incredibly thankful to my mom for all the care she gave our family at this time...let's just say that Hannah, Kate and Rachel Lee were not the only girls that cried while she was around...

Can you find Kate in the black dress with red and white flowers? Rahcel Lee (yellow shite and polka-dot pants) is also next to Hannah (brown shirt).

Saying the memory verse..."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16...praise God for that promise which is true yesterday, today and tomorrow both in San Diego, San Fransisco and around the world. What a good God we have!!

Kate's Five Year Old Adopt-a-Cat Party

You never know what a year of growth will bring. This past year with our sweet girl we have seen her take on many different roles, and in all of them the beauty of her loving and generous spirit has emerged (although not all the time...). She loves being a younger sister and an older sister, a student, a daughter, a friend and being alone. She plays with dolls and has learned that she likes biking (and she can ride a two wheel bike!). We have seen Kate grow this past year, but I am so glad to say that Kate is a still very much a snuggler. And I love snuggling with her. So I wasn't surprised when she wanted a party where kids could take home a stuffed animals. Stuffed animals suit Kate's snuggling and soft personality. We decided to theme her five year old party with stuffed toy cats and call it an Adopt-a-Cat party. Kids were able to pick out what color cat they wanted. From there, we made birth certificates with the cat's names on them, a collar and small toy for the cat and put it all inside a little to go box for the kids to take home. It was a hit (and a lot of work!).

Here we are painting our faces like a cat:

And here are all the kids with their baby kittens:

And all the chaos of making birth certificates, collars and kitten toys:

When I asked Kate what kind of cake she wanted she said she wanted a watermelon cake...that is a watermelon cut and decorated in such a way that it looks like a cake. This also was no surprise because Kate will usually save half her dessert for later...she just doesn't have a sweet tooth. the watermelon cake was fun to make, and I am sooooo glad my mom was able to help cut and decorate with me...I could not have done it without her!! (Notice how fun she makes it too...pretending to eat the cake with the girls...so silly!)

It was great to have the family together celebrating Kate. Knowing that we were about to move made me treasure these times where we can celebrate these life events together. Family is truly a blessing!!

 

My Sweet and Loving Kate,

I am so fortunate to be your mama, the person that you snuggle with in the morning, the person that hears your thoughts and ideas, the person that holds you when you are sad or tired, and the person that gets to know your silly and funny side. You are truly a treasure, designed by God to bless both our family and others. I love who you are so much, and learn so much from how you care and listen to others. You have your own pace of life, taking time to focus on the really important things and making sure that everyone is included and taken care of. Your loving heart is such a delight. Thank you for love you give and the love you share with us as a family. I praise God for you, my gift, as pure grace from God above.

May you grow to know the depth of love that I, and we as a family, have for you. May you know the greatest of God's love, and the freedom we find in knowing that we have grace, forgiveness and never ending perfect love from God above. I love you deeply and completely.

To the moon and back I love you, I love you, I love you!
Your Mama, Sarah

First Day of School Jitters

Well, today is the third day of school for Hannah and Kate. I am glad that the first day went so well for the girls, and both girls yesterday said that they played with other girls from their class, so I am hoping that this is a sign that they are beginning to know routines and make some friends.

 Because we are still in our temporary house we have to drive about 30 minutes in the morning. I have to wake the girls, get them fed, clothes and out the door with lunches and homework by 7:15. Phew...it is the third and I'm not sure I could do this every. single. day. I am thankful that September 17 is our close date, and that we will leave close enough to walk to the school! Here is the house...the girls posed for me as we passed the house...what good girls!

 Hannah reported that her first day was, "Awesome!" She met a new girl named Ginetta, and said her teacher, Ms. Guidici (Jew-da-see), was nice.

Kate said that she liked her class, but that she didn't want to go again. She held up her forefinger and thumb and said she "Cried only this much and only on the inside so no one noticed." Hearing this made me cry on the inside, but I told her she was very brave and that I love knowing how she feels so I can pray for her while we are apart. The second day was hard to motivate her to go, and she asked me to walk her to class which I did and then with a quick kiss I walked away with tears in my eyes and prayers flowing from my heart. She said the second day was fine, but also asked how many more days was she going to be in Kindergarten. I left the answer vague, thinking that 178 days might overwhelm her.

Here she is, first in her class...

Rachel Lee and I had a fun day together, but after our coffee time she cried for Tate-Tate. Then once we picked up Kate from Kindergarten she realized that Hannah was not with us (Kindergarten is half day and the other grades are full day so we have to get Kate at 11:30 and Hannah at 2:30) and she threw a massive tantrum at the school. It was awesome. I love being that mom with that kid anytime I'm in a new place.

Overall the girls are adjusting really well. It is a time filled with hugs and prayers as well as tears and encouragement and I'm not referring to just the girls...Jeff sure has his work cut out with this crew, and I praise God for his patience and sensitivity.

The Unexpected Accident

It was Friday, August 9, the last day that we were allowed to be in the house and the day of the ice cream social for the girls after their week of vacation Bible school. Jeff was trying to get everything we needed for our 2 month temporary housing time to fit in the car, and I was frantically trying to clean the house so we would get our deposit back. The girls were crazy and running wild. Recipe for disaster, right? Absolutely. But did Jeff or I stop? No...we had tasks to accomplish and places to get. I yelled out to Jeff that he could return the vacuum and cleaning supplies that we borrow from our dear neighbor, Ivy...I could imagine him mumbling under his breath, "Oh, really? I can return those items for you...please, let me." It was that kind of mood...tense. On the way back from Ivy's house Rachel Lee was balancing on the curb and fell off into the street and started scream. I dropped my sponge and ran outside. I picked her up and let her cry. She was still crying when we put her in the car and headed to the park, but by the time we were at the park she was better. Limping, but not crying. We asked our friends, Karen and Yolanda, who are pediatricians, and Yolanda said it was probably a growth plate fracture and we should take her to the doctor's Saturday. We let her continue playing, and as she was climbing up a ladder (and probably favoring her injured foot) she fell again and landed on her foot. From that moment until we were at the doctors the next day she would not walk on it. In fact, when she woke the next morning she stood up and said, "My foot hurting. I need med-sin" (medicine). So, in the midst of the chaos RL has a walking boot (cast) on her foot, which meant that at the family vacation she could not get it wet or go in the sand. Instead, she and I hung out quite a bit at the house and went for a few runs along the strand. She was a good sport the whole time, and looking back, the more restful pace of things for a week was just what I needed to prepare for this portion unsettled-settling time in San Fransisco. God works in the unexpected.

Last Playgroup with the Ladies

When I was new to San Diego we lived in a 2 bed/1 bath apartment in Summerset Gables. My first day alone with the kiddos I called my sister, Jenna, who lives in Aliso Viejo, and asked if we could meet half way between our houses for a coffee. I loaded Hannah, 22 months, and Kate, 6 months, into the car and headed out on a 1 hour drive (unfortunately with Camp Pendleton in the middle of our houses I drove a little extra than "half") to meet my sister for coffee. I just wanted someone to talk to...someone I was connected to. On the drive home from this coffee time, both girls slept (fortunately for me!) and I cried. I cried out to God for a friend. My heart was lonely and I am not the type of person that does well alone. The next day we the girls and I were playing inside the apartment when I spotted someone with 2 girls playing at the park directly in front of our apartment. I quickly gathered my crew and headed out to meet her. Her name was Ginette and I immediately asked if she had a playgroup that I could join, and praise the Lord, she was not nervous about my desperate state but welcomed me. She said that there was a group of ladies from her church (a church!) who got together once a week and I was welcome to come. This group of ladies has been such a support to me as a mom, as a wife, as a Christian, and as a woman. This lovely group of women and their kiddos came to celebrate a final playgroup time at my house and gave me a priceless gift: a photo book of our kids growing up together. A testament to God's answer to my cry that very first day I was in San Diego driving back from a coffee with my sister. He did not leave me alone then, and it gives me hope to know that He will build a community of support again here in San Fransisco.

Jeff's Last Day at the Salk

The girls and I picked Jeff up from work on his last day at the Salk. He had a few too many items to bike with, and while we waited for him to finish up I snapped a few last pictures of the girls playing in the Salk courtyard. Jeff finished his work August 2, and took the following week off to organize, pack, and take a house hunting trip before the family vacation in Cornado with the Murry side, and I am sure glad he took a week off...we used every spare minute!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 San Franscico list

It has been a crazy couple weeks for our Murry crew! God has been so close to us all during this time, and really has provided a lovely temporary house with a permanent house in the making. So, to remember some of these early days here in San Fransisco here is a list of things that have happened, or will happen:

 5. Five: the number of times we stopped along the way from Brea to San Franscisco so the girls could potty, eat or just get their wiggles out. After our fifth stop we were only 2 hours away from San Franscisco, so we made it clear to the girls that we were not stopping again until we were in San Franscisco. It would be a long two hours, and they could sleep, but we pleaded with them to not ask to stop again. Right after Jeff got back on the freeway he commented that he forgot to make sure that the bikes were tied on tightly, so he pulled off at the next stop, which was only a mile from the previous stop. The girls started clapping and cheering thinking that we had arrived in San Franscisco...their concept of time and travel is not quite there yet.

4. Four days in our temporary house, and the girls are settling into a more regular sleeping and eating routine. We had many days with missed naps, late bedtimes and meals at fast food places...and who know how many hours of screen time these girls have had these past few weeks!

3. Three times I have been with the girls running along the bay. Twice we made it to a park, and one time we got lost trying to find a park...there is a bonus mini-list for ya!

2. Two lists taped to the wall: one for prayers and one for praises. This is a place for us to talk to the girls about their concerns and to teach them to bring their worries and concerns to God. It is also a place for us to remember how much God has done during this time as we transition. I feel so blessed by the girls' insights and their honesty. Hannah is really nervous about friends. She has many times asked me to pray for a friend as kind to her as her cousin Amy. Although God only made one Amy (and praise God for her!) we are hoping for someone like her to befriend Hannah. Kate has not shared a lot during this time, but when her stomach hurts I take time to pray with her for her health. I think her stomach aches as subsiding, and I am trying to spend some good quality time with her, Ken and Barbie on the floor doing silly things. Playing with her has been a comfort to me as well. I praise God for the unique personalities of my older girls. And RL you ask, well, she is just as spunky and adventurous as always. Her laughter brightens our family, and Kate last night at dinner said, "Lee Lee, you're so cute and funny." That pretty much sums her up. She continues to tell people we meet that her name is "Two" and when they ask how old she is she says, "I five. I go to Kindergarten." It always makes us laugh, but I happen to think that the first day of school there may not be a lot of laughing from my little as her sisters go to school and she stays with mama...only time will tell!

 

1. One good God who is the same here as in San Diego, yesterday, today and tomorrow, and who is continuing to care, teach and provide for two grown adults and these three beauties. Praise God for all the wonderful ways we have seen Him care for us, and for the times we have prayed and waited for Him to give us His peace.