The Hills Roll On

Oh Eden!  You are so true to the Hebrew meaning of your name; “My Delight is in her”.  Every day you fill us with delight.  Just today I was savoring watching you walking so carefully in your prized Cinderella shoes.  Clip-clop you went across the kitchen floor, so careful in each step, so focused.  I was watching you, smiling, savoring this moment of your childhood.  As I sat there enjoying your simple self, I found myself reflecting on your shoe, oh, shall we call it, obsession?  Yes, it really is a remarkably strong relationship you seem to have with shoes.  Is it a passing phase I wonder?  Somehow, I think not.  For two reasons.  One is because you come by this honestly; your momma was (and still is) a lover of shoes.  Your gramma tells me how I, at the earliest of ages (2? 3?) would walk around the enclosed public pool (good old Glen Cairn Pool) and come back to gramma wearing someone’s shoes. Oops!  My favorite elementary school teacher was my favorite teacher because she wore sexy high heels (and she had Tina Turner hair)…this was at Catholic school…she was so hot.  And sassy.  (Madame Marte for anyone who’d know).   So darling, you get it honestly.  But I must say, you take it to the next level.  Because from the moment you could move yourself to a shoe, you’ve been drawn to them.  Now that you are fully mobile, nothing can stop you when your will is set, from going to the desired shoe and putting it ON!  How many times have you wandered in to the livingroom wearing someone else’s shoes?  Quickly you impressed me with your understanding of “put that BACK”.  You are so intelligent that we put a shelf in your closet, on your level, just for your shoes.  Now you RUN for your shoes when you hear the magic word (”shoes”) and you happily put them “back on the shelf” when you are done.  You don’t know what the snow boots are for yet, but you will soon!  And someday soon darling, we’ll get you rainboots.  Maybe even little cowgirl boots.  And I want you to know, I’m keeping my eyes on the Target sales for those ruby red slippers we saw.  Enjoy it while you can my delight….you will be a tall drink of water when you mature; and God may give you feet to balance that tall body.  So enjoy your little feet and all the choices little feet have.  Enjoy this simple pleasure because you are young and full of simplicity.  Enjoy being alive, because baby, it is good to be alive.

I blinked. What happened?! Really, in the blink of an eye more than I dreamed or imagined has come to pass.

I have to look back at the photos from the past 6 weeks to wrap my head around all the wonderful events of September. I’ve always loved September (the bittersweet return to school, the homey smell of giant spagetti sauce batches, the sqeaky clean new shoes, the dazzling array of autumn’s farewell…so much to savor in this season). This September has been a landmark for us; a September unlike all others. For as you may know, WE GRADUATED!!! I’m so proud of us that I could shout for joy as the overwhelming sense of a job-well-done sweeps over me again. I could weep with gratitude for Him who gave us the strength, courage, and financial means to complete our BA’s. And I couldn’t smile any wider when I saw that both Gavin and I made the honour role. Wow. WOW!! Did we ever look good in our black gowns and slightly ridiculous, but traditional, caps. And as we did our recessional (the walking out of the auditorium at the end), Eden came with me, on my hip, so I could savor the magnificent accomplishment of doing these last 2 years as a mom. It wouldn’t have been possible without all the personal support so many of our dear loved ones gave (not to mention the gracious flexibility of Bethany College!). And now, a week later, it’s done. Our parents came and went for their short but sweet visits. What a double blessing it was to share that monumental victory of graduation with them. My parents actually motorcycled the whole 3 day trip to come! Taking the Northern route through Ontario of course (spectacular at this time of year). Ahhh Canada, we miss you! But here we are, electing to stay in the US of A. It’s different now though, we are here by choice, not just because this is where we go to school. No, we stayed because we KNEW this was exactly where God would have us be right now, pouring ourselves into others so they may rise up and become all that God created them to be and in turn accomplish all that He has prepared for them to do. Mentoring is a humble role; we’re not in for the money (what money?!) or the fame (what fame?!). As I type this though, here I sit in our very own 2 bedroom, heated, carpeted, quiet, lovely apartment. Our baby will be born here and I am full of thanksgiving. God has blessed me with 28 years of life and love. Thank you dear one, where ever you are, for sharing it with me. Keep in touch; though we not in Spain as we were a year ago, we are still far away from many we’d love to see more…Christmas in Ottawa is still a ways off. So for now, adios y que Dios te bendiga. (Goodbye and may God bless you.)