Well, the typical days have arrived. We arrived in Maine to A-typical days of sunshine a little warm and overall great days to play outside and enjoy the spring that arrived. Well, enjoyed is a relative term for me since my allergies hit when we arrived in Maine and recently let up - much to my relief. I guess with the sun went my allergies.
So today we are looking at our 3rd day of rain and grey skies. But that is okay. We have had unseasonable great weather so far, so a few rainy days will be okay. We trekked out to town today to give the kids and me and change of scenery. We are hanging out at the Rockland Library, one of our favorite places. The boys find some favorite fun comic books, the princess plays with the doll house or train table and Robert and I get our fill of the Internet.
One more week and my mom and Louie head up to visit us for a week. None of us can wait. We are so excited to share this wonderful place with them and introduce Louie to the North East! We are planning Lobster (of course), crab, a few light houses and maybe even a ride or 2 in the canoe!
Robert did get the boat out the day before the rain arrived, so the kids all got a boat ride (some got 2) and while boating with Dad they saw a seal (either the same one twice or 2 different ones) and they watch the Osprey aggressively defend its nest against a Turkey Buzzard. We also saw the Osprey on the Rocks the other morning while doing school, he had just caught something and settled on the rocks either to get a good hold, or to ensure it was not going to survive long to fight. We looked out the window to see him about 100 yards from the porch! He was huge! This was the closest I have been to him, and he was still which was a great treat too. Usually he is flying by overhead and it is tough to really see him, but we all got a good look that morning!
Well, things are still plugging along with us, the job search continues, the house is still showing, but no offers yet. So we continue to pray for peace and patience while things start to get a little more tense as time goes on.
We do trust that God has a plan in all of this, and I believe part of his plan was for us to have this time as a family to enjoy each other, to have lots of fun together and to just have some time away from all other distractions. It has really been a wonderful gift no matter how anxious we get at times. I am thoroughly enjoying every minute to this time with out kids and with each other. I have loved watching Robert's grandparents enjoy my children as well. They talk every day with them and have some great conversations too. Watching my little girl talk with her great grandmother at breakfast is priceless. I love it!
Thanks for your continued prayers!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Early Weekend for the Coles
Today (Thursday May 21st) we headed out from the Point in Cushing to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It was a quick drive – about 2 hours, and then we arrived to the only light house on the island for our first stop. The kids wanted to stay longer, not knowing what other places we were planning to see.
We stopped for a picnic lunch at the Sea wall where the kids played on the rocks as the tide was going out. They were once again hesitant to leave that spot not sure where we were off to next.
We then headed to Bar Harbor since it was almost low tide and there is a sand bar you can walk across during low tide to another small island. The kids loved that stop too! Playing in the water and looking for treasures in the rocks. A little boy’s paradise!
We then checked in to our nightly accommodations to drop off food for the fridge and get some stuff out of the car. Then we headed out to Cadillac Mountain and the sights in Acadia. We took the scenic drive for 26 miles and stopped at several places along the way to include the Sandy beach where the boys were thrilled to be in the water as far as we would let them (above the hem of their shorts despite our warnings) even little girl was in the water squealing in delight!
Today is Friday now.
Last night we had 4 very tired children who went to bed super fast and slept almost 11 hours. We woke up early – what is new in Maine? Then after a breakfast of yogurt & granola followed by the last of our ice cream (could not throw it out!) we headed back to Acadia to take a couple trails. We did see a rather large deer near our cottage on the way out – he was out for a morning stroll looking for some food in the gardens nearby.
We started at the visitor center where the kids watched a 20 minutes movie about the history of the park. We were told to go to a couple great spots for trails and then to possible see a pair of falcons. At one stop there were 2 park rangers with lots of scopes set up to view the nesting area of the falcons. The kids learned a lot about these falcons in particular as well as the nature of falcons in general. The rangers were so informative about the area and the birds! Lots of fun, and school on the road again!
After that we found a trail from near Sand Beach to Thunder hole (.75 miles each way) and we took that trail and were rewarded with amazing views, great pictures, and more tired kids!
So we are hanging out in Bar Harbor now while the kids journal about their morning and I catch up on my blog before we head back to Cushing. Hopefully I will find a WiFi connection to upload some pics and my blog entries. We have had a great two days off on our own and enjoying God’s amazing work here in Acadia!
We stopped for a picnic lunch at the Sea wall where the kids played on the rocks as the tide was going out. They were once again hesitant to leave that spot not sure where we were off to next.
We then headed to Bar Harbor since it was almost low tide and there is a sand bar you can walk across during low tide to another small island. The kids loved that stop too! Playing in the water and looking for treasures in the rocks. A little boy’s paradise!
We then checked in to our nightly accommodations to drop off food for the fridge and get some stuff out of the car. Then we headed out to Cadillac Mountain and the sights in Acadia. We took the scenic drive for 26 miles and stopped at several places along the way to include the Sandy beach where the boys were thrilled to be in the water as far as we would let them (above the hem of their shorts despite our warnings) even little girl was in the water squealing in delight!
Today is Friday now.
Last night we had 4 very tired children who went to bed super fast and slept almost 11 hours. We woke up early – what is new in Maine? Then after a breakfast of yogurt & granola followed by the last of our ice cream (could not throw it out!) we headed back to Acadia to take a couple trails. We did see a rather large deer near our cottage on the way out – he was out for a morning stroll looking for some food in the gardens nearby.
We started at the visitor center where the kids watched a 20 minutes movie about the history of the park. We were told to go to a couple great spots for trails and then to possible see a pair of falcons. At one stop there were 2 park rangers with lots of scopes set up to view the nesting area of the falcons. The kids learned a lot about these falcons in particular as well as the nature of falcons in general. The rangers were so informative about the area and the birds! Lots of fun, and school on the road again!
After that we found a trail from near Sand Beach to Thunder hole (.75 miles each way) and we took that trail and were rewarded with amazing views, great pictures, and more tired kids!
So we are hanging out in Bar Harbor now while the kids journal about their morning and I catch up on my blog before we head back to Cushing. Hopefully I will find a WiFi connection to upload some pics and my blog entries. We have had a great two days off on our own and enjoying God’s amazing work here in Acadia!
3 weeks and counting!
Wednesday May 20th
Well, it has been 3 weeks today, since we arrived in Maine. The trip was about 9 days to get here from Texas with a couple stops along the way.
It is funny how God can put the seed of an idea in your heart, and then he sits back and watches it grow. Sometimes he changes the weather to help that seed grow a little faster or stronger, but for the most part he just provides some water and watches. Maybe there are some plants like the one he is planting nearby to offer support, but for the most part I think he enjoys just watching the process. That is how I feel things are with us right now.
The seed was a simplified life. It sounds good, really I think many of us long for a simpler life. But how do you really get there? How do you weed the garden of your life? I cannot pull out perfectly healthy plants in my garden even though I know I planted too much and they may all die, I leave them and hope for the best. But what does that harvest? Not much! I know that a good gardener over plants seeds but then pulls up most of them to make room for the strongest. This is like our life, we have to sometimes pull some great activity, commitment, schedule just because it is not best – simply good. And if we are honest with ourselves we will admit that sometimes good is not good enough. Life is simply too short to not have the best.
I have been writing for a while now about choosing the best and say no to the good and better – being more intentional about when we say yes. But still there are so many commitments that we already have, so much stuff we still need to manage. But at this time in our lives we are getting to see the simpler life. We live in a house these days that we do not own, a smaller house with less stuff than our own house. Fewer appliances, less storage space (which equates to less in the kitchen). Less clothes because we only have what we packed (plus a few things we picked up at the Salvation Army/Goodwill store).
And after doing school this morning at the breakfast table (yes, no school room up here) and getting it all put away. Watching the kids run out to play and help daddy stack a new pile of fire wood, it hits me. I really like this simpler life.
But how do I make this my life since at some point Robert will go back to work, we are no independently wealthy. At some point we will leave the simplicity and beauty of this wonderful house and take up residence among our stuff again. And how do I make changes to our former life so that it looks more like this simplified life? My kids like this life, I am available more for them – not to mention having dad around full time! What kid would not love that?
My friend Kim said it is not just about being up here that is great, it about not being so committed even in the church, homeschool groups, all the good ideas, but maybe not the best at this stage of my life? I mean there is always work that will need to be done in the church when my kids are not young. The homeschool groups are great, but if I am running to do those things I am not at home “HOME schooling” you know?
Now, that “HOME” schooling is a loose term too because we are schooling like crazy up here and most is not at the table with a book. We are seeing light houses and talking about the tides; we are exploring the rocks at low tide and watching the barnacles eat their food from the water. We are comparing the size of crabs and star fish in our hands. I mean that is schooling but in an abstract way – that the kids will never forget! So we do not have to be at home to school, but in a group I love to catch up with my friends and talk about life, when I am with my kids I talk with them. So I see the value in fewer people to pull me away from the most important people…my kids.
I do miss my friends. I miss chatting with Jennifer before the day really gets going, and being encouraged by her enthusiasm and creativity. I miss dinner on Wednesday night in the fellowship hall surrounded by people I know. I certainly miss church on Sunday morning with our church family.
But more than the things I miss, I am thoroughly enjoying less, less business, less stuff, just less. And more family, more quiet time, more peace.
So as I am seeing the sprouting of that seed that God has planted in both my heart and Robert’s, I am excited to see how it will continue to grow in the weeks and months to come as our lives take a new course. A new job, a new home, maybe a new church and community. I am excited to see how these changes will affect our kids, I think almost all for the better. The less I am pulled away the happier they seem to be. They seem to sense our peace up here. They fight less with one another; they show patience and kindness much more. It is almost like they do better with less too. They have not played with toys since we left West Point. (they played with our friend’s son’s toys there) They have not asked for the legos, or the cars, or anything. They are totaling entertained with the woods, sticks, rocks, water, and the like. I brought the toys for rainy days, and we have had a few, but somehow have managed to get through the day without. Books have sure kept us busy too, the library keeps them new and fresh, so we are reading lots, but still enjoying the peace while reading.
God is so blessing us; showing us a new aspect on life. One that I am not sure we could see surrounded by friends and stuff. So while I am not ready to give up my friends, I am much more ready to give up some of that stuff and busyness!
Well, it has been 3 weeks today, since we arrived in Maine. The trip was about 9 days to get here from Texas with a couple stops along the way.
It is funny how God can put the seed of an idea in your heart, and then he sits back and watches it grow. Sometimes he changes the weather to help that seed grow a little faster or stronger, but for the most part he just provides some water and watches. Maybe there are some plants like the one he is planting nearby to offer support, but for the most part I think he enjoys just watching the process. That is how I feel things are with us right now.
The seed was a simplified life. It sounds good, really I think many of us long for a simpler life. But how do you really get there? How do you weed the garden of your life? I cannot pull out perfectly healthy plants in my garden even though I know I planted too much and they may all die, I leave them and hope for the best. But what does that harvest? Not much! I know that a good gardener over plants seeds but then pulls up most of them to make room for the strongest. This is like our life, we have to sometimes pull some great activity, commitment, schedule just because it is not best – simply good. And if we are honest with ourselves we will admit that sometimes good is not good enough. Life is simply too short to not have the best.
I have been writing for a while now about choosing the best and say no to the good and better – being more intentional about when we say yes. But still there are so many commitments that we already have, so much stuff we still need to manage. But at this time in our lives we are getting to see the simpler life. We live in a house these days that we do not own, a smaller house with less stuff than our own house. Fewer appliances, less storage space (which equates to less in the kitchen). Less clothes because we only have what we packed (plus a few things we picked up at the Salvation Army/Goodwill store).
And after doing school this morning at the breakfast table (yes, no school room up here) and getting it all put away. Watching the kids run out to play and help daddy stack a new pile of fire wood, it hits me. I really like this simpler life.
But how do I make this my life since at some point Robert will go back to work, we are no independently wealthy. At some point we will leave the simplicity and beauty of this wonderful house and take up residence among our stuff again. And how do I make changes to our former life so that it looks more like this simplified life? My kids like this life, I am available more for them – not to mention having dad around full time! What kid would not love that?
My friend Kim said it is not just about being up here that is great, it about not being so committed even in the church, homeschool groups, all the good ideas, but maybe not the best at this stage of my life? I mean there is always work that will need to be done in the church when my kids are not young. The homeschool groups are great, but if I am running to do those things I am not at home “HOME schooling” you know?
Now, that “HOME” schooling is a loose term too because we are schooling like crazy up here and most is not at the table with a book. We are seeing light houses and talking about the tides; we are exploring the rocks at low tide and watching the barnacles eat their food from the water. We are comparing the size of crabs and star fish in our hands. I mean that is schooling but in an abstract way – that the kids will never forget! So we do not have to be at home to school, but in a group I love to catch up with my friends and talk about life, when I am with my kids I talk with them. So I see the value in fewer people to pull me away from the most important people…my kids.
I do miss my friends. I miss chatting with Jennifer before the day really gets going, and being encouraged by her enthusiasm and creativity. I miss dinner on Wednesday night in the fellowship hall surrounded by people I know. I certainly miss church on Sunday morning with our church family.
But more than the things I miss, I am thoroughly enjoying less, less business, less stuff, just less. And more family, more quiet time, more peace.
So as I am seeing the sprouting of that seed that God has planted in both my heart and Robert’s, I am excited to see how it will continue to grow in the weeks and months to come as our lives take a new course. A new job, a new home, maybe a new church and community. I am excited to see how these changes will affect our kids, I think almost all for the better. The less I am pulled away the happier they seem to be. They seem to sense our peace up here. They fight less with one another; they show patience and kindness much more. It is almost like they do better with less too. They have not played with toys since we left West Point. (they played with our friend’s son’s toys there) They have not asked for the legos, or the cars, or anything. They are totaling entertained with the woods, sticks, rocks, water, and the like. I brought the toys for rainy days, and we have had a few, but somehow have managed to get through the day without. Books have sure kept us busy too, the library keeps them new and fresh, so we are reading lots, but still enjoying the peace while reading.
God is so blessing us; showing us a new aspect on life. One that I am not sure we could see surrounded by friends and stuff. So while I am not ready to give up my friends, I am much more ready to give up some of that stuff and busyness!
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