A Slow, Sentimental Saturday

It's been a whirlwind these past couple of days!  We've been "go go go" these past 7 weeks (has it been 7 weeks?!), so I decided to take Saturday with my little men and just relax.  We stayed in our PJs most of the morning, and then after good naps we ventured down to the Boardwalk to see the river and ride the carousel.  This was actually my first trip to the Boardwalk alone with the two of them, and being the person that I am (ie.  super anxiety about logistics) had the double stroller, tagalong, and Ergo just in case (in this case I'm glad I brought all this stuff because although they  both started riding in the stroller, by the end of the evening the stroller was just an empty--although awesome-- cup holder and Braddock was walking alongside it and Abram was in the Ergo).  It was such a beautiful, warm day (the boys were in shorts and tshirts!) that it was strange walking out of the parking garage and seeing the huge Christmas tree and hearing Christmas music.  The first thing that caught Braddock's attention (which is a pretty significant fete once he gets his mind set on something, especially the carousel!) was the fountain.  **(Just a note...I turned on our camera that had the run in with the pot, and thanks to the advice of an expert friend, it turned on!!  I have to tell you though, it gives me a whole new outlook on "Dirty Rice"...yack.  Anyhow, when you look through the display, it looks like it is swimming underwater, so it went back into the rice bag in hopes of additional healing...so these pics are from my phone :)**

We stood there for quite some time talking about the water going up high, down low, growing taller...he got so excited!

Abram was impressed, too, and pulled himself up in the stroller so he could see.  He just stared and stared...not quite sure what to make of it!

"It's rainin' on ya!" (Braddock to Abram when the wind blew and the fountain sprayed), then he looked at me and said, "it's kinda like rain, isn't it!  Do you see it?"

 
Making sure Abram saw it :)

Then we ventured down towards the carousel by way of the river. 

This was probably the most calm Abram had  been all day.  He was all snuggled up in the Ergo, the breeze was blowing, and I could feel him just take a deep breath and finally relax. 

I had previously thought that it was his front two teeth that were coming in at the same time, but after a few days (and a flip upset down and tickling his tummy) he opened wide enough so that I could see it wasn't just the top two, it was all top four teeth coming in at one time...the poor little man is probably in so much pain, and he is such a trooper. 

Braddock looked down and began speculating what was in the water..."I think there's fish in there!  And alligators!  And boats!  And elephants!"  and then..."I see little baby birds up in the sky!  I see orange in the sky!  Do you see it?!"  (He's been infatuated with sunsets since the time change...since they go to bed around 7, during daylight savings time they don't usually see them!)

I think knowing that the move is coming is making me see this city through a little bit of a different lens.  I know there is good and bad everywhere you go, and there is no such thing as a perfect place (at least here on Earth!)...but moments like these make me realize how much I'm going to miss this place.  We have been so fortunate to have been able to make beautiful memories here...our first house, where our babies were born, where we've met some amazing people and made some very precious friends, and where we've been able to have some fabulous experiences (Sciport, Boardwalk, Gymbos, MOPS...) where we've built a life and planted roots..."Change" has always been like a cuss word to me (ironic because here we are in a life where we learn to write on calendars in pencil, and flexibility and spontaneity is the norm), but thinking about this move and all the ....changes...(*shudder*) that are about to come, a hymn we used to sing all the time when we were growing up keeps sticking out in my mind ("I will go, Lord, if you lead me").  Talk about looking through a different lens!!  I definitely have a habit of inadvertently choosing fear over faith (something we started talking about in our Mops group at the beginning of the year), and then worrying...and worrying.....and did I mention worrying?  I think maybe instead of trying to control every detail and panicking about everything that is about to change I need to be readjusting my focus on Him and how He is working through everything.  I opened my devotional book tonight to this verse..."In [her] heart, a [wo]man plans [her] course, but the LORD determines [her] steps."-Proverbs 16:9...and it was in conjunction with "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."-Jeremiah 29:11.  I think it's one of those moments when I feel like God is tapping on my shoulder and clearing his throat..."Ehhhemm, Emily! Helloooooo!"