I'd like to say that this is the reason I haven't added any posts in a long time but it isn't. The big push to finish school at home was the most important reason of all. The rest would be I didn't feel creative after doing school with Michael or we had to walk the dogs (again and again), etc.
For the second time in our lives, we've had to live in a temporary "home" while the home on the grounds was either rebuilt from the ground up or renovations finished. The first temporary home was truly a home and we lived there for over a year. This time, we're squished and squashed into a two bedroom 2nd floor apartment with 4 adult sized people, 3 medium/large dogs and a very quiet unassuming kitty. Kristen arrived at the beginning of May and has been sleeping on the couch since there is nowhere else for her to sleep! This results in her being awakened early every morning by rowdy dogs being taken out for their morning constitutionals. I'm pretty sure this is not how she envisioned her Summer mornings at home!
Meanwhile, we listen to the traffic zoom by on the Route du Condroz which runs right in front of our building. We hear it well because we have to have the windows open for cross ventilation otherwise it gets too warm inside. In addition to the traffic, we get to hear all of the comings and goings from the Belgian equivalent of a 7-Eleven which is right underneath our kitchen. This makes the dogs bark because it sounds like someone is ready to come into our home. Last night I went to sleep to the sound of a young woman loudly singing "Frere Jacques" for some reason. As I lay there in my bed, I thought "how in the world will I ever fall asleep?" which, of course, was the last thought I had since I did, in fact, fall right to sleep.
Our home will be finished this week. Final painting is being done, the kitchen cabinets are being installed and cleaning will complete the big project. Now the fun of planning where all of our furniture and boxes and stuff will go has begun. The 15th "move" in less than 30 years. You'd think we'd have a system down pat by now -- well, not so much... Each home/space we have lived in has been differently arranged so that some pieces of furniture are placed in traditional locations in some homes while they are re-purposed in less than traditional locations in other homes. I'm sure I'll come up with some ideas that will be really unique (meaning ugly/ridiculous) before I'm done! This weekend we will be able to move things to the kitchen and other things to other rooms so that, when the packers/movers come on Monday, there is less for them to do so that the move will go quickly. Then, on Thursday, they will bring the rest of our things from Antwerp and that's when the "fun" will begin -- where oh where will all of the stuff go! I always feel like each move gives me another chance to get it "just right."
Life will finally seem to settle down with us living exactly where we are meant to be. Then, in just two weeks, we'll fly back to the States for a month of "home" leave. Two days after we return from home leave, Michael will start 10th grade and our new normal of driving from Belgium to the Netherlands each day will begin. Kristen will move to her new apartment and begin her final year at Penn State.
Beginnings and endings -- life!
