Every morning I look at the mountain backdrop, the clouds lifting as the day warms and think about how beautiful it is. True, some mornings it’s raining. But it’s still beautiful.

This morning, it was a remarkable sight – white clouds wafting across the mountain tops, patches of snow reminding me that it’s still early spring. Something about the sight, perhaps the light, the majesty and peace, struck me.

I was driving, I didn’t take a picture. Sorry.

It’s easy to take the things we see every day for granted. The kids in the back seat giggling about some silly game they’ve come up with. The trees blooming. The hills and mountains surrounding us in this valley, sheltering us from harsh weather.

I don’t think I could have picked a more beautiful place to live.

Eating locally – lunch from the garden, originally uploaded by JoannaBG.

Even the eggs are from the garden. Although I guess I can’t take credit for the garlic and olive oil.

Developing holiday cooking skills, originally uploaded by JoannaBG.

Duncan found the turkey baster in the kitchen drawer and asked what it was for. I explained that it was used to suck up the cooking juices from the turkey to squeeze over them and make it tasty and crispy. He then proceeded to try and suck the juices out of each one of us in turn, including the cat. Then he wanted to practice for real so I set the kids up with two bowls and some water which occupied them for quite a while.

The highlight was Duncan’s realization that a turkey baster moving water around looks a lot like a male peeing. Giggles ensued.

One of these images are white sneakers. I don’t know why. I have a vague idea that it has something to do with one of the Ghostbusters movies.

The other are puzzle pieces. I’ve loved puzzles ever since I could hold them in my chubby baby hands. I’m not sure what it is about them that appeals to much — perhaps it’s taking seemingly disconnected pieces and figuring out how they fit, making the whole picture come together to reveal something new.

The last few days, I’ve had a feeling of homesickness when I think about life in Rochester. The days go by quickly with work and school and home life and I’ve fallen into a familiar and reassuring routine. But even as weeks, then months, roll by, this new place isn’t as familiar as Rochester came to be. After all, I was there almost 9 years. I’ve been in Eugene since Aug. 1 – about 17 weeks.

What does this have to do with puzzle pieces? We had some furniture delivered to our office today — previously enjoyed from another location in the organization. Inside a cabinet I found these 4 puzzle pieces. Seemingly random, disconnected pieces. Are they even from the same puzzle? I don’t know. I suspect at least 2 of them may be.

In relation to my life, I feel like I’m dealing with new puzzle pieces that I haven’t seen before. I had years to work on the pieces of my life in Rochester, trying to fit them into place. And now it’s a new experience, with new pieces to incorporate into the puzzle – new people, new places, a new job, new doctors and dentists, and friends. Some things feel more familiar and resonate better than others. In essence, they are a better fit in the puzzle of my current life.

What will the final picture be? I don’t know. I’m still filling in the corners and edges, building the foundation and boundaries of my life before the middle of the picture can be completed.

Lunch out in Eugene, originally uploaded by JoannaBG.

Eating healthy food at Laughing Planet cafe. So nice to find food out that’s gluten free and like something I’d cook at home.

So, we’re here. Our house is sold, we have a rental house, I start a new job on Friday and have enrolled the kids (hopefully) in a Montessori school. Everyone tells me that things are moving along really well and that I’m doing a fantastic job setting up our new life in Oregon. They’re probably right. I’ve been envisioning this life for a while now and have been making lists and ticking things off as I get them done.

Things have worked out fairly well overall. They have not gone exactly according to plan, however.

I did not expect the children to repeatedly puke in our rented minivan while we were looking for a house to rent.

I did not expect the top 3 houses we liked to all have people living in them, 2 of which had no intentions of moving out by the time we needed to move in.

I did not expect to end up living in a subdivision (newly built – so new there is no cable) in a house as beautiful as this one. At least we’re on the edge and there’s a giant blackberry bush on the edge of a field right at the end of our road. I also did not expect something in the bush to grunt at me while I braved the thorns picking blackberries at sunset after dinner yesterday.

Everything else has pretty much fallen into place. And we are in a house.

On the plus side, I didn’t expect to magically lose 10 lbs (from emptying a trailer and carrying tons of boxes) or for everyone to be as friendly as they are. I didn’t know that the temperature would go from hot days to cold nights. I’m still getting used to that but it’s a pleasant surprise (as is the weight loss).

I think we’ll like our new life here. The kids seem happy. They’re excited to go to school. I’m very grateful for my new job. And I secretly really like having my Mum live with us.

Happy Bastille Day!, originally uploaded by JoannaBG.

Happy Bastille Day!

I was just asked that question by a friend of mine, who is helping children in Kenya. She’s about to make a return visit there and is looking for help with a project that she started during her last visit – buying new clothes for children who currently only have one outfit.

Becca spent some time in Nairobi, Kenya last year as a missionary, teaching pastors and children how to use computers and set up websites. Her goal is for the projects to be sustainable, so that they can continue on in her absence. Read more about it.

She writes, “The program we started while I was there has been keeping itself going since I left in May. The man in charge, a Kenyan named Henry, really wants to get Christmas outfits for the children – they currently only have one pair of clothes (for sleep/school/home/etc.).”

$7-10 USD will buy one outfit for a child. $2.40 USD will purchase food for one month.

I made a small donation through the donate button on Becca’s blog. That was easy. But how on earth can I decide on either clothing or feeding a child? Perhaps the only answer is to donate a little more.

Yet, somehow, I had time to Wordle.

Two things came to me around 4 a.m. this morning as I rocked Berry back to sleep (and fell asleep myself):

1. Reducing my dose of anti-depressant for the last 2 days was a bad idea. I’m not quite ready yet. (Note/confession: I’ve had post partum depression since Berry was born. While pregnant with her I had pre-natal depression.)
2. It’s time to apply to Empire State College. I’ll start classes in the fall when Duncan goes to pre-school.

I’ve learned not to question these insights. My half-awake/half-asleep brain knows what’s best for me. I just go with it.

So I finished applying for admission online this morning. (Actually, I just finished taking a shower. But before that, I finished the application.) Requests for transcripts from FSU and RIT are in the mail. ESC admission thingy done online. And now it’s time for lunch.

Of course, with every college application, there’s the admissions essay. So glad I’m a writer. I won’t share the whole thing with you, because it’s embarrassingly admissions-y. But here’s the first part:

I woke up one day, my junior year in high school, with what felt like the flu. It wasn’t. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a debilitating chronic illness. I stayed out of school for a while, but finished my junior year going to school on a part-time basis. After resting for the summer, I went back full-time for my senior year, excited to take classes I hadn’t had time for before – art and ceramics – along with physics, economics and others.

I lasted a month before I had a severe relapse. But I didn’t give up. I finished high school through homebound schooling – calling into a tele-class with other kids in similar medical situations. It wasn’t fun, but I made it through. I graduated sixth in my class.

Events repeated themselves when I went to Florida State University. Mid-way through the year I had another relapse. But I finished spring semester, dropping only one course (ballet), before I moved back home.

When I got a great job at RIT, I immediately enrolled for classes. I was determined to finish school. But the classroom setting wasn’t right for me. I needed more flexibility and other adult learners.

Since then, I’ve gotten married and had two lovely children. My husband is completing his bachelor’s degree via online learning at RIT. My son is going to pre-school in the fall. It’s my turn to finish my undergraduate studies.