Well Happy 4th of July! I told myself I would not be bummed on the 4th this year. I would not look at all the pictures of American friends in swimsuits and pool parties. I would not focus on what I don't have. Secretly I thought I would be in my new sweet little apartment that has a sea view (well a bay view, but it IS sea water so that counts, right?). I would make my family just a little something I saw on Pinterest and my place, of course would already be decorated exactly how I wanted it. Cleaned and organized too. Don't you just love playing make believe? Me too.
Instead, last last night (our 4th, which I accepted that it was okay that on the 5th here I would be in our own place because it was really the 4th in America) we had sausages on our floor in our hotel. Max threw a tantrum before bed again. We might have fought a bit (just to shatter any thoughts of our marriage being perfect) and I went to bed telling myself to focus on what I'm thankful for, all the while hoping the moving company made a mistake and just forgot to call us and our stuff really would arrive the next morning.
Nope.
We took some things to the new place, dropped Sam at school and then Max and I did what any American having a pity party on the 4th (really the 5th) in a different country would do:: went to Starbucks and had a cookie. Hence the pictures below. The happy schmappy one in our red and blue was yesterday when I was still hoping we would be out of the hotel.
I pulled myself together, got over the fact that no one cared it was the 4th & they were all bustling along in their winter jackets experiencing July in winter. So utterly wrong in my opinion, but I digress.
Max and I laughed our way once again to the new place to drop off a bit more stuff. Max had yet another tantrum. We played the "Are you going to be fun?" game for 20 minutes, with screaming & crying I might add. It was awesome.
Then we left. My car some how veered to McDonalds for fries & a diet coke. (don't judge me) I have to admit I was a bit sad/annoyed that when you say large it's really a medium here, but again I digress.
Alas, the party is over. I remembered my good friend here sending me a text saying "happy independence day" yesterday. Hhhhmmm maybe I over exaggerated no one caring? Then I remembered that focusing on what I don't have only makes me miss the moment. Ugh. Life lessons! I then remembered my new friend here texting me, ready and willing to help us move in. Then I got a message from my American friend that just made me laugh. So instead of throwing an all day Party I packed, gave Max a nap & spent an hour on pinterest finding more great things I want to create in our new place.
Tomorrow is the day! (I hope)
It will be Friday and Sam will be done for the week, rugby is on!! (a great game too! Hopefully we will figure out how to watch it with no TV) And we will get to fall asleep in our sweet little place. Not too shabby after 8 weeks & 2 days in a hotel (but who's counting?)
My friend, Hayley, said friend who text me from above, sent me the quote below on a very very bad day. Great friends make me smile. Great friends that send me quotes at just the right moment with just the right words just make me sigh with thankfulness. I don't feel like that quote but man it inspired me to just keep going. And that's what we did, just kept going. It always turns out. Maybe not exactly how I planned but it always turns out.
I start working again, nannying a couple boys, on Monday. Life will again find a new rhythm for our family.
I'm so grateful for the provision of this job and that Max will have boys around him. It couldn't be a better fit for this season. Life is messy and crazy & the best songs often have crazy loud rhythm anyway, so I will just embrace this loud song with a smile & a heart ready to have FUN!
I head into this weekend thankful.
Thankful (and proud) to be an American *insert "Proud To Be American" song here*
Thankful for grace to endure
Thankful for humor & a husband who makes me laugh at myself through it all
(I'll spare you the picture Sam took of me after I had been crying thinking he wouldn't know I cried the whole time he gave Max a bath. Let's just say I looked a lot like Alice Copper. But it did make me laugh at myself)
Thankful for friends. Sigh. I love them.
Thankful for a sweet little family
Thankful that home is where the three of us are.
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