Getting Settled
As I mentioned in my previous Blog, in September I finally began the process of setting up my new apartment. Other than my clothes and a few personal belongings, most household related items were left at the house when I moved out this past April, so I have indeed been starting out fresh. Things originally moved at a very slow pace, partly because I really didn't know what I wanted, and partly, and more importantly, there just wasn't the money to get things all at once. Nearly two months later, I am pleased with the progress made, and have the majority of my new home looking like I live there. Of course, it doesn't always feel like a home without the girls around, but I do see them regularly through the week most of the time. Between school, part- time jobs, and their busy social lives, I probably wouldn't have seen much of them even if we were all still living under the same roof, but it would have certainly been more than I am currently.
One piece of furniture from the house that has made its way to the new place (though not directly) is the old Kitchen Table. It had been sitting in storage at parent's home since we bought a new one a while ago. Though it is just a table, it is the only table 'the five of us' sat around....for the brief few years there was 'the five of us'. The meals, stories, laughter, and discussions around its surface made it in many ways the central point for our Family Life together. The cuts, scuffs, and marks from countless misadventures, crafts and drawings that are visible on it (and under it) may seem like a drawback to some, but they are subtle reminders of happier times to me. It is nice that when the girls do come over for dinner at the apartment now, at least there is the three of us sitting around that very same table once again.
After being here a couple of weeks it dawned on me was that all the cupboards throughout the apartment are painted what Darrel would have called 'Thomas' Blue, after the famous Tank Engine (this was also the colour of his bedroom). Since everything had been repainted before in moved in, I don't recall if they were blue before or not, but they are now. Colour shades often have strange names, but I'm sure Darrel would have given it a name he could relate to. Back at the house, there was/is a large orange square painted on the wall in the basement, which Darrel had labelled as 'Home Depot' Orange. His descriptive choice seemed perfectly clear to him, and any differing opinions were not to be voiced. Oh the Wonders of seeing the world in the more simplistic eyes of a young child.
Making my own dinners every night has also made it necessary to prepare some of the simple meals that I had not had in a long time. A favourite of Darrel's was the Italian Herb Hamburger Helper. He always referred to the dish as "Bow Ties", because the pasta inside the kit was shaped kind of like little bow ties. Since the grocery store I usually shop no longer carried this particular flavour, I had assumed that it been discontinued by the manufacturer, but I did come across it recently at Wal Mart. The pasta is no longer in that familiar shape, but the taste is more or less as I remembered it to be.
Change is good, but that doesn't mean we need to forget the way things once were. This is especially true for me with all the new undertakings that continually are now coming my way. In order to grow and move forward, it is essential to build upon all that has happened in the past. Successes and Failures, Joys and Hardships all play a role in who I am today, and who I will become in the future. Thank you being a part of the work in progress that is me.
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A BIG Thank You must go out to everyone who helped me in anyway during my two Moves this year (in both April and September). Whether it be by supplying a vehicle, storage space, furniture, appliances, physical and technical assistance, or gift cards, your support was and is greatly appreciated!!!
*************************
As I mentioned in my previous Blog, in September I finally began the process of setting up my new apartment. Other than my clothes and a few personal belongings, most household related items were left at the house when I moved out this past April, so I have indeed been starting out fresh. Things originally moved at a very slow pace, partly because I really didn't know what I wanted, and partly, and more importantly, there just wasn't the money to get things all at once. Nearly two months later, I am pleased with the progress made, and have the majority of my new home looking like I live there. Of course, it doesn't always feel like a home without the girls around, but I do see them regularly through the week most of the time. Between school, part- time jobs, and their busy social lives, I probably wouldn't have seen much of them even if we were all still living under the same roof, but it would have certainly been more than I am currently.
One piece of furniture from the house that has made its way to the new place (though not directly) is the old Kitchen Table. It had been sitting in storage at parent's home since we bought a new one a while ago. Though it is just a table, it is the only table 'the five of us' sat around....for the brief few years there was 'the five of us'. The meals, stories, laughter, and discussions around its surface made it in many ways the central point for our Family Life together. The cuts, scuffs, and marks from countless misadventures, crafts and drawings that are visible on it (and under it) may seem like a drawback to some, but they are subtle reminders of happier times to me. It is nice that when the girls do come over for dinner at the apartment now, at least there is the three of us sitting around that very same table once again.
After being here a couple of weeks it dawned on me was that all the cupboards throughout the apartment are painted what Darrel would have called 'Thomas' Blue, after the famous Tank Engine (this was also the colour of his bedroom). Since everything had been repainted before in moved in, I don't recall if they were blue before or not, but they are now. Colour shades often have strange names, but I'm sure Darrel would have given it a name he could relate to. Back at the house, there was/is a large orange square painted on the wall in the basement, which Darrel had labelled as 'Home Depot' Orange. His descriptive choice seemed perfectly clear to him, and any differing opinions were not to be voiced. Oh the Wonders of seeing the world in the more simplistic eyes of a young child.
Making my own dinners every night has also made it necessary to prepare some of the simple meals that I had not had in a long time. A favourite of Darrel's was the Italian Herb Hamburger Helper. He always referred to the dish as "Bow Ties", because the pasta inside the kit was shaped kind of like little bow ties. Since the grocery store I usually shop no longer carried this particular flavour, I had assumed that it been discontinued by the manufacturer, but I did come across it recently at Wal Mart. The pasta is no longer in that familiar shape, but the taste is more or less as I remembered it to be.
Change is good, but that doesn't mean we need to forget the way things once were. This is especially true for me with all the new undertakings that continually are now coming my way. In order to grow and move forward, it is essential to build upon all that has happened in the past. Successes and Failures, Joys and Hardships all play a role in who I am today, and who I will become in the future. Thank you being a part of the work in progress that is me.
*************************
A BIG Thank You must go out to everyone who helped me in anyway during my two Moves this year (in both April and September). Whether it be by supplying a vehicle, storage space, furniture, appliances, physical and technical assistance, or gift cards, your support was and is greatly appreciated!!!
*************************
On September 5/14, I participated in the Whipping Childhood Cancer Challenge, raising $150 for Childhood Cancer Canada. Both Kira and Lauren had a great time throwing whipped cream pies in my face...and not getting in trouble for it. Below is the video, along with a few action shots.
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Darrel will be among those honoured in the soon to be published book "Angel's Hold Our Hearts" by our friend Sherry Blevins. Once it is available, I'll post more information.
Darrel will be among those honoured in the soon to be published book "Angel's Hold Our Hearts" by our friend Sherry Blevins. Once it is available, I'll post more information.
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