We’re home. We’re unpacked. We’re settling in. And as much as I love coming home (after loving being away), there is a time of adjustment coming back.

We have plenty of things to be getting done. Projects to start. Projects to finish. Lots of fruit in boxes. And, not least of all, a school year to begin. But instead I am living in a post-vacation, post-summer break twilight zone.

So I’m getting things done at a slower speed. Taking it easy for a few days on the school start. Drinking hot tea in the morning and basking in welcome heat in the afternoon. The kids are raking leaves in shorts and tees. I’m finding my entrance into fall and the rhythms I love so much.

And as I’m taking my time, I’m smiling over memories of our last beach visit of the year. Embracing the new season with that bittersweet melancholy of time’s passage.

These photos were taken at Parksville Beach. The kids’ favourite because it also has a playground and spray park. They never take my reasoning that we can do playgrounds and spray parks at home, but we can’t do ocean, sigh. (Note the poor teether’s grimace…I think she’s getting a mouthful all at once. Also, the boy in the one-piece suit – it kills me, so cute.)

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How do you find yourself embracing these changing days?

It’s been busy days here for us.

There was that bout of sickness…Then it spread. But not across the board. Thank God.

We said goodbye to Dan for the week. Him to Vancouver for a weeklong course. Parting was hard on us all. The first bedtime was touch and go.

We filled our days with fun distractions and the weather was on our side. Cheese farm to visit the animals. Fish hatchery to visit the salmon. Beach to visit the waves…and then again, and again. Walks after dinner to keep us moving through picky eating complaints and get us ready for bedtime without too many tears over daddy.

My inlaws have been wonderful. They are so giving of their time and home. They take good care of all of us – even as my mother-in-law got more than she bargained for when we passed on our virus.

And while kids are spinning grandparents round and round with requests and questions and, er, demands, I’ve grabbed camera and snuck around their garden snapping late summer beauty.

Towards the end of the week Mira and I packed our bags and snuck over to the mainland for a quick weekend with Dan in Vancouver. Us girls hung out at the hotel, his course finished, and we headed out to see some of our favourite sights.

Dan came willingly to the Vancouver Art Gallery with only a few peeps about me reading everything in the Matisse exhibit. We walked around downtown, ending up on the waterfront with a phone call to five sweet littles. Then wandering for dinner through Kits, eating far too much good bread on the beach and disappointing souvlaki back in the hotel room.

A morning visit to Granville Island, a little pottery shopping for my early birthday, lots of good food. As I deliberated over food choices Dan astutely remarked, “You just love food”. How true. So there were crepes, and a taco, and donuts. Yep. I only just missed out on the french onion pot pie.

A missed ferry gave us a leisurely dinner in Horseshoe Bay with the little miss. Then daddy, mommy, and baby sis back in time for bedtime kisses.

And now we’ve got the rest of the week – this one with Dan to enjoy our vacation. I’m looking forward to lots of ocean eye-candy.  I’m loving this time but I’ll be ready for autumn rhythm soon.

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And if you survived that long run-down of our week I thank you! Are you settled into a fall routine or are you still on summer mode?

This littlest girl of ours has turned one. One year ago we met her sweet self – all 10+ lbs of her, for the first time. We’ve all been smitten ever since.

With five children coming before her we’ve witnessed lots of sibling interaction with a new babe, but we’ve never seen such love and affection shown to a wee one as we have this year. She is doted upon with fierce devotion by her older siblings. Smothered in hugs, drenched in kisses, guarded almost jealously. With offers to change diapers and feed her lunch, and a zealous protection of her well-being, these siblings prove their love daily.

But, of course, there is so much love in our wee Mira. Her smiles, her curiosity and her determination. These last few weeks our girl with a thousand nicknames has grown so much.  And we, her admirers, have watched with great excitement as she turns her eyes to more of the world, all the while wishing we could hold on to our baby girl longer still.

But, of course, she has big brothers and sisters to catch up with so everyday she steps a little further away in the pursuit of adventure…oh, but she always comes back.

Mira, life will take you many places; God is full of adventure, the world is an amazing place. But wherever you’re led on this journey, always remember your home. You can always come back, no matter where you’re coming from or how long you’ve been gone. From across the yard or across the world, you’ll always have a home with us. 

The gentle presence of my mama as she gives of herself to my children as she always has done for me;

quiet afternoons, a peek now and then at the Olympics;

the lingering warmth of sun on line-dried laundry;

bountiful market produce;

the beginning of something transformational;

boisterous children, hands in shalom, summer heat.

:: giving thanks with beautiful Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

You all are the sweetest! Thanks for your loving words on my last post, I’m so blessed by you wonderful women (and men?…hi,Dad). It’s a good journey I’m on. And I’m doing so much better now that I’m on my feet again.* I’m finding joy, remembering laughter, and speaking gratitude.

*Although by what I consider to be divine humour, we’re now getting back on our feet after a stomach bug. I’ve been laughing about the unbelievable timing of that one!

For a couple of weeks I despaired that summer was passing me by but of course it hasn’t. Life continues, and in this house quite boisterously.

:: we’ve nourished ::

:: we’ve admired ::

:: we’ve learned ::

:: we’ve marvelled ::

:: we’ve entertained ::

:: we’ve experimented ::

:: we’ve celebrated (nine years!!) ::

:: we’ve contemplated ::

:: we’ve enjoyed ::

:: we’ve cherished ::

And there’s plenty of summer left for the having. How is your summer going? I’m feeling out of the loop – come catch me up!