Not quite back in the swing...

So we returned home last sunday and have I unpacked yet? Nope...luggage still on the bedroom floor, laundry still in hampers around my house! At least they are still clean and folded.
This day has been crazy...I took Javad to the Casey Eye Clinic for his first eye exam...His vision is horrible...the prescription for his visin is -6.50. WOW! I don't know what that converts to...(20/???), but I suspect it is pretty bad!
Tomorrow I drive Stesha to the coast to counsel Girls Camp...eight 4 - 6th grade girls...I don't think for me, but for Stesh..great! The next week she is counseling at MDA camp. She should have a blast on both counts!
Well, off to bed!

Orcas Island...long awaited vacation!

So, David and I leave on the 20th for a long awaited..long overdue vacation. So we drive from Portland to Anacortes, which is a lot farther from Seattle than I thought! Okay, it's over an hour...but we made the 3:30 ferry to Orcas Islan, located in the San Juan Islands. This photo shows our view as we ride on the ferry...gorgeous!

An eighty minute ferry ride, stopping at Shaw Island and Lopez Island first, finally arriving at our destination...Orcas Island. Orcas Island seemed quaint and beach-town like..laid back...beautiful. We could tell from the beginning that this was going to be exactly what we need!

We get in our car (it is on the ferry after all!) and drive to the opposite side of the island from the ferry. Imagine our delight when we arrived at the Resort at Deer Harbor and saw this fabulous view from our private deck which had a two-person hot tub. Going into the hot tub overlooking the bay became a nightly ritual! It was so quiet...we could see the stars, hear crickets...beautiful!

Okay, so the downside a little was that we were almost out of gas from driving from Portland and then on the island during day one. We searched around the island (using our handy dandy map provided by Washington State Ferry.) and found this gas station. First our eyes opened wide when we saw the price. OMG!!!$3.84 a gallon? At home I was complaining that we were still over $3.00, but I shall complain no more! Needless to say, $40 later, we were on our way! I guess when you live on a small island, gas can be more expensive...you use less! Food was expensive (almost $80 for one dinner...this is definitely a vacation...thank goodness the lodging was nearly free...time share! :) and gas crazy expensive, but the time we spent together...priceless! More pictures to come tomorrow!

Congrats OSU

Finally,

Go Oregon State Beavers! National College Baseball Champions!

Thank you for being the school where my grandparents met...I wouldn't be here without you!

The Return...

After almost four blissful days of vacationing (pictures to be uploaded later!), we returned to the following:

1) Somewhat annoyed teenage girl

2) Somewhat anxious teenage boy

3) VERY HAPPY five year old boy

4) Two bb holes in our kitchen window

After leaving Orcas Island, where life is slow paced and peaceful, and coming to a screeching halt in Seattle traffic, then home....

I can see why living on Orcas would be awesome! I guess I'll need to vacation about 12 times a year!

Finally, a getaway!

On Wednesday, David and I are going to do something unprecedented since the birth of Javad. We are going away.

We are packing our bags, driving to the Orcas Islands, and enjoying three blissful days together, just David and I. This vacation is an opportunity to reconnect. We are staying in what might be a rustic room, with a hot tub looking out on the harbor. I am hoping for relaxing and spending time together. I am expecting blissful time together!

For those who know us, you know that it takes a village to make this happen. Susanne (my mom) and Megan (my sister) are generously taking two nights to come and spend it with Javad so we can go away. It is a gift...they may never truely know how much of a gift it is for us to be able to get away.

Here's to vacations...

Transitions

Sometimes in life, you look back on the path you have been in wonder. Adam, our oldest, is getting ready to graduate. Adam has been living with us for just over four years. What a different path he is on.

Adam graduated with an excellent GPA, ran cross country, was involved in a variety (sometimes too many) school activities. Now he is transitioning toward college, Southern Oregon University, and the life that is ahead.

How far we have come and how far we still have to go...

Simon enters high school next year, Stesha is finishing her associates, and finally, Javad starts kindergarten.

Life is moving forward, although in ways it is standing still...

Life is lifing...we are moving forward...I am along for the ride!

A wave of sadness from afar...

Sam

Today, I received some sad news..

Sam, the son of a friend, passed away this morning from complications of Myotubular Myopathy, the disease that affects Javad...

You can see from his picture that he was cute as a button. His little body just gave out..fighting for many months in this earthly place. Sam represents many on our group, his life, his death. It comes suddenly without warning and the air is sucked out of the room.

As a parent of a child with a life threatening disease, there is a certain amount of guilt whenever a child dies. You feel the burden of sadness for the family, so deep that it is like someone you knew and held passed away. Another wave of relief passes over you, that it was not your child.

Words cannot begin to describe the guilt in this paradoxical situation. Sam is the second child to pass away this week. Tom passed away earlier this week. He was almost four. Sam was not quite 2.

Death is unfair, it takes some too soon. There are no answers to the many questions that are in the air. I have no answers...

All I think and hope is that Sam and Tom are running free. Standing tall, holding hands, running through the grass, feeling it on their feet, their lungs healthy and strong, muscles healthy and strong.

Tom

Fly free angels...hold hands, laugh together, run...fly angels, fly...