I knew it was coming...

It's now official. 

Our dear friends and parents of our goddaughter are moving

far away from here.

I had such hopes that I would have my godchild near by

and that I would be able to be in her life on a weekly basis...

As Mr. Husband pointed out,

I was collecting books already for her...

So of course pray for this family as they move and it's a huge big deal but

we hope ultimately better for them.

But if you could remember me in prayer also,

I'd greatly appreciate it.

We will be grieving their loss here....

What I told my Grandma

{from a few weeks back*}

At home in my kitchen, calling my Grandma and leaving 

a message on her answering machine...

Hi Grandma, It's Elizabeth... well... [Mr. Husband] and I are going to 

see a condo tomorrow that we both like,

can you pray for us?

*

A few days later... in my kitchen again... calling and leaving a message...

Hi Grandma, we found out yesterday that our landlord is selling his condo

and we don't want to buy it...

we've been told that we will have a letter from the lawyer soon...

this place will sell fast... so we are seeing the condo we liked 

again tomorrow morning,

can you pray for us about that?

We're thinking of putting in an offer.

*

A day later, my Grandma is a wonderful busy lady, I left a message again...

Hi Grandma, so we are under contract and just waiting 

for a few things to work out,

it's hard to wait, our landlord's coming with his realtor,

we know it will be any day that we can get our 60 days notice...

keep praying for us... 

*

Finally I called and she answered.

I told her more about the condo we want to buy,

about the waiting for answers we need,

about wanting attorney review over so no one else can put in an offer,

about how the condo we want has great light, is spacious,

near friends, in the town close to our local church

and is beautiful.

Only missing a garden and kitchen window

but really has everything we need,

we would be so happy there...

*

A week or so later I got hold of her again,

and realized I forgot to tell her that we were finally done with attorney review,

just waiting for the house inspection.

We were not worried, I told her, it's a fairly new building,

should not have many problems...
*
We were right, there were no real problems on home inspection...
*

I am choosing paint chips and doing floor designs for 

furniture placement and figuring out what we need...

* 

We got our 60 days notice of needing to move 

night before we finished attorney review.

*

We hope to close in early May

and move in late May.

*

Pray for us!

Mr. Husband and I are going to own a home together,

one that I saw how quickly God gave us,

introducing us to our new home

just a day before we would get word that we would have to

leave our first lovely home...

that Mr. Husband has been renting for over two years.

*

It's a huge transition to us,

this move to a nearby town, another bed-sitting community of NYC in 

New Jersey.... closer to friends, church and whatever comes next.

*

Thank God that we 

found more than what we could of hoped for, 

just where we were hoping to land.

*

*this all took place unbelievably in the space of three weeks time.
We are told that this is normal for where we live!

Cleo, Tea and Dinner

Cleo sits on this chair a lot.
The same pillow and blanket
both done by my Oma
are on it
as used to be on my beloved
gold chair that was my fathers
that was simply too worn to move again.
Cleo spent many an hour on it
just as she now spends a lot of time on this one.
It's great.
During a normal week my computer is at the
dining room table
just like at my old place with my icons and buffet near by
and Cleo sits on the chair behind me.

Making Tea on a Thursday.
Such a treat.

We were given this beautiful orchid as
a house warming gift.
*
I am really enjoying having plants around again.

Decaf black tea with a little bit of milk and sugar.
I swore off caffeine in my teens
and other than for chocolate
have never gone back...
*
Yesterday had a lot of blessings for me.
Since seeing the wedding pictures,
I felt really homesick for my home Ottawa parish
and friends...
and happily one friend chatted me
my sister-friend called me
I talked with my Mom
and called another friend while making dinner
and my DH was coming home.
*
So then the day at home alone
was a blessing...
*
I am still in a fairly intense period of adjustment
to moving and marrying
my love.

We had left overs for dinner yesterday!
I managed to declutter our table
(they always seem to get extra things on them
so quickly!)
and I also had dinner ready by the time my
husband of 1 month 3 days
got home from work,
which is not easy for me to always organize.
So that was great.
*
We had leftover beef flank
that I broiled
(second time I have ever made this,
and I use our toaster oven to do so);
my DH had salad
while I had left over cooked vegetables and stuffing;
mashed potatoes and
cranberry sauce.
*
A very enjoyable meal!

 

I am loving our flowers on our table as well!
*
You can just see the left-over apple pie
that we had with some
French Vanilla Ice Cream
for dessert.

So many things all in one day

 

As many in the Orthodox community know,
Fr. Peter Gillquist departed this life
yesterday evening.
I especially appreciated this blog post
and listened to this podcast
on Ancient Faith Radio
last night
as I knew that Fr. Peter
was quickly declining...
Already there is a podcast about
Fr. Peter's departure.
I heard Fr. Peter speak in Southwest Ontario
some years back;
I remember being struck by how gracious he was
to all the questions asked afterwards.
He is going to be greatly missed.
May God remember him in His Kingdom!
*
I spent time with my dear sister-friend
and my godson and his two older brothers today.
Wave pool, potato chips, sandwhiches and
sorbet.
It was really nice.
*
Today is also St. John's Day.
This post by Mat. Anna
really blessed me today.
*
I have been thinking of Fr. Peter's passing
often today.
*
So much going on.
Grief
sunshine
loss
processing
praying
lighting candles.
*
The wedding invites are
 printed and arrived.
My Grandma is slowly gaining strength
and just today told me she hopes
to make the trip with my Aunt and Uncle to
my and Orthoman's wedding.
I really hope this can happen.
*
A lot of my good friends
are in a lot of transition and some
of them are in great grief.
*
I know that I already had one of my final confessions
with my own spiritual father.
My last month's rent is paid and notice has been given.
I have booked movers.
I found my clip board and am preparing to move.
I changed my phone plan so that I can
use voice over IP and keep an Ottawa phone number.
Orthoman has booked his ticket for when he will come
before the wedding.
*
Tomorrow I go back to work.
I have Friday off.
Cleo is to going to the vet
tomorrow night
with me.
*
I am very tired.
But God is merciful and good.
May He help us all in our times of need.

Back from the monastery

I had a wonderful time at the monastery.

It is so hard to leave!!

I love being at the services.

I am a wimp though and am glad that it is a feast time as

it meant that two of the mornings church did not start until

9 AM; the other day was 5 AM!

Between that and still not having perfect sleep,

I was tired!!

*

I was there over St. Basil's day.

One of the really memorable moments there was

the vigil the night before St. Basil's day,

a large icon of St. Basil in the middle of the chapel;

being there in the candle lit darkness with

his icon in the centre

was really wonderful.

*

I love how every year the liturgical routine is the same;

St. Basil's day being Jan 1st,

St. Seraphim of Sarov Jan 2nd...

*

I love the Christmas tree they have in the large dining hall;

the beautiful Romanian ornaments on the tree...

On the drive back home

the sun shone through clouds the whole time;

it was beautiful and made me think of my sister

who is always reminded of God when she sees this;

it reminds me of God's love and mercy.

It is sometimes hard to remember in the hard times

in life that God is with us

and that the sun is always above the clouds.

*

I've had such a nice time at home;

I think going back will be hard;

it always is a bit hard actually as I go from being with family

and seeing people a lot to living with only

my Cleo Cat,

as good as she is!

*

The next days will slowly unfold and I will

be waiting to see if I get interviews

and what will happen next.

I spent some time with my Grandma today;

above is a picture of her Nativity set

that was her mothers;

she packed it up as we talked.

I am slowly going over her old pictures and putting them in albums

and putting little labels so that we know who is who

and the story of the picture.

I am happy I can do this...

*

Tomorrow I will see my oldest friend

and her children.

This will mean pouring out love and hugs to the kids,

taking lots of pictures, looking at lots of pictures,

listening and eating with them...

*

The next day I fly around the noon hour back to Ottawa.

Bittersweet - will be great to be back in my apartment,

and I get to celebrate Christmas again,

but it is hard to leave family and all the love.

But thank God that I have had this time!

What a blessing it has been!

*

I have decided that this year the one word I want to remember is

thankfulness

as it will save me - to be thankful makes the heart lighter;

I heard a great sermon at the monastery that

encouraged thankfulness as a way to help unite ourselves to Christ;

so I pray this year I will strive to remain thankful;

to remember St. John Chrysostom's words:

Glory to God for all things.