A Chapter Closed

Yesterday was our last day owning Spotless Cleaners. We went to closing today in Portland and the business now belongs to someone else. The day was very eventful starting out with a massive blowout from Henry. Just as we pulled him out of his car seat to feed him and then run into the meeting, we noticed his clothes were SATURATED with poop. Did I have a change of clothes? No. I thought I thought of everything. WRONG. We had a tough decision to make. Bring a naked baby in 50 something degree (we did have blankets), wet cold weather or bring a baby dripping in droppings. We chose option number 1. Well... it was a little better than that. We managed to find some high water jeans. So we just looked a little hill-billy-ish. Things were going our way (in a way). When we got to the door of the meeting - after giving Henry a bath with wet wipes - the attorney told us we weren't quite needed yet. How long? Oh, we had plenty of time to do whatever. Not words you want to hear when you're sporting an infant two hours away from home. Long days aren't a good luck charm. I was happy to hear we had time to walk four blocks to find a new shirt for Henry (he didn't have to go on display as redneck baby after all). Four blocks was no big deal to me, but for Dave it was a little tough to carry Henry in the car seat. We found a t-shirt at the LL Bean outlet and walked back. They were ready for us when we got back. We were relieved it was going to go quicker than we thought - or so we thought. Then there were hours waiting and waiting. And Henry projectile vomiting and vomiting all over the conference room. It became quite the joke. Then there was the watching other people in the windows of the other buildings watch us. No, it wasn't just Dave and I. It was the buyers, the banker and the realtors, too. I was talking EVENTFUL when I said eventful. We thought it might not happen and then it did. We closed on our business. We are very happy and little sad. We love the people so much but are ready for the next step ... what ever that is. Thank You God.

One Year Ago

One year ago today was the last day I was with Vinny. The details are forever etched in my mind. It was almost sacred - like subconsciously we knew. I miss him more than words can say. Until the day we meet again ...

Stuff

I jogged for the second time this month. I think the last time I jogged was on June 1. I did jog for 3 miles today. Not bad for such a slacker. We have had a lot going on and it has been raining and I do have an infant - not that those are good excuses.

I got my precious baby a life jacket today. We put it on and attempted to do something to use it. Since the dock and float washed away with all of the rain, it was too difficult to attempt getting into the kayak with Henry alone. The water is very cold from all of the rain and lack of sun so Henry really wasn't into wading. He actually started crying when I touched his feet to the water. A boy after his mother's heart. I don't like cold water either. I used to deal with it as a child... but then turn blue and have to wear my grandmother's winter coat to warm up. Now I just avoid lake water until later in the season. Not that I'm overly excited about getting into a bathing suit. I'm very close to my prepregnancy weight but my weight has shifted because of the big stomach. I didn't get any stretch marks on my stomach during pregnancy but got a few on my back/side during or after labor! Bummer. Way the cookie crumbles. I am thrilled that I've lost the weight.

We are scrambling trying to get everything ready for our closing on Monday. I think we will be in shock when and if we have a time when something major isn't going on. It seems like it's been a solid year of one major event after another.

I was thinking what a paradox human life is after hearing the news of Michael Jackson's death. We can endure so much and not die (some people get crushed by heavy equipment, get into major car accidents, have deadly diseases etc) and then we are so fragile it only takes the next second and we are gone. Death is a part of everyone's life and we spend such little time thinking about it.

Change Overload

I think I'm having change overload. I lost my dear brother, went through 8 months of pregnancy after, had a child, sold our house, moved, and now sold our business. I think we need to let the dust settle and take a breath.

Happy Birthday Dan!

It's Dan's 57th Birthday today. This picture was taken on my mother's 50th - why Dan is wearing Mardi Gras beads. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Today Henry had his first shower... he has bathed before... just never had a shower. The house we are living in doesn't have a bathtub. We were using the tub at our old house until we closed and then using tubs as we have camped out. I was thinking I'd have to use the sink and was sad about it because we have so much fun taking a bath together. He loved taking a shower too! It was a little slippery trying to hold him and bathe him at the same time.

We are closing on our business on Monday in Portland. It's a bittersweet time. We have really come to love being a part of the Camden business community.

I MISS MY PUPPY

I am in bed and can't sleep. It's our last night of camping out at other people's houses and Maggie's last day of a luxurious dog vacation. I can't wait to see my puppy, have access to a pc and sleep in my own bed. I do have to say Heather's house is quite nice. There's nothing like having access to your rain coat after 6 straight days of rain.

Henry and I have quite the social life lately. We spent time with Teagan and Sherman while my mom and Stephanie went to a training yesterday. We hung out at my grandparents' this morning, then went to lunch with them, and then got to see Mishelle, Jason, Ryan and Dylan - who are almost from WA state. I was just here thinking how I can't imagine how I ever lived without him. I also think having a baby made me ultra productive. Before there was no need to capitalize on the few moments I had to get something done - well, I take that back. I ended up doing that because the only moments I had were the last moments because I would wait so long. No more time to wait! Maybe I should have 4 or 5 more - imagine the productivity.

Congratulations to my little brother for passing his college entry tests with flying colors. Way to go Zac!

I must have a bad case of insomnia if I thing up more things to blog about on a tiny phone keyboard.

We aren't making it to the international missions convention in MD this year because of our delayed closing. We are very sad about that. We will especially miss missions night when all the missionaries from different countries walk in the missions night. It's so powerful.

I still reading the book on heaven. It was packed for a couple of weeks. It really is a great book.

Henry is the best baby ever. That had to be mentioned, ok?

Sorry for any errors - too difficult to check or correct on this thing.

Oh yeah - Mishelle asked me today how I came up with my new business idea. I gave her a long explanation. The short version (and most important) is I asked God and He answered. I just have to thank God that when we are unfaithful to Him, He remains faithful. I think that's about 99.9percent of the time for me.

Move On Stay Still

Last night I was reading Mark 9. To be honest, I haven't been reading as much as I would like during the last few weeks. I started reading in Isaiah and really felt led to start off where I had finished in the Gospel of Mark. So Mark 9. The Mount of Transfiguration. Peter wanted to build a monument. He wanted to stay there. I had a revelation about myself. Some times I spend so much energy in my life/ spiritual life trying to recreate a situation or a feeling. I want to go back or stay still because the moment means so much. It's great that I a treasure those times, but I need be available for the next thing. The other problem I have is moving too quickly through things and not seeing what God is doing. I might be too focused on recreating an old thing or what's coming next to actually enjoy now. Rachael, stop worrying about what will be or what was and see what God is doing now. My words to myself (in a loving nurturing voice of course).

Major Transition

Baby Cakes turned three months old in the midst of our major transition (on Sunday, June 14). We are staying at my aunt Molly's house while someone rents the house we are renting for one week. We are staying here for a few days and then moving to my friend Heather's house. We close on our house on Friday. All we have left there is my wedding dress, some green beans and a rocking chair. It's taken forever. That's what happens when it's your first move with a child and a dog. Not to mention we are going from a four bedroom, two car garage house to a cottage. We do like our new place but have had no time to enjoy it. I think Henry and Maggie are sick of being Nomads too. The end is in sight! Thank God.

Picture Fun

For Tammy because I love her


Tea helping Daddy




Henry at the Cleaners

Ann from Moldova

Natalia from Moldova




Ryan the Stalker :)

11 Months Today

It's been 11 months. So much time and so little time. Words cannot express the feeling in the fragments of my heart. My shattered heart rejoices for Vinny and the gift God has given us (heaven) but still misses and cannot fill the void such a wonderful brother left. Of course God would want him there. Who wouldn't?

So MANY Changes with a 12 Week Old

We moved this weekend but haven't completely moved. I took some pictures with my new iphone ~ which I might have to return because we get NO reception where we are. I love the color splash application.

Grammie & Grampa Pease's Wedding Photo



Vinny & Sam

I REALLY Am Working

It just hard not to stop and think of things when you're weeding through all of your stuff:

Some pictures ~


Vinny & Rachael in our parents' apartment in Rockland. Notice the big wheel handle bars. Those were our favorite.

This is Clyde. He's one part of the babysitting couple I wrote about in A Suburb of Appleton. They used to dress us up and Vinny would puke all over Abby.

David & Desi (Henry looks so much like him)

Dave's father is third from the left

www.meanderingmaine.com more to come

Spotless "Before"

This wasn't even the real before of Spotless because this is after we had owned it for a few months and had cleaned it up a lot.

Up at the Crack

I seem to be in this pattern of being able to sleep for a few days and then not being able to sleep for a few days. This morning I was wide awake after Henry woke up at 4 a.m. He was wide awake, too, but found it much easier to fall back asleep.

Today I have my networking meeting and then we are starting a Bible College class at my house called Biblical Psychology. Dave got it through the extension school and someone borrowed it and misplaced a few classes. I am praying they find them soon. We are going to start anyway. My mom, my grandmother and possibly a few other people.

God gives us the desires of our heart. It amazes me how I am still surprised how much God knows us better than we know ourselves. I'm always expecting God to ask me or force me to do something or be something that goes against the grain of who I am. Don't get me wrong, that does happen. It happens in things like, "Rachael, shut your mouth" or "Rachael, forgive that person, because God has forgiven so much more from you". I'm not talking about those things that we all struggle with. I'm talking about God asking me to be a Gospel singer when there is no way I would dare to get up in front of that many people even if I could sing. That's a major exaggeration, but you know what I mean. It's incredible how God gives us gifts and leads us down paths that sometimes don't make sense to draw out those gifts and get us to use them. He also puts us in a place and with people that draw them out. I love seeing this develop in other people's lives especially my husband. Back to God giving us the desires of our heart. We are moving to Hobbs Pond in Hope, Maine. I think it's a great place to live, but it isn't neccessarily my dream spot. You might think of course not since we are renting and only living there temporarily. Well, my aunt lives on the same road. Everytime we drive down to her house (you have to descend from the hills to the lake), Dave comments that he would love to live on that road. Sort of in it will never happen way. Well, God knows. God hears our prayers and God delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. Thank You, God.

Big Brother, Big Brother, I MISS You

11 Week Olds Don't Like Moving

My big man and my little man ~ Henry's 11 weeks old on this day ~ Sat, 5/30/09

On our back deck in Rockport







Our new neighbor


Henry was very exhausted yesterday. I spent the end of last week getting ready for the lawn sale - sorting, throwing, labeling, and lifting. Saturday we (my mom & I) had a successful sale and a woman came and picked up the leftovers so she could sell it for her daughter's tuition to a private Christian school. It was sUcH a blessing not to have to get rid of it. After church yesterday we started moving our stuff over to Hope. Needless to say, we got a MAJOR meltdown from Henry last night. He had enough of all the work.