I've appreciated the emails, texts, and calls asking how we are doing during this transition. Going on just the photos I post, it may look like everything is hunky dory. We have a lot to be grateful for, and considering our situation, everyone is doing pretty good. But we are still in the middle of transitioning from an international move, which inevitably introduces stress, frustration, and new familial issues even in the best of circumstances. There are days when I feel like we are really thriving and others when I want to silently crawl back to my home in England and hide by myself for a while. But at both ends of the spectrum, God remains faithful and good, and we trust His provision for all our needs during these days packed with change.
We are currently living in a hotel suite on base. It's spacious, affordable, has a minimally stocked kitchen where Rooke is learning the art of washing dishes by hand, and daily housekeeping who spoil us from having to take out the trash or clean the bathrooms. We're grateful that it's worked out for us to be able to stay here until our house (on base) is ready at the end of this month.
Bridgette is funny, happy, and every bit of two wanting as much independence as she can get. She still works hard to keep up with her brother and sister and is showing a more aggressive side when it comes to asserting herself to get what she wants (read: she hits.) She understands that we are in "No Dakota" now and has done great sleeping wherever we have a pack-n-play ready for her. Bridgette likes singing "Let It Go", or whatever words she thinks of to fit in with the tune. She still cherishes her mousie. She's following in her sister's footsteps of wanting to choose her own clothes in the morning. She can't pronounce her "f" or "v" sound properly yet, which make for some cute words! She is pretty fearless often getting herself stuck on playground equipment because she tries to maneuver steps and slides that are too big for her. She recently went swimming for the first time, really, and after a few tries she was jumping in completely on her own (with puddle jumper floaties on), swimming back to the edge, and climbing out to do it all over again. She was also the only Payne kid who went down the waterslide by herself!
Gretchen seems to be dealing with the adjustment of moving better than anyone else in the family. For the most part, she has stayed positive, adaptable, and does pretty good to go with the flow. She is a great big sister to Bridgette. As of now, we don't have a good preschool option for her, which I find discouraging because she did so well at the preschool in England. But she told me yesterday "I want to stay home with you now that we are in North Dakota. I only liked preschool in England." She definitely has opinions and knows what she likes, especially when it comes to her clothes. Purses are her new favorite accessory. And Pink Bunny is still her trusted lovie. She likes all things to be as "girly" as possible and isn't that interested in being tough, though she can run really fast. She is a smart little cookie, taking interest in practicing her writing and beginning reading. She likes to explain how she thinks something got its name, "It's called "mint chocolate ice cream" because it's ice cream with mint flavoring and chocolate mixed in"!
The hotel square where the kids have been playing most afternoons:
Rooke is ever the thinker and observer, taking time to soak in his surroundings. He loved our time with family in Oklahoma, which has helped him with the transition. He loved school and playing with his buddies last year, so he has some big changes coming with starting a new school at the end of the month. Rooke still loves playing lego, and is interested in geography these days. He's enjoyed running around with a couple other boys who are staying in the hotel complex as well. Since returning to the US, people have commented on the kids' English accents. Rooke's was most pronounced when we were in England. He would turn his accent on and off, depending on who he was talking to. The other night he informed me, "I don't have a British accent anymore. It's gone. I don't need it." Things are pretty black and white for him. Rooke is a homebody, loves books, and can read well even though he doesn't like reading yet. He went through a major growth spurt this last month, requiring lots of new clothes and an amount of food that made me nervous for what he will be like when he's a teenager!
The state fair was happening when we arrived in town, so we headed over to the fairgrounds to introduce the kids to a slice of Americana.
We collectively agreed that our favorite part of the fair was the extreme pogo stick show (the funnel cake was a close second!). Bridgette was obviously not as impressed as the rest of us!
Ryan has been working hard in his new office. It's a much bigger office with three times the number of attorneys working than his previous base. With all of us on base now, we get to see more of him in between his morning workouts and popping in on us at the hotel for lunch. He got to catch up with several good friends during our travels and managed the long drive from Oklahoma to North Dakota by himself, keeping company with C.S. Lewis (audio book). Even though he had two weeks off from work, he hasn't really had much rest between packing, looking for and buying two cars, playing with kids and trying to get one-on-one time with each of them, jumping into new cases at work, and taking care of the business side on a lot of the moving logistics. He's the man. I'm glad he's my man.
The kids invited me to a tea party in the girls' room. Each diaper was a slice of the blueberry peach pie they'd made for the ocassion.
As for me, I'm really trying to take it one day a time. We've moved at a wonderful time of year, which makes my life as a fully-time mommy and domestic engineer much easier. The weather has been perfect for outdoor playing, playground exploring, swimming, picnics, jogging, garage sales, and bike rides. The kids keep me busy and we have been trying out a lot of different events/activities offered on and off base, even being invited out for a couple of playdates. But I do find that even in the midst of exploring, sweet thrift store deals, and a lot of "doing" that I find fun, I still miss the comfort of knowing I have trusted friends close by. I'm confident that will come with time, but I am still mourning the loss of the community and support I had within arm's reach just one month ago. I'm grateful for this "down" time where life feels a bit more simple. We aren't in our house yet, our stuff hasn't arrived, and we don't have many scheduled activities or responsibilities. Sometimes I find myself wanting that, but most days I'm just trying to soak up the family time before things get busy again next month. I've enjoyed the pool with the kids, chatting with our hotel neighbors while we let the kids play and stay up too late, and relaxed mornings where I can read and stay in my pajamas until the kids are up and ready for breakfast. I still find myself surprised that I "fit in" more here: people don't do a double take when I open my mouth to talk with an American accent, and they give me a strange look when I refer to my kid's sucker as a lolly or hear my son announce, "I need to use the toilet!". We've visited two different churches, both of which provided a good worshipful experience which was an encouragement as we try to settle in. I'm truly thankful to be on this journey with Ryan and for the blessing God's granted in letting me be Mommy to Rooke, Gretchen, and Bridgette.
