7 Quicktakes Friday- The Week Before the Move

I'm actually going to do 8 quicktakes because I am going to share about the last 8 days instead of just the past week.  It's been a whirlwind of fun, crazy, and busy, let me tell you.....Let's start with the fun laaaaast Thursday at the beginning of the "farewells". 

1. Fond farewells

For months now, this wonderful group of moms that I connected with through the Blessed Is She regional group online has met once a month at a park in central Orange County to visit while the kids get some exercise and play together.  For my final BIS park date, the gals all brought snacks to share and we had a little potluck and got a little sad about having to part company.  Boo on that part. Hurray for the amazing friends. 

The wonderful gals in my Mother's Ministry at church, made the girls each a fleece blanket to take with us to the cooler weather in Colorado.  5 blankets in all because they made one for little Baby #5 too.  So thoughtful. 

Additionally, at group on Wednesday, the gals threw me a big going away party and brought delicious food to eat so we could just hang out and recall many fun memories and try not to cry.  :)  These women are some of the most loving and generous in the world, I'm convinced.  They gifted us with two new soft ice chests filled with snacks for our road trip and fun activities and books for the girls.  We are blessed indeed.  

 

(sweet tulips which are one of my favorites from childhood days when they grew in our yard--my favorite part of spring. They didn't know that part, of course... )

We also had our last Young Families Ministry group this week.  It's crazy to think that this ministry that we helped begin isn't going to be part of our lives anymore.  But hopefully there will be something similar at our new parish!

2. Phil Keaggy concert

Phil Keaggy is an incredible guitarist that Chris has enjoyed listening to since his childhood.  At some point during his career, he had a conversion and now his concerts are mostly at church venues. He openly sings songs with Christian lyrics that he's written since his conversion.  Phil has an amazing voice (even at his age) and is an incredible guitar player for those who care to listen and know much about the instrument.  For a couple like us who both play the guitar (Chris is far my superior, but I do play some), this date was a real treat.  Time spent together listening to a truly talented and extremely humble, funny, down-to-earth musician.  

 

(Chris took the Phil Keaggy pics)

He played this song at the concert titled "Mercy."  As a Catholic in this Year of Mercy, having just consecrated myself to God's merciful love, I was loving every second of it.  

This is another great example of some Phil Keaggy- instrumental this time.  We listen to his instrumental albums on the computer as we drift off to sleep, and play it for the girls as well (often instead of the somewhat annoying lullaby cds you find sometimes for kids).  Fantastic stuff.  

3. Billy and Joy's Wedding

 

My apologies for the terrible pictures.  I was too far away at the actual ceremony to get anything good, and it was pretty dark by the time I thought to snap another during the cake cutting at the reception.  Chris was a groomsman, so it was a very full and somewhat logistically challenging day since it was an adults only wedding (except flower girls and ring bearers), but we had a fun time visiting with friends and celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage with the lovely couple.  

4.  Test Rating

Last month, I passed training to score a new elementary test through the Educational Testing Service after they discontinued the CA test I had previously been scoring.  A session began this month, so I grabbed about 4 shifts before our move, so that they don't think I'm a flake.  It's been a bit challenging wearing so many different hats this week, but God is sustaining us and Chris and I aren't at all new to juggling schedules and some pretty intense time management and multi-tasking.  

My favorite sentence from my shift yesterday was: 

"This class feels like a cup of hot cocoa and we're all the sweet-sticky marshmallows."

5. Packing Progress

We are pretty much done.  

I'm serious.  Moving day is Monday, and we have just about everything boxed up or packed up for the moving truck.   What's left is being packed up for our family road trip, so we are nearly done thanks to God's grace, the help of kind friends for an hour here and there, the miracle of all 4 kids cooperating to let me pack everyday, and intense organization and packing days around here.   Considering we literally hadn't started packing until a week ago (when we returned from our CO house hunting trip), we are thrilled and amazed that we are already so near to being done. 

6. Dinner with friends

We've been invited to/had dinner with friends a few nights this week amidst all the other busyness.  This proved to be a nice break from all the stress of packing and a great opportunity to spend a little time with people whom we won't see in awhile.  :(  This move has been a very emotional one.  We are leaving a large community of friends who have become like family and who have loved and supported our family in amazing ways these past 2+ years here in Southern California. 

7. Kayla's Final Ballet "Recital"

Kayla's teacher, Miss Marisa, was gracious enough to suggest a "mini recital" so that Kayla could showcase the routine she's been learning the last several weeks at ballet class.  She let her borrow a fancy tutu and Kayla and a little boy in her class performed a sweet dance number for our family and Paul and Agnes.  It was so special and sweet.  We will miss our wonderful ballet studio here and most especially Kayla's amazing teacher for the past two years, Miss Marisa.  

 

                          

 

 

*BONUS*

8. Baby's Ultrasound

Yesterday, Chris and I got to take a break and see our sweet little baby #5 squirming and bouncing around in my womb.  (S)he was likely asleep when we first began, but after all the prodding, woke up and was pretty excited to move around and show us just how healthy and active (s)he is.  I am 19 weeks along and will be exactly halfway next week as we move into our new place in Colorado.