ArwenA Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Hello WTMers I'm back on the boards after what seems like a very long break. I think I'll be into my regular posting frenzy soon. :) Here's What I wrote on my blog about what has happened recently: I'm back from France, back from a non blogging period and I'm (hopefully) back to a semi-normal life. I have a zillion things to tell! I guess the beginning is the best place to start. :D In my last post I said I was leaving for France. I loved it there! The family we were staying with is lovely. They have three kids 10 yo girl, 7 yo boy and 1yo boy. Chelsea and their daughter had a great time together speaking bad French and bad English. We loved Paris and enjoyed seeing the sites. I would have liked to speak more French but sometimes my French wasn't up to it or the people I was talking to would speak in English. Still, we all improved our French dramatically. Even Cassidy can say a number of words like "chat" (cat) and "bonbon" (candy). The plan was to spend time in France and then head off to Normandy and see stuff on the way. But plans don't always work quite right. Before we headed off there was a flurry of phone calls and e-mails from the Canadian government. I learnt that my dear friends Michelle and Rob had been killed driving home from a church meeting. Someone was speeding down the wrong side of the road a crashed into them. It was their will that I adopt their five children (12, 10, 7, 6 and 2). Oh, the tears! Michelle and Rob have always been so kind to me. They inspired me to homeschool and have always been there to offer a helping hand on our journey. Now they're gone. May the Lord watch over them in Heaven. It's next to impossible to get flights for a family of five even when it's an emergency. So I left dh and the kids in France and went home by a very odd routing (Paris to London, London to New York, New York to Toronto, Toronto to Vancouver and Vancouver to Victoria). I began with the legal procedures but was greatly in need of dh so for the most part I cried and tried to be the best parent to Mariah, David, Laura, Douglas and James that I could. Due to the chaos we'd just had there wasn't time for dh and the kids to go to Normandy so they spent some more time in Paris before returning home. Then we really got into the adoption process as well as arranging a funeral and figure out where Rob and Michelle's stuff was going. It was exhaustive and stressful and to make matters worse my best friend wasn't there to offer her advice. I would have thought that once that was over life would calm down a bit. But, now that I was able to think more clearly I realized what a cramped space we were living in. We live in a duplex and it is very comfortable for a family of five but double that and you're squished. Our house is on the market and we have one person that has come round three times but no offers have been put in. I'm hoping we can get a house in farming outskirts of the city. I'd love to move to the country but we'd be leaving too much behind here. We'll have our first week of school together on Monday and I'm trying to get prepared. I have a lot of new curricula to use and I have to try to find the books we need because our library has been locked out. It is so expensive with food and books that we've got to watch our money a lot more than previously. There is still lots to write but like I said I'm still getting acquainted with some of the curricula we're using and need to track down books. And please welcome Mariah age 12, David age 10, Laura age 7, Douglas 6 and James 2 to our very blessed family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 What a whirlwind of excitement, sadness, chaos and well just wow! I'm glad you had a great time in France and a nice time with just your family. Your family grew so much in such a short time too. AND will grow again in a few months. I will be praying for family cohesion, the new members settle in and for their mourning process and for your pregnancy and emotions. I'm sorry, I have to say it again - Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I'm so sorry about your dear friends. How wonderful that you are there to care for their children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Oh my. I'm so sorry for the overwhelming grief you must be feeling. I'll pray for you newly-enlarged family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 What a good friend you are. So sorry about losing your friends. I'll be praying for you and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Wow! You have so much on your plate! I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends. I'm praying for all of you during this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdWTMer Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Wow! What a turn of events. I'm so sorry that you lost your best friend. I'm so glad for the kiddos that they had your family to take them in. How awful and tragic, but at the same time, beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Welcome back and wow. I'm so sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and the kids. Twins~double wonderful. Congratulations too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArwenA Posted March 8, 2008 Author Share Posted March 8, 2008 Thank you all so much. You don't know how much your kindness and prayers mean to me. Thank you and God bless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 You are amazing!! I'm so sorry about your friends, but I'm so impressed with your taking in the children!!! Great will be your reward for this. I'm sending up a huge prayer for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 May God bless you and your new family. What a range of emotions everyone must be feeling. Incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elinor Everywhere Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I'm not speechless very often, but.....wow. I have been wondering how your trip to France went, and particularly Normandy. What a whirlwind of movements and emotions you have been dealing with over the past few months. I'm praying for all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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