We have begun to settle into the Pacific Northwest life, and decidedly love it! While it is completely different from Southern California, it is so beautiful, and we love the view of the Olympic Mountain Range that we appreciate from our balcony each night. We downsized a bit from our condo to a 995 sq. ft. apartment, but that allowed us to simplify our life, and I don't regret the choice for a minute. We found a church we love, Cornerstone Alliance, and we have started to talk about how we can serve there. Charlie loves the nursery, because it has bubbles, play dough, and other kids her age. She actually said "I like church" on the way there two weeks ago. Jeff enjoys being a police officer again, and he impressed his department so much they let him off of probation early to go out on his own. He got to bring his own police car home last week, which is great because he takes it to and from work and we save a lot on gas! Charlie is thriving here, talking up a storm and climbing on everything. Her favorite activities are blowing bubbles, reading to herself or with someone else, going for walks outside, and watching "New Ella" (Cinderella III). She keeps me busy! We decided that I would stay home with her this year, and I am so blessed to be able to do that! I love taking her on walks, reading with her, and just being a mom! Our family has been through so much to get to this point, but all the difficulties this year pulled us closer together and taught us who our real Provider was. Not LAPD, not Oaks, not our friends and family, not anything we were holding to so tightly, but God, who brought us through it for a reason and was so faithful. Back in January, I started singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" to Charlie as she fell asleep, more to reassure myself than to soothe her. Now the words are written on a plaque that hangs in our apartment, where I can see it as I wash dishes, fold laundry, play with Charlie or sit with Jeff. When I look at it, I don't think of the struggles it took to get here, but of the immense blessings we have felt because of God's incredible faithfulness to us.
Last week Jeff took Charlie and I to a park he described as "Yosemite with a beach." As we walked through the trees, smelling that Yosemite-like fragrance of warm, dry pine needles and greenery, we were able to see the sun sparkling on the Sound and the Olympics, puplish-grey and shrouded in clouds in the distance. We took Charlie down to the beach, where she happily scooped up tiny pebbles in a discarded oyster shell and dumped them into the water, and then carved scribbles into the ground with a stick. When it was time to go, we had to pry her away, but we are definitely going back soon. This must be added to the list of favorites!
