I'm going through changes

Ozzie Osbourne sang it, and I’m living it. By changes, I am not delicately trying to let you know I am going through menopause. No thanks, these mood swings are just me.

It has been a long time since I posted, odd, since I mentally compose a post every couple of days.

But I am going through changes.

I have a full time job. I am in charge of Donor Relations at ICM.

There is joy. It is a great, wonderful job. Fantastic colleagues, close to home, and I see positive change each day. I am seeing generous people and the impact their goodness has on the impoverished. I am seeing people making the conscious decision to help their fellow man, even though they will never meet them. They help because they can. Because they recognize they are privileged. Truth be, I am privileged to see the photos, to read the stories, to see positive change. To be affiliated with organizations like FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN and KIDS AGAINST HUNGER. To hold children like Shem whose cleft palate was fixed thanks to the selfless medical professionals at Operation Smile. I have a great job.

There is frustration. The need is so great.

There is growth. I have children who started school yesterday. Three in year three, one in year five. When did this happen? All year five students are given a slip of paper suggesting that parents be on guard for bodies going through “physical changes” and so Sebastian and I followed the school nurse’s suggestion and bought some deodorant. He is so chuffed. He also has Trader Joe’s facewash.  Does he need these things? No! Is he thrilled to have them, absolutely. His hair is brown now, his smile still gorgeous.

Jasper, well, he does have his unique perspective. A friend kindly passed headlice on to Jasper earlier this summer. Instead of freaking out, young Jasper announced, “I’m babysitting!”

Sela had a wonderful summer and was a bit disconcerted…she was deliberately placed near a rather rambunctious boy, but today she got told off for giggling at his “very inappropriate but funny jokes, mummy”. She’ll get over it, but of course she thinks the best way to get over it is to change seats. Seb thinks the best way to get over it is to repeat all the jokes to him.

Carys is facing having her friend Danielle in sister Sela’s class…a confusing time! But she seems unaffected and is skipping around as usual.

There is melancholy. We moved out of 122 Pokfulam road. Finally. 10 years. A decade of love. I have a love letter for 122 I might post later, but for now, I will tell you that we miss the community, and we are in a smaller home, but we know this is where God wants us to be. The kids are right across the street from their great friends Alex, Adam and Grace and Ella and Ashleigh, so they are content. Charles misses the glorious sunsets and views, but he is content.

Charles is lovely. I don’t see him much these days, but this too shall pass.

There is loss. Janne moved. My gorgeous travel buddy has moved back to Denmark. I miss her, our walks, her family, her perspective. There is a little hole in my life.

I’m doing a run I haven’t done in years. It is just a 5k, which makes me shake my head. Two years ago, I was getting up at 5.30am and running 15-18k, 5 days a week. These days, I am running at 5.30pm, and trying to improve my time. The good news is, I am. I am confident that I will NEVER be able to run 5k in under 25 minutes, but I want to be a better short distance (5k) runner. Sprints I will never do well, but 5k? I think I can shave down my time.

I’m going through changes.

Comments

[Val]

It is great to hear from you again, Tess. That is a lot of change in a relatively short period of time. 'Glad you all have each other. :)

[Nina]

It's great to see you back again!

[joeinvegas]

You moved from 122? And third grade? my

[Trinie]

Its great to "see" you again Tess. What a lot of change for you and your household. Lots of love

[GDadLyons]

It is absolutely wonderful that you have grown up and adopted all the great attributes that were vested in your Dad aka" Blake the Saint".

Love to all......Dad

[Maureen Lyons aka Mo aka Grandmother]

Great to read your blogs again, Tess : ) Loving the changes. xox

[Jill Swann]

How exciting and wonderful Tess! More adventures ahead and growth for all - I missed your blogs...terribly. I know you will run a faster 5 km - of that I have no doubt! XO

[Charles]

Congratulations on the running... I will never be able to keep up with you now! xx

[edebock]

Welcome back to blogging, Tess! I missed you.

I had to laugh at Jasper's reaction to head lice. It was so similar to Nathan's at about the same age! He was quite annoyed that I wanted to kill them all!