Change and Decay

Change and decay in all around I see

O, Thou who changest not, Abide with me!

I find a lot of comfort in church hymns (and many other types of music) and some of these phrases have accompanied me throughout the past few weeks. Jacob started his 3rd year of medicine whilst in the middle of trying to secure housing and having a neurotic wife to soothe. It was a terrible time for him to go into his new assignment and neither of us were very prepared. I'll have an eternal image in my head of us sitting on Starbuck's couches (since we still don't have a home at this time), drinking hot chocolate in the midst of a Miami summer, Jacob reading new textbooks and I have a wad of safety pins strewn about, desperately trying to hem his white coat (shorter white coats=newbie, longer white coats=seasoned physician) so he could go back to the hospital in the morning with some ounce of respectability...and with a coat short enough to show that he knew his place in the pecking order. We didn't know until a week ago that we for sure had the place we are currently at, and since Jacob started school/work, I'm the lucky dope that got to throw all the details together--setting up all utilities, getting together a few blow up beds to sleep on since our move truck is nowhere to be seen, and by the way, what are supposed to eat?? All before leaving for Orlando after lunch on Thursday to pick up my mom and kids. Who were coming to our empty house that would not boast ANY hot water the entire weekend my mom was here.

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see;

The distance scene--one step enough for me.

I wanted my reunion with my girlies to be a bit more magical, a bit more organized and refreshing. A reunion that included a house with their belongings, or at least a house that freely gave the ability to have a warm showers. Instead, the three of us were war-torn and ragged, all of us needing some merciful blend of rejuvenation and normalcy and no one feeling put together at all. We met at the Orlando airport in front of the Harry Potter store, Leah with shy tears in her eyes and Hannah wouldn't stop kissing my arm. Perfect. And my saint of a mother who battled a fierce stomach flu up until the very minute of departure. I forgot how much Leah's sense of humor has matured and how much it reminds me of my Grandma Day's. I forgot how Hannah came with equal parts passion and skepticism since birth. Jacob said it best when we met up on Friday, "It's like a part of you was missing and now you're back." I'm all put back together now. And we are recovering and figuring out this madness as a team.

Though hard to you, this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

Friday was the big guy's birthday. I special ordered some key lime tarts from our fave bookstore. The head chef there is very New York-ish ("Irving") and got me six of these tartgasms (woah--that sounded really bad) for Jacob's birthday cake. We also gave him Spot It for Beginner Spanish and a label maker. Now that I verbalize this birthday list, it does sound a bit strange. But it was just right for him. I can't let the birthday story pass without mentioning that he blew out candles from an app on my phone. I also should mention that I really needed a paintball gun to shoot the grouch out of him post-birthday. It's been a rough adjustment for all us, and in all fairness, he needed that paint gun for me on Monday.


We met at Shorty's--a BBQ place around here that has some good brisket and pulled pork. Jacob had just come from helping in a surgery where an inmate had a 7 lb tumor removed from his breast. I get physically ill when he tells me these stories or worse, sends me the pictures. I had to ask him to stop the other day during another surgery story. I guess I'm hemophobic.

Tired b-day boy resting on his label maker. 

During the weekend, we took my mom to some of the local beaches. And if we had driven 5 more minutes, we would have found a good one. This one is called Matheson, a place I really like and overlooks the city and Miami Beach island. 

Hannah was determined to find shells. 

With much regret and sadness, we said goodbye to Grandma on Sunday night. Hannah said, "I just wasn't ready to say goodbye." None of us were. I had to gulp down a few tears on the drive home, knowing I was facing a round of single motherhood with no hot water or even a bed to crash on. 

*Please note: This is not an exaggeration or a pity party. Just keeping' things real, folks.

Be still my soul; when change and tears are passed,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

On the plus side, our subdivision comes with two lovely pools for us to use year-round. I told the girls on Monday morning we could go to the pool and stay as long as they wanted. What that really means is, Stay until the thunderstorm comes and you leave by default.  They are loving the water--it's not chlorinated (salt, maybe?) and is always the perfect temperature. When we go in the morning, we are one of the only ones there. I read. They play. All is well.

These two monkeys have not experienced the ferociousness of a Midwest thunderstorm--or a Miami thunderstorm. Hannah spent a good hour huddled under my duvet. They shake the house. I think she might get used to it eventually.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

I couldn't wrap this up without leaving you with my motto for the year:

And soon we'll have this tale to tell,

All is well! All is well!