Calamity to Chaos to Clarity...almost!

Chaos: Defined as...
1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion.
2. A disorderly mass; a jumble:



So, with time comes clarity, perhaps that is what is meant by "Hindsight is 20/20"! I am now able, after three months, to reflect on our most recent trip back to the States this past June. If you read my previous blog, I wasn't kidding when I mentioned 'cranky kids and even crankier adults". I remember, back in April, when Mike and I started to plot out how much time we would need to accomplish all that we had heaped upon our plate for this past summer. If you've ever planned or managed an Estate Sale, well then, thank you for your sympathy in advance! "Six weeks should do it" feeling overly confident and "give us time to attend the family wedding, Josh's graduation party and farewell celebration as he heads to Basic Training, organize an estate sale and spend a week or so in North Carolina with my family! " With that, the tickets were purchased and we flew northward with not even an incling of what was ahead of us.

Sometimes it seems like yesterday when we sold our house and crammed our remaining 'stuff' (that which was not parsed out among family members or neighbors) into a 10X10 storage unit, . Pulling down the 'garage-door like' partition, putting the padlock on our buldging unit and walking out of the newly built and airconditioned "LOCK UP" storage facility in Willowbrook, Ilinois, we felt our 'stuff' would be well taken care of until we decided it was time to deal with it again. That time, was this summer and oh what a time it was. I remember trying to talk Mike out of going through our stuff this summer, 'really, can't we just keep paying the monthly fee for the unit?", I asked. Mike quickly did the math in his head, monthly storage fee multiplied by 12 more months, equals, WELL, YOU GET THE POINT! One has to ask, whether one's stuff is even worth the money being forked out each month to keep it.

Our blessings on this trip were plentiful; our challenges, at times, seemed incredibly overwhelming. Our home church, Community Presbyterian Church, blessed us with the opportunity to use an empty house next to the church for the summer.



We were also fortunate to have family willing to help, be it watching the boys, tagging items for our sale, cooking dinners or coordinating the move of our belongings out of storage and into the church house prior to our arrival (Thanks Chop and Pop)!

Michael and John were happy to discover some of their long-lost toys (hotwheel tracks and cars, animals, both stuffed and plastic and legos). They also enjoyed a bathtub and took full advantage of it, I've never had such an easy time keeping them clean with hardly a fuss!



While the kids busied themselves, winding their never ending orange track down and around the stairs, Mike and I had the dirty work of delving into each box and making the sometimes painful decisions as to how to dispose of each item. Mike and I did most of our work after the kids went down (8 p.m. to midnight)...I must say, after a few glasses of red wine, the criteria for KEEP, SELL, GIVE AWAY got a lot easier for me :)

The process of determinging the fate of our stuff, for me, was no big deal - One quick glance over, and my decision was made... the item ending up in the appropriate pile - for Mike, an entirely different process which was grounded in thoughtfulness and memories.

We lived for two months in a state of chaos, laundry all over the place, dishes piling up in the sink and the four of us in the same bedroom, most nights intertwined on our king size mattress. Is it any wonder, we were cranky?

As I started peeling away the tape, opening the cardboard boxes which had held our possessions for 600 plus days, I too began to feel a little unravelled. With every dish I had to unwrap, my hands became stained and dirty from the newsprint of two years ago - I glanced at the headlines from the summer of 2009 and wondered where the time had gone. No time to remeniss - there was work to be done.





Oh, the Rooster plates I just had to have for the kitchen...the everyday dishes from Bed, Bath and Beyond, were too, carefully unwrapped and placed with the other crystal, glass and ceramic wares. Mike and I commented on our dishes and the fact that we never even used them, thinking they were too nice to use, we opted for the old, scratched plates and bowls that he had used in his Chicago condo for over 20 years.





All the kitchen gadgets, placemats, tablecloths, napkins, holiday linens, pots, pans, toaster, irons, they all went out for display and pricing.

































Next came the pricing process - thanks to friends and family members who donated their time and assistance. I remember making signs at midnight before the sale, UPSTAIRS - LINENS AND CLOTHING, DOWNSTAIRS: HOME DECOR, TOYS/GAMES, APPLIANCES, PORCH: SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND GARDEN/TOOL SUPPLIES. Certainly if there was an award for the most organized Estate Sale, we surely would be in the TOP 3! I even marked my wedding dress to sell - but there were no takers. I was grateful to a woman who purchased several bags of my business-casual work clothing. Finally, the day was upon us and we opened our doors at 8:00 a.m. with a strong cup of coffee in hand and somewhat of a forced smile on our faces!








As Mike and I reflect, we cannot believe how much of our stuff was what I call 'nice to have' and not 'must have'. I think the biggest regret Mike had was selling the long, heavy-duty orange extension cord. "How could we have let go of such a functional item?" he remorsed. Pictures, knick-knacks, candles and other home decor items had overtaken our life - and I thought I was fairly practical! So, where does this leave me now? Well, I can say, my next home will be decorated in a minimalistic style - less clutter, wide open space for sure.

What did not sell, and there was a lot, was then walked across the parking lot to our Church to include in their Bazaar sale the next weekend. Twin bunk-beds were given to a niece and other items that actually do hold memories for us (the boy's scrap books from their foster family, family photo albums, keepsakes from our trips to Guatemala) were moved into a 5 X 5 storage unit. So, although we did not off-load all of our belongings, we did scale down from a 10X10 to a more manageable 5X5! Of course, we still have furniture and other items stashed with family members through out Chicagoland, (not to mention our car - thanks Barb and Kevin), but we have lightened the load!

The boys were troopers and great helpers! They lended their muscles carrying boxes back to storage and helped dad assess the best way to pack the unit to the top.







The skateboards from cousin Josh were great gifts and the boys enjoyed their first experience at the local skateboard park.



All said and done, the experience was rich in learnings and gave light to things that are most important to us. As we transition back to Monteverde for our third year - we take our summer experience with us and are grateful for the support and family we have in Chicago.

Two months of our life gone, dealing with stuff - unloading, unpacking, classifying, pricing, repacking, reloading, moving, locking up - so much energy put out just moving STUFF around! Perhaps this is a lesson you really can't learn until you live it. Do I miss my stuff? NOPE - you have it one moment, and then the next, it is gone - easy as that! My mind was in the right place and that perhaps, is the hardest of all!

This year will prove to be as unique and rewarding as the previous two. Stay tuned as we continue to make decisions throughout this year that will enrich not only our current lives here, but our future journey - full speed ahead!

So, I can finally say, that we are enjoying the CALM after the CHAOS and are ready for when the tables turn again and turn they will.

Peace,
Signed: S

Creature Comforts to...Well...Just Creatures!

So, here I sit staring at the blank page before me...gosh has it been more than a month since my last post? Oh ya, I was on vacation. Welcome back Sally! I remember packing up to leave last month and feeling a tad anxious about how we would transition back into the States. "Would the boys want to return to Costa Rica for a second year?", "Who and what would the boys remember about Chicago?", what about Mike and me? Well, as we landed in Chicago, the wheels barely touched down at O'Hare and it felt like we never left. How could Monteverde feel so much like a dream, so removed as I looked around the plane while people bustled around to open the overhead bins, turned on their cell phones and jockeyed for position within the center aisle? Life goes on.

While sipping on wine and chuckling over something funny I'm sure with my sister, we started talking about what I have missed about living in the States, undoubtedly, hot showers rank right up there, here are some others that come to mind.

WHAT WAS HARD WHILE IN THE STATES...?
Running in 90 plus weather
Keeping dibs on the "On Demand" button on Auntie Beth's TV remote control
Spending so much time and energy getting anywhere (car seats, traffic, road construction)
Missing the temperatures in Monteverde and the ability to walk anywhere
Missing the ability to send the kids outside with a 'Go climb trees....please' command
Making selections at the grocery store
Saying goodbye to friends and family
Explaining to friends and family that you really can get use to the bugs and insects

WHAT WAS EASY?
Running on the 'flat lands' of Chicago
Relaxing in a steamy shower with all the shampoos, body lotions, conditioners, foot/calous removers, etc. to choose from
Crawling into a dry bed; with the smell of fresh bounce fabric softener
Waking up in the morning and not having to sweep up mounds of dead land-shrimp from the floor
Having laundry dry in 30 minutes
Tossing your dirty dishes into a dishwasher
Flipping a switch for your morning cup of java (coffee sock, is that something you wear?)
Seeing the clouds/storms roll in - absence of trees/forest
Spending hours in Mom and Dad's, Aunt Jeanine's pool
Riding cousin's bikes on the sidewalk instead of grass and rocks
Riding bikes without a seat that was taped on and no pedals
Travelling 2000 miles in the car to visit relatives in NC and NY without a portable DVD player

So much fun, great times spent with both my family and Mike's family. Two days before we flew back to Costa Rica, my anxiety level went through the roof – I did not want to return for some reason, perhaps I had gotten use to the creature comforts and spoiled myself a little too much...(knew I should have forgone that pedicure)! I’m sure missing family and friends also contributed to my racing heart beat and sweaty palms….so I tried to press on as we packed up for our second year here in Monteverde. Part of me, I’m sure, was nervous as to how the boys would react to leaving Chicago; however they were ready to return and did not cry out ‘to stay’ longer, so no additional pulling on my heart strings.

We arrived home almost a week ago and were greeted at the airport by Kattya and her husband who drove us up the mountain. So green and lush, definitely the rainy season was upon us – this was confirmed when we arrived at the little brown house, opened the door and were overcome with the musty smells of mildew and mold. Mike actually boiled a concoction of spices on the stove that night in an attempt to mask the must and mold....NICE! Needless to say, I have had my head down cleaning for four days….everything is moldy, we’ve had to throw out puzzles, shoes, books due to the rains and mold. I actually broke down and splurged for a bottle of Lysol as well. We are slowly making headway and had a rain-free/sun filled day yesterday which we took full advantage. A couple of days ago we stole away to one of our favorite hiking spots, the Waterfall off the main road and could not reach it due to trail damage complements of the rain. Mudslides and bridges out on the trail left us with having to improvise and that we did. The boys had great fun mucking around in the river bed and making channels/tributaries with sticks and oh how Mike was back in his element. We had so much rain two days ago that the water started to rush in the kitchen and back bedroom doors. We quickly grabbed brooms and started to sweep like crazy. We propped up a board against the roof to deflect the rain in hopes of helping our 'rescue effort'. All is well with this crew!

The ant hills in the pasture seem to have doubled in size and have encroached onto the yard. We are delighting in the new fence gate which will corral the horses in the pasture but are not so elated with the tiny ants we have all over the kitchen and the main bathroom sink. I think there is a colony in the ceiling (at least that is what Mike thinks as he was perched upon the counter top with flashlight held high this morning). The big black spiders are showing themselves in the house and Mike had to tell me to put the flashlight up as I stood on the bed about 10 PM last night shining the light into the high corner ceiling egging him onto climb up on the dresser with the critter cup in hand, 'you really can reach it' Okay already!

We were welcomed back by a call from our friend, Sue Trossle and have seen plenty of familiar faces already. Not much has changed here on the Green Mountain, perhaps that is its draw. The pulperia at the bottom of the hill is still in business so I’m happy that I can still pick up my box wine and bananas (and more) easily. The vacant space adjacent has been rented by a Gringo couple who has opened up a school for toddlers through Prepa (before 1st grade) - Bellbird School. I hear some other teachers from La Creativa School in Cerro Plano have migrated over so I will check it out as they might offer afternoon activities for the boys. I think it is Montessori based and will offer another educational option to families who are on the MFS /La Creativa waiting list. Both Mike and I are interested to follow their journey.

Now that I am here and have a few nights of sleep under me, it does feel like home – the kids are happy and outdoors, pooped and in bed no later than 8 p.m. (a far cry from the almost midnight bedtime hours they kept in Chicago).

There is so much to be thankful for and we are blessed to have spent 5 weeks visiting with you all. Thanks to Beth and Josh for hosting us as well as Aunt Julie and Uncle Craig, thanks to sister in laws who travelled far to visit and for those just around the corner for sharing their pool for a quick dip. We especially enjoyed the time at the farm in NY state and are happy that the boys have gotten a taste of the farm.

We miss everyone and hope that you will stay with us this year through our writings so we can stay connected. And please come to visit!

School starts in three weeks, I'll be ramping up the new building project and life will once again become routine...really?

Pics to follow

Peace
Signed: S

We Have Arrived

We arrived here in Monteverde yesterday afternoon. I will avoid the details of the last several days except to say that it has been a whirlwind of transitions. The boys are settling into the 'little brown house' exploring its nooks and crannies and spending time swinging on the tree rope, helping the 15 month old neighbor girl, and discovering critters. We just visited the school, and I am hanging back typing this while Sally, Beth and the boys get a head start walking home. The hike will be a little soggy due to an afternoon downpour after a bright sunny day, temps are 70ish F day and 50's at night. 

There have been many adjustments and many more to come because this is not Clarendon Hills. 

Peace and pics to follow soon.

What draws me? Part II

From Sippy Cups to Petri Dishes....Another driving factor for me in making this move is the desire to live beyond my cubicle and wireless headset.  Don't get me wrong, there is a part of me that thrives on the stress of a busy work day, but I look forward to spending more time with my boys.  When we brought the boys home from Guatemala, Mike took a one-year sabbatical from teaching to be a stay-at-home dad (and yes, he has set the bar high) which allowed me to continue growing in my career.  A year turned into two and now as we celebrate their third year home next month, it is time for Mike to flourish in rediscovering his connection to science in the classroom and with the students he so enjoys.  Another baton in our three-ring circus is the one that he is passing to me as I transition into the primary care giver...Now that I am off work, truly I feel as tho I should be following Mike around with a pad and paper in hand taking down notes and tips "summer camp lunch (do's and don't pack), snack time at 3:00, bath time at 7 p.m". - okay I do exaggerate but he has it all down and I feel a little pressure to not 'erase' all the goodness he has instilled in our boys -- it so works!  

Signed: S