Our days on the prairie have acquired a gentle ebb and flow.
We rise early and get ready for the day, making the rounds from preschool to the library to the mall playground, and back again.
The Poo grows every day, it seems, the curves of her face becoming ever more angular. The music is quiet now, but she is not; her chatter is the background noise of my every moment, our conversations leaping from one subject to another with increasing sophistication.
Each night I watch the sun set against the stark line of the corn field that lays just beyond my kitchen window, as I prepare our dinner.
Together we sit and talk about our days, the crafts we did together, daddy’s classes, my writing or news of the family that lives far beyond the boarders of our temporary home here in Urbana.
Bathtime, bedtime, quiet time with my husband. The night wears on until it is time to close my eyes and dream of the future, whatever and wherever that may be.
Our first 12 months in Chambana were so hard, so shocking to our systems. To cope with my homesickness I boarded a plane almost every month, just to soothe my soul with the sight of the familiar.
Now we stay home, and live our days out in this Urbanan life.
I am strangely grateful.
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Happy Thanksgiving to all those who come here to share my days and nights. May your holiday be gentle and full of blessings.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
There is something good about routine, and comfort in our surroundings.
Of course, if you are anything like me you will have the occasional attack of “wanting to make change happen” too…
THis strikes such a chord. The first year in London was so filled with homesickness, but now — while we dislike London — we are happy to have a life here together.
Happy Thanksgiving. It’s nice to be able to realize you can have multiple homes for different parts of your life, and that you can visit them as all you are so moved.
Happy Holidays Friend.
What a blessing of a revelation.
happy thanksgiving!
(you can think of me, over here in canada, wishing i wasn’t AT WORK today!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
you sound content and happy. it warms my heart, sister. have a fantastic day.
Contentment flows in this post – hope you have a happy thanksgiving, Mrs. C and co.
My oh my – haven’t we all grown up now
Thank you for sharing them with us and letting your warmth, your humor, your light shine right through.
Hiya! Long time no talk- hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. Your little one has the most beautiful face, you must be so proud of the little lady she’s growing into. Speak soon..:-)
Yes. At least the lovely Poo has been there to keep you company during your adjustment to Chambana. I hope it only continues to get better and better.
What a beautiful sentiment. I hope your family had a lovely holiday.
It’s so odd how this little town grows on you–I’m not from an overly big city, but the flatness of this place was alarming at first. Strange how it’s now almost normal.
Lovely — landscape shapes us, I know. I live in Minnesota and find something foundational about the cold (the real deep cold) that makes me strong, centered. I also spent my honeymoon in New Mexico which I found very melancholy — not the best honeymooning mood, I’m afraid!
Looking forward to seeing you back on the prairie soon. Enjoy your family and all your blessings.