Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,

~Walt Whitman, Miracles

We made it through a couple weeks of Michael being in France. These longer absences are never easy, but the kids are getting better about it. Unfortunately, we were housebound for some of it because of a couple snowstorms and temperatures that didn’t allow for outdoor play.

I am so grateful for all of the miracles and blessings around us during this time, but most importantly for the gracious acts of friends and family: coffee on a brutal day, a couple nights of overnight childcare, a little care package in the mail. It was absolutely lovely to have little tangible reminders that I’m not alone.

We’re in the last stretches of life in America for the foreseeable future. So we’re “ridding ourselves of all but love,” as the old school Jars of Clay song says. Of course, we’re keeping some things that will help the kids transition more smoothly, but a lot of things are leaving our hands right now.

We’ll likely be staying in another temporary housing situation (an answer to prayer), unless our visas are processed in unlikely quick timing. We’ve told our kids it will be kind of like camping for a very long time, because we’ll really only have what we intend to bring on the plane with us and food to use, with a few mattresses to sleep on the floor.

Because of the upcoming transition, I’m pushing school hard right now with the kids, to keep their minds occupied.

I’m also keeping my mind and hands occupied with crocheting a few afghans to finish up my yarn stash before we leave. I don’t know that I’ll get three afghans done in the next month. It’d be lovely if I could. Jubilee knows that she’ll likely have to wait awhile on her afghan.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the
        same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.

~Walt Whitman, Miracle

I’m beginning to be pretty excited about setting up our home in France. Initially, we were unaware of what is basically a French Craigslist, so I had been looking at everything I could find furniture-wise from IKEA. It’s functional, but not always homey. We managed to find this used sale site, however, and it appears we’ll be able to furnish our home more affordably (and beautifully, with a little love and DIY.) So I’m looking forward to what setting a home up overseas will entail. Again, I’m taking inspiration from The Hobbit and J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision for the last homely house, and I’m confident that God will provide just the right place for us to use as a ministry tool and a home for our brood.