Resilience...

It's a little past 6:00 in the morning and I have been up for hours now. Sleep is hard to come by these days. I re-read my posts for strength and encouragement- seeing how fortunate I am does that for me! I also see that I usually post when I am much exhausted and giggle at my misspellings, grammar and punctuation flaws- I am no Editor in Chief. 

We are on day 6 of our gypsy lifestyle. We have been blessed to visit and stay with family and friends, including a mini-vacay in Glenwood and got to see Grandma and Grandpa in Delta. Laying here this morning, I am proud to say, I am in complete and total awe over my children's resilience. They have been such troopers! We have had minimal tantrums and breakdowns from them- in fact we adults have probably had more than the kiddos! I hope not to jinx anything as we still have 4 more days of gypsy living and then we have to board 4 planes and 1 helicopter to get to our new home. Either way, they have been so amazing, sweet and precious up this point. I see the effects of this journey already molding their little spirits to include patience, perseverance and a more go-with-the-flow attitude. I am so blessed to have such beautiful children and family and friends who have supported and helped us in this adventure! 

Superman's kryptonite...

In this journey of preparation for our amazing life adventure there is sure to be a time of true hurt and pain. I feel as a parent, as most do, to be my children's hero! This strong, impenetrable being that defeats and weathers all storms with grace and success! Today was a day that this self-proclaimed, rough, shabby, suburban-living-hero-wannabe met my kryptonite. We said our final goodbyes to our Honey Bunny Bear Goose Gines and as much as I wanted to be impenetrable and graceful, I failed! It was a moment that I felt was necessary for my children to see me feel and be human! I remind my Hannah all the time that it's ok to validate and go through her emotions! No  need to hold them in- that just leads to expensive therapy later! :) 

Honey rode away with her new, temporary, family and we all sobbed in our empty family room. It was at that moment that we all wanted to leave our home- it now was time to move on! We packed into our car and drove off to Grandma's house! 

As always to be continued!...

Freaky butterflies and vomit...

The large moving van pulled up this morning and instantly my belly was full of excited, freaked out butterflies that made me want to vomit all over the place! Reality, fear, anxiety, excitement, sadness, happiness and hope hit me all at once. It was an interesting moment to say the least and I didn't puke- thank goodness! My parents surprised us by swinging by and sooooo glad they took Mason with them! With the house now nicely organized with boxes everywhere leaving no place to sit, Hannah and Mason are both doing well considering! Hannah struggles at times but all I can do is be sympathetic, understanding and there for her! She does bounce back and forth but I keep telling her to try and enjoy it! We'll get there!! 

Cheers to great movers and amazing, precious children!! 

As always, to be continued! 

Update on collapse...

This is from the Freeport Indonesia Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freeport-Indonesia/572779142753263

Update May 21, 2013, 8:00 pm: As of this morning, the rescue team has evacuated four additional fatalities at the site of the ruins of tunnel incidents Big Gossan. Name of the deceased victim is Suleman, Amir Tika, Gil Sikku and Levi Mofu. Current status of the condition of the employee casualty incidents Big Gossan underground tunnels are 10 people survived, 21 fatalities, and 7 people is unknown. We are very sorry for this tragedy and pray for the deceased and their four families left behind.

During the period of evacuation and recovery of survivors, PTFI employees work together to provide all forms of assistance and support needed for each family, including the provision of food, accommodation, transportation and other daily needs. PTFI employees also held a joint prayer for the victims and their families, which was attended by hundreds of employees and ex-employees of a large family of PTFI. The prayer event is done in some places, namely in Tembagapura (May 19), Kuala Kencana (May 20) and Jakarta (May 20).

Update 21 Mei 2013, 08.00 WIB: Hingga pagi ini, tim penyelamat telah mengevakuasi empat tambahan korban jiwa dari reruntuhan terowongan di lokasi insiden Big Gossan. Nama korban yang meninggal tersebut adalah Suleman, Amir Tika, Gito Sikku dan Lewi Mofu. Status terkini kondisi para karyawan korban insiden terowongan bawah tanah Big Gossan adalah 10 orang selamat, 21 korban jiwa, dan 7 orang belum ...diketahui. Kami sangat berduka atas musibah ini dan mendoakan keempat almarhum beserta keluarga yang ditinggalkan.

Selama masa evakuasi dan pemulihan korban selamat, para karyawan PTFI telah bahu membahu memberikan segala bentuk bantuan dan dukungan yang diperlukan bagi setiap keluarga, termasuk penyediaan makanan, akomodasi, transportasi dan kebutuhan harian lainnya. Para karyawan PTFI juga menggelar acara doa bersama untuk para korban beserta keluarganya, yang dihadiri oleh ratusan karyawan dan keluarga besar eks-karyawan PTFI. Acara do'a tersebut dilakukan di beberapa tempat, yaitu di Tembagapura (19 Mei), Kuala Kencana (20 Mei) dan Jakarta (20 Mei).

Please continue to pray for all involved!

Emptiness...

My house is in such disarray! Boxes, piles, clothes, toys, new paint, new dishwasher, new hot water heater- I could go on and on. It's been a slow, lonely process but only one day left and it  is what it is! All of our things will go somewhere- storage, air or sea and either way we will be just fine! The emptiness of my home doesn't compare to the emptiness I sense from our dog Honey. She has been downstairs a lot lately with sad, dopey eyes and I am sure she's freaked out and scared. You can tell a child or an adult that it's going to be ok but dogs just don't understand!?

We have a friend who will dog sit while we are gone and so thankful but sad as I know she has come such a long way since we adopted her! I know that this is temporary but sad to think that she might feel we are leaving her! 

The movers come in two more days and I  am relieved! It's been a long process to get to this point and I am so very grateful! Things happen in weird, meant-to-be ways and this one is a crazy journey of happen stance! 

In three more days we will live like gypsies out of our suitcases seeing family and friends before we leave! Life is now our journey, we will grasp it with it's pain and pleasure and see it through to the end, where ever it takes us! 

As always, to be continued!...

Tragedy, broken hearted...

Tuesday, which was yesterday in Indonesia tragedy has struck the mine where Mike will be working when we move. There was a collapse in one of the tunnels that has trapped 30 or so miners. I have little detailed fact at this time but my heart aches and is broken. So many questions- what happened? How did it happen? There is one thing I am pretty sure of, the mine there (and all of their mines) follow and comply with all regulations and safety measures.
I called Mike to see how he was doing and he was upset. I asked if he has changed his mind about going and he quickly, calmly and dryly responded "no, this is what I do. Whether it's here or there.". His response contented me. This is part of our world and the part we play in the world. There is so much good that comes from mining- cars, plumbing, buildings etc. There are so many things in our daily lives that are a result of mining. I wont go into a political tangent as today I will focus my prayers, thoughts and energy on the lives, families, friends and co-workers involved in this tragedy. I hope those that read this will also take a moment.    

Vegas, a last hoorah....

In celebration of our anniversary and leaving the States for a while Mike and I hit up Las Vegas! It was a wonderful trip with lots of interesting moments. While we played the kids got to spend time camping with their Grandma, Papa, cousins, aunts and uncle- so important to have that time before we go! And they had a blast!

Now back to reality of packing and facing the mess that has engulfed my home!! Our final flight itinerary has been received and approved with a short stay in Bali at a place with a kickin' kiddo pool area (one that I will hope aid in easing the kids' fears and anxiety from a 20 hour combined flight times). 

Off to packing/organizing! To be continued... 

 

Gulp!...

Our flight itinerary for the family has been sent to us and it sent a shock of true reality through my veins! Gulp!!! Double gulp! We are really doing this :) I am so excited I can't stand it! It's going to be so crazy!!!!
Speaking of crazy, I have been going whacky on what I can do before the movers come as we have to have it all organized by what's going by air, sea and storage! I have started placing things in boxes with the acknowledgment that they will have to repack it but it's helping me feel like I am getting something done!
Here's to reality and here's to sanity!

To be continued!...

Anniversary...

Today is our 9th Wedding Anniversary! I am so very blessed to have such true and unconditional love from Mike and so very blessed to have the family and life I have always dreamed of. We have gone through so much and learned so much- we are truly stronger and closer than ever before! I am sooooo excited to spend the rest of my life with him and join him on the adventure of a lifetime.
In preparation for our adventure we have given away and sold many of our things, it has made us somewhat melancholy. We know the things we have given away or sold served us and it was time to move on. Those "things" can be easily acquired once we get back but it's the adventure itself that cannot. So we wipe our tears, smile at the memories and embrace what is to come.... including more beautiful Anniversaries!! 

"Love is the beginning of the journey, its end, and the journey itself." Deepak Chopra

To be continued! I love you Michael Gines!