Children's Wall Map

I'm an idiot... I tried to swap pics to show the whole wall map and it did but it changed the publish date. So if this entry is out of order it is actually from 9/16....

Last night I finally put up the Camino Wall Map for the children to visually see where our Peregrina has traveled.  She started from Saint Jean Pied de Port (on the far right in France).  So as we get more updates from her, the map will eventually be populated with more cities and scenery pics.

Today, she arrived in Ventosa (28 km from Viana).  She had walked further then the group she was with yesterday and had left them to reach Ventosa.  She seemed very exhausted when the kiddos had a brief conversation via FaceTime.

Mamá, descansar bien!

Buenas Noches, peregrina! 

One Week...

Today is 1 week since we left our Pilgrim (peregrina - in espanol) at RDU for her unknownst long-long trek to her even longer Trek.

I knew this morning was going to an early one for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to get a FaceTime call right after 6am from Neve.  She was in the midst of a Spanish festival in I think Lorca.   From what I saw, she appeared to be in the center of town and we could hear a band playing and people were wearing white outfits and red scarves. (Pretty much like those videos of "Running of the Bulls").   She was excited and called in hopes too see her 2 little girls for the first time in a week.   Fortunately, those little squirrels were getting dressed as I was preparing breakfast and packing their lunches.  They were so excited to actually see and speak to their Mama!  I'm sure the feeling was mutual from the excitement in Neve's voice and her smile.   Although the FaceTime call was short, it made the little girls' day brighter than the rising sun.

After the call, my kitchen resembles a small mess hall as I line up all the food, milk and prep everything for the day.   Then as the kids pile in, one by one, I encourage them to finish everything before packing the dishwasher.  Next was making sure everyone is dressed appropriately for the morning cool air that will burn off later in the afternoon.  Then we piled in the car and stroll to our neighbor's house a couple blocks over so we can all walk to school together.  This is another part of the day that the kids love.

Everything went smoothly and yet I knew in the back of my mind I also had a full plate at work to deal with.  

Work was, well... work...  The same grind different day with a different wrinkle, but somehow easily ironed out after some ingenuity and reasoning.  My work is like a puzzle I need to piece together and I am the cohesion that help keeps it sticking together.... Some days the glue is thick and some days it tethers...  Today was a thick glue day.  (well in my mind)   I feel all is working pretty smoothly and have 1 less task to deal with.   Hooray! 

SO I'm up alone again and about to retire to the East Wing (<-- this one's for you Neve).  I hear the crickets again, Boo (our white Anatalyan Shepard) breathing heavily as he sleeps behind my chair,  and can see some flickering stars in the dark sky.  It's been pleasantly quite and peaceful since tucking the kids in after 9:30-ish. 

I'm sure Neve is about to venture out for breakfast.  Maybe a baguette with some fresh cheese, OJ, and a fruit... that's what I envision based on our past Eurpean travels....  

So Neve: 

I hope your next trek brings you the more excitement and intertwine you with newfound endearing companions (peregrinos y peregrinas).  Just keep in mind that their stories, backgrounds and conversations are just as exciting to you as yours is to them.  Kind of like that Julia Roberts movie we watched prior to you leavig (Eat Pray Love) .....yea yea - it's a chick flick but it does relate how differnt people are interesting yet have common things/interests/etc.. that may bond them closer.

*** And make sure you add their info into your Contacts in either your iPhone or iPad....
Live it up and have fun!
Its' only been 1 week... WOW!

Over the Hump

It's Wednesday night here in NC, and my little Village is working it's way to sleep.  I hear a cough in a room from my daughter as she tries to fall into a slumber.  The fall weather has started since the weekend and it is currently 61 degrees.  I've had the windows  open since the weekend and I think the shift of the much cooler air has made the little ones start to sniffle and cough a bit.  The house is almost all quiet with the exception of crickets chirping outside and the woooooshing sound of the dishwasher churning in the kitchen. 

I can finally collect a moment to myself... no more grocery shopping, no more separating the girls because one first wanted the owl lunchbox and the other didn't mind the little kitty one... and then a split second later it's vice versa..., no more reading through each book bag to see what homework is needed for tomorrow, no more checking homework,  no more dinner to make, no more food to be served, no more cleaning up, no more brushing little guy's teeth, no more reading books to anxious ears, no more taking the dogs out.....
..... no more nada....  .....just me, myself and I...  It's like a Calgon moment, but I know my fatherly duties and refereeing will just recycle again early tomorrow morning.   

But...... this is- getting over the hump Wednesday.

I just read Neve's first update to her blog today and her caption, "the Camino will provide", really has deeper meaning and promise.  It's a very optimistic vantage point that allows ones' soul to see more glimpses of hope.

I can truly relate......   It's been almost 1 week since Neve started her Pilgrimage, and I feel very comfortable with my early mornings and late nights tending to my little Village.  Amongst all the personalities and comotion that may resemble a bit of chaos, I reflect back to an innocent time called, childhood.  (I would try to remember how it was being a kid and then watch them act the same way.)

I truly enjoy hearing the excitement in my 2 daughters' voices as they go into great detail of their day at school.  Their brown eyes grow so wide like owls and after every sentence, their dimples get deep as craters as their smiles grow ear to ear.   As I listen intently, my mind reflects on how innocent childhood is with no worries but what is going on here and now.   As they finish up, next in line are my boys who are excited playing with a simple bucket of soapy water outside with string tied in a 12" or more circle.   They are playing a game of who can make the largest bubble and gently handle it on their hands or blow it up above their heads the longest.... Now these bubbles are really huge... about the size of a beach ball! 

Again, it's these times of innocence that smacks me in the face to realize there is nothing to stress over, get anxious of, or feel overwhelmed.  I'm learning to take a step back and breathe more...just breathe....  I'm referred to at work in geek laymen terms as being multi-threaded and multi-tasking to a point that it seems like I'm always in constant motion with this or that task.   I don't mind being busy.   As you can tell I am used to it :-)   But, I am really learning to just pause..... and once in while take nice easy deep breaths, which in turn allows my thoughts to clear and see more of my surroundings with wider eyes. 

When it comes to my Village, I need to take off my work hat and leave the worries of servers, programs, scripts, data, documentation, errors, & politics all outside.   And all I need to do is tend to my little Village...... just listen to their conversations amongst each other and their ideas or current thoughts of what's going on around them.  It is their innocence and peace I enjoy.....    These times are the glimpses of hope that makes me excited to start my mornings and see and hear my Village's hustle and bustle.....

I guess I am over the hump.....

Buenos Noches Peregrinos!