The Night Visitor

Last night something happened that I pray will never happen again...

Let me preface this story with information about myself. Ever since I was a little girl I would randomly jump out of my bed, after being dead asleep, and run to the other side of the room. I was always convinced that a bug or rodent of some sort was in my bed. With racing heart I would turn the lights on, creep back to my bed (now fully awake) do a quick search and realize it was just a dream or a freak out or whatever you want to call it. Marrying Dhrumil hasn't stopped this and he has had to get used to my random running out of bed and turning on the light.

Well last night, my dear friends, the almost 30 years of running has not been in vain!

It was about 2:30am and I had just gotten up to use the restroom. After coming back to the room I decided to adjust the window fan to a lower speed and I then jumped back in bed ready to fall asleep. After falling asleep for a moment I found myself sitting straight up because because of a soft banging sound I heard... like the blinds hitting the window. I thought that it might have been how I adjusted the fan and I stared at the window. It was dark and my glasses were off, but I was able to distinguish a shadow crawling up the blinds, back down and back up. 

Mind you, this was no ordinary shadow of a moth or a spider... no this was MUCH larger!!

Feeling slightly ill I shook Dhrumil awake and told him something huge was crawling up our window. Of course he didn't believe me at first, because as I said above, I tend to wake up and say things like this. I told him that it was huge and he needed to get it and at this point I was shaking like a leaf and I felt like I was going to puke. I jumped out of bed, put the light on and shut the door. 

All of the sudden I hear something of a battle going on inside of our bedroom. It sounded like a pillow fight, but on a massive scale. Then it sounded like Dhrumil was wrestling with a killer and his breathing got very loud. I looked down to see the roll of paper towel I was clutching to help Dhrumil squash whatever type of bug was in there would not do the trick. While I listed to the battle within, I prayed Mikayla wouldn't wake up and then I started to giggle... because, why not? 

Dhrumil ran out of the room, shutting the door behind him and told me it was a bat. At the point I started to shake again and feel like I was going to puke. He said he needed to figure out something he could put it in because he had knocked it down and it was now laying on our bed.

I then started to cry for the bat, the poor innocent creature... in my tears I said "how could you kill it!?" Dhrumil looked at my with eyes filled with the terrors of battle and said "you are worried about the BAT?!"

He then proceeded to run back into the room, wrap it up in our duvet ,and as I cowered in the other room, he it ran outside. I then heard a shake of the blanket and a bang of the door and all was silent.

Dhrumil told me it flew away. He also told me that he had been hitting it with our pillows and anything else he could find while in the bedroom. Willoughby... our brave hunting dog... watching on seated in his cozy bed while Dhrumil tried to tame the wild beast all on his own.

My brave husband... triumphant from what had just happened admitted that he had been freaked out by the whole thing. I replied that he was just that much closer to being Bat Man!

It was hard to fall asleep after that... thinking things were crawling on us. My duvet cover and pillow cases are in the wash as we speak. I guess the bat had crawled through our window somehow.

One thing is for sure... Dhrumil will now take all of my jumping out of bed serious for now on!

All By Myself

Let me begin by setting the scene:

I am sitting in my hotel in Stavanger, Norway. My room overlooks the harbour and I am watching the occasional boat pass by. I am sipping tea, nibbling on some amazing dark chocolate I found at a local shop and listening to classical music. This scene does NOT sum up how my whole trip has been thus far, BUT it does show where I am at right now... enjoying every moment!!



The view from my window

When I began traveling at age 9, my parents had me keep a diary or "travel journal" of everything I experienced. Every night my dad would make sure I wrote a few sentences down and he would fill in the blanks by keeping his own journal. My first journal was on my trip to England and went something like this"I went to Harrods... dad didn't buy me anything. I went to Windsor Castle... it was neat." I am so happy my parents had me keep these journals... I can go back and read what the different countries were like through my eyes at that time in my life.

And so... I start my travel journal of my experiences in Norway thus far. I will warn you that this may end up being a book.

I have been waiting almost five years to be sent to Norway by my company and was extremely excited when I was finally told to book a trip! Norway has been on my wish list since I was a little girl... mainly because my grandmother was Norwegian. As I don't remember her, I guess I always felt going to this country would help me somewhat connect with this woman who was my family.

And so we begin my trip:
Monday early evening - I board my flight to Amsterdam and was excited by being in business class for the first time! The flight was ok... but the service was wonderful! I had a hard time sleeping because of all of the turbulence and also... is it just me... or is it extremely strange to have a whole cabin full of strangers all on sleeping chairs laying right next to each other? I just felt the whole thing bizarre. What happened next should have warned me of what was to come... in the last 20 minutes of our flight the woman next to me started talking. Long story short... her husband had kidnapped her 15 month old daughter and she was going to fight to get her back. I felt really bad for this woman, but I don't feel this is something that one normally brings up in shallow conversation... so yeah, hmmm.

Tuesday morning (Amsterdam time) - Fighting the exhaustion I wait for my two hour layover to pass. To pass the time I watch the planes taxi... notice some lightning, but nothing crazy. Then... flight is cancelled and I was told to go find a certain counter. I was so exhausted at this point I was unable to jog with all of the other people.

What awaited me... MASS CHAOS! A line that was hours long, people yelling at each other... I have never seen anything like it. I happened to overhear a few people talking about Stavanger and I asked if they were going there and if they could help me. A lovely woman by the name of Hilde told me to stick with them and they proceeded to guard me the rest of the day. Hilde had a precious number that secured us a spot in the line to be called to find out what flight we could get on... all the others who didn't have a number had to wait 4 hours. So I sat with Hilde, her mother and a nice older couple and waited for our number to be called (about two hours). We finally got called and Hilde made sure we all had tickets... it was a miracle we got on a flight at all. Basically the airport had been closed that morning and all flights had to be rebooked. So the rest of the day was spent with these lovely Norwegians... we ate lunch together, spoke of many things, and all looked out for each other. We had many things in common... Hilde had two year old twins, the older man's father used to build organs, and the older woman who didn't really speak English was also named Elisabeth!

Tuesday afternoon - 8 hours later I get on the plane...9 hours later I get off the plane and noticed my luggage has not come out. Hilde's mom was missing a piece of luggage as well and so we stood in line together. They had no clue where my luggage was, I was handed a "care" package and was told that I would hopefully get it in the next five days! I turned around to find Hilde and her mom waiting for me and I burst into tears. I was at the end... they hugged me and gave me sympathetic looks. I said goodbye to them and headed to my hotel.


The "care" collection

I tried to take in the scenery as we drove to the hotel, but it was hard since I was trying to hold in my sobs. When I reached the hotel I was told that as it was a holiday and all stores were closed... which meant I would be going to my two day seminar in the clothes I had been wearing since Monday. I would also meet all of the people in my new department with no makeup, smelly clothes and crazy hair.
After sobbing to Dhrumil on the phone, I got a pizza, opened up my care package to see a white tshirt and toothbrush, took a shower and went to bed.

I couldn't resist...



Wednesday morning - I put my smelly clothes back on, looked at myself for a brief second in the mirror and went downstairs to breakfast and to wait for my ride. I should add that all the while Dhrumil had been calling the airline trying to track down my luggage. I met many of my colleagues and got on a bus for a hour trip to our off site meeting. Somehow over the course of the bus ride all, including the head honcho, found out about all I had been through and were very nice about the whole thing. Long story short... again... I got my suitcase late that afternoon (thanks to my wonderful husband!!) and was able to change before our nice dinner in the monastery!!!

Wednesday evening -  Fresh smelling and feeling WONDERFUL I got back on the bus to head to the monastery where we were going to have a tour and also eat dinner. This whole day the main event was to "mingle." As I was only one of two English speakers mingling sometimes posed a challenge as those I would come upon would have to change their language when they remembered. Good thing I am used to being with Dhrumil's family who tend to not talk in English! On our way to the monastery I remarked to an older gentleman (who reminded me of a distinguished sea captain) that they sure have a lot of lakes. To which he replied... "but it is the SEA!" Yup... felt a bit silly. :) Amazing the fjords everywhere...

One view from hotel... hotel was surrounded by water

The monastery was beautiful, outside it was surrounded by gorgeous fields and water. Also sheep... so many lambs right now! I was sad to hear they raise them for eating and not for their wool... poor lambys. Anyways I ended up leaving a bit early in someone's car (10:30pm ad it was still light out) and we got lost on the skinny roads! For a moment I felt as if I were lost in Indiana... though the area was much prettier. We finally made it back to the hotel and I fell into a deep sleep.

Thursday - The rest of the seminar went well. I had many conversations with many interesting people. I learned many things. I then got bus sick on the way back and almost threw up in front of all of my colleagues. The head hancho told me to get some air and take a taxi. Yes... what a joy. Thank God I didn't end up losing my cookies!!!!

Finally made it back to my first hotel, had a rest and then decided to make the most of the afternoon and go sightseeing. Though I was told it was not possible to get lost in Stavanger... I did. But I did see SO much and so it was worth it. I also wanted to buy everything is every store... I didn't, but the things I did buy I had no clue how much I spent. It is so much fun without knowing how expensive things are! :) Here are just a few highlights from my afternoon stroll...

A house in the "old town" I took of the cat for Mikayla :)



More of old town...  

The Cathedral... I hope it is open tomorrow!

The Harbour

I forget what this is called but the whole street had very colorful buildings... and an amazing chocolate shop!

View of the back of my hotel from a high point... and home to a cafe with a very good chicken salad!

While waiting for the pictures to upload I was staring out my window and noticed beautiful swans floating by... so peaceful! I recommend everyone to travel alone at some point in their life. It really does the body good. And as a mommy... this me time has helped me grow into a better person!!!

Tomorrow... the office and Saturday... Amsterdam! I am sure I will have many more stories to record after the next two days.

A few things I have noticed:

- To leave through a door you have to pull and not push... SUCH a hard concept for me. :)

- If the sun in shinning the Norwegians think it is warm

-The Norwegians eat outside even if it is cold... because it is sunny!

- The Norwegian women are very strong and independent!

Now time for bed... even if it is still light out.

Ready to be Steady

A few months ago I went to the eye Dr. and after examining my eyes he told me I was now reaching the "steady" time in life. For a moment I felt a bit dowdy... steady? How boring. But then I breathed a sigh of relief... it felt as though the eye Dr. had just handed me a ticket for smooth sailing for the next 10 years, even if just for my eyes, and I was excited that something would finally become steady!

With my birthday tomorrow I have found myself overrun with thoughts on what the past 10 years have meant to me. Crowded with memories... beloved, despised, painful, joyful... they have made me who I am today.

When I was 22 and struggling with finding my place in the world I was told by a very wise person that the twenties are like a time on a trapeze... instead of knowing and seeing what trapeze you are going to jump to next... you are just left there, hanging hundreds of feet in the air, swinging back and forth, waiting to learn how to find the courage to let go and know that the next thing you feel will be the security of another bar. And then doing the same thing over and over until you reach the other side.

From college, to moving back home, to the career world, to navigating friendships as an "adult", to engagement, to marriage, to learning to become one with another person, to having a baby, to learning to balance this thing called life. I have navigated through choppy waters and many times felt as though I was off course and that the change would never end... as though the learning would never end. But through this learning I have come through to the other side unscathed and stronger for it.

I know one thing is for sure... I am entering my thirties at a very good place in my life.
For the first time I can truly say I know myself... I have discovered confidence and strength that I never knew I possessed and I have seen what God sees... a beautiful creation in myself! I am more in love with my husband then I was when first married and have witnessed what it means to truly love deeply and love unselfishly. I am blessed beyond belief with the precious life God has given me to take care of... Mikayla is my joy, my love, my heart.

Though leaving my twenties is somewhat bittersweet... I am ready! I am ready to take the next step in life. Though it may not exactly be as "steady" as the eye Dr. promised I know that navigating through will be easier because of the confidence I have in myself, in my marriage, in my family and in God.

Bring it On 30!!

Mimi Meow

For the past few months I have being telling Mikayla a bedtime story about the meow family. This particular story stemmed from Mikayla’s love of all things cat - side note: I can’t believe I gave birth to such a cat lover! These stories are about our everyday activities, but instead of using our names I use Daddy Meow, Mommy Meow and Mimi Meow – another side note: Mikayla calls herself Mimi. The past month I started telling the Mimi Meow birthday story and would go through each of the activities the meow family would do to celebrate Mimi Meow’s birthday. Mikayla LOVED this story and memorized it. Along wanting to hear the story constantly, Mikayla would run around saying “Mimi birthday coming” “Mimi birthday March 5^th” and she also told me she wanted an “ishe creawm cake” with “duckies” swimming on it.

So here is the story of Mimi Meow’s birthday. 

Mimi meow’s birthday weekend was here and so the Meow family hopped in the car and drove to the mall to begin the celebrations! Why the mall you ask? Well Mimi Meow’s favorite place of all is the mall that has the “horseys” (carousel) “mountain” (fountain) and the “horsey apple” (applesauce she gets to eat with her lunch). 

Having arrived at the mall with a big “HORRAY” from Mimi meow… the meow family headed inside and Mimi meow and Daddy meow took their first ride on the carousel. 

After that ride the meow family grabbed a munchkin doughnut for Mimi meow and then headed down to the fountain. There Daddy meow and Mommy meow enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and Mimi meow ran back and forth throwing coins in the fountain. This lasted twenty minutes since mommy meow brought many pennies. 

Then it was time to play in the kids area and Mimi meow learned to jump into Daddy meow’s arms… something that made mommy meow a little nervous.

Next it was time for the second carousel ride to which Mimi meow replied “HORRAY” and mommy meow got slightly ill. 

By this time in our story the mall was filled by the yelps and screams of little children eating McDonalds for lunch… Mimi meow’s lunch? Rice, beans and avocado (her favorite!) and horsey apple!

Next up? A trip to Build a Bear where Mimi Meow picked out a Cat she named “meow” and an outfit. 

Finally it was time to go on one more carousel ride to which Mikayla replied “all done, home” and the meow family left to go home.

Mikayla loved her day and we were so happy to experience it with her! 

Carrying Meow into the house

Showing Meow her new room

The next day we had a family party and Mikayla’s favorite gift was her card that saying Happy Birthday in meow.

A Blink

I now understand why the greatest gift on this earth is time. Time flies at an astronomical pace and no matter how hard I may try at times… I cannot stop it. That is why the age old wisdom of “enjoy each moment” continues to ring true and has to be learnt over and over again. You can’t stop time… you can only stop in the moments to enjoy where you are RIGHT now because in a blink it will all be over.  

My baby girl is two today and it feels like only yesterday that I had the amazing experience of bringing her into this world. It was an honor to go through God’s miracle of birth and to witness His glory in such a way.These past two years have been challenging and stretching, but also incredibly rewarding. I am filled with joy each day and awe that I was given such a gift! 

The past year has been especially fun… watching Mikayla turn into a little person right before our eyes. Dhrumil and I are now fluent in “spell-ease” and often find ourselves talking “Mikayla-ease” after she goes to sleep. We are having a blast reliving our childhood through each new experience that Mikayla has. 

I am so blessed to be Mikayla's mom and can't wait to see what this year will bring! :)

A Piece of Cake

The day started at 6am and it was cold and wet outside. I drove to work in the dark, with the snow and the light of the moon reflecting off of my windshield.

 

The baby hadn’t been awake and so no butterfly kisses were passed between us. Sometimes it’s easier that way, sometimes it’s harder.

 

Walking into the office I remembered the reminder note I was supposed to leave for Dhrumil… to remember his computer. The very thought was just escaping my mind when I stopped dead in my tracks. I had forgotten my own.

 

Now that was a first. I’m the one who doesn’t forget things…

 

No matter, I stepped into one of my company’s glass boxes… a sound proofed room that holds those who need focus. A dry erase board and computer were my only companions. I felt like a fish in a tank. A corporate tank.

 

Sifting through my emails my eyes kept darting to the clock, imagining what was going on at home. Mikayla was now eating an egg, she was now getting dressed, my mom just came and Dhrumil was leaving for work.

 

The workday passed with ease and I was back in my car, though light now the gray of the day was dulling to the senses.

 

Walking into a home where a toddler has been let loose for half a day is still a bit of a shock to me. Taking a deep breath as I surveyed the array of toys that were taking over our small dwelling, the dishes drying on the counter and the books pilled in the corner I made my way into the house.

 

Mikayla was ready for her nap and attached to grandma. Who could blame her? She isn’t even two yet… it’s ok if she wants me to go back to work so she can continue to play. Mommy coming home meant it was time to go to sleep. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t say I was a little sad not to have her run to me… but how much can one really ask from a toddler?

 

Mikayla asleep, my mom in need of a train to catch. I walked the dog, waiting patiently in the rain while he did his “recreation” as my mom calls it. I call it sniffing every inch of the ground to find a spot unmarked by animal which will then be given the mark of the beast. The rain fell softly on my coat almost as if a mist were enveloping me. I took a moment to clear my head.

 

My thoughts caught me… again… there was a house to straighten, dinner to cook, muffins to bake for work, a daughter to play with and give my undivided attention to, a shower to take. The list was endless. It started to overtake me. Then I saw it… a small piece of cheesecake leftover from the indulgence of the weekend. My mind became silent. Pure joy took over my senses and the want of the day dissolved into the pure decadence only the Cheesecake factory could deliver.  And then the moment was gone.

Sprouting Wings

Is my baby girl really 2 months away from being 2 years old!? I now understand how hard it will be to let your child go… with each day I feel I am already having to let go, if only a little. Every time Mikayla says “Mimi do it” a bit of independence shines its way through the baby and brings her that much closer to leaving the nest.

Ok I am sounding a bit melodramatic… it’s not like she will be going to College tomorrow… so I am going to remain in the NOW!

Mikayla’s language skills have been exploding. About a month ago she said her first sentence “Dada do it”  which I missed since I was at work, but oh well. It was cute hearing the story from Dhrumil who was an extremely proud papa.

At the present, though still sounding a bit like Yoda, she has started to say other short sentences. She is also becoming a pro at mimicking words we say (making me double think words such as “crap”) and pointing at an item, proudly saying its name, then looking at us with a huge smile knowing how intelligent she is, but waiting for us to confirm this fact.

Her "CHEESE" face

The one word which Mikayla is having trouble with, or should I say has chosen not to say, is her name. I can’t even remember when, but a while ago she started calling herself Mimi. We are not sure where this came from except when listening to Veggies Tales one day she started saying “ME” and I guess it just turned into Mimi. Anyways this is how our conversation goes…

EB – Point to myself “mommy”

M – “Mommy”

EB – Pointing to Mikayla “Mi”

M – “Mi”

EB - “Kay”

M – “Kay”

EB – “La”

M – “Mimi!!!”

 

I wonder how long that will last? Well we now refer to her as Mimi. Oh one thing… is it just Mikayla or do all toddlers refer to themselves in the 3^rd person? In our house this snowballs into Dhrumil and I referring to ourselves, each other and Mikayla in the third person. I have been trying to catch myself lately, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the play of “Mommy is going to make Mimi food and then Mimi is going to eat the food” which Mikayla would then reply “Mimi food eat!”

Mikayla’s loves at the moment:

-          Butterfly kisses given by mommy, and      giving them in return

-          Reading! Still!! 

-          Playing with her kitchen

-          Yogurt! Still!! 

-          Swinging  and sliding at the park (last weekend we spent 20 minutes at the swing!)

-          Trains

-          Christmas lights

-          Her Pop Pop and Gee Gee

-          Running and tumbling with Daddy

-          Stickers

-          Blocks

-          Her stuffed animals (they rotate favor with her)

-          Playing QUEEN, we drape a blanket on her shoulders and she walks around 

           triumphantly while we bow and make trumpet noises to announce her

-          Dancing! Still!!

-          Saying her numbers (usually only in order up to 5 :), letters and colors

The life of a mother of an almost 2 year old? Challenging yet rewarding, exhausting yet rejuvenating, filled with love!

 

Every time I see Mikaya’s precious face, I cannot but marvel at the beautiful little person I helped create. Mikayla is sprouting wings and as tough as it may be for me to let go, I pray I can fully equip her to be ready to fly one day!

Playing Horsey