14 – House Sitting Like a Boss

It came to the end of the Summer.

I was fed up with waiting… When was my Green Card going to come?

I received my Visa in my passport in June and I was aware that it could take up to 3-6 months.

I was praying everyday for the chance that it could be the day that it would come and our life here could start.

So we made a decision as a family to go and house/dog sit at my father in laws home whilst he was away for the majority of August Elk hunting.

We were aware that it would be taking us away from the community that we were starting to form and putting us in a place where we would have to entertain ourselves…

Key factor in this decision…

Bleed out our savings whilst staying with the community we were with… or save what we have and enjoy August next to the Columbia River…

We chose to Dog sit.

It was a good month.

It was tiring. But good.

It taught us a lot about what we can do for each other and our patience levels.

Each evening we would take a walk along the rivers edge, we would go “treasure hunting” finding washed up fishing gear, collecting it and cleaning it.

We found a lot.

I took time to explore my ambitions with wood working, using driftwood and experimenting with the skills (I think) I have.

Truth is… that month it brought us closer. We laughed together, cried together, relaxed together.

It was a month that has been pretty significant in our journey in the States.

6 – Time to Re-engage

So one thing that happens when you spend significant time apart from children… particularly in this situation – two young boys. Consistency out the window.

The next couple of weeks of life is all about adjusting back to family life.

Being dad. Being husband.

Spokane is nice.

Playing with the boys all day, being with my wife as a team. It is a breath of fresh air. It is so welcomed but man it is a shock to the system.

I am slowly finding that it takes two or three times for the boys to listen to me instead of the one it took before.

But what am I to expect the boys are use to just having mum, Gramma and G-pa. I have been skype dad. Text dad. Dad whose discipline doesn’t hold weight, or comforting words have no real meaning. Talking over the phone didn’t hold my kids whilst they cried at night. Talking over the phone didn’t immediately add me to any family days out.

I was not in the family selfies. I wasn’t in the picture.

Nothing hurt more than the first time I realized that my voice didn’t hold as much weight as before… that I would have to reconstruct my position in my family again.

Joy.

Joy is when your sons run into your room in the morning and wake you up by jumping on the bed.

Joy.

Joy is when your sons give you hugs and don’t pull away even when the hugs are getting to long.

Joy.

Joy is being in the selfie with your sons. Being part of the memories. Being with my family.