Josiah Simon Budala

June 10, 2010

Our big news that day was supposed to be the possession of our house in Manitoba.

Josiah trumped.

It is an odd feeling to have your daughter in labor and to wish that the pains would increase. That's really not what I wished for, except that I know that it is necessary for the completion of the task ahead.

We spent the 8th together - going for coffee at the Back Porch near Landmark (once my Grandma's house) while she counted the time between contractions. Stopping at our lawyer to sign one more paper for our house. Running errands. Then, checking in at the hospital to see if we should be concerned about the closeness of the contractions. And back home to wait it out.

Late in the evening Rachel and Paul headed back to the hospital and she was admitted around midnight. All the next day we waited... sometimes at the hospital with Rachel, and sometimes with Kirsten & Matthew & Haley.

Our kids all opted to be surprised at the birth with the sex of their babies. That makes the wait both harder and more exciting, I think. Would Haley end up with a girl cousin? Or would we have one of each? I changed my mind frequently as to what I thought she'd have. But I think I really expected a girl.

Josiah Simon was born at 2:33 in the morning of the 10th. He was about 2 weeks early, and was tiny - 5lb 2oz - and very very cute.

Today we pulled out Rachel's old photo album and discovered that he does indeed resemble his mother as a baby. He does have black hair, though not a lot of it.

So now we have a granddaughter and a grandson. 2010 will be a memorable year for having gained 2 grandchildren, and 2 new homes. I'm hoping for many more grandchildren... but, no more moving...

Packing Day

Wow! It's here. Packing day, that is. So why am I taking the time to write in my blog, you ask. Well, one of my criteria for this move was that Interstate provide movers, and they complied. So now my house is being packed while I sit on the couch with my laptop. It is really a very odd feeling.

We have enjoyed our home in Airdrie, though not as fully as we expected to when we bought it. Now we are hoping for many, many years in our new place in Ile des Chenes, Manitoba.

With this move there is such a load of mixed feelings. Our church, Abbeydale Christian Fellowship, has been a haven for us for 19 years. We have many dear friends to whom we will be saying goodbye tomorrow. Hopefully we will see many of them in Manitoba in the years to come, and in our visits back here. Keeping up with friends is so much easier these days with the Internet as well.

My job at Mennonite Central Committee was a dream come true in many ways. I was able to be a 'missionary' of sorts in my work in Material Resources, and through both that position and the Thrift Shop Coordinator, I learned to love so many generous folks who volunteer time and money to help those in need all over our world. To top that off, the office atmosphere was one that many people only dream about. I had to say goodbye to all of that.

The bonus in all of this... being close to our kids and grandkids. I use the plural even though there is only 1 grandchild yet. Rachel & Paul's baby is due in a few weeks. We are so thrilled that we will be able to be close enough to watch the babies grow up. At least until one of them gets transferred... We'll deal with that when it happens.

I leave behind a sister and brother-in-law and their family. I hate saying goodbye. But they have ties in Manitoba too, and who knows if they will join us there one day. And I look forward to being closer to the siblings and my father in Manitoba.

Yes, we will be further from BC and all of the family there. But, as Einar reminds them, we usually fly there anyway. We haven't driven to BC in a very long time.

So we will look for a home church that will one day feel like home. We will look for new friends - not to replace the old - but to make our life in Manitoba feel like home as well. We will welcome all our Alberta and BC family and friends when they have reason to go to Manitoba.

And, hopefully, we'll be done with winters in June!!