Reflections on the past year

I've found myself reflecting on the past year and the changes that it  brought to the Magonegil family.  It seems hard to believe that it was just a little over a year ago that our house was broken into and most everything of value stolen.  It has also been almost a year since I lost one of my jobs, putting our financial stability in jeopardy. 

I am happy to report that we weathered the storms of September 2009 and came out better on the other side.  We found we needed far less "possessions" than we thought we did and ended up not replacing a lot of what was stolen.  We were able to get out from under our house and made the move we had wanted to out to Vashon Island.  Having only one job suits me just fine and I am enjoying the extra time I get to spend with my kids, the commute is relaxing and often awe inspiring as I ride accross Puget Sound on the boat.  Both kids are doing great and are each enjoying the rural life.  Meghen, the city girl, has solidly become a country girl and the bounty we harvested from our garden proves that. 

Of course there is always uncertainty as to what the future holds but as I look back on the past year I have learned one very evident truth and that is to trust God.  While we get mired down in the details and the minitua of a situation, our Creator is able to see the "big picture".  It is most often on reflection of a hard time in our lives that we see God's hand at work as He leads us through the fire and brings us to a new place that He wanted for us all along.  Isn't it just amazing?

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig

For all you non Irish speakers - Happy St. Patrick's Day!  A day when everyone is Irish or at least they wish they were.  The Irish are survivors and lovers of life.  A great quote about the character of the Irish is:

"When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees.  Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenancious."  Edna O'Brien

A month already

 As of February 2 we have lived on Vashon Island a MONTH!  It went by so quickly and at the same time it feels so comfortable here that it seems like we have always lived here.  The kids continue to "evolve" and adapt to a more rural existence.  Meghen has started cooking again so we have had some darn good vittles again.  Finn and I venture to the beach every chance we get - rain or shine - and he is turning into quite the little naturalist.  He is able to identify a few different bird species now and at his outdoor preschool learns a ton about the flora and fauna of the forest.   


This small town life is perfect for me.  I love that last night I watched the season premiere of LOST with about 100 other folks at the local theater which showed it for free.  It was very cool to sit there munching popcorn and watching it on the big screen.  Not only will they be showing the season premiere but will show the weekly episodes - all for free.
Isn't that cool?


The photos accompanying this entry are of a Great Blue Heron and then a couple of photos  of Finn's school - Cedarsong.  Enjoy!

Visitors

We had a fun filled weekend with lots of visitors to what I am calling, Hootie Farm, due to the owl that we hear hooting at night.  Well that is what Finn and I call the farm anyhow and since I am the writer of this blog, that is what I shall refer to it as.  ANYHOW - what a great weekend we had.  We had some overnight visitors and some that could only come for a few hours but we made the most of every minute with excursions out into the soggy fields to muck about in our boots and walks on the beach at Point Robinson.  The sun even came out on monday afternoon.  Enjoy the photos.

Pictures from our first week on the island!

The Point Robinson Lighthouse only a mile from our house.

Sunrise!

Bald eagle bathing in a puddle right in our own backyard.

In flight!

I

First Days

We officially moved to Vashon Island on January 2, 2010.  The move was quite a feat and would not have been possible without the help of our good friends who loaded and unloaded the moving trucks without nary a complaint.  Okay there were some "comments" about the number of boxes of books but all in all as pleasant of an experience that is possible when moving a family of four. 

Many wonderful things have already happened for us since moving.  We have been welcomed to our home by our closest neighbor who not only came bearing wine but pitched in to help unload boxes.  She returned the very next day with her son, her sister, sister in law and their two children who brought us canned apricots.  Quite a welcome!

We have been treated to very peaceful star lit nights and lots of wildlife sightings.  In addition to the deer that graze in our front and back yards, we have heard owls hooting and Meghen was amazed to see a bald eagle in our back yard having a quick bath in one of the puddles. 

The kids are adapting effortlessly to rural life and Aidan is LOVING her school.  Everyday she returns with an enormous smile smile and tales of her day.  Finn will start a new preschool next week where the children spend the entire time outdoors and learn about the natural world around them. 

The commute to downtown Seattle for work has been great.  The water taxi in the morning crossing the sound offers up some breathtaking views.  It starts my day off in the most peaceful and enjoyable way.  Not sure if I will get much reading done with so much grandeur to view. 

So far we cannot find anything that we do not like about Vashon and living in the country.  For myself it definitely feels like home and a return to the farm girl that I once was growing up in rural Idaho. 

The pets too seem to be adjusting to life in the country.  Jeb went out exploring for hours the other day and even timid Jonas has finally ventured out. 

Life is good and we find ourselves content and happy.