The in-betweens

Dear Blog Friends,
It can't have escaped your notice that I haven't been blogging regularly these past few months and my visits to your blogs have been way too few and far between. It has been a choice I had to make out of necessity, as I haven't had much 'me' time since I don't remember when. I have a hard time wrapping my head around all the twists and turns of 2012, so far.  It's been challenging, it has been worth it, it has taught me a new and deeper understanding of patience. It has brought me closer to friends and family near and far, and it has shaken the foundations of my sources of comfort. And it has even brought an unexpected  positive turn in my health. It hasn't been easy but it seems that the hard work is about to pay off.
Despite all the goings on around here, I have not forgotten you and do miss you. And I look forward to sharing all these new silver linings with you.

This makes me think of a joke my friend Elena shared with me, when we first met:
 Due to austerity measures having been imposed due to the worsening financial crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off, until further notice...
:)

Endings and new beginnings are never easy, and it feels that this year has all been about that uncomfortable and unsettling transition time 'in between': the old chapter not yet resolved, and the new one starting to reveal its clues and pushing you forward. 
And all this time, as I have been stretched and compressed, I have been waiting for some kind of version of normal to come along, a place and time when  I could get back to stitching and blogging :) 
Am I the only one longing for that beautiful and blissful state called 'Routine'? In my case, a routine in this brand new chapter, which now will include planting a new cottage garden and supervising six year old's homework! In Greek! 
oh... 

The boys will be starting elementary school next week. An exciting (and somewhat terrifying) time in our little family's life. Being their mom and seeing them grow up to the little men they are today, has been the greatest honour in my life. I can honestly tell you, that I like them, enjoy spending time together and laugh so hard at the goings on of those young brains. They are happy, sensitive, with just the right amount of naughty to keep things interesting, :)

This also means an official end to our 2012 summer, the summer when I first visited my ancestral home of Spain, and the summer we nearly completed our new home.

Something we used to sing as kids:
We zijn er bijna, we zijn er bijna
Maar nog niet helemaaaaal!!!

Translation from Dutch:
We are nearly there, we are nearly there
but not entirely...

So, I'll see you when I get there!
:)

Big hug and kiss, especially to all of you that sent me the most beautiful emails, notes and tokens of your love and friendship during this long dry spell, Thanks again.
with Love Always,
Valentina