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Toes dancing in sunlight. These toes had never seen sunlight until we arrived in Australia a few weeks ago. I remember noting his beautiful long toes when we was born but he was bundled up so well in Canada that we forgot how precious they are. A nappy (diaper) is just about all the clothing he needs now. 

*This post is part of the 52 project: a portrait of Ignatius, once a week, every week, in 2013.*

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Cousins on Tuesday. My sister's beautiful little girl is on the left. The fact that she is holding Ignatius' hand is completely of her own doing, what a sweetheart. I only met my little niece a few weeks ago, but I am so pleased she has warmed to me, and so thrilled to be in her life now that we are back in Brisbane. What fun these cousins will have!

I am going to try and participate in A Portrait a Week, which Jodi began on her lovely Australian blog, by posting a picture of my littlest boy every Saturday (or there abouts). We're already into the 2nd week of 2013 (can you believe it?!), and I've already missed the first Saturday, oops, but I'm not going to be too hard and fast about it. I'm learning not to set my expectations of myself (and achieving a great deal) too high these day, or at least too unrealistically. My productivity (by most standards) has drastically dropped since I started this new job on the 18th of September. But this really is my dream career, and I am so thrilled I was chosen for this role, so I want to give it my very best. In saying that I am logging off the computer now, before my little man wakes up.

Spot the difference

A few things have changed since my last post. I am writing from the computer at my mum and dad's place in Brisbane, Australia. This will be home for my boys and I for the next little while. It is hard to believe that we spent 2 amazing years in Vancouver, and we're back here in the Sunshine State. It almost feels like a dream. Vancouver and the community we encountered there has left an indelible mark on all of our hearts. Little Ignatius will remember very little in the future, but it will always be the place where he was born and we will tell him lots of endearing stories about all of the wonderful adopted family he has there. I have so much to say to all of the beautiful people we met and grew to love during our time. So much gratitude to extend. Thank you friends!

Our leaving and returning was and is bittersweet. We are thrilled to be reunited with our family and friends and this beautiful sunburnt country but we also left so much goodness and beauty in Canada.

Some words I wrote to friends in a goodbye party invitation express my thoughts well:

Our time in Vancouver is coming to an end.
Our flights are booked and our departure date is looming.
2 years has flown by and we are reluctant to leave this city and the amazing people who call it home. But we feel like our season here has come to an end.
And we leave with grateful hearts and good memories.

We return to sisters and brothers, parents, grandparents, nephews and nieces.
We return to old friends and new challenges; to finding our place and purpose in a city both familiar and foreign.

We have learnt A LOT!
We have been challenged.
We have had a lot of fun.
We have been unemployed, we have worked, we have studied.
We have been in awe of the beauty of spring crocuses and fall colours.
We have grown; in faith, in hope, in capacity for love, in desire for peace, in clothes sizes – oops, we have even grown a new family member.

You have all been a part of making our time here rich.
We leave overflowing, with blessings to take and share.

(Ignatius rugged up on a trip to Bowen Island, just before we left BC, and at the beach this week at Currimundi, also covered up, but for sun protection, not warmth. We found a beautiful cool refuge under some shady pandanus palms to protect that gorgeous milky skin of his.)

Thank you father God for this year, this season, these many seasons! Thank you for your abundant provisions, your glorious creation, your people everywhere. We're excited about today AND TOMORROW!