Silver Lining

When two friends have C-vid at the same time - starting on the same day - and have been facetime studying all week quarantined in their bedrooms... 

got to get together (because why not? they both have c-vid) we find a silver lining. 

Two friends who haven't really spent much time together because they both have other friend groups have now something in common: AP Biology and being home all week. That equals friendship. 

So today after Abigail slammed doors last night and was in desperation from living in her bedroom. After she cried doing her own shot last night. And screamed at the thought of putting her brace on herself. She got to feel 'normal' with a friend. And a pizza. And outside. 

And that was a silver lining for this mama. 

Here's another post on silver linings - click HERE

 

Fresh Air

So grateful for screened in porches and picnic tables on brick patios.... 

for this little girl who can't go to school for five days because of C-vid and who can't be near us either. 

Boy oh boy do I miss her hugs and her laughter. I can not wait to hug her for forever when this is over! 

And for someone who has to navigate so many health issues already, this is just one very short term one. 

But it makes me mad that I can't be the one to give her her growth hormone shot at night. She is doing it all on her own during this illness. 

And I am passing her other meds under the door and she is doing those too. 

I think the worst of it is her putting her brace on by herself at night and taking it off on her own in the morning. That was always me. Now I just cheer her on. 

She's got this. She can do one more, especially since it's only 4 more days!  

Not The Way It's Supposed To Be

Today was my day to go to my classroom. First time since March 13th. That's longer than summer.

It was so so sad.

How we wanted to go back and we held out hope that it might happen.

But of course it didn't.

I packed their desks. Took things off the walls. Covered the shelves.

This year there will be no visit from Scott when he meets my class and does a read aloud.

No pictures with me.

No end of year activities.

No hugs and tearful goodbyes.

My closed up classroom is depressing, really.

Just sad.

Usually this time of year is so exciting and so happy! We are days away from summer break. Days! It's so wonderful we can taste it. We are usually so exhausted from lack of sleep and so many end of the year things that we are running on the hope that summer is just around the corner.

This year. So different. I've had time to garden. Time to rearrange. Time to decorate. Time to paint.

Sure, there are more home projects I still dream of doing. It's not that we're 'all done' of course. But usually I just can't wait to dive into a few things because summer is days away. This year it just feels weird.

Usually we have a big trip planned. We are abuzz of conversation all about a trip in late July. This year we will be home.

I love home. I adore T I M E at home. I do.

But it just feels out of place and strange.

And after over 29 Google Meetings every week (for 12 weeks) After helping my daughters through 12 weeks of distance learning we are ready for it to end.

But it's ending so sad.

I know that I'll come up with a plan for the summer to 'feel like' summer - it's just not there yet.

This is what my June 9th classroom looked like when I left today. I felt like I couldn't take a deep breath. I was sad.

I got into the car to drive home and I heard this song. And YES He is still my God. And I will praise Him.

I praise Him for the many silver linings in this. I praise Him for the health of my little family. I praise Him for a career that I adore and that I will do again IN the classroom. I just praise Him.

For that is truly where my strength comes from.

A Really Sweet Mother's Day Gift

I'll get to Mother's Day - it was my favorite - ever.

But to be honest this is hard. The distance learning. The distance teaching. The loooong days. They are not easy. And I know I can be one to make my life seem really pretty here on this blog. Yes, there are still tea cups and wonderful moments. Yes, we are still loving being h o m e. Yes, we are still reading our devotional and growing in our family faith more than ever in our lives. So yes, there is still lovely. But I don't want to paint a perfect picture. Because it is surely hard. Teaching, helping the girls, teaching.

So just as soon as I can I'll get to Mother's Day. But for now I HAVE to show you how my new 'home classroom'/desk/office looks because of a spectacular Mother's Day gift from my husband and two girls.

Oh I just love it!

This is the view f r o m my desk - and it's a good one (love that chapter book library). And I had to move those beautiful books and tea cup because of all of the google meets I'm doing from that space. So Scott and the girls made my new desk area so much more wonderful!



It all started the day before Mother's Day. (okay, well, I'm sure Scott and the girls started long before that!) But from what I could see, it started early on Saturday.

Scott had moved the desk, was measuring, sawing, cutting wood, measuring more. And he did let me see this new wall going up.





So you can tell by now that he built me a whole shiplap wall!!!!



I loved the thick, barn board look of it too!







And on Mother's Day I opened the clear shelves which Scott asked me where I wanted hung.



And all of those gold accents were gifts from the girls too.



You can see on the other side of the wall he used the extra shiplap to make me a little sign area and framed it in with wood. It's not decorated yet but I've got ideas for that little extra!



The sweetest little gold organizer from Erin Condren!





Right now I've decided to use the top shelf for my lifeplanner



Love my new Erin Condren desk accessories



And pens that make planning for school and in my own planner so special.



I keep my read aloud in here in anything I might need to grab quickly during a google meeting with a student.



New mildliners and pen cups.



Planning was never more fun!











Even a phone holder too!





Yes I adore my new space!

Sweetest

The doorbell rang, Abigail thought it was a friend from school. I peeked. It was one of my students. She (and her Mom) were down on the sidewalk but when I opened the door flowers were there. It took everything in me to not go down and give her a hug. She said, "We're gonna get through this" with the sweetest smile ever.

Official

Today we got the news that we all knew already - that there would be no more school this year - that we would be finishing the year Distance Learning.

We all knew it - so I don't know why it was so hard for me.

In an email I wrote to parents:

Dear Families, 

Well now we know what we already knew. It's official and I'm officially sad. Really sad. 

When the announcement came out today it was of no surprise but it did hit me and somehow shocked me, and I wanted to reach out to your children. 

 I know that what they need is to dive into a great lesson, partner work, a group project... They need recess and a too loud lunch. They need to laugh together and to work together. They need a real read aloud where their eyes sparkle when I "Open the Magic" right in front of them. 

I can't give them that - but my heart is heavy for them and I'll do what I can. I will care as much as I can through the screen, during our meets, and in emails. 

They are the magic. The noise of the classroom, the learning moments, the friendships I am just the lucky one that gets to witness it all. 

Thank you for all that you are doing every day. I miss them oh so much. 

Tara 

And then I made a video talking to my class and telling them.

I truly am the luckiest teacher in the world.

Weekends Are Like This

Friday ~ I make the dough that rises in the afternoon.



I make the pizza sauce that simmers all day long.



We grate the cheese.



He puts together the most creative pizzas.





And we sit on the couch and relax.





Saturday ~ I greet the day at sunrise and Bible time

On this Saturday I drove to this lookout and had Bible time in my car




We garden all day.








We have cozy evenings.



Sunday~  We participate in Mass from our parish live.
We all work up a pretty brunch in our kitchen.
Anna makes the tea.
Abigail sets the table.
Scott and I cook up some yummy food.









Yes, weekends are quite different in this season and I like them quite a lot.

How a house (a life, a home, a family) is built

Taken in a different year - oh how I would do anything to roam the aisles of a greenhouse.

2017


Proverbs 24:3-4

Through skillful and Godly wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation).

What is "skillful and Godly wisdom"? Well to me, this morning I was thinking
It is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

The house is our family, our life together and it needs to have understanding.

Understanding the Wisdom of God doesn't come from self-help books.
Wisdom doesn't come from culture.
Wisdom doesn't come from the way of the world
Wisdom and understanding comes from God.

And by knowledge shall it's chambers (of every area) be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

And what are those "riches"? Well to me, this morning I was thinking they are
riches of peace
riches of laughter
riches of pleasantness
riches of cooperation
riches of love

Oh how I love those verses.

They are the heartbeat of all I want to do in my home."

I have been praying that God shows me each morning in my quiet time His wisdom so that I have understanding. I know that is how I want my "house (a life, a home, a family)" to be "built." And I am so grateful I don't do it alone.

2017


One day these garden stores will open up and we will roam the aisles filling our carts with the color of spring.