Nature is amazing. (And also I haven't killed the caterpillars which is winning!)
Anna sent this picture of these cuties.
The thing I'm most grateful for today?
Adam is home.
Yesterday two things happened that made me whiny.
1) I found out there was a post test for all the LETRS units I've done that I hadn't completed even though I thought I was done with everything.
2) I found out that Adam had to stay on his trip longer.
Woe was me.
But all was not lost.
Camie came in my room after school while I was doing the LETRS test. I told her my sad tale and she commiserated. Then I said, "I shouldn't whine. I always tell my students they can't whine."
She said, "There is only one of you and I don't mind."
Everyone needs a Camie in their life.
When I talked to Adam last night he said, "Watch Downton Abbey without me. I can catch up on the plane."
So there's that. I'd rather have Adam home, but at least I have Downton Abbey.
Life is like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's good.
Isn't every day?
I didn't have any power struggles with small children so that was something.
Yesterday we had no students and we attended a virtual LETRS training. I really hate sitting at my desk all day and virtual training is kind of awful too. Also, our teacher had wacky pronunciation that mystified me. She called our school Bonnie-ville. She said introdoce and bay-guette instead of baguette. It all added up to really odd for someone who is supposed to be teaching about decoding and morphemes and phonemes. Otherwise it was...fine.
My friends and I went to lunch because we had an entire hour. We chatted about everything from our church callings to ministering to family and online dating. In every break I would go visit someone's classroom because I couldn't sit in my chair any more.
Braeden texted a cute baby picture and Emma said that maybe a bay-guette is a baguette seasoned with Old Bay.
I also rearranged some chairs.
Will it make a difference? Is this, finally, the key to happiness and harmony?
I doubt it. But hope springs eternal.
After writing that I appreciated my siblings on Friday, I was surprised by one of them--unrelated to what I wrote. I don't think he reads my blog.
Enoch texted:
I didn't.
It was great. We talked about our children and Enoch's family's upcoming move to Portland. He showed us pictures of their new house and we showed him pictures of our new granddaughter.
Something about siblings makes you feel Understood with a capital U.
Saturday we did all of the regular Saturday things. Errands and tidying and taking care of the plants. Emma texted me a new app called I Love Hue. You unscramble colored tiles into the proper gradient and she's a lot better at it than I am and I take it personally. We watched Downton Abbey while we ate dinner. Being an empty nester means taking your plate wherever you want. We are rewatching the series to get ready for the movie.
We have goals.
After church, Adam went to Austin for a business trip. Emma came over for a vegetarian gluten free recipe I was auditioning for when Mark is home. It was good and not hard to make so something he can learn. Emma and I talked to each other and then to her brothers and Anna on the phone. She showed me her art and we talked about our jobs.
I love that she is happy.
Weekends are such a nice mix of productivity and slow. They are good for the soul.
I finished reading Beezus and Ramona to my class yesterday. They loved it and wanted me to start reading Ramona the Pest immediately.
In the last chapter of Beezus and Ramona, it is Beezus's birthday and Ramona ruins two cakes that her mother is making. Beezus is a conscientious child and is very troubled because she realizes that sometimes she doesn't love Ramona. Her beloved aunt is over for dinner (and saves the day with a bakery cake). When she sees her mom and Aunt Beatrice interact, she sees how much they love each other and it makes her feel bad that she doesn't feel the same way about Ramona.
Over dinner, the mom and Aunt Beatrice start talking about fights they had as children. Beezus is equal parts horrified and delighted. She realizes that it's OK if she doesn't always love Ramona all the time and that someday, they will be able to look back on the exasperating moments fondly.
I told my students that my siblings are some of my best friends now and I told them anecdotes about tying Enoch up with jumprope on the front porch when we were babysitting and Marianne and me pulling each other to the floor by our hair. They were equal parts horrified and delighted.
They told me stories about their siblings and how awful they were. I promised they would be friends some day.
I'm grateful for siblings. I'm grateful for my own siblings. I love how supported and understood they make me feel. I love that we pray for each other. I love that we love each other.
I am grateful my children love each other. They rally around each other and feel deep love and sympathy when one is in distress.
Families: what a wonderful support system they are. Beverly Cleary understood that and it resonates with children today even though Beezus and Ramona was written in 1955.
Some things are timeless.
Sunday I felt a little sick.
Monday I felt all the way sick.
Yesterday I stayed home from school. I haven't had a cold for years and frankly I feel betrayed by my Wellness Formula which is an herbal supplement I take that keeps me from getting sick.
At least it used to.
Before it failed me.
I haven't had a full blown cold for years and I haven't missed it.
Monday night/early Tuesday morning I was awake and I couldn't breathe because my head was so stuffy. I was sitting in my chair and found a show called Old Enough on Netflix. It was 2:00 AM and I was hopped up on NyQuil and it was a completely bizarre experience. It's a Japanese TV show about toddlers running errands by themselves. If you watch it, do it at 2:00 AM while you are hopped up on NyQuil. It enhances the experience.
Tuesday I considered things, productive things, I could do while I was home, but I did none of them. Nothing ruins a sick day like being sick. I took two naps and I took medicine and I drank Propel and ginger peach herbal tea. I decided I wanted to watch While You Were Sleeping which I haven't watched for years. It's not on Netflix, which disappointed me.
Then I remembered we have it on DVD. Remember DVDs?!? I opened the drawer and we have a lot of DVDs. I had forgotten about them.
I also talked to Braeden. He's good for my soul. And I talked to Marianne, which is also good for my soul.
Saturday afternoon, Adam said, "Would you mind if I go to a birthday party tonight for Kaden?"
That's a guy he works with, who is unmarried and they were apparently having a guys only birthday party. I didn't mind Adam going. I went to bed early.
Sunday morning, I asked Adam about the party and he was kind of vague about it. "Who was there? What did you do?"
"All the guys. We just hung out."
Whatever.
Later he told me that he had an Easter gift for me.
I said, "Is that a thing?"
He said yes.
He told me it was in the living room. I asked, "Is it a puppy?"
He said, "Close."
I asked, "Is it a bunny?"
He said, "Close."
I walked into the living room and Mark was sitting in the rocking chair and since he'd heard my question, he was making bunny ears above his head.
I burst into tears; I was that happy to see him.
Adam said, "There wasn't really a birthday party. I went to Logan to get Mark."
We went to church and I was happy to sit between Adam and Mark. I sang in the choir and ugly cried during He is Risen. I shouldn't be allowed to do such things.
We had Emma over for dinner and surprised her with Mark too. We ate ham (except not Emma) and deviled eggs and potatoes and carrots and rolls (except not Mark). We played games and ate jelly beans.
Adam took a video of Mark eating three super sour jelly beans (we got from Trader Joes) at once. It was an exciting time.
I was feeling a bit under the weather so Adam took Mark back to Logan.
I thought a lot about Easter. (Hence the ugly crying during He is Risen.) I am thankful for the love Jesus offers me. I'm grateful that He suffered all the sins and pains and sorrows of the world so He would know how we feel. I never have to feel truly alone. He could have stopped the goings on in an instant, but He was willing to die for us. He rose again on the third day and because of Him, we will be able to be with our loved ones again. It is all a lot to take in.
We watched a video as part of our Sunday School lesson and it showed the people chanting "Crucify Him!"
I was struck that He not only suffered for those who strive to follow Him and want to do good. He also suffered for those who chanted for Him to be crucified.
He loves us all.
