I Painted A Garage Wall

 Hello Friends! Happy Tuesday! (And National Coffee Day I hear.) 

Have I mentioned that one of the pandemic changes brought into my life is a taste for coffee? I never had one before. But here I am. A coffee drinker. Still not every day, but I have a coffee maker on my counter! 

Anyway, we had a good weekend. Saturday was the funeral for Husband's friend. Husband was a pallbearer and it was honestly just the most beautiful funeral. I think it speaks to the testament of this man's life that he had a celebrant and 3 concelebrating priests. 

His widow spoke towards the end (she was also the lector!!) and said the most beautiful words. They are just so faithful as a family. I am summarizing here but it was something like: "If you are inclined to question God's love because he took K at such a young age, you need only to look at his Facebook page. Reading the tributes of his students and friends, and seeing the good he was able to do with his life, that was only because of God's love and K's ability to pour that love out into others the way Jesus wanted him to. I know that K is exactly where God wants him." 

We had a fabulous friend bring the kids to M's soccer game and then back to her house during that time. 

Sunday I went over to my friend's house. We were just going to sit in her garage and chat. (It was raining so we needed a roof.) And she mentioned that she was going to paint her garage and bought the paint in April but still hadn't gotten around to it. So I said, well heck, I've got some time before dinner, let's paint at least one wall. So we did. 

We ripped out a board with hooks on it, we painted that wall behind me and the little bit she's doing in this picture. Next weekend we are going to move all the stuff from the other side of the garage over and paint the rest. 

It was nice to feel like I helped a friend. In everything lately, I feel like while I can talk to people, and deliver meals to those who have shoulder surgery and new babies, I don't feel like I have really helped anyone. So it was refreshing to do that. 

And now our week has started back up. Yay! Have a good one! 

Are You Listening?

 Hey Friends! It's Wednesday! Which is crazy, this week is speeding by already. 

Anyway, my question for you is are you listening to Abiding Together? 

It's funny really, since podcasts are basically old school radio shows. (The more things change, the more they stay the same right?) And pretty much everyone I know in real life listens to this already. But it's so beautiful and nearly every episode they say something that either takes my breath away or is something I really needed to hear. 

This week's episode was especially great! 

Abidiing Together is a place for women (though I know plenty of men you listen from time to time) to find rest, encouragement and connection with Jesus and friends. At the end of each episode they ask people to tell a friend. So, friends, if you aren't already listening to Abiding Together, give it a try. 

I listen on my Alexa. But you can even listen online if that's easier for you. 

If you like it, there are a lot of back episodes you can go and listen to! Give it a try! 

Life Is Short

We got a stark reminder of our own mortality this weekend. 

A friend of Husband's went out for a run and had a heart attack and passed away. 

When the announcement was made at Mass we were shocked. We thought there had been a mistake. How could that be? 

But it's true. 

Husband spent yesterday checking in with other friends from their small group. It's hard to see your spouse sad. 

He was such a faithful man that we take comfort in the fact that he was bound for Jesus. 

The kids and I spent yesterday enjoying the beautiful weather. The kids got new jump ropes that they're figuring out. And we even decided to have a bonfire and roast hot dogs for dinner. 

Enjoy every single moment. Thank God for every single day. 

The First Game

 Today was so perfectly Fall. (Even though there's still a few days of meteorological summer left.) This morning started out in the upper 40s. And by the time the soccer game started, it was 60 and sunny. 

I don't know if it was because of COVID and people not knowing what to expect but we definitely have a much smaller team than last year. And when just a few people are gone it makes a big impact. Today 4 kids weren't at the game! 

So this ragtag group of 6 played the whole game! The other team was big and they were doing some professional looking warmups before the game began. 

But wouldn't you know that somehow we totally won? I mean this in the absolute not bragging way, simply the stating the facts way. We may have just had 6 kids, and they might have been tired as all get out at the end of the 45 minutes. But darn it if they didn't totally dominate. 

I am pretty sure we were all shocked. 

My little M was so great! She ran her heart out and got one goal and an assist! She really did a nice job, I am so stinking proud of her.

And we had team pictures after the game, so our little undefeated team here is captured for always. 

In the next two weeks we are playing the intense reputation teams so we may not come out as strongly. But we will also have some more people. Could go either way, I was surprised by their power today after all. 

I am totally the parent who cheers loudly, but I go out of my way to cheer for the other team too. They're kindergarteners after all! No one is handing out scholarships to five-year-olds. 

Friday's Normal

 It's been a whole week already. This seems crazy! And what a week it has been. We had school pictures already. (Which seems really early, because it in fact, was really early.) 

It actually took me by surprise. As in, I knew exactly 7 days in advance. So my kids wore their same outfits from our family pictures because that's all I had time for. And you know what? They turned out pretty cute. 

M had her first soccer practice last night. And it was SO good to be back out there cheering her on. She has her first game tomorrow already, but I am excited for her! I am not expecting a whole lot this season, it's been a year since any of them have played and they've had 45 minutes of practice. But I don't care even a little. I am just so glad they can get back out there as a group! 

I've been thinking a whole lot about the phrase "new normal." Some people, friends, and family included really hate that phrase and I guess, I am not really sure why? Normal has always been a moving target. I think back to WWII where people had sugar rations and victory gardens... and it became normal. I think to when people started switching from radios to televisions... and it became normal. Let's be real: there is no normal. 

So yeah, do some of these changes make me feel uncomfortable sometimes? Are they challenging me to grow? Sure. But some of these "new normal" changes have been good. I personally was doing curbside grocery pickup before COVID. And now they've gotten better at it! And more stores have added it. Yes, I still like to go in sometimes, but isn't great that if I just need snacks for the soccer game and a Halloween dress that Target will bring them to my car and I didn't splurge on 90 other things I didn't need?!

The slower pace of the spring and summer was something to be grateful for. The long and short of it is, I actually really miss my kids. I am so thankful they can be at school safely, and I know that's where they should be. But I actually find myself missing them. And that's such a good thing. It means I am 100% more present to them when they come back to me. 

So when people say things like "new normal" it's kind of annoying that there's a catchphrase, but it just isn't a big deal to me. I am not really in a big hurry to go back to where we were in February. Sure, I miss live theatre. I miss concerts. And hopefully, we can get to a point where those can come back safely. And then we can create an even better new normal. 

Have a great weekend!

Exhausting

 I was wrong! 

Originally, I was not super happy that we delayed the start of our school year by 2 weeks. But man, am I ever glad we started with a 4 day week instead of the full 5. 

I am exhausted. And I am not even the one going to school! Suffice it to say, my kids are feeling the tired deep into their bones. It doesn't help one bit that the weather has been cold and dreary all week. They really only had outdoor recess one day. 

Next week it's supposed to warm up to normal and be sunny, we are all ready for that! 

But so far so good! 

M and her friends at Recess.

C's room! I think they're actually the full 6 feet apart or very close to it! 

M's room. She said her favorite thing about the first day was rest time. This kid hasn't taken a nap in years! But she liked to not sit in her chair and not wearing a mask. 

Trying on her cardigan that came yesterday. I wasn't prepared at all for the cold week. I had summer clothes all ready to go! I still haven't gotten M leggings yet for under the jumper. So there's been a lot of sharing of school sweatshirts and hoping the rain kept them inside. (It did.) 

The week has been good though. It's nice to find our rhythm again, even if we are all so tired. 

We are ready for a cozy family movie night. I may make pajamas mandatory so we can all just snuggle up and relax completely. 

Have a good weekend!

Oh Hi School! I Remember You!

 

On a stormy morning, after 180 days home, my kids went to school. And my baby went off to kindergarten without even looking back. (Which is good because I was definitely crying.) 

I am so thankful they were ready. And honestly, I am too. It's just the first moments of realization that hit a little hard. I hope and pray they can stay in school for a while at least. And that they're having a good time. 

The house is very quiet. Which isn't bad. But it's different. 

Unpack Your Backpack

 Yesterday we had Unpack Your Backpack. 

It was so wonderful to be back in school! 

I feel good about this one going to kindergarten. I just love her teacher already! And the aide is super sweet too. 

We aren't allowed to get our of our cars on the first day, so her teacher made this sign so all the moms could get their special pictures ahead of time. I will for sure be having my kids get in their uniforms on Monday so we can go take pictures by the school sign. 

This dude is ready for second grade. I am so excited for him! 

I can't believe it's finally here! My heart can't take it. But at the same time, I am just overwhelmed by how good it's going to be and their excitement. 

Now one last summer weekend! 

Summer Milestones

If it's generally accepted that Memorial Day kicks off summer, and Labor Day ends it, then my kids accomplished some milestones I am super proud of this summer. 

The weekend after Memorial Day C kicked his training wheels to the curb. 

And I was so proud. He has to work just a little harder than most kids to accomplish these things and he didn't even get a bike or have an interest in riding one until last summer. 

And then this past weekend, before Labor Day, M also joined the no training wheels club. 

And I was so proud. For her, riding her bike was a mental struggle. She has a pain tolerance of -2. So the prospect of falling and scraping her knees was enough to prevent her for a while. 

But there they are! Two kids who can ride their bikes. It's one of those typical kid milestones that I am excited we've checked off the list!