Life

This is the kind of Saturday I really enjoy!  I have nowhere I need to be.  Andrew will be home at 2:30 or so, and then he has nowhere to be.  I have been cleaning, and then my plan is watch football today (GO IRISH!).  We need this downtime.

It was a long week, especially for me.  I had meetings and appointments and commitments that just didn't leave me much time for anything else.  I'm struggling with my job in that I don't love it.  Somedays I don't even enjoy it.  I don't dread it though, and I am certainly grateful for the income (especially since it appears a new car is in our VERY near future).  I don't mind the drive at all, but I don't love the amount of time I am in the vehicle. 

One thing I do enjoy is my morning routine.  I LOVE the quiet and being alone.  Andrew gets up just as I am leaving, so I have an entire hour to myself.  I appreciate that more than I can put into words.  I don't know that I could do all of this if I didn't have that quiet time.

My anxiety has kicked in this week, and I understand why, given some things that are going on around me.  I'm trying to remember deep breaths and just lift it all up!

Time is running out

We spent much of this past weekend visiting my in-laws.  My father-in-law turns 85 at the end of the month, and we wanted to get over to celebrate.  I am saddened that time is running out for him.  The decline since I saw him in June is stunning, and my mother-in-law mentioned she could see a decline even from just the week before.  She is working on getting nursing and physical help in the home.  She doesn't want to put him in a facility.  I've encouraged Andrew to make another trip in the beginning of October, and our family will be there for Thanksgiving.  To be completely honest, I'm not entirely certain he'll make it until then.  I am so very, very glad that Catherine made certain she could make the trip with us this weekend.  Thomas may be able to go with my husband when the time comes, but Catherine most likely will not.  I've been praying for peace and strength.  It makes me sad.

Car accident

Yesterday, Thomas was in his first car accident.  Twenty-four days after earning his license, and an accident has happened.  He was about 25 minutes away from home.  He had gone back to our former town to visit friends.  It was at an intersection that isn't a bad intersection, but I'm also not surprised it happened there.  He was by himself, so there were no distractions of friends, and he was not on his phone.  He just didn't see the car coming, and with the way cars park along there, again I wasn't surprised.

Andrew went to him because he was already in his vehicle.  I couldn't wait to hug him, but the fact that he had made the call to us meant he was okay...at least physically.  My sweet boy was so distraught all evening.  When he got home, he just leaned into my hug and didn't want to let go.  He was convinced the other driver wanted him dead.  I doubt that to be true, but I certainly understand the other driver being angry.  He just wanted lots of hugs and reassurance last evening.  It broke my heart.  I am very grateful that Andrew is able to be with him today.  I hated seeing my sweet boy suffer.  And the number of prayers of gratitude I sent up can't even be counted.  I was really very proud of how he handled everything.

By the way, the car is probably totaled.  Not worried about it though, not at all.  My sweet boy is okay, and so are the other people.

Nothing makes my heart more full

I picked Catherine up from her apartment yesterday afternoon after work.  It takes less than 15 minutes for me to get there from work, so that we try to make that happen when she is coming home.  Thomas was home when we got there, and he was very pleased his sister was home.  I know he misses her, and since school is on-line, he is a little lonely.

Those two immediately began catching up on everything.  Thomas was asking lots of questions, and Catherine had a lot to tell him.  Thomas had band practice for a couple of hours, but otherwise the two of them hung out in the living room together.  I could hear them chatting, and laughing, and just enjoying each other.  They even made their own dinner together and sat in the living room eating it.  Honestly, I could not imagine anything that would make my heart so full.  It made me so very happy to hear those sounds again in my home!

Enjoying the view

Today is my third and final (for now) day in the assignment of ISD.  I must say, I really haven't minded it at all.  The one down side is that there is no "free/plan" time at all, but I do take nearly 1/2 hour for lunch.  There have been three boys here this week, and they really have been no problems.  I have been able to accomplish many things.  I wouldn't necessarily want this to be my "regular" job, but I truly have not minded these three days.

And today is Friday, which of course is wonderful!  AND it is Friday heading into a three-day weekend.  Yahoo!!!!!  I am delighted about the though of sleeping in for three consecutive days.  Absolutely delighted.

Today is a bright and sunny day, which makes being in this space even more peaceful.  I am able to look outside and such a gorgeous view.  I have always found rural farmland to be so peaceful, and getting to enjoy it in this manner makes the day even more lovely!  I am truly grateful that I am getting paid to be here, especially in this space, today!

How our school year is going so far

 I am basically two full weeks into my full-time job.  The job itself is fine.  I don't love the 35 minute commute, but it is an easy and peaceful drive.  I especially loved this morning that a John Denver song came on the radio.  Driving through rural countryside with John Denver on the radio is just about the most peaceful thing in the world.  Except that it wasn't yet 7:00 in the morning.  We all know I've never been a morning person.  I only leave home about 10 minutes earlier than last year.  Because I am the only one up and moving at that time, I can actually sleep in about 15 minutes later than I did last year.  Right now, it doesn't feel like enough though.  The house had been staying relatively picked up until this week, although the layers of dust are definitely there.  Overall, I would say we are hanging in there.  And I am especially grateful that there is no school Monday, so even though I will be gone all weekend I'll still have a day to try to get some things done.  Meals are mostly happening, although last night I just couldn't do it.  The only thing I wanted for dinner was to sleep, so I begged (pretty much) my husband to bring home some sandwiches for dinner.

Thomas kind of likes the remote learning.  He appreciates that he gets up over an hour later each morning than he had to last year.  There definitely isn't a significant amount of work.  I am concerned that he is going to struggle in the long run, because honestly he often learns more by just listening and watching others than by doing things on his own.  Unless of course it is music or technology, which he loves getting his hands on.  He still gets to see friends during band practices, and they have done Zoom calls, etc., so he doesn't mind the remote learning at all.

Andrew enjoys sleeping in nearly 90 minutes each day as well.  He goes in to school two days a week and is home the other three.  He's been a help with meals, although he is still covering athletic events as well, so sometimes that just isn't an option.  I am very grateful that this particular phase of life is occurring with only one kid at home, and that one kid can drive.  That is a tremendous help.

I've spoken with two friends who have completely lost their incomes because of the pandemic situation.  Fortunately, they are both married to spouses who have fairly secure jobs, but it reminds me to continue to be grateful for this opportunity.  It may make me very tired, but it is truly a blessing!

A room with a view

When school started last week I had been assigned to a French classroom.  It was fine.  It wasn't like French at our own district, but it was fine.  The teacher was teaching virtually but needed a legal person in the classroom.  I had been asked if I wished to remain there, and honestly, I prefer the variety.  Yesterday the new permanent French co-teacher started, so I helped with school pictures and then did some filing work.  I expected more filing again today, but when I arrived I was told I was being sent to the middle school.  I had been assigned the rest of the week to fill in for ISD.  There are two seventh-grade boys who need to be here the rest of the week.  Honestly, this is cake work.  The two boys are not allowed to talk or move, and there are only two of them.  It's going to be a pretty quiet week, and I'll be able to get other things done.  The best part is the view!  This space is on top of the library, with three large windows.  The school is set in the middle of rural Ohio farmland, and that is my favorite scenery.  I can only imagine how gorgeous this is in the fall and on snowy winter days as well.  In spite of the fact that some people think this is an awful, I plan to enjoy the view!