April of 2020 is certainly going to be memorable, and yet not. As much as I'll never forget this experience, the days are all pretty much just one giant blur and there are very few that distinctly stand out. They have been filled with much love and laughter amongst the four of us, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.
I've not had to be up before 9:00 at all this entire month. I don't think that has ever happened before. I can't say I'm complaining about that. I do love my sleep.
I look forward to being about to be out a little more, which seems possible in May, but I'm also realistic the virus is still among us. As a homebody, I have appreciated the excuse to stay at home, and I'm grateful home is a safe and cozy place to be.
This is certainly quite an experience!
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
A family afternoon outside
I've been longing to be near water, especially since our vacation to the beach is 50/50 at best. Right now no visitors are even allowed onto the islands, so we'll see what happens in the next month. The state park near us has a lake. It was a gorgeous day, and after Andrew was done with school work, we ventured out. Our sweet Abby went with us, and it was fun that we all got to be together. It was muddier in the grass than I expected, and the beach area was much more crowded than I expected. I'm not a trail walker, so we didn't stay as long as I thought we might. We did take another walk around the neighborhood this evening as a family to enjoy as much of this beautiful day as we could, and then Andrew and I enjoyed a beverage on the front porch as dusk set in. I enjoyed our afternoon together!
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Thinking of my dad as we stayed really busy today
Today would've been my dad's 66th birthday. It's true that time does help. It doesn't hurt nearly as much as it used to, but oh goodness, I still miss him so much.
I really felt like we "channeled" him today, and I have no doubt he was smiling upon us. Andrew worked on school stuff pretty much all day. Anyone who thinks teachers are "on vacation" clearly doesn't know (or respect) teachers very well. Yes, he has some added flexibility and isn't getting up at 5AM, but he is working just as hard, and maybe even harder than he would under normal circumstances. He is truly concerned about his students learning the material, but he can't instruct them the way he normally would. So he is scouring for additional resources as well as learning new technology, and things just take longer.
On my end, I made five face masks today. Ironically enough, the first one was actually the best looking one I made, but that was because it was thin material and and thin thread. I used heavy duty thread and heavier material on the rest of them. We couldn't get our sewing machine to work so I am hand sewing them. I really don't mind, but I'm just not used to this. I want to make each of us another one, as well as one or two for my mom, and send a couple to my in-laws as well. I think I have enough material to do that. Hopefully tomorrow the kids will be a little more willing to help as well. I don't love wearing them, but I do appreciate the benefits to society. And maybe they will make great graduation gifts as well!
I don't know anybody in my life who works harder than my dad did. As I sit here reflecting on the day, I can't help but feel peaceful. And for that, I am grateful.
I really felt like we "channeled" him today, and I have no doubt he was smiling upon us. Andrew worked on school stuff pretty much all day. Anyone who thinks teachers are "on vacation" clearly doesn't know (or respect) teachers very well. Yes, he has some added flexibility and isn't getting up at 5AM, but he is working just as hard, and maybe even harder than he would under normal circumstances. He is truly concerned about his students learning the material, but he can't instruct them the way he normally would. So he is scouring for additional resources as well as learning new technology, and things just take longer.
On my end, I made five face masks today. Ironically enough, the first one was actually the best looking one I made, but that was because it was thin material and and thin thread. I used heavy duty thread and heavier material on the rest of them. We couldn't get our sewing machine to work so I am hand sewing them. I really don't mind, but I'm just not used to this. I want to make each of us another one, as well as one or two for my mom, and send a couple to my in-laws as well. I think I have enough material to do that. Hopefully tomorrow the kids will be a little more willing to help as well. I don't love wearing them, but I do appreciate the benefits to society. And maybe they will make great graduation gifts as well!
I don't know anybody in my life who works harder than my dad did. As I sit here reflecting on the day, I can't help but feel peaceful. And for that, I am grateful.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Our routines during these days
One day often morphs into the next around here, and that is really okay right now. It has to be. We've established a routine, and I am grateful for that. Not that anyone cares, but for posterity, I am going to record our general routine for "school days".
We get up about 9. Andrew is often up before that, but I see no need to rush. He takes the dog out when he first gets up, eats breakfast, and heads directly to the computer to begin his school day. Once the kids have done their morning chores (which is only taking care of the animals), they eat breakfast and are allowed to have phones/screen times until 10AM. At 10, they begin their school work. At Noon, they take a break, and are allowed phones/screen time for an hour. At 1, they might get back to their school work, or we might play a game. Andrew is usually on meetings on doing food distribution about this time. At 2:00, I am generally in front of my screen watching our governor's daily update. About 3, most of the school work is done for the day. This is usually a time for outdoor activities, or another game, or another task we are hoping to accomplish. If it is yucky outside and work is completed, we might allow some TV time. No phones are given back until 5 at the earliest, and if everyone is contributing to dinner, it might even be later. We usually eat dinner around 6 or 6:30, and then there is definitely more family time. It might be a walk or a game. Sometimes we have something else we are trying to accomplish, and that usually means it is a family movie night. Kids are not allowed to be staring at their phone while we are having family time, and phones get put away at 10PM. I am trying very hard to keep them from becoming couch potatoes whose minds are sucked into their phones and various social media.
Of course there are many variations to this day. Andrew and I occasionally have meetings, and Catherine has a work schedule. I appreciate that we have a bit of a routine, and I'm grateful for all this extra time together!
We get up about 9. Andrew is often up before that, but I see no need to rush. He takes the dog out when he first gets up, eats breakfast, and heads directly to the computer to begin his school day. Once the kids have done their morning chores (which is only taking care of the animals), they eat breakfast and are allowed to have phones/screen times until 10AM. At 10, they begin their school work. At Noon, they take a break, and are allowed phones/screen time for an hour. At 1, they might get back to their school work, or we might play a game. Andrew is usually on meetings on doing food distribution about this time. At 2:00, I am generally in front of my screen watching our governor's daily update. About 3, most of the school work is done for the day. This is usually a time for outdoor activities, or another game, or another task we are hoping to accomplish. If it is yucky outside and work is completed, we might allow some TV time. No phones are given back until 5 at the earliest, and if everyone is contributing to dinner, it might even be later. We usually eat dinner around 6 or 6:30, and then there is definitely more family time. It might be a walk or a game. Sometimes we have something else we are trying to accomplish, and that usually means it is a family movie night. Kids are not allowed to be staring at their phone while we are having family time, and phones get put away at 10PM. I am trying very hard to keep them from becoming couch potatoes whose minds are sucked into their phones and various social media.
Of course there are many variations to this day. Andrew and I occasionally have meetings, and Catherine has a work schedule. I appreciate that we have a bit of a routine, and I'm grateful for all this extra time together!
Friday, April 24, 2020
Six weeks at home
It seems so hard to believe that six weeks ago today was our first day at home. Although I knew we weren't going back to school in just three weeks, I also realize that we didn't really truly understand what was about to happen.
This has been a tough week for very many people. It was the toughest week in our house as the reality of many end of the year losses were realized. I know for many parents of seniors, it was the same. I also know it was a tough week for many teachers, as the reality of the remote end of the year hit. While many of us knew it was coming, the fact that there was no more "maybe" was tough to hear.
The fact that I am most likely (decisions will be made public next week) not going to get to see my daughter walk across a graduation stage, and probably not even wear a cap and gown is heart wrenching. We will probably not get to take the trips we had planned for the summer. We haven't seen Andrew's parents since Christmas. I have lost a significant portion of my income for the year, and since we aren't have church services even my income there has been cut. There is the mental toll of not being able to see anyone, and when you do happen to run into someone, you can't hug them like you might want. There is the mental toll of worrying when you go into a store, not to mention worrying about whether or not you can buy the things you have on your list. I realize now how we have taken that for granted for so many years.
This hasn't all been awful. We are all enjoying a more laid-back and relaxed schedule. We are all enjoying our family dinners and walks and movies. We are definitely all enjoying sleeping in. I can't believe it is the 24th of April, and I haven't had to be up for anything before 9:00 all month!!! It doesn't mean I've slept until then every day (but many days), but it does mean we are getting pretty well rested. I am enjoying the time to keep the house picked up and to organize and digitize many family photos. I am enjoying appreciating the little things a little more, and I'm certainly grateful for deliveries and technology. I've enjoyed seeing neighbors take walks, and seeing children outside. I've appreciated that some things are just simpler.
School begins in just under sixteen weeks. It most likely won't be the normal school we have known, and there is a chance there won't be any activities for a while even next year. It might literally just be classes. That is why I am insistent to just remind myself to enjoy each moment as it comes right now.
This has been a tough week for very many people. It was the toughest week in our house as the reality of many end of the year losses were realized. I know for many parents of seniors, it was the same. I also know it was a tough week for many teachers, as the reality of the remote end of the year hit. While many of us knew it was coming, the fact that there was no more "maybe" was tough to hear.
The fact that I am most likely (decisions will be made public next week) not going to get to see my daughter walk across a graduation stage, and probably not even wear a cap and gown is heart wrenching. We will probably not get to take the trips we had planned for the summer. We haven't seen Andrew's parents since Christmas. I have lost a significant portion of my income for the year, and since we aren't have church services even my income there has been cut. There is the mental toll of not being able to see anyone, and when you do happen to run into someone, you can't hug them like you might want. There is the mental toll of worrying when you go into a store, not to mention worrying about whether or not you can buy the things you have on your list. I realize now how we have taken that for granted for so many years.
This hasn't all been awful. We are all enjoying a more laid-back and relaxed schedule. We are all enjoying our family dinners and walks and movies. We are definitely all enjoying sleeping in. I can't believe it is the 24th of April, and I haven't had to be up for anything before 9:00 all month!!! It doesn't mean I've slept until then every day (but many days), but it does mean we are getting pretty well rested. I am enjoying the time to keep the house picked up and to organize and digitize many family photos. I am enjoying appreciating the little things a little more, and I'm certainly grateful for deliveries and technology. I've enjoyed seeing neighbors take walks, and seeing children outside. I've appreciated that some things are just simpler.
School begins in just under sixteen weeks. It most likely won't be the normal school we have known, and there is a chance there won't be any activities for a while even next year. It might literally just be classes. That is why I am insistent to just remind myself to enjoy each moment as it comes right now.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Another lovely evening with the family
Our family ate fairly early last evening. After dinner, I wanted to take a walk on campus in town. It's a very large campus, and easy to walk in different places and not see the same things all the time. We walked for a little more than an hour, and then got back in our vehicle to head home. I was driving, but Andrew mentioned he didn't want to go home yet. I get that. We decided to drive over to the state park, and just drive around. It was getting late so we didn't get out and check out the lake like I hope to do sometime soon, but we enjoyed just being surrounded by nature. It's raining buckets today, but I look forward to days we can be out and about again soon!
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
We took a "road trip"
Yesterday was a beautiful and sunny day. Andrew and I had a video meeting for church at 6:30, but otherwise no one had anywhere specific to be. We all have savings accounts at a bank that is an hour away. It has the best rates and the best service, so that is where we choose to keep our savings. I decided yesterday would be a great day to make the trip to make some deposits. And the best part is that the bank is a five-minute drive from my best friend's house, and her daughter happened to be celebrating her sixteenth birthday yesterday. We swung by to say hello from the sidewalk while they remained on the porch. It was lovely to see them, even for just a few minutes. It was really nice to be able to be out and about yesterday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)