Little Farmer

Learning where food comes from is one of the most important things children learn.  Learning to grow their food is even more effective.  I guess one of the grands' school must have realized this.

Every third grader was given a plant to grow.  They are to care for it and at the end of a measured time, the children will measure the plant's growth.

I think this little farmer is off to a good start, don't you?

Reading to Children

During Read Across America week, some of the grands were encouraged to dress like a book character.  The first graders at one of the schools were encouraged to choose a Dr. Seuss book character.  Can you tell who Lydia chose?

Maybe this will help a bit...

I think she was a dead ringer, don't you?

Another of the grands dressed like Old McDonald...

E-I-E-I-O!

Of course you know I'm a believer in reading.  I promote it in every way I can.  I firmly believe that reading to children - children of all ages helps to make them smarter and eventually more successful in life.  So, when I am sent photos like the one below, my heart sings.

Lillie reading Mr. Brown Can Moo! is a hit with Luci.

Let me urge you to take some time to read to somebody as often as you can!

Running Wide Open

I stopped by my parents' house yesterday.  While I was there, Bridgette, Corey, and their three daughters stopped by.

This little mite was a busy young lady.  We sat outside and watched her just run, run, run.  She simply ran - wide open - round and round in circles.

She was on the go just like in the photo below.

She stumbled and fell on the concrete and looked up at me.  I asked her, "Are you okay?"  She said she was and jumped up and started running all over again.

The next time she stumbled, she hardly hit the ground before she shouted out, "I OK!"

And she was!

Later in the day, I got a message telling me that she finally gave it up...

Could there be anything sweeter than that sleeping face?

Giving of Yourself

We had a family gathering recently and one of my cousins whispered something in my ear that bubbles to the top of my thoughts frequently.  She said, "Thank you for giving of yourself."

Just this week, Faye's message has bubbled to the forefront of my thinking several times during work.  As I sit with a teacher and we are collaborating on a lesson, we often share personal stories or talk philosophically about the education profession or about children we have or are teaching.  I hear about the children they gave birth to and share things about my own.  I hear about the parents of children in their classes and affirm that I encountered similar situations.  I do a lot of listening that has nothing to do with the task we have at hand but those tidbits we share cement relationships with folks who I might never have even introduced myself to otherwise.

I recently subscribed to Maria Shriver's Igniting Architects of Change blog.  I find so many of the contributors and, of course, Maria's own contributions inspirational.  It is one of those things I read that makes me want to be a better person.  I guess it is one way of surrounding myself with people who will lift me up.  I don't even have to know the contributing writers and probably will never encounter a single one face-to-face.  But, they seem to be offering a hand out for a high-five as I travel along this journey called life.

I've noticed that the things which tug at my heart and bolster my spirits are those things which fall into the category of giving of yourself.  A perfect example of that has swirled throughout my days lately.  I get morning text messages from friends who are in a similar hustle and bustle of life as me.  My husband surprises me with a home-cooked meal when I've spent a couple or three hours after work at my parents or he cleans the kitchen to a sparkle and takes out the trash.  Aquaintences share a hug or a pat on the shoulder.  Extended family calls just to check up.  Neighbors stop by and deliver a plate of cookies or a container of spaghetti to my folks.  People just do things that are not expensive or big and showy or even remarkable most of the time but because they are thoughtful and considerate, those little things are pieces of themself that show love and respect.

One post that really resonated with me recently reinforces my cousin's whispered words.  You see, I've bumped into folks who have just learned of my Daddy's IPF.  They ask what they can do and, honestly, right now all that can be done is to visit and chat and listen.  So, that is what I encourage.  Dianne Magnette, a contributor to Shriver's page states beautifully exactly what is needed.  Hop over and read Illness Shows the Real Meaning of Love.  It beautifully describes some simple ways to give of yourself.

Random Saturday Morning

I was talking to a co-worker the other day and we were sharing stories and grousing and - well - honestly bragging about things that only a couple of women who have weathered through:

• the breakup of a marriage after learning that their husbands were liars and cheaters
• living as a single woman while raising children and developing a career
• found a wonderful man and started a new life
• become a bonus mother to children we didn't raise but still love unmeasurably
• recognize that we are flawed but try our hardest to be Good Women
• recognize our spouses are flawed but are really fabulous in spite of it
• have a passion for teaching and learning but struggle with the ignorance involved in reforming a public education system we know could be second-to-none
• have parents with health issues
• working together alongside six other women in one room
• family

She shared how her bonus daughter is a wonderful young woman but needs to wake up and grow up and face up to some things...and I shared a couple of similar ideas.  I shared how my husband is wonderful but doesn't really realize it and wear it proudly.  She shared how her husband is so organized and focused and thorough with some things and then is oblivious to some things right under his nose.  We talked about our flaws and how we try so hard to keep our less-than-perfect selves under control and far too often fail.  We updated one another on all the news that is news and groused about the silliness and craziness that is going on in our world today.  Then, we parted ways and re-joined the hustle and bustle of the lives we live.

My conversation with Renee made me realize that having strong women-friends like her is what bolsters us up and keeps us going when the going is a bit rocky and the soles of our shoes are thin.  So, that sort of set the stage for today's blog post of a random nature.  The same random nature that our conversation meandered through...

This post made me want to rush out and buy a tube of lipstick for my daughter and daughters-in-law!  Now, I have never noticed any of them wearing lipstick of any color or name.  I think they may smear on a dab of gloss or something every now and again.  So, maybe the tube of lipstick wouldn't be for them to wear exactly.  Maybe it would just be there to be in that little zipper pocket on the side of the inside of their purse with the emory board and a band-aid or two.  It might even wallow around in the bottom with a couple of ink pens, a fast-food receipt, a matchbox car, a half-a-pack of gum, a kid's meal prize, and a petrified French fry only to be discovered when digging for their keys.  Then, it would remind them not to get lost in the demands of the children and the desires of the husband and the needs of the family and the guilt of wanting to be a Good Woman and they will Speak Louder.

I saw this post and realized that I could do something like that and maybe, just maybe I need to have a feather to tickle me a little bit.

I decided that I am just letting that front bedroom with my Granny's quilt simmer.  I'm not indecisive.  I'm not frustrated because I cannot find the perfect fabric for a bed skirt and window treatment and pillow shams.  I'm just letting it simmer.

I saw another addition of buffalo checks into Kim's life and determined that I WILL add buffalo checks SOMEWHERE in my house within the next year!  Plus, I realized that I am also going to watch for a coupon and add the beautiful toile that I love so much featuring the hunter and fisherman and pastoral colors and scenes SOMEWHERE in my house as well!

I read Karianne's post and tears welled up in my eyes and emotion swept over me and I realized that this is more the attitude that we need to wear daily than the one I've been wearing.  I realized that I truly miss sharing literature and particularly Holocaust literature with students and promised myself that I would work with a teacher next year and do just that.

This morning during my coffee slurping, I saw a couple of crafts that I definitely want to tackle and pinned a few ideas for later.  The two which seem simplest and accomplishable for now are creating leather tassels and decorating beautiful eggs.

Several of the blogs I subscribe to read showed spring tablescapes and spring door decor and springing up of their homes and I realized that I never even transitioned from the Let-It-Snow decorations in January to the Valentine's decorations.  However, sometime today I'm going to search for some eggs and bunnies and spring floral sprigs and transition to hopeful spring decor.

That is how my random day has stacked up.  How about yours?

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday, Corey!

Uplifting and Blessings

My Daddy was discharged from his hospital stay of several days earlier this week.  Mom brought him home and contracted with hospice to support them.  We have moments of merriment and moments when we fight tears.  Mostly, we have time to cherish and count our blessings.

The visits from the hospice nurses have already proven to us that some people have wings tucked up under their shirts.  Those women have been golden thus far.  They reassure and coach my mother and give Daddy care and attention as they document his health.

We are learning how to support and make these days comfortable and cope-able.

I can honestly say that I'm not surprised at how my parents friends and neighbors have supported them with visits and delicious meals to make things easier.

I also am grateful to be surrounded with my own friends and family who call just to check in or who send me text and voice messages to uplift our spirits.

A perfect example of such a moment of lifting happened yesterday morning as I was getting ready to leave home for work.

Out of the blue, I got a text message from a friend of mine with whom I kept company as an undergraduate more than thirty years ago.  This is a friend whose path and mine have crossed several times over the years and we can just pick up where we left off in a conversation even though it has been months or even years since we last were together.  Her father died after an extended illness several years ago.  So, when I got her message, I knew that she was thinking of that time and lifting us up.  Here is our exchange.