August 2017

Today will be an unusual day with a total eclipse to occur this afternoon. The boys will attempt to make viewer boxes, while I pick up glasses from a friend. I hope we just watch the video on tv. My eyes hurt thinking about it.
I'm working through IEW training videos and preparing for Summit's first class this Wednesday.  I have gathered the comments from The Close Reads Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook that occurred this May. I was heading back and forth to Memphis, and beginning my preparations for teaching IEW's 'Following Narnia, Book 1' this fall. Low and behold, guess what came up? The discussion about the winner of the Children's Literature Challenge from brackify. Who knew that the book order was such an issue, but now that I'm in over my head studying all things Narnia, I can totally relate. So, instead of studying the given source text for the lesson, I'm going to write a brief compilation of the comments. A true full-circle moment for me awaits.
We have a million birds all over our yard. As I type a small finch is resting and singing on the rocker outside my window. Peace. #lifemeds. #onethousandgifts

January 2017

"You know it's a busy day when you find yourself licking the chocolate from your breakfast donut off your phone screen.
You know your kids think you're stressed when they ask if you've used that massage gift certificate during communion at church."

This is the business of my August. The August that fell right before 'that' September. I never finished that post. School had just started for the boys and for myself. It was going to be a *great* school year. I had learned that contentment goes hand in hand with setting goals, setting aim. A *sweet spot* had been found.
I am faking that sweet spot, and day by day returning to a new normal. Loss and emptiness come and go. I've heard third Mondays in January are the toughest for everyone, no matter what you're grieving, thinking, doing.
So I watch the birds and savor God's care for me.