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Sometime after Christmas, I talked with my parents

Sometime after Christmas, I talked with my parents about having an open house for their 50th wedding anniversary. My mom said that she didn’t want a big party. I told her that she didn’t have a choice in the matter because I wanted to throw them a big party. Well, my mom got her wish when everything shut down a couple of months ago. I guess that’s what it took for her to get her way. 😀 .
So, today we celebrated their anniversary with just the 13 of us. We watched a video my dad made with pictures from the past 50 years, and we also watched a video I made of Jeff and I interviewing our kids by asking them questions about my parents. Then we had supper, played a trivia game (Thanks, Jeff!), and enjoyed being all together for the first time in three months.
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While it wasn’t the 50th anniversary celebration I had envisioned, I believe it was even better. I am so thankful for the love my parents have shared over the years, the example they have been, and the family they created. It can’t have been easy (I mean, they had to raise me. 😉), but I am so thankful for them.

The past couple of weeks have been filled with out

The past couple of weeks have been filled with outdoor fun including many walks through the woods, mushroom hunting, baking, preparing our garden for planting, e-learning, playing games, and just enjoying being together. .
After an entire month of not leaving our property (at least for the youngest two kids and I), we drove down the road to my uncle’s woods to hunt for mushrooms yesterday afternoon. I don’t know if that really counts because he lives less than two miles from our house. I guess I have been taking this stay-at-home order pretty seriously. 🙂
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I have been so thankful for all of the memories we have been creating during this time. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the good times we have shared. I know not everyone has the luxury to be able to work from home right now, and I am thankful for the essential workers, especially the health care workers. Thank you! ❤️ .
P.S. I am not sure what happened to the second picture. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My sweet Janna is 9 years old today. I am not sure

My sweet Janna is 9 years old today. I am not sure how it is possible that she is this old. I know she is still little, but the years have gone by so quickly. Janna has been counting down the days until her birthday for the past couple of weeks. She has said things like, “I know it will just be the seven of us, but I know I will have a great birthday.” I am sure she will always remember her quarantine birthday. 🙂
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Janna loves to learn, and she often researches topics of interest and writes reports about what she has learned. She is such a happy girl who loves to laugh, read, play games, help others, and create with Legos/paper/craft supplies. I say it every year, but Janna has been a true joy. I am so thankful I get to be her mama, and I look forward to what the future holds for my little girl. Happy Birthday, Janna!

As my eyes popped open this morning at 5:30 a.m.,

As my eyes popped open this morning at 5:30 a.m., the time my alarm usually goes off for school, I realized we are beginning week three of social distancing and staying at home. While I have to admit that I was ready for a break due to the fact that January and February were two of the busiest months I can remember, it does seem strange not to be going back this week.
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I do miss my students and the normalcy that our going to school routine provided. However, I just want to say that I believe I have been given a gift. There have been so many times over the years when I have wished I could just freeze time. I have that right now. All five of my kids are home with me. I have loved the laughter and love we have been sharing, and I haven’t heard a single “I’m bored”. .
I have seen posts from parents who are not sure how they are going to "homeschool" their children during this time. Guess what? Parents don't have to try to recreate school for their kids. They don't have to try to be teachers of subjects they don't feel prepared to teach. Parents have been teaching their children since birth whether they realize it or not. Children will learn from their parents during this time. We have to decide what that is going to be. .
What I believe my job is right now as a parent, who is going to be working from home while my children will be completing school work from home, is to simply be present and to love my children. I will help them with whatever school work I can, but I have also, from a young age, given my kids the resources to do research and solve problems for themselves. What I will do is be an encourager and a sounding board.
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There are many resources available for kids and parents. My social media feeds have been flooded with ideas. If I see something that I think my kids will like, I might try it. However, I am not going to bombard my kids with activities. We are going to enjoy this slower pace and not make this time stressful. This is a scary time, but I sure don’t want to make it scary for my kids. We are going to laugh, go outside, read, play games, complete projects, do things for others, complete school work, and be thankful we have each other.

Last week I shared that my little girl and I had m

Last week I shared that my little girl and I had made 8 masks to donate. Last night I finished sewing a mask and counted up all of the masks we had made during the week. We are up to 81 masks that have been donated or will be donated. It doesn’t seem like much when I know our healthcare workers are out there on the front lines while I am at home with my children. However, I will do what I can and keep staying at home with my family and sewing masks. #millionmaskchallenge #sewing #sewamask #masksforheroes

I have been doing more baking since I have been ho

When my daughter found out there was a need for m

When my daughter found out there was a need for masks, she wanted to help. She and I have sewn 8 masks to donate, and we have cut fabric to make 16 more. Finding enough elastic has been a little bit of a challenge, but my sister-in-law helped me out today. (Thanks, Emily!) We are trying to use our talents, and our time since we are home, to help others. I love the heart of little girl of mine! #millionmaskchallenge

I took this picture last Friday when the snow was

I took this picture last Friday when the snow was falling. At that moment, I was two assignments away from finishing my first master’s class for high ability licensure through Ball State. I had also just finished a busy week of teaching that included teaching 54 students how to sew with sewing machines, and I was getting ready to go to a basketball game. As I was outside feeding the animals, I took a minute to appreciate the beauty of the falling snow and the serenity of the countryside before driving an hour to watch my sons play their games. .
While the past two months have been fairly stressful, I have tried to take each day as it comes and be thankful. Somehow in the midst of ballgames, teaching, and taking care of a house filled with five awesome kids, I was able fit in the time to get an “A+” in my class. I feel truly blessed to have had so many good things going on, and I am looking forward to spring with a grateful heart.
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P.S. I don’t think my hair has been this long since I was in high school.

It has been a month since I last posted and what a

It has been a month since I last posted and what a month it has been. We have been busy with basketball games and a new puppy. Not only that, but I am taking a class through Ball State’s high ability licensure program. Life has felt pretty crazy, but we are getting used to a new routine.
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Picture 1: I finally got a picture of James and Joshua in their uniforms. I can’t even begin to describe how much easier basketball has been this year now that they are both in high school and playing on the same team. They are fun to watch, and more than once I have wanted to be out there playing. Then I remember I am almost 46, and I settle for cheering on my boys. 🙂
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Pictures 2-3: Janna has wanted a Welsh Corgi since she bought a book at the book fair about dogs. She has written two reports (on her own time) about Corgis. I still don’t know how it happened, but her dad decided to get an indoor dog, and I said yes. I have never had an indoor dog in my life, and we haven’t had an indoor cat in almost 20 years. Anyway, we now have the sweetest little Corgi named Winnie, and we are getting adjusted to life with an indoor dog. .
Pictures 4-5: I haven’t seen my cousin in almost five years, and it was so great that she and my uncle came for a visit this weekend. They got to see James play a great game to help his team win homecoming.
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Picture 6: James was inducted into the National Honor Society this week. I usually try not to post much about my kids’ achievements, but I am super proud of how hard he works. Side note, James just got diagnosed with strep throat yesterday morning after playing a tough game on Friday. He never did have a fever, so the doctor gave him an antibiotic and said he probably wasn’t contagious. So, he took a nap, played his game, and then slept for twelve hours last night. .
Picture 7: At the start of the semester, I had new students in four of my classes. That meant that I would be teaching a new group of students how to sew. We started with plastic needles and styrofoam plates. We have since moved on to felt monsters and real needles, and I think they are starting to get the hang of it.
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