No More Middle School

No more Middle School! Can I get an AMEN? 

Kidding...not kidding!

So our baby finished 8th grade 

Yes, the year ended weird 

Yes, she missed out on many lasts

Yes, we mourn those celebrations

However, let’s not get stuck in the mud of this stupid virus. Instead, we celebrated Olivia’s accomplishments with a little party. Balloons just seem to make everything better. 

We love you Olivia.

You know I had to add her kindergarten

picture. Oh my! My heart is melting!

Rona 2020

I know people are calling it Covid-19 but I'm working on not being a follower!

It's challenging to put into words what this world-wide pandemic means to me or has done to me or has done to us. I have mixed feelings about who is speaking truth. Furthermore, those who are in charge or making suggestions do they even know the full truth. 

Let go back two months. On the morning of Thursday, March 12th we were packed and ready to head south to Oklahoma and then on to Arkansas to watch Reagan play in her first D1 collegiate soccer game. A couple days earlier she had text me looking for encouragement, she was FULL of nerves. Her first time EVER taking the field in a Husker jersey and she would be facing the SEC 2019 champions. Nebraska was full of injuries and Reagan thought she would be playing the full 90 minutes. What a huge undertaking for our little freshman. While the excitement of Reagan's dreams coming true was on our minds, the Corona virus had penetrated US boundaries. What was once something infecting thousands in China had become a threat to the entire world. 

The TIMELINE...

Thursday 3/12 Morning: could we take Olivia's friend with us or would they let only family attend college games

Thursday: Our local school district cancelled school Friday and the following 2 weeks and then all classes would move to eLearning

Thursday Noon: SEC cancelled the game 

Thursday Afternoon: NCAA cancelled all college sports through the rest of the school year

From there on things would change daily or hourly. Stores closing. Social Distancing. Stay home mandates. It became the norm to have things taken away without discussion, it just happened. But when I look back to that Thursday morning, I can't believe the incredible amount of change in just 8 hours.

All 3 of my children are (we’re) doing on-line schooling. Chris is (was) teaching online. Nobody really likes it and I doubt that there is a lot of learning happening. This isn't a cliche, I am praying for school (the kind they physically attend) to start up on time in August.

What am I doing? Oddly enough I started out this time of quarantine/stay-at-home, leaving the house everyday to work in the office. My co-worker was quarantined due to a sick child so I became a 45 hour per week employee. Let me say "thank you Lord for a job" when so many are now on unemployment but those hours kicked my butt! 

I am not scared of the Rona but I do fear what the cure is doing to our country. Ten million plus people went on unemployment in the matter of one week, I have no idea what those numbers are now. Calls to the suicide hotline are 600 percent above normal. People are missing important events. Surgeries are shut down. My friend's mom is suddenly dying in the hospital and they are unable to go say good-bye. The stock market has plummeted. Neighbors are calling in to report gatherings of people, even children in a park. We need to get the world open again. Nebraska shut down early and doesn't have the enormous population of New York or California so we don't have the same problems they have.

Oh come Jesus, bring a revolution to this hurting world. I pray for families to reunite, the more simplistic life to be sought and lives to be redeemed in Christ Jesus. 

Here are a few pictures from the last coupe of months.

Moving Reagan home but
thinking it was temporary

Quick trip to see Emma

Churches Closed
Online church

This is how we hang out
with friends . . . ZOOM

Lots of Family Time

What families do now...

eat together

play games

take walks

watch movies

***maybe God is rebuilding the family***

Keeping our immune systems strong

Almost seems like TRUTH

Reagan's Husker meetings

Omaha gets 8" of snow on April 16th...that's weird!

This is what eLearning looks like

Easter with Nana & Papa

Flowers from a friend after oral surgery

Planting all my outdoor pots

Mother's Day was complete, all 3 girls were home.

Nebraska is slowly opening back up. I finally got a hair cut and we have gone out to a restaurant a couple times. Lots and lots of people wear masks, for the most part, I don’t. I’m concerned about the mental health of so many, including myself. This is hard but God is good. My bible verse today was Matthew 6:25. The first line says, “Therefore do not worry about your life...” Yes, this message is one I need daily.

I am sorry for anyone who has had a run in with the rona.  I hear it’s really bad for a few people. I am certain Reagan had it in December right before going to college. She was awfully ill but recovered like a champ. I’m praying for healing of body, spirit and mind. Lord, may we look to you and trust in your ways.

Be well & Be a blessing!

COVID - 19: the number of pounds we will gain for sitting around

Update: I wrote this in early April but didn't post it until today (May 20) so I am back dating it.

I remember feeling it was important to be positive, today I have a different perspective but I am posting this anyway.

*****************************************

This picture has become a very familiar image. I see it everywhere...

news casts

magazine covers

commercials

and in my nightmares

Coronavirus or Covid-19 has taken this world by storm.

Right now I don't like our "new normal" and I pray we go back to some kind of the "old normal" soon but to be honest I am so curious to see what changes permanently. 

Mother's across the nation are praying for kids to go back to school and maybe they will ban together to give teachers a raise. I'm guessing parents everywhere are realizing "it was the kid's fault after all!" Joking...not joking!

So much has changed and some of it for the better.

Our family calendar isn't crammed full of activities so we always eat dinner together and 6 of 7 days we go for a walk.

Sunday mornings are now a little more lazy but we still get church in as a family.

Online school...ok I'm not sure what the positive is with this one. ha

Businesses are closed and I'm saving money.

I miss seeing friends.

I miss my kids' activities.

I miss dates with my hubby.

I miss my hairdresser.

I miss giving hugs.

I miss going to church.

But I refuse to let fear take over. 

MusicLives 2020

**Really late posting this**

Jan 25, 2020

Middle School Show Choir competition #1 of 2020

After two cancelled competitions thanks to Mother Nature blessing Omaha with snow and ice, Encore hit the stage with a display of excellence. The girls did all the things needed to bring home a 1st place trophy. Then there's the Encore crowd, we love our show choir

College Kid #2

!!GO BIG RED!!

We have been talking about, planning and waiting for this moment since she was a sophomore in high school. We actually started planning on that first college visit in early August 2016 before her first day of high school. So with that much thought this shouldn't have been a big deal. but of coarse it was. We were sending baby bird #2 out of the nest to make her way in the wild. 

Literally, a college campus is "THE WILD." 

Reagan spent every possible moment of Christmas break with her friends until they all had to go back to school on January 6th. At that point, she had to start packing. How was she going to wrap her brain around putting all of her belongings in to boxes and hauling them 45 minutes west on I-80 to a college dorm room? It wasn't just the packing, she was stuck on all the unknowns. 

The roommate

The teammates

The campus

The expectations

The food

The study time

Was she good enough

Was she smart enough

Would she be lonely

I completely understood her concerns but I also knew she would be fine. Don't get me wrong, I was praying for God to show up in all those areas. Guess what? He did! So even though I had some concerns I knew it would all work out. 

Remember when Emma moved to college I was stuck in an immobilizer on the couch for 6 weeks. I cried from the time they left the house until Chris got back home. So as hard as it is to scoot the baby birds out of the nest it is also exhilarating to see them move on in their journey. This process was a joy.

The process of packing is messy!

 The process of unpacking is messy as well!

Saturday, January 11th we loaded up my Prius and Chris' Escape with all the things a college freshman needs in a dorm room and three of her family members. An hour later we were unloading boxes, bags, rugs, decorations and snacks with 4 of her new soccer teammates. Reagan's unknown roommate had never responded to her emails and DMs which left us curious about who she was and if she was even going to show up for the semester. The moment of truth was upon us as Reagan inserted the key card into the locked door. What would we find? We found a smelly dirty room. Dirty clothes in her drawers. Trash and food from last semester under Reagan's bed. A fridge covered in opened food packages. And dust bunnies the size of my Prius. It all makes me laugh now.

The girls may not be close friends but they will be fine for the next 4.5 months.

That day 4 strangers in Husker Soccer apparel carried boxes and gave us helpful tips. Kinzie, Riss, Carly and Alicia are now Reagan's people. That first night they went out for dinner and watched movies. The next morning they all went to church together. WOW! So many answered prayers! 

In general, the soccer team has been overwhelmingly helpful. Each girl has touched Reagan's life in one way or another to help her transition into college life. Only 4 days into Reagan's college experience she told me, "mom, this is the best decision I have ever made!" Since that day, she has repeated that sentiment in various ways. It brings me such great joy to see my child so happy.

Classes are going well too. If it were up to Regs, she would just play soccer. HA!! Maybe one day that dream will become a reality. 

 Reagan, you are going to surprise yourself.

You are BRAVER than you believe

You are STRONGER than your seem

You are SMARTER than you think 

and LOVED more than you know!

I am the one right behind you, cheering you on and if you slip along the way 

I will also be the one helping you up. One last important message below

DON'T FORGET TO...

 AND

F. O. U. R. T. E. E. N.

This year Olivia and I agreed back in November that her friend birthday party would be in January. It's just so hard to find a time that works for this girl. The musical, the concerts, the rehearsals all filled her days and nights. So LESS THAN one month post actual birthday we hosted a movie night with 8 friends. It was perfect!

liv . caitlyn . bella . hailey . shay

kaitlin . grace . maggie

cupcakes that look like starbucks frappecinos

this sign comes out for every holiday

Thank you Olivia for having such a great group of friends.

Many middle school girls can get a bad rap but these girls are generous, kind, loyal, authentic, creative, funny and intelligent. 

I love you dearly sweet girl. Make year 14 the best one yet!

Wrapping Up 2019

Merry Christmas 2019 and Happy New Year 2020!

It's been a good year and I am looking forward to the journey of 2020 with my crew.

This is my favorite moment

If our church ever stops doing candle light...hmm, what is this actually called? Well, if they make us stop playing with fire during the Christmas Eve service I will probably have to attend a different church once a year. I love the symbolism of sharing the light of Jesus. As we stand in a completely dark sanctuary singing "Silent Night," one candle is lit and within minutes the entire room is filled with light. Even the memory of it warms my soul.

Selfie with my favorite girls

Every year we take a family picture at church. This year we arrived entirely too early because I was concerned about getting good seats, so the five of us messed around taking pictures. Unfortunately, after church we were in such a hurry to make it to our dinner reservations we didn't get a family photo taken. I'm glad we got these. For the record, Nana and Papa came to church with us.

Christmas Eve PJ photo

No Christmas card and no Christmas Letter in 2019. 

What will I do in my Christmas scrapbook...leave a page blank?

Through the ups and downs of every day life I have decided to find joy. When I look for it, I find it! My prayer for my friends, family and fans (ha ha I don't have fans but it sounded good) is that they all find joy in the mundane, the challenges and other people's successes. 

Merry Christmas and God Bless

Reagan's High School Graduation Party

It came

It went

It was a success!

We had over 210 friends and family come through the doors to celebrate Reagan. I'm sure we greeted each person but there were some who I hardly remember having much of a conversation with. But thank you all for sharing your Sunday afternoon with us.

My people came to the rescue

Susan and Kimberly, you are AWESOME! Thank you for everything you did to help us set up, serve food and clean up. You get me. You make me smile. I miss you both!

School Friends

Girl Cousins

Mark & Claire from CORE PT

The Grandparents

Colton and Reagan

Will S

Kenzie B

Kaylee B (almost family)

Cece B

 Cookies and More Cookies

Reagan wanted Chocolate Chip cookies...we had 600. I couldn't help but order the cutest sugar cookies in the midwest from Angie Foley of Branson. I wish I had a better photo of her designs. They look amazing and taste just as fabulous!

 The menu - Walking tacos and Chocolate chip cookies.

In case you were wondering, 45 lbs of taco meat fits in a 22 qt roaster oven

I was so busy getting ready for the party I didn't focus on getting good pictures of all my decorations. These center pieces were simple but just what I wanted. I spray painted books, placed on burlap wrapped in red and black ribbon and 2 framed photos; an early childhood picture and a senior picture. To finish off the look we added cups of m&ms and 2020 confetti. 

When I track down a few more pictures I will be adding them. It's truly more for me to look at years later than for my blog readers. 

What a great day of celebration!