Done . . . Finally!

With a warm temp of 55º today, we finally finished painting the house.  I did the painting and Sam did the stirring and pouring whenever I needed more.  He also tackled the leaves, while I cut down hostas and Matt brought the logs down the hill.  Next on the "to do" list - making those logs into firewood. But not right now.  Right now, we're just going with exhaustion in the easy chairs!  

Recue Hero!

 

When Matt was little, one of our favorite shows was "Rescue Heroes".  Today, I got to be a real life "rescue hero". 

I had gone for a swim at the Y this morning and returned home without showering to finish my workout when I heard the door bell ring.  We were expecting some packages today, so I said to myself, "Leave it, Amazon man.  I'll grab it later."  When the door bell rang a second time and I could see a person at the door, I decided to check it out.

Joe Rust, who we knew from church, was at the door.  Turns out he had gotten a flat tire on his way to work today.  He dropped his car off at a repair shop, then walked to his son Kevin's house, which happens to be across the street from us.  

Neither Kevin nor his wife were home and Joe really wanted a ride home, so I grabbed my keys, apologized for my appearance and drove him home!

Thankful Thursday!

Today was a VERY.LONG.DAY at work.  Things did NOT.GO.WELL.AT.ALL, including rain at recess, which we stayed out in anyway.  My first words to Micah when I got home were, "I.NEED.CHOCOLATE."  

Fifteen minutes after fortification, I began to clean the kitchen.  While cleaning, I listened to "Episode 336:  Our Reaction to the Storming of the Capital Building" on my favorite Podcast, Provoke and Inspire.

I am thankful that these men, who Micah and I went to Ukraine with, speak truth and walk with Jesus and let their lights shine brightly.  

Data Digs Results

Nothing like the results of the "Data Digs" to totally turn my life upside-down!  Up until yesterday, I was shared equally between the three fifth grade classrooms because as far as anyone knew, the classes had pretty much identical educational needs.  I found out yesterday how inaccurate that perception was . . .

It turns out the classroom that I had spent last year in, and somewhat had tried to avoid this year so I would not be accused of playing favorites, had over 50% of the students qualifying for additional help, compared to the classroom next door in which only 3% of the students (or just one child) qualified for additional help.  

Friends, I'm going home!  I love Aimee and I love working with Aimee!  Today, we worked out a schedule where her classroom IS the priority.  Any time I have left, can be used by the other classrooms.  It's going to be a crazy fall . . . but fun because we'll be together once again!      

Sharing the Good Ship Mercy!

Friday morning, Micah and I drove up to the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, to share Mercy Ships with forty-some nursing students.  When we arrived, our friend Melinda, who had invited us to speak, said that they had had technical difficulties with their first speaker and were now running about fifteen minutes behind.  The students would skip their break, though, and we should have our full allotted time to speak.  Except the first speaker went on and on and on - even with two instructors trying to stop her!  What should have been a twenty-minute talk that I had spent two days preparing, was now cut down to five minutes (because I felt it was very important to show the two videos).  I was feeling a bit whiney - save for two things:

• There were a small group of girls that stayed after to talk with us, asking great questions, and very excited about the ministry of Mercy Ships.  In fact, one of the girls had been onboard when the ship was in Cameron as her parents are missionaries there.  It was a joy to speak with them.
• God reminded me later through 1 Corinthians 15:58b to "always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Only God knows the fruit our time will bring . . .

 

The Cheerleaders

 

I saw my cheerleaders on Thursday!  It was so fun!  They've cheered me through two knee surgeries, one ankle surgery, two graduations, five trips overseas, and so much more!  They're the MS ladies at the Y (MS being multiple sclerosis).  For years, their class was during my swim.  We'd end at the same time and I'd walk and talk with every Tuesday and Thursday, matching my pace to theirs. It was such a joy to see my favorite four - Lori, Shannon, Barb and Diane!

Do we have a winner?

 

Every year the Star Tribune has a Christmas cookie baking contest and this year, for the second time, Micah entered.  

The first time she entered, she entered "Grandma's Sugar Cookies", not realizing that sugar cookies were too ordinary and that they were looking for something more "outside of the box".

This year's entry is "Malted Milk Ball Sandwich Cookies".

My high school friend Beth makes them every year for Christmas.  Micah did a few tweaks to Beth's recipe and now we'll wait and see if we have a winner . . .

Thankful Thursday!

Today I'm thankful for health and time and friends.  I am thankful that I feel well and that I only worked two hours (for pay!) this week which allowed me some special time with friends . . .

In the beauty and warmth of Monday afternoon, I met my friend Katie and her four kids at a park between our houses.  Katie has leukemia and it's not getting better.  Add to that, her kindergarten daughter has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and it's getting worse.  Then, when she brought her three-year old son in for preschool screening, they thought he had cognitive learning problems.  And, did I mention, her husband has started to travel for work?  Last time, he brought home a Covid scare.  I'm thankful for my time with Katie.

Last night, Sam and I went out for dinner with our friends, of whom the wife has early onset Alzheimers.  They leave for Florida tomorrow morning so it was special to spend those few precious moments with them before they return in six weeks.

Tomorrow, Micah and I will be having lunch with my friend who has had four brain surgeries and is now looking at a fifth.  

I am ever grateful for these women and the roles they have played in my life.  And I am so thankful for the time I had to spend with them this week . . .   

Dinner with Dad

We drove down to Iowa on Saturday and had dinner with Dad.  He wanted to go out and he wanted hamburgers and French fries.  So off we went to Burger & Company in downtown Spirit Lake, Iowa.  We beat the lunch rush and got the last four seats at a table - and some pretty good burgers, too!

 

Frosting with the F.O.O.'s

Allison and the kids came down yesterday to frost cupcakes!  Check it out:

The girls had some really cute and creative cupcakes.  The boys, not so much.

If you need to see everyone with their favorite frosted cupcake, I have pictures.  But, somehow, the thought of putting all of those pictures in here was just TOO much sugar!

We also had pizza, watched the game and enjoyed lots of fun conversation!

Age update:  Lincoln is in kindergarten, Kingsley is in fourth grade and Kennedy is in eighth grade.  

Q:  Why can't you give Elsa a balloon?

A:  Because she would "let it go"!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I'm just thankful that it was Sam and not me!  It was after supper, after I had cleaned the entire house (with some vacuuming help from Micah), after working all day, after making dinner, after doing laundry, after working out and I was tired.  Exhausted might be a better word.    

Sam decided to make himself a pot of coffee.  He got out a brand new spanking full can of coffee grounds and somehow managed to spill them all the over still pretty darn clean kitchen floor.  

Like I said, I was thankful it was Sam and not me.  I didn't say a word while he cleaned up the major mess, save for the fact, "Well, the floor's the cleanest it's been in a while!"

For those of you wondering, of course he kept the coffee!

2501

Miles swam since I began swimming fourteen years ago!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

That's exactly what my dear friend Heidi did today! Here we are at the Vikings/Detroit game.  She won some killer seats which I thoroughly enjoyed!

She won free parking across from the stadium, access to all the free food and beverages you could want, and we sat right next to the field.  Even Viktor the Viking stopped by!

Besides the Vikings win the game, my most favorite thing was Detroit player Jamal Williams warming up before the game.  I wanted him to win! 

Dish Pan Hands!

This will be the story that never ends.  Sure enough, while our dishwasher control panel arrived this week, we have now since heard from Sears that the bottom which the repairman thought was in stock, is NOT.

For the third time since May, our concern has been escalated.  They used to say, "You will hear back from us in twenty-four hours."  Now, they're saying, "You will hear back from us in two to three business days."  Fortunately, Sam had spoken with the person he talked to when he called today previously.  After all, our contract does read, "If we are unable to resolve your problem within two weeks, you will receive a new appliance."😂😂😂

And that, my friends, as we had supper on paper plates again tonight, is a FIRST.WORLD.PROBLEM.

Thankful Thursday!

Laugh all you want - today I'm thankful for my daughter's knees.  We currently have supper in the crock pot.  Tomorrow night's supper will also be in the crock pot.  I wanted to get it all put together before I go swimming at 5:00 p.m. so I wouldn't have to cook when I get home.

Lovely daughter got on her hands and knees and dug through far back of the cupboard where I was pretty sure saver husband had stored a second crock pot base.  Lucky me!  I was right!

And, I'm also thankful for Sam's saver tendencies!  At least this time😉   

NOT an Option.

Some stories just break your heart.  Like the fifth grade girl who is so, so, so far behind in math . . . When her teacher asked her what was up, she said she was home schooled last year and her mom didn't like math, so she didn't teach it.  Now her daughter is suffering the consequences . . . and spending lots of time with me!

This is the Song That Never Ends!

 Actually, in our case, this is the dishwasher story that never ends.  Sure enough, the repairman who we thought had put in the wrong part, said that wasn't the problem.  Nope, our control panel went out and caused extreme heat and that's what melted the bottom of our dishwasher.  So he said they had new dishwasher bottoms in stock and the new control panel arrived today.  He's scheduled to return on October 20.  We can only hope that we have a functioning dishwasher after that because the four of us are really getting tired of washing dishes.  

First.World.Problem.  

Just a thought . . .

Back in my younger days, there was a joke about a guy stuck up on his roof during a flood.  He wasn't worried about drowning because he had prayed that God would save him.  

A row boat came by and asked if he needed help and he replied, "No, God's going to save me." 

Another boat came by and asked if he needed help and he replied, "No, God's going to save me."

Finally, a helicopter came by and asked if he needed help and he replied, "No, God's going to save me."

The man drowned in the flood.  When he got to heaven, he asked God why He didn't save him.  God replied, "I sent a row boat, another boat and a helicopter.  You didn't get in."

I just share this because, in this time of Covid, God has provided Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and I got in!

New Swim Schedule

The opening lifeguard at the Y resigned last week, which meant beginning on Monday, there were no early morning swims.  Nada.  Zippo.  Sadness.  I decided I could either be a whiner (which is the easiest course to follow) or be a winner and swim whenever I could make it work.  Here's the funny story . . .

I swam at 4:00 p.m. on Monday - and Linda was there.  We used to swim together (before Covid) at 9 a.m. but hadn't swam together recently.

I swam at 2:00 p.m. today - and Linda was there.  

I asked her what the odds were of us swimming together tomorrow.  She said she'll be swimming at 4:00 p.m. and I'm scheduled for 5:00 p.m. so we'll just see each other in passing.

We either need a morning guard or the Y to decide adults can swim at their own risk without a guard!  These afternoons just aren't the same - save for Linda!

Whistle-blower!

Since today was the first Wednesday of the month, the emergency sirens went off at 1:00 p.m. while we were having third grade recess.  Because the sirens were MUCH louder than my little whistle would ever be, we were late coming in from recess.  Not a child complained.  The teachers just laughed. 

My New B.F.F.

Two third grade boys were talking at recess today about how old they were.  One was eight and the other was nine.  The nine-year-old turned me to me and asked how old I was.  Before I could respond, he said, "You must be like twenty!"  I said, "Nope. I'm twenty-five!" 

sigh.

Micah received an e-mail from her advisor on Monday saying he was having a special guest come in today to talk with a handful of students about what it means to lead an organization as a follower of Christ.  The note said he wanted to personally invite her to be a part of this lunch as she was killing it this semester and was the type of student he had envisioned when inviting the speaker to come to campus.

Of course, Micah said, "Yes" and then she reminded her advisor of her peanut/tree nut allergies.  Sadly, accommodations were not provided.  She enjoyed meeting the guest speaker, but received no lunch.  Sigh.  

Y? Not.

One can always hope that their request for the correct paperwork for their Saturday morning CPR class is fulfilled.  Or they can set up their teaching space, and begin the mad hunt for tests and answer sheets for the second week in a row.  Fortunately, I didn't have to hunt long.  The powers in charge had left my paperwork in the same place I had left it last Saturday, only further down in the pile.  Really?  Filing is THAT hard???

Rachael and I rectified that situation today.  We cleaned the CPR closet.  Three hours later, we had filled a dumpster and a recycle bin (or at least it felt like it!) and put all the paperwork and equipment in the most logical, easily accessible spaces we could find.  Then we labeled everything.  We're hoping that our co-instructors can read and return . . .    

Wondering . . .

Thursday morning, I went in to talk with my supervisor, Mo.  Fifth grade got early prep this year so from 9:30-10:30 every morning, I wasn't having child contact time.  Add to that, from 9:00-9:30, fifth grade was having morning meetings, and while it was great fun for me to get to know the kids, it probably wasn't the best use of my time.  So I got moved to first grade from 9:00-10:30 every morning.  I was excited until . . .

We had a tutor meeting yesterday.  There are M*A*J*O*R problems in first grade, specifically in the classroom I will be spending most of my time in.  Great.

I told Aimee, one of the fifth grade teachers, I'd either be running down the stairs at 10:30 every morning with great joy in having survived first grade for the day or in tears because of how challenging it really is.  She laughed and said she had an entire locker full of kleenex just waiting for me!

I told Sam last night, you know, the only way I'm going to make it through first grade is with Jesus and the power of prayer.  I can't do anything.  BUT.HE.CAN!    

Thankful Thursday!

By the time Thursday rolled around, I was pooped.  Just plain worn out and tired.  In addition to work and working out and cooking and laundry, I had given blood and gotten groceries - twice.  

I can not tell you how thankful I was to walk into our house Thursday afternoon and hear these words, "Mom, I vacuumed the whole house, even the stairs!"

Thank you, Micah! 

WOW! Wednesday

My job title is "Title One Tutor".  That means I mainly work with students who are behind in their grade level or just aren't quite getting it.

I've had a fifth grade boy multiple times over the last couple of weeks who I've worked with in long division.  On Wednesday, HE.GOT.IT!

It all connected.  It all clicked.  Division was his.  And it was wonderful to see. 

What a Wonderful Wednesday!

It has been my goal to blog all week, but obviously, it just hasn't happened!  We'll only go back as far as Wednesday . . .

Students have been raising funds at school for a Walk-a-thon that was held yesterday.  For each portion of the goal that was reached, students got to celebrate.  A week ago Friday, we were able to wear hats to school.  On Wednesday, we got to dress up as our favorite Olympian or sports personality.  I went as Regan Smith.  The story only gets better . . .

Obviously, I couldn't wear my swimsuit all day, so I did the next best thing.  I called my friend Carla Regan and asked if her boys had any Lakeville North swim shirts at home that I could wear.  Little does Aiden know . . . 

I borrowed his shirt!

I sat down next to a second grader at lunch who was wearing a swim suit and asked her who she was.  "Regan Smith."  "Me, too!" 

It turns out that 2021 two-time Olympic silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist, swimmer Regan Smith, attended the elementary school that I work at.

Lori Quall, a second grade teacher, had Regan's picture up on her bulletin board because she was her second grade teacher.  My supervisor, Mo Long, had no Regan pictures up, but she did have the dubious honor of being Regan's third grade teacher.

If only we could have gotten the real Regan Smith!