The end of the year is on the horizon!

We did fun pictures!  They were so cute chatting away while waiting!

Lunch out on my way home from the airport to drop Alisa off for her Easter trip to Maryland and Tennessee.  I pulled out the chairs from the shed and the girls and I sat out in the sun for a good while.

MMMM...lemon pound cake with raspberry sauce and Cool Whip!

 

Just remembering the days of training...

Mom was trained to make every day things a little more fun and fancy.

Alisa was trained that some jobs never end, and humor makes it easier!

Teddy was trained to sit and talk to Dad about little things and big things.  Dad was trained to slow down and listen.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree because of this!

Ashlynn was trained to do the every day jobs well.  Any job is more fun when you do it with someone!

And now...the weekends are so quiet.  

Our jobs of being trained and training are done.  It has hit me more this week as we hear back from our children about life situations.  Our every day of watching these children grow up are now over.  We are now spectators watching them live and work using what we have taught them.  It is humbling and exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time.  The weekends of quiet are full of tear-filled contemplation and prayer as we watch our young adults live.  Some days are a struggle.  Some days are easy.   It really is a sight to behold, especially since we remember some of the hard days of preparation for this.  We weren't just training our children, God was training us as parents.  I like to think we all learned some really great life lessons!
 

We made it!

And without tears...from anyone!  I may have hyperventilated a few times as I watched the answers that were being marked...cause I knew they could get the right answer if I could re-word it.  My heart beat proudly when they figured out a hard question and answered it right!  There were times that I totally know there was probably a lucky guess or a mistake on their part, but I choose to think that they knew what they were doing in that instance.

On the really hard reading section at the end with no picture clues...um, yeah, most of them did not try because they wanted to be done and put their heads down, so they just colored in the circles.  In the past, that is where the tears have entered.  This class is different...each one is!  This class (not all...but several) talks incessantly...no matter if someone else is talking or not.  A lack of respect for authority and a strength of entitlement to do what I am going to do no matter what you say.  I have students totally ignoring my voice, and I think, "Shame on parents who allow this behavior at home.  A child is not my equal and there is a time for them to learn to be quiet and take instruction...for their understanding and their safety.  I will not debate this with a five or six year old."  This class will avoid hard things or thinking if they can...it is easier to look at a friend's answer.  I will hurry up and do things however I want to get on to the next thing so I can play, and if the teacher stops me...she will learn that I am not happy.  There is no self control or stewardship.  Each day is a game of control...and I am constantly asking for God to give me the strength and wisdom to hear the Holy Spirit's voice above the obnoxious and immature crazy that has been in control lately.  I have learned, and lately been reminded of the value of God' way!  I will not budge on that!  I see in our three chair-fillers the value of doing things God's way...not an easy way or a stumble free way...but it is a peace-filled way...and that was all pre-Covid crazy and chaos.

I'm not going to make excuses or play the blame game...but this is one effect of the Covid chaos that has been enhanced in children.  "Just tell me what to do and I will maybe do it and definitely without thinking or trying to problem solve."  Adults have taught children many things through the last couple years... and I don't think they even realize what the children caught!  I do know that satan has counted it a success, and he is just getting warmed up with each year that passes.  The Bible tells us so!

This, of course, is my opinion based on what I am dealing with in the classroom over the last two years since we are back in the classroom.  I have been in or around the classroom as a teacher, sub, mom, or assistant for over twenty-three years now...I cannot even believe that!  The last seven have been in Kindergarten!

Don't get me started about the views of "what my child missed out on two years ago and I don't want this child to miss out on..."  I know exactly what happened!  I lived it and worked harder than ever as a classroom teacher who was out of the classroom.  And it wasn't bad!!!  It helped me be a better K5 teacher!  We had a senior and a junior in high school.  We had a freshman in college.  They all faired just fine and have blossomed because of what they learned and grew through in those days.  Don't limit God's working in your life!!!  Covid has colored everyone's perspective and we are still dealing with the unexpected ramifications even now.  Christian, did you forget that God allowed these things to happen for a reason?  Why are you fussing about what was?  Focus on what is!  It is ok when things are different, it keeps things fresh and exciting.  We are not living in the past...hopefully...we are learning from the past and moving forward.  I can still have hope! 

Sooooo....we moved on to our Mother Goose fun for the remaining minutes of our day...enjoying rhyming words and a silly book called Motor Goose!
It was nice to walk out of my cleaned up classroom, stop at the store, and go into seclusion at home!  The peace and calm of home refreshes my heart...until the dogs start fighting over one bone..and figure out how to share it!  

My little furry buddies are good company.  I am thankful for the weekend to rest and plan for the next week.  Michigan has no idea what kind of plans it wants these days!  We woke up to a dusting of snow that is now gone.  The grass is greening up and the tulip plants are sending up their shoots!  The robins are all over the yard singing happily.

I love the leisurely time of Saturday mornings!  Another cup of coffee...with a packet of hot chocolate mixed in...because the long-lasting effects of stupid Covid.  GASP!  Coffee does not taste good to me anymore...like as enjoyable as it once was!  I drink it out of a remembrance of what it was...and because I need the caffeine so I don't get a headache.  It is so disappointing!  But if I add the hot chocolate packet then it seems more pleasant.  Cue...sweet and salty and spicy...then I sort of taste things...it has been over a year!

Springing up things

Alisa put flowers on her grocery list!  So pretty!

This is how preschool teachers decompress after a busy day in the classroom!  I had testing, she had all 16 little k3 friends!

A fun spring activity for next week!  

 

Uff da!

I think I may have a rough week ahead!  I laughed as I unpacked my bag for this first day of the week...testing begins!  We began in fine style and the kinders said that it was fun!  Uff da!  We will see how they feel on Friday...the day known to break many.

I got home to as soon as I could to spend a few more hours with Ted before he left at 4:45am to head all the way south to Georgia again.  We got him caught up on all the goodnesses of home!  It took Ted just shy of 11 hours to drive from Michigan to Georgia.  I am so thankful for clear weather (a couple spots of rain) and roads for him.  This week is filled with crazy for him and we are praying him through each day!

 I needed the beauty of this sunrise!  I took a couple minutes to watch before leaving for work.  I love how God paints each day with a beauty all its own!

We have kept at our jobs all week...asking God for help and strength when it gets hard!  Wednesday was a hard day of testing.  Thursday was a little easier, but Friday will be the hardest day!  It always is as they have to read a story and the questions without my help and then try to answer the questions by reading the available choices...every year I have friends that dissolve into tears as the stress and difficulty jumps a few notches and the fun-ness of the test booklets has worn off!  

We say these types of tests are necessary.  I still don't see the value of them all these years later!  I lost a week of teaching.  My friends lost a week of learning and practicing...but by cracky...we ranked our school against every other school to show what our students can do on one week of the year by just coloring little circles in a booklet.  Yes...these types of test annoy me because it is not an accurate picture! I can see some of the information that it offers...but the reasons for taking the tests...seem so lame!  We haven't changed anything as a result of the information shared from the tests in our school.  We don't get funding for good scores.  But...we will keep doing it...because that is what we do.

Oh...and we all have to follow the exact wording, schedule on certain dates, and understand coding norms...all which do not account for real life issues!  One of my little guys had to miss a day to get the tubes out of his ears...yep, hospitals around us decided they can do all the things they haven't done for two years.  Annnd...people with allergies in Michigan are now miserable..so a little girl friend missed because of not being able to sleep because she couldn't breathe.  Another friend was out with a fever for two days because sick germs don't understand testing norms.  Then my allergy friend missed another day because of pain and fever, which they investigated and found it was caused by tooth abcess and infection!  And these friends now have to make up the tests...in very un-norm-al conditions that all other students followed. 

So...again...I say "Uff da!"  This teacher is ready for the testing to be done so we can get back to what we do best in Kindergarten!  Learn and practice and practice and learn!  We are coming to the end of our year!

 

Home is where the good coffee cups are!

Enjoying the time with Ted while he is in town!  We are thankful for safety in travel!  He is getting caught up on things while I got his laundry freshened up and made home-cooked meals and treats.  He caught up on some emails and a nap too.

 

Back to Michigan!

My sweet Alisa was my substitute for K5 on Monday so I could travel home.  I left Ash and Teddy, got gas and a sweet tea, then headed north on 75!

God gave me a beautiful day for a trip.  No traffic hindrances.  Lots of good music.

A wonderful welcome home...thankful for all God has done for our family.

We don't have human children who leave toys all over the house anymore...but our furry children do!  This makes me laugh!  We pick up all the toys and put them in the bucket in the living room and they all end up all over the house.

April Fool's Day fun for K5....Brown Es for a treat!  A hunt for the lirpaloof bird!

A fun way to relax...ok...actually...I was stressed by wanting to finish the last few pieces!

When your daughter suggests Mexican food for supper...OH YES!

Having to share popcorn during our movie!

A yummy supper....egg roll in a bowl!  So fun when your roomie likes to try different recipes.

It has been just us girls for awhile...this weekend...Dad comes to town and we are excited!

Another Sunday in the South with my love!

We were sitting in the auditorium waiting or the service to begin.  We have enjoyed visiting Level Grove!

Our time together has been such a blessing!  The beautiful spring weather has been refreshing!

This week's dinner was at the house!  We had some leftovers of some really good food!  After I cleaned up the kitchenette, we loaded up the rest of my stuff and I headed north to Tennessee.  As I left, I prayed for my love's week...which starts tonight with a dinner meeting.  I listened to good music and spent time being thankful.

I took a different route north and drove through the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Love these two big kids!  They were waiting for me and made a yummy supper!

Teddy made yummy chicken!  I am very impressed with his culinary skills.

Beautiful evening in TN!  The birds were singing again.

Ashlynn made a yummy apple pie for dessert!

We watched an oldie but a goodie!  Nanny McPhee!  Ashlynn said, "Oh look, it was made in 2006...I was five!"  Oh my...how fast the years have gone by!  I told her I remembered debating about letting you guys watch this because of the names the children called themselves!  "Mom, really?!"  Uh, yeah, your brother was three...I was trying to be careful with words you learned.