Pogativity

Wednesday Learning Challenges Today was a bit of a mess. I didn't exactly plan for school work, other than L had his first Google Meet with his half of class. M's Wednesday work was one page of Math Facts (100 addition facts) and reading for at least 30 min. I had blocked one hour of time from 9-10 am to help the boys with anything they needed. Of course, I worked 12 minutes into that time and then had to 1) scramble to get L to change out of PJs before his Google Meet at 9:30, 2) convince M to relinquish the computer so L could have Grid View (I don't know how Google Meet works on the iPad yet), 3) convince L to do his meeting at his desk and remind him the rules of the meetings, and 4) realize at the last minute that I'm still in my PJ pants and may be seen on the screen, so change into actual pants. We made it and L had a successful meeting! Google Meet with L's Kindergarten Math Facts Time! Then on to M's work. He had a sheet of 100 addition facts. At the bo

Second Grade & Kindergarten I can hardly believe that my baby is in kindergarten! My lands, they are growing up so fast! Yesterday, we made a last ditch run for haircuts, which turned out awesome!  Seriously... a car that runs on toothpaste? Eventually I’ll let him know maybe he would want to consider “alternate fuel sources” 🤣 Deciding to do the hybrid model for school this year was a happy medium for us. I don’t think that school full-time for us would have been ideal, given the class sizes. For them to be able to go two days a week, this would allow them some social interaction as well as safety in smaller class sizes. M has 12 kids in his class, L has 9. We carpooled to school with a neighbor friend, and it was so chaotic at the drop off that I didn’t even have time for tears. I got a little emotional after I got home, but these COVID days are not the same. Any other year, I would have been a blubbering mess! School Prep Has anyone ever mentioned how challenging it is to get o

I have struggled with the senselessness of this past week. I have not had the words to express my sadness, anger, frustration. How can a man be dead when he complied with officers? How does NOT ONE officer in attendance step in and say, "Enough?" How does one who has so many complaints against him still patrol the streets? What has allowed this behavior to continue? How does it take so long to arrest the offending officer? I have so many questions and no answers.  And then the rioters. I believe in peaceful protest. Yes, Ma rtin Luther King Jr said, "A riot is the language of the unheard." But he also said, " Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”  How does burning down local businesses, restaurants, and looting further the cause? Rather than focusing on the truth of what happened, those who are violently protesting are distracting from what happened.

It's been awhile. Work, home school, and singing for Pascha kept me busy. But I will try to be back more frequently. I realized this is a good a journal as any and I'm terrible at writing in a physical journal with a pen. I have the best of intentions, but it never seems to stick. How many times do you need to do something to form a habit? Porch Photo Shoot Late last year, I decided to move our annual photo shoot to the Winter or Spring, rather than the Fall. We have a lot of family photos with colorful leaves and brown grass. I thought, "What fun if we do a Winter shoot in the snow!" Then COVID-19 hit. Needless to say, we didn't get photos taken. Then, a neighbor posted her photographer would be in the neighborhood doing Porch Photos! Perfect timing, as we also needed a photo to submit for the Church montage for Pascha. Our photos turned out awesome, despite L having a small meltdown just as she arrived. Angela Rabbitt was amazing! She kept her social d

I have always wanted to share the experience of Holy Week and Pascha with my friends and those who inquire about Orthodoxy. Words cannot convey the beauty of the hymns, the depth of the sorrow as we lead the body of Christ to his tomb, the joy as we celebrate His resurrection! It is a journey that begins long before the raising of Lazarus or the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and culminates in a procession by the entire congregation around the outside of the church at midnight. Bells ringing, choir singing, candles, banners, censers with bells - a joyous cacophony greeting the Resurrected Lord! Oh, and then there is Paschal Vespers on Sunday afternoon that nearly everyone returns for, as well. How does one explain that to be in church and truly  experience  Holy Week is the only way to do it - all the services! A quartet (Fr. Andrew and three singers) is not quite the same. But it will still be beautiful and joyful and perhaps we will find beauty in the simplicity this year. We won&

End of Week Two I saw  THIS VIDEO  in a Facebook group and I think it pretty much sums it up. I love how Ms. Kelley states it, whoever she is. Gonna go grab those tissues now.  We have Friday off because it’s Western Good Friday. Signed the boys up for CILC morning. That at least gets me 1.5 hours of solid work time.   Stay safe everyone!