Callie

This girl! I found an ad on Rescueme.org. It read, "she's a very intelligent dog who understands every word you say."

That with the cutest pic of what looked like a golden retriever.... Was all I needed. We met and took her home the next day. To say she is the most loving, gentle, docile, well-tempered dog.. Is an understatement. She sleeps a lot... Like a cat! She follows me everywhere like my shadow and whines for me when I leave. But she hasn't barked once. She is  soft and beautiful and such a fortunate find. Born February 4th 2019. I put this here so I'll remember the date. I hope. We have an extra long life with you my dear Callie. I believe God led us to her. I really do. 

I'm no teacher

Where to start? We went into quarantine after the world shut down and they told me I have to be a teacher. At the end of the first day... I cried my eyes out. I then hired help. Since then things have gotten smoother. The teachers have gotten used to distance learning as have the kids and I. This week they told us they would cut the year short ending it on May 8th. I didn't know you could do that. We have been to school. So few days in retrospect. We were out earlier in the year because of hurricanes which drove the victims to our schools for shelter and closed down schools for a week. And now..

We just stop. 

I think it's a surrender.. Waiving the white flag. There are so many that don't have the time to teach the kids. They work to... They don't have money to hire help. So many kids have already been out of school. I do know that I will never again forgo a teacher's Christmas present. Those people deserve everything they make and then some. What a hard job. And why you would choose to home school?! Beyond my comprehension.

On the flip side, we have time. Time was becoming this elusive things that we never had enough of. Between school. And sports and clubs and church. Time was sparse. But now we have it. Forced time together. We've learned Rummy. We have famy movie nights. We take walks. We make fires. Lots of wonderful child chatter happens around a fire... When the TV is off and their little minds get to spinning. Lots of teaching mome ts about why fire burns and consumes and needs oxygen or why the marshmlow grows 5 times its size when it gets burned. We talk about stars and planets... About why it's night and where the sun goes. There are group hunts for the perfect roasting stick a d independence when one takes the flashlight out into the dark to search for one alone. There are games of swinging in the night and talks of future camp outs. Eventually Alex will tell me I'm the best fire builder ever! And each kid will practice their manners on their own as they agree with him and thank me for buying marshmallows and making a fire. Lots of time well spent is what this virus has provided this family. I miss shopping and eating out but we carry out a lot. So many meals at home I've lost count. But also lots of cookies baked together and chores being learned. Useful skills like how to clean the kitchen are taught or clothes washing 101. It's been a good thing for our family. I feel closer to my husband and not alone in this parenting thing. That's nice.

As much as I love and miss TJ Maxx, I've learned how little we actually need and I've enjoyed getting to know my family again. 

The Walk

Know where useful chatter happens with kids? On walks. We've been going on walks through neighborhoods in our campaign t-shirts because there's not much else to do as far as campaigning. I usually lag behind with the littles. William asks me if I have Jesus in my heart. I SAY YES. Alex makes his way over to listen to our conversation. William says.. Mommy how do you get Jesus into your heart. I say.. You have to believe that he's the one true God who died on the cross to take away your sins because it was a price too big for you to pay., And then you have to simply ask him to come into your heart and be the leader of your life. I tried to simplify because I'm talking to little people and my big church words won't make sense. He says ok but what do you SAY to God? I said you just pray like you're talking to him.. Just like you talk to me... You say dear God... And little William repeated dear God. Then I said, I want to make you the most important person in my life.... And he repeated every word just seconds behind me. And I want to ask If you'll come into my heart and live in me. And he finished right behind me... Amen. Little Alex sidles up to us and says, I just say God will you come into my heart... That's all I say mom. I said.. Well if you're sincere then that's all you need to say. And we kept on walking and talking. Was it their salvation moment?  I don't know. They are small. Was I five when I got saved? Yes.. According to mom. But I didn't grasp it until college. I didn't feel God until then. But I lived a very good and obedient life until college because of my salvation at five. Who knows?Only God but how special was that Walk?