A Little Blue

     So yesterday I was feeling a little blue.  And, in my life, even a little blue is too much for me.  I couldn't shake it and I believe my biggest frustration was that I could not put my finger on why.  Of course, one would say, it's the "normal" letdown after Christmas.  That could be part of it.  I began taking down my decorations but that actually made me feel good.  Why is it that those decorations just do not have the appeal after January 1? They are the same decorations that Ron and I would comment on almost daily as to how warm and cozy they made our house.  I am taking things down in stages and will be leaving some soft white lights for what can sometimes be a long January.  

    I can't really blame it on the fact that my kids have come and gone.  I always stay sad the first hour after they leave, but I have learned how to manage that and the importance of letting it happen.  We had a great visit.  We spent a lot of time together wearing our masks even though they all got tested.  We chose to give donations instead of bought gifts this year and spent Christmas morning talking about our choices and why they were personally important to us.  We truly felt the Spirit of Christmas as we gave to others. Robert and Mandy stayed until two days after Christmas and John wound up staying two extra days after that which was wonderful for us.  Also, it is so much easier to say good-bye to my children one at a time.  

    So it wasn't the decorations and it wasn't the kids leaving that totally caused my blues.  I think some of it had to do with the rainy days, which normally I enjoy because I cuddle under a blanket and either read or watch movies.  I think it was two things:  (1) being out of a routine of goals and a rather "now what" feeling and (2) most importantly, my lack of face to face interaction with my friends.  Other than family I thrive on my friendships and take them very seriously.  Researchers are telling us that a big part of getting through this pandemic along with exercise and eating healthy, is our interaction with others. With this being said, I am going to be proactive with setting up some time with friends with our masks on and socially distanced.  The screen visits are okay but nothing to compare with the real face to face conversation. I believe we can be safe together outdoors once it warms up a little and I think we need each other. We need to share our books, our day to day happenings, our worries and our joys.  Maybe we just need to talk about nothing especially important!

    Today I have walked Cooper for close to a mile which is chump miles to some of my friends, but its a great time for us each morning.  I have turned off the tv and have a load of clothes in the dryer.  I am not feeling as "blue" this morning for whatever reasons and am grateful for that.  This doesn't mean I won't feel blue again but the good thing is that I know hope and joy are still out there and I have already experienced some of that today.

    If any of you would like to share how you handle your "blue" days, I would love to hear it.  Just email me at Girlietchr@gmail.com. :)

Until next time,

R.

Thoughts for the first Day of 2021

 Today is January 1, 2021.  Last night was spent by millions of people telling 2020 good-bye as if all of its trials would just go away with it. Oh, if that could be true and we would've awaken this morning to no Covid, no unemployment, no divisive nation and no helpless feelings as we go throughout our days.  Well, unfortunately all of these things are still here.  But, there is something helpful about ridding ourselves of our thoughts of 2020 and renewing ourselves with hope.  We have a vaccine now and thousands have already gotten it.  It will take time but we are at least seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for the end of this deadly disease.  As the virus disappears, more people will be healthy and our economy can get back on its feet.  Our schools will continue to function back to a more stable climate and way of life, especially for teachers. It will take time, patience and a continual act of creativity on our parts to adapt to this new way of life.

If you had told me in March that I would be staying at home literally as I have since, I would have told you to go ahead and shoot me.  I am kidding, of course, but for someone who craves being around people, keeping herself productive and who had rather travel than eat, this was something that I would have thought would have done me in emotionally.  

First of all, the losses.  I had a trip planned to Rome, Italy, for this past July.  I was going to travel with my friend, Toni German.  We would travel from Venice to Rome, and then down into Tuscany.  It was going to be a dream trip.  That trip obviously had to be cancelled and I am not sure when it will be rescheduled.  I am used to traveling usually two big trips a year.  My biggest trip since March was to Little Rock, Arkansas.  Now, I am not saying that is a bad thing.  I love my friends in Little Rock and staying there with Kay is like being home again.  I am just saying it is a little bit smaller type trip than one to Europe.  So, the inability to travel has taken a big toll on me.  The good thing is that it has given me a great opportunity for reflection as I have looked through hundreds of pictures from my other trips ever appreciating them now more than ever.  I am warmed by the thoughts of my travel buddies and the memories we created together.  So, this is an ongoing avenue of hope that I will be able to travel again this coming year.  Come on, 2021, I am counting on you.

Another loss was my teaching situation at UNT.  My class was changed from a face-to-face design to a remote design.  At first, I was so disappointed because I am very relational and like to get to know my students through personal conferences in my office, interactions in class, and helping them learn how to set up community with their own students by the way I would model with mine. It was hard to make the transition and I pretty much made up my mind (even before the class started) that I was not going to like it.  Luckily, I was blessed with a great class.  They would attend my online meetings each week.  They turned in their assignments on time and did excellent work. It was a fantastic semester. So, I didn't completely "lose" my teaching job, but had to adjust to something quite different.  Teaching to a screen was challenging and I am now where I am deciding a semester at a time how much I am willing to move forward.

I am a firm believer that every day a person should seek out his/her purpose and do what they can to fulfill it.  I have a lot of purposes and am grateful for them.  However, they are not all long term and sometimes I find myself empty and wishing for something to do to become productive.  People say that maybe taking a nap and relaxing can be your purpose for the day.  I have a tough time with that one. To me purpose is being out of the house among people, looking for need, improving my mind, learning new things, etc.  Travel and teaching were part of my purpose.  Having them taken away or greatly modified has left me lonely at times and somewhat empty.  I don't think a day should be wasted.  Having to spend time at home has sometimes made it hard to find purpose.

Being at home during the pandemic has taught me that I can do just that...be at home... and manage.  I think Ron and I have done quite well by being here together all of the time.  We respect each other's space and we respect how the other is trying to cope.  That makes a big difference.  Making demands on others during a time like this is a no-win.  I also think having our dogs here with us has helped.  There is nothing like two animals with unconditional love following you around all day.

So, 2021, how are we going to continue?  Reading, big yes.  Organizing for the hundredth time, sure.  Taking walks and afternoon drives, of course.  Intentional writing from blogs such as this to actual writing letters to people, yes to that! Looking for a new hobby...practicing Chopin...calling my friends.  All of these things.

In order to be reading this blog, you have to be on my email list so I am confident that I can call you a friend.  Please know that I value you as my friend and that you are important to me. It is my "hope" that we shall support each other as we begin this new year.  Let's keep our heads high, our thoughts hopeful, and our hearts filled with love for each other as we move forward into 2021.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

R.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;   and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our lives by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."   Romans 5: 3-5 

My Feet Are In Arkansas!

I have spent the last week in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the home of my childhood friend, Kay Allen.  Coming here two or three times a year is always a highlight for me because it helps me to reconnect to my Arkansas roots and disconnect from Texas for awhile.  I think we all need a change of scenery, especially during the confinement of the pandemic.  Actually, had there been no virus, I would be walking the streets of Rome right now or possibly traveling through Tuscany with my traveling buddy, Toni German.

Kay and I have managed to have a great time together even with our limited choices of places to go.  She has a pool in her backyard which is a magnet to a limited number at a time of friends and family which really brings a lot of joy with great conversation and laughter.  We have rediscovered our cooking skills with an emphasis on BLT's with outstanding Arkansas homegrown tomatoes. I continued making chocolate chip cookies which quickly disappeared. 

But, most treasured of all is our time together to talk, talk, and talk about everything, anything, and nothing all that important.We look at Life  very much in the same way.  Two kindred spirits, you might say.  She is definitely my sister by another mother.

I have Cooper here with me.  We take morning walks each day at a park nearby.  There are always other people there of a variety of ages.  Some have their dogs with them, all sizes and shapes.  It is a shaded park full of beautiful trees and lovely paths.  It is such a feel good spot to begin the day.  Of course, the real reason these walks have been so fabulous is because the weather has been unbelievably mild with low temperatures and low humidity.  Unfortunately, the heat is returning and will certainly be there when I get home to Texas.

One of the highlights of this trip was my visit with my cousin, Karen Bridges.  Karen and I found each other on Ancestry.com three years ago.  We immediately hit it off.  We found it pretty amazing as to how much we instantly became good friends and, even more so, how much we look alike.  We have the same chin, nose and dimples!

 

In a few short weeks I will be teaching an online course at UNT. This will be my 12th year as an instructor which is hard to believe.  These have been some of the happiest moments of my life.  I have established some incredible friendships with faculty, but mostly with students. Teaching remotely does not meet my teaching style at all, but I am going to give it a try and will see what the future holds.

It is time to get on with this beautiful day.  I hope it will be a beautiful one for you, too.

R.

Don't know where this underlining came from, but couldn't figure out how to remove it!  ha ha ha

This is Long If You Have Somewhere You Need to Go! :)

During these Pandemic days, I often find myself looking at my I-Watch to see what day it is, and also, what date it is.  This morning as I was walking Cooper, I saw July 20 on my watch and had a few moments of being a little startled.  The summer is dragging and flying by, all at the same time, and, I am sure, you who are reading this know what I mean.

If anyone had told me four months ago about the up and down adjustments I would be making up to now, I probably would have just gotten in bed and pulled the covers over my head.  Staying at home is not my nature.  I am a traveler now and had big travel plans for the summer.  Ron and I had planned to go to Michigan for six weeks to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan and a lovely small town named Montague.  I was going to travel to Pentwater to see my favorite bookstore and hopefully hang out there with the incredible owners.  We have had our picture made together for the past four years.  It saddens me that there will be no picture this year.

Also,  I had booked a trip to Italy and would have been leaving on the 24th.  This was really a disappointment because Italy has always been a dream of mine.  Now, I did get to go to the Venice airport when we were returning from our cruise from Greece, but that just didn't fulfill the dream.
My annual trip to Arkansas is still a possibility and I am keeping my fingers crossed.  I think I need to wait until the spikes go down in both states, not to mention the heat index, before Cooper and I take off on a road trip.

It is not like I have been sitting on the couch for four months.  I had my spring course to finish out and have been working on my online course for the fall.  I am looking at more tutorials than you can imagine so my students will not think I have no sense when it's time to communicate with each other.  I am so thankful that I have this course because even though online does not come close to teaching face to face, it is still a connection with college students and that is what keeps me active and alert.

My front courtyard which in March did not have one potted plant, now is like a forest of beautiful plants and colorful flowers.  I have loved digging in the potting soil and the watering has been very therapeutic. And, yes, I do talk to my plants!
I have read pretty constantly even though sometimes I do find it hard to focus.  I find that if I have a good book going then it helps the clock to keep moving, if you know what I mean.

Closets are clean, oh, are they clean.  I have baked dozens of cookies and cooked more than usual.  I have walked Cooper 2 to 3 times a day and taken him on an afternoon drive to nowhere every afternoon.

So, if you are still with me here, I am finally getting to why, I think, I am writing. 

First of all, I need to write.  Writing helps me with an area such as the following:
There is always something one can do with this kind of extra time, but what about the days when that wave comes in and you feel yourself spiraling down that rabbit hole of feeling a little hopeless, sad, and maybe angry at the fact that your life choices are limited and you are having to sacrifice the presence of your family and friends.  I have tons of friends and I miss them.  I miss going to lunch, happy hours, Bible Study classes, Estate sales, last minute shopping and just being together.  I miss the human contact of hugs with each other.  I miss that I cannot go see Betty, who has been quarantined in her Assisted Living room all of this time.  She is 94 and loves to be outside for her morning walks.  She loves horses and I have discovered so many back roads during my afternoon drives where I will be able to take her right up to a fence to see them up close.  I so look forward to taking her on that drive, but when?

Yes, that is the question we all do not have the answer for.  The "When".  And, what do I do in the meantime to keep myself healthy and moving forward.  For me, it is phone calls, text messages, video chats and Facebook.  If I can wade through political ads and now mostly mask ads, I love seeing pictures of my friends and what they are doing.  I have also recorded over 25 videos playing the piano and post them each Sunday.  I get over 1,000 views each week which blows my mind.

So, as much as I tire of hearing, "We are all in this together", we really ARE all in this together.  We need each other and we must lean on each other.  If you are missing someone, call them!  Don't think about it, just do it.  If they are busy or don't want to talk to you, they won't answer. ha That is something I learned with my sons! :) But, most of the time that will not be the case.

Buy some stamps to have handy and actually hand write a note or letter to someone.  It can be a friendly letter for keeping in touch or maybe a letter of gratitude.  I love notes!  While teaching at UNT, I received many notes from my students and pinned them on my wall. This summer I took them down and placed them in an album!  This album is such a treasure.  I have also put all of my letters from Betty in an album.  I have almost 80 from this precious lady to treasure throughout my lifetime.

Read! Read! Read! If you need a book, let me know. I have many to share.

Lastly, remember that nothing lasts forever.  There is going to be a vaccine and we are eventually going to get through this.  Until then, hold tight to those you love and be sure they know you do.

Thank you for reading,
R.

Somewhere Out There but exactly Where Is That?

During this pandemic I have been making video recordings and posting them on Facebook.  This all began rather as an accident.  I had made an initial video for my church that I couldn't get to travel for its website, so I went ahead and posted it myself on Facebook "just for fun"!  The response was incredible.  So, since I was also looking for something beneficial to do during this time at home, and since I was seeing from comments how meaningful my playing was to others who were at home, I continued recording.

I recorded almost daily, at first, but after awhile decided to slow down a bit.  Now I am posting once a week, usually on Sunday mornings.  It is amazing how my posts have sometimes had over 1,000 views.  The comments have been so touching as to how my music has made them feel either through triggering a memory, or helping them through a difficult moment where they needed a little musical boost.

As you can imagine, people started making requests.  Sometimes I knew the music and occasionally there was a song that I did not know.  I decided to try not to get into too many "personal dedications" because I certainly didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out.  However, there were certain songs that I played that just had to be personally shared because of the memory or the situation that it had for me and that person. Recently I lost three very special people in my life.  I played a song for each that connected my soul to theirs in tribute. 
This past week I played a special request for my friend, Debbie.  She asked me to play Somewhere, Out There.  It brought back memories of when our kids were in fifth grade.  We learned to sign that song when we went to Camp Classen and continued to sign it throughout the rest of the year. I had a lot of students, who are now adults, to post on Face Book that they still remember how to sign it.

The title of that song has really given me cause to reflect this week on the three whom I have lost.  Believers rest in their faith that they are in heaven with God.  I follow that belief but at the same time my humanity and small little brain still wonders just where is "Out There"? Where in the world is it?

These are just thoughts I am pondering.....

R.

Father's Day 2020

Today is Father's Day 2020.  I decided to do some reflecting on my own father because I really have not done that enough and he deserves this time.  First of all, I never called or referenced him as my father, he was always my daddy.  I was a daddy's little girl and remained so until he died.  There was never a moment that I did not have his love, his support, his patience, his kindness and his wisdom.

My daddy grew up in the small town of Beebe, Arkansas, eventually raised his own family there and was living there when he died.  His father owned a grocery store and daddy probably worked there all during his teenage years.  After a couple of years of college, he came back home and eventually become a co-owner of the store with my uncle. He worked there six days a week, from 6 to 6, standing on his feet in the meat department.  We went on one vacation a year to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he fished the whole week.  I spent many hours sitting in a boat with him quiet as a mouse so I wouldn't disturb the fish! Daddy never complained about his work.  I know that it brought him a lot of joy because of the relationships he built with his customers.  It was through this that daddy taught me the importance of a work ethic.  He showed me that work was something to be honored and that how you did your work often showed you the kind of person you were.

Daddy taught me the importance of honesty and that mistakes were nothing to be ashamed of.  He modeled how you stand by someone when they make those mistakes and let them know you are always there for them, something I definitely passed on to my own sons. I used to think of this as an emotional safety net. This safety net was there to catch me when I was to fall, but also, there to celebrate my successes, my good decisions, and seeing some of my dreams come true.

My final time to talk to my daddy was a few months before he died.  He had taken John, who was then 7, and me to the airport in Little Rock.  After he gave John his good-bye dollar bill, we hugged our farewell.  I said, "I love you, Daddy, " and he said, "I love you, too!"  I never dreamed that would be the last words I would hear him say.  This experience taught me that goodbyes and kind words are always important when we leave someone. I try to keep this in mind every day.

I miss my daddy.  Oh, what I would give to feel one of those incredible hugs right now!  Instead, I will hold thoughts of him close to my heart on this Father's Day and those that I have to come.

UNT PUPS SHARING BOOKS WITH THE NEXT GENERATION

Rhys, son of Carolyn Parker, has found a great reading spot to enjoy his book!

 

Here is another picture of Rhys!  Just look how much he has grown! If I am lucky, maybe I can read to him someday!

I began teaching at the University of North Texas in 2009. I for years taught a Language Arts Methods course to students right before they entered their student teaching and later an assessment course.  Words cannot express how much I learned to love these students and have continued to keep in touch with many of them since they left UNT.  I referred to my former students as my "Pups" and continued to post their successes with jobs, marriages, other accomplishments, and, for many now, the births of their children.

                                                                                 

A couple of weeks ago as I was searching for a quarantine project, I realized how much I was enjoying seeing some of my students posting pictures of their own babies/toddlers/kids and many posted while reading to them or surrounding them with books of their own.  I decided to ask them to share these pictures with me so I could create this special blog.  It has been an incredible experience and what is so cool about it is that I can keep adding and adding!

It thrills my heart to see the love and importance of reading that I shared in class, ripple through the generations.  

Please enjoy!

Mrs. A

                                                                

This precious angel, Samirah, is the daughter of Cami Smith. I know her mom will always surround her with books!

Haley Dooley's husband, Tyler, is reading so sweetly to their beautiful daughters, Rayleigh and Nolie.  What a guy!

Just look at this little treasure and his book!  This is Max, son of Dallas Ramey.

Mathis, son of Megan Reel, thinks it is pretty cool to read a good book as you are riding down the highway with mom.

Sweet Cecelia, daughter of Sara Busby Blume, is reading the book, Dog Heaven, that I gave to her mother when her dog, Koda, died.  This was years before Cecelia was born. :)

This little beauty is the goddaughter of Heather Tisby. "Oh, the Places She Will Go" as she heads for kindergarten!

What a lapful of joy Marissa Trujillo has holding her children, MacKenzie and Marshall! They both seem to be enjoying hearing their mom read.

I can almost hear Akayla Taylor as she reads to her son, Zeke! He looks as if he is hanging on her every word!

Taylor Rollins is all comfy and snuggly with her baby girl, Reese!  I wonder if she is using her teaching skills as she goes along? :)

Andi Pedersen started her DEAR time at an early age!

Love how Carolyn Parker's son, Rhys, just has a seat while his mom reads to him!

"Pop" has a captive audience as he reads to Andi and her dad!

From a very early age, Evelyn, daughter of Laura Holloway, just couldn't decide which book to read first!

Zander, son of Bethany Worthington, definitely loves his book time!

Eastyn and Finley, daughters of Leyah Miles, are having a good sister time with a book!

Goddaughter of Heather Tisby has certainly found herself a comfortable reading corner!

Cecelia, daughter of Sara Busby Blume, started early with her independent streak!  Wonder where she got that? :)

Landry, son of Jessi Decena, likes to add illustrations to go along with his books!

Shelby Kerner reading with her nephew, Jameson, as a baby and four years later he reads on his own!

Titus, son of Stacy Ridinger Archer, likes his books and likes to talk about them, too!

Andi, daughter of Megan Pedersen, is concentrating on the cat on that page!

Quentin, son of Kelsey Newman, at a very young age.  He now loves garbage trucks and greets them when they come by his house.  He also has a new baby brother named Mathis!

Bennett, son of Mattie Colbert, is loving the big colorful pictures his mom is showing him.  I just love the look on her face!  Pure love.

Chandler, son of Jessica Marshall Brown, has himself the perfect comfy spot to look at his book with the beautiful pictures.  I bet he can name every one of them!

Micah, son of Leah Garcia, is loving one of my favorite books!  Just look at those eyes as she reads to him.

 Alecia Marie with son, Luka, is sharing a wonderful, snuggle time with him as she reads and lets him see the colorful pictures.

Cooper and Kelsey, children of my Alpha Phi sister, Jenna Cash! Are they just not one of the cutest sets of twins you have ever seen?  I am sure their mom and dad do lots of reading!

Kaysen and Kayleigh, children of Lori Roberts, are really showing us how a brother and sister can enjoy reading together!

Kendall Vogt reading to her son, Chandler, who is all stretched out and loving every moment here with his mom as she reads to him!

Max, son of Dallas Ramey, was just a little guy when this was taken!  Looks like he started loving his books at an early age.  I am sure he will be reading someday soon to his new little baby brother, Colton!

Mathis, son of Megan Reel, helps his mom hold the book as she reads to him.  Isn't there just something wonderful about stretching out on the floor with a good book to read?

Shakiyla Josey is all warm and cozy with her sweet baby girl, Haidyn.  They live in Alaska and I am envious of their cooler temperatures as I sit here with 97 degrees Texas weather!

This is a recent picture of Kelsey Newman reading to Quentin and his new baby brother, Mathis!  I would say she has their full attention!

Here we have big brother, Landry, reading a book to his little brother, Pierce!  Their mother, Jessi Decena, always kept me organized when I had her in class! Being a mother of two sons myself, I know the many joys she has ahead of her with these two little guys.

Since Dr. K is my good friend and office mate at UNT, I had to include her here reading to her grandsons, Alex and Luca. We lovingly refer to them as "the dudes"!  

This little angel is Harper, daughter of Kamille Mayes, and she seems to really be tuned in to her beautiful book. Harper's grandmother is also a teacher so I am sure that Harper has had many books read to her already!

Just look at this sweet girl reading her book!  Cecelia is the daughter of Sara Busby Blume.