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.

And It's Another Day...

Beautiful birthday plant given to me by my friend, Cathy Feist, who I "lean on" every day.

Right now I am sitting here listening to the rain, one of my favorite sounds.  Cooper is asleep at my feet and there is no music playing as it usually is because sometimes even music can be distracting.

You have all seen the movie, Groundhog Day, and if you have not, it is about a man waking every morning to the same day.  That is rather how life, as it now, seems to me.  When the pandemic first hit, there was a certain energy to getting prepared as far as stocking up on food, toilet paper and the such.  We watched the daily news to see what was going on all over the world.  I know I cleaned closets, wrote letters, recorded music, baked, and continued to spend time with my students.  So, here it is months later and I have already had Round Two of cleaning out closets. I have gone from recording every day to once a week, still unable to make a good pie crust, and my UNT course is over.

There are days that my creativity and positive attitude are challenged.  Please know I daily realize how blessed I am to be safe and healthy.  But, once I get past that gratitude, I am hit with, "What in the world am I going to do with this day to make it productive and fulfilling?"  Sometimes I have a great answer and sometimes not.  And when I do not, I have to fight the spiraling emotions that want to go down that rabbit hole. 

So, that's when I have to go back to the name of this blog and ask myself, "Where Are Your Feet, Rosie?"  Once I affirm the answer to this question, then I go on a scavenger hunt to find a way or ways that I can bring joy to someone, which, I have found, always brings joy back to me. It isn't always easy.  Doing something for others can be challenging sometimes and maybe even exhausting. But, it is so necessary because, "each other" is really all we have right now, along with our faith in some cases.

  The song, Lean On Me, comes to mind.  Someone needs you to lean on today and they will be there to let you lean on them when you need it. Go find that someone.

Blogs are supposed to be short...oops!

R.

Today is a Better Day!

How can I ever be sad with this little guy at my constant side? :)

I don't know about all of you who might be reading this, but, for me, my days lately are what I would classify as unpredictable.  Just when I think I have a consistent way of new normal going on here, then out of nowhere, restlessness and being anxious raises their ugly heads and throw me for a loop.  That was what happened two days ago.  I think one thing that ignited it was when I called a local clinic hoping to get an antibiotic for a little problem and was told they didn't take patients "my age".
Ouch!  Is that even legal?  Anyway, that just pretty much got to me.  You see, I have this problem.  Though I am 72 on the outside, I am about 52 on the inside!  Problem is, on a piece of paper people see that birth date and start eliminating my value immediately.  Not fair.  I guess it is a good problem to have because most of the time I think, act, and feel like that 52 year old.  But, that reply from the receptionist did me in.  Does she know how she emphasized the words, "your age"!  Geez.

Last night a good friend reminded me to do something that I often do but afforded a different twist.  I am a list maker.  I love to make a list and then check off my accomplishments.  But, I usually make these lists during the day.  She suggested that I make the list before I go to bed, place it on the table to rest, then sleep with a somewhat cleared head of a "to do" list.  I tried this last night and slept very well.  When I awoke this morning, I went straight to my list.  I had ten items, have checked off 5 so far, and didn't even include writing this blog! It is past noon and I am feeling 52.  So, there you go!

These are my thoughts for today.

R.

This Is Getting Old....

Okay, so I am basically a full time positive person. Because of this, I have really tried to greet each new day with gratitude.  Under this crisis situation, I am safely at home with both of us healthy.  My home is large enough for two people when they need some space.  Everything is in good working condition and there is money to pay the bills.  We live on a lovely street where I can walk each day with my dog and say hi from a distance to my neighbors. We have plenty to eat and have given two or three delivery services a try just for the heck of it.  Lots of to be thankful for here.   So.....

Why am I feeling funky today?  And, most importantly, what am I going to do about it?  Well, why I am feeling anxious today, I am not sure.  I am a  believer that we don't always know where our anxieties come from or that they are even there.  I think maybe today is rather a build up of all of these days of quarantine, not only, at home but with the rest of my life....school, church, shopping, meeting friends, freedom to make choices, etc. I know anxiety can be triggered and since my little puppy has developed a limp, maybe that could be it.  Whatever the cause, I am feeling it and am definitely on a mission to remove myself from it.

Possible solutions:

1.  Laughter - I actually asked friends to post jokes on FB.  Some did and caused me to laugh out loud.
2.  Music - I just watched a concert where my son had a solo part.  This made my heart soar. Playing music throughout the day helps.
3. Food - This is the one I have to watch.  But, these chocolate chip cookies I received from friends have been pretty helpful this morning.
4.  Cooper - This little guy has a hurt paw but otherwise is very open to his sweet cuddles and hugs.

5.  Communication - I think this is the biggie.  Having lost so much communication with people is what is bothering me the most.  So, I believe, that writing some letters and cards today is going to be my beginning of getting out of this funk.  I have so many notecards hanging around my house.  I think it is time to put them to some good use.  Who knows?  Maybe one of you will receive one from me.  But, don't be offended if you don't.  Most of you do not need a card to know how much I care for you.

So, now having written this, I think I am going to go seek out Solution #3 and see how that works for me.  It just might be that ordering pizza tonight is what I need to "snap out of it!"

Solution #4