Springtime is here

Long time, no post everyone. It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and share an update on our family and the various shenanigans that have been going on. This past year has been up and down for many and we are no exception.

But Spring is here and the past month has been fun-filled with getting back to familiar "normal." Abbie is finally back in school four days a week and that sweet girl has been nothing but excited. School is a bucket that fills up Abbie. She thrives in school, having a set routine and seeing her friends. We've definitely appreciated our time together during remote learning, but it was a challenge to so the very least. Side note, going through remote with my 2nd grader confirmed to me that I am definitely not called to be an elementary teacher.

Ellie has loved the new school we put her in back in the Fall. She is an active little thing, who enjoys being around kids but she equally enjoys down time by herself. When school started back in the fall, we realized rather quickly that our previous daycare wasn't going to be the right fit for us. We moved Ellie to a new preschool at a church right down the street from us. She goes Mon-Thursday until 1 pm and then spends the afternoon with her Nana. She loves having her Nana pick up and when Ken and I have picked her up, she was quick to inform us that we were not her first choice. This arrangement has been the best thing for Elles Bells. She gets to spend her mornings with her little friends and then the afternoon recharging at Nana's house.

I have spent this year adapting my teaching to the various challenges that remote learning has brought. This year my school introduced the new core requirement for all incoming 9th graders. Starting with this year's Freshman class all students have to take and pass an economics and personal finance class. I love that this is a requirement now for high school students. It can be a real game changer for those students who would otherwise not be exposed to the various concepts of personal finance and the basic understanding of the economy. We are introducing this course to 9th graders and that has been awesome and also challenging. Challenging because we were building the curriculum and the course as we were flying. I am however, very proud of what we have produced this year.

This school year has not been easy for anyone but the resiliency that I have witnessed in myself and my daughters, as well as the majority of my students has been inspiring. Abbie has learned more about time management and personal responsibility in second grade than some students who have gone through all 12 years of school. She is better for going through it. First she has had to learn perseverance in the face of obstacles. Second, that just because you feel something, doesn't mean you get to act on it. Finally, we sometimes have to do what we don't like, because it is what is expected. This past year has been full of tears and laughter and it seems fitting that our return to somewhat normalcy comes as Spring is around the corner.

I love Spring, it gives evidence to all the work and growth of winter. Fresh flowers, leaves returning to trees and even the pollen that gives rise to horrible allergies are all welcomed signs of the newness the season has to offer. Our kick off to Spring has been low key for us this year. We didn't do the family pictures with the peach blossoms, although we tried to get some photos of the girls with our phones. There are no Easter Egg hunts, except for one with our neighbors. But I love the simplicity of sometimes not really doing anything or having plans too. I also want to help my girls understand the meaning and importance of Easter this year. Abbie is getting older and she is starting to ask great questions of God and life.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Hobby Lobby looking to put something together as a center piece for our kitchen table, that would go with this yellow daisy place mats I found. (They reminded me of my Nanny so of course I had to get them.) While I was getting the materials I needed, I came across this carton of eggs. They are called Resurrection Eggs.

Each egg has an object that represents a significant event of the last days of Jesus's life on earth starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Resurrection Sunday. There are verses that go with the eggs as well as a basic explanation of each object and a summary of the passage, written in a way that children can understand. I bought it and I am so glad that I did. The girls have loved opening an egg and hearing about the story and object. Abbie is really paying attention and can tell you what each piece means. Such a fun and simple way to remind the girls of what Easter is about.

By the way we will still be doing the Easter Bunny this year, but he will no longer be the main event. The girls have already expressed that they want to do the eggs again next year. We are also so excited for the Easter Bunny as he will be revealing to the girls our surprise for where we will be going for Spring Break.

Stay tuned to see where our next adventure will be......

I know this has been a year like no other. I pray all have been made better because of the experience. I am glad to see life slowly returning to normal but we should continue to do our part to help where we can and when we can.