Blessed and Busy

It all went so quickly . . . where did 13 weeks of summer go?  September 1st Terry and I became "empty nesters" for the 2nd time -- as all 5 "Goodletts" moved into their new home.  The silence was deep -- but the memories were ever so lively.
Bethany spearheaded a program to help our KU kids get their uniforms and Jim and Jan helped to provide shoes and other essentials for their needs

All three littles had their first day of school from our house -- Campbell started a new school while Daddy was in Alaska and has settled in beautifully.  We celebrated 4 birthdays this summer and the 4th of July while living together.






I've already been in school  2 1/2 months and Thanksgiving is just 3 weeks away!  School started with lots of challenges - but has developed into a good year -- New administration -- lots of changes-- -- many co-workers left for other careers - but it is turning into a good year.  My students are a great bunch of kids.  With the diverse classroom population -- a sense of community is growing as I see students helping others with more challenges.

The entire school has gotten behind the Family Food Support Project and we have a food pantry that is bulging at the seams!  (Thanks to Ryan King for donating a part of his prop closet and wonderful  shelves.)

KU Kids University is a smaller sweet group this year -- but that have done significant work in creating blessing bags for the downtown homeless in Tulsa.

 

In all of it -- being with our family and enjoying times with our Grands is the fuel that keeps us moving forward.
These are my recent fav's of our sweet babies . . .

Charlie has grown so quickly . . .

Early August

Mid- October -- BIG BOY!!!

Clara turned 2 on August 27

G

 Pumpkin carving with Pawpaw turned out to be a hit!!!  Campbell decided that these little pumpkins had to be cut -- not colored on with sharpies!

Clara will ride on her  Minny Mouse car if Charlie rides with her

I got to be off school on Sydney's birthday and we enjoyed a lunch date at Chick Fil A!  Syd turned 5 on Oct, 23 and the following Sat. had a PJ and Pancake Breakfast party 

These two are such sweet friends -- 

Best bud! (When they can agree on who gets to boss!)

Dr. Clara Bell

T & I spent Fall Break as a "staycation" and built a great pathway in the lower area of our backyard.
It was fun to do a project together even though our backs hurt and our bodies were totally exhausted.



The next week Jim and Jan came to Tulsa and we ALL got to show up at G'parent day at Campbell's school.

In Early Dec our Rams were State Champions in Football.

Walking with my teacher friends after school has helped my stamina to increase --  I have found myself feeling so much stronger this season.

 I am one blessed woman!

Grace Dispenser

You remember the incident in the Old Testament where David takes a census and God is angry with him and another time he takes one and God is pleased???  I understand that a bit more now.

I have taken my own census of sorts this school year EARLY -- 

First off, I should have NEVER done the math to determine how long it's been since my senior year.  What's a number anyway???

Secondly --

As I started this year I admit I checked out my students  profiles – on-line you can tell a lot about your students – who their teacher’s are – what health problems they have – who might faint or was allergic --- who they can’t be near and EVEN when their birthdays are. 

I gave up looking at their school pictures before I met them years ago, because they all looked like juvenile delinquents in some random picture that was put on their profile -- Every year once I met them, I would be so pleasantly surprised at the good-looking bunch of students I had.

We haven’t even talked about those with discipline problems. 

I was disappointed.  I felt they were giving me a boat load of people with lots of issues.  

I was overwhelmed--

I began to approach the school year with dread.

Then we went to professional development where we were told we needed to upgrade all our forms of technology and provide lots of ways for students to be busy and to not teach longer than a few minutes at a time so they wouldn't tune us out. . . AND THE CELL PHONES -- WELL DEAL WITH IT!

Then I read the example of Zaccheus and Jesus and the fact that Jesus CHOSE to hang out with the people with the biggest issues -- the biggest problems.  I started to see that with the concept of building community in my classroom - my students could help each other.  I could be the grace dispenser in the room and help us build a group that took care of each other.  

I realized that I had been feeding this discouragement -- that I could turn it over to the one who cared so much more about them and let each day unfold according to HIS plan.

Back to School

50 years ago I started my senior year at Edwardsville High School.  I could use all sorts of trite phrases like, “time passes fast when you’re having fun” or ask “where did the time go?” or quote my mother – “the older you get the faster the time passes.”   I don’t dare tell my students how long it has been since I started my senior year – but I do want to use the video clip from the Farmer’s Insurance commercial.  “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.”

I’m reading a book that Bethany shared with me this Spring – Present Over Perfect by Shauna Nyquest. – it takes summer for me to slow down enough to get a chance to read and savor every page.  I love what this young mom of two boys says about getting rid of the hustle and high performance – to be able to be present with those nearest and dearest to us.  Being “all there” for them and the people we encounter on a daily basis—not rushing to fill our days with so much busyness to feel “OK” with God and fulfill some higher purpose we have set up in our own agenda.

One of the things that Shauna has shared in her book is embracing the season you are in – throwing off the trappings of the previous season and living fully in the present one.  She believes this is best done in those times of being still with God – remaining in the outdoors soaking up His beautiful creation to start and end each day.

I want to carry that same mindset into this school year –  living day to day in the moment of God’s good grace aware of what HE is sending my way for the day, week and season.

Summer Fav's

It’s been loads of fun this summer.  – we’ve made a lots of memories.

> Jack’s bounding up the steps, “Where’s Papa?”

>Sydney’s waking up early always in a good “chirpy” mood – talking to her baby doll  – meeting me in the common area upstairs – “Can I play with my dolly house?”

>Campbell’s cartwheels all over the house and mothering (and bossing) the other two when they will let her – hanging out with me on Tuesdays when Jack and Sydney are in pre-school.  

>Shopping for the homeless with her and letting her decide all that we would put in the blessing bags that KU Kids were making.  
>Family dinners in the dining room with all three clamoring for their time to say the prayer

>Chats with Bethany and Mat in the den when the house gets quiet and all are finally in bed.

>Sunday night suppers with everybody cooking dinner in the kitchen.

>Camp Nana Pawpaw while Mommy & Daddy were in Sonoma

>Sunday afternoon work days with Mat and Bethany sweating up a storm – and the kids opting out of work to play in the yard and drink Gatorade (a rare treat)

>Sand castle moments.

>Monday morning walks with the kids on scooters always ending up at the school playground.
Bethany has taken on the cooking and she and Mat have shared in our yard work and they made certain that others took care of the upkeep and cleaning on the house – it’s been a relaxing summer and one that has allowed me to stay free to relax and play with the kids,  giving me time to study these littles carefully – looking deep into their smiling faces and seeing the miracle and wonder of a growing child.  

Bethany and I keep reminding ourselves that – Jack isn’t going to be 3 for very long and that these years are passing so quickly -- We remember that Sydney still is the child whose many facial expressions say it all – or that Campbell’s tender heart, strong will, imagination, and creativity are going to carry her far.  She’s the little girl who has cartwheeled herself through the whole summer. 

We've gotten to spend time with our CO babies twice this summer.  We launched the summer with a Memorial Day trip to Denver , spending 4 days.  
Sweet little Clara, says “thank You” for everything and now she’s nearing the two’s where she’s already starting to exert her own will.   Charlie has a precious grin and adores his big sister waiting on her every move.

It thrills me that it takes such a very short time for them to get reacquainted with us.  Marshall and Katie’s take on that is “They don’t have a choice – you’re their grandparents.”  Face-timing just isn’t enough – we have to get our hugs and playtime with them.

These are moments Terry and I have cherished and savored this summer.    Just like my parents, we retell every fun thing all five of our grands have done that day.  We know that we are blessed beyond measure to share in these special times.  Being in this moment watching them grow – to us is a true gift!

Mom

I miss my mom.

Fourteen years ago yesterday, Mom went to Heaven.  You know it's been a long time when you realize you've posted all your favorite pictures and there will never be any recent "favs" to post.

So many little remembrances of her -- I found a necklace today-- #1 Grandma -- how she loved that role she filled in the lives of her six grands.  I understand that a whole lot better now.

I've thought of her so often this summer as I have soaked up this time together. . . thinking how she'd laugh at Sydney's quick tell-it-like-it-is retorts -- "You smell like a wet diaper" as I passed her in the kitchen after walking and working outside in the heat.

She 'd be caught up with Campbell's mind  that questions everything coming up with some pretty deep thoughts --
After sobbing with loneliness for her parents when they were gone last week -- she responded to my comforting with "but love is deep".  It would make her proud that Campbell is seriously considering baptism.  The other day when I told her she was doing a great job speaking more kindly to her momma -- she came back with -- "I'm practicing real hard so I can be baptized"

Mom always loved an ornery boy and she'd adore Jack's sweet impish smile and giggle -- that lets him get by with sooo much.

She’d be caught up with Clara’s sweet little personality and her daddy’s adoration of her and  Charlie’s  laid back - chill attitude.

We have a keepsake treasure- a miniature baby nursery that the cancer-ridden husband of Terry’s secretary, Bryan Handley made for Bethany before her birth.  He never lived to meet Bethany – but would spend long nights awake building this little nursery. We have kept it all these years.    It has always been of special interest to Sydney.

She’s a natural mommy – always carrying her baby doll and talks and coos lovingly to her. She has fallen in love with this keepsake and yesterday we found Mom’s miniature collection that I had been saving.  This collection had so many little pieces that were just perfect for the nursery.  Sydney plays with it several times a week and chatters a whole make-believe scenario of this tiny world.  Mom would thrill to know one of her Great-grands was having such a wonderful time with the craft items she never parted with.

Mom kept herself busy - always creating and making something. She taught herself to do so many things and even taught us to build things.  

I so respect the way that in her later years she would get up early and read the Bible for hours.  She was always busy about something.

So much has happened in the 14 years since you left us, Mom-- all six of your grands has married and between them - -- given you 11 great grands.  These six are fantastic mommies and daddies and married really wonderful spouses!

Dad

In all my sorting our office and settling upstairs I came across various remembrances from my Dad.

First thing I found was a gas rationing card from WWII era - there was a favorite picture of my dad that was always in our living room and lastly was the opening page of one of his reference books that he would study preparing for adult Sunday School.

I loved my dad's handwriting - always so exacting-- a lot like my Dad.  Careful in the way that he lived -- leading the Church -- setting goals for us kids to achieve a college education at a Christian school--guiding us with those Sat morning talking times at the breakfast table..

So many memories came rushing back as I found these 3 treasures.  .  . the legacy of faith he left us . . . the courage he had as he faced debilitating illness in his remaining years.
I want our grands to know this man of strength and courage.   I love you, dad!

MOVING IN & MOVING ON!!!

I bought my mom this book one year for mother's day . . .she used to tell stories of the Brian clan and summers together at their grandmother's house.  I remembered this book as I was cleaning out space for our "Goodletts" to move in for our summer together..

I loved it because it described two families in an extended family that spent their summers together.
It was a sweet story of how they filled the house, shared their food and loved making memories .
Sort of like what we're looking forward to.  We want to spend one to one with each child -- have long talks about things that really matter -- like sloths, slugs and other of God's creatures, and enjoy lots of outdoor time in the sand castle.

God always hears my heart in  these matters. I had just been moaning to Him about the fact that with teaching, I was missing my Nana time at the kids special performances.  The very next day - Mat and Terry talked about making this a summer to remember while their home was being remodeled.

Moving Day in front of their "old" house

We've watched Bethany organize, toss, pack and get this move together for their family.  We're so glad they are able to leave for a family vacation before it all starts for them on June 5.

Mid-May I started the same -- getting rid of what we needed to cull.  Who needs 8 yr old cell phones?  I'm emptying closets - filling trash bags for Goodwill -- and tossing the rest.  People can't live on top of somebody elses' stuff!  It felt good to empty closets -- the question was -- where to put it???

We've been together for 10 days now and life is Good!  The past week has been afury of activity for them.trips to pick out all sorts of  building supplies and fixtures while trying to determine where that missing box or item is -- storage -- the new house or forgotten somewhere.

Birthday celebrating with all seven of us!!!

Making Memories

T and I look for any openings in our teaching schedules to get to CO to see our Colorado Kids.  Memorial Day weekend as we left Church -we loaded our bags and the dog in the car -- and headed West.

We loved on the kids for 3 solid days - Thanks to careful prepping on Marshall and Katie's part, Clara makes up with us quickly -- Pawpaw is still her favorite I do have to admit.

Charlie is growing rapidly and is so quick to grin and focus on every word we say.  It was hard to put him down the whole time I was there.

Katie says he looks like Terry --

We spent lots of porch time -- the weather was cool and these two littles are outdoors kids already!

Clara has been overseeing her daddy's building project of a play house for her in the back yard.

Katie and I made our regular trip to IKEA and got caught in a traffic jam -- due to a fuel truck fire on I-25

Marshall and Katie are terrific hands-on parents and their babies are thriving!

Clara's favorite is Curious George and she enjoys sharing him with baby brother.