#SOL20 – Day 1

Day 1

An adventure awaits!  I absolutely love this challenge!  I wasn’t sure this adventure would continue this year, but here I am.  So very excited about documenting the next thirty one days.  Something draws me back every year, and as I begin typing I think I finally know what it is.

This challenge makes me stop, think, write, and reflect.  I need this time to sit in the middle of all of the plates that I have spinning.  I gives me a chance to truly “see” through the chaos and into the depth of what is important.

So, today, on March 1st…what is important?

Today, rest is important.  We all go in a whirlwind of important events, meetings, dates, so on…but for today, we have done some resting in the middle of the expectations and chores.

I need to realize that it is okay to rest and appreciate that I can stop and just be.

Slice of Life Day 13: My Best Friend

I am not perfect.  I make a lot of mistakes and my world is usually a mess.  But best friends stick with you no matter what your world looks like.  My best friend’s name is Myrtle.  She is there when I need her and doesn’t have high expectations for me.

One of the things I love about Myrtle is that she is there when I need her.  She is consistent.  I never have to wonder if she is going to do what she says she will do.   Every day I get a text from her.  She invests in our friendship without waiting to see if I am going to add anything.  She isn’t demanding or degrading.  She is constant like a lighthouse shining a  beacon of light in the dark.  When I come home, she is usually in the same place waiting on me.  Sometimes, we play hide and seek.  Together, we are a perfect pair.

Myrtle doesn’t have high expectations for me that I feel like I won’t ever reach.  She just goes about her business of trying  to keep our home neat and picked up.  If something is out of place, she just goes around it and never fusses.  I don’t feel judged by her, which is a huge blessing because  I can be a mess.  She never uses harsh words or sighs at me.  Every now and then, I have to help her, but it is a joy because it keeps her healthy and happy.   I am so thankful that our relationship is easy like a Sunday morning.

Myrtle has been a blessing to my life.  I am thankful for her stable and nonjudgemental friendship.    I hope our relationship stays strong for many years to come because without her our home would be a dirty, dingy mess.

 

My best friend, Myrtle.

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

 

Slice of Life Day 12: Good Day, Great Day

I am really good at breaks.  Don’t get me wrong, I think I am pretty good at teaching my 4th graders, too.  However, I excel when it comes to handling a schedule on a break day.  I usually have some house chore to do.  Then, I get to work on a personal plan.  During the summer months, that means treading water and working on my tan.

Today is day one of our Spring Break.  This morning, I kissed my husband good-bye, and rest for about thirty minutes before I got my day started.  Today, I needed clean.  Our house has been neglected for far too long.  I feel better when things are in their place and tidy.  I worked our kitchen, laundry room, living room, dining room, master, master bath and bathroom over.  It isn’t without fault, but it is SO much better.

The floors are steamed. The dishes are all done.  All laundry is washed, folded, and put away.  The cabinets are cleared. The sheets are fresh.  The toilets are sparkling.  The windows have been open.  The table is set.  The stainless is spotless.

And now…

The wife is tired.

Good Day!  Great Day!  Best Day EVER!

Tomorrow may bring closets or upstairs.  Whatever it has for me, I know I will handle it like a boss!

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 11: Spring Forward

Spring Forward is my spirit animal!

I am happier when we are forward.

I have more energy.

Everything feels new, fresh, and exciting.

There is possibility in the air.

I don’t mind that we lost an hour.  I am excited about what we have gained.

 

I just have to make sure I don’t treat spring forward like this:

 

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 10: Show Me

I have been destroying myself and tearing my soul apart.  It has truly been happening throughout my entire life, but the last six years, since I lost my mom, have been the worst.  I feel like I have spiraled through depression and loosing any love that I have had for myself.

To make matters worse, I broke my leg in October.  This gave me even more reasons why I couldn’t get up and do things.  I had to have help and let others take care of things for me.  I have become sedentary and ridiculous.  I see pictures of friends of mine who are beautiful and thriving, and even though I feel inspired to join them, I do nothing.  I don’t start Whole 30, again and detox my body.  I don’t get up earlier to have time to walk/run in our super safe neighborhood with my Boxer who would love it.  I don’t count calories like I have done before and lost 90 pounds.  I don’t do anything.

Pathetic.  I am like the bee that is going toward the can of poison.  Others have died doing exactly what I am doing.

It is time to wake up.

It is time to live.

It is time to believe God’s words about why I am here.

It’s time to look at what God has been trying to show me.

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 9: Freedom!

We made it!

Won the Tug of War – check

Ran our hearts out in the relay – check

Field Day fun for all – check (well except those involved in a recess scuffle)

Second week with student teacher – check

Some report card assessments done – check

Door locked – check

classroom closed for the week – check

 

For one whole, entire week…

There are no set plans.  There are no agendas.  There are no 4th graders involved.  There isn’t anything that has to be checked off.

I am so ready!  I need to reflect, recharge, and rest!

Spring Break will be glorious!

 

 

 

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 8: Why Did I Say That?

Have you ever walked into a room of people that you work with and admire and genuinely like and make a complete fool of yourself with words that should have stayed in your head?

I did just that today.  Actually, I have done that quite a bit actually.  I will open my big, selfish mouth, and words will come out that shouldn’t have been given breath!  I know I am horrible about doing this to my husband, but I have always protected my friends.  Words are precious to me, and I know the power that they hold.  They have wrung my heart out and lifted my soul higher than mountains.  My words should be guarded, precise, and purposeful.

Don’t get me wrong.  I wasn’t crass or condescending, or rude.  I just voiced my opinion about a meeting that we were all in, and I should have not said a word.  They have worked tirelessly to make these meetings worthwhile, productive, and respectful.  However, it felt cold, rushed, and unfriendly.  However, my joking around hurt them and didn’t offer solutions.  It only caused frustration and bad feelings.

My opinion should have stayed mine.

Why did I say that?

 

 

 

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 7: No words!

Today I am void of words.  I have given all that I have to the nine and ten year olds who are eagerly awaiting Spring Break.  Together, we are worn out.  They have taken all of my words today.

For now, I will appreciate the

s.i.l.e.n.c.e.

 

 

 

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 6: Being Chosen

For my final research paper of my grad school career, I have to work with a partner, and together, we have to choose a theme.  The thought of having to go through a draft to be picked makes me break out into a sweat.  However, this is an extremely difficult task when the class is an online community of acquaintances.

So, I emailed one girl whose words I had read in another class, too.  She is a fourth grade teacher, too, so I thought it would be awesome.  Almost immediately, I got a reply.  Taken.

I felt the panic rising up in my chest.  What if no-one wanted to work with me?  I mean this is the class that I have written papers for while drinking an entire bottle of wine.  Maybe they think I am a bit too risky.  Maybe I am being judged because I post last minute.  I mean…who wants to work with the last minute, looney, old teacher?!?!?!?

So, I emailed the entire class and told them I was looking for a partner.  Almost immediately, I got a response from a high school teacher.  She was worried about the differences of our experiences, but she was willing to be my research partner!  Whew!

Taken!

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.

Slice of Life Day 5: The Good Stuff

pulling into the garage

phone conversations with my sister

hearing my niece’s comments as she gets in the car after dance

petting Penelope and listening to her snore with contentment

dinner cooked by my husband

closing the door on a Monday

laughing with co-workers who understand my crazy

four days until Spring Break

sun warming my face

hearing a precious friend’s daughter quoting scripture that her mom didn’t even realize she knew

listening to my hubby practice his guitar

Ahhhh…the good stuff

 

 

This post is part of the 11th Annual Slice of Life Annual Story challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers, a month-long challenge to write daily by inviting participants to share a snapshot of life through writing.