Today would have been my nephew’s 30th birthday. He developed seizures the day of his 4 month vaccinations and had them the rest of his life. They could never get good control of them, and he had severe developmental delays. He was like a preschooler in many ways when he passed away at almost 23, but he insisted on being called a man. He was such a joy! He prayed for others and gave away toys and colored pictures to others. He smiled and laughed a lot! He loved for me to sing to him at night, and my sister used calling me to sing for him as a bribe to get him to cooperate at bedtime many nights. She let me sing to him one last time before they closed the casket, and it was a moment I will treasure forever! My life is so much better having known him, and I can’t wait to get a big bear hug when I see him again.

@ScoutTN, I hope your dd's spirits will be lifted! Seeing our kids go through disappointments is so hard! @HomeAgain, yes, take the win! It is so nice anytime we hear others compliment our children. @lovinmyboys, so nice to have you here today! We are home and unpacked. I want to organize the office and update the big budget book. I think I'll make stir fry tonight.

@TheReader, I hope that situation will work out for you! We’ve had a great day visiting with our friends.

We are traveling to our old home town today. We're going to lunch with some friends, then we'll go to my best friend's house to spend the afternoon and night. We go to lunch with some more really good friends tomorrow. The girl's basketball team won the first round of state playoffs, and they will host again this Friday night. Keeping the clock is a lot of pressure and all eyes are on him if he makes a mistake, so state-level games are even more so. I need to pack and finish getting ready before we head out. Hope you all have a productive and enjoyable day!

Good morning!

We just left Costco and are going home. I was glad they had a couple of products they were out of last time, but I guess they aren’t carrying a favorite Asian salad kit anymore.

I enjoyed the painting class last night. I realize the aspect I would like to know more about is working with the paint and brushes, like how much paint to use. Here is the finished product. I thought it was a pre-drawn canvas, but it was blank.

Good morning! We are on the way to Costco. I meet with a private student online early afternoon. Valentine’s Ladies Game Night is tonight, and I have some shopping to do. I will tidy and clean house this afternoon, and I need to do some laundry. We go out of town tomorrow.

Dh ended up making French toast, which I don't care for, so I made eggs for myself. I talked to a parent of a struggling student. It seems he is struggling in most of his subjects, is depressed, and is not motivated much at all. This is a kid who used to be very energetic and happy. He had a relationship for the last year that seems to have left him beat down. He says he never felt good enough for the girl or her family. They have broken up now, but he's still not the same. He is getting some counseling, and I'm going to meet with him more often to help with his math. It's still a bit cold to work in the garage, but it will be better early afternoon.

Good morning! I slept in! We are going to work in the garage when it gets warmer. I'll make breakfast soon and do some in my Bible study. Tonight, I'm going to a painting class. It is one where you paint a pre-drawn canvas, but I've never really painted before. Hopefully I'll learn something.

Starting us off...

I did lessons plans for Algebra 2 and Geometry. I cooked chili for dinner. I called my friend who had surgery, and I took some of the chili to her and had a short visit. She is doing well. Dh and I watched an episode of The Goldbergs. I need to get ready for bed. We will be up early for church.

@LifeLovePassion, I'm so sorry this has been so hard!! Praying for you all! Had lunch. The grading is done. I found some game ideas, but I want more. I took felt heart stickers cut them different ways so that each one is like a two-piece puzzle. One game will be how many hearts can you put back together right in a short time. We went and put the new flowers on the graves. I might work on lesson plans since I'm still in school mode.

@HomeAgain, that's my list for the week, so I'm just hoping I can get it all done. @TravelingChris, I hope that area is as beautiful as it used to be! I've got just one class left to grade.

I slept in and have been working on my break to-do list since I woke up. Here it is but not including the daily stuff like meals, housework, church, etc. grade and email the rest of the students lesson plans for the coming weeks after break watch Dune with dh Bible study (try to get ahead, this one has a lot of homework) organize office clean out/organize garage put new flowers on family graves update my big budget book and make some plan for the next few months visit our old hometown; an overnight trip possibly Wed. night. painting class on Monday evening ladies' game night here Tuesday evening go up and take ds to lunch or dinner meet with a couple of my private students spend Friday afternoon with E

Good morning!

I forgot that I do need to do some work on Canva for the Arts Council. We want to advertise our gallery space as a rental for parties, showers, etc.

Good morning! I slept in for a bit, which is always nice! My daddy comes down today, and we'll go to lunch. I don't have any other plans, but I still need to make a winter break list of things to do. I do want to start organizing a lot of my school stuff and paperwork in the office. I tend to pile things up when I am in a hurry. I need some more storage in there, too.

The boys enjoyed the meal. It was nice having them here for a bit. There is homework due tomorrow in most of my classes and I need to make lesson plans for the week after next, but I am really looking forward to the week-long winter break! Dh is home, and the girls won tonight. They play tomorrow night for the regional championship!

@ScoutTN, I'm sorry about the lack of job opportunities and the headache. I went to the grocery store. A load of towels is in the dryer, I dusted the main living areas and took care of the floors. Next up is baking some brownies.

@math teacher, praying your parents get well quickly! @TravelingChris I'm sorry you are having a rough day! I have the stuff here to make white chicken chili, so I will make that. I might make some sandwiches that ds likes. I'm not sure what time they will get here, and I can have the filling ready to go and pop them in the oven when they are on the way from my friend's house. My second student canceled because he got called into work early. I ate a late breakfast/early lunch.

Good morning! Ds and 3 of his frat brothers are doing work at a friend's house for their fundraiser. Ds asked if they could eat dinner here, so I need to figure out what to cook. Any suggestions for a good, home-cooked meal that four 20-somethings would like? dh's breakfast and lunch order a couple of gifts and a new tinted sunscreen to try look at light fixtures online (still haven't decided what to put up in my kitchen, but I want to get that done soon) 2 students online (1 is done) bible study check-in with a friend who had surgery this morning grocery store tidy house dust main living areas floors laundry (load of towels) dinner and enjoy the boys being here make a list of everything I want to do during winter break this whole next week watch something and relax

@ScoutTN, I hope you feel better! @mommyoffive, that is a lot of sickness! I'm so sorry and pray you are all at the end of this sickly season. @HomeAgain, that is so much snow! I'm glad the day ended on a better note! @history-fan, enjoy the park! I've already had my online classes and have 1 in-person student coming. My dad showed up during my classes this morning. I didn't know he was coming, and I have a busy day. He left to visit his sister, and he'll come back later. I'm prepping for the in-person student. I need to do a quick tidy to the house and change clothes. I

Good morning! I'm going to breakfast with a friend. I am going to help at one of the entrances at the regional games tonight hosted by dh's school. dh's food for the day shower and get dressed breakfast with friend post office and pay water bill Bible study 1 Zoom session 1 in-person student go help at school for a couple of hours check homework prep for tomorrow watch something and relax

Let's do this...