Today

We'll be staying home today.
Can you believe it's nearly May!?

Even if Ria's no longer sick,
I think we need a break - and I get to pick!

A break from people and all those germs.
Mama needs some time to, with her fears, come to terms.

I'm not (or at least I wasn't) a germ-a-phobe.
But I can totally see how some might wear that psychic robe!!!

So easy to slip on and wrap ones self up in.
The trouble is keeping it off when around someone coughin'.

Still, even with Ria feeling better (as I expect she will),
there's no harm in giving her time to completely heal.

So, we'll miss out on our busiest day.
But we'll be right back in next week, without delay.

Who Do You Write To?

When you write in your blog. Who do you write to?

As for me? Mostly I write to my Mom and my sister Eves. They are both far from me and difficult to converse with personally (one more so than the other, but still). So, when I write, I most often think of them.

There are other times when I write just to write. I may also write to record something since I find it difficult (because of kiddos who don't like to see me do it for some reason!!) to write on paper - like in my journal. So, this is sort of a fill-in for that, which I miss doing very much.

Anyway. I was just thinking about this a lot lately.

So, who do you write to? Anyone?

Worry

Pray for us, if you could.
I hope and ask that you would.

Ria's had headaches, fever, and a sore throat.
Kat and Mama aches and the feeling of needing a coat.

With all the news regarding an impending pandemic,
I think I may be developing a nervous tick.

Okay, so that last bit was just cause I needed a rhyme.
My actual problem is that my fears, too fast, do climb.

And from the heights of really tall fear
I shed many, oh many, a tear.

But the height doesn't help with perspective.
And good advice flows right out of my mind like a sieve.

So, I'm praying for greater Faith and Trust.
For I know that, in my life, the Lord's Will is a must.

It's better by far than my own plan.
Just as with anything, God's way is better than any ways of man.

Still fear nibbled on my mind.
A way I am, to myself, unkind.

If you chance to, or think to, for us, pray,
acceptance and peace would be nice, if you could send 'em on their way.

I'm really REALLY trying to do my part.
For I do believe that's where it must start.

I also believe additional prayers certainly can't hurt.
Perhaps there'll be some from KZ, maybe in a yurt. (heeheehee)

Tuesday

Mama's got an ache.
In the head. Same as Ria.
No fever yet. Yay!

Monday

Quiet cooking day.
Jess home. Ria a bit sick.
Kat frustrated, some.

Sunday

Last April Sunday.
Good day. Friend to play. Quiet.
Reading. Early sleep.

Quiet Saturday

Quiet day after
Friday's Ward Activity.
Reading. Playing. Quiet.

(lame haiku, I know)
Posting on Monday for Saturday.

Repeating

Again today, off to work with Dad.
I really didn't want this particular fad.

Saturday will be a break.
But Friday was a bit of messy cake.

Not as busy as yesterday, for sure.
(Perhaps we're on our way to a cure.)

We dropped Daddy off at work.
Then to the grocery store to lurk.

Loading up on loss leaders, I had a list prepared.
I saved more than forty dollars, if anyone cared.

Canned veggies, fifty cents a piece,
spaghetti sauce, and mac-n-cheese.

Beginning again to gather our pantry three-month supply.
It's always a process, but this time I think it'll fly.

Having more money with which to devote,
it's a good feeling, but I don't mean to gloat.

It's certainly not boasting in and of ourselves.
But to God all praise for filling our shelves!!!!!!

Gratitude constantly fills my heart
that His Love is so big and He's SO smart!

I don't think I would've been this focused
without past experience, and all the ways we've been hocus-pocused.

Written Saturday the 25th.

Too Much Thursday

Today was the first of a couple BUSY days.
If you know me, my busy-ness may amaze.

I really prefer, as much as I can,
to stay in my home putting paper with pen.

Actually, I don't get to do that much
but I would do, if I could do such!

We departed with Daddy at 7:30am, quite early!
To get him to work when the sky was still all pearly.

Mama needed the van to get to a meeting late in the day.
So, early to drop Daddy we rose and went away.

We returned and baby was SLEEPY.
So Mama laid down to calm "little weepy".

An hour later the time arrived for another departure.
This time off to the playground, my children to lure.

It's easy when the treat is play
and then a story at the libra-ray.

10am, I was almost on time.
Though lateness isn't a crime.

11am Story Time came.
We dashed over and I felt quite lame.

I thought we were completely timely.
We were welcomed in, as always, kindly.

Story Time finished, we made our way home.
With Mama's poor head feeling all full of foam.

Sleepy, SO sleepy, we all took a nap.
And wakened in hopes of a visitor's hand flap. (knock on the door)

When Kelly came the girls were so excited.
She came with us to Dance, they were delighted.

Directly after dance we rushed
Mama was sure we were late, I was totally flushed.

According to the clock on the wall
I had 2 minutes to spare, good call!

Out after 9pm and then off to get Dad.
I hope NOT to make this sort of day a personal fad.

But then, perhaps I should not think such a thing.
Death will bring rest from cares, of truth that does ring.

But cares does not refer to WORK.
Even in Heaven we will not be able to shirk.

So, while here, part of our myriad duties
is to learn to love work as well as our cuties.

Written on Saturday the 25th.

Quietly Reading

I'm trying to read ahead.
It's been happening often while abed.

Ria's reading so very fast.
I'm trying to find a new good cast.

Since she seems to really enjoy series of books.
I'm reading The Circle Opens, which requires many looks.

They are significantly longer.
And will require her focus to get stronger.

I'm sure she'll love that there's magic throughout.
But I'm afraid the thickness will cause her to pout.

However a mean Mom I may seem,
I encourage her so strongly because we're a bit of a team.

So Wednesday afternoon I spent a lot of time reading.
And took breaks when my girls were pleading.

The morning we were busy with a short beach trip.
To play in the waves and have a picnic, the girls did "flip"!

They were so happy for such a rare pleasure.
And the company of friends was an added treasure.

Mixed in with afternoon reading time
I spent some moments just being, which isn't a crime!

Kat yearns for cuddles galore.
And I always want to hold her more.

So a little time was spent
trying to, in our need, put a dent.

Tea has become a little selfish of Mama's lap.
She fussed and tried to get Kat away with, from her hands, a tap.

I'm not having any of that.
I learned my lesson with her sister Kat!

Ria, able to read the way she is,
sees me doing and then she does.

So Wednesday was a nice quiet day.
Good in many many a way.

The rest of the week was a bit of a riot of busy!
You'll wonder how I kept from having a tizzy.

At least, I wonder a bit in my mind.
It's ALL the Lord, for He is SO kind.

This was written on Saturday morning at 2:39am; trying to catch up again.

Homeschooling "Others"

This day was quite busy.
Mama was all a tizzy.

We actually spent a good few hours
spending time with other homeschooled flowers.

It was lovely for Ria to meet more "others".
And for me to meet more Mothers.

A good moment came
that enabled me to reduce public school's fame.

Ria didn't want to play volleyball any more.
And I allowed her to take a break, it was no chore.

But then I was able to point out.
That if she'd been elsewhere, she couldn't thus pout.

She'd have to participate regardless of her feeling.
And no matter how others might be, with her, dealing.

Kat really just wanted to swing.
But she did chase the big kids around the whole thing. (the playground)

The other Mothers were most impressed
with how Kat fell, but her play did not arrest!

I shared that I hoped to raise tough chicks.
Girls who could be cute, but also take some licks.

Joking, on that last part.
The Mothers thought I had a good start.

Tea was, of course, a sweet baby.
Sitting in my sling like a little lady.

She only complained a few times when she wanted to eat.
And she was easily soothed and went back to her special retreat.

So our morning was a special pleasure.
Next week will be another one to treasure!

Later we had piano class as we usually do on this day.
Mary Kay told me she was interviewed in an odd sort of way.

She had the older boy, who'd been taking lessons a few years, play for her.
If she hadn't been told of his years taking lessons, she wouldn't have been sure.

For she thought Ria was playing as well as he.
And she wondered how that could possibly be.

More than likely his parents don't press him.
His time pushed to practice is likely quite slim.

I don't have to push her so much as of late.
But there was a while that I felt that would always be my fate.

She usually sits down to practice and play
without a word from me, or little delay.

It's lovely to hear
that she's doing so well in less than a year!

Now caught up!

Monday Run Day

Okay, so running is exaggerating just a bit.
Can you imagine my fluff doing much more than a sit?

Well, I did go for a walk.
ALONE! No one with whom I had to talk!

What a gift.
My spirits did lift.

I wish for some more.
But I'd have to wake EARLY to score.

The sacrifice is a bit much as yet.
But I'll make it before long, I bet.

For the time alone was such a pleasure.
I believe I may value it more than sleep, my current treasure.

Back dating this for yesterday. Almost caught up.

Sunday Fun Day

Well, perhaps not all fun.
But we with Daddy, some time won.

So all day he was around.
Rarely is he so easily found.

I'm happy, for certain, though.
For he's making significantly more dough.

Not that money is the end all, of course.
But you'll have to agree it is a might strong force.

We'll be using it for good, me thinks.
To build up food storage and take care of debt, it STINKS!

And then we'll figure out what other good we can do.
But that won't happen for a while, which I do rue.

Still thing are looking brighter.
I guess it pays to be a fighter.

Certainly there's no doubt in my mind
that's our circumstances are a miracle from our Father, kind!

Back posted for Sunday on Tuesday. A little less behind now.

Saturday Service

We went to the Washington Oaks Park.
We, me and my three, worked and had a lark.

It was a wonderful time
and didn't cost us a dime.

The normal fee
is really rather wee.

Only eight dollars per car
and the park is near, rather than far.

The only difficult part
was driving Daddy to work, an early start.

Normally Mama doesn't fully get going
until a bit later in the morning.

The reason for the effort
was of the worthy sort.

So energy was high.
But I did need a nap later, I cannot lie.

Ria worked at any task.
She was happy, and it was no mask.

Kat got tired of the work we were doing
after only an hour she began stewing.

But we finished our little three.
And then enjoyed the sights to see.

Ria and Kat had their faces painted.
Rainbows for the two. Cute, ain't it?

I only have one picture, but can't post it.
I left my camera at home. I could, now, have a fit.

Then we moved on to some painting time.
On a big board, their globs and squiggles were not a crime.

They did some plant potting at a plant potting station.
A must have for any Earth Day celebration.

From there we moved on to a bird house painting table.
And we left them to dry without so much as a label.

No need for their works were one of a kind.
No one else would try to, theirs, find.

Finally, we ended at the splatter painting spot.
The girls started with a paint dot.

But the surface on which the paper was sitting
was spinning. So the dot became more of a round blot.

Their creations all completely unique.
I'm so lucky so have been present to, into their process, peak.

We finished with a special treat.
Prepared foods that we bought right there to eat.

The girls were just thrilled.
And their little bellies were nicely filled.

The money was an awesome and
unexpected gift from a far off land.

Thanks to Josefine and Keefe
for sending it, I have NO beef!

Such friends I have, so sweet.
I wish I could them, in person, greet.

Perhaps someday.
That's hope. A small ray.

Back posted on Tuesday for Saturday. I'm a bit behind.

Flub

Mamas flub, too.
It's not something to rue.
At least not too much.
It makes us more true,
like someone you can really touch!

So my flub of the day
was not remembering to stay
at home instead of going to dance.
So off to class we did prance.
Only to find the door locked
and you should've seen Ria's glance!
I could well tell she was shocked.

To be totally frank
I felt a bit blank.
And then SPRING BREAK sprang
into my head, really rang.
I felt a bit mentally over cuddled
and shared the bit of Mama-mind-muddled.
Ria, shaming me in every word,
chastised me for being befuddled.
And I did feel like a big fat turd.

But then I felt it important to remind
my eldest daughter to be more kind.
And took a moment or two
to remind her, "This effort is for you!"
I expressed the need
for her to take heed
and help her Mama, so forgetful,
of HER dance schedule!
She seemed to realize
that she really did have a part to help Mama not look a fool.
This daughter of mine, what a prize!

Not always, of course.
We have plenty of days of remorse.
When she doesn't mind
and is often unkind.
But more and more often,
she does, my heart soften,
with her sweet gentle ways.
She makes the best of her days.
And to top it all to me
she is smart as smart can be.
She read and loves to learn
and helps as much as she can see
a way to help and take a turn.

A wonderful life.
Even when full of strife.
Hope is my haven.
I'm the new hope Maven!
Only through Father's sweet Grace
and Mercy can I say such with a mostly straight face.
I took it as a challenge to have Hope
when it seems like the world is trying to hang itself with a rope.
And Father has blessed me beyond measure.
With peace and joy and His love to treasure.
You should try it too
I'm sure you will find treasures, not a few.
And what could it hurt
to feel hope when there's so much to rue?
It's a way to, with Heaven, flirt!

So, the missing dance class (heeheehee) was actually on Thursday the 16th,
but I wanted to make sure I had a poem for Friday. (I'd rather not get behind!)