Author: jessica

On the Prairie

 

 

On the Prairie

I feel refreshed, restored, renewed

On the Prairie

I see the darkest night, the brightest sunrise, the biggest open sky

On the Prairie

I smell scared skunks, fields of fresh dirt, farms of cattle

On the Prairie

I hear the wind, familiar voices, grandpa’s polka

On the Prairie

I find healing, hope, direction

On the Prairie

I remember, reflect, dream

On the Prairie

I breathe.

Every November, my family and I pack up our van and drive 20+ hours to visit family in the Northern Plains. I cherish this time of “escape” from my normal routine.

I’m  attempting to post every Tuesday as part of the weekly Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers.

My coffee pot died

 

My coffee pot died this morning.  Well, the pot didn’t.  The whole bean grinder inside of it did.  When I pushed the on/off button, all it did was hum. It wanted to start but couldn’t.

Just yesterday, I bought a bag of whole coffee beans.  I had one remaining packet of ground coffee.  Just one to use this morning to make our daily coffee. I just had to push the “grind off” button before starting the pot.

I could shop for a new coffee pot, but I don’t have a car today.  My husband is driving my minivan.  His car is in the shop. Its battery is like my bean grinder.  It wants to start but all it does it make a low hum.

I could grind all the whole beans in a separate grinder, but I gave away my grinder. I didn’t think I needed it anymore.  I gave it back to my sister when she relocated closer to me. She gave it to me two years ago because she had too many bean grinders.  It is now at her apartment three hours away.  She may have to bring it back, but maybe she is using it now.

Sometimes, I give things away and then need them later.  Clothes. Airline tickets. Food. Coffee Grinders.  It is sometimes a pattern with me in my need desire to be generous to others.

Maybe my neighbor has a coffee bean grinder. Then I can walk over to her house or send my boys to ring her door bell. I will watch for coffee pots to go on sale. A nice one. One with a grinder that doesn’t hum.

I’m  attempting to post every Tuesday as part of the weekly Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers.

Second Grade Summary – Slice of Life

 

Every summer I try to create a little end-of-the-school-year blog post. As a virtual school/homeschool family, it can be hard to see the “positives” day in and day out. The end of the school year posts are my way of reminding myself and my son of how far he came in the previous school year.

Kory had to fill out a little form to share with his online class for their last session. Here are his responses.

– What I learned that I didn’t know before:  Vikings flick fleas out of their beards to go North.

– Favorite part of his online classes in Elluminate :  Writing on the whiteboard. Can I say I LOVE watching my son maneuver his way around his online classes.  I can only imagine where his technical astuteness will take him!

– One thing he would share:  We participated in a monthly homeschool art class at our local library.  The theme  one month was Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach.  Here is Kory’s version of it. His is titled “Candylane.”

– Name at least one thing you hope to learn about next year:  How do people make video games.

Kory has said the silliest things this year and the deepest this past year. Some I wrote down. Some I didn’t.  I have watched him struggle with reading and begging to stop after only a couple paragraphs. I have watched him endure hours of vision therapy sessions (makes great health time credit) and vision therapy homework sessions.  I have watched his reading transform into “Can I take this book into the office with me?” “Can I take this book in the van to read?”  “Can I get another book?” “Can I read before I go to bed?”

As I reflect on the year, I think of how I will remember second grade.

I will remember a silly boy, a serious boy, a tired boy, and active boy. Baseball, gymnastics, and swimming – yes some times they all overlapped on the same day. And yes, I will plan better next year. I will remember a boy who tried new things like piano lessons and sitting at orchestra concerts.  I will remember a boy who drove me crazy when he didn’t focus. I will remember a boy who tried his hardest and never gave up.  I  will remember a boy who was so very flexible when schedules and available programs changed. I will remember a boy who cheered when he started his weekly homeschool co-op fall and spring sessions. Best. Homeschool. Decision. Ever! I will remember a boy who was sad when co-op ended for the school year. I will remember a boy who has gone on so many field trips, waited in so many lines and learned in so many “real life” situations.

I will remember that he is only finishing second grade.  He has so much in front of him.

I will remember that I’m so grateful to be a part of his daily learning because sometimes, sometimes he becomes my teacher.

I’m posting every Tuesday as part of the weekly Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers.

Happy Birthday – Slice of Life

 

Today my son turns 8!

I can hardly believe it.  I still can remember the day he was born.  I was overdue and was scheduled to be induced on a Monday. My parents from Minnesota decided to come out early. As a little back story, they weren’t able to make it for the birth or short life of our son, Aidan, so they were determined not to miss any future births of our children.

My parents unexpectedly arrived at my house on Friday evening.  Throughout the evening as we talked, I just couldn’t get comfortable.  Finally later that night, I figured out I was in labor.  My doctor wanted me to take a bath at home and relax for  a bit.  Instead, we told her we were coming directly to the hospital. I don’t think she believed I was truly in labor.

My husband rushed through red lights on our way. Since it was after midnight, the only open door into the hospital was the ER.  I don’t think the ER staff believed me that I was truly in labor. They took their sweet time. Even asked if I wanted a wheelchair.  And we slowly made our way up to the maternity floor.

I don’t think the nursing staff on that floor believed I was truly in labor.  Instead they had me get changed and asked for a urine sample, which I nicely gave.  I was hooked up to monitors and put into the bed.  My husband kept prodding the nurses to check me.  They took their sweet time.

Finally they checked me. “Oh, um, what time will the doctor be here?” The nurse who was getting the infant stuff ready asked if she could do her rounds on the other babies. “Um. I think you need to stay here,” she was told. “What time is the doctor getting here?” the first nurse asked again with a bit more force.

Yes. Finally someone believed I was truly in labor. Finally the doctor showed up. She checked me and told me to push. A full twenty to thirty minutes probably passed from when I entered the ER doors to when Kory was born. No drugs – even though I told my mother I wasn’t going to have my baby “old school.”

After Kory was born, my parents and some friends arrived. I remember our friends had made sure to stop by a local store to stock up on chips and goodies for them to have in the waiting room. We all laughed, and my dad offered to move our car that was parked in such a funny way in front of the ER doors.

At my six-week check up, my doctor said, “Well I am glad I got there in time to catch your son.”

Of all the things I have been through with having kids, I’m thankful for short labors and deliveries! I think Kory’s was around four hours looking back.  Aidan’s was six from start to finish even with being induced,  and Cade’s was about that too. Let’s just say with Cade, my doctor told me at what point during regular appointments that I should demand to go to the hospital. Don’t hate me for short labor and deliveries – it truly has been God’s way to bless me with everything else we have had to go through with pregnancies and births!

And I’m so thankful that Kory was born healthy and strong. He continues to inspire me. He continues to surprise me. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry tears of pride and fear. He makes me a better me.

I love you Kory!  Thank you for being a part of my life! And happy birthday!

I’m posting every Tuesday as part of the weekly Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers.

It’s Monday – What are you reading? June 18

 

Today I’m focusing on my son’s books for my It’s Monday – What are you reading post, which is hosted weekly by Teach Mentor Texts.

As a little background, my son just finished second grade and has struggled with reading.  He has been in vision therapy for the past few months with three more months to go through the remaining sessions. You can read about the specifics on his reading and vision therapy on an earlier blog post:  Vision Therapy.

We are half way through his recommended vision therapy sessions, and I’m noticing huge improvements this past week. And thanks to my real-life friend, Maria, for continually recommending books of possible interest. This week we found a match.  His interests met the joy of reading! Instead of begging to take a sketch pad or a gaming system with him in the road, it is now, “Mommy, can I take my book?”  My son, who has struggled with reading, is now reading on his own. In the car. In waiting rooms. On drives with friends.  BOOKS!  He actually is reading BOOKS!

I am so proud of him and so thankful for the books he has read this past week.  I’ve been having him write the names and titles of his books, so he can work further on his handwriting, which has significantly improved with his vision therapy sessions.

So here is his list for the week!

Missile Mouse books by Jake Parker and Lunch Lady books by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

YEAH KORY!

The Broken Deer – Slice of Life

 

I pass this deer on my daily outdoor walk.  One of his antlers is missing.  His paint is chipped. He is broken.

“Why does his owner keep him? Does she not realize he is broken?” I quietly mumbled to myself the first time I noticed the fake deer.

The second day of my walk, I checked every tree on my path to find this deer.  I couldn’t find him.

The third day, I found him.  “He is broken. He should be thrown away,” I thought to myself.  

“Wait. What do I keep that is broken?” I asked myself.

Chipped dishes sit in my cupboard. Torn towels sit in my bathrooms.  I still grieve over broken friendships I doubt will ever be repaired.  Broken promises by others bounce in my head.  Tiny holes are in some of my shirts.

Yet I hold onto all these broken things.  I’m not too different than the owner of this broken deer. I hope someday she or he will be outside when I walk pass this deer.   “Why do you keep this deer?” I can then ask them.

I will look for this deer each day I walk outside and let him remind me that I need to let go of some broken things I hold onto too tightly.

What broken things do you need to let go?

I’m posting every Tuesday as part of the weekly Slice of Life over at Two Writing Teachers.