Gathering Graces 4/24/2020 Messages from China

Since the end of January, I have watched as countless students in China were put on lockdown in their homes.

Some of these students were in their own home.

Some of these students were in their grandparents home.

Sometimes the parents were at the grandparents home, sometimes they were not.

Despite this disruption in their lives, I have watched the children continue on.  Some of the changes I have observed in these students is 1) they seem more alert when I teach them.  I am often teaching them anywhere from 6-9 p.m. their time. This is because they are not in school and doing other activities throughout the day. 2) Some seem to be distracted playing something else on their computer or tablet while they are taking my VIPKid class.  I think some of these students are playing more video and computer games than they are used to playing when their regular school is in session.

About a month into their lockdown, China stared providing online school to all the students in the country.  So now students were on a bit of a schedule each day taking their classes by watching them on the television, their computer, or their tablet.

A few weeks ago, students were able to start going outside.  They would tell me of trips to the park or enjoying a walk around their neighborhood.  But they did all wear masks when they were outside.

As the virus hit the United States, parents would sent me messages, telling me to be safe, and wear masks, and wash my hands and keep things clean.  Here are a few examples:

"Thank you for your suggestions before and after class. I like you very much! Protect yourself and your family during the outbreak! It's important to wear a mask. Try not to go out at home!"


"COVID-19 spread  so quickly. I hope you all healthy and safe. Take care !"

"Thank you, teacher! Teacher, please protect yourself and your parents, reduce going out, wear a mask when you go out, keep a distance of 1 meter from people, and go home to disinfect and wash the exposed parts."


Often I ask the students the question "What did you do today?" and often the reply would be, "I went to school today."  Now, when I ask that question, the answer would be "I am at home all day".

But China is slowly opening up.  I had students today who were getting ready to go back to school.  I think they are having many older students go back.  Some of the younger students are still staying home

Throughout these past few months, if I didn't know these students were on a lockdown in their home, I would have never been able to tell.  Besides more parents present, especially the dad, who we often don't see in the classroom, things seemed pretty normal with my students.  They dressed the same.  They looked the same.  They acted the same.  I did have one student who told me one day that she was sad.  This was a student who was living at her grandparents home, and her parents were at her home, and she had not seen her parents for over a month.  A few weeks later, this student's mom started coming to stay at the grandparents home on the weekends.  Now this students is moving back to her own home this weekend.

I know some VIPKid teachers received masks in the mail from their students in China.  I enjoyed the kind words from some of the parents telling me to stay healthy and safe.

And it makes me realize that we are all in this together...whether we are in the USA, or China, or Italy or anywhere else in the world.  We have all been touched by this, and the best thing to do is work together and try and make it slow down, and eventually go away.

Gathering Graces 4/23/2020 Masked

Today was the first time since I received a mask sewed by my sister-in-law Debbie that I have gone out in public shopping.

So I wore the mask today as I shopped at Costco and Fred Meyer.

This was my take away from this experience.

Everyone should experience wearing a mask at least one time when they go shopping.

Why? (Besides the obvious reason that it may protect you and others?)

So you can be more empathetic toward the employees at these stores who have to wear these masks during their whole shift.

I wore mine less than an hour and it was driving me nuts!

One more reason to applaud our essential workers and give them a smile and a kind word each and every time you encounter them.

They are my heroes!!

Gathering Graces 4/22/2020 I Just Don't Have The Energy

I find myself not wanting to do the smallest of tasks.

Like responding to text messages, even when it is an easy answer.

Like deciding what to make for dinner.

Don't even get me started on responding to emails.

But yet I get upset if someone doesn't respond to my text, my message, my email.

And I realize, we are all dealing with a lack of energy.

Small tasks are kind of hard to do sometimes.

But it isn't the end of the world.

So if someone doesn't respond to you right away....cut them some slack.  Their energy will return.  You will hear from them.  It may just take some time.

My energy will return.  Cut me some slack.  You will hear from me.  It may just take some time.

Brene Brown is one of my new favorite people, and I love her books and her talks.  I follow her on Twitter, and she posted this picture that is so true.

It is true.

We are going to be okay!!

Gathering Graces 4/21/2020 My Heart Dances With The Daffodils

When I was in sixth grade in Mrs. Tregoning's class at Sunnyside Elementary, one of our assignments that year was to memorize a poem.  I think we also wrote out the poem and drew a picture to go with the poem.

The poem I memorized was "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth.

Maybe this is one of the reasons I get so excited when my daffodils start to bloom.  Because back in sixth grade, I memorized a really great poem.

Daffodils
By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed'and gazed'but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. 

As I read through this poem, I think, as many of us are currently experiencing a vacant or pensive mood.  And if this is the case, what image do we have that gives us the "bliss of solitude", and fills our heart with pleasure.  For Wordsworth, it was the daffodils.  Today, it was not only the daffodils, but three other yellow flowers I found blooming in my yard.  As Wordsworth says in the third stanza "I gazed' and gazed' but little thought, What wealth the show to me had brought".  Often we don't appreciate the shows we experience in nature.  But today, I appreciated the cheery yellow blooms of daffodils, tulips, Oregon grape blooms and forsythia.

Oregon grape

Forsythia

Tulips

Today, my heart was surely dancing with the daffodils.

Gathering Graces 4/20/2020 Getting Reacquainted With Madeleine

I have been reading books by my favorite author, Madeleine L'Engle.

L'Engle is probably most well know as the author of "A Wrinkle in Time".

But her works encompass a variety of genres from young adult fiction, adult fiction, theological reflection, memoir, non-fiction and poetry.

I have always appreciated Madeleine L'Engle's world view.

Many of her writings have helped me shape my own world view.

Her writings are full of these thoughts.  Her thoughts and lessons are reflected in all her works.

In 2012, Paul and I visited New York City for the first time.  As part of this trip, we visited St. John the Divine Cathedral.  The significance of this trip was the fact the Madeleine L'Engle was the writer in residence at this cathedral, and many of her books are set at this cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral

The outside of the Cathedral

The Cathedral Close, the setting for many scenes in L'Engle's books.

It ha been her poetry that has really helped me, and given me perspective over the past weeks.

One I recently read seems to resonate with what is happening today.  She wrote this poem in the year 1966.  Another time when the world was shifting and changing.  I was three years old when she wrote this poem.  And now, at the age of 56, the message is still the same.

I Am Become Like A Pelican....

I am become like a pelican in the wilderness...
For I have eaten ashes as it were bread,
and mingled my drink with weeping...
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever.
Psalm 102:6, 9, 12

God is dead? Well, of course God is dead!
Where have you been?  Did you not see the dark
Cover the hill and strike against the cross?
We killed him then two thousand years ago
And once was not enough.  We kill him now
In each denial, each unloving act.
Daily we kill him, trampling on his name,
Spitting on his word.  And we are told,
And rightly, that he died between two thieves
And not two candles shining on an altar.
And yet there, too, perhaps most terribly,
He's crucified each day by priest and those
Who take him, unaware of all the clouds
Of witnesses encompassing them in song
And prayer, who kneel there coldly unaware
Of those who suffer in the adjoining pew.
We do not understand his feast; we live
Again his crucifixion, but forget,
Each time we crucify him there again
Between those candles whose bright flame is lost
To darkened eyes, that when he died for us,
We kill him, but we cannot keep his light
From blazing forth in flame for everyone
Who fouls his word and calls him dead and cries
In loneliness because his name is lost.

And yet, receiving now my heart's true food
I feel his light rush coursing through my blood.
Nourished by his spilled wine and broken bread,
I know that my Redeemer is not dead.

Madeleine L'Engle

In November 2000, she told an interviewer for Religion and Ethics Weekly that suffering and grief are a part of life.

"In times when we are not particularly suffering, we do not have enough time for God," she said. "We are too busy with other things. And then the intense suffering comes, and we can not be busy with other things. And then God comes into the equation. Help. And we should never be afraid of crying out, 'Help!' I need all the help I can get."

Gathering Graces 4/19/2020 Barbie Doll Fun Through The Ages...Happy BIrthday April!!

My best friend April lives in Italy, and her birthday is April 20th.

April and I together last summer.

She has been inside her home for 63 days, because of health issues and the Corona Virus lockdown.

Each day she posts her story of life in Italy on Facebook.  She has experienced a variety of emotions through these past few months, including loss, sadness, grief, joy, contentment and happiness. She gives those of us in other parts of the world her view of what is happening through her eyes.

April usually spends the whole month celebrating her birthday doing fun things, and going on outings in her beautiful country.

This year she is unable to do that, so I decided to send a birthday party to her...more specifically a birthday dance party.  I also got some of our good friends to include some special birthday messages from them.

April and I, and our friend Kellee, kind of have a thing for Barbie dolls.  (Yes, the doll from our childhood. Yes, we are in our fifties...want to make something of it???)   We like to take Barbie on adventures, as we did when we played with them in our youth.  Barbie has been on a hike to Stevens Lake in the Silver Valley, climbed on glaciers and had a tea party in Glacier National Park, and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to Italy.

Barbies at Stevens Lake.

Barbies having a tea party at Glacier National Park.

Barbies in Italy.

When we were younger, my Barbie family was the Moore family, and they were known as "The Moore Family Singers".

Back in the day when we started playing Barbies together.  This is a "Magic Show" April and I performed in her backyard.  I was the magician.  She was my assistant.

Two of the Moore family came out of retirement to perform a special birthday dance party song for April.  They needed  a band, and the "Pet Lockdown Band" was formed using our four pets.

This once in a lifetime performance of Barbie and Barbie Moore, and the Pet Lockdown Band comes to you in this Silver Valley Stories exclusive.

Enjoy!!

Gathering Graces 4/18/2020 And I Will Give You Rest

Restless Nights.  Can't Sleep.  Mind Can't Settle Down.  Insomnia.

I have experienced some of this in the last few weeks.  I have seen people on my social media sites proclaiming the same thing.  People are finding it hard to sleep.

This morning in my Bible reading, I feel like I was gently reminded of how I, as a Christian, can turn to Jesus with this problem.  It is a very common passage that is very familiar, but often we need to be reminded of even these common passages.

In Matthew 11: 28-29 I was reminded:  "Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

But I have to make the first step.  This doesn't "magically" happen.  I have to take the action, the first three words, "come unto me".  Once I come  unto Jesus, then he will give me rest.  And next he asks me to "take my yoke upon you", and he reminds us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light".

And it really is as simple as that.  This doesn't mean all my problems will go away.  But it does mean, by coming unto Jesus and taking his yoke, that my burden will be lighter.  And with a lighter burden, my mind and spirit and soul can find peace.  And with that peace comes rest.

I love it when I receive those gentle reminders.

Gathering Graces 4/17/2020 The Gardens Are Coming To Life

Another day in the sunshine, bringing to life some of the gardens around our yard.

Zoe worked on some items that she put in her fairy garden.

I can't wait until the Wizard of Oz garden in complete. Paul has been busy adding some elements.

My rose garden is thriving.  It also got fertilized today.

More will be added to the Alice in Wonderland garden this year.

A new garden is being planned...inspired by "The Bard" himself.

I was so excited that most of my herb garden wintered over.

The new flowerbed we created last summer is doing just what I wanted it to do....it is full of tulips...some getting ready to bloom. They get much more sun in this flowerbed.

The other flower bed, which was not conducive to blooming tulips because it did not get enough sun....is doing well with all the shade loving plants I planted there last fall.

Things in the gardens are getting off to a very good start.  And it is so nice to have the time to be out and enjoy it all.

Gathering Graces 4/16/2020 Things That Make Me Smile

Today I spent about three hours outside in the sunshine working and it was fabulous!!

It felt good to work outside.  It made me smile.

These daffodils made me smile in my backyard today.

Seeing out cat Benjamin enjoying a patch of warm sunshine also made me smile.

Binge watching NCIS has also made me smile.

And eating grilled steak for dinner.

And getting to the end of a good book by my favorite author.

And walking over 13,000 steps today....WOO HOO!!  Smiles, smiles, smiles!!!

Gathering Graces 4/15/2020 It Is All A Blur

Sometimes when I get to the end of the day, I ask myself if I have accomplished anything at all.

Then I need to look back, and say, yes, I did.

I teach for three hours every morning online to students in China.  That is how may day begins.

I usually go for a walk afterwards, but today it was pouring down rain, so I skipped it.  Instead I rode my stationary bike for about an hour, and walked outside around my backyard, reading a book.

I colored pictures of dinosaurs to help my students learn the English names of these creatures.  There are a lot of dinosaurs, some I have never heard of.  I guess many more have been discovered and identified since I was in school!

And I got my morning nap in, giving me the rest of sleep I need for the day.

So I guess I did a few things today.

Sometimes, I just need to make a list and remind myself I did accomplish something.

Now, what day is it again???

Gathering Graces 4/14/2020 Taxes

Today I did my taxes.

Yes, we owe.

Thank goodness I don't have to pay them until July.

That is all.

Ugh!

Gathering Graces 4/13/2020 The Cataldo Slough

I needed to go to the bank in Pinehurst to make a deposit, so I asked Paul and Zoe if they wanted to with me, and take a little drive on the River Road out to the Rose Lake exit and back.  They said they would! Our dog Sadie also came along for the ride.

After doing our banking, we got on the "old road" and drove along the Coeur d'Alene River, then we drove along the Cataldo Slough.  We stopped at one point to see a little wildlife, including some ducks and Blue Herons.  It was a beautiful day and a beautiful view.  In the midst of all of this social distancing, if you can, get out and find some beauty to appreciate today.  It is very good for the soul.

Gathering Graces 4/12/2020 Easter Celebration

Despite the Stay at Home order and social distancing, Paul, Zoe and I were able to have a wonderful Easter celebration today.

Two of our local churches teamed up to provide an Easter morning service at the old Smelterville Drive In.  People drove up in their cars and tuned their radio dial to 90.1 FM to participate together in a time of singing and worship and then given two different sermons from Pastor Corey Berti from Worship Center in Smelterville, and from Pastor Cody Karst from Cornerstone Church in Osburn.  Over 200 cars came out for this wonderful Easter community celebration, which meant probably over 500 people gathered for this unique Easter celebration.  What a blessing for our community.

When we returned home, Zoe went out in our backyard and hid 33 Easter eggs for Paul, Jason and I to find.  We decided we would each be tasked with finding 11 eggs.  Paul found his 11 first.  Jason was next to complete the task.  And I came in at the end.  It was a lot of fun.

Then we started preparations for our Easter dinner.  First the hard boiled eggs we had colored and hunted were used to make deviled eggs. Then we prepared a London broil to be grilled on the bbq.  Some asparagus was trimmed ready to be cooked.  And Zoe made an lovely lemon-herb butter to be put on the slices of London broil once it was grilled and sliced.  Besides grilling the London broil, Paul also grilled some potatoes.  The dinner was finished off with some Raspberry Neapolitans, made with some frozen raspberries from last year's harvest from our garden.

Paul and I enjoyed having Zoe and Jason here to enjoy our Easter celebration.