We're home from a whirlwind trip to Virginia. It was beyond good to be home. The mountains were so green with new leafiness and dotted with blossoms of redbud and dogwood. The air was a-swirling with pollens that coated the camera lens as soon as we uncovered it. Camden and I were sneezing and teary-eyed, but it was worth it. It was all worth it.

We rode Amtrak from right here in Windsor to Lynchburg, Va. Our train boarded at 7:30 a.m. and arrived an hour later in New Haven where we sat for a couple of hours before the Northeast Regional departed. It was so crowded in New Haven that we couldn't even sit together till a swarm of spring-breakers departed in New York City. That's when we found some seats together and remained till 8:30 when Curt's sister picked us up and drove us an hour west to Roanoke. Just being in Lynchburg was good enough. Being in Roanoke, our home for 13 years, was the best.

Mill Mountain Zoo was near the top of our list of places to go. I remember a lot of prairie dogs the last time I was there. This time, we saw two. Perhaps the rest were sleeping.

This is a lynx. He growled and snarled and hissed every time Camden and Benjy talked to him. I don't blame him. I sometimes do the same.

This is a statue that we believe is a tribute to Ruby the Siberian tiger who passed away five years ago. Ruby was a star attraction to the little zoo in the Star City. We missed her on this day. The only signage for this statue says it's for children only and names the people whose contribution made it possible. I remember the children only part. That's all.


These mountains practically hug you! Their embrace tells me I'm home. I'm safe. I'm where I belong. We're praying that God will lead us back here. Until then, we will embrace all God has for us here in New England.

This shot was taken from behind the flowers on Dad's grave looking toward Mom sitting by Michelle's. I will never understand why both my sister and father died within 18 months of each other. But I live in peace knowing that God has it all in his mighty hands. I will see each of them again because they were His. Of this, I am sure.

Here is sweet Benjy putting a sprig of dogwood on his grandaddy's grave.
Right after this, he ran and ran and ran throughout the cemetery. Who can blame him? I used to play tag in cemeteries after dark with tombstones. Not the smartest thing I ever did.

Did I say how beautiful the dogwoods were? Bloom after bloom after bloom.

No matter what I said, I couldn't sync these boys in smile mode.
And the boys' hair moans of bed-head.
And too, Benjy has toothpaste all over his shirt.

And here we are, going home. Home to Connecticut. Even though Roanoke will always be home.

Things I'm still wondering about on Friday, April 15, 2011:

1: Isn't it funny how when you write the year 2011 on the board, that 2nd graders are amazed, absolutely overcome, by the fact that Jesus was born around that long ago? That's just too cool for words.

2: How can a week last for two weeks?

3: If exercise is so ding-dang good for you, why does it leave you feeling so plumb worn out?

4: What's the deal with snow cones? You could drink sugar-water and be happy.

5: When will my Bessie, the Big Blue Van, be fixed? She's in the shop for a recall. We have a rental that I love. I'm happy with the rental. Not that I don't love Bessie.

6:Will Deangelo be the new boss on The Office or not?

7: Is there an electric outlet on Amtrak? 'Cause I have to recharge my MacBook.

8: Will Emma pee on the carpet while we're gone? Probably not if we barricade her from the upstairs. Which we will.

9: Emma will not pee on the upstairs carpet if I block access to it. So, I will keep her from being upstairs.

10: Is the moon waxing or waning?

Things I'm wondering about:

Does God burp? (courtesy of my 2nd grade class) If he does, I'm quite sure he always says, "Excuse me." And people always do.




When will Connecticut be warm? And when it's warm, will it be past my 80 degree heat threshold? And if it is, will I complain?





Why do kids have to learn how to write in cursive? I won't accept any plausible answers.





Is it possible to eat chicken three nights in a row? We'll find out tomorrow.





If you can't sing well on earth, can you sing well in heaven?





Will the new book I'm reading, Jodi Picoult's House Rules, be less depressing than all her other books I've read?





Will I be able to recharge my laptop on the train to Virginia?






Will Benjy miss me next year when he's in 3rd grade?





Will I miss Benjy?! (kidding - it's been the most amazing blessing to teach my son this year.)





What was my sister thinking the day she died? Did she know how very much I love her? How very much I respect her? In spite of my jokes and snarkiness??? Did she have any idea how much we all love her?





When will Girl Scout cookies be fat-free and low calorie and still taste the same?





What are you wondering about today?

Mom has a memory of Daddy puttering in the back yard. He was planting tulip bulbs in the small stretch of space between the old railroad cross-ties that served as a retaining wall for as long as I can remember. She remembers him pushing them into the soft dirt, making over them like they were his babies. Skinny, blue jeaned Daddy, leaning over the earth, planting a promise.

And then he got sick again. The doctors sliced into his throat and stole his cancer infected larynx, leaving him mute with helplessness. Then they fired doses of radiation into his neck and injected poison into his veins to kill the cancer cells swimming free. They tried. They tried so hard to save him. But a year without Michelle and a voice that wouldn't be heard left him with little left to live for. He slipped away, even as we prayed for him to stay.

Daddy found his voice again in the fall. He found his voice, blood fresh with life, and healthy cells moving to the drumbeat of God. He found himself in heaven, and we found ourselves crying on earth, longing to hear his country words of reason and a pathetic joke or two. The winter was long. It was cold. It was snowy and without a light we'd come to depend on. After a winter of dusk, spring crawled in.

The earth tilted more pleasing to the sun. Grass greened. The Bradford pear and dogwood blossomed fresh and white. Something green and new uncurled between the cross-ties. Without warning, pink tulips spoke. Look at me. Look at us.

Mom glanced out the window. She heard the sound. The voices of tulips whispering in the wind. Look at us. We were planted by the loving hand of a man in love with God. We were born of the earth, nurtured beneath the frozen white. We were breathed on by the hope of tomorrow and the promise of today. We are a gift from the man with the weary hands. His voice, fragrance pink and beauty full, wants you to know. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.

You probably know that if I could vote for Stephen Colbert for president, I would. What I'd give for a State of the Union address by Colbert. I'd stay up to watch that. Yessiree, I would. Applause and all.

One of the things I love about Colbert is the On Notice board.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
On Notice - How the On Notice Board Is Made
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

And I figure if he can rant about about what's dead to him, then I can, too. Of course, I don't intend to run for president. And it is my solemn disclaimer that any On Notices I post will not detract in any way from a Stephen Colbert candidacy.

ON NOTICE for me this month are:

snow: There are still patches of it around my house. And the Connecticut River is set to flood with all the snow melt arriving from the north. I was completely enthralled with it during the winter, but now it's spring. As of today. And they're calling for snow tomorrow.

time changes: That whole thing last weekend nearly killed me. First I spent all Sunday on the wrong time. I even ventured to Aldi's and walked toward the entrance and away four times waiting for the doors to open for me. They remained closed. I thought perhaps I was on Candid Camera. I was not. Turns out, it was 6 p.m. and I had 5 on my watch.

cancer: My dad's birthday was on March 5, but those stopped in 2009. Cancer may not be gone, but it's on notice.

Sarah Palin: I know many of you adore her. She is certainly perky and lives in beautiful Alaska, not a stone's throw from Russia. She's quite lovely as carbon goes. But frankly, she annoys me. I can't get past the feeling that she's a fake. I would like to see her pop up on The X-Files one day.

plastic flowers: You can't fake nature. We used to have these neighbors two doors down. Harry and Betty. They were a funny couple. Plastic flowers dotted the front yard. Harry swore that aliens landed in the back yard, so he'd stake it out on days when his neighbor Allie was sunbathing. To this day, that's what I think of when I spy plastic flowers.

rhinitis acuta catarrhalis: Camden has a cold. Benjy seemed to be the first to get it. But Camden came home from a weekend trip to Vermont with it all sneezing and coughing and dripping out of him today. Bad cold.

censorship: I just hate it when somebody decides my children shouldn't read a book and takes it upon himself to ban it. I can decide for myself what is appropriate for my kids. Long live Harry Potter!

I nearly put Charlie Sheen on my On Notice list. But he's such a has-been, that it just seems redundant.

Gratitudes:

171: fat-free Pringles taste just as good as the real thing

172: holding Benjy's hand as we walked to Kohl's and back, to Target and back, to the house and back, to Evan's and back to his bed. I kissed my baby goodnight and tiptoed to my room.

173: miracles ~ an 80-year-old woman and her grandson rescued after 9 days turmoil in Japan

174: Emma, licking the sofa, beside me.

175: freedom to live in America where I can blog as I please, worship God as I do, live as He calls me

176: grace

177: shamrocks opening to the sun

178: shoes sans socks

179: lesson plans done just in the nick of tiime

180: family together, safe and sound

I'm seeing green up here. I knew that if I ventured out to Stop and Shop, my local grocer, I'd find some form of shamrocks. These aren't the real deal, but they're what I wanted. Aren't they beautiful?










And this beauty is a book from a thrift shop I picked up today simply because I love the color. And the texture. I paid $2.99 for GREEN and CLOTH. And it was worth it.











I bought this book because it had a pretty cover and the lovely golden award medal screamed "BUY ME!!!!!!!" That's a no-brainer, I tell you.















Mr. Richert found this doll for a mere $8. We'd have dropped 10 times that if we'd bought it new. I swear, I was leary. But by the time he'd scrubbed it clean, I was satisfied that the heat would kill any unwanted germs.










My friend Laurie gave me a gorgeous plant just like this years and years ago. I've long-since killed it. :( Finding these today just puts me in the mood for spring.

Lots to do this weekend,
not the least of which
is laundry.

















Gratitudes:

161: Overheard in second grade today:

"When I get to heaven, if people don't know how to play football, I'm gonna teach them."

162: Bible study tonight focused on Bob Barnes' book Who's In Charge Here? We loved hearing from other parents who are right there with us trying to be the parents God has called us to be.

163: Devotions this morning at school reminded me of God's calling to demonstrate love to my family and friends. I'm thankful for the reminder to do more, to do better, to reach out and show my love.

164: I talked to my BFF Jodie last night. Her sweet voice will lift me up no matter what.

165: I've lost five pounds in the past couple of weeks. My jeans feel much better.

166: Today Camden popped into my classroom to tell me something. Then he paused, thought for a second, hugged me, and disappeared. I love that boy.

167: In spite of our battered mailbox, which lost to the snow plow, I saw even more grass around town today. It wasn't green, but still, it was grass.

168: I wouldn't trade my job with anybody in the entire world. Not even the iPad packagers at Apple.

169: My dog loves me every single day when I come home. And only after I've petted her and talked to her will she ask to go outside.

170: While my cat could not care less if I'm here or not, he seems to be a blessed beast.

Picture Dump Monday

My pastor has been doing Mind Dumps on his blog. I remember doing these with my teacher friend Sandy back in Pa. We used to have our kids dump their brains out to review topics and let loose their wonderings. The best part was that Sandy taught middle schoolers and I taught 1st graders. Of course we'd compare, just us, teacher-to-teacher, what they came up with. That was always good for a laugh. And then there were those times when even we learned a thing or two. I miss you, Sandy.














Sooooo, what do you think?
They're knobless here, but in real life, they have knobs now.
Beautiful nickel-colored round knobs that scream
"I'm beautiful and I'm worth it!"
I'm thinking I need to name these old cabinets.
What would you call them?
Just one name would be fine.
I don't need 18 plus 8 for all the doors and drawers.
That would just make me feel like I'm still at school.
















Isn't she lovely?
She's my new 99-cent Marshall's bag.
I didn't need it when I bought it.
I just purely wanted it.
It's the closest thing to spring we have here in New England today.
















There's nothing that screams beach like drinking a water bottle out of my Outer Banks cozy.
















My newest read arrived in my book order today at school.
I think it's pretty cool how Scholastic offered up this grown-up book in a recent order form.
Since my friend from back home recommended it
- and plus also he's a dingdang GENIUS -
then I figured I'd check it out.
I started it in the bathtub and it's promising so far.
















A Haiku for Emma Lemma:

Snoop Dog Lima Bean:
Your ears of velvet and plush
are the stuff of dreams.

















Gratitudes:

151: Emma Lemma is the BEST dog.

152: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:20

153: First day back at school after winter break - calm, fun, filled, fulfilling

154: Safe travels this morning in a bit of freezing rain

155: Camden and Benjy did their homework sitting in my classroom before we left this afternoon.

156: Dee at school who told me about a book of learning to be thankful in all things

157: Grass peeking out from under the snow

158: Starting two new books today

159: As many problems as our country has, we are a free people.

160: It's been a week and I've not had a single nap. :)

The final coat of paint went on today.
A nice oil-base satin finish in pure white.
Next time I decide to paint my cabinets, remind me not to cut corners.
I'm all about the oil-base paint now.
And throw-away brushes, too.
















These babies are smooth as a baby's bottom.
And clean.














It will be perfect when they cover up the innards of my cabinets.
Cabinet guts are not meant to be seen.
Don't be fooled by people who have fancy glass-fronted cabinets.
They probably just display their pretty dishes in them.
And they dust them every Saturday.
I will never have to dust my dishes,
what with hiding them and all.















STATS:
18 cabinet doors
8 drawers
102 square feet of painted surface
plus the window frame
and door frame to the deck
and the door frame to the dining room
















The birds are home enjoying the new view.


GRATITUDES:

141: Date with Benjy to Lakeshore teacher store in Hamden and Barnes and Noble for hot cocoa. When he tripped and spilled his cocoa on the sidewalk, we went back for more. Barnesey gave it to him for free. :)

142: Camden's smile when I tell him I love him while he's sleeping. This happens only when he's dead asleep. Otherwise, he's too cool to do that. Gosh, I love that boy.

143: Mr. Richert was handy with a paintbrush today.

144: After 18 years, Mr. Richert is still the man of my dreams.

145: I dreamed about Daddy last night. I don't remember the details, but I do know it was sweet.

146: Emma Lemma Snoop Dog Lima Bean is 16 and still ticking. And when she smells food she howls, and she looks like she's a puppy again.

147: Lots of grass on the roadside today. Spring is coming.

148: Hot fire in the wood stove tonight. Winter is still here for the time being.

149: Teacher blogs by teachers who are creative, generous, and talented. I scored some great ideas this week.

150: If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. -1 Corinthians 13.

My kitchen was sacrificed for the sake of my children today. Yes, I am patting myself on the back for being a good mom. Today, anyway.

We started off the morning promptly at 6:40 a.m. That's when I awoke to the sound of Nerf guns battling it out in the hallway. I rolled over and went back to sleep. Because clearly, a war at this hour must be child's play.

The boys had friends over for the night, and I knew by 8:00 that it was time to be responsible. Kids need breakfast, you know. And supervision. That's what I'm known for around here.

By 10:30 we were loaded up and en route to Chuck E. Cheese, where a kid can be a kid. It took 39 minutes for the spendiest of them to unload his tokens and proclaim boredom. The thriftiest hoarded his tokens like they were gold. Finally, we left and headed to McD's for lunch. Gross, I know. But it's better than Chuck's pizza.

Then it was off the the dentist for Benjy's sealants. Nothing like keeping the sugar monster cavity-free.

We ended the evening with flatbread pizza and a basketball game at the Univ. of Hartford. No, President Obama didn't show up in hot pants, but you can bet I was looking (what, with my dream and all.)



















I love my dog. Here she gives herself a bath, namely because it's too cold for me to give her one.




















I love Snack Pack chocolate pudding.
Not fat free.
Not even low fat.
Just pure, chocolate bliss.



















And I love these earrings.
I re-discovered these in my jewelry box today.
Actually, it was Shell's jewelry box.
And these are her earrings.
I cleaned them.
I put them on.
I sparkled all day long.
I'm sure it was Michelle's sparkle.

A photo essay for President's Day

This essay will be long on photos, short on essay.




Emma Lemma Snoop Dog Lima Bean's Haiku:

I can smell something.
It must be the chicken soup.
Or Mom's sweat and tears.




Notice the right arm action shot.
What should I do to make it move again tomorrow?




My kitchen cabinets and drawers are baring it all for you, my dear friends.
Did you know that Aunt Bea also used the Blue Willow china pattern? We have quite a collection of Blue Willow thanks to Mr. Richert's mom. She keeps us presentable.




Bet you wish I could come organize your cupboards for you, too, huh?





Here I am deglossing. It's not to be confused with defrosting. This is much more labor intensive.




Yes, we understand that the ancient laminate countertops with the ancient laminate backsplash trimmed in ancient silver metallic strips will not be helped by the amazing paint job that is or is not visible in this picture.




For the love of Pete, do we have to endure much more of this?






Nothing like a nice glass of cabinet deglosser to get you through the day.



Gratitudes:

131: Mr. Richert warmed up my shoulder wrap in the microwave for 3 full minutes and laid it across my achy shoulders.

132: All the prep work for painting the kitchen cabinets is D.O.N.E.

133: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

1 John 4:16, NIV

134: I watched Despicable Me with the boys this morning and giggled when they danced.

135: The snow was pretty today. And every single snowflake was different.

136: I got the sweetest email from Mr. Richert's mom today.

137: Three loads of laundry done this afternoon. Thanking God for washing machines.

138: I didn't drive anywhere today. It felt great to stay home.

139: Chicken pot pie for lunch.

140: Emma Lemma Snoop Dog Lima Bean is 16 years old and still just as lovely as when we first adopted her from the SPCA.

Benjy was our class' first Big Cheese. :) How awesome is that bit of serendipity? He began the week by sharing a poster all about his awesomeness. (Not that I'm biased.) He ended the week with free time while his classmates wrote a book for him. It's called "The Important Thing About Benjy", and is patterned after The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. I absolutely LOVE how I got to see his big week for myself as a mom while I was hanging out as his teacher.

Gratitudes:

121: Small group from church ~ We're reading a Bob Barnes book on parenting. Boy howdy, do I need this.

122: Emma Lemma Snoop Dog Lima Bean ~ Old as she is, she's still loyal and true.

123: A friend of mine just sent in his dissertation which was accepted. Congrats to the impending doctor!

124: It's Friday.

125: Tomorrow's Saturday.

126: We didn't have any snow days this week. (I never thought I'd call this gratitude.)

127: It's still winter, so there's hope for a snow day before spring break.

128: Daddy.

129: Mr. Richert has to work this weekend to help with all the winter storm claims. And he hasn't complained once. He is such an inspiration for me.

130: I learned a lot from the Black History Month program at school today. And the kids did a beautiful "show".

This pretty much speaks for itself.




Gratitudes this evening are dedicated to all things literary.



111: Author Mo Willems is a gift from God. I don't know who loves his books more - me or my second graders!




112: We heard Mo read this one last fall at a book signing in Mass. He is such an animated reader. Benjy has totally picked up that expression in his own reading.




113: Mo's latest arrived today at our house!




114: John Irving is the author of The World According to Garp which I read right after college and am ready to reread now. I'm nearly finished with my thrifted copy of Irving's The Fourth Hand.




115: This shot on my MacBook Pro desktop reminds me of the blessings of being able to read.





116: Pat Conroy is my favorite contemporary author. His latest is a collection of essays he's written on books he loves. I finished it early this winter. I can't wait for him to publish a new novel.

This is Conroy's writing desk.
No computer for him.
He hand writes his novels on yellow legal pads.
Every single word.

117: My next read, after The Fourth Hand, is this book on teaching reading. More to-the-point, it's about teaching so that kids fall in love with reading. Like I am.





118: I'll probably read this one while I'm reading the passion for reading book. I can easily shift between nonfiction works, but I'd never be able to juggle two novels at once. Jonathan Kozol has been a favorite voice since my days studying for my master's degree. I love how he speaks for children, not for the system.





119: A friend from church loaned me this book. I can't wait to read it for my nightly devotions time to myself. Patsy Clairmont is a favorite on the Women of Faith tour. She's a hoot, too.





120: And finally, the book that gets me through every single day of my life - The Bible. This is the one book that I read on my computer. Oh, I still love my hard copy of the Good Book, but the BibleGateway version makes flipping between books and chapters and verses so much simpler. Hey, simple is good when you want to get to the point.



Thank God for the blessings of being able to read.