Year 8, Weeks 19 and 20: Recordings and Reading

     Week 19 started with Little Toughie and I a bit on edge. We had to get her recordings done for the musical she's in and setting it up was not fun. I had planned on getting it done in the morning since the spot we chose had the best lighting before 1 p.m. The timing was also consistent with her rehearsals.

     She needed something to be able to listen to the recordings and then something else to film her. Plus, she wanted to use her wireless earbuds. She was originally going to use my phone to record herself and use her own phone to listen, but after finally getting the files loaded onto her phone we discovered that it didn't support them. We changed plans and thought we'd use the her laptop (the one I'm still using to write this) for her to listen and use my phone to record but her laptop wouldn't connect with the earbuds. Thankfully, we figured out that her laptop has a camera and recording capabilities and that my phone supported the files. After a few tests (and lunch, and makeup retouching and a couple of restarts) I was able to close the door and let her do her thing. I can't tell how good the video quality turned out but she got it done and I was able to send all of them off finally at 5 p.m., but of course not until after one more glitch with the website not wanting to upload my files. Doh! She and I breathed a sigh of relief when we got confirmation that all files were received. Whew!

     Other than that, I'm in the midst of planning next year's schedule. I normally start researching this time of the year to give myself plenty of time to decide what to purchase once the sales hit. I was planning on doing Sonlight again, but my daughter is a bit bored with it and doesn't feel challenged. Honestly, I would love to change things up now but with our schedule I don't know how I'd do that. I'd be teaching two completely different curricula and there aren't just isn't enough hours in the day. I'll likely stick with what we have but assign books that are a little more challenging.

     One of the many benefits of homeschooling is that there is room for flexibility. It's something I'm continuing to work on for myself, but I think I can say that I'm making progress. In 2020 I had joined a 5x5 Reading Challenge. I had magnificent goals of reading five books from five different categories while getting some TBR (To Be Read) books off of my list.

     Then the pandemic shut everything down, including our beloved libraries. I would normally borrow the physical book or e-book, but what was available in both was limited and I wasn't about to purchase the ones I needed. Plus, with all the uncertainty and panic being portrayed (no thanks to the news and social media) I wasn't in the right mind to take on the more challenging books. As a result, I didn't make it through my list. Normally, I'd make every effort to check off these books, but I'm learning to be flexible and not hold fast to things just to get it done. I'd rather read the books that require more time and effort when I'm ready than speed through them without any bona fide understanding.

     I did, however, read a total of thirty-one books. I don't know if that's the most I've ever read in a year as I just started tracking my books a few years ago. My goal is at least twenty-four books, about two books a month. I'm not sure how I finished thirty-one last year, especially since I also wrote one, but I think it might be an ambitious endeavor to attempt it again this year. Every year is different and I may not even finish twelve books in a year but as long as I'm reading I'm happy.

     Week 20 started uneventfully, but then mid-week I received heartbreaking news of the death of another friend. She had been battling cancer for the past few years and was in a short remission until early last year. In less than a year I've mourned three friends and one family member. Just so you know, only one was due to Covid. Needless to say, I'm sad. There are no other words. All I can do is pray.

Year 8, Week 18: In Remembrance

   

Matthew 28:20

     We're back from our Winter Break, back to our school schedule as our second semester commences. I'm not even sure how to begin this since so much has happened since I last posted, both in my personal life and in the our nation. First, I'm writing this from my daughter's laptop because our computer went kaput. So, that's one thing. Then my mom ended up in the hospital right before Christmas. Then our oven broke. Then we woke up New Year's Day to the shocking new of the passing of my aunt. Finally, we got some news that may create some changes for us. I know none of this is exactly homeschool related but there are always lessons to be learned.

     Despite these things I know we're blessed. Yes, our computer needs to be replaced, but in the meantime we have a laptop that we can use for homeschooling and other functions. Plus, we can (sort of) afford to get a new one. Yes, my mom was in the hospital but my siblings, who live closer to her, were on top of things and my mom was able to get the needed care and recover. Yes, my oven broke but I was still able to make healthy meals for my family, with groceries we were able to purchase and get the oven fixed. Sure, the news we received is a little troubling, but we're trusting in God for it....for all of it. 

     As for my aunt, I haven't publicly written anything about her. It's hard to write about loss and death. Most who know me know that I enjoy writing. It's how I process things; how I vent, get things done, how I sometimes pray and how I remember things. Occasionally, it's also how I grieve.

     I was blessed to have known my great grandfather and spend time with him. He had nine kids and with that came plenty of cousins for my mom. In our Filipino culture, they are considered my aunts and uncles. When I was little I had no idea how I was related to all these people, but when we gathered at my Papa's house I knew it was going to be fun and loud; that there would be teasing, jokes, laughter and that we would need a good twenty minutes to say goodbye to everyone as the evening came to an end.

     I grew up surrounded by those aunts and uncles, another blessing. Time and distance eventually made it difficult to gather often, as it does for most when we get older and raise families of our own. Annual family reunions and social media allows us to keep up with each other. In one of our last social media interactions my aunt said she was proud of me for homeschooling.

     This aunt in particular I always thought of as the "tough one". She had a way about her that conveyed not to mess with her, yet behind that façade, there was a gentle and humorous, often sarcastic, side. I think all my aunts have a bit of that toughness about them, to me it just happened to stand out more in her. She was close to my mom's age, younger by five years. My mom shared that my aunt always made a point of reminding her that she was and would always be five years older. My mom only has brothers, so this aunt, much like my mom's other female cousins, was the closest she had to a sister. Auntie Edna had a distinct voice and laughter, the kind you'd hear in a crowd and you'd know it was her. She played a key role in several of our family reunions. Sometimes, when I heard her call out someone's name I thought they were in trouble! You could only confirm that you were about to "get it" if she also gave you "the look" as she called you over. I can still hear her, though it's been a few years since I've seen her in person.

     I'm grieving for great aunt (her mom), my uncle, for my cousins (her husband and kids), my mom...my family. We're all in disbelief. It doesn't seem real and like many families who've lost a loved one over the past year, it's even more difficult that we can't gather, cry and hug, support each other and laugh as we share stories of remembrance.

     Our family reunions will never be the same without her but I do pray we'll be able to gather again...soon. Our time here is precious and short. If you need to forgive someone, forgive. If you need to apologize, say "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong, forgive me." Don't let petty things...your pride, your selfishness, your stubbornness stop you from humbling yourself and serving others with love and compassion, especially your loved ones. There's already enough division in this nation, don't let it infiltrate your family.

     In the midst of our struggles, our mourning, our pain and our joy; in the midst of our divided country, He is with us. His name, Immanuel, means "God with us". It's hard to understand; hard to grasp sometimes. We are not promised a happy life, a good life, or even a long life. Jesus even says that we will have trouble BUT (and this is where my heart swells with joy and gratefulness) Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). He's overcome all the things we His children endure, even death! (Romans 6:23).