Memorial Day

Day 184

I am thankful for another quiet day.   Didn't do much at all-a little of this, a little of that, bell choir.

This is near church this evening.  Oil and Ag.

Family

Day 183

I am thankful for my Dad and his dear wife.  They are lovely, gracious and kind people.  I went over for the day to "hang out" and that's what we did.   I'm headachy from the drive so if I have any good photos from today I'll put them up tomorrow.

Though the air quality was poor the bands of wildflower color were vivid as I drove south.  The purple, probably owl's clover is followed above with a band of orange poppies and then yellow, probably goldfields. 

The "backside" of the San Bernadino ski areas as seen from the western Antelope Valley.  The news showed some bikini-clad skiers. 

 Less than stellar air quality does sometimes lead to beautiful sunsets:

Posting Photos to share elsewhere

These were Aunt Verne's.  Sis has another one.  I thought I had three but it's just these two.

I'm asking advice on washing such old, dirty items so needed a place to park the pics.

A time to Mourn

Day 182

I'm not at all happy at this moment but I'm thankful for the life and faith of Sean, one of our bell ringers who died this morning.  He's been through all kinds of heck in his life but has in the last year or two rededicated his life both to his family and his God.  Every week during our prayer time he asked God to bless his family and to give him guidance for the week.

We also mourn the loss of a retired pastor.  He was such a loving and dear man.  He was very ill and his death is a mercy.  We rejoice at his calling home to Jesus.  

The Easter lilies on my front patio seemed especially appropriate this evening.

t-3 days and counting

Day 181

Wow did I ever crash last night.  It was a crazy day with our two in and out of the classroom, getting paperwork done, two assistants packing, file cabinets being moved before I was quite ready.  I don't handle chaos and unpredictability as well as I thought I did.

But, in the midst of all that:  I am thankful for grown ups' joy in student achievement.  Whether it was a small award or best boy and girl of the year the applause was the same.  Over and over I looked at the parents and saw tears and happiness.

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Still getting new callas!

Sweet Endings, 4 days and counting

Day 180

I am thankful for 10 year old boys not too grown up for a hug.   We had our last day of RSP groups today.  Two students hugged me good-bye.  It was very sweet.    I think the rest figure they'll see me in the next 4 days.  They probably will.

Last Spring Rehearsal, 5 days of school and counting.

Day 179

If an Easter Lily blooms at Pentecost do I need to dye it red?

I am thankful for lilies that bloom simply because they are made that way.   I noticed this evening that Easter lilies in particular are very geometric.  It would be fun to cut one apart but then it wouldn't be on the plant to enjoy.   Spent blooms would be icky to dissect.

We had our last choir rehearsal of the season this evening.  We sing for 3 more weekends but the same songs so no rehearsal needed.

At school we have practically no will to work.  Our attendance is so irregular that we should have ended groups this week.  At least with smaller groups the kids are getting more attention.

Zero period geometry

Newest Calla

Endings, 6 school days and counting

Day 178

I am thankful for drumstick ice cream cones.  We had our end of year class party today even though we still see groups for another couple days.   The kids enjoyed the treat and making bracelets.  I took in my giant box of beads and added some pony beads.  The kids made bracelets strung on elastics made for kids jewelry.  It was fun to see the patterns or lack thereof that they chose.  One boy told us that he felt calm when he was doing a craft activity-something he had discovered when he made potholders during our lunch crafting time.  His mom went out and bought him a potholder loom and loops.  I have plenty of leftover loops that I can send home with him. Neat discovery.

Spring continues to stretch on.  I found two more pink calla lilies coming up and the Easter lily is blooming!  My santolina patch is a blaze of cheerful yellow.  The apricots, I believe, are waiting for a bit of heat before they ripen.  I saw commercially grown apricots in the store that have to be a different variety.   We have predicted temps in the 80s beginning this weekend.  That will be good for the apricots!  I won't mind warmer temps, either.  It's been delightful having extended cool weather but it's starting to just feel wrong.  When summer heat hits it's going to feel worse than it is.

Today's flower show:

Barely

Day 177

I'm headachy tonight and having trouble with sentences.  I am thankful for the fun we had in bell choir.  The end.

Sunday

Day 176

I am thankful for a peaceful day.   We had a record setting cool day.  It was a good day to stay inside and read-and I did!  I also napped a little with remnants of yesterdays headache buzzing around.

Moments

Day 175

I am thankful for one half.  I am nearly halfway to 365 days of thankfulness.   I am thankful for rituals and routines.  I am thankful for work, for worship, for family and for friends.  I am thankful for uneventful days, for flowers, and for cloudy weather.   I've read that keeping a journal of thankfulness changes you but I don't think so.  It has made me aware that in every day I can be thankful for a moment or the entire day.   My thankfulness reconnects me to God for every moment of thankfulness carries in it a breath of a prayer.  

The work week's end.

Day 174

It's Friday, it's Friday, my favorite day of the week!  I'm thankful to be finished with another week and a step closer to closing out the school year.  Report cards are finished but for making copies, putting them in envelopes and distributing to teachers.  Yay!  I usually forget until the night before the kids leave and I didn't forget this year.  Yay!

Our unseasonably cool weather is allowing my flowers to continue with the show.  This is one of the two new calla lilies that has come up this week:

This amaryllis had a 6 headed bloom.  Often the last two smaller blooms don't open but this one did!

 I haven't had quite so nice a display of crocus as these.  Usually one or two at a time.  It's not a profusion or an abundance but there are many more than usual.

 Hm, yes, well profusion and abundance do seem to be the right descriptors here: 

 I don't know why but my blog seems to be in double space today.  I wonder what I did to make it do that?  sigh. Ok, maybe not.  Maybe I was seeing things.

Counting down

Day 173

I am thankful for people who answer God's call to their hearts to take his love out into the world and minister to people who may or may not yet know Him.  My sil called attention to a missionary couple who are seeking warm wear for people where they minister.  I don't have much finished right now but I can keep these missionaries and people in my prayers and begin to save some hats and scarves for another day's shipment.

Audible countdowns are heard all over the school campus.  Some teachers and kids are counting total days until school is out.  Not me.  I'm counting actual days with children.  10.  There are ten days with students.  I have half of my report cards, a chunk of paper work, two cums, 14 classroom files, and some packing.  I think it's going to get done.   I haven't walked away on the last day finished and checked out ever.  It's my goal this year.  Nothing left over-no paperwork, no IEPs, no packing, there shall be nothing to do but shake a few hands, hug a few friends, and say good-bye and have a great summer.

We had another late spring storm system roll through today.  It was cloudy for much of the day and still cool.  The 5 day report has us under normal temps.  It was a good day for Santolinas.  Without the bright sunlight the sage gray color of the foliage is more green.    Not the best photo of the day but I like it the best. 

The top flower is almost a little puff ball of tiny opened blossoms. 

Just Right

Day 172

I am thankful for unexpected finds.  I've been using a backpack for a purse and it has solved most of my problem with shoulder pain.  But, it's HUGE.  I put way to much in it.   Every time I'm in a department store of any kind I take a stroll through the purses, backpacks and travel bags.   Purse backpacks are too small and don't always fit well.  Totes are too large and I don't do well with one big pocket.  Purses are off limits at the moment.  Today I was in the camping section at target.  They carry these half-size day packs that are essentially hydration packs with a pocket for essentials.  Perfect!  I found one that fits my kindle, wallet, camera, and cell....and very little else.  Yay!  I can't possible stuff it with too much stuff.  If I need to take something else I need to take something out.   ha.

The pack:

New calla lily:

Sunrise Santolinas:

Check out the teeny, tiny little pistol or stamen-the little part that looks like the golden arches.

Long Day

Day 171

I am thankful for the day to day winding down of the school year.  I know I have a couple small flurries to get through but it's all doable.  Tonight was Open House-all work all day, whew.  Open House. Check.  Benchmarks. Check.  One check after another and it will be finished.  I finally found some peace in this job and now it's nearly over.  New school year, new job, new school.   I'm grateful to have summer in between.

Not much of a photo day.....except for Santolinas!  I love the tiny flowers that make up each little flower.

Mondaying along

Day 170

I am thankful for another storm in our twisty shifty spring weather patterns.  It was 94*F on Sunday and 66*F today.  Clear yesterday, cloudy with sprinkles today.  Fun!  It made for a very nice sunset, too.

Winding down with Calla Lilies:

Exuberantly yellow:

My happy patch of little suns:

New beginnings are in sight

Day 169

I am thankful for my church.  We have been building and many plans have been shaping behind the scenes.  Today our Pastor talked about what worship services would likely look like in the near future.  We have a chapel the size of a traditional church.  It will house our organ and is designed for instrumental and vocal, live, sound.  The focus of worship will be traditional, liturgical Lutheran worship.  I am unbelievably excited to see how this unfolds for us.  I bought "Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in Divine Service" by Arthur A. Just last week for my Kindle without knowing what the future held.  Now that I have a glimpse I am excited about reading this book.  

Our larger worship space, the Sanctuary, is designed for electronic sound.  We will be uniting and blending our 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services into one.  I'm interested to see how this service unfolds for us also.

The most exciting part of what we heard this morning was that we will be bringing children back into worship.  Sunday School will be revamped and no longer separate from the Worship Service.  Children will worship with their families for about half the service and then proceed to the children's center for follow up and thematic activities.  

I do feel an unsettled anxiety over all this but I have watched God's hand in this congregation for a lot of years.  The underlying "feel" is right and good.  I hope we continue to walk His path.

Using "singing sticks" on the handbells.  Very cool.

The piece, How Can I Keep From Singing, was 

arranged by A. Sherman. 

Sunday morning Santolinas:

Joyful Ringing

Day 168

I am thankful for fun, joyful bell music.  We rang "How can I keep from Singing" and "Just a Closer Walk" this evening in church.  (If I remember tomorrow I'll post the arrangers).

One last amaryllis bloom for the season:

Calla Lilies, fading fast:

Sunny little Santolinas: