Adapting...New Normal for Now

We find ourselves in a situation that no-one has seen for over 100 years. It's funny how some situations repeat themselves. Clothing styles, furniture styles, pandemics... The current COVID-19 pandemic has been trying for so many. Many people have lost jobs either in a temporary or a permanent capacity. Healthcare workers have worked hours that have challenged the sanity of mind and strength of body. School systems have had to adapt to a new normal of teaching their students.

The teachers in our school system have been so dedicated to our students. They have been thrust into a situation they have never been required to do. They have had to communicate with students through email, telephone, and online zoom video conferences. As much of a challenge it has been, they have handled it well. When technology works, it is a great way to communicate. On the days that technology refuses to work the way it is planned, it is a challenge and a frustration for the teachers and the students.

There have been days that my daughters were able to complete all posted assignments with ease. Those are the the good days. On those days that Schoology is on the fritz, all I hear is yelling. The girls are so aggravated that they can not get to their assignments to complete them or submit them when they are completed. Many tears have been shed for fear of GPA getting lowered. Gratefully, the school system is working with them to get through all the kinks. I have never heard so many times as of late that they just want to go back to school.

I have learned to let them take a break when they get frustrated. Pushing them never helps. On days the system is not working as expected, I have them check every few minutes to see if more work can be completed. Even if in small snippets, the work needs to be done. There have been times when I have been told the work was completed but was not. A teachers phone call can put things in perspective and make a student confess to unfinished work. Weekend work becomes necessary when assignments need to be completed. So much for time off from school work.

So, this year has been a learning experience for everyone. Schools, businesses, individuals with social distancing, healthcare workers, churches, the list goes on... We will continue to be as safe as possible during this time. We will continue to support the businesses, first responders, healthcare workers, and families in crisis. We will lift up our church family for continued guidance through the challenges we face. We all continue to move forward to normalcy in our every day lives.

We continue to serve our community as needs arise, we continue to solve the problems to daily challenges, and we are learning new things daily about our community and lives that are important. In the meantime, good luck with your ventures of serving, solving, and learning.

All Threads Are Not The Same

During this time of COVID-19 quarantine, I have made a point to learn something new. Years ago, I purchased a knitting kit to learn how to knit and make a beautiful throw blanket as a Christmas gift. As life would have it, the busyness of raising my children and many other life events got in the way of learning how to knit. Since I have all this down time, I thought it might be a good time to learn.

I learned how to crochet on my own when I was 18. I have always been intrigued with how the threads come together. My first project was a simple doily that I completed with pink yarn. It was delicate with very loose stitches. It can be challenging to keep the stitching tight and consistent on your first project. On the next one and the following few, I got better and better.

As I moved through my young life and settled into married life, I began to branch out on the projects I chose. The next time I did a major project was during my pregnancy with my first daughter. I was in the high risk pregnancy in the hospital for a couple of months and was bored out of my mind. I was not allowed to get out of the bed except to shower and visit the lady's room. I decided to make a baby blanket to bring our precious new baby home from the hospital, so I sent my husband to the craft store with a list of items I needed. I was able to finish that dainty, white, lacy looking, crocheted baby blanket before I was released to go home when it was safe to be away from the hospital.

Over the years, I made many more baby blankets, booties, and bonnets for new babies born to my family and friends as well as on to bring home our youngest daughter home from the hospital.  It was so precious. Yellow squares, framed in white, with little pink roses and light green leaves. The finishing touch was white satin ribbon weaved through the edge of the blanket and tied in a bow on the corner. The same ribbon was placed in the bonnet and booties.

I have cross stitched, needle pointed, embroidered, and sewn many different things over the years. All of these things I learned on my own. I will say that I was destined to sew. My mother sewed and made clothes for my brother and myself when we were children. I made my very first outfit on my own at the age of 12. It seems to run in the family. My oldest daughter made a hand stitched, antebellum style dress to present for a fifth grade project. I was so proud of the effort she put into making it. There is nothing like looking at a completed project that you have made on your own.

Accomplishment.

Kitting. Different. Challenging. Holding two needles. Doable. I thought I would be able to sit down and learn it in a no time. I'm learning. Slowly. It takes time to master each stitch. The one HUGE difference with knitting is that you cannot miss a stitch. If you do, it is noticeable. Crochet is a little more forgiving that way. I am still trying to learn how to pick up a missed stitch. There are several other stitches that I have to learn. In time, I will figure them out and be good enough to make the throw blanket I purchased years ago. When I do, I will be able to look back and see that I have learned yet another thing.

With all of the items I have made, there has been a learning process that also invokes problem solving. I have served my family and friends by giving them the items made with my learned talents. I challenge you all to lean something new, especially now with the time we find on our hands. In the meantime, good luck with your ventures of serving, solving, and learning.

Serve It Up! (or Out)

During this crazy COVID-19 crisis, many of us are looking for ways to serve without being expose the general public. Some are delivering food to children from school busses, because the schools are closed. Many are working extra hours at the local food pantry to see that the community has food to sustain the families that are at a higher hunger risk. Even our emergency responders are delivering meals to the elderly shut-ins that can't get out to get food for themselves.

It's funny how communities can come together during a crisis. Much like the attack of 9-11, these tend to be times that we rally together to help one another. For the most part, that is the case. Sadly, there are those out there who don't seem to take the problem seriously. People coughing on money at restaurants, deliberately coughing and hacking all over food in the grocery stores, even those who are not listening to recommendations of social distancing, are the ones who concern us. I also despise the criminals who are trying to take advantage of the weak for their own profit. Oh, that everyone could be considerate and not selfish in times like these.

If you are looking for a way to serve but don't want to be out in public, consider donating blood or plasma to your local blood bank. Keep your eyes open for rolling blood drives. The blood bank is extremely low right now, so they are asking those who are willing to come in and donate. By contacting the Red Cross (www.redcross.org), you can find out where your local blood donation center is located. They will also be able to tell you of any local mobile blood drives going on in your area. If you are not able to give blood due to health reasons, you may give a donation toward their efforts of saving lives.

Giving blood also solves the problem of blood shortages. Having a better supply of blood allows the doctors to help the patients in life threatening situations. I've given you a way to serve your community by giving blood, a way to solve a blood shortage issue by giving blood, and a way to learn how to give blood. In the meantime, good luck with your ventures of serving, solving, and learning.

Holy Cow! (or Deer)

This is really good deer meat, well it was. If there were any left, I'd show it to you. Most people call it venison. Country folk call it plain ol' deer meet. If you are from a rural area or out in the middle of the country, you know what I mean. I grew up in rural Alabama, funny enough, in Deer Park. Even though I don't live in that area any more, and life is busy, I strive to teach my daughters the country way of life.

My oldest has taken the bull by the horns and gone so far as deciding to go to ABAC (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), provide she gets accepted. She is only a sophomore and has her college plan all laid out. She has her heart set on being a Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources Officer in conservation law enforcement. She has chosen forestry as a backup plan. Her focus for possible scholarships is to research the ones that are directly related to those fields and apply. Most students won't be looking for those, so that allows more options for her.

As a good, country raised, mom, I have taught her how to fry deer meat perfectly. Every time I mention cooking deer meat now, she jumps at the chance and asks to do it. Maybe because it is a very interactive dish. Deer meat needs to be beaten to tenderize it. She loves beating and tenderizing the meat. Of course, I can't just let her do the tenderizing and move on. I taught her the perfect combination of seasoning and then a simple flour dredging to make it fry up perfectly.

I enjoy teaching the girls skills that they can use throughout their lives. Sometimes they don't want to accept what I try to teach them, so I treasure the moments when they are willing. It's refreshing when they have learned something, and I see it on their faces and in their eyes. As a parent, it is my job to see that they are well equipped and responsible enough to begin their own lives when they become adults.

They have both learned that serving fellow humans is super important. I am still working on having them solve problems completely on their own without unnecessary drama. It's always a good day when they are willing to learn something that I want to teach them. Good luck with your ventures of serving, solving, and learning.

Baking

I love learning new things! It may take me a while to master what I learn, but learning is fun all the same. Since COVID-19 has us all secluded and trying to find things to do, I decided to make some Navaho Flat Bread. Yes, I am a sucker for trying things I see on Facebook. Baking just so happens to be one of my favorite things to do.

I grabbed my oldest daughter, so I could teach her as well. I had her measure out all of the ingredients and put them in the bowl. She began mixing it up with a spoon and then turned to mixing with her hand. The directions were to mix until it was a tacky pizza dough consistency. After the dough was mixed, we placed it in a greased bowl to rest a while. 

We had lunch during the resting process. After cleaning up from lunch, she went up stairs, and she twisted her ankle as she reached the bottom stair when coming back down. A loud pop! She fell to the floor. Oh no! We got her picked up, situated on the couch, propped up with ice, and ibuprofen. Fingers crossed it is just a bad sprain.

Back to baking. My daughter is not able to stand now, so I had to finish our baking project alone. I rolled out the dough after resting, separated it into six pieces, and fried it with a little oil on a griddle. When you've never made something before, it's always a guessing game how long it will take to cook. I stayed pretty close to watch each piece cook. When it browned on one side, I flipped it over to cook the other side. 

They are by no means perfect, but they will be edible and probably pretty darn good with the Cajun 15 Bean Soup with smoked venison sausage that has been cooking in the crock pot since before lunch. So, I learned something new, partially taught what I did, and will get to enjoy the benefit of learning it later.  It's a win win situation.

Maybe you will take the time to learn a new skill. Whether it be baking, fishing, crocheting, or anything else. Now is a really good time, since we have so much time on our hands. Good luck with your ventures of serving, solving, and learning.

A Brand New Focus

Hello, again! I've been away for a while. It's good to be back in a place where I have a little time to write again. I have decided to rename my blog and focus a little differently. It will now be known as Serve, Solve, and Learn. (All of my old blog entries are available in the Blog Archive for your reading enjoyment.)

The focus of this blog will now be how to serve others when there is a need, how to solve problems as they arise, and things you learn, whether intentionally or by daily living.

The girls are growing and maturing into the women they will become. As much as I hate the idea of them growing up, they continue to do so against my wishes. So, for now, my job is to raise them with as much knowledge as they will absorb and allow me to instill in them. I know there are things they will have to learn on their own, but I pray they will continue to be open to my guidance.

Since my last blog, our family has made the effort of getting involved in our local community. Since our move to a new county, we learned of a program called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). As a family, we went through a seven week class to learn what to do in emergencies such as tornados, fires, vehicle accidents, etc. We learned basic techniques for the emergency at hand and how to help until actual First Responders arrive on the scene. At that point all information is given to them to take over. This is a great way to serve your community. Just look up CERT for your county to see if they offer it, and sign up for classes if they do.  Here is the website for Walton County, GA CERT.... http://www.waltoncert.org.

Bare with me as I navigate the changes in Blogger since I was last here. Discovering the changes will take a little time. There may be changes coming over the next few weeks. Solving these problems will keep me busy and inspired for a while. Check back for updates and watch this updated blog take shape.

Today's lesson is for you to serve your children as a dedicated parent by teaching them the things they need to know as they grow, help them solve problems as they face them and don't know how to navigate the issue, and pray that they learn things the easy way without being so headstrong that they deny your guidance.  Get them involved in serving the community so the needs of others is top of mind throughout their lives.