Struggles and Blessings

It has been a few weeks since I've blogged...and what a few weeks it has been.  In the past two weeks, we've had to say a sudden good-bye to our beloved almost 20 year old cat, Jake.  We've had a positive COVID test, quarantine, anxiety, stress, tears, missed family Christmases, heart arrhythmias, an ER visit, and a mother who, at times, felt like she was barely hanging on.

In the midst of it all, I was struggling.  Although we were all sad about the loss of Jake, watching Zach's grief made it so much harder.  And then a positive COVID test took everything to the next level.  Anxiety ruled my mind and emotions, often drowning out the logical side of my brain.  I felt weighed down by decisions regarding quarantine length and testing and social responsibility and trying to keep my 6 year old distanced from the rest of the family.  I struggled with worry for my husband dealing with increasing heart palpitations that eventually resulted in a Christmas Eve ER visit.  I stressed about my kids missing Christmas festivities and not having completed all my Christmas preparations.  My mind was tired, my emotions were out of whack, my joy was overshadowed by anxious thoughts, and my thoughts were consumed with "what ifs".  In the middle of the struggle, my prayers were cries for peace, for faith, for trust.  I kept reminding myself of God's promises.  And in the midst of the mess, God's blessings were abundantly clear.

Family and friends checked on us and brought us food and stocking stuffers and gave us crafts and provided prayers and comfort and support.  What a blessing!  

When home testing kits were sold out everywhere, Zach found a kit of 25 tests that allowed us to test each time I needed further peace of mind (which was a lot).  What a blessing!

Briggs' mild symptoms lasted one afternoon while the rest of us continued to feel fine.  What a blessing!

We had beautiful, spring-like weather that allowed us much needed outside time.  What a blessing!

All the kids most anticipated extra-curricular activities and performances were over so that quarantine didn't disrupt a play or performance they had been waiting months for.  What a blessing!

Briggs was a trooper, wearing a mask in the house and staying distanced from the family to help keep the rest of us healthy.  What a blessing!

The kids handled their disappointments heroically.  They entertained themselves, found joy in the little things, and provided help and encouragement when I was feeling overwhelmed.  What a blessing!

Zach's ER visit ended with the exact right doctor he needed to determine his next steps.  And a miracle that my mom had the exact heart medication Zach was prescribed when all the pharmacies were closed on Christmas Eve.  What a blessing!

The CDC released new quarantine guidelines that aligned with the logical side of my brain, allowing me to feel more at ease about when our quarantine should end.  What a blessing!

Sometimes in the midst of hard times, it can be difficult to focus on the blessings.  It's easy to get bogged down in the fears and anxieties and emotions and struggles.  I am so grateful that in the midst of my hot-mess moments, God's blessings were abundantly clear.  Our Christmas week may not have been what I envisioned, but it allowed me to strip away the extras and cling to the hope of what Christmas is really about.  The birth of a Savior who walks with us through the hard times.

Christmas Entertainment

The Christmas season brings shopping and decorating and baking...and lots and lots of performing.  The past few weeks have been an endless string of performances for all three kids.

Staley's Rising Stars group performed for another tree lighting ceremony, and they still have one more performance at a retirement center to finish off the holiday season.  The performances are optional, but Staley loves doing it and wants to perform every chance she gets.

A highlight for Staley was NTA's Christmas Cabaret fundraising event.  She got to sing all the group songs with her Rising Stars group.

She and Adelie both performed with their Broadway Dance class.  They were toys that came to life and danced.  Staley was a clown...

and Adelie was a china doll.

And Staley then got to perform the solo that she prepared.  Her rendition of "Sparkle Jolly Twinkle Jingly" was so much fun.  Staley is just so expressive and joyful when she performs.  (To watch her performance, you can click on this private youtube link:  https://youtu.be/Bh14Nek4BYg)

Although Adelie had to miss the grade school Christmas concert because it conflicted with Mary Poppins, Jr., Briggs got to perform his 4 songs with the first grade class.

Briggs knew all his songs and all the motions and sang them proudly.  To keep crowds down this year, they split the grades so we just watched the Kindergarten and first grade classes do their songs.  The entire program lasted 11 minutes.  It was glorious!

The girls also performed in a little piano recital with their piano teacher.  Miss Louise just has 3 students, so it was a quick recital, but the girls did a great job playing their songs.  Staley played "Evening Song" and "Carol of the Bells" while Adelie played "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings."

And all three kids sang in the church Christmas program.  They sang 3 Christmas carols with the worship team to open the service.

It's been a busy couple weeks preparing for and watching the kids perform.  There's been singing and dancing and piano playing and acting.  It's been a fun way to get us into the festive holiday spirit.  And now that the performances are over, it's time to dive into the rest of our Christmas season and enjoy what it brings.

Mary Poppins, Jr.

In the midst of all the Christmas hubbub and activities, the girls finished off their fall semester of Stage Kids with their performance of Mary Poppins, Jr.

The Eureka cast combined with the Tremont cast for their performances, making the cast one of the largest they've had in awhile.

Staley was cast as a dancing statue, a chimney sweep, and a banker.  She was very pleased with her roles as she was the youngest in a small group of "older" girls who were the featured dancers as statues and chimney sweeps.  She got to tap dance in several songs.  Although she did not have any lines or solos, the opportunity to be a featured dancer was new for her...and she embraced it.  

Adelie was a member of the ensemble as well as a honey bee in the 'Spoonful of Sugar' song.  I wish I had a picture of her in her honey bee costume because it was SO cute!  Adelie continues to grow in her stage presence.  She is more confident in her songs and dances and is very expressive on stage.  I love watching her shine!

Staley and Adelie had a number of people come to watch them perform, although I have very few pictures as the meet and greets were outside...in the dark...and the cold.  But both sets of grandparents, Aunt Sandi and Aunt Jan, Miss Vickie, Aunt Carrie with Uncle Erik and Elliott, and Aunt Jill with her girls all came.

Olivia and Lila (with Aunt Jill) braved the cold and the crowds to visit with the girls for a little bit after the show.  My girls always love having the support of family and friends.

I see both my girls growing in their skills, their stage presence, and their confidence with each show they do.

I see them having so much fun and making new friends.

I see them helping out the younger kids on stage.

I see them experiencing so much joy in performing.  There is nothing better than watching my kids do something that they love.

Basketball...Again

Another month.  Another season of basketball completed.  After Staley completed her basketball season, Briggs was able to start his first venture into the world of basketball.

Briggs completed a 5 week basketball clinic where he spent an hour every Saturday learning the fundamentals of basketball.  Although he's in first grade, he was accidentally placed with the Kindergarten group.  He didn't mind.  And since the Kindergarten group was smaller and at a better time for us, he just stayed with that group for the entire 5 weeks.

Each week the kids worked on skills like dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense.  Briggs especially liked the jump ball drill where they tried to pull the ball away from another player.

The last 2 weeks, they tried to put their skills all together for a little scrimmage.  It was pretty amusing...and painful to watch at times...but there was definitely growth and learning taking place throughout the entire clinic.  I forget how many rules and nuances and parts of basketball that need to come together to play the game until I am watching a group of young kids trying to learn it all.

Each week they ended their session with a little contest between two groups to see which group could make a certain number of baskets first.  On their last day, they were seeing which group could make 15 baskets first.  Although Briggs only made 2 baskets that day, he ended up making the game winning basket for his team.  He was so pleased!  That was a definite highlight of the session for him.

Briggs really enjoyed his basketball clinic.  He learned a lot, improved his basketball skills, made some baskets, and had fun with his friends.  It was a successful first basketball season for Briggs.

Good-bye, November!

Another month flew by.  Here are the November memories that I have yet to blog about...

Zach and I took a quick trip to Indianapolis to participate in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (Zach) and half marathon (Ellen).

Zach finished the marathon in a personal best marathon time of 3:56.  He met his goal of completing the marathon under 4 hours, so he was very pleased.

I was a later addition to this plan, so my training ramped up quickly.  I was pleased with my time of 1:52 (which, according to my watch, was for 13.6 miles, making my actual half marathon time 1:48).  And I enjoyed getting to finish, shower, and then return to the finish line to cheer Zach in.

And while Zach and I enjoyed our quick trip to Indy, the kids had fun spending time with both sets of grandparents.

Staley enjoyed getting to perform with her Rising Stars show choir group.  They participated in a few tree lighting ceremonies and festive holiday parades to kick off the holiday season.  She walked, danced, and sang her way through East Peoria in the Festival of Lights Parade.

We dropped Staley off with her group and then found a spot to snuggle in and watch the parade.  The weather was very pleasant (in the 40's), so we had an enjoyable parade viewing experience.

We love the Festival of Lights, so getting to watch the parade was a different way to experience it.  Dropping Staley off and then having to wait an hour until the parade made its way to us, however, was not quite as fun.

Staley's group also performed in the Santa Claus Parade in downtown Peoria.  They asked if Adelie and Briggs would like to be part of the float, so all 3 kids participated in the parade.

Unlike the pleasant Festival of Lights Parade weather, the Santa Claus Parade was FRIGID!

I had the kids layered up to the max, but it's hard to keep out that 20 degree weather.

I got lots of texts, photos, and videos from friends and family who were watching the parade on TV...in the warmth and comfort of their own homes.

That seemed like a good idea, although the kids really enjoyed being a part of the festivities.

Staley has really enjoyed being a part of the Rising Stars group, and the parades have been a highlight of the season for her so far.

It has definitely kicked off our Christmas holiday season with more festivities than we typically have, which has been fun for the whole family.

We helped Lucy celebrate her 5th birthday with a trip to Chuckie Cheese.

The kids had fun playing games, spending time with cousins, eating pizza and cake, and celebrating Lucy.

This was Briggs' first ever trip to Chuckie Cheese, and he thought it was pretty spectacular.

I got to help celebrate my friend Diana at her baby sprinkle.

And a November highlight was getting to celebrate Thanksgiving with Zach's side of the family.  We enjoyed good food, good fellowship, and a good outcome to a not-so-good Bear's football game.

Time with family is always a blessing.  And after Thanksgiving time with Zach's family, I was able to join my family in Danvers for a short but meaningful graveside memorial service for my great Uncle Ron that had been postponed due to COVID.

And, of course, we've filled in the rest of our time with play-dates...

fun time with neighborhood friends...

and reading, playing, movie nights, family games, and extracurricular activities.  

Our months go by quickly as they are filled with busy-ness and rest, time away and time at home, fun activities and quiet time.  November was more of the same...and it was good.

Little Red Hen

Yesterday we had a little red hen moment at our house.  All 3 kids were excited about the prospect of raking the leaves in our yard.  Now, none of them were overly keen or committed to the raking.  Or getting the tarp.  Or hauling the leaves to the curb.  But when it was time to jump in the leaves, there was much more excitement and willingness to participate.  

Unlike the little red hen, however, I did not keep all the leaf jumping fun to myself.

European

Adelie is always the slowest eater in the family.  She remains at the table finishing her meal well after everyone else is done.  The other night Adelie once again had an almost full plate of food while everyone else was almost done.  I exasperatedly asked, "Adelie, why does it take you so much longer to eat than everyone else at the table?"  To which Adelie replied, "I'm European!"

Love this little European sweetheart!