After the busyness of last week, I was ready to settle down into a quiet week. While my calendar wasn’t full, the week didn’t turn into the quiet week that I expected. This was due to my own pondering. I hit some triggers this week that sent me into planning, researching, and mulling mode. The amount of thoughts that bounced around in my brain made the week anything but quiet.
As the leader of a local MOPS & MOMSnext group, I feel a weight of responsibility that I have never felt before. As a group, how do we keep connection strong during a time of distance? How do we keep the natural rhythms of our group as much as possible? How do we wrap up the end of the year well? How do we build momentum for next year when we aren’t even sure what meeting in the fall looks like right now? I’ve been thinking these thoughts from time to time, but now that there is less than a month left on the MOPS calendar these thoughts all seemed more urgent. My personality type likes to tackle a to-do list. I plot a course and get it done. This is a season where I can’t easily predict the future and my mind has a hard time letting go. I’ve continue to mull over details that I know are unsolveable at this time. As a leader, I don’t want to let my team down and I certainly don’t want to let our community of moms down. I have plans to talk with my co-coordinator next week so I can share the mental load with someone. I need to draw others into the conversation as we face circumstances we never planned for.
Another area of major thought-full-ness for me this week was the pros and cons of homeschooling this fall. We’ve found a good groove for school. I’m loving the pace and the schedule that comes with school at home. I’m loving not having to dash out the door for anything. There is no rush in our lives! The schedule mixed with the positives of homeschooling had me weighing our options seriously. After making a mental list and going back and forth, I sat down to talk with Jeremy about where I finally landed. This whole time Jeremy has been leaning toward public school and I was the one who was unsure. As of now, our plan is to still go with public school in the fall. We want our family to a light in our community. We believe that public school is a place to grow our faith muscles and be the light of Jesus to those around us. I’m sure volunteering will look different next year, but I want to be in the school offering support and hope to the staff and students. This was very important to me and something I was sad let go of when school closed. Now this decision isn’t a final one. We still don’t know what public school looks like in the fall. Our final decision will be influenced what what our district decides to do in September.
With plans to phase back into normal life being discussed, I’m taking this time to think about what life looks like going forward. There are still many unknowns that make planning a challenge. I’m not in a rush to go back to life as it was. I’ve found a sweet spot at home. I’m definitely processing what I am valuing in this current season and how can I take those values with me into the future. Now enough on all my pondering and wondering. Here are few highlights from the week!
The first highlight of the week was Owen lost his first tooth! It’s been wiggly for weeks and with Jeremy’s help it finally popped out. Now he has another wiggly tooth in the same area. Looks like we are in a new season!
My highlight for the week was assembling thank you gifts for the MOPS & MOMSnext Steering Team. Since we can’t celebrate the end of the year together in person I created a party-in-a-bag for them. It took me over 5 hours, but I was able to deliver the gifts to each team member. I didn’t get to see all the ladies, but I saw most of them for a few short minutes. Seeing their faces made my heart happy. I also really enjoyed the quiet time in the van to listen to worship music and be with Jesus. After all the noise in my head this last week, I finally felt peace in my spirit. Also, I was glad to see that I still remember how to drive. It had been almost two months since I was last behind the wheel. Turns out it’s like riding bike – it all came back to me!
I never know what the vibe of each week will be. Life certainly hasn’t been boring in my little corner of the world. I’ll keep working on taking things one day at time and trusting God with all the unknowns.
Owen’s 1st Lost Tooth!
Mini-bottle of sparkling cider + rainbow chip mug cake + pinata ornament + party hat + noisemaker = party in a bag!
We had a popsicle themed week!
Homemade juice pops!
Pom Pom Popsicle
Pom Pom Popsicle
Using the sliding door as a white board
These are the moments I end up filming when my husband is on video announcements. Bath tub full of bubbles, industrial bubble maker on, and the Rubber Ducky song playing in the background.
The next installment of fresh flowers! I’m loving this new tradition. Flowers on the counter bring me so much joy!
Jeremy’s latest project! It’s not completed, but I had to share his hard work! I’m amazed at all he is doing around our house! Also, notice the grass is coming in where he took out part of the flower bed!
Amy Scott's Thoughts 