Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. I have loved having my husband working from home.  I'm thankful we have an office that he could use for that.  

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

I never could have imagined this time last year where we'd be as we end 2020.  I could not have believed the reality of what this year has been.  So much changes of how we did things that I never would have thought would be the reality.  If I'd known we'd be okay at the end of the year it would have saved me a lot of worries!  I did feel I learned a lot of lessons this year.

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? I keep a board on Pinterest of books I read each year so I looked back there to remember the books I've read this year.  It says there are 39 books on there.  I have one more I'm nearly done with, maybe I'll finish and be able to add it.  

I did enjoy listening to more audio books again when both boys were in school.  

My friend loaned me two books that I really loved.....Traces of Guilt and  Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson.  

          

Another one I must mention is If I Were You by Lynn Austin.  I listened to this one.  

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

Yes these are pretty colors.  We are wanting to paint our bedroom gray.  Not sure when that will get done, we have been talking about it for a long time!  

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 

Declutter.  It is something I continually want to improve on in the house.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

These are so me of my quilting projects that I've finished.  I have Caleb a camo pillow for Christmas and made a checker board for Titus.  

It has been so fun to learn something new.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

As you go to kindergarten...

Titus, 

I recently read what I wrote to Caleb before he went to kindergarten and thought I should write you too.  

 For months now people have been asking me what we were going to do....would we send you or keep you home? Our plan was always for you to go to public school as your big brother did when he was 5.  But the world is so different now than it was then.  Your kindergarten year is going to look very different than his....we can’t walk you in on the first day, I can’t volunteer at your school right now or come eat lunch with you. Things look so different too with teachers wearing masks and setting up their classrooms in a way to try to have social distancing. We wonder if we are making the right choice and if you will be safe.  We wonder if schools will shut down again and you will be learning at home.  So many questions and unknowns!  

I knew that in 2020 you’d turn 5 and go off to school in August. I never could have imagined all the changes and uncertainty we face daily.  I feel like we were robbed of our “lasts” for the things we did together.  We didn’t know in February it would be our last zoo class or ladies Bible class.  We didn’t know we would have 5 months at home with Caleb and Daddy! I will say that was a special time, but I did miss our routine of our days together just you and me.  

Through all of this I have learned that I am not in control, God is.  And we need to always make the most of each day because our reality could change overnight. 

I am excited for you to begin a new adventure. I look forward to your stories and all the things you will learn.  I pray that you will be a friend to the kid who is lonely or scared.  I pray you will be brave and remember you can do hard things.   I pray your teacher will be nurturing and encouraging.  

I will miss you when you are at school.  Things I will miss: sleeping late, playing Words, quiet time, my laundry helper, lessons, reading books, going to the library, hearing you laugh with Caleb, your humming, seeing you ride your scooter around, your questions, the funny things you put on your sandwich at lunch, so many things about you being here my sweet Titus.  

You are such a sweet boy. Today you got a back to school note in the mail from Gramma. Then you went to your room and wrote a note for me. You asked me how to spell some words. You put a Paw Patrol valentine card with Rubble on it cause you know he’s my favorite. You told me when I miss you tomorrow I can look at that note.  Then in the afternoon you boys wanted to go get a milkshake. You insisted on buying them with your own money.  Sweet memories I want to remember of our last day of summer.

We went to kindergarten blessing on Sunday. As you held up your finger and sang “This little light of mine....” it almost made me cry. I know you will shine for Jesus in your classroom. 

I am proud of you Titus. Do your best in school and all you do.  I love you sweet boy. 

Love, Mommy

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

As you turn 16

As we were driving home we heard the song “You’re Gonna Miss This.”  It seemed fitting for today and brought tears to my eyes.  Yes I’m gonna miss this.....all four of us being together stopping for a Blizzard.

Driving you to work your steer.

Taking to you football practice.

Waiting to pick you up after football or youth group.

Having my driver with me for Meals On Wheels.

Dropping you off to work various jobs.

Picking up your stuff and bringing you a snack before out of town football games.

Taking you to school in the mornings (although it's been so long already since I've done this anyway!).

There’s so much I’m gonna miss,  but I am thankful for this new chapter and that we get to experience this with you.

I’m excited for you as you have reached this milestone, Caleb and will be praying for your safety. Please be careful!

Love, 
Momma