Happy Easter!

Well, spring break is almost over and the only thing I have done is stay as low key as possible.

As soon as I woke up on Saturday, I realized I was sick with a sinus infection of some sort. Have been living with Aleve Cold and Sinus for almost ten days now.  While last night was probably a better night than most, I am still blowing my nose and coughing.  UGH.  Plus, nothing that I wanted to get done, got done.

I was able to sort through some old pictures of the Schalk family to send for Mary Lou's celebration of life this coming Friday.  What a shock to know of her passing.  I am still processing her loss.  I really hope that Chuck will accept the pictures and short note.  How can it be?  From what I understand, at least she is with the Lord and isn't suffering anymore.  Between losing Pam and now Mary Lou to cancer, it remains a wicked disease that needs to have a cure found for those who are still fighting it.



Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed!
May Chuck know how many folks admired, learned, and were touched by Mary Lou and their family over the years.  I will always miss them, especially Mary Lou.

In Memory of

Mary Lou (Mary Lou Ebert) Schalk

July 29, 1962 - March 23, 2015

SABATTUS: Mary Lou (Ebert) Schalk of Sabattus, Maine, lately of Columbus, Ohio, died of complications from cancer on March 23, 2015, at her home in Sabattus, Maine. Mary was 52 years old. Mary was born on July 29, 1962, to Frank and Lucille (Ruehrmund) Ebert of Cardington, Ohio. She graduated from Cardington-Lincoln High School (1980) and the Ohio State University (1985). She was married to her husband Charles Schalk in Columbus, Ohio, in 1986, where they lived in the Northland area until moving to Maine in 2003. Mary was a Christian indeed, serving her Lord Jesus Christ and testifying to His saving and keeping power throughout her lifetime. Her words led many others to deeper relationships with Jesus Christ, and her works of compassion and kindness are remembered by all who were touched by her. For all of her growing-up years, life revolved around Holsteins. Mary was a farm girl through and through. As a mother, she was fully vested in the education of her children. Mary's was a cheerful and welcoming face at the Lisbon Library for the years she worked there. Mary is survived by her husband Charles; son Luther, daughter-in-law Victoria, and granddaughter Lucille, all of Maine; daughters Meredith, Renata, Victoria, and Emma, all of Maine; mother Lucille, of Cardington, Ohio; brothers Gary and Daniel, of Ohio; sisters Jean, Susan, and Julie, of Ohio; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and aunts and uncles; and the wonderful family of God, her church family. Mary was preceded in death by her father, Frank Ebert. Mary will be missed by all. Condolences may be shared with the family atwww.crosmanfuneralhome.com

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Living Word located at 1210 Main Street, Bowdoin with the Pastor Eric James officiating on Friday April 10, 2015 at 7pm. Interment will take place in the spring. Those wishing, in lieu of flowers, may make a charitable contribution in Mary's memory to: Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice 15 Strawberry Ave. Lewiston, Maine 04240 or at www.ahch.org for the staff and volunteers who made her last days as comfortable as they could be. Arrangements are under the care of Crosman Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 40 Main St. Lisbon Falls, 353-4951

Updated SSB 2015

Here is a wonderful rendition of our national anthem the way that it should be sung in public:

2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four SSB

THANKSGIVING 2014

Lots and lots has happened in just four months.  How fast times flies anymore.  Too quick too catch your breath, much less remember what occurred day to day!

Pam passed away Saturday, August 2nd at 4:30PM.  The celebration of life was held two Saturdays later on Zane's 12th birthday.  There were around four hundred folks there, including Helen and Dwight, who drove up after church.  I was so thankful they made time for her, me, us, etc.  The funny thing was that we still had the Log Cabin luncheon the day after Pam died and it really helped for all the family to be together.  Jim, Jay, Ri and the kids weren't there, but they were in spirit.  George had passed away at the end of June, so we had all just been together right before the 4th of July.  The good news was that Abby was going to have a baby and she did get married to Jarrod just before Livia was born. I really miss Pam.  The flowers above are a collection from Connie's, Carolyn's, and my gardens that were put in a basket for the celebration of life ceremony and potluck. However, sunflowers are what Ri and Jay have decided have meaning for Pam.  The funny and coincidental thing is, I, too, also think of Pam whenever I see sunflowers now.  I still can't believe she is gone.  Perhaps knowing her for the short fourteen years that I was blessed with will continue to have some impact on my life.  I really hope so.


Pamela Skinner Smith, 67, of Delaware passed away peacefully Saturday evening August 2, 2014 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
She was born January 27, 1947 in Circleville, Ohio to the late Jay and Alda (Hatten) Skinner.
She taught special education for 35 years at Buckeye Valley and Big Walnut Schools. Pam was a member of the Unity Church of Delaware, the Piece Corps Sunbury Quilt Group, Quilter’s Point of View of Mesa, Arizona, Friends of the Community Library in Sunbury, Sunbury Book Club and the Club of Creative Learning Mother’s Club in Kilbourne. Her passion was learning, teaching, sewing and quilting.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 46 years James “Jim” Smith; sons Andrew (Christine) Smith of Ft. Worth, Texas and Jay (Maria) Hoeffer of Cincinnati; five grandchildren Caleb, Makaio, Mei, Cassandra and Matt; brother Gary (Carolyn) Skinner of Delaware; two nephews Brian and Darin Skinner.
Celebration of Life Services will be held on Sunday August 17th at 1:00 pm at All Occasions Banquet Facility, 6989 Waldo-Delaware Road, Waldo, OH with Pastor Joanne Blum officiating. A Potluck reception and fellowship will immediately follow the services; sandwiches and drinks will be provided.
In keeping with Pam’s wishes and her desire to continue teaching and helping others learn, her body was donated to the Ohio State University Department of Anatomy.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Pam’s memory may be made to the Unity Church of Delaware, 4277 Columbus Pike (St. Rt. 23), P.O. Box 593, Delaware, OH 43015, Community Library of Sunbury Foundation, 44 Burrer Drive, Sunbury, OH 43074 or to the donor’s choice of charity.
The Snyder-Rodman Funeral Center in Delaware is honored to assist the Smith family in carrying out Pam’s final wishes.
Condolences may be expressed to the family and memories may be shared by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com

School started with a bang!  The race is still on too!  One concert with first and third graders down, fourth grade in January, and kindergarten and second grade in March, along with my evaluation for a continuing contract next week, and the SLOs due in March as well.  I need to get my lesson plans done soon so I can post them for the principal's review.

Here is Zane with his goat, Scooter II, who did really well overall at the fair.  He came in second in his weight class and got fourth place in showmanship.  It think it helped Zane want to continue with goats in the future as we kind of had to force the issue this year.  And of course, it didn't help when the market truck came, and Zane was upset for the next three days.  Surely, this won't be so hard in the future?  Unfortunately, this year, Scooter II was a really nice goat and even I was sad to see him go.

Have taken a class for gifted and talented students on-line, which has added to the amount of work lately.  And we have started working on the kitchen.  Darin moved everything to the basement, I am still packing things in bins, but am slowly getting the hang of it.  On top of everything else, I can't seem to shake this sore throat.  I had lost my voice at the end of October, saw the doctor, but since I have never had a fever, couldn't give me anything stronger than what I was already doing.  It went away for about a week, but is now back.  At least I can say it isn't nodes, which is what I thought it might be since I couldn't talk for so long.  Singing was definitely interesting.  And I have been getting the hiccups lately too. Really weird.

But, I truly remain thankful in my heart of hearts that I have Zane and Darin.  I look back on all those years of being single, and sometimes I miss the quiet time, but I am so thankful that the Lord gave me such a wonderful man and a son who is who he is.  My gratitude sometimes makes me cry, but they are tears of joy.  I have been given so much, even if it has only been for a short time of my life so far.  So, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Supermoon over weekend

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So, this is one of many pictures of the *supermoon* taken on Saturday, July 12, 2014.  Absolutely awesome.  I remember taking astronomy in college and learning that Asia views a rabbit in the moon as opposed to the Americas that see a man in the moon.  I think if you tilt your head a little bit to the right, you can sort of see the rabbit, but maybe I am just straining a little bit too much.

Only one month left before the madness begins again.  Trying to paint the garage this week, vacation, and start working on the classroom before school starts.  Sometimes it sounds like it's impossible, but I just take one day at a time.  Birthdays this week and hopefully get to visit with Pam before she passes away.  I need to tell her how much she means to me and how thankful I am that she has been such an example.

Summer going, going, . . . .

Again another up and down summer/year. 

The bad:  Kenny and Liz were the same time as George.  We conquered and divided.  We are all missing folks in our own way.  Unfortunately, the kids are just like us when we were their age.  I know it will mean something when they are older, but they are so wrapped up into themselves at this age that they can't appreciate what we are trying to teach them by participating in these events.  Long two days in the car and standing in lines, but, OH, so worth it! Plus, we are waiting for news of Pam.  Don't know whether to contact Jim or not.  Sent a letter today.  Hopefully, it will find him on a good day and not a sad day.  All I do is cry for her, for Jim, for me, for the family, for life.  It is just sad to say goodbye.

The good:  Took a quick overnight to Michigan of all places.  Spent the night at a waterpark and went tourist shopping for me.  Quite impressed that it turned out OK and we had an adventure on top of it.

 


Dennis and Janice came for a visit on July 4th of all days.  Had White Castle and she passed along a beautiful mantle clock from Elsie.  Dennis gave us ideas on the kitchen.  Pretty much decided on new quay quartz for the countertops and birch cabinets.  Good time for all. 

   

Went to garden art walk with Jenny.  Completely forgot that she was coming earlier because I didn't write it down.  UGH!  We had a nice lunch and good time catching up.  She is a really good friend to be so understanding.  I was very embarrassed, but she was very forgiving.

The ugly:  My basement is still in chaos.  NEED to get moving on that one soon!

Busy weekend, but should be loads of fun, but it all depends.

Thinking about next year . . .

Both JennyL and CathyS think highly of this quote.  I like the image that is portrayed with this too.  So much of our emotions are captured by the choices of music on our playlist, etc.  It is something that I need to connect with my students during their times of reflection, learning, and performing.  Definitely a keeper!

Cleaning out school stuff, work stuff, shredding, etc.  It is nice to get settled so early.  Don't have schedule or class lists, but hopefully this summer will bring some more time to concentrate on activities, game days, programs and such.

Time to slow way down!

So, even though I purchased the more expensive Aasics model and ran my first 5K of the year in them, when I just run a little bit, and then do Super Games, everything breaks.  My hip hurt, my right leg hurt, my foot hurts to walk on, and I call the doctor.  Plantar Fasciitis.  No running for four to six weeks, exercises to help, frozen water bottle to roll foot on several times a day, no flats, no flip flops.  Wow.  And I will still limp, have trouble getting going in the morning, but I do get a heavier prescription for the pain than otc Aleve.  I also need to call the dermotologist about the big toe maybe having warts again.



Then, on top of all that, I wake up with a splitting headache, eat breakfast, which I then puke.  Slept most of the day and the next.  Just plain worn out.  Although I prefer getting older to the alternative, the body certainly does let you know when it is done.  And the funny thing is, the body means it.  Just need to get thru the last days with students and one more with adults to checkout for the summer.  Wow, just wow.  Must be exhaustion in its new form.  Going to have to slow down and listen more closely if I want to do the things I want to do.  Much more moderation than even before this happened.

So glad we have Monday off.  Parade in the AM to watch the boy and then gimp around, maybe some more sleeping.  It will be good to remember the past tomorrow and reflect.

June is coming thankfully.