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At times, I have wondered why I purchased it. It’s an upright and I always wanted a grand. It’s brown and I prefer black. It’s a pain to keep clean especially with ivory keys. Most of all, it was horribly out of tune, until Friday.

I finally arranged a time for Mr. Wright to come and tune it and now- wow. The sound is remarkably different. I enjoy playing more than ever!

What took me so long to arrange for a simple tuning? Time. I was always so busy, but it was such an easy fix!

It reminds me of all the other tuning I could be doing right now instead of allowing any kind of busyness to overtake me. Tuning relationships with my family, tuning the words that I speak… the list goes on and on.

As this journey continues, now in a different state, the Friday piano tuning will remind me to maintain my own personal tuning —always needed and cannot be neglected.

I wonder what Gideon thought when God called him to be judge of the Israelites. Did he try to run? Hide?

The Israelites, dealing with the Midianites for seven years, dealt with a variety of challenges. I cannot imagine having to create shelter in the mountains because I know I would fail miserably. Judges 6: 6 describes the land as impoverished. Wow.

In midst of these challenges, God called Gideon while he was threshing wheat. Threshing wheat sounds much easier than leading the Israelites. Threshing wheat seems like a mini-vacation compared to fighting against the Midianites. Despite these challenges, Gideon answered God’s call.

I find myself rereading Judges 6 many times as I face a new challenge: being the interim principal at Lafayette Christian School. Judges 6: 12, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” comes to mind every single time when I have faced new challenges.

The current interim principal is recovering from unexpected surgery in Michigan. The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.

Because the current interim principal is not available, end of year activities need leadership. The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.

The Indiana governor has not released guidelines for reopening schools. The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.

The amazing thing is that every single time that I feel a sense of being completely overwhelmed, this verse comes to mind EVERY SINGLE TIME.

But why should I be surprised? God is the Alpha and Omega

Learning new technology is certainly a challenge at times. In the classroom, I use a mixture of the i-Pad and a PC. It becomes complicated at times.

My eighty-eight year old father is facing the same challenges as he learns to navigate his new i-Pad, but he is progressing. He is gradually learning to keep his finger off the screen so we can see his face. He is learning how to contact people correctly. His new keyboard is helping him send messages better.

One area he doesn’t quite seem to understand is the amount of times he should contact in one setting. I think I counted six times that he called during one period of time. He would share his insight on the virus, hang up, and then call me back. This sequence repeated. At one time, I thought I could move my screen so I could continue working while he was talking, but he immediately noticed and asked, “Where are you?” I caught myself inwardly sighing and hoping this would not continue the entire day.

But then I chide myself and remind that this tool is a blessing and is the only way he can communicate with the outside world. His attempts at learning new technology at his age are to be applauded. He is adapting to a new communication tool, an example for us to follow.

I jokingly call COVID-19 the 19 pounds addition due to Chloe’s amazing cooking. She definitely has a gift of not only cooking and baking, but also artful cooking. For her, cooking has to include presentation which means an array of colors in every meal. Caden has also been cooking and baking. Corey? He enjoys watching and snacking at any opportune moment.

Food, however, also evokes memories and Friday’s coleslaw definitely reminded me of my mom. ” I decided to make an All-American meal tonight, “Chloe cheerfully announced. Homemade coleslaw, pasta salad, and grilled brats were included in the tasty meal. When I took a bite of the coleslaw, the emotions starting bubbling up as I remembered my mom’s affinity for KFC’s coleslaw. Last July 4, we brought the complete meal to the condo and ate on the outside patio. Coleslaw was always one of her favorites.

My sister-in-law’s text reminded me of another one of my mom’s favorite’s– Mother’s Day cards. The text, which read, “Thank you for sending my mom a card! She loved it! reminded me of the cards I sent earlier this week and somewhat forgot doing. This year, I sent cards to a variety of people- aunts, my mother-in-law, and then my brother’s mother-in-law. I wouldn’t have sent her one normally, but this year is different. My mom loved receiving and sending cards. When we cleaned out the condo, a vast array of cards filled the drawers. I even took one from her to my father, framed it, and placed it in his room.

I didn’t think this day would hit me so hard and really hope the emotions will end. Chloe started the day with a wonderful card, sign, and coupons for playing 6 ( yes, 6!) Scrabble games. I want to enjoy the wonderful meal she is preparing and not focus on the past. I am grateful that make-up can cover a bunch of emotions!

I have to admit: I did not think my father would make it to his birthday. How did I ever arrive at this thought? Why did I even entertain these thoughts?

One reason is his mental state. When I look back over the past months, I saw a steady decline in his optimism and thinking. Being cooped up in a room with no possibility of exiting leaves one feeling as if in a jail cell.

Another strange reason for my thinking is that I thought that his passing would be like my mother’s. He would get sick and then pass away very close to his birthday.

These are very dark thoughts and I wish I didn’t have them, but they have been there, lurking in my mind.

However, today proves many things. First, those thoughts were wrong! My dad is celebrating another year! He made it to 88! Rejoice! Second, my ways are not God’s ways. Who am I to think that I know when my father is going to pass away? We don’t know! Why did those thoughts even enter my mind?

Even though I cannot be with my father today on his birthday, I CAN celebrate and rest in knowing that God is in control. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Praise be to Him!

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“No. I won’t do it”, was Corey’s answer when presented with the idea of a virtual prom. Chloe created an invitation, I pled with him, and finally a meal of Q-doba finally convinced him. “No blue suit,” he said with an emphasis. Reluctantly, I agreed. Chloe, the initiator, put some clothing combinations together, but the shirt/ shorts/ black socks/ slides finally won out. At least he wore a tie. With 80’s music blaring in the background, we enjoyed a yummy Q-doba meal, took some pictures, and ended with a tasty chocolate cake dessert. We enjoyed a conversation remembering other prom days and decided it was a fun way to enjoy a Friday evening, except for Corey.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is seeing our Christmas cactus in bloom. I love the pink flowers that seem to surprise me every year. “Did you see the Christmas cactus?” I will ask my family.

To our surprise, it is blooming again! This doesn’t usually happen. Is it a sign that life is resuming again? I hope so. Should we get the Christmas tree out, too?

The recent governor’s announcement of life possibly returning to some kind of normalcy on July 4 definitely gives hope. It’s like the plant, reminding me that life will return like the blossoms return every December. #rejoicingalways

Part of my daily schedule includes a letter to my father. “Bert VT ROOM #211 is the subject on the email. Kellie faithfully prints it out and delivers it to his room. His reactions and responses have been absent until today.

His penmanship, somewhat difficult to decipher, communicated his wish: an outside choir with the appearance of his pastor, saying a few words. It’s not the first time he’s communicated this wish.

The interesting part is that he cannot hear us when we are outside the window, so how could an outside choir add any type of value to his daily schedule?

However, upon further reflection, I realize it’s what everyone misses: people gathering together, communicating in a face-to-face interaction. No Zoom, no FaceTime, no Skype– just real communication. It will come, Dad. Just wait a little longer.

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It started as one and then seemed to continue. My father’s plant needed some TLC so we brought it home. Then… Caden and Chloe moved back with their plants. Chloe’s roommates, due to the unexpected university closure, hastily left and asked for someone to take care of their plants. The pictures above are only a sampling of the foliage we are now tending.

For some reason, it give me satisfaction to know I am helping with their plants. My father’s plant is a small part of him and reminds me that I am helping him, despite the distance. In a tiny way, I am also helping the university students, dealing with emotions of being apart from friends and university life. My goal is to return the plants when this is over as a reminder that life does continue, regardless of the crazy corona.

A different approach seemed warranted, so visuals by Chloe greeted my father as we stood outside. His reaction of many tears reminded me once again of the difficulty he faces with this quarantine. My brother says he only cries with me. Despite the brevity of the visit, he appreciated seeing us and gave a virtual hug. Strangely enough, I don’t feel a sense of sadness. Instead, I feel grateful for the many people who faithfully take care of nursing home residents despite its difficulties.