When I started school, kindergarten was only half day. Yet, in those three hours we also had recess, snacks and a resting time. It's remarkable to me how my teacher was able to teach us to read with such limited time. Dick and Jane books were a staple. It's funny what you remember and what fades away. I clearly recall the coveted "Best Rester" award. My teacher cut circles of colored construction paper and turned them into smiley faces with star sticker eyes and the words BEST RESTER neatly printed along the bottom. Each day after rest time, she would give out the award to the student who had been the quietest. I don't know how many times I won that award, but I clearly remember keeping a stack of Best Resters, more than an inch thick, in my top dresser drawer...probably til 3rd grade. I was the kid who not only rested...I often fell deeply asleep.
Unfortunately, sleep doesn't come as easy to me now.
Throughout March and April, I kept myself and the kids busy with a schedule (walk, schoolwork, bake, repeat). I rose early and went to bed late. I kept the T.V. off because the news was a Covid loop of doom which only served to heighten Noah's superpower worry abilities. This routine seemed to keep everyone in check and sleeping at night. In May, I ditched my KitchenAid and for the most part, my kitchen, in favor of digging in the dirt. My flower beds have woken up and with more time at home, Steve and I reworked the backyard and put in a pollinator garden using lots of transplants from my mom's flower garden -- coreopsis, dusty miller, angelina, lavender, verbena, coneflowers and more! Steve grew mammoth sunflowers from seed. Currently, they stand about 18" and are each encased in wire to prevent the bunnies from treating our yard as their own personal buffet. We've never been successful with bringing sunflowers to head, but perhaps this will be our year. All the rain has served to strengthen my transplants and for the first time in 10 years (actually I didn't even know it was possible) my creeping jenny has produced delicate, yellow blooms. Over several weekends we've composted, mulched and planted our little hearts out...more than 60 bags full. Steve's food garden is taking shape -- tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onion, beans, zucchini and even a watermelon. Last weekend, he built a contraption to create compost tea to naturally fertilize our plants and keep pests at bay. Gardening has become the remedy for my sleepless nights.
And for those times when I need a reminder about worrying...I think of this:
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
No comments:
Post a Comment