Day 193 & 194: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Taiya and Daisy in their happy place.

Poor Taiya. Send Taiya some extra mental hugs this week. On Tuesday she and William both went in to school to do their MAP testing. It was scheduled for two hours, and William finished his (I'm sure it was much more basic than a 3rd grade test) on time, but Taiya had to stay an extra 45 minutes. After this, she was only half way through the first of two tests. So, she had to go back on Wednesday. She spent another 2 hours and 45 minutes on the test and finished the first one and got halfway through the second one. So, she had to go back on Thursday to finish. This is insanity! It added up to about 7 hours of testing for her. What is this, the LSATs? The teacher who was helping the kids take the tests, the school librarian, said, "She just... sits there. I sat with her and had her read out loud to me, and then she made some progress, but then I had to leave and, she just... sits there." I asked Taiya what the hardest thing about the tests was, and she said it was boring and she didn't like sitting still. I think she just disappears into her own imagination rather than paying attention to whatever is on the test. I'm sure it's a much more fun place to be. 

In other news, our democracy is unraveling before our very eyes. Trump has said he won't promise there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Biden wins. They're already sowing the seeds of doubt about election results. An extremely conservative anti-abortion woman may be taking Ruth Bader Ginsberg's place, if the Republican Senators do indeed (as it looks like they are going to) commit an act of complete and utter hypocrisy. There are now official "anarchist" cities in the U.S. Breonna Taylor's murderers aren't being indicted for her murder. And that's just what I know from my brief dips into the world of current events. I'm sure there are a thousand more injustices, atrocities, abominations, and other horrors being committed unseen by me. I try to keep my news consumption at a responsible but not overwhelming level so I my heart doesn't despair.

Alright, time to think of things that are less horrible. That is how I will pull myself back toward the light. 

A List Of Things Less Horrible Than The News:

I made a decent pot of chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight, using one of the chickens we raised this year. That was delicious. 

I watched The Princess Bride with my amazing children, and we said the lines along with the movie together, because I have indoctrinated them thoroughly. I'm proud of that. 

I got Jeremy the perfect anniversary gift, and it came in the mail, and it's even better than I thought it would be. Side note: Our tenth anniversary is next week, and I've been searching for the perfect way to celebrate such an exciting mile marker. The pandemic, of course, has squelched all my original ideas involving a weekend away somewhere, just the two of us. So, we're going to make the best of it with kiddos in tow. We're going to take a day trip to a state park or something, and then get Thai takeout, and have a dance party of four on the porch. That's the current plan. But I had to get him a little gift too. I can't say what it is yet here, though. You'll just have to wait in suspense. I'm one of those people who always wants to give people their presents as soon as I get them rather than on the actual holiday, but I'm making myself wait. 

I keep accumulating mugs at my desk. 
Big ones for tea, small ones for coffee. 

I have a drawer full of many kinds of tea and it is finally getting to be tea weather. 

I'm healthy, my family is healthy, and we all have enough food to eat, and often it is delicious. 

There is still enough warmth in the afternoons to enjoy creek time. On Thursday (193) we went down to the creek for a couple hours and played. We saw a snake skin but no snake. I did yoga, we played pirates, William played with his monster trucks, the children got along, and our spirits were rejuvenated. What would I do without this creek? I do not know. 

Alright, I'm feeling much better now. Gratitude, tea, the creek, laughter, love, and The Princess Bride. It all adds up to a lot of light.