Happy Easter from the Healy House

Divine Play

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the whats and whys of God’s divine plan. I often explain to the little Healys that we don’t always see the whole picture from God’s perspective, and that if we could, we would understand.  There are no mistakes in God’s plan.  And yet, in a season such as this, where people are dying, incomes are lost, we are confined to our homes, and schools are shuttered, every day it becomes increasingly difficult to understand why God allows such suffering and disruption.

But I need to remember that sometimes those whys can be answered in the smallest of  joys.....such as 75 degree spring afternoons when you can play in the sprinkler instead of sitting in a classroom....

I love that here at home, they have the freedom to be small, to be free, to be themselves, and to enjoy the sunshine before the rain! ☀️ 

“Palm” Sunday

H & D showing off our “palms” last Sunday.

We’re beginning to get used to celebrating mass around our television each Sunday.  Although I never thought I would be able to say that, we’ve had several weeks’ practice.  I’m afraid there will be many more to come.  With some trial and error, we’ve found an online mass that works well for our family.  Our requirements were pretty basic, good sound quality, music and responses we are familiar with, ability to stream over our living room TV, and a tolerable length for some of the smaller,  more distracted Healys.  We sit, stand, kneel, pray, respond, and sing. This is definitely the most unusual worship experience any of us have encountered, but now, more than ever, we need to stay close to the Lord.

This past weekend was Palm Sunday, and it brought to mind our first Palm Sunday in Brazil.  That year we found out that, unlike in American churches where church-provided palms are blessed and distributed to the faithful, everyone had to clip palms from their own yard (or their neighbor’s yard) and bring them to church to be blessed. This year, I kind of wished we had palms in our back yard, because there wasn’t going to be a public mass or distribution of palm branches this Palm Sunday.

However, we were able to find these amazing printable palms on the internet from another Catholic mom who, upon searching for the same thing and not finding it, decided to paint, scan, and share some palms herself.  I love that even now, in the most isolated season of our entire lives, everyone is still out there, supporting one another in our faith, our families, our journey through this dark valley.  Let us not fear, but Hope in the Lord!

Quarantween

 For several weeks I had been a little worried about what a birthday under quarantine might look like. As the infection spread and shelter-in-place orders were extended, it became obvious that our darling tween wouldn’t be taking a batch of brownies to school to celebrate turning 12 with her class, or having a sleepover with a bestie to mark the occasion.  About a week before her day, we started talking about what she’d like to do for her birthday, under these most unusual circumstances.  That’s when I realized that I hadn’t needed to worry.  I’d forgotten how incredibly mature she’s become.

A trip to the party store wasn’t on the essential outings list, but she was undaunted. M created her own birthday decorations.  She arranged an amazing island theme with some items we had on hand and a lot of her God-given creativity.  She decorated the house like we’d all taken that island get away that no one can go on these days.

 I’m not sure whether or not the bakery is closed, but we are choosing to only eat food we prepare at home.  Although I offered to make a variety of treats that I knew we had ingredients for, she chose to make her own birthday cake... cinnamon coffee cake according to Grammy’s recipe.  It turned out beautiful, and mighty tasty!  I told her she is getting some good practice for being a mom....decorating and making her own birthday cake.  Ha!

We did our best to make the day seem as special as possible...planning her favorite meals (as much as our grocery stock would allow), wrapping each small gift item separately so it took longer to unwrap everything, being fun and goofy (I’m talking about you, DaddyHealy), and ending it all with a family dance party until waaaay past bedtime. 

M goofing around with DaddyHealy

 Best birthday ever? I doubt it.  One that she’ll never forget?  I’m certain.

Since beginning online learning, she has to keep an electronic journal for Language Arts.  Her entry the next day made me so proud of the amazing young woman she is becoming.  She didn’t write about what was missing from her birthday, what she couldn’t do, or what she didn’t get.  She wrote with such joy and gratitude for the small, intimate celebration with 6 very special people.  She shared the joy of receiving homemade gifts, having celery sticks with peanut butter with dinner, and taking a long walk with Mom and Dad.  I love her for 1,000,001 reasons, but she never ceases to amaze me.  God certainly made her one very special soul!

Starting the day off right with her breakfast of choice!

More goofing with H

The only gift she really wanted is this “Mary of Fatima” dress for her doll.  Thanks Grandma! You rock!

Distance Learning

Last week we officially started distance learning through our school. Only a 7 days into it, we are still figuring out what that means.  With the exception of D, who homeschools anyway, all the kids are receiving lessons and schoolwork through a variety of platforms....Google classroom, YouTube, email, folders and mailings of paperwork and more.  I feel like my head is spinning.  I’m running in circles, assigning ipad or computer time for kids who need to upload schoolwork, or watch a teacher’s video. The kiddos are learning patience as they have to wait for me to help or explain the next assignment.  I’m sending emails and text messages to teachers for daily “attendance” or when questions arise.  D, amazing kid that he is, is pretty much homeschooling himself at the moment.  Sometimes I don’t finish my morning coffee until 11. Sometimes, I can’t even remember where I set it down. I can’t keep up.  How will they?

And yet.....when the weather is amazing, I have the wonderful authority to rearrange our school day and have a backyard picnic and extra long recess.  Or when someone reaches a breaking point, they can just go jump on the trampoline for a while and come back refreshed and ready to focus.   I get to hold a little hand attached to an amazing little person who is sounding out 3 letter words.  There is time in the day to write a letter to a loved one, or learn to run the sewing machine, or watch a YouTube video on how to draw cute little tacos.

This Monday was an amazing day out, and we took full advantage of not being cooped up in a classroom!

So here I am.  I am distressed at the growing case numbers and death counts.  I am concerned for the health care workers, those losing loved ones, the sick, the elderly, and the people we love all over the world.  I worry for people who just lost their income. I pray fervently.  But I was not shocked, disappointed, or overwhelmed when our governor announced today that our shelter-in-place and schools closures will remain in effect until at least the end of April.

I’m considering it providence that last fall Grandma asked if my Little House loving girls wanted these desks for playing school.  Now M (6th grade) and H (3rd grade) attack a majority of their schoolwork from these seats.

I’m sure these 5 are not getting grade-A, first-rate academics in the mayhem that we call daily life at the Healy House.  But they are getting life lessons.  They are getting extra time for family prayer and service to others (including each other).  They are getting about 1,000 more hugs and 25 more stories read aloud than a typical 8 hour school day plus extra curricular schedule would ever allow.  I feel guilty to say I’m thrilled we are quarantined here, holding on tight to each other.  The reasons behind the quarantine are traumatic.  Our time together is most definitely not.

HF watches videos of circle time, read-aloud stories, and song with finger play that her amazing preschool teacher sends along with printables and lesson plans.

Since J is learning about the five senses in kindergarten, I had her paint a picture of the things she can see, smell, hear, taste and touch in spring.

For J, another bonus of school-at-home is doing your assignments in dress-up costumes.

Our preschooler, HF was assigned yoga for Work Out Tuesday....which she performed dressed in a bride costume.

HF and big brother (role model) D preparing for our daily Chaplet prayers.

Man, this kid loves to be outside. Although M is a social girl and misses her class and teachers, she is loving the 101 different places she can do her schoolwork at home.

Unfortunately, being one of the oldest also means the most schoolwork.  And sometimes as littles finish up their work, it can be hard to focus.  This week she started wearing headphones or earmuffs to block out the background noise.

One Day at a Time

When I found out we are going to be working, living, and learning all under the same roof for an indefinite amount of time, a posted schedule seemed like a good idea. I love the idea of block schedules because it gives you the grace of flexibility when sometimes breakfast just doesn’t happen at 7 o’clock and nap time gets a little behind schedule because we played outside too long. However, we all need structure.  I hope that as we get used to this new routine, things will become a bit more more predictable in our chaotic world.  Of course, none of us knows how long this will be our reality, but I’m hopeful this schedule will be workable as long as we need.

I’m sure we are all experiencing a little cabin fever right now. Blessedly, we have a big yard and plenty of space to play and get our ya-yas out. The outside time in our schedule is non-negotiable.  I don’t care if it’s cold, or if you don’t feel like it. Everyone has to get outside and breathe some fresh air.  Every day.  For better or worse, Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been cooperating with my plans.  Nevertheless, outside time is required, and I’d say for the most part, they have been delighted by the variety of weather we’ve had in this first week.

Four inches of snow on Monday provided plenty of opportunity for exercise and creativity.

I don't know what it is about puddles, but they draw kids like a bee to honey.

Sheltering on the Big River

Is anyone still out there?  If you are, I’m amazed.  It’s been 5 1/2 years since my last post.  That is hard to fathom.  Although they were 5 crazy, glorious years, I’m not going to try to catch you up.  I’m going to start where we are today.....home.

Today we are sheltering in place.  Three months ago, I’d never heard of COVID19, I had no idea MERS and H1N1 were “Coronaviruses” and our toilet paper and bleach supply were the last thing on my mind.  And yet, here we are, inundated with hourly news updates, global tallies, country tallies, and state tallies, a little anxiety, calls to prayer, locked church doors, “e-learning” for the kids, and sometimes empty store shelves.

I’ll be honest, since our governor instituted a “shelter in place” order for our state last weekend, my life hasn’t changed much.  I’m cooking, cleaning, playing, listening, reading, hugging, praying, washing, disciplining, and loving just about like always.  The only thing missing is the driving.  I have the people I love most closer to me for more hours a day.  Who can complain about that?  Have our plans been changed? You bet. Is it always easy? Not on your life.  Complete family harmony? In my dreams.  But as we are finding, quarantine can be fun.

So, I decided I need to reconnect with all of you.  I’d like to share a bit of what life looks like on the inside of our 4 walls, since legally, I can’t invite you for a visit right now.  Life under lockdown can get messy, but it is completely sheltered in love.