Thanksgiving 2020

 Nov 26, 2020

   This has been a year that has caused me to see how blessed we are. As Covid-19 continues to claim lives and the pandemic is pulling people into poverty in large numbers, I am grateful for the support system that we have, the blessings of jobs and health, the blessing of our home, the blessing of family to share our physical life and our cares, and I am ever thankful for the faith in our God of hope.

   We wouldn't be getting together as an extended family at Will and Heather's but none of us wanted to miss our family meal. We decided to do a food swap in the parking lot after Thanksgiving Day Mass. Each of us made our traditional dish x 5 and we swapped passing on our Holiday greetings. I then drove Will and Heather's share to them in Gaithersburg and picked up Will's famous stuffing. When I returned to the area I made the rounds to pick up Rachael and to drop off the stuffing at everyone's house. 

   When Rachael and I got back home we all wore masks. The really odd parade was already over and got poor reviews from the girls, but they still seemed glad for something. We decided to use a cloth tablecloth and the good china and make the most of our dinner together to celebrate. As we prepared the turkey and set the table Rachael suggested we listen to a podcast by Native Americans and their take on the holiday and the things they focus on. They brought a good perspective, had a few challenging things but also many confirmations of values that we hold, being humble, being grateful, taking care, and honoring family, history, and community.  Emma arrived during this time and soon our turkey was ready, all of our dishes were warmed and it was time to eat. Rachael wanted to abide by CDC guidelines so we set up a table for her in the living room and we all sat down for dinner. Johanna struggled to pick the perfect beverage and the perfect glass but soon we said our prayer of thanksgiving and enjoyed a delicious meal.

After dinner we did a whole family video call and then the cousins broke off to their own call, where they played a number of virtual games. Jim and I stayed on with the adults and visited with my siblings and Dad, who was at Joe and Magaly's.  After that we did a little clean up and then got a video call with Jim's brother and parents. It was so good to see everyone and catch up and "be" together. We are so thankful.

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;I will declare all your wondrous deeds.  Psalm 9:1

Rachael gets an apartment

Gaining independence during a pandemic is a challenge, and Rachael was one of thousands of college students trying to make headway into adulthood when we shut down. Rachael pushed through the barriers and searched for apartments online and worked with friends in similar situations. Finally in October after months of socially distant planning, she found a 3 bedroom/1 bath townhouse with a basement that allows for cats and got to the paperwork. The apartment is within walking distance of UMBC, so if it turns out to be a good place, she can stay here until the end of college. Lease paperwork was a hassle with 3 first time renters and 3 co-signers but finally it got submitted and accepted.  The move-in date was set for Halloween.

Rachael had to work that weekend and we weren't available to help, so Rachael slept over on Halloween after work and we set her move-in to be on Tuesday, which also happened to be election day. Moving was a great distraction from politics.

Rachael's first night was a fitting pizza and moving boxes vibe, but spiced up with Rachael's Halloween costume, Kyoshi Warrior. she asked me if I would bless the new place, so I brought over holy water and offered a house blessing when I dropped her off.

On Tuesday Jim had off and Emma came down to help. We packed up the van and got the twin bed, that Emma had used and had been stored in our garage, over to the townhouse. While the sisters put the bed together, Papa, Bridget and I went over to my Dad's house and picked up the white dresser and mirror and cabinet, that I had in middle school and moved those over as well. About 2 weeks prior we went to an estate sale around the corner and found a kitchen table and a bunch of kitchen wares.  Between those items, lots of personal items, and Aunt Mickey's brown dishes the only thing missing was a sofa and coffee tables.  That night I took her grocery shopping and we stocked her pantry cabinets and fridge. 

I found a free sofa on Facebook Marketplace, so on my birthday, Jim went with Rachael to pick it up and move it into her place. It was really heavy and was a physical undertaking, but they did it, and immediately it felt more like a home. Leia, Rachael's cat, took a few days to get settled but she was more relaxed once the place was furnished. The next day I grabbed her a bookshelf from online. I feel like Rachael is set up for success and I look forward to seeing her grow in her independence.

O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy. At our entrance, therefore, deign to bless and sanctify this house as Thou didst deign to bless the house of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and may the angels of Thy light, dwelling within the walk of this house, protect it and those who dwell therein. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Johanna turns 8

Nov 2, 2020

Our girl is eight!  Johanna had a fantastic birthday. It started with breakfast in bed surrounded by her family singing to her. This is a tradition that had fallen victim to diverging schedules and early mornings and Johanna had mentioned that she didn't remember ever getting breakfast in bed. I know that we had done this but she was so young that she doesn't remember it. The pandemic allowed for all of us, including Rachael who moves out tomorrow to make pancakes and bring her a tray. She was so joyful! She was still in a good mood after school and had definitely felt special at school. 

 When Johanna got home from school her attention was on baking and icing her cake at her request. We made a good team and she had a good time picking a tiered cake and sparkly blue icing. she asked to decorate it herself and she did a beautiful job. She picked meatballs and spaghetti again for dinner so I picked those up from Scitinos and Jim prepared them for dinner.

After dinner we shared cake and then Johanna got to open gifts. This year we got her a weighted blanket and Jim found a Dragonology book, that has maps and diagrams and secret codes. The two of them have been reading a series called Dragon Masters and Johanna loves main character Drake and all of the different dragons that they meet on their adventures. Rachael has been packing and going through her stuff and she decided to give Johanna her nook. Johanna's face lit up at having her own device. She wants to be able to play games and have a screen like everyone else in the house does. She was thrilled. That night Rachael read her another chapter in Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets

Johanna is full of big emotions and ideas and energy. She loves books and is reading independently. She has been reading through the A to Z mysteries series. Her favorite show recently has been Dragon Riders, which is a spin off of How to train your Dragon and Super Monsters. this pandemic has shifted our focus in the neighborhood and mostly plays with Elliot from across the street. He is generally just as happy to swing sticks and run around as she is. Johanna plays in her room with Barbies or Legos and she likes to set up shops where we can come and purchase a thing or service. Johanna uses lots of sticky notes and makes us all id cards and love notes. Johanna talks through scenarios, when rules are given, and is a stickler for accuracy in what is said. She will hold you to your word. Johanna is going to be great at running things someday. She has plans.

Happy Birthday Johanna!

Halloween 2020

To host or not to host. Covid can't cancel holidays but it does impact the plans we make to celebrate them. We usually have a firepit in our front yard and host 3-4 families. We go trick or treating in big groups and visit all of the neighbors.  This year we decided not to go Trick or Treating, but we still wanted to get-together. We talked about options for a few weeks and decided that we would host a movie in the back yard for the kids and we would have a firepit in the front yard for the adults. We'd start later, limit food and wear masks. 

Johanna picked a cat for her costume, and I sewed a mask to make it an easy costume. she got to wear it to school on Friday. The outside parade was canceled because we had heavy rain the night before and it was a muddy mess, but they live streamed it and all of us at home got the stop and see her go through the halls at school.

Bridget put together a peacock costume using her dance costume for the recital that got cancelled. I got her peacock feathers for her hair and it was a comfortable pretty look.  Although I think it may have been a bit chilly in the back yard. She and Sarah had matching dresses. 

We worked with Wendell, who had a projector and big portable speaker and we set up a movie in the back yard. the kids spread out around the fire pit to watch the new version of The Witches by Roald Dahl. It was a little scary for Johanna and she came around to the front yard for a while. The kids kept a good fire going because it was a cold night. But we pulled out blankets and hats and everyone had a good time.

Megan decided to be El this Halloween. Eleven is a character from Stranger Things which is based in the 80's. We went and found a yellow button up shirt and Megan painted it to match the shirt eleven wears in one of the episodes. She tested a few blood options for her bloody nose to complete the look.

Jim and Rachael both had to work but both got off early enough to enjoy the evening. Rachael wore her Keoshi Warrior makeup to work and then got in her full costume which she designed and sewed herself. Halloween was also the first day her roommates were moving into the new apartment and she would be joining them for the night. (Her move-in date was a few days later) So she gathered Leia, a sleeping bag and various and sundries. We stopped for sparkling cider and pizza.

Halloween was the first gathering of friends we had in a long time and it was so good to be together. Us, Shumakers, Arciagas, Brinks. It was only a few days before the election and tensions were high and our guest list included different politics. I had been nervous, but we had wonderful natural conversation around the firepit and avoided politics. It was a great evening, albeit cold. Those facemasks were a welcome addition to ward off the cold.