Lonely?

Feeling lonely and isolated or just frustrated with staying home? Or just tired? I am. We have our two usually adorable grandsons staying with us. They are only 18 months apart. They are having too much togetherness and thus this leads to conflicts that are wearing me out. --- So I basically lost it a few minutes ago... where has this raging person come from?? but miracle of all they are now working together quietly!!! ah the power of music we have been listening to We Are The World, Branden & James,  Justin Hines and Meg Barnhouse

One thinks he's a fox and has been just talking in fox language... sometimes I can translate but today my world translator from Star Trek is not working.  The other one just seems angry.  They have dealt with a lot.  Their sister died in the womb just a week before this whole quarantine happened here in Iowa.  Their parents are fortunate to have jobs at this time, and only live 25 miles away but at this time that can seem like a million miles. Their uncle Jeff lives in New York City - where the reports of what is happening make it sound like a war zone. Their uncle Wes & his wife Bethany live in Des Moines where they had to close their just opened restaurant.
My sisters - Karen (& her husband & one son), Sandy and Vicki (& her daughter & granddaughter) live in Southern California.  Vicki's son & his family and Sandy's daughter & family live in or near San Fransisco.  Karen's other son lives in Mass.
We are blessed to have our family but at the same time it is hard to be so far away from our loved ones.
My heart goes out to my former scouter and now friend Ryan. His father lost the fight against cancer and they cannot have a serve for friends to attend.  Hopefully they will have a celebration of life in the future.

As I am venting - here's one thing that has been bothering me... people blaming the Chinese for the virus. Just because it started there doesn't mean that we should blame the chinese people for the spread of the disease.  That was done by people who didn't know they were infected. You are exposed today, but you don't come down with the disease for 14 days. You continue your regular life and spread the disease to 10 others, who then spread the disease to 10 people, and now the 100 people spread the disease to 10 others each... and the next things we hear 1 million people are KNOWN to have the disease.  KNOWN is important because not everyone is getting tested that have the symptoms. So the numbers could be much higher... after all if you are not diagnosed with it, did you have it??

For updates on Iowa

For updates on the World

stay healthy, wash your hands and be kind to all.

Love,

Blessed be  Kathy

U.S.A. For Africa - We Are the World (Official Video)

What to do with your children

Hello this chilly Monday.  I am just curious as to what age/grade level children we have in the neighborhood right now?  Our grandchildren are with us during this time.  They are J 7 years old 1st grade and T 8.5 years old and 2nd grade. 

Just a note Raz Kids is offering free subscriptions at this time - many of the schools also use this. Teach Me is offering their apps for $1.99 each or 6 of them for $7.99.  (i have to admit I'm not that familiar with this program yet, but James is going to teach about it as he uses it in his class)

We are also using Epic, BookFlix (this one has to be set up by a teacher so Leigh is trying to set it up as UNI was one of the possibilities)

Also available are these google sites with information:

List of sites for parents to use while school is closed

Art at Home

Having done homeschooling in the past (in the USA and Malaysia) it good to start about 1 hour per grade level a day works for formal education, but then you can have "projects or center activities" available for your children. Remember that a lot of what you can offer children can be multi-subjects.

For example J loves foxes, so we will be researching about foxes and then he'll be writing a report about it. Also if anyone is up to having your children connect with others (other children and or adults)  I would be glad to set up a zoom room.  Good luck! 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

I know we all are in shock and worried and anxious about family and friends.
What can we do to help?

• Keep informed - look at a variety of information, but pay more attention to site like the CDC, the World Health Organization and medical personnel than our elected representatives.  
• Wash your hands - my dad, who was a doctor, use to say that the healthiest people were nurses and housewives because they always had their hands in soapy water. 
• Keep in touch with your friends - call, txt or email
• What do you say to those that are in high risk areas and or that have contracted the virus? I love you and are thinking and praying for you.
• What do we do with our kids? My grandchildren are staying with us and thus many of my teacher family & friends (past and present) have been sending me links. Plus the boys and I had already been searching on Youtube for things to do. I am putting a list together and hopefully will arrange it by age or grade level soon. Things to Do in one place.
• Here's a link to Why the Coronavirus is such a big deal.

What's happening in my family

Like you all I am worried about my Family and friends.
I have family in California - one who is at home with the symptons - she has been told to stay at home until she has a temperature of 105 F or she can't breath.  What can we do? Think and pray for her...