...We Interrupt this Remodel

We didn't get as much done yesterday as we had hoped. My grandmother's health is continuing to deteriorate. We got a call last week that she had been taken to the hospital again, so we changed our plans for the week (not easy for a planner like myself) and drove up to Norfolk to see her. I was able to sit in on a doctor appointment and relay some information to my mom in Oregon. Honestly, I think last week was the happiest I've seen my grandma in years. She was smiling, even giggling, everytime I looked at her. She doesn't hear well, but we still were able to sit for about an hour just watching television (closed caption, no sound). I truly think it was one of the most enjoyable visits I've had. We came home quite encouraged.

That night, we got a call from my mom that Grandma has basically told the charge nurse and doctor that she's done. She thinks she has no quality of life and is just ready to meet Jesus.

Fast forward to this week....since we went up last week, we were planning to stay put and work on our bathroom this week, possibly visiting next week when my mom gets here. Well, those plans changed (once again) when we got a call yesterday that her body is showing the signs of shutting down.

What to do? April is filled with so much stress already (3 performances, a workshop, bathroom remodel, fitting in schedules of various family members who are coming out to see Grandma.) I'm imagining a houseful of guests with no bathroom...the list goes on. I'm feeling absolutely overwhelmed.

After prayer and Bible Study last night, I've made the decision to stay where I am. That may sound heartless, but a several of reasons go into this decision. 1. I learned last night that none of us are indispensable. That is, as great as Moses was, Joshua was waiting in the wings. God continued his work. His work will continue with my Grandma, but I don't need to be the person there with her. Likewise, if my programs need to be rescheduled, so be it. 2. I have such great memories of Grandma and our visit last week, that if she were to die before we make it up there again, I will have no regrets. 3. If I were to go up right now, it would be out of a false sense of obligation rather than a heart conviction. Honestly, I feel freed with this decision.

So, we're plugging away in the bathroom, praying for my Grandma and family, and waiting to see what God is going to do with all of this.

During...Day 2

Dan installed the exhaust fan, including some rewiring in the ceiling.

Yes, I did some of the work, too. Scraping the adhesive from behind the cheap plastic tiles.

Dan has measured and cut the drywall.

...and it's up!
Ready to mud and tape.

During...Day 1

Taking out the toilet

Taking out the vanity while Dayna changes her baby

Vanity's gone!

So is half of the drywall

My plumbing hero!

And an electrician, too!

Goodbye, Old Bathroom

We have a 1964 home, quite small, and it's time to update the look. We've lived here almost 7 years and have only painted 2 rooms and done minor surface improvements in other places. So...instead of traveling for Spring Break, Dan took the week off, and we're spending quality time in the bathroom. Here are the before pictures:

Ugly 1960's vanity with speckled countertop. Genuine warped plywood!

Plastic swirly tiles. Ooooohh! Aaaaaahh!

More tiles...

And a very dated light fixture.

Endurance

The great weight-loss battle continues. For the last 8 years or so, I get so close to a certain goal, but can never quite drop below it. I was less than a half pound away last week, and now I'm almost five pounds heavier. Still eating well, still exercising...just incredibly frustrated...

Last night at Bible study, I was reminded, like the Israelites, that courage in the battle must be followed by endurance in the race. And so...I keep pressing on.

Accountability

I know, I know...I must be getting old, because I'm sounding like my parents. But I can't help but contemplate the changes between my generation and the students I currently teach. Don't get me wrong...I have a handful of truly wonderful students (and they definitely outnumber the tough kids). But I had a situation last week that is still getting under my skin.

I have a student with chronic attendance issues; when he is at school, he comes with chronic behavior issues. I had to remove him from my room last week. The teacher he went to "visit" on time-out had him write an apology to me. It went to the effect of:

"Dear Mrs. Music (couldn't even use my name),

I think you are stupid. You are rude and mean and I'm not sorry. You roll your eyes at me, and I didn't do anything wrong, so I rolled mine back."

This particular letter went with a referral to the principal. I'm not going to use this forum to view my opinions of how the situation was handled, but I will say that when I later spoke to the principal, I asked when I could expect an apology for his disrespect in the classroom and in the letter. I was told, "you'll probably never hear it."

Which leaves me wondering, where is the accountability for our young people? When do they have to answer for their actions? Aren't we doing them a disservice by not having clear expectations at school and home?

This is just one situation. I have students who will walk past me in the halls when I ask them a question, refusing to make eye contact. Things like making eye contact and speaking when spoken to seem to be a dying art. Yet, these are such simple things that go a long way to showing others that they are valued and respected.

People ask me what I teach, and the obvious answer is music. However, I'd like to think that I'm teaching students about life, and I use music as the avenue. It's weeks like this that make me wonder if I'm even on the right track.

Deep in the Heart

Oh, the conversations I have with Dayna on our commute home in the afternoons. This was overheard today:

"We used to be in Omaha, but now we're in Texas!" (We were actually in Gretna, a town 15 miles out of Omaha.)