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Five on Friday

Oh Friday, I am so glad you are finally here! And I’ll be even more excited once the work/school day is wrapped up! It’s been a week! Matt has been absolutely slammed at work, in court and even some travel the past few weeks catching up on litigation that was paused during quarantine. His case load is pretty crazy right now so he’s been burning the midnight oil a lot. And I’ve been balancing work and virtual school all week which requires a lot more oversight than I expected which leads me to…

1. Remote School Week 2 Rewind

While school is going much better than last spring, it’s still challenging to constantly pause what I’m working on throughout the day to help Caroline navigate various platforms and complete her daily assignments. It’s mentally exhausting flipping back and forth between focused work mode and pep talk mode.

Currently, the Zoom portion of the school day has been ending at 11 am, so then it’s time for me to make lunch, clean up, take Caroline on a quick walk outside to stretch her legs (my favorite part of the day)…and then it’s homework time (the most challenging part of the day, in my opinion). Caroline requires significant (and oftentimes creative) motivation to complete her homework. Yesterday, I was simultaneously working on an urgent proposal for an attorney while also pretending to be Caroline’s student in her “class” as she taught me how to do her homework (note: one of the virtual platforms can only be accessed during school hours. WHAT?!).

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the icing on the cake this week…THOMAS IS HOME TODAY (AND YESTERDAY) TOO FOR TEACHER WORK DAYS. So I threw up the white flag yesterday and had a sitter come play with Thomas while I got Caroline through school and then get them both out of the house so I could catch up on work and host a virtual event (the women’s book club event I mentioned a few weeks ago!).

Next week should be better as we’ve enrolled Caroline in a fun camp that offers remote learning support and fun activities. She’s beyond excited to be around other kids again. I’m a little nervous about her school work not being completed but we’ll figure it out.

2. Target Dress

I know a lot of you scooped up this short sleeve dress I mentioned a few weeks ago! Is it not the BEST?! When I’m not wearing workout attire, I’m wearing this dress. In fact, I wore it 3 times this week (see above and below photos). It’s so comfortable, has pockets, comes in 3 colors and even looks somewhat professional in a small Zoom frame. I just ordered the pink color too!

3. Bossy Beulah’s

Last week Bossy Beulah’s Chicken Shack sent us an amazing dinner. This restaurant has been on our list to try and it definitely did not disappoint. The fried chicken is insanely good. And so were the fries. And the sauce. All of it. You can order online for pick-up or have it delivered through DoorDash.

4. Pool Float Hammock

Last weekend we brought our new float to the pool and I had so many people ask me for the link! It really is the best float we’ve purchased all summer. I like that it can be deflated and is easy to store or travel with! It comes in 15 colors has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon and is inexpensive!

5. Community Group Books

In a poll last week I asked y’all for Community Book recommendations and received some really good ones, as well as some recommendations for summer reads! Below are the final book contenders we considered as a group for our fall session. It was a tough decision but we ended up picking It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way!

  • Present Over Perfect: Shauna Niequist invites you to consider the landscape of your own life, and what it might look like to leave behind the pressure to be perfect and begin the life-changing practice of simply being present, in the middle of the mess and the ordinariness of life.
  • It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way: Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness. Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But she’s also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God.
  • Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation: In an era where we seem to be increasingly divided along racial lines, many are hesitant to step into the gap, fearful of saying or doing the wrong thing. At times the silence, particularly within the church, seems deafening. In this perspective-shifting book, founder Latasha Morrison shows how you can participate in this incredible work and replicate it in your own community. With conviction and grace, she examines the historical complexities of racism.
  • Get Out of Your Head: Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
  • Untamed: There is a voice of longing inside each woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good partners, daughters, mothers, employees, and friends. We hope all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful, hiding our discontent—even from ourselves.
  • Seamless: Covers the people, places, and promises of the Bible, tying them together into the greater story of Scripture. Participants in this study will gain an overarching understanding of the fundamental layout and meaning of the Bible.

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Steph

Monday 14th of September 2020

I don't know how you and all the other FT working parents are there are doing it with virtual schooling, especially with multiple children in different life phases. Honestly, you're all amazing!

brandon

Sunday 30th of August 2020

well to say another weekend has passed we have another rise with this so we have to go over that again, but I'm hoping that you will have to do that again this coming week so let hope that they have some good this week and I hope that you can get some good one's this also' the intregy, so we have to do this again wish you the best on your fresh start on Monday!

Danielle

Friday 28th of August 2020

I'm glad that the second week of remote schooling is going better for you. It's so tough! That dress looks fabulous, and comfy. Plus throw some leggings and a jean jacket and you are ready for fall.

Joanna

Friday 28th of August 2020

We are also doing virtual first grade and sent Lawter to the Y for the student support center/camp. This was week 1 and she is so HAPPY to have some structure and routine again (and not have people shushing her all day because we're on work calls!). AND- I bought that float this summer as well! I've never bothered in the past because pool time is generally a pool full of our friends' kids while grown ups lounge with a beverage but with the one family per hour slots this summer, I've been in the pool so much more. ha I chose it because it's not a bulky inflatable and I can easily bungee it to the golf cart ha. I got the double/xl whatever they call it in navy and it's the perfect size. I am more than comfortable in it solo, and if a kid or three (plus Anthony!) wants in, we all fit!

Annaliese

Friday 28th of August 2020

I can't even imagine how you and other working parents out there are working your normal jobs and also balancing virtual school! Seriously- so many props to y'all. Thinking of your family and hoping things keep getting easier as the weeks go on!

xoxo A www.southernbelleintraining.com