Reflections On This Year's Birthday

Well, my birthday is Monday. No, it's not a milestone year. No, I'm not the only one in the world celebrating another year of life. But, yes I will be celebrating this year in a different way.

The pandemic has changed lives for all of us. For us, it is just as unique as it is for you perhaps.

Every year since about 2010, my husband and three children have gone on tour around this time of year. My husband is a musician, and he would book gigs up in Wisconsin and Michigan We love it up there around this time time year because the weather where we live is blazing hot and humic, but Wisconsin and Michigan tend to be cooler. Plus, kids were traditionally going back to school. This meant our kids, who are homeschooled, and us had the run of the place to ourselves.

We were spoiled!

Every year, we would try to be in my favorite spot on Lake Michigan on or around my birthday to celebrate. On years it wasn't on my birthday, we tried to make it our anniversary which is in July.

Not this year!

Actually, not the last two years either.

In 2018, my husband took a position on a cruise ship that put him onboard on my birthday. So, we headed up north earlier that year. But, I still got to go and visit my favorite spot.

Last year, 2019, my husband suffered a life-threatening event in May. By God's grace, we were able to still travel up to Wisconsin for a few days only but made it to my favorite spot once again even though it was later than my birthday. I still got to go. And, even though I had to drive the entire way this time since he had not yet been cleared to drive. By God's grace, I did it!

This year, we had planned on heading up there in July and then going back in August to visit Mackinac Island where we had spent our honeymoon and where we stayed the night with our children to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We had planned on staying at least a couple or three nights this time.

Then COVID!

I have no intention of making this political or a fight about a mask debate. I'm simply reflecting on the fact that we will not be able to go this year on my birthday, and that makes me long to go back.

I won't say I'm sad, because truth be told I'm more grateful that I've had the opportunity of experiencing Lake Michigan at all let alone on my birthday several years past. But, I will reflect on borderline deep thoughts about it all.

Since late February, we have been affected by this virus. My husband plays music at retirement centers and restaurants. Retirement centers were the first to shut down, and we first heard of these shut downs in February. Soon to follow were restaurants. Bam! Just like that all of my hard work in booking jobs for the entire year was shut down.

Honestly, I do not know what the future holds. Between my husband and my children, we have tossed around probably every scenario of possibilities. So, please don't offer your two cents unless, of course, you have a boatload of money to offer as a gift or as a salary for our work. I'm sure you mean well, but unless you have walked in my shoes for last two years, I cannot listen because you really have no idea what you are saying.

What I do know is that I believe in a God who will take care of us. In Him alone is where we place our trust.

I am grateful for every last memory I have to cling to even though some make me long to go back to places where I felt so at peace and happy. I just won't be seeing them on my birthday this year. So, I've rallied up some photos for your enjoyment from birthdays and years from our past tours to Lake Michigan.

ENJOY my birthday gift to you!

Wordless Wednesday - Door County

Where's Peara? Osh Kosh Menominee Edition

Peara is our travel mascot. We acquired her years ago when my sister-in-law was clearing out her kids' old toys. We turned her into our travel mascot and take pictures with her posed at interesting travel spots wherever we go.

Today's journey, was to a park where learning to spell the name is a Language Arts lesson in and of itself.

MENOMINEE PARK IN OSH KOSH, WISCONSIN

Yes, she needs to be stitched up. We look forward every year to taking the miniature train ride in Menominee Park in Osh Kosh. The train has been around for decades and only costs about a dollar to ride.

Peara had an elephant friend along for the ride this time, compliments of my elephant-loving daughter.

The mini train makes its way around a track that encircles a little lake area where you can canoe, kayak, or water bike.

In the Menominee Park is the Osh Kosh zoo. The zoo is free on a donation only entrance. It's a small zoo, but sweet and really pretty. 

Yes, that's a real-live turtle. I think the sign said it's a Russian turtle.

Beautiful scenery.

Where's Peara? Sources of Energy Lesson Plan on Windmills

It's sorta like Flat Stanley, only Peara is our plush pear that travels with us.  It started years ago when my sister-in-law was clearing out her kids' closets.  We didn't even have kids yet, but thought the pear was too cute to toss out.  As the years went on, we started just having some fun with the pear, we named Peara.

Now, she travels with us wherever we go for the fun of the family.  This year, we introduced Peara to the world, so you can enjoy fun with geography the goofy way.

So, where's Peara today?

Peara starts off on the dashboard of the van waiting for adventure.  Today, we discovered different sources of energy.

She finds some adventure as we enter the Springfield, Illinois area where there are smoke stacks pouring out powerful amounts of smoke into the air.  I don't know who the specific manufacturer is whom these smokestacks belong to, but they make interesting pictures.

As we drive past Blomington, Illinois and closer to Wisconsin, we discover rows of windmills on windmill farms.

Most people have heard about windmills, but it makes a really fun lesson plan.  Start by visiting these sites:

This site, Kids & Energy describes how windmills work.

This site, Making Windmills for Kids explains how to make your own in the form of a craft.

Alliant Energy Kids describes windmills as well.

Here's the Children's Encyclopedia definition of a wind mill.

Here's 10 Interesting Facts About Windmills.

Use the encyclopedia link to make your own handwriting exercises on vocabulary.

Learn how to say wind mill in other languages:

French - Moulin a vent
German - Windmuhle
Spanish - Molino de Viento

PE - Make big windmill motions with your arms as a warm up exercise.
Play windmill chase - It's like freeze tag, only once tagged you have to stand in one place making windmill motions with your arms.

Science - Use the links above to learn the science behind windmills.  The basic idea is to harvest energy from the wind.

History - Learn about the history of windmills from eHow.

Peara enjoys a snack of cheesepuffs.  It's a staple in the Scott household.  While I was hesitant to give our children any form of candy or snack foods, my husband caved and began his patented "parenting with cheesepuff" method.  It worked, and we stuck with it.

But, if you're not in a van traveling, you can make a snack that looks like a windmill using any number of healthy fruits and veggies, like carrot sticks for the blades, and a strawberry for the center.  Use a wooden skewer or toothpicks to actually make it spin, or just lay it out on a plate.

Here's some ideas on Pinterest if you're wanting some help getting started!

Pinwheel pizza snack

Veggies in the shape of a windmill (pinwheel)

Pinwheel with tortilla and fruit

Entering a tollway in Illinois.

In Wisconsin, at last!  Culver's thanks farmers for their help in supplying energy in the form of hamburgers and cheese.