Strengthening Roots....

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
(Quote by Hodding Carter Junior)
My father has always set giving roots to our family as a high priority. Thus when he organizes a trip back in time, many of us join him! This year, Lexie came along with me as we went to the Helena Historical Society's Memorial Day reunion and visited Good Hope Cemetery. My dad's family made the run into the Cherokee Strip in 1893, and Helena, OK was the area they chose as their dream land.

The little museum now boasts a display about my great-great grandfather, one of the first doctors in the area after the run. (created by Dad and his sisters)

Swim beauties from the Kodak book!

We looked through museum displays and listened to Aunt Jennie tell us some of her memories, as she did most of her growing there, and hear her share some of the stories Grandma Tarr told of her own growing years.. Amazing to think of times when cars were brand new, when Kodakin' was the way to spend a day, when the farmland dried up and hard decisions had to be made about whether to go or stay. How fun to watch people from states apart as they discovered they were distant cousins! Names like VanWye, Medaris, Davis, Couch, Tarr..... tracing those roots way back, even to Missouri and Iowa!

"tread softly by the grave of one whose cherished memory we love" ...... inscribed on Grandma Tarr's sister's marker. She died at age 1.

Last year Dad noticed that one grave marker was damaged. During the last two months, Rex went to get it, brought it to Winfield for repair, and took it back to replace it at the grave.

A trip to Good Hope cemetery brought an opportunity to reflect on how life ebbs and flows, the children taken too soon, the memories left to us by grandparents who lived long and well. It served to remind us of how we are connected even though we journey through most of our days without direct contact with each other. (How your ornery streak comes from Grandma, your determination from Grandpa..)   Next on the family journey will be our annual camp-out this month.... memory-making at its finest. Do I have some stories to tell! Remember the time when....

School year melancholy

Challenging team tasks at IXL's fun day!

Kristen holding Amy's twins.... 

Special kid.... special thanks.

Proud of accomplishments!

We do have fun! At IXL's Family Celebration

         May FUN!




















Each year as the anticipation of the end of May marches ever so surely to fruition, I find myself with mixed emotions. Like everyone else in the field of education, I feel a need for a mental break. The relief of finishing that final IEP, final meeting for the year, checking of that end of year checklist is like losing 20 pounds! The excitement of having days ahead for relaxing, seeing family for fun events, planning trips is especially keen in May when it is all in front of you like a blank canvas.

Relaxing with a baby girl ( 1 of 5 babies born to IXL teachers this year!)

Yet, the years have taught me that some of those "Have a great summer break"s evolve into forever "good-bye"s for a variety of reasons. This makes me reflect on those who said farewell in Mays gone by who moved on: students who moved to new schools, co-workers whose journey took a fork in the road, and those who passed on over the break. I went to visit a friend's grave after I "checked out" of my room to brag to her that I did it on the right day, not a week late as usual. ;)

Lexie finished out the year with concerts, playing her flute as well as performing with her choir.

That being said, May is a celebratory month and here are some of the great times we had.  Making memories with kids was the highlight of the month!