Home Education Advantage

The ability to take wide angle shots -

 at a public place - on a weekday morning -

and capture only your own children in the photos.

Overheard: A conversation between siblings

This morning, at the kitchen table while making books about what they imagine their lives will be like when they grow up.

Jayla: Tyden, how many kids do you think you'll have?

Tyden: 100!

Jayla: No, no, no Tyden. It has to be a realistic number - for children in your family. Something practical. Like 8...or 9.

☺

We're going to the splash park today, on one of the last days it is open for the year.
Because we can.

I'll tell you the truth. The beginning of this school year has been rough. R O U G H. With a side of losingmymindimpossiblydifficult.

Last year, I was basically teaching Jayla and Onyx, with a few preschoolers around.

Things are completely different with the addition of M & F, and Tyden beginning K.

Meadow and Tyden are supposedly in the same grade, but they aren't even close in skill level. Meadow is more like Pre K and Tyden is closer to 1st grade. ESL is new to me. It is challenging.

So, I've got 5 different levels to accommodate. Plus a 2 year old. Plus a puppy. Plus My Appetite. And theirs. (Because they get plenty of exercise too you know.) Plus the interruptions. I timed them. 120 seconds is our max for a continuous stream of *educational* thought to flow before someone/thing interjects. 120 seconds! 120 seconds! The stopping. And starting. And stopping. And starting. Oh my nerves!

Bobby and I had a date last night (thank you Alyssa!) and we discussed the conundrum I'm facing every.single.long.day. entitled Effective Home Education for 7 Young People. We talked about public school. And charter school. We thought about options. We came to a renewed realization.

We passionately feel homeschooling is best for our children at this time. All of them.

Then, my honeylove, the handsome and outstanding Bobby D. bought me this book. Because I do believe much of the unschooling philosophy is so very natrual and authentic and easily entreated and palatable and liberating and empowering and organic. I need to find ways to incoorperate this type of thinking into our lives more - find a better balance - stop driving my children crazy by being so task-completion-is-the-primary-goal oriented. It will help us all.

I've got some adjusting to do.....later.

The splash park awaits.

35 has not been a good year for my metabolism.

My pants are snug. The mermaid shuffle is what I have affectionately named my current strut to keep them from splitting wide open in public (exposing my oh-so-comfy cotton grannies boy shorts underneath. Embarrassing!) Not easy!
To ward off the extra lbs., I've been sure to get some good exercise nearly every day, usually in the am.
Observation: it just makes me more hungry!
While we're doing school I get mean and cranky  jittery and jumpy if I don't feed the ravenous beast known as My Appetite. Seems to be a wash.
I'm seriously considering giving in and buying some bigger jeans at Goodwill so I can casually stroll again without channeling Aeriel. Really, I am a horrible singer anyway.
This whole thing has led me to one ((major)) conclusion.....
Rotund and happy is highly, highly underrated.

Kid's Earache?

Maybe you will like this product! It has saved our family several trips to the pediatrician's office for (unnecessary) antibiotics and cured many ear infections for the Deutschlets. We've been using it for the last few years with great success.
*I learned this tip from Wendy Jeub, mom to 15....and counting :) *

How can Meadow be progressing so beautifully, receiving healing and confidence, finding her footing amongst her siblings and learning what it means to be a family girl while Flint is moving fast and furiously in the opposite direction? I asked myself this. Frequently.

Frustration and irritation were emotions I was becoming intimately acquainted with in my interaction with the boy. How did this happen? When he first came to us, he brought my heart such joy. The cheerful, quiet, adaptable, child, sweet, adorable Flint. While I struggled along, trudging through the days with Meadow, when her responses to every day, normal occurrences were beyond typical, Flint was such a delight.

Meadow had my attention. Front and center. We worked together. We cried together. We talked, learning to break through the language barrier. We developed trust. With her unacceptable behavior, she demanded that I teach her. She expected my time. She got it. She was desperate for me. I responded to her. She responded to me.
We bonded. We found love for one another.

Under the radar, while I was terribly busy, Flint slipped through the cracks.

He became more comfortable as time went on. Which meant he acted out more, became naughtier. Which I was happy to see because he was feeling more at home. But it was so constant. All my dealings with him became about correction and redirection. Verbal communication was difficult at best. He was not picking up language the way Meadow was. We couldn't seem to get anywhere. It was so cyclical.
I became exasperated.

My husband was the one who pointed it out. One morning as I complained, yet again, tears welling up in my tired eyes. I'm failing that boy. I don't have it in me to do this well. I was not a good fit for this role. I don't even like him very much. How am I supposed to love him? Be a mother? He's going to despise me.

He wisely asked me how often I initiated positive interaction with Flint.

As a mom who usually finds words of affirmation and physical touch to flow easily toward her children, I was deeply ashamed to say, practically not at all. Maybe never. Not anymore.
Essentially every encounter was negative.

The tears flowed freely now. I didn't even bother wiping them away. I was so sorry.

All I did was "put out fires" with the boy. Intervening in this and that. Disciplining and correcting again and again. He had required so little of me before - had been so easy. I couldn't figure out what happened to him. I failed to realize that he had needs too - needs to feel loved, and accepted, and cherished, and applauded for his good deeds and his character - needs to find his place in our family, and I was not meeting them.

Something had to change. I had to change.

I began to hug Flint. Often. Smile at him when he came to ask me something. Sit by him while he colored at the table. Speak encouragement. Laugh at his antics as he tried to relay something funny in English, even when I didn't understand his words. Put on music and dance with him, because the child can groove. I kissed his cheek and cheered with enthusiasm when he began to ride a bike. I looked at his face, thought long and hard about his mother, the one before me. Treasured him. Savored the miracle of his presence in my life, in my living room, in my heart. Flinty.

And I found love again. The kind of love that isn't only committed to service and perseverance, but the type that wells up in my heart, making it full, happy. The boy brings me such joy again. I have more endurance, more compassion as I deal with behavioral issues.

I don't deserve the patience these children have given me. It is a gift without merit.

They are my teachers and I am their student.

Mixture

For the deodorant, I mixed 1 cup coconut oil with 3 lg drops of tea tree oil, and about 6 drops of lavender.
I used a spoon to stir it all together (the coconut oil has to be slightly warm to be really stir-able) and stored it in a small rubbermaid container. Wala!
I was using aluminum free deodorants, and tried a few brands, but found that they didn't work very well! And, they were still full of chemicals. So far, I'm liking this much better.

This is what I've been using as a facial moisturizer:

While we were in Ethiopia, one of the women we traveled with (Hi Andrea!) turned me onto this idea and I have been loving it!
If it seems too greasy after applying it, I will take a tissue and sort of pat my face down before putting any make up on. I believe my (old, aging, dull :) skin is looking better and it does not promote break outs.
I found this page today listing some of the benefits of olive oil for skin care.
*********
She fell asleep on the window seat while I was making breakfast. Comfy eh? She is complaining about a sore throat and stomach ache. Bobby is on call for work. It looks like we will be worshipping, reading the Bible, praising and praying at home - missing church - today. (Again!) Recently, it has proven difficult to get everyone healthy at the same time. And summer isn't even officially over! Such is this wonderful life. ♥
Happy Sunday.

It works! It really works!

As an aluminum free, chemical free deodorant.
EVEN after a run!

A few favorite things....

My mom watched (all 7!) kids yesterday evening (overnight!)

so the man of the house and I could have a real date - fondue style.

It was a refreshing, much appreciated treat.

My pants are too tight today. I don't even care. So worth it.

I'm pretty certain fondue is literally translated - "bite-sized food from heaven."

Recent thrift store finds.
Always a sucker for nice, thick, heavy handmade blankets and quilts -
There is a chance I jumped up and down and squealed outloud just a tiny bit (super quietly, of course) upon the discovery of the sweet find hanging behind the clothes.

The corn. The last vegetable in the garden to mature will be ready soon.
I can't wait for the first bite.

Clover.

Meadow: 6 Months

The Girl's Birthday Dinner

Followed by 'camping' outside in the tent.
Clover and I slept inside.
No, no, no!  We're not party poopers.
Someone had to listen to that dog whine all night take care of the puppy.
We were just taking one for the team.☺

I couldn't imagine having 7.

I struggle enough with my 2 (or 3 or 4 or 5....or 6 :)

Those are words shared with me all.the.time. All the time.

Here is my response: (((Hey, guess what sister?))) (I let that last line stay in my mind and not come out of my mouth....usually :)  (((I am a human being just like you))) (That part also stays in my mind.) And, (This is the bit I actually say - )
I struggle too! 

Yes. I surely do. Just like any and every mother and I am beyond convincing that  any one of us does not.

Our issues may look different, taking various forms - some of us may withdraw, while others blow up. We may daydream of paths not chosen, the ways our lives could look different. We might count down with beads...not to redeem the time but to simply bide it away until brighter days appear...when we will have more hours for ourselves, less daily stress and drama, an opportunity to do something we feel truly competent and accomplished at, with results that are visible, tangible, and respected. Perhaps we long for the days to come when we may again resemble the woman we once knew. Our Former Selves. The woman that didn't scream at anyone. Ever. The one who never locked herself in her bathroom and cried. The person who didn't appear desperate, frazzled, and tired at the grocery store, bribing her children with a treat to just let us get through this, wondering when shopping for food became such a major feat.The one who didn't find herself utterly at a loss for ways to connect with an adolescent she loves dearly, but feels she doesn't really know any more. Where did my baby go?The young lady that wore a pony tail because she wanted to, not because she hasn't had time for a shower in 2 days. The wife that welcomed her husband's touch - rather than avoiding it because she has been groped by small , needy hands all day. The one that never fantasized about running away from her life. Not because she doesn't love her children, but she never expected it to be like this.

The blog world is tricky. We can easily convey images of ourselves that are unduly lovely, evoking admiration and esteem with beautiful pictures and superficial words about where we have gone that day or the cute things our children are saying - leaving out the portions that are unflattering - isolating ourselves from the sisterhood of being women, mothers, struggling with all of this, the massive responsibility that rests upon our shoulders.

My husband and I have adopted from Africa. We homeschool. Our house is usually fairly clean. I bake and cook daily. Saving money comes easily to me. To the eyes of some, those things may make it appear, from an outside glimpse, like I have this figured out.

If so, allow me to dispel that notion. Hey, guess what sister? I struggle too. Just like you. Quite possibly much more....

If you had seen us at Wilbur's Fountain yesterday afternoon, me smiling with my children, helping Clover get in the water, holding her hand, hugging those that slipped on the concrete and fell, helping Flint tie his swim shorts again and again, giving out snacks I brought with us, you may think to yourself "how does she do it with 7? I struggle with my 2, or 3, or 4...."

You would never suspect that I cried myself to sleep last night with guilt and remorse at 8:30 pm.
Because, although the fountain was great, the rest of the day was not so pretty.
The struggle isn't always obvious. But some measure of it is always there.

School Days

These 4 started their Enrichment program today at the local elementary school. They will go one day a week, every Monday, for supplemental, fun, educational activity. This is completely separate from any and all curriculum we are working with at home.
There are kids in the class ranging from kindergartners to eighth grade. Jayla and Onyx have enjoyed it over the past couple of years, and I'm certain Meadow will do extremely well in this type of setting. I'm saying a little prayer for Tyden...and his teachers :)

At home, Jayla and Onyx are starting 3rd grade. Meadow and Tyden - K. Flint - pre K. Stryder- preschool. Clover - hanging out at the table with us, coloring, making big messes, and swiping pencils.

We've done quite a bit of school work over the summer with all the kids, partly in an effort to get Meadow caught up to where she should be. (We are no where close, but making progress.) Technically, she ought to be in 1st grade as a 6 year old. But legally, she is 5 so K is fine.

We are using Core Knowledge (What your third grader needs to know, What your kindergartner needs to know) as an overall guide, plus Saxon math for J and O. I am doing M and T's math on my own. I like to use my library card and the internet to pull lots of different resources together for an eclectic home education blend based on what I believe the kids would benefit from and will enjoy. Learning as a lifestyle is the goal - trying to be not so "schooly" while still providing a thorough academic education, with plenty of time to delve into their own personal interests and teach themselves about what they are individually drawn toward.

This program is a good mix for our family at this time - offering a taste of the school experience - time with friends, and a change of scenery, along with our home schooling lifestyle. And it's free, funded by the state! F R E E are some of our favorite letters indeed.

Introducing

Simon

 

Simon Birch Deutsch

Small but mighty.

3285

Problem: Solved

I didn't have the right kind of food coloring to make the fruit really red. Shocking!
Next time, I'll know, buy the GEL.
Thanks Cassie :)

She opted for chocolate chips in place of the standard raisins. Can you blame her?

Perfection!

Jayla has requested this cake. Um...so not my speciality. Ahem. Yes, yes, I know you already know that. I don't have to tell you! Especially if you recall Clover's poor, sad snowman cake that made her cry on her birthday not so very long ago. Where is a Holly (Panter or Kladder will do!) when I need one? A Burback would be mighty nice as well.

My girl turns 9 tomorrow. Words like half way there keep coming to mind making my stomach all fluttery with unhappy, sorrowful dread. It feels like the countdown has begun - we are entering a new phase - the second half. Only 3285 more days until she is legally an adult. Impossible! 3285? That is too, too few.
I'm thinking of counting out 3285 beads in a jar and taking one out each night to remind me to redeem the time, number my days, make the hours count, utilize them wisely, with care. How big would that jar have to be? Not large enough. I take our days and months and years spent together for granted far more than I should. Too soon, they will be gone....
And I will miss them terribly, remember them fondly. Even the challenging moments. I will wish I could have some of that precious time back. To be gentler, less selfish, less hurried, more encouraging, less concerned with the house or the computer and more careful with her young tender heart. There is not doubt.
I know that to be true based on a look back at the 9 that have already passed.
Off to attempt that cake. Hopefully, it won't be bad enough to end up here.

TILFLHOTP Part 3

That teen aged people may be far more mature, gracious, thoughtful, and generally well mannered than we expect, or give them credit for in our present day and age.

Mary was engaged at 13. Prepared to marry at 15. 15! Laura took her first teaching job at the age of 16. 16! The kids had daily chores they had to take quite seriously. Boys worked on farms. Young adults were just that. Young adults.

The teen years in our current culture are commonly filled with extraordinary angst, intense drama, extreme selfishness, dreaded by parents. It almost seems inevitable!

The kids in those "pioneering days" worked hard. Plain and simple. They were expected to contribute to the family - to society. Heartily. As highly capable, selfless individuals.

It's got me wondering, are we, by our low expectations for young people concerning what they should be able and willing to handle, hindering their ability to navigate the challenging, often emotional, sometimes treacherous waters of teenhood with a clear measure of due maturity? Are young people able to enjoy a prolonged childhood in all its egocentric glory for too long, delaying the necessity to really grow up? If so, is this doing anyone any good?

As a whole, it kind of seems so - that children and young adults alike have been given much, with very little requirement. A sense of entitlement is perhaps quite normal these days. Parents may not believe it is avoidable.

I don't really know, I obviously haven't raised teens! It is definitely something I'm considering though....as I dole out responsibilities to the young ones and count on them to do their part, hopefully instilling a good work ethic and sense of being depended upon by the family. It takes a village for things to run smoothly in Deutschland. And that's no lie! All occupants' participation required whatever their age. I pray, pray, pray this helps them develop in a God glorifying way.
If our children grow up with even a fraction of the maturity the Ingalls girls possessed as teens, I will be one happy, old fashioned, bonnet wearing, chore giving, teen loving, mama indeed.  ♥

For Aunt Linda

They love the VBS music! Especially this girl - she is diligently working on the sign language and motions to all the songs. The Tumbleweed one is the boys very favorite. Thank you ☺

So what if it's pink?

With pictures of princesses on it....

It has no training wheels and Flint can ride it! Yay for the boy!!

He has been working so hard to do what his siblings can do.

Flint conquered the bike!

Sometimes, when I watch these children,
the happy is too much for my heart to contain.
It starts leaking out of my eyes.

Found.

Dolly located the missing purse. What a good girlie.
Making donuts. Courtesy of our camp guide friend, Mr. V.

Eggs for breakfast. Courtesy of a {slightly} traumatized parent and a nice little helper boy.

Meeting Yogi. It was h.o.t. Poor guy must have been a puddle of MELT - ED bear inside that suit.

The good purse finder girlie napping in the great outdoors....for a definite 10 minutes. :)

My purse is missing.

Which is highly unfortunate if I ever plan to actually, you know, leave this house. Around here, we have an uncanny knack for losing (and destroying, and misplacing, and breaking, and hiding, and shredding to pieces and blasting into smithereens) a wide array of random objects. My purse being one of my least favorite victims.
The camera is in it. So I can not yet share any pictures from (the first half of) our camping trip. Why only the beginning? I was too annoyed busy by the second half to care about things like "first camping trip together memory keeping memorabilia."
The last time we went camping, it was just Bob and I. ♥Bliss♥ Oh, sweet, sweet, delightful, peaceful, bliss.  We would backpack. Way up in the mountains. Where there were no people. Especially not ones under 4 feet tall. It was quiet and serene. Everything this trip was not. ☺ (I put that smiley face there to make it look like I'm smiling. But I'm really not. Smiling. It's a computer trick I like to play on you since you can not actually see me. Not Smiling.)
In hindsight, I believe we may have done well to have eased into it. Slowly. With perhaps a couple kids at first. Then, maybe 3. Then,  4. Moving our way up, one by one, to the entire brood. Waiting this many years to take the whole team who have never been before and trying to quickly, on the spot, teach them a crash course of Camping Etiquette 101 ((for short folks with excessive energy and a propensity for *it seemed like a good idea at the time* foolishness)) might have been too much to ask.
This class included (rather obvious) matters such as:
1) If you keep poking the tent with a stick, you're likely to make a hole!
and
2) If you tip your chair forward while sitting around the fire, you might fall in!
also
3) If you wave your flaming marshmallow stick around, you could catch someone's hair on fire! (Yes, you could. Remember that regrettable event that occured during the summer of 09? Anyone? Anyone?)

For having a crew our size, (which includes 2 four year old boys and a five year old boy and a two year old girl, and a six year old girl, and a seven year old boy, and an eight year old girl, and no teen-aged helper children) things went remarkably fine. There were no trips to the ER! (See that? I'm counting our blessings. What optimism!) **☺**
Our friends (yes, we are still friends!) think the Deutschlets did quite well. I'd have to agree. All things considered, (like Yogi doesn't make those camp sites big enough for tents like ours) the trip was a successful and fun outing for the children.

Thankfully, it's only the parents that are {slightly} traumatized.

Well, now that you mention it

I suppose camping is a little bit less enjoyable without the food....as well as the whole "speaking" thing. Not only did they talk me into planning meals (and forgetting the Silent Retreat ((which was such a GREAT idea by the way)) part), but look at some of the junk we are going to be eating! Oh, the depths I will go to for those peewees. It's because I love them so. We are going to have fun. ☺

This girl can read! Yes she can! Meadow came to us without any formal education and not a single English word in her vocabulary (she was supposed to be just turning 5, ahem....funny) and now she can write all her letters, knows their sounds, and has begun reading words like dot, pig, map, cat, and the like. Isn't that extraordinary? Have you ever thought much about the complexity and unparalleled ability of the human brain? It is truly remarkable, pointing directly (of course!) to our powerful Creator. It's impossible to deny!

God has been doing such exciting work in this one's life. What a thrilling process to observe. We are abundantly grateful for His goodness to her, and to us through her. My learning through this experience has been equally significant as hers, and I expect that will continue. I have needed healing, love, and compassion right along with her. I humbly marvel at His faithfulness, tenderness, mercy, and patience with us both. He has brought us a long way in a short time. We praise Him. Our Maker.

Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Bound to be an adventure

We are going camping with some (TRUE) friends (because how many people would want to spend several consecutive days with US? Really? Few. So, so few.) this weekend. To one of those yogi bear places that has a pool and bathrooms with showers and the whole nine yards. Which is a good thing, because it's about time these kids had a shower. It's pretty much equivalent to the hotels we now enjoy based on our budget. So, there's a distinct possibility we won't even notice we're camping!
Have you ever packed for 9 people for such an outing? Figuring out the food alone is enough to make my head spin right off my poor neck. I'm beginning to think this would be a fabulous opportunity for a fast! We can title the excursion Deutsches (much needed) Spiritual Retreat. For good measure, we might as well throw in a No Talking rule. It will be one of those Silent Retreats. Ahhh. This is sounding better all the time....
Hope your weekend is as Spiritual as ours :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year

The Daily Harvest

So, it's funny because I was just saying yesterday how rascally my little crumb snatchers are could usually sometimes be and how the slave labor hard work of motherhood is all really quite relentless, driving me to the edge of my sanity to my knees in prayer asking the lord for a flask for my pocket big huge dose of patience. Because sure, who are we kidding? There is plenty of that to go around. And every once in a while I feel the urge to clear the air and say no matter how polished or pristine or perfect we Momkind People may come across - we all have our share of true, hard core challenges. And those deep rooted frustrations may start with something as simple as sitting down for breakfast. Life is not a Norman Rockwell painting!  Except sometimes it is...briefly....and that's the delectable cherry on top. But if life was really a bowl of cherries, we couldn't appreciate cherries fully, now could we? We would take them for granted.

And then a lovely, insightful, very talented young woman we have the pleasure of knowing wrote this about her experience with our family. She is a tremendous writer (as well as an excellent photographer!) And my tears dribbled right into my coffee cup as I read her words. She showed me an outside perspective of my children and it is priceless. She can't possibly know how much that means to me. The Deutchlets are incredibly warmly welcoming and affectionate and genuinely sweet kids! My heart. Oh my heart!

Thank you Melodie. So much. What a gift! God bless you.

Those who say children are innocent....

surely have not met many. Definitely, they have not met mine.
On (too) many a day our breakfast table is proof. Out of bed less than an hour on any given morning, my blessed darling syrupy sweet (innocent) little luvbug creatures have often already discovered some monumentally insignificant, yet somehow amazingly catastrophic for no valid reason whatsoever, subject matter to quarrel over. They scream at one another about the (unfathomably horrific) infractions of their siblings over this subject matter. They may slap or pinch or kick or punch or name call.
Maybe it was because someone sat in their seat. Or used the spoon they wanted. (They subconsciously had dibs on it, didn't everyone know?) Endless bickering could be over a (highly important!) small scrap of colored paper that was left on the floor because it was not so (highly important!) yesterday. It only became (highly important!) when {the enemy} laid hands on it. Today, the cause of grief leading to an emotional, crying outburst was a dollar store calculator fought over vehemently by 2 children far too young to have any clue how to properly use it. They don't care. It is something. And something is worth it. Until moments later....when it's completely forgotten.

All day long, the cycle continues. Different siblings, different (monumentally insignificant, yet somehow amazingly catastrophic for no valid reason whatsoever) subject matter. Same types of squabbles. Some days more than others.

I've tried it all. Intervening. Staying out of it and letting them hash it out amongst themselves. Allowing them to hit, punch, bite, kick, pinch, back. Sending them both away to their rooms (which they share : ) Sending them to different rooms.Taking the (offensive) item away from everyone. There is no fail proof solution for every scenario. Unfortunately. There just isn't.

And that's just the disagreements between the children. There are the myriad of other situations to be dealt with throughout the (long) days and nights which lead to (short) years. There are attitudes that need adjustments and continuous corrections for doing what should not be done and for not doing what should be done and thoughts of entitlement and manners to instill and character building and education and learning to contribute to the home and family through age appropriate responsibility and sportsmanship-like conduct and physical care and provision of food and guidance as they learn to make decisions for themselves. There is so much to do!

Childhood is a battlefield. Sometimes I wonder if the causality is Mom's sanity.

Truth be told, I find it refreshing to let go of idealism - to an extent. To be real. No one said this would be easy. There are no days off. No rest for the weary. No pause button for the short people while I regroup and gather up some much needed patience. Kids will be kids. They require a great deal of attention, repetition, consistency, plain hard work. Let's face it, this can be mentally and physically and emotionally exhausting. Most of the time what is happening in our lives is either a) routine and mundane or b) completely trying, testing my resolve, my ability to play this role with any measure of competence.

Then, there are the moments that are beautiful, sublime - exquisite times that take my breath away and bring at tear to my eye because I see good fruit in their lives and I am filled with such hope for their future and my heart is content and gratitude pours forth and I am bubbling over with joy at the sights and sounds of these young ones, my people whom I love, because they are really getting it! My labor has not been in vain! Glory hallelujah! Those moments are here too - absolutely. And I treasure them dearly. Hold onto them tightly. Pull them out in my memory when I need them most.

Because they are brief.

Interrupted by another fight breaking out.

And so we carry on. Trying to sort it out. Reminding myself that I didn't sign on for this because I wanted an easy life.
I parent because it is worthwhile.
No matter what kind of outbreak happens to be swirling around me, deep down, I know that to be true.

This is good work.