As I reflect over the last year, I have learned so much about myself and the relationships that are most important to me.

Taking care of mom and spending time with Hattie have been my primary purpose in life. With Roger’s love and support, we have been able to do that while working full time.

I never expected to be the GCS Virtual contact for Greenville County Schools, but God definitely had those plans in mind for me. When the Pandemic began, I asked the Lord to show me how He would like for me to help and serve others with the gifts He gave me.

1. Roger and I were able to care for Hattie from March 2020-June 2020: Papa and Frannie Daycare. That is the best job of our careers. We had the most fun singing, dancing, playing, rocking, strolling, laughing, eating, and sometimes napping with our precious granddaughter, What a gift that time was for us! Picking her up from Daycare and spending time with her in the afternoon is the highlight of mine and Roger’s lives.

2. Mom fell and broke her hip in May 2020. Encouraging her through phone calls and visits to the doctor while being isolated during the Pandemic was a huge challenge. It is a miracle she survived and thrived during that time and I owe it to the wonderful tender loving care she received from her therapists and caregivers. She had COVID in January and recovered from that, but lost her teeth while she was sick. She lost over 40 pounds since then. She gets her new teeth this week, so hopefully she will be able to eat again and gain her weight back. I have been on an emotional roller coaster every week as we face new obstacles together.

3. When my boss and Associate Superintendent asked me to assist with the Greenville County Schools Virtual Program in August of 2020, I gladly accepted the project. Little did I know that I would be glued to my computer every day for hours on end enrolling students into Virtual Program, answering emails, and training clerks/counselors/parents how to use Parent Backpack. I read heartbreaking emails from parents and students. I sympathized with clerks and counselors, I encouraged Virtual Admins, Director and Executive Director during really really hard times. I can’t believe all that we accomplished as each day and sometimes each hour brought another set of challgenges and opportunities to grow as a compassionate person. Honestly, some days I felt like I couldn’t breathe, there was so much happening at once.

I turned 60 in February 2021. This is a new chapter, a time to think about the next part of my life. I have been doing a lot of soul searching.

What do the next 40 years look like for me?

What am I put on this earth to do?

How can I serve others and use the gifts the Lord gave me to honor Him?

I’m waiting and listening for my next steps.

I would love your feedback and your suggestions about what is next for me.

Happy Mother’s Day!