Week 3 of school. 3rd COVID-19 test.

Third week of school… third test.

I ran school pictures this week. I saw every student who was in attendance over 2 days. So… just to be safe… I test.

This week…

- my friend who was on the mend from COVID-19 last week is still on the mend.. still can’t work and is on oxygen.

- found out 2 more unvaccinated men I know came down with COVID-19 and are isolated from their families now.

- The family who’s kiddo got it on the first day of Kinder? The rest of the family got it over the last week… so… day 1 of school in a non-mask mandated school district literally got a family of 5 (parents are vaccinated) sick.

- The City of Kyle smartly (IMO) decided to cancel the Labor Day weekend festival this year… because of the risk and lack of room in hospitals.

- there are 56 people currently hospitalized in Hays County with COVID-19 and 2,111 people with COVID-19.

- 324 people in Hays County have died.

I’m masking up.

Inside 100% of the time.

Outside when I’m in a group and might be getting close.

I’m testing weekly.

I’m doing everything I can in order to try and keep my fellow humans as safe as possible.

I love hugs.

I like doing my part to help my loved ones as safe as possible a little more than hugging though.

In case you didn’t know it… that last sentence was about you. YOU are one of my loved ones.

#LoveMovesFirst 

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Week 2 of School - 2nd COVID-19 Test

I went and got my 2nd COVID test of the 2021-22 school year. More folks getting their kids swabbed than I’ve ever seen. Truly sad scene.

In the last few weeks In people I know… I’ve seen:

• a kindergartener contract COVID on their first day of school… and their mother and sibling got it… now their family is living apart so the rest of the family doesn’t get infected. 
• a “healthy” friend in their 60s who doesn’t socially distance contracted COVID and has gone through 2 weeks of in and out of the hospital and hopefully has turned the corner.
• a friend who’s anti-mask / anti-vax sibling contracted COVID and they’re now planning the funeral after a week in the hospital.
• A friend in their late 30s who contracted COVID, almost died. He is not out of the woods yet. He is not vaccinated. 
• Got emails from too many parents (I’m in charge of photos/IDs next week) who have their kid at home quarantining so they can’t be at school because someone they were in close contact with at school has COVID and they’re not vaccinated.

There is nothing I can say to convince those who won’t get vaccinated. There is nothing I can post to convince people who won’t mask to do so.

Explaining to people who perpetuate made-up  home remedies and vitamin packs in place of a vaccine that their unfounded opinions are literally KILLING people doesn’t work.

All I can do is be an example. I will continue to test weekly, wear a mask and socially distance as much as I am able. 

Why? Because I care. 

I love you. 

I pray you will do what is best for you and those who are occupying your airspace. 

#lovemovesfirst

Week 1 - link
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First COVID-19 Test of the 2021-22 Schoolyear

Hi, I'm a High School Teacher in Texas. 

I am taking weekly COVID-19 tests during this school year to lower the risk that I put any of the students, their families and/or loved ones in harms way.

I'm doing this because it's the responsible thing to do. It's my way to let love lead.

As an educator, as a person who is in an indoor setting with hundreds of individuals a week, as a human who cares about you. #LoveMovesFirst

This is Week 1:

Who knew the first test for the 2021-22 school year would be a nose swab?

Just being extra cautious… I should be fine… but if I’m in charge of teaching kids… I believe I should lead by example.

 Result:

My Journey:

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Y'all Stop.

Y'all, Stop. 

Y'all, Stop.

Just stop.

Stop arguing. Stop yelling at each other.

Stop engaging in hate.

Stop trying to explain why your way is the right way of thinking in a group setting or on social media.

At this point I can see a stark line between two camps...

- Ones who lead/react with love

- Ones who lead/react with hate

The ones who have chosen to lead with hate aren't worth engaging. They are not looking for answers, they seek to hurt and argue. But to do so.. they need a willing participant.

This is what I'm doing... I'm taking note of who the folks who are hateful are.. what businesses they own.. what clubs they belong to... and what social circles they are welcome in... and I am choosing not to participate, engage or spend my dollars with those businesses/groups.

When they have nobody left to hate... they will cannibalize themselves.

If given the choice.... I urge you... choose Love. 

#lovemovesfirst

“This isn’t an airport… no need to announce your departure.”

“This isn’t an airport… no need to announce your departure.”

That was a comment I read in a Facebook group where someone was complaining and announced that they were done and giving up on the group and leaving. 

As snotty and flippantly sarcastic as the first sentiment is… I Can totally understand it. I was the moderator of a group for a few years about 5-6 years ago… I ended up being harshly treated and blamed and badmouthed for doing the job of the admin (long non-important story). I just simply left the group. 

Did I want to make a grand exit where I put everyone in their place and publicly shame those who were being two-faced and name calling and being generally bad humans? Yes. But what good would that have done? It would have turned me into a target for trolls and ridicule. 

But quietly waking away and not making a big deal and going on with my life…. As hard as that was… I have preserved my name. Those who know me know I have nothing to prove… especially to those who step up to push me down. 

“This isn’t an airport, no need to announce your departure.”

I dig it. 

Love Moves First. 

Sometimes that first move is out the door to find those who also believe that love must lead in order to make a difference.

Love y’all…

... in support of the indigenous people

As one of my running folks, Verna Volker, has requested, I am wearing an Orange shirt for this mornings Popsicle Races run in support of the indigenous people. 

(News from July 1 - "More Graves Found At New Site, Canadian Indigenous Group Says")

More than 751 bodies of indigenous children have been recovered from or near Residential Schools in Canada. These were “re-education” schools where kids were taken from their tribes to be assimilated into society. Thousands died of disease and other causes… now they are uncovering mass unmarked graves of children who were never returned to their families.

So… in respect of those lost children and to join their relatives and loved ones worldwide… I wear an orange shirt.

There were more than 350 of these schools in the U.S. There is a push to investigate these sites as well. 

Love Moves First.

FreedHearts are Happy Hearts

I am a LGBTQIA+ ally. 
I am also a Christian.

To me, those two things live in perfect harmony.

There are those who believe that they are mutually exclusive. There is a movement to shun and disown and not accept or try to "pray the gay away." 

But to me, being a fully supporting LGBTQIA+ ally who leads with love over hate is in perfect harmony with being a Christian. And I'm not talking "love the sinner hate the sin" type support. A beautifully created child of God living their authentic life while causing no harm IS NOT A SIN.

Hate, judgement, misrepresenting God's authority to serve your (not God's) beliefs... those seem, to me, to be more sinful than being authentic to yourself. I've spent a long time looking into the mirror to contemplate this... If you have a heart capable of love and are willing to listen... I recommend doing the same.

If you don't... you probably already stopped reading and moved on... for those who are left... well.. let me tell you about a resource I came across that just re-emerged in my world.

I attended an Austin Independent School District one day seminar/gathering/event a few years ago and one of the break-out session presenters was Susan Cottrell, the founder of FreedHearts. 

FreedHearts is a non-profit organization formed in 2013. According to their website (and my personal experience with them) this group "reaches into hurting communities with a message of love, inclusion, belonging, and hope — for parents, LGBTQ+, educators, therapists, and the church."

Her story is very interesting... and she even did a Ted Talk - "Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church" telling her story back in 2018. you can watch that here - link.

Well.. it looks like they launched a podcast back in October.. and I just discovered it today. I listened to the Father's Day podcast by Robert Cottrell (Susan and Robert have been married for 30+ years) on Spotify. I highly recommend listening to it... here.

Then it automatically rolled to the next one...which is the one I share below.

I wish that every human being who has a heart capable of love and who is willing to let love move first to guide their lives would give a listen to this podcast...

There is no limit to what we can achieve when Love Moves First.