Dear Delta Gammas

Dear Delta Gammas,

Thirteen years ago, I was a puddle of tears. Grace was six, Emma was almost five, I was an elementary school teacher before the girls were born and I grew up thirty minutes from Sandy Hook. I looked at my daughters and was so very hopeful that the country would come together in the wake of that horrific day to proclaim that enough was enough and get its gun issue solved once and for all.

I am so incredibly sorry that was not the case.

The events of Saturday took me right back to the gut-wrenching day that was Sandy Hook. However, this time, instead of an almost five year old and a six year old, my girls are now nineteen and almost eighteen, and in addition to them I have all of you- “my Providence daughters”. I wanted so badly to get to all of you, wrap my arms around you and cry with you that this was happening on your beloved campus at what should have been a peaceful end to the semester.

Molly shared with me how you all came together to help and support each other, and the wider Brown community too, by offering people rides and places to stay. Your kindness, compassion and generosity truly are second to none! Thank you for being a light in the darkness!

I hope you all have taken (or will take) advantage of the counseling services that Brown has offered, or that you have connected with a trusted counselor/therapist/member of clergy if you had access to one such person already. Though I am not a counselor or therapist, I am a mom and an educator, and as such I am always here if anyone wants or needs someone to listen and support. My contact info is in my signature, and my door is always open. I will be holding space for each one of you as you process what happened and begin your healing journey.

To those currently celebrating Chanukah, the Advisory Team and I, wish you a holiday of light and love and miracles.

To those getting ready to celebrate Solstice on Sunday, may the longest night bring you the gift of rest and rejuvenation, may the stars above light your path, and may the return of the sun bring with it a reminder that it’s always darkest before the dawn.

To those who will celebrate Christmas next week, we wish you a day filled with peace, hope, love and joy.

To All: We wish you a restorative break and we look forward to welcoming you back to camps in January. 

+ITB,

Shel 

No Words, Just Tears

 

The Little Brown Bunny

In which our little brown bunny snuggles under my Brown Univeristy t-shirt! Does that make her a Brown bunny?! xo 
 

All Things October (and November)

 

October began with a tour of Brown University (lead by the fabulous DG president Kelsey)! We had the most perfect October weather for our journey around Brown followed by a lovely meal and DG meeting afterward. The newly renovated Marlborough Public Library was finally completed and ready for visitors. We went on Opening Day and were in awe of how gorgeous it turned out (prior to this renovation the library was not a very welcoming space). A couple of days later we found outselvs back there during Morning Lesson. It was a lovely change of scenery and we decided to make that our Wednesday lessosn hang-out. Our hearts broke when Isreal was attacked by Hamas and Lewiston Maine became the latest place to have a mass shooting. It would be really fabulous if America would get its gun problem under control. Friendship bracelts were made and eras outfits chosen and we attended the Eras Tour concert movie not once but twice (the second time was just as incredible but the venue was 1000% better than the first)! Grace passed her drivers test on the first try and then went off to Production practice a couple of hours later! A Halloween lock-in at church and family pictures rounded out October. 

Since I forgot to "save" a post for November, pictures and summary are below: 

November was the month that I resigned from my job as Director of Children's Ministry in Holliston. While it had been almost five years that I ahd been there, and while I knew that my time there would likely end at the end of this school year, I ended up resigning shortly after Halloween. While I miss the children and families of the church, and was sad to leave while the senior pastor was on sabbatical, it was most definietly time for me to take my leave. 

November saw the girls take their first drive with Grace behind the wheel and me at home. It was yet another moment where I am sure that I saw the girls (espeically Grace) grow right before my eyes! We celerbrated Martinas and helped with the set up and logistics of the Veterans Day dinner at church. Emma did a beautiful job reading the Missing Man Table ceremony. She also spent much time knitting, whcih was a lovely surprise given that she had not picked up knitting needles in eight years and yet when she did this time she knit as beauifully as if she had been knitting all that time. Grace was at OSV a couple of times this month. Once on Veterans Day weekend and again during the first weekend of Christmas by Candlelight. 

We rounded out Novemebr with a lovely Thanksgiving gathering (and a rooster statue from Portugal that Jane brought back for us) and our traditional attendance of opening Night of The Nutcracker the following day. Other than the fact that it took us over an hour to get out of the garage after the show it was a fabulous way to being the festive season! xo