Today, I felt overwhelmed with sorrow, and three great things were helpful.

First, talking to a friend who had gone through a similar experience gave me courage to think strategically and compassionately to create a schedule with nonnegotiables, to keep my sanity. For me, that would be prayer, gym, time to make dinner, and one-on-one time with each child. Today, I went to Barnes and Noble with the middle kid, Bowlero with the youngest (for the arcade), and with Sasha, I joined her and her good friend at Noodles and Co (prior to Sasha and her friend getting there, I saw one of my sweet students!!!!).

Initially, I actually didn’t want to do any of that — I’d rather sleep in my bed — but in doing the thing, I realized it was just as much for my mental health as for theirs.

Second, being honest about my sorrow. I saw a good friend today, and she gave me a care package and apparently lip gloss and eye cream makes me feel a lot better! So, that was really nice.

Third, reading the Bible. I am in Isaiah now, and I read like 10 minutes at a time. It’s been really calming for me. I make notes in the margin and write out my prayer requests.

So that’s my mentality — Just taking it one day at a time. We have a visitor at church, and yesterday he randomly talked to me and said that God is there for me and to take it one day at a time. If I saw him from far away, I think I would be a little cautious, but it turns out he said exactly what I needed to hear. I can’t handle the weight of all of this for more than a 24 hour period, so resetting every day and just trying to take it one 24 hour chunk at a time is really important right now. Praise God for another day!