John Beechem

Take initiative
Be the "enemy" within
This world needs you

-A haiku for interesting times

@shifletkelly.bsky.social is a new 2nd grade elementary school teacher at Sacred Heart! Gaia has entered 3rd grade and Luna is with the 4's in the pre-k. And I'm proud to begin mu 3rd year at Francis Parker as a multilingual (ESL) academic support specialist. Also, some post-firsf day yumminess...

Summer thangs with @shifletkelly.bsky.social and our progeny

A few scenes from summer with @shifletkelly.bsky.social and our kiddos...

Scenes from summer. Luna picking blueberries, @shifletkelly.bsky.social and Gaia enjoying tea during a rainstorm, me and Gaia dressed up for a friend's wedding.

Hoping your June has had a good beginning ☀️⛈️

17 years married (on Saturday)! That's a long time.

Thanks to my mom, Marianne, we got to leave the kids at home and ate some Phad Thai together at Simply Thai , then visited Crescent Hill Coffee and Carmichael's Bookstore.

We're so blessed to have each other, and you as part of our community.

Last day of the 2024-25 school year, and first day of the school from home summer 2025 season. Gaia and Luna are doing hands on science, mixing primary colors to make secondary colors on the porch.

We also did reading, math and Chinese (duolingo).

Hoping to keep their skills sharp.

Roses in May ⚘️ In bloom and in buds. Also, a couple of Gaia and Luna being buds themselves.

Happy Mother's Day to @shifletkelly.bsky.social ! Such a hard-working, loving person. We are lucky to have her in our family.

Thanks to all the other mothers out there!

It's @shifletkelly.bsky.social birthday! Ahem...it was YESTERDAY 🎂 She's the big 4-0MFG! We love Kelly so much ❤️ It was also Shakespeare's birthday yesterday, so to quote the immortal bard, "I do love nothing in the world so well as you-is not that strange?"

A few scenes from spring. Playground fun, a "school" Gaia made from blocks, and wildflowers before the first grass cut of the season.

I hope your spring has been everything you need it to be so far ⚘️🌱

It was in Kentucky. It got here first.

It used to be a lot better. Have you tried Qdoba? It was made by a splinter within Chipotle leadership. Not sure how its quality has held up. Nor have I ever had an authentic mission burrito. Unless you're talking about chipotle as a flavor...

First afternoon of Spring Break at Dairy Kastle with @shifletkelly.bsky.social and the rest of my family! Also, scenes from home.

Damn...

What? Where, how...

Spring beauties, one of my favorites and among the first flowers to bloom each year. From my front yard (good motivation to delay the first mow another week or so 😜

So close to spring I can almost taste it. Dairy Kastle with @shifletkelly.bsky.social and family, and the Louisville Arcade Expo with Gaia (and then my own solo play whatever I want time).

Hope it's one you like! Or can at least tolerate.

Thanks!

I don't usually do coloring pages, but I found one I like for when I'm caught up on my teacher work and need a "brain break" at school.

It's from ColouringQuest, a coloring book for adults.

In the words of Octavia Butler "In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix first must burn."

Family things and Sacred Heart Reading Buddy (the babies are my niece and nephew).

YouTube video by Mike Doughty - Topic Busting Up a Starbucks

youtu.be/QhRWoWpCjjM?... It's lyrics from this song that was on the CD we got for going to Bonnaroo.

I feel like bustin' up a Starbucks (with @shifletkelly.bsky.social )

Happy Snow Day ❄️

Buffalo Chicken Dip 🦬

Gaia: I'm making some pumpkin tomato spaghetti.

Me: What does that taste like?

Gaia: If it were poisonous, you would definitely die happy.

So grateful for the Writer's Group that I met with at Old Louisville Coffee Co-op today.

A church of the mind, soul and pen...

🧠❤️💥🪶

Thanks, I was so worried it was AI.

Is this Lisa Frank or AI?