First Day of School

We were so excited to be able to start school back! After being shutdown since March and everything being so unsure with the upcoming school year, we were so happy that we were actually getting to go back!

The high school has to follow a hybrid schedule.  They split the kids in half by last names.  They attend in-person a couple of days a week, and remote the other 3 days.  This allows for there to be half the number of kids at school at a time, and a deep clean half way through the week.

Blake 10th grade

Barrett started middle school this year and was so excited about it!  They get to attend in-person everyday.  They have to wear masks and stay socially distant, but he was glad to get back into a routine and see his friends regularly.

Barrett 7th grade

This is Brynn's last year in elementary.  Since Kaleb is coming to school with me this year, she is the only McIntire left at the school we've attended for so long.  She gets to attend in-person, daily.  They don't get to switch classes, instead the teachers switch classrooms.  She does get to go to her elective (art), recess, and PE.

Brynn 6th grade

Kaleb started a new school this year.  He is coming with me to the school that I am teaching at.  He was a mix of excitement, sadness, and nerves. He gets to attend in-person, daily.  3rd grade isn't required to wear face masks, but it is recommended in the hallways.  When sitting at their desks, they are behind desk shields.

Kaleb 3rd grade 

Kaleb and I ready to start our new adventure!

Unfortunately, this is what our days look like, all covered up! 

Barrett and his friend walking into middle school for the first time.

This is the reality of how Blake's first day of school looked.  He had football practice for first period, and then the rest of his day was remote.

We all had a good day back.  We had to deal with a full day in masks, which was hard on us.  We were glad to be back to a somewhat normal routine after being shutdown for so long.

 I walked Baxter that evening and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  We are thankful for God's provision and protection during these uncertain times.

Meet the Teacher

The start of school was delayed this year due to COVID.  Families were given the choice to attend school in-person or remotely.  The delay of school gave schools and teachers the opportunity to prep the classrooms for a socially distanced school year, and for remote teachers to prep for a new way of teaching online.  The boys both got to walk their schedules at the middle school and high school.  They had the students come during a certain time slot by last name in order to space everyone apart.  Brynn got to go up to the school and meet her teachers at her appointed time slot.  The classrooms had all of the desks spaced apart with clear desk shields on them.  Brynn won't be switching classes this year, instead her teachers will switch classes.  We are thankful she got in the same class with some of her friends since they will spend their days as a family tribe, not getting to intermingle with the other classes.

Kaleb is attending a new school this year.  He is going to school with me.  He has been sad to leave our old school and nervous to start a new one.  His teacher is Mrs. B.  He got to meet her, see his new school, and drop off his supplies.

It's a strange school year and nothing is "normal". We are thankful that school is starting back after being home for six months.  We pray that we will stay healthy and everyone will have the best year possible under these circumstances!

This & That

That time Mom and Dad went hiking and we didn't hear from them and had to call the police to go check on them at their camper at 10pm. 

All was well, and it turned out to be a funny story that we'll never forget!

The boys mowing equipment has seen a lot of miles!  Most of it is used equipment that we've had to make several repairs to.  Barrett saved his money to buy himself a brand new, shiny red mower.

Happy Birthday to Ana!!

Saturday morning cruise in the El Camino.

Loss

Our community lost 3 great men within the same week.

Officer Tracey Gaines - COVID19

Judge David Bridges - Car accident

Dan Kendall - Colon Cancer

Tracey Gaines - RPD for 15 years lost his battle with COVID19

Judge Bridges attends our church. He and I rocked babies together in the baby nursery on Sunday mornings.  It was such a shock to learn that he was killed in a car accident.  We are praying for his wife and 2 daughters.

Dan Kendall also attends our church.  He was diagnosed with colon cancer just last summer.  He was a Duncanville Firefighter, with a loving wife and son.  We have prayed over this family, even going to kneel in front of their house before the Lord begging for healing for Dan.  One day when Robert and the boys stopped to pray over them, Jessica saw them out of the front window and took a picture.  We were devastated when Dan lost his battle with cancer.

When Dan became too weak to take care of the yard, the boys started helping.  Now that Dan is gone, they continue to mow it for them.  One day Robert was there to help teach their son how to mow.

Our community lost 3 great men this week.  It is hard for us to understand why, but we trust the Lord and His plan.  We pray for all three of their families as they mourn their loss and struggle to move on and live life without them.

Tracy Allen Gaines

Tracy Allen Gaines

May 24, 1971-August 3, 2020

Funeral Service

Monday, August 10, 2020

Lake Pointe Church

Interment

Rest Haven Memorial Park

People lined the streets for miles as the funeral procession passed by.  They were waving flags, holding up signs, and standing in honor and respect.  We were in awe of the love and support shown by our community.

 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Breakfast

Saturday morning those of us who could, met at the squad car memorial for a casual breakfast together.

Tracy's family, including his extended family were able to join us.

We enjoyed being with our police family as we were all still grieving and in shock from losing Tracy.

It was a special morning together.

Candlelight Vigil

Tonight we had a Community Candlelight Vigil in honor of Tracy.

It was held in the parking lot of the stadium.  We had many great speakers, including Tracy's own sons.  There were many great stories, many tears, and many who spoke about the legacy that Tracy is leaving behind.

At the end of the night, Lt. McGrew led us in singing Amazing Grace as we held our lights up in honor of the great man Tracy Gaines was.

 

Squad Car Memorial

Amy and the boys found great comfort in spending time at the memorial.  It became a regular evening routine that we would meet at the car with her.  She enjoyed seeing and reading all of the things people in our community left at the car.  We laughed, cried, and enjoyed being together.  After she left, the police spouses spent time cleaning out dead flowers and taking down old balloons so that the memorial stayed clean and fresh.

Team Gaines

After contracting and fighting a month long battle with COVID19, Tracy Gaines lost his life.  He has worked at the police department with Robert for 15 years.  This was devastating for his family, our department, and community.

It was an honor for Robert to escort Tracy's body back home to Rockwall from the hospital in Plano.  It was one of the hardest escorts he's done.  Robert and his sergeant covered Tracy's body with an American flag before he was loaded in the hearse. It was the same flag that Tracy had last folded as part of his duty on our Honor Guard.  Our police family was waiting at the funeral home when they got back.  It was one of the hardest moments.  The reality of the situation truly set in as they pulled in while our police officers saluted on each side of the driveway, police cars lined the drive with lights on, and all of the police spouses and kids were there to show support to his family.

Tracy's family, along with our police family gathered around his body and prayed together before they took him into the funeral home.  It was a heartbreaking moment for all of us.  It still feels so unreal.

Meanwhile, the police department put Tracy's squad car at the high school football stadium as a memorial for our community.  Tracy has served as a school resource officer for many years in our city.  His wife wanted to go see the memorial after we left the funeral home.  The family was escorted from the funeral home to the memorial, with most of us being able to go for support.

As police families, the ones of us who could, met back up at the memorial later that evening with his wife and sons.  This would become a nightly routine for us.

 There is really no way to put into words how shocked we all are that we lost one of our officers to COVID19.  It seems unreal.  It is a huge loss for his family, our department, and community.  Today was a hard day.  Everyone went through the motions as reality set in.

Lake Days

We had a fun day on the lake with the Duncans!

 Everyone had fun swimming, jumping, sliding, and playing!