Saturday, March 21, 2020
bored and tired of watching movies???
Audible is doing something amazing! You do NOT need an account to access this, it is completely free, go to stories.audible.com and access streaming stories - from young kids to teens, and four foreign languages too (I think French, German, Italian, and maybe Chinese? I can't remember). Enjoy ♡
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Happy St. Patrick's Day...
*edited - I have tried to straighten the photos, but it just won't work, so sorry in advance for the wonky placement of pictures 😊
Wow, in just a few weeks life has totally changed, hasn't it? I have never experienced anything quite like this, and no one that I have spoken to from our parents' generations has either. It feels a bit crazy that you can't just pop into the local Walmart to grab a package of toilet paper (which BTW - does anyone know why there is no toilet paper? I don't understand the toilet paper shortage - the Clorox wipes, rubbing alcohol, liquid soaps, and paper towels - those I get, but not the toilet paper) or nip into Starbucks or a local coffee shop for a treat. Those things are so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, but for some reason, those are the two things that have totally landed the reality of how much has changed in just a few weeks and how serious this virus is.
Being informed of the situation does little to clear the quiet underlying anxiety of all that's going on, does it for you? I was just reading one of my favorite, favorite blogs - Stone Soup for Five - Kari posted about Biblical Meditation and COVID-19. I highly recommend reading this post. I find myself increasingly distracted, unable to quiet my mind to read, either to myself or aloud to the girls. She has some great pointers to build fences around your thoughts.
Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. For some reason I absolutely LOVED this holiday growing up. Even though I went to Catholic School, I did not know Patrick's story. In my school's defense, they probably read it each year, meanwhile, I was probably trying to look under my desk to find the leprechaun or totally distracted by whatever yummy treat they were passing around or staring off into space lost in my own little world. Truly my youngest proves the phrase - the apple doesn't fall from the tree, she is soooooo much like me, it's scary sometimes. My oldest girl was almost born on St. Patrick's Day and now it has become my youngest's favorite holiday. Since about Thanksgiving, I have been planning this day for her, and so in the midst of Daddy now working from home, not being able to do our weekly fun*, the disruption to our daily routines, this little "party" became even more important.
*Once a week I take each of my girls out for something fun, It is generally nothing that is that big of a deal, in fact, other people would roll their eyes at it, but for the girl and me, it is so treasured. This simple weekly outing is what helps the bad days to not absolutely just suffocate us.
With all of this said, I am so incredibly thankful that all we are experiencing is an inconvenience. I am so very sorry and incredibly thankful for those on the front lines - those in our health care industry, pharmaceuticals, first responders, but equally I am so thankful for the tireless efforts of those working at grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. They are going to work each day, possibly being exposed to either the COVID-19 or the flu, still - they serve us and clean and sanitize and restock and comfort - their jobs are often taken for granted and overlooked, but I want to encourage all of us to pray for them daily and to take a moment if and when you are out, look them in the eyes and tell them thank you. I am also so sorry for those of you who are feeling miserable right now. I am praying that you feel so much better soon and that you have some wonderful books and/or movies to keep you occupied while your body heals, may God be so close to you.
Wow, in just a few weeks life has totally changed, hasn't it? I have never experienced anything quite like this, and no one that I have spoken to from our parents' generations has either. It feels a bit crazy that you can't just pop into the local Walmart to grab a package of toilet paper (which BTW - does anyone know why there is no toilet paper? I don't understand the toilet paper shortage - the Clorox wipes, rubbing alcohol, liquid soaps, and paper towels - those I get, but not the toilet paper) or nip into Starbucks or a local coffee shop for a treat. Those things are so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, but for some reason, those are the two things that have totally landed the reality of how much has changed in just a few weeks and how serious this virus is.
Being informed of the situation does little to clear the quiet underlying anxiety of all that's going on, does it for you? I was just reading one of my favorite, favorite blogs - Stone Soup for Five - Kari posted about Biblical Meditation and COVID-19. I highly recommend reading this post. I find myself increasingly distracted, unable to quiet my mind to read, either to myself or aloud to the girls. She has some great pointers to build fences around your thoughts.
Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. For some reason I absolutely LOVED this holiday growing up. Even though I went to Catholic School, I did not know Patrick's story. In my school's defense, they probably read it each year, meanwhile, I was probably trying to look under my desk to find the leprechaun or totally distracted by whatever yummy treat they were passing around or staring off into space lost in my own little world. Truly my youngest proves the phrase - the apple doesn't fall from the tree, she is soooooo much like me, it's scary sometimes. My oldest girl was almost born on St. Patrick's Day and now it has become my youngest's favorite holiday. Since about Thanksgiving, I have been planning this day for her, and so in the midst of Daddy now working from home, not being able to do our weekly fun*, the disruption to our daily routines, this little "party" became even more important.
*Once a week I take each of my girls out for something fun, It is generally nothing that is that big of a deal, in fact, other people would roll their eyes at it, but for the girl and me, it is so treasured. This simple weekly outing is what helps the bad days to not absolutely just suffocate us.
With all of this said, I am so incredibly thankful that all we are experiencing is an inconvenience. I am so very sorry and incredibly thankful for those on the front lines - those in our health care industry, pharmaceuticals, first responders, but equally I am so thankful for the tireless efforts of those working at grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. They are going to work each day, possibly being exposed to either the COVID-19 or the flu, still - they serve us and clean and sanitize and restock and comfort - their jobs are often taken for granted and overlooked, but I want to encourage all of us to pray for them daily and to take a moment if and when you are out, look them in the eyes and tell them thank you. I am also so sorry for those of you who are feeling miserable right now. I am praying that you feel so much better soon and that you have some wonderful books and/or movies to keep you occupied while your body heals, may God be so close to you.
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