Covid Thoughts.....

There are so many people posting things as we tackle this virus issue and so many times they speak to me in a particular way.  For some reason this spoke to me he day I saw it.  Someday I will look back and see the reason for the words it says.  Someday........

New Reality.....

Church has reopened.....by reservation only and only on weekdays.There are strict guidelines for attendance and of course, facemasks are mandatory.

This is our new normal.

Truth.....

Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you know how magnificent it is on the highest mountain.

Remember........

Memorial May...Memorial Day

This year was different.

We are still struggling with the pandemic that is plaguing our nation. Things are slowly reopening but a public gathering was just not going to happen this year.  

Carry The Load turned to a public drive.

We chose to celebrate the day at the lake.  Being out of town seemed like a good idea.

It was not a good idea at all.

 Drew, Heather, and Adeline did the drive.  I am proud of them.

I wish I had been here to go with them.  It was where my heart was.  

It is where I wanted to be.

Tim and family continued the tradition and walked 7 miles in the rain at the lake.

I am so proud of them.

My grandkids get Memorial Day.

They know what it means.

They were on the road two hours and 14 minutes.  That is huge.

What did I do? 

 I walked.  I walked on Sunday and it was hot.  I walked today and it rained.  I did not care.  This Memorial Day was harder than most.  My heart hurts.  I miss my son.  

We have been so blessed.  People have cared so much.  The community has always acknowledged my son.  Carry the Load has honored him in a way that is just unbelievable but no matter what has been done in his honor...I would rather he was here.  I miss the person he was and the joy and humor he always brought with him no matter where he went.  He truly believed the world was a beautiful place.  I want a few minutes with him again.  Just a few minutes to hug his neck and tell him what a great kid he was.  Just a few minutes to ask him what drove him to succeed like he did.  Just a few minutes to ask him what we did to deserve a kid like him.

I will be okay tomorrow because I always am but today I am crushed.  My heart is broken and I know it is okay.  It is alright to be sad for awhile.  It is fine to have moments of self pity and be a bit mad at God for not giving Matt more time.  Someday I will understand all of this and I will have all the time I need with my son once again.

Today I am sad and I am broken and that is fine.

Mother's Day......

Mother's Day in a pandemic is not your usual.  

The need to have family gatherings and to hug and hang out like in years past just did not happen this year...but it was special in spite of the restrictions.  It is all what you choose to make it.

These cuties brought me my favorite things each day...diet cokes, blizzards, nothin bundt cakes, and a peony bush which has always been my most loved flower.

We spent Friday sharing pizza and snacks and visiting from an acceptable six feet apart!

And Adeline in all her sweetness got me a card and a new weighted blanket for summer.  

Happy face!

Love my weighted blankets pretty much above all else.

We shared Sunday with snacks and Babe's chicken for dinner.  It was a beautiful day and if we have to be sheltered in place, God has blessed us with beautiful weather.

This was not a typical day or weekend but it was good.

We are safe, we are well, and I am blessed.

Sara and Jimmy brought breakfast and we had a beautiful morning to enjoy it outside.

We will all remember the occasions we celebrated doing this pandemic years from now.

We would never wish this to come again, but while it is here we will make the most of it and understand that God does have a plan for good when this is all over.

Beautiful Reflection........

There have been so many beautiful reflections during this time of shelter in place.  I have not felt confined, claustrophobic, or particularly miserable.  I miss my grandkids and kids but honestly the ability to back away from the many obligations and commitments and given me time to recharge.

I am ready now to get out.  I am getting a bit antsy.  I am still fearful and will stay put a bit longer, but I am fine until we see signs that it is safe to go back to a normal that will all be new.

Looking Up......

At a time when things have been looking bleak, when people are finding little to get excited about...the Blue Angels came to the rescue!

 In an amazing move of support for all first responders, medical workers, and those on the front lines of this pandemic the Blue Angels came to the metroplex.  

It was the ultimate high for all of those (and there were many) who came out and parked in fields, on highways, and empty parking lots.

The skies were an amazing shade of blue and there was not a cloud anywhere which was just perfect for all waiting with eyes upward at 11:00 am.

These were some of the precious faces that loved the opportunity to get out and and enjoy the day.  Online schoolwork can be put off just a bit because this was not an ordinary event.

Thanks Blue Angels because for a little while things looked a bit normal and at the end of about six weeks of lockdown a little positive is good!

Too Soon?.....

The governor has started the reopening process.

Starting Friday movie theaters, restaurants, libraries, and retail shopping can open as long as they are not at more than 25% capacity. We had the most new cases of Covid 19 reported today. So how is reopening flattening the curve?

I think we are all unnerved and afraid.  We are sick of being in, but fearful of going out.  We have struggled for 5 or more weeks to social distance, we have worn masks, deodorized everything in sight, and washed our hands until they are raw. We have personally taken every precaution known to man and the numbers continue to grow.

There are those that are moving freely about seemingly without a care in the world. Do they not watch the news or do they simply not care at all.

This is political.....what does that means?  Do people really think that some politician wants to put people in the unemployment line, cause companies to go under, drive every individual to mentally struggle with what is happening world wide?  I cannot see it.

Tonight I am confused. 

 I want life to be normal, I want to see my family, and I want to go to church. I just do not want to do this before I know we are safe.

What is Gods plan in all of this?  

Please let us all hang on until the time is right.  We have worked so hard and we want to reach the finish line as soon as it is safe.

DAY WHAT????.........

I really do not know how many days we have been in quarantine.  It is over a month and honestly I do not know what I have accomplished.

I am in the middle of a Bible Study...did I say that before?  

It seems like I have spent an enormous amount of time with Sara, and that is not bad!

And what has Sara done?  

 PUZZLES!!!!

 Oh my goodness, this girl loves her puzzles and she is good at it.

She has patience like I have never seen.  Sara sits and works so focused on an area that with a 1000 pieces laying in front of her, she finds the piece she needs.

My attention span is horrid!

 So, with puzzle #??? complete it is time to choose a new one.

I am just so very glad that I had the insight to order what I could find when they were still available.

I am positive that more puzzles have been assembled in the last month than in the previous two years combined.

Flip flops anyone?

Yes, when we don't puzzle we paint and that is fun too!

Just really not sure what part of the house to hang this in!

Gratitude in a Pandemic......

In the midst of this pandemic while we are all waiting for the time when we can "break free", 

we tend to focus on all the things we feel cheated of while we are confined to our homes and distanced from those whom we love and are patiently waiting to HUG.

*I am grateful for the time I have had to walk each day around the neighborhood.  I am not a walker, but the need to be outside has driven me to pick up my headphones, find some praise music and walk.  I have noticed the spring flowers, the other walkers, the clouds, and the wildlife.  Small things that I have otherwise ignored.  I am grateful for this "time out" to be more aware.
*I am grateful that we have a home, that our income allows us to pay our bills, buy food, and exist with no financial worries until we can get through this terrible virus that is plaguing the world.
*I am so very grateful for our church and all of the religious communities that have given us a way to worship via TV, internet, Facebook live, or other means so God can remain at the forefront of our lives even in these shelter in place days.
*I am grateful for the opportunity to sleep late, stay in my pajamas as long as I want, drink coffee and read my bible outside in my beautiful backyard on the nice weather days.
*I am grateful on this Earth Day that our quarantine has helped the earth restore itself.  The bodies of water are clearer, the smog has lifted, the animals are free to explore their natural habitats, and we have just generally made our planet a better place.  Can we learn a lesson and make moves to keep it this way?
*I am so grateful that my sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandkids live close and we can do a drive by when I need to see their precious faces.  Distancing is not fun but I am so blessed that though I cannot hug them I can see them in person.  Such a gift!
*I am grateful for all the celebrities that have come together to do concerts from the confines of their home, donating all money to charity so that although no new productions can be done we have new and interesting things to watch.
I know there are many more things,  but for now just know I am grateful that we will survive this and be much better people because we did.

Someone Else's Thoughts.....

Posted multiple times on peoples Facebook pages....we will see how this plays out!

The official lockdown started March 23 and will likely end May 1st. That is EXACTLY 40 days. 

The Latin root of the word "quarantine" is "forty".
So what does the Bible say about 40? 

The flood lasted 40 days.
40 years Moses fled Egypt.
40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.
Exodus lasted 40 years.
Jesus fasted for 40 days.
40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.

Optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40.

A group of theologians thinks the number 40 represents "change”. It is the time of preparing a person, or people, to make a fundamental change.
Something will happen after these 40 days. Just believe and pray. Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a "change".

Please know that during this "quarantine" rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution, there is less theft and murder, healing is happening, and most importantly, people are turning to Christ. The Earth is at rest for the first time in many years and hearts are truly transforming.

Remember we are in the year 2020, and 20 + 20 = 40.

Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born during a census.

Lastly, 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us in the palm of His hand.

Treasures of the Pandemic.....

When you spend four weeks sheltering in place because of a global pandemic...that has in fact killed way too many people world wide, you learn some valuable life lessons.  This is only one of those lessons.  Before we are totally turned loose back to society I will cover some other lessons, but for tonight here we go!

DO NOT pass up a chance to buy descent toilet paper and disinfecting spray and wipes.  

On the subject of toilet paper, I have always hoarded that item.  I do have a real fear of not having enough TP on hand at all times.  My garage has no less than 36 rolls always.  I do however buy the good stuff...like Charmin (remember Mr. Whipple?).  In the American way, once this epidemic started everyone starting buying toilet paper in maniac amounts.  It was like a black Friday fight if you saw some on the shelves!  What was available on rare occasion was SCOTT.  I have never bought this before, but for fear of not having enough I purchased it when I saw it.  NEVER AGAIN!  It is seriously 1 ply paper.  The tissue that goes in gift bags would be better.  It is so thin and rough that in order to do the job you have to wrap it around your hand a minimum of one dozen times.  Even 7/11 has better paper in their restrooms than this.  Lesson learned.

Next let me say I have never been a germaphobe. My way of thinking was let my kids build up and immunity, which they did.  They were never sick.  They all had perfect attendance through 6 years of elementary school.  This has changed my mind.  I never bought Lysol spray or Clorox wipes.  I just cleaned everything with windex.  It has ammonia so that should do the job.  These are also unavailable items.  Folks on Ebay are selling Lysol for $150 a can!  I finally found some and I will not be without it again.  I now see the value.  There are germs we want to avoid and those germs are causing America to hibernate in an unimaginable way.  So I spray and wipe everything now and will continue to.  Lesson learned.

We will come out of this sooner rather than later I hope.  When we do life will be different.  I know what matters and I will look at cleanliness in a whole new way and I will keep a respectable among of cleaning agents on hand...and better toilet paper.

It's a Good Day.....

 Sometimes in the midst of the lows you find a high!

Every day is a roller coaster during these pandemic times, but when a car pulls up and your grandkids hop out on an amazingly beautiful day you have to find JOY!!!

And along with their smiling faces came handprinted signs and a dollar for a special treat!!

 The sun was shining and the temperatures were mid 70's.

I have managed to sneak into Lowes for a few flowers so that is also cause for happiness!

Sidewalk chalk has sustained us during these dreary times, and though it washes off about every third day.  So....we just redo!

It's been a happy day and for this I am so very grateful!

He Is Risen!.....

Easter Sunday and another mass celebrated in the shelter in place safety of my home.  This is becoming a situation that is nightmare like.  I am ever so grateful for the fact that if I cannot be there in church, I can participate.  Missing Easter mass would just be enough to throw me into severe depression so there is a positive in this.

Dinner was prepared with all the traditional foods just so it felt a bit okay.  It was us...just us and Drew, Heather, and Adeline at a distance....a six foot distance.  Thank heavens for beautiful weather because there is no coming inside when you are socially distanced.  

I cannot really express how I feel about this. It is what science fiction movies are made of.  Each day is long, and motivation to do anything is nonexistent. All these hours to dig into the things that have been on my to do list and I want to sit...period.  I think half the world feels like this.

On a positive note maybe tomorrow will be better.

Holy Saturday......

Today is Holy Saturday.  

The church is empty, just as everything was empty 2000 years ago.

Jesus was gone. 

 The apostles were frightened. 

 He said he would be back, but he was dead, buried, and they feared they would not see him again.  

The apostles were huddled together, quarantined, having no idea what was next.

That is how we are today.  It is rainy, dark, and dreary.  We wait patiently.  Easter is tomorrow.  We will worship with the bishop tomorrow from our living room.  We are thankful for technology so we can indeed share the joy of our Risen Savior.  

We will see the light again.  Jesus will not forsake us. Families will be reunited and life will go back to some new sort of normal.  Until then there is much to be thankful for and that is what we will focus on as we wait.....
Lord, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.
  Isaiah 33:2