It's been a while since I've written an update.
Like many of you, I'm slowly adjusting to our current normal. There are definitely some days that are better than others.
I enjoy the 'commute' to work each day, the fact that I don't feel rushed each morning. I'm glad to have a full kitchen to find lunch each day rather than going to a gas station or drive through to find food. The always available snacks is another issue...
I'm grateful for having a lot of family under one roof. They've been extremely helpful with Jacob and not only his distance-learning, but just helping him get through a day where he doesn't sit in front of screen the entire day because I get caught up on work. The past couple of weeks, we've spent Friday nights watching Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals on YouTube. We share a meal almost every night. We get on each others' nerves. :)
I've enjoyed quite a few video chats and online game nights with family and friends. The warmer weather is very welcomed and getting outside for a walk makes for a nice break.
I sat in a meeting this afternoon as we start to discuss what reopening the Y looks like. And I think what hasn't hit me yet, what I haven't allowed myself to think about yet is what our world will look like as we start to open things back up. There will still need to be many adjustments and changes and things will not look the same. And I do feel some fear when I think about how that will look, hence why I've avoided thinking about it.
It make me sad Jacob won't have a chance to go back to school to finish the year. The divisive political fights exhaust me. I miss seeing friends, family and co-workers in person. I probably give Jacob way too many hugs and for way too long because I'm unable to hug other people I care about.
How are all of you hanging in there?
Friday, April 24, 2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
COVID-19 Quotes & Memories
I'll be continuously updating this post with memories, quotes and short stories I want to remember from our COVID-19 Days....
--
*At a fairly crowded grocery store, we ran into some family
Me: "...yeah, Dad is home sick today."
Jacob (rather loudly): "Yeah, he has the coronavirus!"
Me (slightly horrified): "SHHHHHH, you can't say that sort of thing!"
--
After coming home from a long day at work where we announced a temporary closure...
Dad: So, are you out of a job?
Me: Who, me? No! I've never been busier! I might not get paid... but I've never been busier!
#nonprofitlife #communicationsdirector
--
After reading a work email on my phone, I sighed fairly heavily. Jacob looked at me concerned and asked, "Did you get fired?!"
No idea what prompted that! Haha And no, I did not get fired!!
--
Some of Jacob's new independent playtime activities have included the King of the Coronavirus and bad guys stealing our internet....
--
Nana was helping Jacob with some school work. They were having some issues with technology and the internet and Jacob kept asking to take a break. Megan came down to check on them and said, "Maybe you should take a break before everyone gets crabby." And Jacob promptly says, "That's what I'm looking for! I needed Megan to say we can take a break!" :)
--
Jacob has weekly check-ins with his teacher and a small group of students on Google Meets. The other day, they were doing a "role-call song". Jacob decided I needed to play along so I got to sing with the group! "I see... *whispering*, Jacob, what's the name of one of your friends??" hahaha
--
While helping Jacob with his school work, Megan said, "You know, you could be done with this assignment already if you quit being silly." And Jacob replied, "If I didn't get the goofys from my daddy!" True fact.
--
*At a fairly crowded grocery store, we ran into some family
Me: "...yeah, Dad is home sick today."
Jacob (rather loudly): "Yeah, he has the coronavirus!"
Me (slightly horrified): "SHHHHHH, you can't say that sort of thing!"
--
After coming home from a long day at work where we announced a temporary closure...
Dad: So, are you out of a job?
Me: Who, me? No! I've never been busier! I might not get paid... but I've never been busier!
#nonprofitlife #communicationsdirector
--
After reading a work email on my phone, I sighed fairly heavily. Jacob looked at me concerned and asked, "Did you get fired?!"
No idea what prompted that! Haha And no, I did not get fired!!
--
Some of Jacob's new independent playtime activities have included the King of the Coronavirus and bad guys stealing our internet....
--
Nana was helping Jacob with some school work. They were having some issues with technology and the internet and Jacob kept asking to take a break. Megan came down to check on them and said, "Maybe you should take a break before everyone gets crabby." And Jacob promptly says, "That's what I'm looking for! I needed Megan to say we can take a break!" :)
--
Jacob has weekly check-ins with his teacher and a small group of students on Google Meets. The other day, they were doing a "role-call song". Jacob decided I needed to play along so I got to sing with the group! "I see... *whispering*, Jacob, what's the name of one of your friends??" hahaha
--
While helping Jacob with his school work, Megan said, "You know, you could be done with this assignment already if you quit being silly." And Jacob replied, "If I didn't get the goofys from my daddy!" True fact.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
April 8, 2020: Letting Go
I just finished reading a devotional from She Reads Truth. And there were a few parts that really hit home for me. Especially today as Governor Walz announced he is extending Minnesota's stay-at-home order until May 4.
There are a lot of thoughts and opinions out on social media regarding our current situation and the actions we either are or aren't taking. I don't need to tell you that. People have things to say. Many believe they alone are right. Many people see this through a lens of "this is being taken away from me".
And this is where today's devotional felt timely.
As adults, there are things that we hold most dear. It varies for each person. "But when someone tries to lay a hand on our precious commodities, you better believe we can still throw a toddler-size tantrum. Our fists close tighter and tighter around the stuff that gives our lives meaning."
Are you feeling similar right now? Do you feel like the things in your life that give you so much meaning are being taken from you?
Maybe this is a clue that we've lost sight of the only one who can bring true meaning into our lives.
The devotion goes on to say that throughout the Bible, there are accounts were God asks people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel. One is the story of Abraham, asked to sacrifice his son. Another is Mary of Bethany who gives without being asked, anointing Jesus in perfume.
The question I found myself asking (myself) is do I struggle to hand over what I think gives me meaning, do I struggle to hand over a false idol, do I struggle to hand over whatever it is God is asking me to hand over? Or can I give freely? Ask yourself the same question. Do you have an easy answer?
"We must loosen our grip on earthly things and focus our eyes on heavenly things."
To me, this parallels what we're being asked to give up with this stay-at-home order, with businesses being closed, gatherings cancelled. It's hard to loosen that grip on the routine of our daily lives. It's hard to make such drastic changes and with such little time to prepare.
But just as God would ask "people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel", we are being asked to loosen our grip for the sake of others. We are being asked to trust our leaders, trust the experts. By staying home, by social distancing, by limited contact with others, we are savings lives. We are providing necessary time to allow additional resources to be found and prepared. We are making a difference. What is being asked of us is not easy and yes, there are consequences. But to me, those consequences have solutions that are easier to find than allowing thousands to die and our healthcare systems to be overrun.
What is that you're still trying to hold on to? What would it look like if you let it go temporarily? What happens when we take the time to remember that Jesus is the true meaning of our lives?
Remember, God gave up His own perfect Son as the Lamb on our behalf. My behalf. Your behalf. Rejoice and rest with that thought. And Trust in Him.
There are a lot of thoughts and opinions out on social media regarding our current situation and the actions we either are or aren't taking. I don't need to tell you that. People have things to say. Many believe they alone are right. Many people see this through a lens of "this is being taken away from me".
And this is where today's devotional felt timely.
As adults, there are things that we hold most dear. It varies for each person. "But when someone tries to lay a hand on our precious commodities, you better believe we can still throw a toddler-size tantrum. Our fists close tighter and tighter around the stuff that gives our lives meaning."
Are you feeling similar right now? Do you feel like the things in your life that give you so much meaning are being taken from you?
Maybe this is a clue that we've lost sight of the only one who can bring true meaning into our lives.
The devotion goes on to say that throughout the Bible, there are accounts were God asks people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel. One is the story of Abraham, asked to sacrifice his son. Another is Mary of Bethany who gives without being asked, anointing Jesus in perfume.
The question I found myself asking (myself) is do I struggle to hand over what I think gives me meaning, do I struggle to hand over a false idol, do I struggle to hand over whatever it is God is asking me to hand over? Or can I give freely? Ask yourself the same question. Do you have an easy answer?
"We must loosen our grip on earthly things and focus our eyes on heavenly things."
To me, this parallels what we're being asked to give up with this stay-at-home order, with businesses being closed, gatherings cancelled. It's hard to loosen that grip on the routine of our daily lives. It's hard to make such drastic changes and with such little time to prepare.
But just as God would ask "people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel", we are being asked to loosen our grip for the sake of others. We are being asked to trust our leaders, trust the experts. By staying home, by social distancing, by limited contact with others, we are savings lives. We are providing necessary time to allow additional resources to be found and prepared. We are making a difference. What is being asked of us is not easy and yes, there are consequences. But to me, those consequences have solutions that are easier to find than allowing thousands to die and our healthcare systems to be overrun.
What is that you're still trying to hold on to? What would it look like if you let it go temporarily? What happens when we take the time to remember that Jesus is the true meaning of our lives?
Remember, God gave up His own perfect Son as the Lamb on our behalf. My behalf. Your behalf. Rejoice and rest with that thought. And Trust in Him.
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