Covid 19 || Intentional Time

Doing our best with our extra time.

We are 

CHOOSING TO BE INTENTIONAL

For me, that is making lists of things we can use this time for

like devotionals, bible verses, reading, projects, cooking, games...etc etc.

And I'm sure the boys would prefer I was a little less list oriented

but they are doing pretty well.

Sam had a hard time with missing the trip.  A week later, he seems to understand it's out of our control

and that we plan to travel at another time. Joe fluxuates between ok and not ok with being cooped up with family only - he's our social guy...

they completed all their elearning during the week with little prompting, I'm thankful for that.

We took some time this week to learn how to make biscuits and gravy

And Joe measured and made a homemade mallett keyboard to practice for band.

We used 2 bouncy balls and metal skewers for the sticks.

And we cleaned out our school paper treasures for the last couple years

and parted with some not as special ones but laughed over the ones we had forgotten!

Might have been more driveway ball...this does not always end as friends.

We are working on that.  

They are intentional with each other and their words...we can just leave it at that, ha!

One turned to baseball and the other to reading outside...I was pulling weeds and pruning a bush.

And thankful

 golf lessons are still allowed so we went over to French Lick for one of those

Joe and I went on a great walk - loved it!

There was no one in sight - anywhere.  

The hotel closed 2 days later until further notice.

And by the time we got back home, this guy had fallen asleep

We enjoyed a crock pot stew potatoes and carrots for supper.

It was delicious, but I am terrible at gravy, ha!

Sam's art assignment, Michaelango...(something, something) - I thought it was pretty cool.

Dan and Sam went to church today - Sam went for a small instruction class and Dan

went to receive tithes if people wanted to bring today.

Joe loading our church service today at home.

We watched Berea and Redemption - both had good messages. Thankful for our pastors who continue to lead in trepid times.  Our faith is critical in times like these.

Sam also prayed Psalm 91 over our family today.

I loved hearing him read the word.

Sneak peak of the red room repainted - and the old plug and play nintendo for some smiles.

We've had time for games this week!  We've played Apples to Apples,Sequence, Otrio and Scrabble.

We were terrible at Scrabble, seriously.  We laughed at ourselves.

We continue to watch Jeopardy together every night, we've all got a book going too

Covid 19 || The Pandemic

I guess you don't know what writing about living during a Pandemic will

feel like until you are in the midst of it.

Today, it feel remarkably like everyday life at our home.

We have been safe thus far. 

We are taking every single precaution recommended by the CDC and our government.

We are staying home, going to store only when necessary and combining trips out.

We have gotten take out to continue to support our local restaurants and only shopped in town

to support local stores AND limit our exposure. 

This doesn't mean we won't be exposed, or may have already been exposed.

It's not something that is entirely in our control.

For now, we are thankful for our health and provisions and remain positive!

The memes about COVID 19, the Coronavirus are endless.

This one, makes me chuckle.  Especially after that last post I made.   

We have been intentional about our (small) dinners.

We are wanting to protect Grandma and Grandpa who are healthy but are considered

in the at risk population.

There has been lots of drive way one v one

And the reality that our trip to Guatemala for Spring Break- that had been planned 

for months - had set in.

There was nothing left to do except figure out all the cancellation plans

and recoup of fees to the best of our abilities.

Research for mom on distinguishing features of Coronavirus, promising drugs,

questions that need answered, plans for my staff...

A fun little treat from Grandpa for the boys after they helped him put in wood last week!

Drinking the last of my Guatemala Coffee longing to visit a country that has my heart.

Messaging Sam's Guatemalan family to make sure they are safe and let them know travel is delayed for now.

Sitting on hold (not that bad 33 minutes) to make sure the flights would be able to be used again...

check. The same for hotel Barcelo with a spanish language barrier thrown in there, but we got thru that!

I 

Very Early numbers March 18

Gather.

Gather.

That word sure does have a far off meaning today.

Last week at this time we were asked to quarantine ourselves against groups 

larger than 50 to protect against spread of COVID 19.

School was put into elearning.

Church was cancelled.

Ball games were cancelled.

Everything (except pharmacy and farming, ha) was cancelled.

And last Sunday, I asked if everyone would like to come over for chili, taco salad and games.

We had so much fun.

We moved at a slow pace.

No where to rush off to...schedules were less full on Monday for most.

We gathered

We laughed

and

it will be awhile before we are able to gather like this again.

This week we are asked to keep groups less than 10.

The babies continue to be the center of attention.  They deserve it.

Cole and Taylor brought Aggravation and needless to say it is the longest most aggravating game ever!!! We had fun tho!

There was Sequence

And Otrio and Spades

And then What Would You Do while Quinn slept - we laughed pretty hard during this game.

Just a little cayenne pepper...never hurt anyone

Teen smiles are priceless.

Thankful for the ability to Gather.

Already looking forward to when we are able to Gather again.

And there will be a new babe in the group!  Hallelujah!