"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand."

Proverbs 19:21

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Hello From Home

Well, hello!  It's April.  The year was flying by and then, BAM.  

COVID-19 hit and now it's crawling by.  It's April 8th, which means we've been "sheltering in place" for going on 4 weeks now.  I remember when all the craziness started...  It was March 12th.  A Thursday.  My kids and I were having another crazy, hectic day.  Chris went to work.  Shaun went to school.  Jordan, Violet, and I did some schoolwork and then went to run errands.  It just so happened that it was time to buy toilet paper.  The younger kids and I went to Sam's almost specifically for this purpose, but guess what?  They were all sold out.  Sam's Club was a madhouse.  I mean, people everywhere.  Buying all of the bleach and toilet paper.  We found the few other things we came for and waited in line about 30 minutes to check out.  It was crazy!  Jordan's piano lesson had been moved to Thursday afternoon, so I was stressing that our Sam's trip was taking so long.  We made it to the lesson and then I rushed Kroger to get groceries.  I was in a hurry because Violet had soccer practice and I had to work, both starting at 6.  I had spoken to Chris a few hours earlier and he had told me that the leaders of our church (where he works) were considering calling it off for the next Sunday.  We hardly ever cancel church, so I just wrote it off.  But, as soon as I walked in to Kroger, right there in the produce aisle, my phone rang and I was informed that I didn't have to work that night after all because choir practice was cancelled... because of the virus.  

Okay, so that wasn't so bad because now I'd be able to be at soccer practice.  I bought groceries, which was a task because, like Sam's everybody was in there buying up all of the stuff.  Again.  By the time we were done I barely made it home in time to unload everything before I had to load everyone up in the car again head out to practice.  Oh, Jordan also had baseball practice.  Shaun had choir practice, but it was cancelled, so he went with Jordan.  Violet and I went back to Gainesville to meet up with Chris and head to soccer.  

Soccer was fun.  Chris was coaching again and all the parents seemed nice.  It would turn out to be our only practice.  :(

Later that night we learned that schools were being called off for... 1 week?  2?  I can't remember but now the school year is over and all of those kids are learning from home for the rest of the year.  I really do feel for all of the parents who were forced into at-home learning.  It can be quite an adjustment.  After that, everything just sort of shut down.  Soccer season, baseball, church.  Co-op classes, the YMCA, playgrounds, clothing stores.  

So, for the most part, we've been hanging out at home, all together.  This time has been hard on us because, even though we homeschool, we are rarely home.  Our days are usually packed with all of us running in different directions in the evenings.  Now, we're home.  Chris is still working, thank God.  I'm so grateful for his job.  He's doing a lot from home but has to go in a few times a week.  Shaun is doing his college work via Zoom.  Jordan and Violet are trucking right along with their schoolwork.  But, surprisingly, it isn't all that terrible.  We've caught up on our rest.  We've cleaned and organized things that we never had the time to do in the past.  I'm cooking more healthy meals.  We are spending time together.  I've grown closer to the Lord because I've joined about a million on-line Bible studies.  Life is simple.  

The fact that life is terrible for many people right now is not lost on me.  I know people are sick and dying.  I  know people are losing their jobs.  Even those who have been fortunate enough to keep their jobs are faced with uncertainties that they've never known before.  I mean, even going to the grocery store can kill you.  

I am no stranger to worry.  I struggle with anxiety and usually always imagine the worst possible outcome of any situation.  But this time, I'm surprisingly calm.  I'm concerned, yes.  But there's no panic in my heart.  I'm walking with a peace that can only come from the Lord.  I can't watch the news.  I can't listen to all of the conspiracy theories and statistics of this virus.  If I did, I know my mind would spiral out of control.  If I spiral, my whole house spirals.  So, I take precautions.  I've shielded myself from people who are panicking.  I pray a lot more.  I quote lots of scripture.  And I watch a lot of entertaining TV.  Tiger King, My 600 Pound Life.  And I'm making my way through the Twilight movies again.  I share funny memes.  I pray a lot.  I go for long walks.  Anything to keep my mind from spiraling.  It's working for now and I'm so thankful.  

 

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Trust God and Do Good

I know that I'm late to this game, but Joyce Meyer is becoming a favorite of mine.  Many of my friends are shaking their heads at me and muttering, "I told you so" because in the past I have not been very quiet about how I didn't care for her.  Why?  I don't really  remember, but I think that sometime, long ago, I heard someone say that her teachings weren't Biblical.  I added to this the fact that her voice drives me insane and I threw Ms Meyer out of the circle of people I allowed to minister to me. 

Fast forward twenty years.  One of my good friends gifted me a copy of Battlefield of the Mind.  I grudgingly accepted the gift, but not before I let my friend Jennifer know that I didn't care for Joyce.  Jennifer told me to read it anyway.  So I did.  And it was life-changing.  If you struggle with depression, anxiety, anger, negative feelings, basically anything at all... you should read this book. 

Lesson learned.  A short time later, my friend Dana gifted me another copy of The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word.  (Thank you, Lord, for putting these women in my life.)  I keep this book in a makeup bag in my purse so I can whip it out every time I need to combat one of my "feelings" with scripture.  Again, life-changing.

It's January and my family has been fasting along with our church.  I've been trying to fill my mind with positive messages during this time, so I turned on a Joyce Meyer podcast in the car the other day.  I was listening to a series about having trust in God and she kept saying the words "Trust God and Do Good".  How simple, but how true.  When you're mad and upset.  When life is not fair.  When you're sad and crying and frustrated with your teenager... just trust God and do good.  When your college student acts like an entitled brat... trust God and do good.  When your seven year old has a dramatic tantrum and you want to run away and hide from all the madness...trust God and do good.  

I've been trying to remember to repeat this phrase to myself when one of these little situations presents itself to me.  Before I open my mouth to yell and become "Monster Mom", quietly whispering "Trust God and do good" to myself has really been helping me parent my children in a way that's better for all of us.  My family is complicated, like most families are.  We have three kids in three different stages of life with a few extra issues thrown in.  Most days I feel like I'm in some kind of sick reality show or a social experiment on mental health.  But God knows what He's doing, even when I forget that He knows what He's doing and try to do everything my way.   

Trust God and do good.  I am a mom.  My children are my responsibility.  Sometimes I look at them and cry because I love them so much.  Other times I look at them and cry because I think I could kill them with my bare hands and what kind of person feels that way about her own children?  Trust God and do good.  "Doing good" by my children does not mean yelling and losing my temper on a daily basis.  Yes, they may deserve it, but what good does all the yelling really do?  In our family, it makes things worse.  So lately, quietly muttering "Trust God and do good" through my clenched teeth before I respond to whatever chaos I'm dealing with has really helped all of get along better.  No, I don't remember every time, but I'm getting better.  

I certainly am not qualified to give out spiritual or parenting advice, but this was on my heart today and I felt like I should share.  

Until next time, 
Trust God and do good!



 

Monday, January 6, 2020

11:00 Ramblings

It's 11:20 p.m.  Time to sleep, but I'm wound up!

The kids and I spent some time outside today and it was so good for our souls.  The weather was beautiful today, but the rain is supposed to be back tomorrow.  Or so I read.  We'll see.

I had work tonight, so it was late when we got home.  It's also the beginning of January, so we're fasting.  I was SO hungry when we got home at 10:00.  Chris brought a salad home for my dinner.  Then I had some Smart Food popcorn.  I finished the day with 2 WW points left.  

I joined WW.  Again.  It has gone horribly so far.  I gained .8 pounds since I started before Christmas, which I realize isn't terrible.  Today has been the first day that I haven't started out well and then blew it at dinner.  I celebrate this.  

Sometimes I look at my kids and feel so proud of them that I could burst.  And then five minutes later I want to strangle them with my bare hands to shut their smart mouths.  Anyone else?!?!?

I'm currently reading My Sunshine Away by M.  O.  Walsh.  It is mildly good.  Barely holding my interest but I do want to see how it ends, so....

I've also started a reading plan for the New Testament.  

I've become obsessed with true crime podcasts and now my paranoia has increased.  I trust no one and I find myself being more observant so that I can be a helpful witness if a crime is ever committed and I find myself being questioned by the police.  

I'm wondering if Netflix is even worth it anymore, since Friends is gone.  If they get rid of The Office, our relationship is over.  

 I only drank water today.  

When my husband told me to start writing again, I don't think this is what  he had in mind.