The good news: I have had more time to post on this blog.
The bad news: I don't know if anyone follows it anymore.
The good news: We have saved money not traveling to work or activities.
The bad news: It all goes into groceries that disappear faster than normal.
The good news: We have food to eat.
The bad news: When you notice your sweatpants are getting tighter around the waistline.
The good news: We both still have jobs that we can work from home.
The bad news: That might change if we don't have sports for a while (Jason is the assistant activities director at SMSU, and does the athletic events)
The good news: He has a possible job to fall back on.
The bad news: It's horseshoeing.
The good news: School gets done earlier in the day for the kids.
The bad news: Some days it's because this teacher is "done" (actually we get it all done, but assignments that require writing sentences around here usually end up in frustration on both sides.)
The good news: Some family members have new hobbies.
The bad news: One hobby is staying up late and sleeping more during the day.
The good news: We have time for more activities as a family.
The bad news: Jason just thinks that activity should always be splitting firewood.
The good news: We are playing more games together.
The bad news: Not many games work well for 8 players ranging from ages 3-46.
The good news: Technology is great during this time!
The bad news: Technology can be evil during this time!
The good news: I have little fear that anyone will see how messy my house is.
The bad news: My house is messy.
The good news: Mass at home is easier to get everyone ready for.
The bad news: We miss receiving the Sacraments with our church family and hope everyone is ok.
The good news: Through all of this, we have faith that God is with us and we'll be fine no matter what.
The bad news: Not many believe that and many struggle with our new reality.
"And now with all our heart we follow you, we fear you and seek your face. Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy. Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord!...Let them know that you are the Lord, the only God, glorious over the whole world...Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods, sing praise to him and give thanks to him, for his mercy endures forever." Daniel 3:18-20a, 22, 68
2024
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Dress up days
Before the idea came out on social media, I told Faith we should do "dress up days" like they do in school and sent it out to family members and have them share their photos. As usual, I am more ideas, less execution, but Bella took it upon herself to come up with her own dress up days this past week, no help at all, with the exception of getting it on.
Jersey day - yes she is wearing toddler-sized football shoulder pads
Dress like a cowboy
Super hero day
Jersey day - yes she is wearing toddler-sized football shoulder pads
Dress like a cowboy
Super hero day
Week 1
I can't say how many days we've actually been "at home" and it differs for many because some went into hiding before others and some waited until the most recent "Stay Home" initiative. What I do know is that we had our 1st week of "work from home" and "distance learning" or as I am now referring to it as, the School of Lock(down), and I am the assistant principal/teacher, Mrs. QuaranTina.
The first 2 days had it's challenges, most of which included learning the in's and out's of all these apps on school devices that I probably should have known about, but honestly haven't done much with. Challenge #2 is child #6. She loves having her siblings home, but now that they have to be occupied with schoolwork and not playing with her constantly, she is not enjoying that much. Parent guilt comes in when I have to occupy her with technology just so we can get a Zoom meeting in (or 1st grade Language Arts) both of which require my attention and leave me with little patience.
Next week will be an even bigger challenge as the 3 older kids begin their schooling and we will then find out how good our internet service is. Until then, we are going to enjoy our time inside together (not like the weather is giving us an option) and gather up the energy to start a new normal, for now.
#staysafe #stayhome #coronavirussucks
The first 2 days had it's challenges, most of which included learning the in's and out's of all these apps on school devices that I probably should have known about, but honestly haven't done much with. Challenge #2 is child #6. She loves having her siblings home, but now that they have to be occupied with schoolwork and not playing with her constantly, she is not enjoying that much. Parent guilt comes in when I have to occupy her with technology just so we can get a Zoom meeting in (or 1st grade Language Arts) both of which require my attention and leave me with little patience.
Next week will be an even bigger challenge as the 3 older kids begin their schooling and we will then find out how good our internet service is. Until then, we are going to enjoy our time inside together (not like the weather is giving us an option) and gather up the energy to start a new normal, for now.
#staysafe #stayhome #coronavirussucks
Thursday, March 19, 2020
The "C" word
With an ever-dwindling calendar and before the kids begin "Distance Learning", I feel now is a good time as ever to drop in a post on my less-frequented blog. When we look back on this time, the words "Coronavirus" and "COVID-19" will either seem like a time when we learned a lot, or we lost a lot, or maybe even both, but hopefully it will be a time that we get down to what really matters.
Our kids have lost some things that are very important to them, time with friends, tournaments not played, challenges not met, events not attended and opportunities they had to let go of...for now.
What I hope we gain through this is a sense of what is really important. That we are together as a family and not ripped apart from a dictator who wants to kill us because of our beliefs. As Father Mike Schmitz videoed today, something that can never be taken away from us during this or any time, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I think back to Saint Maximillian Kolbe who was thrown into a concentration camp room to die of starvation after he offered to take someone's place. What did he have? Prayer. He didn't have much choice but to fast, but I imagine he offered up his pain and suffering to the Lord. Almsgiving - he never stopped putting others before himself, even when he seemingly had nothing to offer.
I asked everyone at the dinner table last night to think of ways we can help. I can say I was a little disgusted when everyone said, "Nothing. We can't do anything to help. We're not supposed to go out and help." Point not taken! We'll have to keep working on that one...
Some positives I have taken away so far (we're not many days into it, so it just feels a little like a break) is that we have this opportunity to be fully together, no activities, no expectations, no events to plan for. As an introvert, so far, the social distancing part is not an issue whatsoever, but I have found myself working to communicate better with those who need the interaction. Some of us have embraced learning new things or working on organizing the messes that have gotten away from us. Bella has enjoyed having all of her siblings around as well as the opportunity to play with them more since they can't be distracted by other kids. The kids that need the social interaction more are utilizing technology, which has been a balancing act, but during this time when their worlds have been turned upside-down, I have been allowing them that time to socialize in that sense.
So, as we journey on this uncharted path together, my prayers are with the world and that this pandemic brings out the best version of humanity, verses the ones that hoard toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and that we will see the beauty of creation in each other through God's eyes.
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
Our kids have lost some things that are very important to them, time with friends, tournaments not played, challenges not met, events not attended and opportunities they had to let go of...for now.
What I hope we gain through this is a sense of what is really important. That we are together as a family and not ripped apart from a dictator who wants to kill us because of our beliefs. As Father Mike Schmitz videoed today, something that can never be taken away from us during this or any time, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I think back to Saint Maximillian Kolbe who was thrown into a concentration camp room to die of starvation after he offered to take someone's place. What did he have? Prayer. He didn't have much choice but to fast, but I imagine he offered up his pain and suffering to the Lord. Almsgiving - he never stopped putting others before himself, even when he seemingly had nothing to offer.
I asked everyone at the dinner table last night to think of ways we can help. I can say I was a little disgusted when everyone said, "Nothing. We can't do anything to help. We're not supposed to go out and help." Point not taken! We'll have to keep working on that one...
Some positives I have taken away so far (we're not many days into it, so it just feels a little like a break) is that we have this opportunity to be fully together, no activities, no expectations, no events to plan for. As an introvert, so far, the social distancing part is not an issue whatsoever, but I have found myself working to communicate better with those who need the interaction. Some of us have embraced learning new things or working on organizing the messes that have gotten away from us. Bella has enjoyed having all of her siblings around as well as the opportunity to play with them more since they can't be distracted by other kids. The kids that need the social interaction more are utilizing technology, which has been a balancing act, but during this time when their worlds have been turned upside-down, I have been allowing them that time to socialize in that sense.
So, as we journey on this uncharted path together, my prayers are with the world and that this pandemic brings out the best version of humanity, verses the ones that hoard toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and that we will see the beauty of creation in each other through God's eyes.
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
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