Corona quarantine

Here’s an update on what’s going down at LYA during the Corona quarantine. 

Hey friends, how are you doing? What a crazy couple of weeks it has been. I can not believe how quickly things shifted in the last two weeks. This Corona virus has completely turned our lives upside down hasn’t it? To think that this has affected us globally is just mind blowing. Since I’m spending lots of time at home, I figured I would share thoughts on this Corona quarantine and some ways we can get through it together. 

Last weekend, I was supposed to go away for a weekend trip with my girlfriends to Chicago. Two weeks before the trip, I was still planning to go. One week before the trip, everything in Chicago went on lockdown. Then, we went into quarantine mode. It all  escalated so very quickly.

You probably know that I’m a busy body and always up to something whether that’s a renovation, DIY project or baking up a yummy treat. The quarantine has forced me to wind back a few dials, not do ALL the things and be okay with it. Okay, that’s a lie. It has still kept me busy tending to the kids with schooling and feeding them a gazillion meals and snacks but I’ve scaled back quite a bit especially with work. 

Jimmy started working from home and I have been busy helping the kids with their online school work. It has been an adjustment for sure but we are tremendously lucky for the ability to work from home, have a roof over our heads and a pantry full of food. I know so many are not as lucky and I am praying this passes soon.

My parents are small business owners and I feel for them along with all the other businesses that are facing uncertainty and a huge profit loss. We have made it a point to try to support as many local businesses during this pandemic. This means buying take out if the restaurant is open, seeking out local online shops. When you’re getting groceries, sometimes they carry local brands so try to buy those options. I already feel a slower pace in my own work and I know I won’t be staging many homes in the near future. Some of my brand partnerships have also taken a pause for the time being given the unique circumstance.

At home, we have been spending more time together. One night, Emmy and I made a ton of hairpins. I used to sell them many years ago with a friend and it was fun creating them again. If you want a tutorial on how to make them, I saved them on my Instagram highlights so just watch the videos there. They make the perfect little gifts. 

Here are some great game ideas if you’re looking for some fun ones from Amazon. Last night, we played the Left Center Right dice game and the kids loved it. Some of our other favorite games are apples to apples, Settlers of Catan, Skippity and Sequence. I have also been having way too much making TikTok videos. Come find me at loveyourabode! The kids and I have been laughing (mostly at me) because the videos are just too hilarious. Laughter is truly the best way to get through this time. 

Leave some flowers at someone’s door. I promise, they will really cheer them up! I think this is also a great time to check on your neighbors especially the elderly who live alone. Ask if you can pick up anything from the store for them. 

Facetime with your family and friends. Thank goodness for the gift of technology because we can still connect with each other virtually.

We have been enjoying house church on Sundays since our church has online services. If you are looking for worship catered to elementary kids, I really encourage you to check out the online services at Northpoint. It is so good! 

I hope you are all hanging in there. Remember to check up on your friends and family. I am reminded that when things around us seem to be unsteady and there is so much uncertainty, we can trust that God is in control.

One of my kids finally had a mini breakdown the other day. The sudden change in their routine was hard and they missed their friends along with their sports that they were so looking forward to this season.I think it’s important to allow ourselves to feel sad and disappointed but not sit too long on them and remember that everyone else is in the same boat.

We talked about perspective which led to an attitude of gratitude and that helped shift those feelings a bit. There is naturally still some disappointment and sadness but it really helped to talk about it and address those emotions in a healthy way. Plus, it led us to think how we can serve others during this time. I encourage you to talk to your kids about this. Let them share their emotions instead of telling them to just make the best of it. We are all trying our best and it’s especially important to guide our kids through their feelings whether it be confusion or disappointment. 

As important as online school is for them right now, I think it’s even more important to teach life skills. Whether we realize it now, we are teaching our kids what to do when we face challenges and how to face disappointment, loss and uncertainty. Plus, this is a great opportunity to teach them life skills like washing those dishes, laundry and all the other chores that come with being a considerate, responsible human. At the same time, I’m giving myself grace and not stressing so much over all the online school they have to finish as well as other things that are out of my control right now. 

I am tremendously grateful for our health care professionals who are on the front lines every single day taking care of our citizens. I’m also grateful for all the grocery store employees, delivery drivers and all those who are working hard during this crisis. I’m a naturally positive person but I have found myself getting worried about our parents and their welfare. It’s definitely an act of trust everyday that God will take care of them. 

If you are looking for another way to help during this time, I know the Red Cross really needs people to donate blood. If you are able, please check out their website to find out how you can do this. 

Let me know what you are doing to pass the time. I would to hear your ideas. I hope you are all staying safe and not buying up all the toilet paper. I will continue to keep this space an inspiring and encouraging place on the internet so be on the lookout for some posts with DIY projects and recipes. Sending you all hugs! You can always find me on the gram sharing lots of happenings over there. 

xoxo,

 

 

 

Let all that you do be done in Love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

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