ISOLATION Ain't for the Faint of Heart

This is sooooooooooooooo me right now!!!!

*Hair is impossible

*Feeling fat but not sassy

*Looking for my next sugar fix

My ISOLATION SELF is not a pretty sight…and don’t even begin to ask me about my ISOLATION BRAIN!!!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  We are hanging in there but my rope is getting really frazzled!!!  

Gotta remember this one:

                 Hope you are hanging in there!  

Love & hugs!

CORONA QUESTIONS & MUSINGS

I was browsing around looking for some new blogs to read and I came across one that evidently just asks questions!  Not sure I quite understood but it did give me the idea for this post. (Hope the writer doesn't mind me "borrowing" these questions.) My blog is partly a personal journal and a place for me to preserve some of my thoughts and feelings.  During this TERRIBLE time I think it might do us all good to do some reflecting.  Through reflection we can learn and grow; through reflection we can gain insight into our souls and discover thoughts and feelings we never realized we had.

1 – What is something you are doing due to the pandemic that you normally don’t do? After the pandemic will you continue to do this?

I really can’t think of anything that I’m doing that I don’t normally do.  I have about exhausted any projects I can do right now.  I’ve cleaned, organized, and done yard work until there’s no more to do!!!  I have been reading more and doing lots of crossword puzzles, but I’m about tired of those.  I WANT TO GO OUT AND SEE THE WORLD!!!!

2 - What made you happy, sad, or frustrated today? List, all big and/or small, as there may be some of one or all of these feelings!

Since I’m writing this on Easter Sunday, something that made me VERY SAD is that I didn’t get to attend church☹  Talked to my 91 yr. old mother today and she and I agreed that we didn’t think in our entire lives we had ever missed church on Easter.

Something that made me happy was that my son, DIL, and two grands came for Easter lunch.  I know we probably should be social distancing from each other and we mostly are, but it’s a decision we’ve made and hopefully we won’t regret it.  As usual, I hid eggs for the GRANDS to find…now that they are older (17 & 13) the eggs are filled with $$$$ instead of candy.  Even the 17 yr. old loves it😊 

I have really felt sadder and more frustrated today than I have so far.  Hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

3- What is one of the first things you will do when the pandemic is over?

GET MY HAIR CUT AND COLORED!!!!!  Finally did order some “Root Spray” but it doesn’t get all those little grays!!!

4 – Are you an essential employee or do you know someone who is? Is this affecting you in some way? 

No, I’m retired and so is hubby.  However, my sister is a nurse in a relatively large hospital.  Please send up a prayer for her…her name is Wanda.  My son is in banking and DIL works at City Hall so they are working but social distancing as much as possible.  I worry about all of them.

5 – What are you doing to destress during this stressful time?

Evidently not enough!!!!    

I guess the one thing I am doing is PRAYING…a lot!!!

6 – Have you tried any new recipes during this time? Please share your recipe if you want to.

I’ve been meaning to do this but haven’t yet.  It will mean more grocery shopping and I’m trying to do that as little as possible.  We are eating out of the freezer and pantry.  Unfortunately, I am eating TOO MUCH.  When I get bored, I eat...and eat...and eat!

7- Where is the last place you visited on-line?

FACEBOOK.  At least it helps me stay connected to the outside world!!!

9- What is one thing you wish you had bought before the quarantine?

I wish so much I had a big jigsaw puzzle.  Sure would help with the boredom and monotony.    (Oh, and....chocolate...lots of chocolate!)

10- What fear/fears do you have for once the whole virus situation is over?

I try not to think about this too much, but of course I am concerned for our economy.  I pray for those who are being affected financially.  I also am concerned for our school children.  Even though studies continue at home, it’s not the same as being with their teachers.  A lot will be lost that I’m not sure all the children can regain.  As a retired teacher, I know that there are children at home who have no one to really help or encourage them. I am reading a lot about how there will be many with mental/emotional problems as a result of all the isolation.  But I know God is in control, and I can take all my fears to Him.

11-What are some positive things you hope will come out of all this?

My hope and my prayer is that we will become a kinder and gentler world.  I hope that we will all realize just how much we have to be grateful for and that we lift our hearts in praise to God for all He has given us.  I would love for our government officials to find a way to work together instead of always seeming to fight and work against each other.  I pray that those who have never accepted Christ as their Savior will realize that He is real and that He wants to be a part of their lives.  I hope that our economy will once again strengthen and that we will learn not to have to depend on other countries for our drugs and other necessities.  I hope that we can all learn valuable lessons and go forward doing our BEST to make the world a better place.  I have HOPE.

If you have the time, I would love for you to choose at least one question and share your answer.  I NEED SOMETHING NEW TO READ!!!

Love & Hugs!

CORONA EASTER

Once again I am behind in writing my blog and in reading others.  You would think will all this isolation I would have been an avid blogger!!!! My only excuse is that my brain has either been pre-occupied with trying to stay sane or I just haven’t had anything to write about!  I still don’t have anything glorious, funny, or possibly even interesting to entertain you with, but here’s what I got….

HAPPY CORONA EASTER!  

And what a strange Easter it will be.  In fact I think this will be the first Easter in my entire life that I won’t be in church on Easter Sunday….and that makes me very sad.  (We will be listening to my fabulous preacher on the radio though.)  And I will be having my son, DIL, grandson and granddaughter for Easter dinner.  We are not sheltering from each other totally, although we are all sheltering as much as possible in our own homes…or wearing masks for work, etc.

The menu will consist of:  Chicken Pie, Sweet Potato Casserole, Peas, Deviled Eggs, Chicken Fingers for the kids, and Strawberry Shortcake with homemade Pound Cake.  It will be such a blessing (even more so this year) to sit around the table, hold hands, and hear my husband say grace.  My husband and I always hold hands when we bless our food, but it’s so much extra special when the whole family is involved.

My 13 (almost 14) yr. old granddaughter has once again requested an Egg Hunt, but instead of candy there will be $$$$$.  Even her 16 yr. old brother will get into that!!!!               By the way, this is what he's getting in his Easter basket...he loves craves these things!!!

I always looked forward to Easter Sunday when I was growing up.  Not only did I get a basketful of treats, but I also got a brand new dress for church and most of the time a new hat to match😊  My Mama made every Easter dress I ever wore….even into high school.  And we always wore white gloves and as a little girl I wore those little white socks with lace around them and either new black or white patent leather shoes.  I felt sooooo pretty😊

This Easter my church will be empty without my church family,but I recently saw something that said it’s OK because the tomb was empty too.  I am so blessed that my mother took me to church from the time I was an infant (yet my father never darkened the door of the church that I ever knew of), and when I was 9 years old I boldly walked to the front of my little church and told my preacher I wanted to accept Christ as my Savior.  I was able to do that because Christ was willing to die for me and for my sins and then rise from the dead, leaving the empty tomb behind. 

One of my hopes is that some good things will come out of this virus pandemic situation…and I do believe there will be some good.  But the best possible thing that could come out of it is that more people will come to realize that GOD IS REAL and that He wants to be their Savior.  My Sunday School class has been praying for a friend of a friend who has been an atheist.  However, he is now asking for prayer due to having the corona virus.  Praise God! 

I hope all of you reading this are well and that you are 

wearing your masks

washing your hands...

using your hand sanitizer...

sheltering in place as much as possible...

and using supplies wisely…teehee!

 Let’s kick this virus’ butt right out the door!  I’m ready to get back to NORMAL…well, that is if I ever was normal…LOL!!!

                            I  sure  miss  hugging!!!!

Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive

Hey, You...Get Off of My Cloud!

If you do, "I Will Survive" (and you will too)

But if you get too close "I'll Fly Away!"

(Sorry....just a little "beer virus" humor!)

Isolation is for the birds….well, guess that’s not true.  They seem to be flying around rather freely these days!  Sure wish I could.  I am doing my best to stay away from as many people as possible, not only so that I will be following the rules set up by my local and state governments; but also because it’s the best thing for my health since I have asthma.  I want to protect myself and my family as much as possible, but it sure is hard not to get out and see people.   I did go out to the cemetery for a few minutes, but I wasn’t worried about anyone there giving me those evil germs.   So…what have I been doing while in prison isolation?

One of my least favorite jobs….cleaning out flower beds.  We are planning on relandscaping some areas but won’t be able to get the plants until after all this craziness is over.  By then it might be winter!

HOMESCHOOLING.  One grandchild is in 10^th grade and the other is in 8^th, and let me tell you….what is being taught these days is soooooo much harder than when I was in school.  In fact, I’m not sure I would have ever graduated if I had to do all that they do.  I mean, I know we learned about cells but I’m pretty sure we didn’t have to learn the names and definitions of all the hundreds zillion different cells swimming around in our bodies.  

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I have a Master’s degree but sometimes I honestly have no idea about some of the things they are learning.  I am helping them when possible (and they both have called on me a few times these past two weeks), but doing school online can be very difficult when you are used to having a teacher and the structure of a classroom.  My grandchildren are hanging in there, but I know many children don’t have anyone at home directing their path and keeping them focused.  Please pray for them...and for their teachers who truly care.

I have organized closets (color coordinated), cleaned out cabinets, and found dust bunnies I didn’t even know I had.  Guess there are at least a few positive outcomes of this devil's handiwork.

 Another positive outcome has been that in many homes, parents are spending more time with their children than they are normally able to.  Have you seen the new game going around…the one that pulls parent and child together as they travail their town looking for TEDDY BEARS in windows, behind trees, or hiding in bushes?  We are doing it in our little town and one friend recently reported finding over 235!!!!  But it’s not only fun for the young, because two “oldies” whose name I won’t mention jumped on our their golf cart and went looking too😊  Such a fun way to soothe some cabin fever and the “I’m bored” syndrome.   (And yes, my sweet teddy is sitting in his own little chair on the front porch!)

Of course, I’m reading, doing crosswords, walking in the neighborhood (keeping my distance from any other walkers), and finishing up some projects that have been on the back burner for awhile.  Things like cleaning out my computer files and favorites, making out menus, and going through mountains a few recipes I’ve collected.  If only I could get to Wal-Mart to pick up some spray paint, I would be painting up a storm!  I am not a “sitter”….I have to constantly be doing something.  I am beginning to understand how those poor animals in cages at the zoo feel☹    

One negative of this whole situation is that by staying home I am doing way too much of this…..

and none of this.      

I’ve hidden the bathroom scales for now!!!!!

Another positive in all this sadness and fear is that GOD still knows how to put on His spring nature show.  The azaleas and dogwoods are blooming and so I get to enjoy those as I walk the neighborhood.  And once again a sweet little cardinal couple is building their nest in the candlier on our front porch.  If the mean old cats or some other unwelcome visitor doesn’t bother them, we will get to enjoy waiting for the eggs to hatch and then watching mama and daddy feed their little ones.  Definitely something to look forward to!

I am 70 years old young and so I don’t have any memories of the Great Depression or WWI or II.  I do remember having those drills in school during the Cold War where we had to dive under our desks when the alarm was sounded…and I remember my neighbor digging this HUGE hole in his backyard that I was hoping was going to be a neighborhood swimming pool but instead was a fallout shelter.  (This worried me tremendously…thinking that if the worst happened his family would be safe inside that shelter while my family was annihilated!)  But other than that (which turned out to be nothing) I have never seen or really even imagined anything like what we are going through today.  I can’t help but ask, "Is this God's wake-up call for all of us?"      I am so tired of seeing and hearing people from our highest government to my local community argue, put down each other, and just be plain mean.  I’m not trying to say I know what God is up to, but I am praying that maybe, just maybe, at least some of our world will now appreciate the blessings we have and learn to live in love and peace with all people.

I pray that you and your family and friends are safe and well, and I ask that you pray for my family and me too.  WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER... if we just love one another, care for one another, and PRAY PRAY PRAY!     Keep washing those hands and distancing yourself….go clean out some closets and find some dust bunnies to sweep away.  This too shall pass.

IN THE FACE OF THE STORM

If you are like me (and most of America), you have concerns about what is going on all around us.  Not only are we faced with an unknown virus for which there is no vaccine or medicines to cure it; but we are also faced with empty shelves at our local grocery and big box stores, feeling the need & urgency to hunker down and quarantine ourselves and our families, and a lot of fear for what will happen next. 

         

This morning before church I was watching the news on TV (I really need to stop doing that), and they were showing how people were actually fighting and beating each other over toilet paper and bottled water!  One shopper even grabbed a wine bottle, broke it, and then used it to stab another shopper!  Much of the world’s sanity and decency have seemed to go by the wayside.  As I watched what had transpired on the TV, I began to cry and to feel the need to pray; so I sat down at my computer and prayed and typed.  I sometimes write down my prayers because it helps to keep me focused and my mind doesn’t go off on tangents!  I shared this prayer with my Sunday School class, and I thought I would share it with you also.  I know God has got this virus and HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, but I have to admit I have moments of fear and anxiety.  I need HIM, I need HIS love and grace, I need HIS calm in the face of the storm.

OUR DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,

First of all I come to you this morning thanking you for all the many blessings you bestow on us each day, especially your LOVE & GRACE.  But, dear Lord, I also come to you this a.m. with a heavy heart.  Our country, our world is going through a crisis like none most of us have ever seen or even imagined.  We are frightened, we are at times discouraged, we are struggling to stay calm in a chaotic time.  Although we know that you are always in control, some of us struggle with keeping our faith strong, some of us are living in such fear that we may not be making the best decisions….and we need YOU, Lord, to help calm our fears and to guide us through the days & weeks ahead.

I ask God that you will keep us safe, that you will help each of us to do our parts in ending this crisis.  I ask you that we put all selfishness and greed aside and that we remember those around us who may need our help.  Lead us and guide us to do your will through all of this.  Help us to set good examples for our children and grandchildren as we know that how we behave in a crisis may set a precedent for them.  Watch over our older citizens and those with chronic diseases; help us to not take up valuable time and resources that they may need.  Help us to be mindful of all those we live among.

I ask, God, that you bless our country financially.  Knowing that our economy has been and will continue to be hurt by this at least for awhile, we ask that you help us to be good stewards of our monies and our supplies, yet also generous.

I ask that you watch over our doctors, nurses, and health workers; that you will keep them safe and healthy and that you will richly bless them for their sacrifices.  I ask that you bless those who are searching for a vaccine and that you will sustain them with your strength as they work with urgency and without rest.

I ask that you bless our president and all world leaders as they try to figure out what is best for our world.  I ask that you would help all our government officials to put aside their desire to best the other party or their opponents.  Help them to come together to lead our country and to set an example for all of us.

And finally, dear Lord, I ask you to put on each and every heart the desire to help each other, to share with each other, to put aside all thoughts of “self above all else”….help us to look to you for peace, comfort, and grace.  Bless not only our country, but all countries…help us to keep our eyes on YOU, the giver and sustainer of life and all that we have.  Take away our fears and fill our hearts with faith, hope, & love.    AMEN.

May you and your families stay well; may your faith remain strong; may God Bless America and the world.                                                                           

Love,                                                                                                 Cheri