The World Keeps Turning
The weather was perfect; an early-spring stretch of seventy degree days with blue skies overhead, the puffy cotton ball clouds in the sky a sharp contrast to the ominous headlines of a new virus making its way around the world.
Pandemic Wind Down: Game Instructions
Obsessively track vaccine information. Sign up for all “leftover dose” opportunities to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Abandon cooking dinner when you get a phone call with an open slot. Cry in the parking lot afterwards. Move forward five spaces.
Social Distancing: One Year
Most of the last year has faded into an indistinguishable blur—day after day, we do the same things. One virtual school day blends into another, our weekends are slow and unhurried. There have been a few highlights, a handful of events that stand out, but for the most part, I couldn’t tell you if something happened last week or six months ago.
All She Can
She hears footsteps above and pauses, trying to tell which of her children are awake. Throwing the blanket off her lap and pushing her glasses back up her nose, she sets her stack of books on the table, prepares herself for the early morning quiet to give way to incessant chatter.
The Top Ten Parking Lots You’ll Find Me In During A Pandemic
I don’t leave the house much these days. And when I do, it seems like I always find myself sitting in one parking lot or another. So if you happen to be looking for me and I’m not at home (again, I must emphasize that this is a rare occasion these days), here are the top ten parking lots you can find me in during a pandemic.
Hope Rolling Down The Highway
I tend to be fairly predictable, an enneagram 9 who typically stays calm and is good at thinking on my feet. I take in all the information, scrolling and reading, tucking bits and pieces away for later.
Book Review: When the World Stood Still
“When the World Stood Still” by Kate Eastham is a riveting story of the 1918 flu pandemic in London, and timely as we battle our own pandemic.
The Things I Took For Granted
In person school.
Hospitals with available beds.
The peaceful transfer of power at the end of a presidential term.
Three things I took so for granted at the beginning of 2020, I didn’t even realize I took them for granted.
2021: Persevere
We made it! 2020 is over and 2021 is here.
2020 was a lot. It not the year we expected. It was full of surprises and cancelled plans and difficult news and hard days. The calendar flipping to a new year doesn’t make everything better overnight, but it’s a sign that we are moving forward, a needed reminder in a year that has often felt like time froze in March, when everything shut down.
The Thrill of Hope
The thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
I see the lyrics in devotional emails and on social media and blog posts. I write them on two chalkboards over my desk. The words have been stuck in my head for weeks; it seems like the official Christmas carol of 2020.
Moments Of Joy
“Mommy, look! I found flowers, just for you,” my six year old says, proudly showing me a small collection he’s picked from our front yard.
We’re in the early days of the pandemic, and everything feels unsure and unstable. School has been cancelled for the next few weeks and we’ve been told to stay home.
The Back Porch Salon
Little one, with golden curls falling in front of your face, blocking your eyes from view, your first haircut is very much overdue. I had planned to take you to a fun kids salon, letting you choose a little fire truck, police car, or vintage airplane to sit in while I oohed and ahhed over what a big boy you are, praying the stylist wouldn’t cut those beautiful curls too short, silently mourning another last first; my last baby; the last time I will rapidly snap photos at a first haircut.
Slow & Steady
His bare feet pad through the grass; he has discarded his shoes somewhere in the backyard. He bends down to retrieve a ball and his diaper peeks out over the waistband of his shorts. Golden curls bounce as he follows his brothers, who are running back and forth across the yard, playing a game that vaguely resembles football.
Are You On Mute?
The music teacher's enthusiastic introduction floats from the speakers of the laptop, where my first grader is supposed to be attending his fourth google meet of the day. I’m assisting my four-year-old with gluing a freight train on a large piece of paper in the other room.
Home Sweet Home
Dear House,
We’ve spent a lot more time together than I anticipated, over these last months. I have to be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled when I found out that you’d be the only place I saw for days on end. But these long days together have helped me realize just how thankful I am for you.
So Long, Stay at Home Summer
Water from the hose is spreading across the deck and their clothes are soaked. Water pipes purchased during our back to school at home shopping are providing entertainment while the baby naps. It is the end of summer; a summer where we haven’t gone to the pool once.
Top Ten Lessons of Quarantine
2020 seems like it's been never ending. March feels like a million years ago, and yet, I can't reconcile the fact that August and back to (virtual) school is just around the corner. Quarantine has been full of long days, lots of uncertainty, and plenty of life lessons. My top 10 quarantine lessons, in no particular order:
Pandemic // Month 4
It’s July 13; it’s been four months since coronavirus, social distancing, virtual learning, and face masks became part of our daily lexicon. We’ve gotten used to rarely leaving the house, only getting in the car to head to a doctor’s appointment, grocery or Target pickup, or the recently added (and much appreciated) books to go pickup from the library.
The Monday Calls
When we suddenly and unexpectedly found ourselves under stay at home orders, with school cancelled, and an uncertain world outside our front doors, Monday nights became my favorite night of the week.
Preschool in the Pandemic: We Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye
This preschool year wrapped up this week for my three year old, and this certainly wasn’t the way I expected the year to end.