Good Days Ahead

Well our spring break has come and gone.  We had a lot of mostly good quality time at home.  

Like the rest of the world - we spent Thursday making a chalkboard mosaic in our drive way.  It rained this weekend and it's gone but it was fun while it lasted.  

We wrote out a verse that encourages us.  I love going for walks in the neighborhood and seeing words of hope in chalk.  

 

Saturday was mostly rainy and we just hung around the house.  We finally got out for walks in the afternoon and played outside.  We are cooking at home constantly so at least once a week - we try to get take out to support local businesses.  We love Tacos 4 Life. It's SO good but it's also AR owned and they feed hungry children with every meal you buy.  They are offering family packs right now so I got one and it came with so much food we had lunch on Sunday with it too.  

We even got their famous punch to go!!! 

Jonesboro, in east AR, had a horrible tornado hit Friday night.  Thankfully it wasn't deadly but it did hurt many homes.  Praying for all the people there.  It's a tough time to deal with that kind of loss along with the whole corona thing.  

I went to the store today and they had a lot more things but are still out of a lot.  I don't even bother looking for sanitizer but I found some in a backpack yesterday morning.  Then my girls said " oh we have some" and they brought out a whole stash.  ha! I forgot how they hoard sanitizer.  

Saturday we just had cabin fever.  I think we were all on each other's nerves.  So we made plans to make Sunday a better day.  I got up early and hit walmart as soon as it opened to get groceries for the week.  Thankfully it was pretty empty.  I came home and cooked breakfast and then we went to Hobbs state park.  

We walked a couple of trails.  The weather was perfect and we had the best time.  It was pretty empty.  We are so thankful that we can still get outside.  And that this is going on in the spring/summer and not in winter so getting out is such a gift.  

We stayed until lunch time and then went home to eat.  

I was so happy to find paper products today.  It's been empty for weeks so it felt like the heavens opened up a little to find this and some cleaning products and all the other things we needed.  

The teachers at our school did a drive through parade today in all the neighborhoods.  Every teacher and staff member decorated their car and drove by honking and yelling.  Seeing their faces smiling made me cry.  We have INCREDIBLE teachers.  And this is tough on them.  They are having to learn how to do things differently - teaching online.  It's not easy on anyone.  And they are home doing it while trying to help their own kids.  But they have been amazing and we miss them so much.  

It was such a lift to see them all! I just love seeing community come together and support each other! 

One of our favorite local spots is doing Sunday dinners only right now.  You can get a family meal for 4 from Louise on Sundays by calling between 3 and 6 and they will bring it out curbside.  We had roast beef, gouda mashed potatoes and salads and it was SO good.  And we have enough to eat today too.  We will be doing this again on Sunday nights! And it will be something different each week.  

Yesterday was just a good day and everything I needed.  

Oh and if I didn't mention it - my dad is HOME! Last Monday we found out he would be stuck in Liberia indefinitely.  Thanks to the embassy and our senator, they got him on a medical evacuation flight and he got home on Friday! He is quarantined at home now and I'm so grateful.  Thank you so much for praying!! 

The Bright Spots

Hello from self quarantine! There is not a lot to report but I'm still trying to keep a record from this time.  I haven't been taking a ton of pictures but I will share a little of what we are up to.  Monday it was rainy and cold and we mostly stayed home.  It was our first day of spring break.  Scott is still working from home and we are just taking it easy - sleeping late and just not being in a rush.  

Tuesday we woke up to more thunderstorms.  It was dreary and I just felt sad.  I have days where I feel hopeful and peaceful and days where I feel scared and hopeless.  I think it depends on how much time I spend on twitter and the news.  The sun came out around lunch time so we got out for a walk.  It was a beautiful day.  Some of our neighbors were outside sitting in their drive ways so we stopped and talked ( a good 12 feet away).  I was so happy to just see other humans.  I'm a people person.  I love being around people.  I love talking to people.  So I'm missing that.  

We drove through Sonic.  And then we drove around town a little.  There is SO much less traffic in town which feels weird and good at the same time.  We drove by Laurie's house and they came out.  We sat in the car and talked to them on the side walk.  I was so happy just to see them.  All of it did a world of good for me! 

Yesterday in the morning I got texts from my dad saying he thought he might get on a medical flight out.  Our senator's office called shortly after with some info.  They had been calling the embassy and helped him get the flight.  I was so grateful to them for helping us!  

Dad got a call at 3 p.m. his time from the embassy.  They told him if he could get there in an hour they would get him a seat on the plane.  The place where he is staying drove them but the car broke down a half mile away.  So he ran to the embassy and got his seat.  He had to get to the airport (which is closed down) at 10 p.m. and wait until the flight left at 4 a.m. outside the airport.  The whole thing is crazy but hopefully tonight he will be arriving in Washington D C.  

I had to get out in the morning to do a few things that didn't require contact with anyone and I had a gift card so I stopped by Onyx.  They set up a window with glass where you can walk up and order.  There was no one around and I could park right outside (which NEVER HAPPENS under normal circumstances) so it was a happy morning just to get some coffee! 

Yesterday was Scott's birthday.  I'm afraid it wasn't too exciting.  He worked from home all day.  The girls made him cards and a hat.  I picked up fajitas from Chuy's for dinner since we couldn't go out and a cake from Nothing Bundt cakes.  Both had curbside and it made it a little more like a party! 

A sweet friend sent me a box from Euna Mae's and it was such a fun lift in my day/week/month! 

Things are SO hard right now.  There is so much uncertainty.  We don't know what the next few weeks or months will look like.  I have found I just have to face it one day at a time.  And keep praying that God will provide and protect and draw me closer to Him.  

Locked Up Abroad

On Friday we started spring break! Can you see the joy in their faces? We are pretty excited even though it just feels like the week between Christmas and New Years where you spend the whole week in your pj's and never leave the house.  

I have been cooking 3 meals a day.  It feels like I cook, clean up the kitchen, load the dishwasher or unload and it's time to cook again.  Or someone is asking me what the next meal is.  But we want to support all of our local restaurants too.  So Friday night we got take out from Fish City Grill which is owned by 2 of my college friends.  They have the BEST gumbo.  It was a nice break and kind of a win win.  So many of our local places are running amazing family meals for curbside pick up.  I'm grateful so many are taking advantage of this so these places can keep going.  We plan to do that once or twice a week.  And momma gets a break from cooking. ha! 

Saturday was the first sunny day we have had in what seems like months.  It was cold so we spent the morning watching a movie (we are working our way through Disney plus) and after lunch we headed out for a walk in the fresh air.  

We went for a long walk and it was so pretty and it felt good to get out.  We kept our distance from people but enjoyed our time.  

Between the kids and the dog - we didn't walk too fast so after we got home - I went for another walk to get some actual exercise in.  Plus I wanted to take advantage of the weather.  

Yesterday we watched online church and just hung around the house.  I have so many projects I want to get done while we are at home but I feel like I just can't get anything done.  Knowing I have another 4 weeks at home kind of kills my sense of urgency.  I'm going to sit down and write out a schedule of things to clean and get done so maybe I can get something accomplished in this gift of time I have been given.  I don't want to waste it.  

My day was kind of shot yesterday because I found out that my dad is stuck in Africa.  He went around 3 weeks ago to Liberia to train pastors.  He should have come home Saturday but flights got delayed and then they just completely closed the airport.  So for now he is stuck there indefinitely.  I was super upset at first but he face timed me and he is going to stay at a compound for missionaries that has a hospital.  So he is safe and has meds he needs.  And there are only 2 cases of corona there so he's probably better off.  But my mom needs him home and I will be thankful when he comes home too.  We are going to contact some places today to see if anything can be done but he will be fine if not.  I know God will take care of him and I'm trying to rest in that peace.  

I know life is crazy right now and we are all feeling out of control but just stay calm and STAY HOME (if you can)! 

Friday Favorites

I wish I could do a fun post and say some of my Friday favorites like a new shirt or favorite makeup or whatever but right about now my favorite things would be toilet paper and alone time.  ha! And I'm not wearing anything but pj's and sweats and not much makeup.  Laurie and I were supposed to be heading to Little Rock this weekend to see Ben Rector.  We had second row seats.  But hopefully we will get to do it in the fall.

Things are just sad and scary and I go from being okay to crying to having terrible anxiety.  But I have found some good things - some favorites if you will - so I thought I would share those in the midst of this social distancing.

1.  Slowed down time with my family

Ask me again in 3 weeks  - school isn't going back until 4/17 and I honestly doubt it goes back at all so I'm sure things are going to get harder but right now we are actually enjoying being together.  Scott and I are getting along better than ever even being together 24/7.  The kids have been really sweet and haven't fought (much) and they honestly haven't watched much TV.  Today they spent a bunch of time coming up with magic tricks.  They haven't complained at all about being home so I'm trying not to.

2.  Saving money

I'm trying to be thankful that staying home and not going anywhere and eating all our meals at home (which I'm trying to get creative with) is saving us money.  We are going to try and help our local owned restaurants and get curb side meals some too.  I'm so worried about all the small businesses.  The best thing we can do is buy gift cards or get take out.

3.  Community

I've seen so much good in our community.  People banding together to help.  Whether it's kids who need food outside of school or people helping small businesses or people sending cards to nursing homes that can't have visitors or just people checking on their neighbors - there is so much good out there.

4.  Renewed faith

Even though things are hard - I've seen people turning to Jesus.  I pray that people will see their need for God in all of this and a great revival will happen.

5.  Social Media

This is a blessing and a curse.  I have to get off some times because it makes me anxious but on the other hand I see people giving information like what store has eggs and sharing funny memes that make us all laugh.  Sometimes we have to laugh to get through things and this is one of those times. It's very serious and hard - but we still need to find a way to keep laughing and living.

6.  Appreciation for people like teachers and medical staff

I'm fairly all mothers right now are super thankful for teachers and we should all be thankful for those in the medical field.  And I'm thankful for trash collectors.  And people who work at the grocery store.  People who are still doing jobs that help us keep going.

7.  Fresh Air and the Outdoors

We have had so much rain that it's been tough but as soon as the weather clears at all - we are getting out for walks and fresh air.  We don't have to be 6 feet away from grass or trees thank goodness!

Those are some of the things that I'm thankful for right now.  I know it might get a lot worse around us before it gets better but just keep praying and STAYING HOME!!!! If we all who can will stay home - maybe this will pass much quicker!

Homebound

We are living out strange days.  But I want to try to keep documenting what it was like for us.  So hopefully one day we can look back and talk about it but know we made it to the other side.  

We started online learning on Tuesday.  They are trying to make it like a full day of school so we had about 5 hours worth of work.  The girls were troopers.  We sat at the table and got it all done.  They have work under every teacher.  Our teachers are amazing.  They have had to totally change how they do things and it's been so great.  Different but okay.  I didn't take any pictures except this one on Tuesday.  We got all of our work done after lunch and then they had the rest of the day free.  I'm not into making them a schedule or trying to find activities for them.  They are so good at entertaining themselves.  I've been so proud of them.  They haven't watched hardly any TV - they have just played really well together.  

I'm trying to take one small area of the house each day to organize.  I have weeks of projects to tackle so it's nice to have this extra time.  I'm also staying on top of the laundry for the first time ever.  

We actually have been enjoying this week so far.  (Ask me again in a few weeks if we are still home).  It's nice to not have to wake up and be out of the house by 7:15 every morning.  (If you homeschool - I will go ahead and tell you now that that's not reason enough for me to homeschool. ha ha) But for now, we are enjoying our slow mornings.  I get up around 7 and get ready and clear the dishwasher and start laundry and then the girls are up around 8 or 8:30.  This morning they wanted to make breakfast.  

Since Saturday, we have all stayed in our pj's and I don't even think the girls have combed their hair but starting yesterday I decided we needed some normalcy so we all got dressed and did our hair and I put on makeup.  We have been doing a short devotion together and then they start their work.  

We stopped for lunch and then they finished shortly after.  

Hollis got a package from her grandparents for her birthday and she was so excited! The kids had free time and they played while I got some stuff done.  

Several people have mentioned to me making sure we have hearing aid batteries so I checked our stock - we have hoarded a lot thankfully.  Back in the fall, batteries went on clearance and I bought a ton! And I'm so thankful I did.  

It's been cold and rainy since Saturday which has made being stuck at home a little difficult but today it warmed up to 70 and the sun peeked out a tiny bit so we got out on a trail and walked 3 miles.  It was Milli's first long walk and she loved it! We stayed 6 ft away from anyone we saw.  I think the fresh air and exercise was good for us.  

This whole thing is hardest on this little guy.  He's a super social 7 on the enneagram.  He wants to be with his friends or doing something so bad.  Every night he says " what are we doing tomorrow?"  I'm afraid right now the answer is like groundhog day and he can't understand why we can't see people.  But kids are resilient! 

Milli was wiped out after her long walk.  

I'm trying so hard to be very positive and I AM trusting in God but in all truthfulness - I'm just sad.  I'm sad for those who have it SO much worse and true problems.  I'm sad at the uncertainty.  I'm sad the loss of everything.  I'm sad for my kids.  I'm scared.   But even talking some of it out with the kids - they are so happy and accepting - it makes me so grateful for them.  

We don't know what tomorrow holds - but we know who holds tomorrow.  I know that's an old cheesy Christian saying but I'm truly seeing that lived out right now.  

Social Distancing Official Day One

Day 1 of our new normal. Who knows how long this will be our life but we are just trying to make the best of it. I got up early and went to Walmart a little after 6 when they opened to avoid as many people as possible. They were still out of a lot of things but I was able to get most of what we needed/wanted.

I then went to Harps and found toilet paper. SCORE!

Today was Hollis’ birthday and the girls first day to do online school. They got right on it. Scott worked from home.  Thankfully we have an office where he can go in and shut the door and separate from us but we all got to have lunch together.  
Hollis’ precious teacher who she adores did a birthday shout out in her class video.  I cried watching because this is such a weird time but people are so good.

Hollis' grandparents sent her a little happy today which was fun!

The kids didn’t fight today and the girls made a little hiding place to hang out in their closet. Hollis got FaceTimed from her family and best friend in Texas. And Harper texted every kid at school I think. We made a trip to Sonic for ice cream instead of a birthday cake this afternoon.
I think us being home full time is wearing Milli out.  She has acted so tired.  She's not used to so much interaction all day.  But her potty training has greatly improved since we are home full time so that's a praise!
There is so much to be fearful for but there is also so much to be thankful for.  We are taking it one day at a time and trying to be positive and make the most of it.  (Check back with me in a few weeks on that. ha ha ha!) 

Happy Birthday Hollis

Today my middle girl is NINE!!!!!! 

I can hardly believe this little curly headed dimple sweet thing is nine today! 

Nine means she is half through being raised by us.  I can't think about that too long or I will sob.  She was our easiest baby from the very beginning.  We love to tell her that.  Harper had such a traumatic birth and Will Holden was NOT EASY in the hospital but Hollis was so good and quiet we barely knew she was there from the very beginning.  She's our shy and quiet girl.  She keeps all her feelings and words to herself.  The other two constantly talk and tell us all the things but Hollis keeps a lot in. But she's a very loyal friend.  And so smart and clever and FUNNY! She is organized and so helpful. I just adore her so much.  She is a joy to parent.  

Last weekend we had her birthday party.  We had it early because it was supposed to be a busy month.  Now I'm SO grateful and I've said it several times that we celebrated early because we had no idea how life was going to change so quickly.  We will spend today at home in isolation.  We plan to pick up Chick-fil-a for a birthday lunch since we are all at home and that's what she wants.  It will be a simple day but one we won't ever forget.  

Harper and I were happy to celebrate her last week.  

We had her birthday at the local trampoline park.  That's what she had wanted for months.  

She had sweet friends come and they had so much fun jumping.  

Hollis had the best time! 

These are sweet friends from church and school.  

She wanted a cookie cake and thank you to Sam's for their double doozie cookie cakes! 

It was a lot of fun.  

We went to Chili's afterwards with the Ormon at Hollis' request.  I'm so glad we got to celebrate her when we could.  

I am so grateful to be Hollis Barrett Stamps' mom.  If she wasn't my daughter - I would want her to be my friend because I just like her as a human.  

Happy birthday Hollis! We love you more than you will ever know!