Family Fun in Lockdown

Yesterday was my youngest son's birthday.  We now have 3 teenagers!  He was supposed to have gone to a CAVS game with his Dad (he had won pretty awesome seats at a basketball camp last summer).  But instead, we were all at home.  He has had a great attitude.  Besides getting to pick what we ate all day, he decided our dinner was going to have a "twist".  Eating spaghetti, but no hands allowed!  It definitely turned an ordinary meal into something we will all remember.  And we now have more empathy for our dog, who eats with no hands every day.

One thing that Brady has been really into lately is Rubik's cubes.  He has many different varieties and can solve the basic 3x3 in under 20 seconds.  Blows my mind!  Since I suddenly have all this time on my hands, I decided that I'm going to let him teach me something that he loves.  My brain isn't as quick as it used to be, so I'm only doing it one step at a time.  Once I get comfortable with that, I have him teach me the next one.  By next week I may have solved my first Rubik's cube 😁

But the most fun we've had is with our family project!  It started out as an idea to record a song.  Ever since being in a quartet at church this Christmas, Jeremy and Jacob have wanted to find another song to sing.  So we decided to look for a quartet and record it, each of them singing two parts.  (It works perfectly that my son has a lower singing voice than his Dad).  I found one of my favorite quartet songs, For the Longest Time by Billy Joel.  Then this idea came to me to re-write the words and make it a parody....since we were going to be stuck at home "for the longest time".  Within a few hours, I had written a rough draft of the lyrics.  Who knew I had some hidden songwriting ability.  Jeremy and the boys made some changes and tweaked some words and we were good to go!  Then it got taken one step further.  Instead of just singing the song, let's shoot video to go along with it.  This project was getting more complicated by the minute!  We have always enjoyed the parody videos that the Holderness family makes (look them up on YouTube if you haven't seen them....they are so good!)  Now we were about to create our own.

We have spent time together, been creative, and have laughed a lot.  My husband has amazed me with his video editing skills.  We would never have had the time to do this with our normal schedule.  What ideas do you have of things that your family could do together that wasn't possible before, but is now?  Create memories.  Take advantage of the time you've been given.  And enjoy our creative attempt to bring a smile to your face :)

Quarantined with Teenagers - Week One

While we aren't officially quarantined (no one is sick), we are doing our best to follow the rules and be socially responsible.  Our first week at home was filled with some wins and some challenges.

I knew right away that doing school at home meant we needed structure.  I'm thankful that my boys are self-motivated and independent.  Even so, if given the choice, video games probably rank higher than school work on their list.  So here's what we did that has worked very successfully:





School Hours 8-3, with a one hour lunch/free time break.

Activities allowed during school hours:

• Must check email and do assignments for all classes
• Exercise
• Playing instruments
• Must do one household chore
• Reading
• Other non-screen activities

I have not heard "I'm bored".  There's been very little arguing.  And as you can see in the picture, they have even been helping each other with homework when needed!  WIN!  

Our schedule is typically very full.  While it's been disappointing to have all our plans cancelled, it does give us more time as a family in the evenings.  We've been watching movies together, playing games, and watching home videos (this always gets us laughing). WIN!

The most challenging thing for me right now is managing my own time in a way that reduces anxiety and isolation.  Trying to find that balance between "staying informed" and resting in faith.  It's hard to scroll Facebook anymore without feeling anxious, yet that's how to best stay "connected" to other people. Ugh.  How can I stay emotionally and physically healthy during this time?  

My goal this week is to set a schedule for me.  Not one that is rigid, but one that gives me a plan of how to productively spend my time.  I need to balance the "news" with faith-filled content that gives me perspective.  I need to exercise since I now have the time to actually do it consistently!  I need to clean those places in my house that NEVER get cleaned.  I need to intentionally stay in touch with people.  And whenever possible, I need to get outside (maintaining appropriate social distances, of course).  

This way of life may become our "new normal" for a while, so I plan to embrace the opportunity.  Being forced to spend time with my family is not a hardship.  Grocery shopping online is actually kind of nice.  I can do this.  You can do this.  May we come out of "quarantine" as stronger and healthier people, more thankful for everything we so often take for granted. 

COVID-19

The topic of most conversations and facebook posts this week...the coronavirus.  This is my favorite meme.  What crazy times we're living in!  So it's no surprise that as I was reading my Bible this morning, the Scriptures were speaking to me about our current situation.  Let me start by sharing with you what I read from Hebrews 13:15-17.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."

A sacrifice of praise.  When events are cancelled that we were looking forward to, disappointment is guaranteed.  Our instinct is to complain and grumble.  My family has been affected by this as I'm sure yours has.  We've had awards banquets and sporting events cancelled.  A musical the boys have been preparing for postponed.  Tickets for CAVS games that most likely will not have spectators.  Not to mention the fact that with schools closing I will be going 3 weeks without pay.  There is plenty to grumble about!  This is when praise becomes a sacrifice.  To choose to think in a positive way and speak in a way that builds others up as opposed to creating more discontentment.  I have loved reading posts from people who are choosing to embrace the downtime with family and see the blessings that come with having calendars that are less full.  This is my challenge:  the next time you feel like complaining, look for the blessing and give praise instead!

Do good and share with others.  I have not been to the grocery store this week, so I have not witnessed the madness firsthand.  From what I've heard, there is a lot of hoarding and selfishness happening in our communities.  Don't buy more than you normally would.  Share with others what you have, including toilet paper!  Let's come together and be the good.

Obey your leaders.  I've read opinions on both sides.  I don't know what the "right" decisions are.  However, I trust that our leaders are more educated than I am on the issues at hand.  They are responsible for our communities and our country.  If they decide to err on the side of caution to try to contain the spread of this virus, we should listen and obey.  Yes, it will be an inconvenience.  But they were elected to make the tough decisions and we need to submit to that authority.  I would rather be inconvenienced than end up in a crisis.

These thoughts have challenged me and reminded me to make the best of these days.  Be wise, be kind, and don't panic - God is still in control.