Happy at Home!

 

Good Morning!  Well praise the Lord we are all healed and able to return to our normal lives again.  I must admit I have mixed emotions about the whole thing.  I really enjoyed being at home the past 10 days, unable to go anywhere.  I am thankful my husband and son have seemed to recover fully from COVID.  So alas, all "good" things must come to an end.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE my job and having the ability to work at home the past 2 weeks was a huge blessing.  I do cherish the weekends, because I get to tinker around the house cleaning, baking and just being with my family.

I am linking up with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for this Happy Homemaker.

♥♥The Weather♥♥

We going to be in the Mid 50 to 60's most of the week. With the 30's in the evenings.  Looks like a lot of rain headed our way also.  Welcome to Spring in Western NY! 

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

I am tired.  It will probably take a while for us to get back into the routine of getting up with an alarm again.  We were all sleeping in the past 10 days.  But I am so ready for the routine again.  I really have missed all of my co-workers.

♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

A couple of eggs, bacon and a piece of toast.

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥

For Christmas my husband got me a cookbook I have always wanted. It is a 1975 edition.  So I will be picking a few recipes out of this to make this week.  Yesterday I made a Pecan Pie out of this.  It was the first time I had made one.  

♥♥On my tv♥♥

I am going to be watching a few shows I recorded from the past week.  

• The Waltons
• Little House on the Prairie 
• Aurora Teagarden  This is a Hallmark Mystery series that star Candace Cameron Bure.  She is a librarian that loves to solve murder mysteries.
• Chronicle Mysteries This is another Hallmark Mystery series of movies.  This one stars Alison Sweeney who does true crime podcasts and helps solve the mysteries. 

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

Monday - Sloppy Joes

Tuesday - Chicken something....I have not really decided yet. May tacos.

Wednesday - Chili or Hamburger Stew

Thursday - Chicken, bacon ranch  with potatoes in the instant pot.

Friday - Hamburgers and Hot dogs on the grill

Saturday - Hannah's birthday so we will be eating out.

Sunday - Not sure yet.

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

Since we have all been home the past 10 days and me still having to work 8 hours and care for my sick family, lets just say it looks lived in!

♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

I will sit outside and enjoy God's creation.

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥ 

This was the first year since my daughter was born we were not able to spend a lot of time together on her birthday due to our quarantine.  I was heartbroken and cried a lot.  She came up with the idea of her coming over and we could just visit through the window.  I did end up going outside and sitting on the porch with her.  My mom was so kind enough to come up and take my daughter out for her birthday.  I cannot believe she is 27 years old!! Seems like yesterday I was bringing her home.  

♥♥Devotional, inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse♥♥

Ephesians 6:11-13

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to sand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Quarantine Thoughts

 

Well after today our quarantine is officially over.  It has been a very long 10 days.  I would love to sit here and tell you I had a great amount of spiritual growth.  Sadly, this is not the case.  For the first few days I was grouchy, tired and just plain miserable.  The enemy wasted no time getting to me after only a few hours.  The Bible clearly tells us that Satan will seek us out, especially when we take our eyes off of Jesus.  I was thinking more about MY inconvenience in this quarantine and not what God wanted to show me.   I had become SO focused on my inconveniences.  Looking back I am so thankful for this time. One way we can know we are walking in the will of our Heavenly Father, is the amount of fiery trials thrown our way.  When we are walking with the Lord we become a major threat to the enemy.  Over the past 15 years I thought I had grown a lot.  This quarantine has shown me exactly how much I have to go.  Which is a good thing.  We should never stop learning about our Lord.  It wasn't until we were "locked down" that I really started to see what bondage remained in my heart.  I may not have realized it but the enemy did. There are so many things in my past I still struggle with.  When we get completely quiet these things tend to resurface.  Strange thing about traumatic events in our past is that we tend to add to or take away from the event.  Not necessarily on purpose, or to add to the event.  Satan came very close to winning this battle within me.  I will share more on the past events at a latter date.  These events happened while I was working as an EMT.  I am not without scars of these events.  God has used them to remind me of where I have been and where I never want to return.

I think this is why I love spring.  No matter how bad the winter was the flowers, trees and plants return.  Usually after a very difficult winter the flowers seem to bloom brighter and stronger.  I feel that is the same with my Christian walk.  The enemy may knock me down time and time again, but I will continue to get back up and walk the path that God has for me. 

Psalm 92:7 "When the wicked spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever."

When we bloom where we are planted we will shine the light of Jesus right where we are. I started asking the Lord to show me daily what He would like me to learn during this time.  Although, I was able to continue working from home I had no commute time (which is usually 40 mins one way daily).  

Psalm 25:4-7

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord."

The above verse has become a daily verse for me.  I read or say this to myself before I even let my feet hit the floor. I am so thankful for the time the Lord has given my family and I to just close our doors and re-connect as a family.  Yes we had our moments of being tired of each other.  But overall I think we grew closer during this time.  I have a greater appreciation for my family.  Seeing my husband so sick really made me fearful.  I turned him over into God's hands.  I have always been a "fixer" by nature.  It was so hard to watch him become out of breath with just the smallest of tasks like walking to the bathroom.  I am happy to say yesterday he seemed to finally turn the corner.  I just pray now that there is no lasting damage done to his lungs.  

The above video is of a song I heard last week.  The Lore Family "Keep Praying".  Even when it seems so dark, keep praying to Him.  He hears our prayers. Even in our waiting times. 

Until next time.  Keep your focus on Him.  He will be right beside you walking your through every moment, every trial and temptation life throws your way.  I will never have it ALL together.  But when I keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus I know I will be ok.

Happy at Home!

 My soul is most content when I am at home.  Puttering around the house, cooking, cleaning and just loving on my family.  Alas, that is not possible in this current stage of life we are in. That is ok! I just really look forward to the weekends where I can do just that.  BUT for the past almost 2 weeks we have been in quarantine at home due to COVID.  I am working from home, but because I do not have to commute, my "free time" is a bit more the past few days.  When I am able I will participate in Sandra's Homemaker posts.  I have changed the title up a bit, because it seems to suit my current situation.  

♥♥The Weather♥♥

The weather here in NY is finally showing spring.  We are a bit chilly today, around 48 degrees.  The rest of the week seems to be a little warmer.  Makes me really want to get out and soak up the sunshine!

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

I am feeling pretty well this morning.  I had a great night sleep for the first time in over a week.  My son and husband contracted COVID so I have been caring for them.  Putting my EMT skills to use again.  The past week has been very difficult.  

♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

Our church family has been providing meals to us since my son and husband's diagnosis.  So this morning I had a bowl of a wonderful yogurt and fruit dish a friend brought.  I have not been hungry the past few mornings.  

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥

On top of all the COVID stuff I have been dealing with, I am currently working towards becoming a Certified Biblical Counselor.  I am one class away from being finished with the "learning" portion of the training.  Then I have to submit my exam for Theology and Counseling.  So my reading list consists of:

"The Christian Counselor's Manual"

"Counseling the Hard Cases"

I am also reviewing a few potential bible studies for our fall ladies bible study at church. One is "Woven" by Angie Smith.  The other one is "In His Image" by Jen Wilkin

♥♥On my tv♥♥

We have been enjoying:

The Middle

The Waltons

Various crime shows we enjoy watching.

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

We are having a week of comfort foods!  

Monday - Hotdogs wrapped in croissant rolls and potato salad

Tuesday - I think someone from church is bringing supper

Wednesday - Chili

Thursday - Steak and baked potatoes

Friday - Chicken with stuffing

Saturday - Uncertain

Sunday - Uncertain

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

I am seeing left over stuff of the weekend. I have some dishes to put away.  Laundry to put away.  I have all of the windows open and trying to get rid of the germs here!

♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

Head outside and just soak up the sunshine.  We cannot leave our property at all due to quarantine. But we can just sit outside and enjoy each other.

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥ 

No matter what you are going through, take the time to smell the roses.  The situation you are in will subside eventually.  Take time to love on those around you!

♥♥Devotional, inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse♥♥

If you want to join along in this blog fun head on over to Sandra's blog at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom to join in!

Dusting off and a little housekeeping!

 Good Afternoon!  I do not know if anyone out there will still be checking my blog.  I'm back...at least for the next few days.  We are dealing with a bit of COVID here, so I am working from home and caring for my family.  

My son and my husband both tested positive last week for COVID.  We are praising the Lord that their symptoms so far have been very mild.  My son has actually been cleared to return to work today.  Andrew's symptoms were very mild.  It was just as if he had a cold.  He had been exposed at work and they sent him for a test.  Low and behold he was positive.  So that caused the rest of us in the house to be quarantined.  We have been locked in the house since last week.  Mid-week last week my husband's test results came back positive.  UGH!  His symptoms have been a little more than Andrew.  He has had a low grade fever on and off, lost his sense of smell, headache and a cough.  Today he seems a bit better and was able to sit outside today in the sunshine.  

I am fortunate that I am able to work from home.  I usually work in the city.  I cannot say I am missing my commute, but I do miss the people I work with.  My boss and his wife (Owners of the company) are the best around.  They have called and / or emailed me daily checking on us.  They even sent supper to us on Friday.  We are so blessed!

In February we lost my grandmother to this horrible virus!  So as you can imagine we are all on edge when it comes to COVID.  One thing this horrible ordeal has taught us is that no matter what we are going through God is always in control.  He is right there walking alongside of us, protecting us, and just watching out for us.  He has placed us in a fantastic church that has been SO loving and caring on us.  We have been filled by them not only physically, but spiritually as well.  All of the food and groceries they have brought us has been such a blessing!

Psalm 46 has been a comfort to me.  Especially when I start to let the human side of me take over.  I start to become overwhelmed and fearful of what might be coming.  Yesterday was a big meltdown day for me!  I have been struggling trying to do it all!  Make sure the family is cared for, the house is clean (More than ever now with the germs) and work was complete.  I just hit my breaking point yesterday.  I needed to let go and let God take over.  Otherwise, I was going to have a nervous breakdown.

Throughout the "lock-down" we have been able to get some much needed work done around the house.  Thankfully all of this happened or was schedule pre covid diagnosis.  First up was the walnut tree that needed to come down.  Sadly, much of it was already dead we couldn't salvage any of the wood.  Just a few scraps for a fun project coming up.  This tree has been a PAIN in my backside since I was a kid! Every fall having to go out and pick up the hundreds of walnuts that had fallen.  We are still little by little getting the tree cleaned up.  What a mess!  But OH the dreams and plans I have for our backyard!! I am already giddy over getting things cleaned up!  I have gardens and fruit trees and vines planned!

My kids are doing pretty good.  My eldest Katrina is now living on her own with her Fiancé right here in town.  Her birthday is this Thursday.  But for the first time since she was born we will not be together at all for her birthday. I am so sad about this, since we are in quarantine.  Hannah was in quarantine with us until today.  She was cleared to return to her programs at ARC.  She was thrilled to be able to leave the house today.  HAHA! Andrew is fully recovered and headed back to work this morning.  He has finally landed the job of his dreams.  The company he works for has treated him so wonderfully with all of this COVID stuff.  I am so proud of each of my kids.  They have all turned out to be fantastic young adults.

 

With all of life coming to a screeching halt I found myself yearning for a return to a simple life.  We used our quarantine time to reconnect with each other.  We played board games, put our phones away and just talked around the supper table.  Sad that it took a quarantine to make us do this.  But sometimes God has to go to extreme measures to get our attention.

We joked this past weekend, that we are going to need a wider door when we are finally "released".  I got my cookbooks out and have picked a few fun recipes I want to try.  I am going to make myself slow down and enjoy every moment God allows me to have.  I now know why people often say, "Stop and smell the roses".  They bloom for a moment then wither away.  As I type this the sunshine is coming through my office window, birds are singing and spring is making its appearance.

What has everyone been up to this past year?  I am hoping to reconnect with many of you again.  I am anxious to share things the Lord lays on my heart each day.  Even if it is just a photo or a thought. Stay safe everyone!