Archives for April 2020

April 10, 2020

No.379: 2020 Gratitude // 15

A new series for 2020: if I record 20 things every week, I’ll have over 1,000 items by December 31.

That’s a lot to be grateful for.

God’s faithfulness
snuggling with my dog

an afternoon pot of coffee
five little eggs in the nest on our porch fan
nurses who are still showing up to work, even without proper supplies
the cleaning ladies who keep hospitals, churches and offices sanitized and safe
the smell of freshly mowed grass
tiny purple flowers near the driveway
listening to the different bird calls and starting to recognize each type
going on a Rosary walk alone around the property
deep sleep after nights of insomnia
big belly laughs
library books on my Kindle
playing catch in the front yard
finding a new drawing Youtube channel that inspires my two oldest boys
starting a new creative project myself
warm sunshine on bare arms
evening rainstorms that wash away the pollen (at least for a little while)
the examples of the saints
“See Mother? I make all things new.”

April 8, 2020

No.378: The Wednesday Five #09

Happy Wednesday! Looking back at March with my five today:

A QUOTE

Faith is what gets you started. Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what brings you to the end. – Mother Angelica

MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

+ We all finally caught the Influenza A that has been going around all winter. It wiped us out for a solid two weeks.
+ The coronavirus turned the world upside down.
+ We got a good start on garden construction: beds made, plot prepared, gravel walkway laid and some of the soil filled.

A FEW FAVORITE RECIPES

My go-to. I start this bread in the machine and finish in loaf pans.
I made pumpkin scones because we had a can in the pantry and they were a big hit. Perfect for breakfast.
My oldest made these mini meatloaves and potatoes for dinner one night. One of our favorites and good for people who don’t really care for traditional meatloaf.
Sourdough bread is back! I went back to my favorite book (affiliate link) on the subject and while I’m still working out a few hydration issues, it’s fun to return to this kind of baking again. Also: I’ve been using the discarded starter to make waffles, so there’s no waste.

2020 GOALS UPDATE

✔ I want to spend time with God everyday. I’m a broken record at this point, but still working through the Bible (as of March 31, I was on day 265/365). I am also about halfway through the 54-Day Novena, which has been such a fruitful and calming part of my days.

✔ I want to keep on, keepin’ on with our debt freedom journey. Most of our extra money went toward our new garden, but we were able to put a tiny bit extra toward the car and the student loan. Every little bit helps.

✔ I want to be a better steward of my home. I’m still using The Confident Mom’s Household Planner and being sick really showed me how much it works. It’s taken me the rest of the month to get caught up and back into a groove.

✔ I want to hand write 52 pieces of mail. I sent out 10 pieces. (Here is the post.) Current total = 34

✔ I want to write 150 blog posts. Like everyone else, the global pandemic had me distracted and anxious and spending waaaay too much time on my phone. I only posted 13 times and hope to increase that number in April. Current total = 47

✔ I want to read 52 books. A strong month for reading! Thank you, insomnia. I read 10 books. (Here is the post.) Current total = 24

✘ I want to take the first steps for postpartum doula certification. Still nothing.

✔ I want to create a family culture of generosity.

March’s $20 Donation // We donated to our community food bank.
March’s 20 Minutes of Time and Talent // .This is really tricky while being quarantined! Mark hosted his men’s group virtually and the kids have worked so hard as we create our garden. As for me, does snail mail count?

Q1 REVIEW

Looking back at the numbers (which, Nerd Alert, is one of my favorite things ever), I’m really pleased with my progress so far:

65% complete for snail mail sent

31% complete for blog posts published

46% complete for books read

With the world as it is right now, I’m wondering if I should shelve the postpartum doula certification for now and focus on other things. Looking forward to keeping the momentum for all the other goals in Q2, because goodness, do I need the distraction!

April 7, 2020

No.377: Intentions for the Beginning of April

A new month and and a fresh start. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed with all the tabs in my brain, so I made a “notepad” of sorts with these prompts:

“To Learn” is something that keeps my brain sharp: researching a DIY project, reading non-fiction, practicing a language on Duolingo
“To Do” is generally a homemaking task but could also be special one-on-one time with one of the kids
“To Move” is physical exercise, but it doesn’t have to fit the typical working out box. Hauling huge bags of soil from the driveway to the garden is a huge work out!
“To Bake/Make” is self-explanatory – I like to mix up old favorites with new recipes I find on Pinterest
“To Serve” is a way for me to help my neighbor: keeping in touch with relatives, donating to good causes, thanking the people who are keeping us safe
“To Pray” is for special prayers I would like to make into habits, like the Angelus or the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Right now, I just print two to a page and cut them out, but I’d love to make it a real notepad some day. I give myself two days for each list and limit myself to only one task per prompt. And it’s working! Most days I complete all six tasks, sometimes only three or four, but the point is that it keeps me intentional. Yes, we are living in scary times, but I can still choose to live in hope and not despair.

INTENTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF APRIL

blog more (I think I need it for self-care!)
continue working on my new scrapbook project
add a fresh layer of soil to the front flower beds
plant wildflower seeds throughout the entire front beds
email the county to see if I still need to order standardized testing
figure out how to make Easter Sunday special, even under quarantine
start planting!
research rain barrels
choose a few books on my Goodreads “to read” list
decide on a baby shower gift for my cousin
finally work on the Finders Keepers box that I’ve had since December(!)
browse the recipes I’ve pinned on Pinterest and bake something new
try to propagate my Christmas cactus again
see if I can revive my dying fern
add a few things to sell on ebay
clean and vacuum out car interiors
browse around for a bigger rug for the living room

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

If you’re reading on your phone or in a reader, be sure to click over to see what I checked off the list!

~~have the kids involved in making dinner each night~~
get back to my 20th Century in Literature Challenge and read two books that fit (half credit: I finished Strangers and Sojourners from 1997 & have started To Know Christ Jesus from 1962)
~~buy and lay down landscape fabric~~
~~purchase everything needed for “Mel’s Mix”~~ and fill the raised beds (we’ve finished about half)
~~start buying things for Easter baskets~~
~~mail back ThredUp bag~~
~~buy new sandals for Sophie~~ (I ordered these)
gather supplies to make a framed chalkboard (100LT #17)
~~try a new bread recipe~~ (I made garlic herb pepperoni bread…it was weird)
~~give the little boys haircuts~~
try to propagate my Christmas cactus again
~~continue a new routine of making bread daily~~
~~say the Stations of the Cross with the kids~~
attend a holy hour
~~start looking at compost options~~
~~get dead trees removed by the driveway~~
reorganize all of my Poshmark inventory
create a better hand-me-down clothing system (reuse old plastic totes if possible)
get photos printed for a special project
~~deal with Sophie’s duvet~~ (washed and dried both parts and then retied everything back together – so happy to have this dealt with!)
get an estimate for Sophie’s bathroom
~~read at least 20 pages of The Art of Learning Nature’s Signs~~ (I am learning SO much!)

April 6, 2020

No.376: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // COVID-19 Lockdown Week 3

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE THIRD WEEK OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Week three.

I did the math and because we had the flu two weeks before this lockdown began, I have not left my property in 35 days. That is a little crazy, even for a homebody introvert like me. The Governor of Virginia also issued a “stay at home” order until June (!) and that feels like a loooong time away, doesn’t it? I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.

This was the first week where our new normal started to feel really real. I’ve been trying to be upbeat and enthusiastic and positive (mostly for the sake of the kids) but by Monday, I started to feel a little raw. The emotional roller coaster has been rough: I feel such happiness for the slower living and the extra time my family gets to be altogether, but then I’m crushed with concern for our community, family and friends. It’s a lot of feelings and obviously, I’m not dealing with it very well. I spent a few days floundering and feeling restless. I had a million things I wanted to accomplish, but was unmotivated to do much of anything. Thankfully, by the end of the week, I came up with something to help me keep going (more on that tomorrow) because really, that’s all anyone can do right now – keep going.

Bittersweet news: Tomie de Paola, one of our favorite children’s book authors, died on Monday at the age of 85. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Lots of work done on the garden! The gravel pathway is laid and half of the beds are filled. M cut a few branches from a tree we’ll be taking down and made them into a teepee for the garden. Mark ordered lumber online from Home Depot and will start on the fence when it gets delivered. Hopefully we’ll be ready to start planting in the next few weeks!

Things keeping us busy this week: printable coloring pages, Querkles, and a new puzzle.

I miss going to Mass. I can only describe it as a deep soul-level ache. I hope I never take the Eucharist for granted again.

Questions Mark and I keep asking as we see so many people and small businesses in our community suffer during this time is, What can we do? How can we help our neighbor when we’re not supposed to be anywhere near them? We’re constantly brainstorming, but here’s what we did this week:

We ordered gravel for our garden path from a local nursery. We paid over the phone and they delivered it to the house, so all social distancing rules were observed.
We scheduled the removal of two dead trees with a local tree care service. This has been on our to-do list anyway and since it’s outside work, we don’t have to worry about any unnecessary contact.
A mom and pop type restaurant in our town set up a way for residents to buy meals for first responders and hospital employees. We donated (as part of our family’s 2020 Giving for April) to the cause.
We taped a thank you to the trash can for our garbage man.

April 3, 2020

No.375: 2020 Gratitude // 14

A new series for 2020: if I record 20 things every week, I’ll have over 1,000 items by December 31.

That’s a lot to be grateful for.

daffodil flowers in full bloom!
settling into our new routine
piles and piles of books waiting to be read

fresh haircuts (by me!) on two of the boys
how hard the kids worked to lay the gravel path in the garden
being caught up on all of the laundry
chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, just because

watching the sunrise
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
a walk around the loop of our property as a family
watching everything turn green
that my finger has healed without a big scar
how positive the kids are being, despite missing family and friends and activities
the arrival of a new puzzle in the mail
an afternoon nap
a new bar of soap that smells like wildflowers

my husband

having to be creative in the kitchen

this verse that I read this week: “…Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you our potter: we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:7

April 1, 2020

No.374: 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Project // Weeks #9-13

This post contains affiliate links.

One of my big goals for 2020 is to send at least one piece of snail mail out every week. Keeping track of my progress here on the blog will help keep me accountable and I’ll also get to share with you some small stationery businesses. Maybe it will even encourage you to join in on the fun!

WEEK 9 (Feb 24 – Mar 1)

A week of thank you notes! My dear friend surprised me with two new books to read, so I sent her a beautiful card from LoveLight Paper. I really love their commitment to reducing childhood hunger – one card provides one meal for a child in need. I also sent my mama a thank-you because she sent me a book to read too! Her card is from Cafe Notes + Company.

WEEK 10 (Mar 2-8)

Week 10 was a blur of sickness through our house, but I did manage to mail a birthday card to my cousin. This card is from Glass Half Full Studio and I added a little party confetti from Knot&Bow too.

WEEK 11 (Mar 9-15)

I sent a sympathy card for a middle school friend who just lost her mother. Her mom was always so kind to me and I know she will be missed by many. I debated buying a specialized sympathy card, but ultimately went with another floral watercolor from Cafe Notes + Company (and blank on the inside) because I wanted to get it mailed out quickly.

WEEK 12 (Mar 16-22)

Starting this week, the pandemic had us stick close to home, but that didn’t stop me from sending some mail! My dad and my brother were both sent cards from 1canoe2; they weren’t specifically birthday cards, but I love me a punny joke. I also sent out a little package to a dear friend nearing the end of her fifth pregnancy! The card is from Alexa Z Design. With the kids home from school, I sent along a fun book that the boys no longer read. I made the envelope from 12″x12″ scrapbook paper that I’ve had for years. (#frugalaccomplishment!) I unearthed this envelope maker from my craft stash and now I’m hooked! I want to make envelopes from everything.

WEEK 13 (Mar 23-29)

This was a tricky week in snail mail because I ran out of postage stamps! I ordered more on the USPS website, but in the meantime decided to use up more of my Birds of Land, Sea, and Sky postcard stash (and thankfully had some postcard stamps leftover too). Three postcards went out to grandparents and a sweet blog reader.

CURRENT SNAIL MAIL TOTAL: 34

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