April 2020

April 2020, oh boy you were a strange one. It was even quieter than normal, with the mandatory 'stay at home' order of all 'non-essential' workers. Our boys started some sort of virtual school on our old computers, and Zac couldn't come over everyday. We took walks, and I tried to go for runs, but we didn't know as much about the disease transmission. Honestly, when they closed the beaches, I was too nervous to go for any more runs. I think this was about the time that I begged Matt to buy me a Peloton, more for stress relief than exercise, but it was a double win. He graciously agreed, and I waited to eagerly till June when it delivered (lots of people did the exact same thing). 

Taking a little stroll down to the beach to enjoy the tranquility of the water. Most of the things I did during our day to day was for positive mental health.  I also read A LOT of books. So many books I never thought I'd ever read, but covid gave me a good reason to find a mental escape. And of course we re-watched the entire series of 'The Office'. It really disappointed me that 'Friends' wasn't on any of my streaming services.

I also begged or a rocking chair for my front porch. The weather was getting to be perfect for porch sitting, and the boys were spending more&more time in the front yard playing. Matt got me a Cracker Barrel chair as a sweet surprise! Too bad Florida weather makes it impossible to keep wood from rotting. 

Our other daily exercise: swimming. The boys did even mind how cold the water was. The sunshine was good for us all, and I also started listening to audio books so I could be watching them. haha! I listened to my friend Matt Orth read 'Watership Down' on a Facebook live group. I listened to the last two Wingfeather Saga books, '20,000 leagues under the Sea', 'Lord of the Flies, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', J K Rowling's new book 'The Ickabog' and not quite all of 'The Sherlock Holmes' novels. I also listened to some books on racial justice while watching my boys swim, 'Be the Bridge' by Latasha Morrison which I would recommend and 'White Fragility' which I would emphatically not recommend. (especially the audio version which was full of vocal fry and utterly miserable as a listening experience).

There were many 'ground hog' days where we did the same things over&over. But I was never ceased to be grateful for our pool. I felt like we had the outlet for exercise & fun that kept them coming back for more. And we invested in a rotating supply of new pool floats to keep things interesting! 

This was our first Sunday morning church service from our couch. We stayed in our PJs and piled together to watch & sing & enjoy some semblance of a normal Sunday service.

These two pics represent dozens of videos I shot of my boys doing crazy jumps and dives into the pool. Diving contests aside, this jump of Hayden's is my all time favorite.

Boys favorite pastime of lockdown: fort building. They used the outdoor sofa cushions to make a fort in their playhouse. They went down to the river and built their own shelters. They made countless pillow forts. They loved every minute of it.

Here's Cal on his virtual meet for the end of 1st grade. Wow, that feels like a lifetime ago.

After I got my rocking chair, and because the weather was so lovely, and because we didn't go anywhere, I have quite a few pictures of the boys in the front yard. Sunshine & vitamin D & fresh air were good for us all. 

Another book I read for the fifth or sixth time was 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp. I got to read it with my dear friend Lindy, and discussing it with her was something I looked forward to & brought me both joy and comfort in our uncertainty. I'm trying to remember what was unique about that trail mix- if someone gave it to us or if we just made it ourselves. Clearly, the boys were all in on devouring it as quickly as possible. More swimming pictures- David was more exciting to go swimming that the other boys, sometimes multiple times a day. And why not? We had time & opportunity.

Easter in Covid lockdown. We tried to celebrate with all our normal traditions, for the fun of it, the normalcy of it, and the joy. It was a really nice diversion for all of us, and we got pretty excited. The boys started out with an Easter egg hunt in the front yard, which is always a race to see who can pick up the eggs the fastest and thereby get the most, haha.

James decided to be the Easter Bunny on Sunday and set up another egg hunt for his brothers. These boys could hunt them over&over.

We set the kitchen table for our Easter meal. We watched church on the live stream, and the boys got dressed up because I asked them to. It was a sweet way to celebrate. I bought the boys new belts for Easter, and they all wore them in our family pictures. I love all their sweet faces in these pictures- Sometimes I am awed at how precious these little guys are to me.

The other gift the boys got in their baskets was new bathing suits from my friend Megan's boutique. We got a lot of use out of these, & they look so cute on my little buddies.

I got to visit two of my YL girls to celebrate Isabelle's birthday & because Lily won a contest I ran on my zoom Campaginers I think, haha. It was fun to surprise them & to get to see their faces. I did this as often as I could, until the boys fought while I dropped off a coffee at Jamison's & James chipped Hayden's tooth. It was fun while it lasted.

I had to laugh & take a picture when it looked like the boys were 'social distancing' in our own family room! 

The boys playing with bubbles & me taking a snapshot of everyday beauty. I love the simple & profound beauty of nature & life.

Our new-found favorite spot in the house. We re-arranged after our floors were finished in the sunroom, and we set up a little tv for the boys to use for video games. It quickly became a really lovely place to sit & play while enjoying the view of all the oak trees.

Calvin's birthday week kicked off with some color-by-number Pokemon pages. They were a bit hit! I even did a few. It was a strangely gratifying was to spend a few minutes. Calvin loved them and couldn't wait to see how each one turned out. His journal entry made me giggle, so I had to snap a picture. His handwriting is so nice and neat.

Our laundry room was sooo close to being finished! The initial top had a lip that was too deep across the back, so thankfully, we asked him to shorten it. That way I can line up four baskets down the top of the counter. It is amazing to be able to fold clothes in the laundry room! And the new back door with the half glass makes it a more cheerful place with a view.

More daily swimming with David. And then a family bike ride! Seeing all four of them riding together is something. And David on his little balance bike is the best.

My buddy is just so darn cute.

Our master bedroom finished! I absolutely love the wall color, the new rug, the new window casings, crown molding, and baseboards.  

Calvin's collection of color-by-number Pokemon! It took a lot of math practice to finish these! haha

My puppy&kitty are best friends. Oreo will kiss Hermione and rub her tail on her, but she almost never likes to be petted! Such a bummer. Here are some snap shots of my YL girls on our zoom call campaigners. It wasn't anyone's favorite way to be together, but we made it work!

Jamison & some chick fil a! This was the day of the tooth-chipping incident. 

Calvin, my favorite part of earth is my home too buddy.

Tucking in my buddy for his last night as a 6 year old. I wrapped some gifts from grammy&papa and snuggled Calvin. There is always something bittersweet about birthdays.

Happy 7th birthday Calvin!!! I did everything I could think of to make your covid lock down birthday the best it could be. I remember feeling so sad that you couldn't do all the normal things, but looking at these pictures, I feel like it had to have been a great day. You look pretty happy Cal. 

Hayden made you some special cars out of legos. Your brothers colored the wrapping paper with special pokemon drawings. Gosh, I love all of this so much.

Birthday gifts, birthday donut with candles, pin the mouth on the charizard, and all kinds of smiles.

I took you up to the school to get your pictures with the school sign. You wore your new pokemon ball belt and birthday t-shirt.

Daddy helped with our pull-string-pinata. We filled it with pokemon toys I think?

Hayden laying in the grass was how I felt for most of the month of April. Calvin's melted birthday cake was how most of us felt about everything. I still cannot believe we left it out long enough for the top to run and then re-freeze all sideways. I bet we couldn't do it again if we tried. 

Happy 7th birthday Calvin. You are precious to us, and we love you so very much.

This was the first time we saw anyone for a meal in a month. Our dear friends Dalton&Ann came over to sit outside have dinner. James really enjoyed his dessert. It was really nice to be with friends for me, after being only with my kiddos for weeks&weeks.

Young Life game night- Matt&I dressed up as Jim and Pam from the office. I believe it was a 'Friends' vs. 'The Office' trivia cahoot.

My introduction to Monarch butterflies came during covid. I don't remember how I got these milkweed plants, but watching the tiny caterpillars and butterflies was a fun daily ritual.

Block towers and FaceTime calls from Calvin. The Lord reminded me that He will provide peace in this place, just as He does in many other more challenging places. May I not grow weary & lose heart. Lord carry me through when I can't seem to get my feet underneath me.

This installment of: the boys build forts! The pool chairs and towels and all kid of other random items are used to make forts by the pool. Not a bad way to spend some time.

Lord April was hard. It was hard to be home all the time. We had everything we could need, and we had each other, and I felt guilty about being discontent. Lord we made it through those days, one at a time. I did my best to be grateful for each day and not reject what was given to me. Thank you for giving my hands strength to do the work you gave me to do. Thank you for the ways you grew my brain, and my faith, and my boys' bodies. Thank you for providing all we needed. Thank you for Calvin's birthday, and for zoom calls for Young Life, and for the ways we could connect to other people. Thank you for Matt's job being stable. Thank you for the work on our house drawing to a close. Thank you for the beautiful place you gave us for a home. May it continue to soothe my soul on days that are hard. May I gaze at the beauty you made and catch a glimpse of your glory. Thank you for peace in this place. Amen.