Unlively At Home Living in a Pandemic: Taco Tuesday and The Beat That Saves the Day

 

“What day is it anyway?” I ask this of myself, and then for not the first time on this day, remind myself again, “Today is Wednesday.” The daily cycle of work, exercise, parenting, meal preparation, and homework continues. Living, working, and being at home seems monotonous and almost unfathomable but we have found a rhythm that is much better than Chopin or TobyMac that has helped us through. I have stumbled upon a secret in this rhythm that has kept me afloat. It has framed me in and made the monotony bearable. 

 

Monday is the night that the older portion of the family watches “The Crown.” That leads to Taco Tuesday: We have Mexican food (not just tacos) on Tuesdays for dinner. Everyone loves this! Even our dog gets dressed up for the big event. 

 

Then comes Wednesday. (You undoubtedly knew that and didn’t need me to write it…but I think it’s quite an accomplishment that I can still remember the order of the days.) Wednesdays begin with waffles…so it’s Waffle Wednesday at our house. A hot cooked stack of waffles gets us all through the middle of the week. Our kids actually do the cooking, which is good: By the middle of the week just getting out of bed is an accomplishment for me. 

 

We haven’t named the other days of the week, and they don’t all have a “thing” that we do on each of them…other than church on Sunday mornings. “Worship Service Sunday,” I guess? 

 

Of course, in the at-home lifestyle, there are other things I’ve actually tried to be more diligent about than I did pre-pandemic. I imagine this is true for all of us. For instance, after work I try to get out and walk or run the dog - or maybe it is vice-versa. This rhythm transitions me from the stress, commitments, and joys of my workday! I get to be just his wife and their mom when I get back. This takes the place of my commute and it is much healthier!

 

My husband has taken care of a number of home projects and “things to do” that had been waiting – from replacing cracked outlet cover plates to installing some cool “barn doors” inside, to putting in a 20-foot section of fence so the backyard is all fenced in, and more. Seeing projects finished gives further cadence to these days and weeks.

 

All of these kinds of things, from the regular and routine to the maintenance or one-time things that need to be done, have helped us stay sane in this time. And sometimes, I even know what day of the week it is. 

Bend,OR or Bust

"In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of mountains; it will be exhausted above the hills and all nations will stream to it." Isaiah 2:2

Rumors of Bend have made it to my ears over the years. I have heard of its trails, resorts, and its ambience. I have always kept it on my list of places to go, much like a list of good books to read or sports to try. Having almost gone last year, it seemed that 2020 might be the year…and we recently made the journey. 

We arrived on a beautiful winter day in February. First stop: Smith Rock State Park. This rock climber’s paradise was awesome. Having watched the movie Free Solo I can now see how this sport really grabs people’s adrenaline, attention, and lifestyle. This is the kind of rock that can easily be viewed as a true climber’s destination. 

Not into scaling walls like Spiderman? There is plenty of hiking. We went up a great trail called Misery Ridge Loop. You can stop at the top rock, First Kiss, while on Misery Ridge. Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think? (Thank you, Alanis for that wording.) I think I’ll pause on that tangent. J

One of the best things about Bend is Mt. Bachelor ski resort. It is wonderfully well groomed and smooth where it should be…but plenty of more challenging terrain is available as well. It is, of course, famous for being able to ski around the entire mountain – 360 degrees. Although the weather did not cooperate as fully as would have been preferred (that can happen at any resort, after all) and the Summit chair was not open, my family had a blast. It was easy to get a lot of runs in and the views are amazing. The particular day that my family went it, was a chilly 19 degrees. It was a day of fast skiing with great groomers, no lines, and tired legs at the end of the day. 

The town of Bend was a fun place to grab a bite to eat or coffee. At 3,600 feet, it is fun to shop and take it all in, with a few shopping areas to choose from. Bend was having their annual “Winter Fest” the weekend that we visited. It was a bit chilly for us to go to an outdoor festival but locals and visitors alike didn’t seem to think much about it. 

All in all, I like Bend; I bet you would, too. I anticipate coming again soon. It would be fun to make a summer visit – it’s as famous for the Deschutes River, hiking, and mountain biking, and more. The rumors are no longer spinning in my head about the high desert of Oregon. This is an outdoorsman’s destination with biking, hiking, climbing, skiing, and rafting and more. What a great place! 

Let's Stay Home

Shopping in Bend, Oregon last February, I bought a little, painted, white, wood block in a shape of a house. It said, “Let’s stay home.” I put it up on a shelf next to the other “Let’s stay home” white, painted, wooden block that I bought at Target two months earlier in December. The thought of staying home was the fantasy I was dreaming of in my pedal-to-the-metal lifestyle. A dream it was…but it became reality. Just a month after returning home from Bend my “Let’s stay home” signs were moved to the window above the sink. This was really happening. It was showtime as “staying home” became a reality.

 

Living into it: 

 

Wearing sweats, the car parked in the driveway day after day, Zoom as the new normal, watching the media with Covid counts and warnings, balancing kids’ school schedules/work to manage, Amazon, no haircuts/color, Church moving to the web right out of our living room, simple and predictable days, homemade macchiatos, relationships renewed, faith deepening, Disney +, cooking with my new air fryer, playdates and activities paused, a new dog, at-home school prep, and worldview renewed. “Let’s stay home.” 

 

There are things in this fantasy that are less than ideal. My son wasn’t able to graduate like he would have in years past. Relationships are missed. We have now been introduced to boredom, predictability, narrowly focused choices, and for some - it seems endless. We really want our kids to be at school with their special friends and awesome teachers. Living one-day-at-a-time is taking on a lifestyle of its own in this “let’s stay home” world. Looking around I can see variations of what was. Many of us aren’t as stable as we once were. When we look out and see the death toll of the pandemic and sense the suffering of those who have lost so much, we see our need to grieve, process, and help others in a new way. We have been outraged at racism and have stood strong with Amaud Arbery, George Floyd, and others in their tragic deaths; we have examined our hearts and beliefs and called out to society to do so as well. We got disrupted. Or did we?

 

The family spreading out from corner to corner of our home has often felt like the culmination of my “let’s stay home” fantasy. My home has been bustling with activity like never before and it has taken on new looks and ideas. It is the center of my universe. I love extra time for domestic life and walking the dog. Never has observing nature been so fascinating and newsworthy. Exercising has become the perfect break (that it should have been before as well) and not driving so much has been refreshing. Like an eager-to-grow shoot in the Spring, I have been invigorated by quality time lingering at the dinner table, local adventures, and fixing up the yard. 

 

I was so drawn to the prophetic thought of being home in December and February, I had to buy two wooden blocks. How odd is that!?! Yet, time and again I have looked at those signs as inspirations for manifesting a robust hope in these unique times. They are times which certainly haven’t been all rosy, but we “Spring shoots” have blossomed none-the-less. I trust that you have had similar mementos of hope and purpose as you pause to “stay home,” be safe, and make the most of it all.

Running for my Life: The Coronavirus Hits the Seattle Area

Walking down Pine in Seattle today on my way back to my conference after lunch at Beechers, I noticed something unusual for the busy Seattle I knew: the streets were nearly empty. 
Before long, I walked by a man who looked troubled with mental instability and difficulties. It looked like he was holding a lighter that was extra thick, metal, and big. When I got a stride past him a SUV Police car rushed up and a policeman emerged with a large double barrel gun and demanded, “Drop that in your hand!” I quickly ran and ducked around the corner of the building with two other women. After a momentary pause, I told them, "Let’s run ladies," and the three of us ran a city block in an alley to get away. I took the pictures in this blog minutes before my fleeing incident. After the recent acts of violence in Seattle, I knew to flee.

After gathering myself I reflected: in ways similar to my experience this morning, I feel like I am living amidst the danger, with the heart of the coronavirus outbreak in my city residing just miles from my home. Things looked calm, but they weren't. 

I was walking down the sidewalk the other day, when my neighbor mentioned that she is on personal lock-down with her family and not going anywhere. It was later that evening that I saw that Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon were allowing workers to work from home. Even though I continue to work, I still do my best to follow the directions of people who know what is going on, such as the Center of Disease Control.

People around me are pretty freaked out. Is this right?, my friends and I ask ourselves. Indeed, it is a horrible thought to potentially contract an illness that could be passed on to a person who has a weakened condition, oh my heart! Nevertheless, it is worth it to be vigilant: not be in large groups, stay home when able, sanitize, and of course be stocked with toilet paper (if you can still find any, of course). After my incident where my adrenaline led me to run for my life today, I wonder if we are faced with a less visible tyrant.  

Danger is visible and invisible. Today things seemed nice, but danger was just around the corner. I am constantly conflicted and trying to figure out what is right. As a society let’s do our best to “run for our lives,” as best as we are able, even if we are surrounded by something as sweet as the public market. "Let's run ladies."

Happy Walk

Today was perfect. Seattle was shining bright!

It is easy to lose one’s way on a long walk; it is easy to take a wrong turn and get lost in a thought or idea. Yet, I am reminded that with a little determination some great opportunities turn into open doors. Those open doors give eyes to speculation, vision, and greater thinking. Even in a big city, nature can grab you and change your mind on a few things. 

Not to be a pessimist, but here are so many bad times to get outside in the great Northwest. So often when I want to go out, I just don’t. When the sky parts and the sun comes out, it is hard to argue and come up with an excuse. 

Today was the best! 

The perfect day was upon me and I headed up the steps of Queen Anne to check out the city. As I walked I was able to see so many cool things. I found new parks. Birds. Craftsman homes. I was able to process some things and spend some time in prayer. The commotion of life was swept up by the cadence of my steps. 

 

So how do you get out? A walk, run, jog or class? As the year has settled in I have been running with my daughter and heading out for a few walks.  I have a few places that I really love to go. As I shared, today I went to one of them. I know that you too live a little in these winter months. When the sky clears up, sometimes you just have to walk outside. Enjoy!!!! 😊 

2020 And a Fat Rearview Mirror on 2019

2019…never to be forgotten. This past year I learned something new. Sometimes our lessons come the hard way. It is like a skier who is just finding her ski legs, looking crazy coming down the hill and crashing to stop. Later in the day she looks a little more confident yet still lacks poise, but does not lack effort. Metaphorically this skier has been me this year. I have had positive and some less than desirable dreams come true. I would say the good and bad are juxtaposed in ski run that wouldn’t be complete - one without the other - although I would rather have just the good in light of my love for simplicity.

This past year I grew in confidence. So often I have relied on others to cheer me along, but this year I was able to stand professionally and personally in ways that made me be more honest and transparent. This led to greater self-awareness and clarity in the midst of the world around me. I learned to trust my instincts and abilities. This confidence has allowed for perseverance in areas that seemed insurmountable.

In 2019, I turned my head away, more than ever, to the areas that I can’t change. This has led to greater contentment. I have “let go” more and embraced the real things around me as they have made themselves known. Realizing that I am constantly in the middle of the story rather than at the finish line has framed life for me and has given me a more wholesome perspective. I have been a person who is challenged by a finish line but my challenge this year has been living with the dissonance around me. Growing in contentment may be the greatest achievement of 2019. 

Professionally, I have worked with amazing colleagues and have been pushed toward greater competence on so many levels. I have spoken at a few conferences and have attended more lectures than any other year since my college days. Working with excellent people has given me security and a team that I can rely on.

In the home, words cannot describe the joy that I feel for the people that I call family. Our inner connectedness is a daily lifestyle of teamwork. My marriage has become richer as I have learned even more about the integrity and character of the one who I call “Hubby.” The kids are sprouting up and taking on new opportunities as they arise. Being head cheerleader, driver, cook, friend, and prayer warrior for this little clan has been awesome in 2019.

Goals for 2020:

From my vantage point I can see that it is going to be a great year. 20/20 is perfect vision, isn’t it? This year I want to live generously, love boldly, and take care of myself more. May the lessons of 2019 continue to ring in my year with greater contentment and even more confidence. 

Living generously is making room for spontaneity and opportunities. It is letting fear take the back seat and see how I can serve every day and in every opportunity. By giving more, I will be able to step away at times from my detailed agenda and allow for more freedom of thought and openness to God’s leading on a daily basis. I need to save money this year but I want to live generously. Generosity isn’t all financial, anyway. 

Loving boldly is primarily focused on my spouse but extends to my kids, my church, my community, and the world. Jarringly, I cannot leave God out of that. I want my love for God to be preeminent in me above all else. Having been married for decades now, I see that I want to know and love my spouse even more. It seems a bit crazy to me but making him a priority and showing greater love is a goal. 

Taking better care of me! I want to eat better and stop being so obsessed with sugar. I want to continue to go on daily walks or runs where I will find rejuvenation and refreshment in 2020. I want to be deliberate in prayer and supplication. I will cease being a disciple if I cease discipleship. I want faith to be an epic walk in 2020.

So, what do you think?

Do you think goals are important for you? What are your hopes and dreams? What are your plans for 2020? It is all yours. The days, the nights, and all the moments. Follow your dreams! Don’t be afraid to be like that novice skier who is lacking poise and crashing along. You never know where those moguls will land you, and you’ll get stronger as you go along!

“Get wisdom; get insight; … Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. …She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Proverbs 4:5-9

Thanksgiving, the un-demanding Holiday

I love teaching. I recently asked a class of kiddos what their favorite holiday was, and one child excitedly responded, “Black Friday.” But what about Thanksgiving, I thought? No one said it. But then I thought: Thanksgiving is so generous that it gives way to everything around it, even Black Friday. With this un-demanding Thanksgiving holiday ahead, I went to Target this week for a table cloth. There were aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations but I couldn’t find the Thanksgiving stuff anywhere and got lost in my shopping for everything else: Neosporin, hairclips, binders, extra hot Cheetos, and socks.

I realized at the checkout that I had not seen the Thanksgiving decor in the store and went back to the tablecloth aisle and found a little something, thankfully. Thanksgiving doesn’t demand our attention on aisle 9; it just quietly slips on in. I would like to propose that maybe Thanksgiving is more of a way of life and the holiday is just an extension of living. It is serving, giving,

writing, enjoying, and remembering.

Thanksgiving, the un-demanding holiday, is something that I have to strive for all-year round. Sometimes I feel too busy or self-preoccupied to share but when I do life is so much better. We can serve others and distribute the goodness all around us. We can help others to give as well. Sharing without knowing it is normal when I live it.  

Write down the things that you are grateful for: make lists and lists or just say them. Our family shares what we are thankful for at the dinner table every time we gather. We go around and share what we are thankful for from that particular day: seeing someone, a ride home, kayaking, getting a car fixed, funny things, or playing a particular song. This is a way of celebrating

the everyday grace that surrounds us. 

Our very food sustains us. Relationships transform us. Wisdom leads us. Faith guides us.

Traditions of thanks proceed us in this un-demanding holiday. One harvest celebration of thanks lasted for three days in the Colonies in 1621. Edward Winslow, who came to the New World on the Mayflower, wrote about this celebration. The celebration sprung from the protestant tradition of celebrating thanksgivings which was also

like a day of prayer to thank God. It is good to take time out for this tradition of prayer and service. The Native Americans also had a history of gathering so this naturally flowed from their lives as well. Truly, I love to gather with friends and family. This year there will be 21 loved ones around my table.

Sure, Black Friday is exciting and the stores were oddly in full-boat Christmas mode in October; but more than a simple day thanksgiving is life. It is celebrated each day and opens our eyes to so much more in life? Maybe we actually don’t need a Thanksgiving section of a store? It is an existence, after all. Why not live a life that fully mirrors the grace that we have been given? Sounds like a life worth living.

Happy Thanksgiving all of you "out there" in cyberland, and to the beGwen blog groupies!