Good weather all week felt like the greatest gift.
Staying home all the time is okay, but sunshine and warm weather made for walks and playing outside is just so much better.
I mowed our grass for the first time this spring. It felt too early, but it was getting obnoxiously high. I enjoy mowing the grass, but starting too soon means you might be mowing in between snow flurries so I try to hold off as long as possible.
My flowers and plants are growing. Spring is always full of hope and renewal, but especially right now, I like the reminder that even when it feels like the world is falling apart, nature is continuing her rhythm. It’s really grounding and calming to see God’s creation remind us He’s in control, there is nothing new under the sun, and we’re gonna be okay.
Chris got a flat tire on the way home from work on Wednesday. Not that I was *excited* he got a flat tire, but we did get to go rescue him on the side of the road and take the tire to the tire store to be replaced. (He should have a spare in his car, yes. He’s been reminded of that. But he won’t buy one or be prepared for the next flat tire emergency, he’ll just keep putting it off forever. It’s the Chris Graham way. And having good boundaries means I can’t do it for him even though his lack of preparedness will end up hurting me too. Woah, this is a social distancing recap, Mary, not therapy, calm down.)
It was late enough in the evening when we got done with the tire fix that the girls were starving so we went to the Steak-n-Shake drive thru for dinner. It might have been the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted. It was manna from heaven, a most glorious feast.
We didn’t eat out a lot before this, about once a week, twice if we had a busy weekend, but I’m a month into making all the meals for my family and the luxury of having someone WHO IS NOT ME make food made me want to cry. This is where we’re at, people. Maybe I’ll pray for another flat tire so we can do it again. (Just kidding, get a spare tire for your car, Chris Graham.)
The nice weather meant we grilled out for dinner a few nights. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken–if I could grill our breakfast I would have.
We’re continuing our Wednesday night life group meetings over Zoom. Sitting outside talking to our friends with bellies full of food I didn’t have to make or clean up made the evening pretty much perfect.
We had some tree stumps in our yard ground. That was an exciting hour when everyone got to stand at the window and watch guys cut down trees and grind the stumps. Seeing another human for any reason is thrilling to us right now. Maybe we’ll even start getting up early on Mondays to cheer the trash men on. Stay tuned for more details about that.
I’ve said it before, but my weeks don’t feel very different. Chris goes to work, and I work all day in my office. In the evenings we eat dinner and do regular things we’d do year round (play outside, laundry, play games, make sure the girls bathe, etc.). The girls are here, and they do school work two hours a day three days a week, but it sorta feels like summer or a school break. They play and eat constantly and make messes. Because Chris and I are still working, we’re not experiencing the extra down time or boredom others might be. It’s a bittersweet experience; I’m thankful for our jobs and their consistency, but I’d also like to spend the afternoon on the couch reading a book or working in the yard.
Our week days still feel like normal weekdays and our weekends are still weekends. We do house projects and church, stay in our pajamas and watch movies. We have more normalcy than most, I think. It’s making the time go fast, but it almost feels like we’re missing something too.
The girls still follow a weekday schedule, and I know that helps them to not be bored or restless. There’s a lot of playing and creating, and they always have something to look forward to. As long as the weather is nice, I can talk them into taking a walk with me. Harper normally rides her bike or scooter, Ellie brings a dog, and we hit the road. I try to be gone an hour, but the girls are not really fans of that.
Things we read, listened to, or watched:
-I listened to the audio version of Heartburn by Nora Ephron; it was just delightful. It’s about a marriage falling apart which sounds like the opposite of delightful, but just trust me. Nora Ephron is such a good writer, I’d read her description on paint drying and probably be entertained.
-We finished watching New Girl this week. If you’re looking for something light hearted, I’d highly recommend it. It felt good to put the girls to bed and laugh at night. Not that our days our laugh-free, but the show is just so funny and a little ridiculous that you can’t help but giggle. Bonus points to New Girl because Chris and I don’t always find the same things funny.
-We started Tiger King. I have some thoughts and they probably aren’t as funny and light as everyone else’s. I know the entertainment factor is high: animals, weird people, drama, etc., but I found it pretty dark. We’ll finish it next week and I’ll share more then, but I’m not loving it like everyone else.
-The girls and I finished Fearless Faith: 100 Devotions for Girls by Melanie Shankle. I’ve ordered a new study to start next week. It’s completely different from this one, but I think they’re going to like it.
What’s for dinner?
Sunday: pizza & breadsticks
Monday: pork sliders and Brussels sprouts
Tuesday: hot dogs and veggies
Wednesday: Steak-n-Shake, from where all blessings flow
Thursday: biscuits and gravy
Friday: teriyaki chicken with cauliflower rice and pot stickers
Saturday: grilled pork chops & roasted potatoes
And finally, my seeds have sprouted! Normally, I buy starts for my garden but this year I upped my farmer game a little bit and planted seeds. This was an experiment only. Seeds are cheap and I figured if this didn’t work, I’d just buy the starts like normal.
TBD if I plant them, but they sprouted this week!
We’ve got into a pretty good rhythm for this weird lockdown situation. Each week I’m sure I won’t have anything to write about, but then I remember that little things are important too. One day we’ll look back on this and it will be a foggy memory. It won’t feel as real as it does now. I don’t want to forget how we felt, what we did, and how we survived this global pandemic.
I hope you’re documenting your weeks in whatever way you feel most comfortable. Even if it feels endless right now, this too shall pass. Stay safe and healthy, friends.
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