I was driving with my son this past week to find a place to watch the men’s Duck basketball game together, but by the time we got to the restaurant, the tournament was cancelled. The rest of the day continued to bring all kinds of cancellations and disappointments of fun and routine lost. My son was overcome with frustration and started to complain. Frankly, I wanted to complain, too, but I found myself talking to us both about our current situation. We can choose to complain, or we can find a way to make the best of the situation.
We have been overwhelmed in the last week with all of the news of the coronavirus and what we are losing over the next few months. Thus, I thought I would create a list of ways that we can make the most of our extra home time in the coming weeks. If you have other ideas, please do post them in the comments section below or email us at ufcwomen.blog@gmail.com.
Get Active
1. Go on a walk in the sunshine, and pray for your neighbors as you pass by their homes.Photo by Sarah Lloyd, used with permission.
2. Weed the garden as you enjoy the blossoming trees and flowers and listen to the birds.
3. Create a playlist, and sing while you do a little spring cleaning. Or ask your friends for podcast recommendations.
4. Try creative cooking with the ingredients that you have in your cupboards.
Love Others
5. Mow the grass for an older neighbor who needs help.
6. Pick flowering spring bulbs from your garden and leave them on a neighbor’s doorstep with a note of encouragement. Make sure your hands are clean before preparing your delivery!
7. Call a friend or family member whom you have not talked to in awhile. Or write cards for loved ones near and far, and slip them into the mail. Make sure your hands are clean before undertaking this project!
8. Host an online tea party, inviting friends to make their own cup of tea and join you on a platform like Zoom, Hangouts, or FaceTime to visit.
9. Support a local business, and purchase a gift card online to use at a later date or give as a gift.
Savor Stillness
10. Take a nap during the day, and get regular sleep.
11. Create a thankful list, and write down 100 things you are thankful for.
12. Take a bath, and put on clean PJs.
13. Spend time in God’s Word. Complete the 1 Timothy Challenge from Pastor Brett, and/or start reading Colossians for our next women’s study starting April 16. Or finish up the Jude study by going back, reviewing your notes and finishing up the questions you skipped.
14. Write out your story of faith to be told in under 5 minutes. See suggestions here.
15. Pray for your family, friends, neighbors, church, missionaries, government, and world.
16. Memorize a Scripture passage, and practice it while you wash your hands.
17. Read a book out loud with your family or roommates.
18. Dig out art supplies and learn a new skill like sketching, painting, crocheting, etc. using YouTube. With your children, join author Mo Willems at 10 a.m. via his Facebook page for lunchtime doodles.
19. Take advantage of the online resources to explore things like opera that you might not know much about. Museums and organizations like The Metropolitan Museum of Art provide online learning experiences, and you don’t even have to go to New York to enjoy them!
All of these are great ideas of things that we can do. Some others can be teaching your kids new habilites. Mums can teach them to cook, saw, plant flowers, etc. Dads can teach them how to check the oil in the car, make a bird house with simple tools, how to set and prepare a BarBQ. All those things that they don’t learn at school. Organize picnics in the backyard. Get to know better each by sharing what are the things that each one like best, or are more scared of, or what would they like to be in the future, or how do each one visualize GOD in their lives and in the midst of all this situation (that will be interesting for parents to know) And spend a good time in family playing “Gestures” or some other fun games in which all the family can participate.
All great ideas! Dig out your board games and play them! I cleaned out my bird feeders and birdbath and filled them with fresh seed and water- it makes me happy to watch them sing! Also, limit your news watching as it increases anxiety.
Since many who work all week are now home, I’ve met several of my neighbors walking outside, people are comfortable visiting and talking in the fresh air and sunshine! Our pastor also suggested (online of course) that we take this opportunity to offer help to those who can’t get to the store by shopping for them, what a great way to show the unselfish love of Christ to our world:)
There is also a huge need for blood donation right now. Emergencies always happen (car accidents, surgeries) and social isolation forces us indoors and not considering blood donation. If you are healthy, you can sign up online and they are taking people only one at a time to deter any virus spread bloodworksnw.org
Wonderful
Perfect
Thanks and thinking of you all – praying for simple pleasures and health.
Lorraine
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All of these are great ideas of things that we can do. Some others can be teaching your kids new habilites. Mums can teach them to cook, saw, plant flowers, etc. Dads can teach them how to check the oil in the car, make a bird house with simple tools, how to set and prepare a BarBQ. All those things that they don’t learn at school. Organize picnics in the backyard. Get to know better each by sharing what are the things that each one like best, or are more scared of, or what would they like to be in the future, or how do each one visualize GOD in their lives and in the midst of all this situation (that will be interesting for parents to know) And spend a good time in family playing “Gestures” or some other fun games in which all the family can participate.
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Thank you for all of the time, creativity you all have put in this blog ….
Thank you for each and everyone of you who have worked to help us grow in the Lord….
“This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it”
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All great ideas! Dig out your board games and play them! I cleaned out my bird feeders and birdbath and filled them with fresh seed and water- it makes me happy to watch them sing! Also, limit your news watching as it increases anxiety.
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Thanks so much, Lorraine.
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I love it, Ellie. Thanks for your great ideas…and for your post yesterday.
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Board games are great. I did happen to beat my boys at Risk this past weekend. We had plenty of time to play it all out!
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Amen! This is the day that the Lord has made and we can rejoice in it knowing that He is good, He is trustworthy, and He is in control.
Distance hugs.
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Since many who work all week are now home, I’ve met several of my neighbors walking outside, people are comfortable visiting and talking in the fresh air and sunshine! Our pastor also suggested (online of course) that we take this opportunity to offer help to those who can’t get to the store by shopping for them, what a great way to show the unselfish love of Christ to our world:)
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There is also a huge need for blood donation right now. Emergencies always happen (car accidents, surgeries) and social isolation forces us indoors and not considering blood donation. If you are healthy, you can sign up online and they are taking people only one at a time to deter any virus spread bloodworksnw.org
LikeLiked by 1 person