Loneliness, Covid, & Condoms

Loneliness, Covid, & Condoms...my thoughts from my car ride in: 

These days are lonely for so many people. Not only are we socially distant we are also physically, emotionally, and spiritually distanced, we were made for community. We were built to need each other. 

Don’t isolate yourself and if you know of others isolating themselves please reach out. Some folks are very lonely, others are scared, exhausted, anxious, stressed...

Please don’t accept this distancing as a way of life as our “new normal,” it is not normal! We need each other, we need to be in connection with each other. 

There are ways to do this safely and we hear about them every day:

keep your distance

wear a mask

wash your hands

don’t get together in large groups

People still think it won’t happen to them and I am here to tell you it knows no age, gender, or ethnicity. 

I have come to think of contracting COVID-19 just like you would contract an STD. When you’re around people you don’t know who they’ve been around and who the people they’ve been around have been around. Even though you’re only exposed to one person you’re exposed to hundreds. So, we have options abstinence or we can let facemasks and hand sanitizer be the condoms of COVID-19! So mask up peeps and pass the 60% alcohol! 

Every day I see people affected in different ways by all this crap going on and I need to do my part to reach out as well.

Buoy, Buoyed, or Both?

Wrote and gave this devotion to my team today. Added to it afterwards things I thought of while talking. Thought I’d share as it feels like we are building the ship as we sail it and personally I feel shaken lately. So, basically this is to me and I’m letting you in on it in case it sounds familiar and helps anyone else.

“We are all in this boat together!” FALSE!

We are NOT all in the same boat. In fact each of our boats look very different:
- maybe you have little kids at home and your worried about what if there isn’t school...or what if there is??!!
- or your S.O. is out of a job
- Illness of family or friends
- Live alone and are feeling isolated and lonely

Remember that not all ship handle storms the same
- Rushing around to prepare
- Increased Anxiety is crippling
- Feeling tense and worried trying to keep things going as normally as possible
- Struggling to cope and feeling overwhelmed and tossed with every crash of the wave
- Taking it all in stride

What’s your boat looking like these days? How’s it handling?

While we are not all in the same boat WE ARE all in the same STORM
- And for those feeling anchored and calm – BE A BUOY for others
- note: you can’t be everybody’s buoy, and remember you have to put the life jacket on yourself before helping others!
- For those struggling to stay upright, it is okay that you are not okay. Please reach out for a steadying hand.

And most importantly - Look to our Lord, He is the lighthouse in the storm - He is that steady guide through any storm and for any ship. He can be trusted – look for Him – He is there, His light never dims.

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”

In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world there will be trouble BUT TAKE HEART I have overcome the world!”

Covid-19 Survival Kit

Anyone tried to buy hand sanitizer, Alcohol (the rubbing kind), or antibacterial wipes lately?

Tomorrow we have Covid19 training with our team. I thought I’d make it fun by creating each of them a thoughtful little Covid19 SURVIVAL KIT.

Welp...multiple stores later....supplies are so scarce...I’ve renamed them STARTER Survival Kits!

Update: Walmart restocked and Beaver was there bright and early. Hand Sanitizer production line ensued and then....the final product: Covid19 Starter Survival Kits.

Plus, for fun, I made some Covid-19 virus molecules! I used them to decorate the conference room table.

Make your own Hand Sanitizer

What you need: 99% rubbing alcohol, aloe and a few drops of essential oils.

1) To “kill the bugs” there needs to be at least 60% alcohol.

2) that would really dry out and mess up your hands so you need to add something like glycerine or aloe.

3) Therefore, you must have 99% alcohol so when it is diluted with the aloe you still have at least 60% alcohol.

4) so, approx 2/3 cup alcohol to 1/3 cup aloe.

5) Note: FRICTION KILLS GERMS!! Rub your hands together vigorously!! 

REMEMBER: nothing is as effective as good ol soap and water!! Hand sanitizer is for when soap and water is just not readily available. 

I still cry

I could see your feet.  Another nurse got in the driver seat. Episiotomy in a flurry, onto a gurney, you were free. Tried to help you breath, your heart so weak. My heart cried out in silent pleading prayers as we pour in the meds, o2 & care. Then you weren’t there. Grabbed an interpreter and gulped back sobs as we told your mom. Later, by a tree and under the sky, on my back I cried. I still cry. #ShareAStoryInOneTweet #ERNurse 

You are NOT enough and other great reassurances!

I don’t say this to brag AT ALL, well actually, I do, I’m gonna brag on what God has done for us because I recognize it’s not us, but Greater is He who is in us!!...

We’ve been through hell and back with kiddos. Days where we were literally prostrate before God, feeling so alone, confused, physically sick with stress, raw, and at the end of ourselves crying out to God. 

If you are there, I’m so sorry. I can say there is hope, it has gotten better for us. I urge you to seek help, reach out to support groups, keep going. Push push push for resources, and advocate advocate advocate for your family!  You are NOT enough, apart from God and His loving grace, peace, and wisdom. Cling to Him, He is faithful, He can be trusted! 

Together with Him, you’ve got this! 

It’s okay, I wouldn’t have believed me either a couple years ago. I was tired of biblical niceties and the “I will pray for you’s...”. Don’t get me wrong we certainly believe in the power of prayer and really coveted all the prayers we could get, but I needed actual hands on help...I needed Jesus with skin on!! 

There were times I cried deep sobs of regret and experienced embarrassment and guilt regarding my thoughts and feelings. I felt like such a horrible person because I couldn’t stand the sight or smell of them and I wasn’t sure how I’d make it until they was old enough to leave. Yet in the midst of it all still try to figure out to be a loving and therapeutic parent. 

It was a LONG journey, but an amazing one. God is so faithful!! I never thought I’d say this, but he’s such a great kid!! There are still some pretty tough days and a lot of feeling and issues to navigate (including my own) but we’ve also ALL experienced such tremendous growth. Nowadays I tell him to never leave...I’ve even offered to buy the house next door when he’s older so he stays close by! 😀

Today after church we asked our son what would he like to do? He explained how the church service really spoke to him today about giving back to God through tithes and offerings and serving the poor with alms. He said he couldn’t wait to have a job so he could tithe and give offering to the lord, and today he wanted to go to the homeless people behind the grocery store and find out what they need and get it for them.  From bug spray and wet wipes to snack packs, fruit and water he got it all and delivered it with much kindness and respect, “Here you go, sir! You have a good day now!” 

😳❤️😢🤩😁👍🏼

We are so grateful to God for showing His faithfulness to our family and for bringing us our Villagers! Our Jesus’s with skin on to walk through it with us. 

From spaghetti pie, Burger King gift cards, listening ears, hugs and short respites we’ve seen the beauty of having folks be to us “Jesus with skin on!!”

If you’re on the journey, You are not alone friend, there is hope, you are doing Kingdom work, and you are so deeply loved! 

If you know someone who may be hurting on their journey, how can you be “Jesus with skin on” for someone today? 

Dorian is a wicked sloth!

Continued preparation today both at home and the hospital! Making sure all patients are safe and well cared for as we see Dorian approaching.

This evening when we were notified we were to evacuate starting at 10am tomorrow, it suddenly felt very real and a little scary.

Had dinner with some good friends and felt myself relax a bit!

Dropped a load off at our “shelter” (thank you Christine!!). And in the way sorted out some staffing issues for tomorrow! Thisnteam sure knows how to pull together!! ❤️👍🏼 #Grateful!! 

The dogs are worried, they sense something is up and are sticking to us like glue. In return we keep them close and with us as much as possible see wishbwe could help them understand that, “no matter what you won’t be left behind!”

God is good! If it hits us full in we will see His power in restoration, if it goes out to sea we see His power in weather control. No matter what we see Him, we trust Him! He is good. 

Considering Dorian

Woke up a little anxious this morning and reminded myself of how much God loves and cares for us and God brought to mind some verses I long ago memorized. I also thought of Pastor Daniel’s message on Sunday in which he used those verses in Matthew to remind us of how God’s got us, He is our provider of all we need; He takes care of the birds and the flowers and we are so much more important to Him than those, after-all He created us in His image!

Doesn’t mean we don’t have to use the brains he gave us to plan and prepare! So, more planning and prep today on both the home and work fronts!