Hello there...it’s been a while since I typed a blog post. Did you miss me? I’ve been busy answering emails, sending messages, creating Zoom links, and graphics for seminars like crazy. I’m beyond thrilled that I treated myself to a keyboard that attaches to my iPad. It’s given me new life! Funny the things you come to appreciate that you never thought you’d appreciate before.

Which leads me to this: I’ve learned a lot these past few months. This global pandemic has taught me volumes. It’s not about the virus, or the danger it causes, or the masks versus no masks debate. The run on hand sanitizer and toilet paper and disinfectant cleaners, how I am so thankful that we can have meals delivered to our home, and how Walmart Grocery delivery has saved me on more than one occasion.

Masks, isolation, rising numbers, chaos in our beautiful country, political stances, division, anger, hurt, ventilators, death, wow….it’s a lot...it’s too much to bear sometimes.

At the beginning of all this way back, I thought that there was going to be a 2-week quarantine at home and then things would go back to normal. At the time, 2 weeks with my family, 24 hours a day sounded like the third ring of hell. Please judge me, it’s more than ok. I’m known to love my space, love it even more when everyone is out of the house so I can have peace, quiet, and know that everything is in its place. If no one is here, then no one can mess anything up! I don’t have to walk in a room and have it be a disaster area! My countertops are clean and smell like lemon-scented Windex. Life is good. No one is nagging me, asking me to entertain them, or asking me to find something that is literally right in front of their face.

Enter the quarantine. Wait, you mean my kids will be home all the time like summer vacation? And we can’t go to the pool? And we can’t go out to lunch at restaurants? There’s more??? My HUSBAND is going to work from home too????! Oh help me Jesus and give me strength...I love them but I don’t think I can be around all of them for that amount of time!

I’m not gonna lie...week one was a disaster! Who would have thought that a 2,700 square foot house would have so little space in it? Every room was a disaster area, dishes were over piled in the sink, and you could clearly identify who was responsible for which mess. I’ll give you clue: I NEVER HAD ANY MESSES!!!

You’re in my space, stay in your lane, I’m not your maid or your short-order chef, it’s not my job to find your earpiece for your live shot in 5 minutes, yes we are having that for dinner again, no I don’t want to play board games, or card games, or any game...leave me alone, please!!!

Fast forward to 4 months later...wow...4 whole months! I can’t believe I’m even saying that! Where once we’d be bumping into each other, we are now a well-oiled machine. Everyone has their own space, and surprisingly, there aren’t huge messes anymore! My girls offer to help me at dinner: getting the table set, cleaning up without being asked, getting drinks, house-cleaning, laundry...you name it and they are asking ME:“Mom, what can I do to help you?”

The reason why: they want my undivided attention, they want their momma, they want quality time with me. And I’m now thrilled to give it to them. God changed my selfish heart and he is the only one who could do anything like that. I now look forward to individual time with my children where normally I would be hiding in my room.

Lauren and I play outside in her little play pool every day. It’s just for the two of us and we love it! We throw tons of shampoo in the pool and it turns into a huge pile of bubbles. We sit on the bench outside afterward, all wrapped up in our towels and talk about important things: which My Little Pony we like best and why. I know everything there is to know about Ever After High dolls too!

Elizabeth and I watch scary shows during the day once she’s awake. We curl up in my bed and watch ‘The Haunting of Hill House’...I swear it’s THE scariest series I’ve ever seen in my life!!! The jump scares send us into fits of laughter after we scream our heads off!

Craig types the day away in the office and it is finally a comfort knowing he’s here. We all sit down and have family dinners every night. We never had this before due to his work schedule. We have a fantastic meal every night and Craig always plays “Be Our Guest” and sings it loudly….it’s hilarious!

We all watch the Nightly News with Lester Holt and talk about the stories we see. I hesitated at first to allow Lauren to watch it but we have careful conversations about what is going on in the world today and we also talk about how others may not share the same beliefs that we do. All things that normally I would shield her from have gracefully shifted to conversations on perspective and things to pray for.

I am grateful. I want all my babies in one place. School starts in a few weeks and thankfully we were given the option to keep them home but still learn from school virtually. I’m not ready to send them out in the world yet. I love what our family has become during this horrific time: closer, bonded, loving, respectful, and most of all...what we should have been all along. Thank you Coronavirus: you made me fall in love with my family again.