Advice from a Homebody

You can skip this if you have it all under control, but since many of you find yourselves sequestered at home, and I am a bit of an expert at staying in, I thought I might have something that would help.

Probably as you went into this, your housework was reasonably under control. As you are making a transition to quarantine, especially if you have kids, you might let yourself ease up a little bit. I say this so you can take time to adjust. Some movies, music, books, writing, may make being home easier. This is not to say let all your housework go, just set your standards for comfort.

If you have puzzles, coloring books, beading, drawing paper, crayons, colored pencils, pens, paper, blank cards, board games, cameras, things to repair or build, this would be a time to use them. If you find yourself homeschooling, these can be utilized as rewards for finishing assignments. If you join the kiddos, it will also be a bonding experience in a time of tension.

It might be an excellent time to launch a blog or website if you have been considering it. Both WordPress and Blogger are reasonably easy to start. I prefer WordPress. There are others as well, I just mention two I have used.

If your kids are home, now is a great time to get them involved in the chores, which they may typically find ways to shirk. You do not have to be a harsh taskmaster, just tie fun screen time to task completion.

If you need additional resources for educational materials, many of the colleges have things you can access for free. Coursera is a service tied to top universities that allows auditing courses without a fee.

Almost all of us could increase our activity. For low impact, walking is the best and can be done as a family. In eating, you may find the Yummly app has some suggestions which help you add variety when supply is limited.

To lower stress and anxiety limit your news content, and if your social media is caustic, take some breaks.

Books are everyone’s best friends at a time like this. Reading can help you soothe your mind, and with kids, it helps extend their concentration and attention span. If you have pre-readers, by all means, read to them. You can read their books, and you can also share your reads. This exposes them to the rhythms of language and vocabulary they may not have encountered.

Go outside. It is that simple. Find time in nature.

I will try to post some writing prompts and exercises over these days. I remind you everyone is creative. You have an ideal opportunity to explore what creativity means to you at this time.

If you have questions, I am fully willing to help.

Hold Tight

Put your arms around me,
Wrap me up snug and tight
And please don’t let go too soon.
My Love is yours
For –
Now –
Ever,
Just keep me here so long
As you can,
I will be yours,
You will be my man,
Nowhere else can I belong
Without we are
Together.
We can become all we
Understand Love is created
To be,
An infinity of purpose,
Fulfillment of longing,
Companionship unlike others,
Desire
Enough to set
The days and nights aflame,
A sharing of every potentiality
We can envision and devise,
Hold on, darling, to me,
Let us be.

If I did not know better, I might think I was In Love. Well, no, I am just a poet writing because Love is the poetic metier.

Ethereal

In times of disruption, distress, creativity can be a safety we exercise. A bit of visioneering fantasy visited earlier.

Living in the woods with trees, briars and brambles, pine straw and leaf ground cover, and wild creatures for the closest neighbors, it is sometimes surprising what one sees.

The peace and quiet are always surrounding here. In the Springtime, the songbirds return to fill the air with rousing melodies. Over recent days since the noise is reduced with us sequestered, the small sounds are magnified.

Walking around communing with nature, eyes wide open, ears alert, a heart seeking peace, there are times when the world becomes fascinating.

Stopping to look at a wildflower, the quiet broken by the clip of hooves touching the earth is rare here, indeed, but miracles happen when we can believe. A flash of white, bright as lightning, glimpsed as a creature mythical, came closer like a reassuring dream. Breath consumed by the beauty of his appearance, feet between, not daring to touch, but only observing.

Eyes meet in a time beyond time, great love and compassion are translated through his gaze. His horn shining golden bright, he nods his head.

Whispered, “Will all this be alright? Is there reason to hope?”

His head nods again, then he shifts, so his mane falls like a waterfall.

“There is so much pain, fear.”

He shakes his head, then lowers it and closes his eyes.

“Prayer. The world needs prayer.”

He opens his luminous eyes and nods. He lifts his head high, nickers, and turns. As he drew away all the fears, panic, worries seemed to fade. He looked over his shoulder with a nod, and then raced away. The peace and love exuded during his visit sent doubt flying like the trail of his tail as he disappeared out of sight.

I am a great admirer of unicorns. I draw them at times. This time, well, writing seemed correct.

Gratitude

I always have a grateful heart, but tonight I want to share some things for which I thank the Lord.

During this time, when there are significant disruptions for many, a lot is typical for me. I did have to spend more than I was prepared to on groceries, pet food, fuel, and seeing things all in disorder upset me. The thing is we are good now.

I have devices and the internet, the electric and internet are currently paid.
I have access to music in abundance.
I have books (you all know I have an abundance plus I picked up library books last Thursday, and long as services stay up, I have Kindle).
I have art supplies.
I have journal supplies.
I have pens, pens are important.
I have dogs. Wookie and Tribble challenge me to keep going, (when Wookie is not trying to kill me, we are working on that).
There is a full tank of gas in the Explorer, and I just paid the payment and insurance for six months.
The taxes on the house were mailed. The insurance is paid.
My pain though disconcerting, is almost manageable.
God granted me a fertile imagination so I can entertain myself adequately.
I have the best best-friend in the world.
Should it get cold, the propane is full.
I have water.
No one stole my toilet paper, and I had Kleenex.
My meds are set until late next month.
Everyone I am distant-close to is doing well, although I think some are very inconvenienced.
I am keeping uppermost in my mind, when possible, that God is in control.
Tonight I am shuffling songs (almost 10,000) on my iPod, and I truly wish everyone could witness this concert.
Of course, I am grateful for each and everyone who reads my drivel. I will try not to inflict a list like this on you anytime soon.

I just hope everyone else is safe and okay. I really love all of you, and I want everything to be alright. If you have someone near, give them a hug, or tell someone you love them. Everyone needs love in times like these.

As a prompt, write down a few things you are thankful your life is blessed with today.

Safe Harbor

This is my favorite Bible verse. I have it memorized, and memorization is extremely difficult for me. I wanted to make it attractive to share at this time. It seems to me there is a lot of panic in the world. God is in control.

Little side-note: My mostly hobby job as Copy Editor is going on sporadically today. After I created the above artwork, I shared it with the Editor. She loved it and called it an ad. Needless to say, I was euphoric. I told her it could go in the magazine, we have four now, plus a digital, and she said they would use it in the future.

Safe Harbor

Look to the Lord God –
He is the help of nations,
The ballast for all
Voyages we undertake,
His protection surrounds us.

Do no violence
In your rash preparations;
You are fully loved,
Trust, the extravagance of
Heaven’s abundance accrues.

These times, things shall past
The Glory of God remains, now
And eternally,
He will not forsake His own
Seek His mercy, peace, and LOVE.

Gentle your heart, for
Life continues in the midst
Of trouble, LOVE rises,
Storms come and go, but we know
LOVE is our habitation.