Teacher Appreciation 2020 {Quarantine Edition)

We are living such a weird time right now.  Normally, I would be working on a bunch of projects for my kids teachers. . . but they're not exactly "in school" right now.  While we have temporarily transitioned into {home}schooling, our kids' teachers are working their tales off providing distance learning activities and various zoom meetings for our kids to keep learning despite the current state of things.  Many of them are not only trying to teach their 20 to 30 students, whom they love like their own, but they are also trying to help their own children do their own distance learning.  Let's face it, education right now is NOT ideal. 

If you are new to the blog, I LOVE teacher appreciation week! I used to be in charge of it for our kids school and I loved being spoiled as a teacher (before I quit, had our oldest and started this blog).  Teaching is probably one of the most underappreciated jobs on the planet and  I think it is so important that we find ways to bless our teachers. . . from a distance.  I've come up with a few ideas that might work that might make it easy for you to just take a minute to say thanks to your child's teacher. 

I have a ton of ideas and printables (free, btw!) here on the blog.  But, in all honesty, those don't really help us right now.  But, if you wan them, you can find them here, here, here, and here.

But, if you are like me and won't be seeing my kids' teachers anytime soon but still want to send them some sort of warm fuzzy to make them feel loved and appreciated, here are some ideas that I came up with. 

1.  The PTA website has some great printable resources to celebrate your teacher.  If you can't get things dropped off at your child's school (we can't!).  Just snap a picture of it and send it via email or class dojo (or one of many other class messaging systems!). 

2.  Coffee shops like Starbucks and some local shops have digital gift cards.  Send one of those to your child's teacher via email and give them a little treat to celebrate their hard work! 

3.  Amazon does e-gift cards.  Teachers are constantly using this shop as a way to buy stuff for their class or even themselves! 

4.  Send them a door dash gift card so they can order take out one night next week. 

5.  Have your child write a thank you letter via email to their teacher. 

6.  Parents, send a thank you to them from you. . . this sometimes goes farther than the note from your child (not a joke!)

7.  Be on the look out for emails from your child's teacher.  They might have something small planned heading to your in box soon! 

If you have any great ideas to add, I would love to hear them!  Make sure you leave a comment below so we can all see your fabulous ideas! 

 

Connection Time (because we're still at home)

Happy Friday! 

Can I confess something to you? 

I have learned so much the past 5 weeks of Shelter-In-Place and that is grace is mandatory.  Things are not the same and sometimes we just need a good cry because staying at home and not doing a lot of those things that bring joy and fuel your life is hard.  I am a 7 on the enneagram and some days are a struggle.  I miss the trips that were planned and planning for our summer adventure (which is most definitely postponed due to some things possibly not opening up).  I miss going to Target and this Holderness video is exactly how I feel. . . who's with me? 

However, while in some ways my heart is heavy with sadness of being trapped in my house, it is also filled with great joy to have this extra time with the boys at home and not an ounce of busyness.  Last night, while my husband was on a zoom meeting, the boys and I took off on an evening bike ride.  There were soooo many kids out riding their bikes, walking their dogs, and just outside in their front yards.  Can I just tell you that for about 15 minutes last night, I felt like we had gone back in time to when I was a kid.  I think that one of the coolest thing that has come out of this life of quarantine is our kids are able to be just that. . . kids.  We might even get to know our neighbors from 6 feet away because all of a sudden we are all outside. 

My husband sets up our outdoor movie screen (something that we had planned months ago to invite our friends to <insert sad face here>), we are doing it as a family.  Bring on a take out dinner supporting a local favorite and outdoor movie night.  In the meantime, I am going to try to get this Friday post finished.  I hope that you all are surviving.  I know that kids are home, you might be home - not working or working from home and now homeschooling.  Things are different.  There are worries and burdens and the struggle is real for everybody.  But, I hope that as you read this, you are encouraged, and feel a warm hug. . . because you are not alone.  The song from High School Musical. . . "We're All In This Together" really seems quite fitting for right now.  Because, yes, your story is different from mine, but your need for connection and productivity is the same.  Let's come together and check on our friends, whether or not via text  or a snail mail card (you can get some free ones right now through Hallmark!) or make a zoom coffee date! 

If you are new to the blog, which I know some of you are, here's how these connection posts work.  I have a series of prompts that I answer and then I let you guys answer some or all or even just one in the comments below, on my facebook, and even my instagram.  Let's chat! 

Outside my window. . . well, I am currently outside on my patio table typing this post because even though it is 85 degrees, there is a soft breeze and shade.  If I close my eyes, I pretend I am at the beach (probably some serious wishful thinking on my part, but it's quarantine. . .ha ha).  My amaryllis that I planted 3 years ago in bloomed 2 beautiful flowers.  The yard games are out and the outdoor movie screen has been set up for our little family movie night. 

I am thinking that today was a bit hard.  There was a way too much whining from my boys today as they finished up school work and I just felt so much angst.  Thankfully, I ran away and grabbed my Friday treat and it was the best 15 minutes of my day! 

From the kitchen we baked these chocolate chip cookies for the 4th time since we were quarantined, made our favorite cinnamon rolls, Ethan made this lemonade and then made us drink out a mason jars and paper straws!  I also whipped up some freezer waffles with my sourdough discard. 

I am wearing yoga pants and a tank top.  It's getting warmer by the day and well, comfort is key.  I have bought some new clothes, but have no where to go to where them.  I did, however, join Fabletics.  I can't wait to get my order and see how everything fits! 

I am creating a list.  Just kidding.  I am getting really good at making lists and not getting a lot done.  Right now, my husband and I are working on getting the hallway doors painted!  You can tune into my fb stories or insta stories to find out more before I get the blog post done.  I am super excited not to have 1964 orange-y brown doors in my hallway!   I also need to make a sleeve for Ethan's new kindle (his other one died. . . RIP dear kindle fire). 

I am going ha ha ha. . . absolutely no where!  We are riding bikes almost every day and I am running almost every day.  It has been so good for my mental health to get out and do something where the kids don't ask me for help every time I sit down.  I really am loving having the kids home, but some days, it's hard.  We are definitely not perfect people. 

I am reading  so many books right now.  I am working the next book in the Cheney Duval, MD series (mindless reading that gives me a break).

I am also reading On the Bright Side, by Melanie Shankle and It's All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee.  The control one has been really timely for this crazy life we are currently in.  It's actually a Bible Study, too so I am leading a zoom/FB study based on that book.  So much fun!  

I am hoping that this virus dies and life can get back to normal.  I know it's necessary, but sometimes my heart is weary.  I don't like all the negative, opinion bashing that I see on social media.  It's hard.  People are sick.  People are angry.  People think they know better than others.  Words hurt, even if they aren't towards anyone specific.  I will say that as a Christian, it makes me so sad some of the hurtful and prideful posts I am seeing. 

I am also hoping that some of this new normal doesn't stay temporary.  I like the kids playing and being kids.  It's pretty great. 

I am hearing birds chirping and my boys playing Minecraft. 

Around the House there are things strewn everywhere.  School work, craft projects, board games.  There are a lot of messes, but there's so much creativity that is coming out of being stuck at home!  I am having fun digging out my many, many file folder games I made when I was a teacher way back before Ethan was born and putting them to use {home}schooling Weston. . . who just happens to be a third grader! 

One of my favorite things is technology.  Seriously!  I know Zoom has its issues, but I love that I can have a coffee date with a friend, host a Bible Study, and my kids can connect with their friends all because the technology is there.  It definitly makes staying home so much better!

A few plans for the (next) week include tackling some of the creative projects that I have been wanting to get to.  But also, finish as many doors with what's left of our gallon of paint. 

What I am listening to everymorning is worship.  I blast some tunes and hit the road running.  It seriously gets my head (and heart) in the right zone each morning.  We are also filling up on Disney Hits playlist on Apple Music. . . it's our favorite! 

I do plan on watching the next story of Phantom of the Opera on you tube this weekend.  I'm sure that Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is great in this one, too!  So, maybe I will be downloading the soundtrack to that, too? 

I'd love to hear how you, my fellow reader, are doing?  I'd love to be able to pray for you or send you a virtual hug.  I am so thankful for you taking the time to read and respond.  It really does make my day hearing from you! 

Now, it's your turn!  Grab your coffee and let's connect! You don't have to do them all! I can't wait to hear from you! You can even private message me if you don't want to make it public.  

Outside my window
I am thinking
From the kitchen
I am wearing
I am creating
I am going
I am reading
I am hoping
I am hearing
Around the House
One of my favorite things
A few plans for the week
What I am listening to 

Tis the season for CHALK! {Free Printable}

This week marks the 6th week of shelter-in-place in our home, as well as the 6th week of {home}schooling/distance learning with the kiddos.  We are surviving.  We would 100% most definitely rather be using this time to travel, but we can't so we are taking advantage of this slow down to do the things that we don't normally have time to do . . . like chalk. 

I had some chalk laying around from a few years ago, when the boys were not as interested in video games and beyblades and actually wanted to go out and play with chalk and bubbles.  After seeing all the great things people were doing to brighten up people's days (because let's face it. . . we're bored and we're walking more!),    I got the kids outside and we started drawing. . . writing notes, inspirational quotes , and Bible verses along with pretty drawings all over our sidewalks.  We had so much fun!  It was then that I realized that we were going to need more chalk in order to keep this fun activity a regular thing.  Who knew that chalk was the new hoarder item. . . because suddenly it became very hard to find a container of chalk!  I finally found some, but in the meantime, I got creative and found a recipe for DIY chalk.  Believe it or not, I had plaster of paris left over from Weston's Lego Birthday and we had silicon molds from various crayon making adventures.  I will say that it's a pretty inexpensive project. . . probably price-wise a little more than chalk, but it gave us (the kids) something to do by making it and then playing with it.  They also got to be generous and share their creations with our friends. 

Our test batch turned out so well that we decided that we needed to make a bunch of different colors and give them to some of our friends.  We miss our people as I am sure you do too!  But, right now staying apart is the right thing to do and so let's make the best out of it!  I even made a printable tag that you can click at the bottom so you can spread some joy to your neighbors. 

Yesterday, the kids and I were back making chalk on our side walk when a lady walked by and just thanked us for bringing her joy on her daily walk.  She had been waiting for us to re-do it after the recent rain showers washed it away.  It just brought so much joy that by using some of our extra time staying home, we can bless those that walk our sidewalks.

So gather the following materials:

plastic solo cups (that way there's hardly a mess to clean up!)

A box of Plaster of Paris

Tempera paints

water

Silicon mold

plastic spoon or a Popsicle stick

Once you have all of your ingredients, you are going to pour the plaster, water and paint into your cup and stir with a plastic spoon.  The key is equal parts liquid to plaster.  So, we found that 1 cup of plaster + 3/4 cup water + 1/4 cup of paint.  If you are using Crayola paint that is really thick, we found that using a little bit less water is necessary.  Stir until you have a pancake batter-like consistency and pour into your mold.  I like to sit mine on a baking sheet so if I need to move it out of the way, I can.  It usually sets in about an hour, and after about 2 you can pull it out of the mold and set it aside to finish drying. Then start another batch using a different color.  It needs to sit for about 24 hours before you use it. 

We had so much fun making it and then giving it away!  You can click here to get a copy of the printable for yourself.   Let's spread some cheer during a time when there is so much sadness and boredom going on. 

   

Our favorite Chocolate Protein Balls

Today marks quarantine day who knows what.  Today marks the first official day of Spring Break, but in all honesty I have no clue what that means.  I guess more tv and video games?  One thing is for certain, my kids love to eat and and the occasional moments of boredom, while not a bad thing, tend to bring an unrelenting hunger in my growing boys (and who are we kidding, me, too!). 

We've been sitting on these protein balls for about a year.  It has been on my list to post, but they kept getting eaten quicker than I could take a picture.  Because we have dairy and soy allergies over here, I am super hesitant about a lot of the protein powders out there (soy and whey based will make us sick), so I got creative and came up with this recipe.  These delicious balls, which my boys jokingly call poop balls, are almost completely refined sugar free.  I say this because we use the Peanut Butter & Co Mighty Nut Powdered Vanilla, which has a little bit of cane sugar added into it. 

Now that we are home and it doesn't appear that we will be going anywhere anytime soon, we have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen baking all the things.  Last week, I made these protein ball and some granola bars and they have definitely been keeping the boys satisfied. 

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Protein Balls

Ingredients:

10 dates

1/2 cup sliced almonds

3 Tbsp dark chocolate peanut butter

3 Tbsp Vanilla Peanut Butter Powder

1 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

pinch of salt

Directions:

Throw all your ingredients into a food processor.  Pulse until everything is mixed and nuts are little chunks. Then scoop out a spoonful and roll into a ball. 

Store in a airtight container or keep in the freezer.

We store ours in the freezer and just pull them out as needed.  They don't take too long to defrost and when school resumes (hopefully) in the fall, they are perfect to thrown in their lunches. 

Connection Time (COVID-19 edition)

Happy Friday everyone.  Everything about today feels like Saturday, as have the days before.  We just finished our second week of full on Shelter-in-place and we still have several more weeks left.  It has been great in so many ways, but part of me struggles big time with being home all.the.time.  I have worries and frustrations as do most of you, but I am trying really hard to find all the great things that are happening despite being stuck at home. I really thought that today was a good day to bring back my monthly connection time posts. . . because we all need a moment to connect, social distancing, of course!

My favorite way to connect with others is over a cup of coffee or a delicious meal.  While, we can't even walk into a coffee shop right now, I ordered my favorite local iced latte and drove and picked it up. So, go grab a cup of coffee, sit down at your computer or your phone.  Read through this post and  then you copy and paste the prompts into the comments our your own social media feed (tag me) and answer one or all of them.   Let's get talking!

Outside my window the sun in shining.  We've been taking walks through our neighborhood every day and it's probably been my favorite part of this whole situation.  So many neighbors are walking and playing outside.  Yesterday, the kids and I even drew on our sidewalk to send notes of cheer to our fellow walking neighbors!  I'm also sure that as soon as my oldest finishes his book report, he will be out there taking advantage of the gorgeous day with some basketball. 

I am thinking about oh, so many things!  My brain has so many things going through it:  What I am going to prep for the kids next week?  What project should I start?  When is this going to be over?  I miss the beach.  I miss people.  See, so many things are running through my head.  I do know that God has got our backs and I think we are going to come out of this better people, better parents, better employees.  But really, I miss my people.

From the kitchen cookies are going to be made after a bit.  Chef Weston will be making chocolate chip cookies because we've been studying fractions.  He's only allowed to use 1/2 and 1/4 measuring cups to which he exclaimed, "You mean, I'm going to have to do math?!!!" Math is always fun when food is involved!

I'm also pretty sure we are going to bake our way through this virus.  So far I've made brownies, carrot cake, bread, and banana bread.  Send help and flour.  ha ha!  Thankfully King Arthur Flour is amping up production due to the increased amount of bakers out there!   

I am wearing something other than yoga pants!  Last week, I declared that on Fridays I would put on real clothes.  I am way more productive in yoga pants, but every now and then a girl has gotta look cute! Today's outfit consists of holey jeans, a t shirt, and a Roxy pullover sweatshirt.  Perfect for getting out there and playing with my kiddos!

I am creating  absolutely nothing this week.  I am hoping that changes next week because I sure do need to feel like I am accomplishing something. Make sure you are following me (@jolieklassen) on instagram for updates in this area.  

I am going absolutely nowhere.  All plans including romantic 40th birthday trips have been cancelled until we are given the okay to resume all normal travel activities.  Honestly, this is the part of me that hurts the most.  Adventures give me life and right now that part of me is feeling really squelched right now that sometimes I want to cry.  I know that this is not forever, but it's also super sad.





One thing I am thinking of doing soon is ordering from one of our favorite local eateries and putting out the fine china and having everyone dress up for dinner.  I bought and Easter dress that I probably won't get to wear for Easter and well. . . I really want to wear it.  Plus, my kids need to wear something other than soccer pants.

I am reading On the Bright Side, by Melanie Shankle and The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.  I am taking advantage of this time by reading through my rather large stack of books.  The kids and I are also reading one of my favorites, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.  I might even thrown in another Cheney Duvall book in the mix just for fun!

I am hoping that our Summer vacation plans won't have to be cancelled. . . I need something to look forward to! 

I am hearing  Weston's class meeting on Zoom and Ethan coloring in his book report.  There are also a lot of giggles . . . they are my favorite!

Around the House  piles of books, schoolwork, and art projects are cluttering our tables.  Ethan has made our dining room table into a make-shift office and well. . . I really don't care.   We are trying to have as much fun as possible despite being stuck at home.

One of my favorite things this week was overhearing a man and woman talking at Sprouts.  They were standing 6 feet apart and just catching up.  The man was talking about his granddaughter and how she learned how to ride her bike this week.  Her parent's haven't had time to teach her and this week they did.  It made my heart so happy to hear a story of a family taking advantage of this gift of time.  Maybe that's how we should be approaching this quarantine as a time to slow down and come together as a family.

A few plans for the week continue with school and work on some upcoming blog posts . . . which means I am going to have to get creative.  Awe, shucks!  ha ha!  If you have a hankering to see post on something specific let me know!
 
What I am listening to not much right now.  I am binge watching Chuck on Amazon Prime right now.  I have a list of some podcasts that I need to catch up on.

Now, it's your turn!  Grab your coffee and let's connect! You don't have to do them all! I can't wait to hear from you! You can even private message me if you don't want to make it public.  

Outside my window
I am thinking
From the kitchen
I am wearing
I am creating
I am going
I am reading
I am hoping
I am hearing
Around the House
One of my favorite things
A few plans for the week
What I am listening to  

I can't wait to hear from you!  

When suddenly our schedule opens up. . .

I am pretty sure this is the longest amount of time I have been at home without leaving. We went into Shelter-mode today, but the reality is we've been practicing this since Saturday.  In many ways, I miss being able to just spend the day running errands or the freedom to actually go on an adventure, yet as hard as it is to stay at home, I am savoring this extra time with my boys home.  We are doing school and getting to play and build and it's pretty great!

A friend and I were just talking about the great things that can come out of this.  We are definitely spending a lot more time as a family just shooting hoops, playing games, and talking.  I'm pretty sure my favorite thing so far about today is just getting to talk with my boys on our walk.  Such great conversations are taking place.  This quarantine is pushing families to come together in ways that have been otherwise not happening regularly because of our busy schedules.  It's pretty great!

When it comes to studying God's Word, one of the most used excuses for not creating a daily (or even a semi-daily) routine, is that they are too busy.  Let's be honest here. Everyone's busy looks different, but it is still necessary.  It is our daily bread, our daily manna that God provides for us.  It brings encouragement and the reminder of who God is and how he has redeemed us.

If have been contemplating starting to get in the habit of reading your Bible on daily basis or even if your current Bible Study has had to stop meeting because of the COVID-19 situation, you might be on the lookout for some way to dig in.  I was already working on a list of ways to encourage my Bible Study gals to dig in on their own, but I thought I would share it with my sweet reader friends.

She Reads Truth/He Reads Truth
This probably my absolute favorite one.  I started doing these studies back when they just had a website and no app or printed books.  It's been really neat to see them grow because that means more and more women (and now men and kids!) are opening their Bible each and every day!  Right now, we are reading through Jeremiah as we walk these days of Lent before we celebrate Easter.  It's a pretty great study and I can't even remember the last time I just read the entire book of Jeremiah rather than a few verses here and there.  They also have a ton of past studies you can access through their website (free) and app (prices range from free to $3 for each study). 

You can find them here.

Women Living Well
This is a really neat study site that I found several years ago.  They have lots of resources for reading books straight through, with printable trackers, books that you can purchase, and for some videos some free video teaching.

 You can find them here.

Love God Greatly
This is a really neat Bible Study resource that I might try out soon.  You would need to purchase a book, but they are in the 10-15 dollar range.  They are beautiful books that the money used helps get God's word to other countries in their own language.  But, you can also download them.  These studies us the SOAP method, so the books are more of an organized journal for that book of the Bible or topic.  SOAP stands for Scripture-Observation-Application-Prayer.  They even have kids journals which is so cool!

You can find out more here.

Lifeway
Lifeway is more than a Christian book publisher! They always have certain studies that they open up the video series for on their website.  All you need to do is purchase the book and then watch the videos for free.  This is a really good resource if you are stuck at home and can't go to your normal Bible Study.

You can find the link to the online free videos here. 

Write the Word
Studies have shown that when we we physically write something down with a pencil or pen, we are more apt to remember it.  God's Word tells us to "write God's Word on our hearts" and one of the ways we can do that is by writing a verse or two daily.  One of my favorite ways to do this is to use Write the Word journals over at Cultivate what matters.  They are beautiful, they tell you what scriptures to write each day, but they also give you a place to pray God's Word.  It is one of my favorite things I started last year and I love it!

Here's the link to the website, but you can also order these on amazon.

Right Now Media
This is a great resource that our church has opened it up for all if it's people.  Right now, they are offering a small amount of their HUGE library for free since we are all stuck in our homes.  A lot of really neat studies have all their videos here as well as some other fun speaker series (like the IF conference. . . I highly recommend that one!).  For most of these it is as simple as ordering the book and watching the video online.  Thank goodness we still have delivery drivers as essential during this quarantine! 

You can find it here.

But, I am alone.
And finally, you might be asking the question: That's great, but I miss my people.  I miss getting into God's Word and discussing it with my group.  I know it's hard.  I know it's lonely.  I see and I hear you.  I am feeling that sadness a bit too.  The group that I was leading was wrapping up this week and now we don't even get to meet to celebrate the things that God is doing.  It plain out stinks!  But, I'd rather everyone follow the rules and stay healthy than finish as a group.

 So here are some ways to be social at a distance:

Facebook - I know that many of you might be UGH.  Don't say that.  But really, you can create private groups that you can go live in and also in real time chatting conversations.  It really is pretty great! 

Zoom - You can video in a bunch of friends over this website.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee and everyone can talk about what their study is about.  It's pretty cool.  My husband mentioned that it's pretty backed up due to the amount of people suddenly using it. 

Facetime your friend and do a study together via your iphone if you are craving that face to face interaction. 

I also want to mention that many churches are finding alternative ways to bring your Sunday morning gathering into your homes.  Our church will be going live this Sunday at 10. . . if you don't have a home church or your church doesn't have the technology to do this, here's a link to our youtube channel. 

I  hope that this helps you and encourages you to seek God during this crazy ordeal.  I hope and pray you are all healthy! 

I would love to hear how you are handling everything. . . what are some things you are doing to fill up all this extra time at home?  Any Bible Studies that I should add to the list?  Bring it on in the comments below. . . I'd love to hear from you!

COVID-19 Survival Tips

WOWZERS!  It's really the only word that I can think of to express what is happening right now.  We are so thankful for our church, schools, and so many other places that have made the decision to halt gatherings right now so that we can drastically reduce the amount of people we come in contact with on a daily basis.  It seems so weird to make everything come to a hault and I'll be honest with you, there are moments where my heart gets tired and overwhelmed just thinking of it.  So I thought I would write a post that might be a source of encouragement during this weary time.

I'm a 7 on the enneagram and I'll be honest with you.  In so many ways, having all this time and not being able to go anywhere is nerve racking.  Part of me is "ooh!  Think of everything I am going to get done!" and the other part of me is "That's a lot of time. . . in the house. . . with the kids!"  But it's okay.  Everyone is in the same boat.  I know for some, you might be worried about loss of income and paying bills and others might not be economically effected.  In any case, it is still overwhelming to stop your normal and take a break from being around people. 

Loving from Afar
Raechel Meyers, one of the co-founders of She Reads Truth, mentioned the other day in her stories how many times we are called to serve each other in person and this time, one of the greatest ways to serve and show love is to stay away. Last night, California's governor declared that our elderly over 65 had to stay at home no matter what.  While most of these so called "elderly" do not actually see themselves as "elderly" and are super frustrated, the true elderly are incredibly effected.  Partly because they are so susceptible to this virus and partly because it is a bit harder for them to get the things they need.  My grandma's home has been put on lockdown in order to protect their people.   Our grandparents need encouragement and help, but they also just need us to stay away for a bit.

Not only are the elderly incredibly effected by this, but so are our single friends.  Check in on them, especially if they live alone. Not being able to gather with friends or go out to dinner is hard, but when you live alone and are stuck there for a long period of time, it can be rough.  

Here are some ways to show love from afar:

::  Phone calls and Facetime.  Call someone up and check in on them.  See if there is anything they need (like toilet paper) and then go get it for them and drop it by their house.

:: Send letters and cards.  Snail mail will bring a smile to anyone's face and with all this extra time, let's get writing!  Have your kids to it too. . . or even have them draw pictures to send to brighten up their day. 

Keep your own Mental Health in check
Staying home for some is a dream.  For others, it really is a nightmare.  So here are some tips to get help our mental well-being.

:: Get up and get ready for your day.  Do your hair, make up and put on clothes.  I am most productive in my yoga pants, but you do you.  Don't live in your flannel pajamas.  John Acuff said this morning in a post that flannel is a breeding ground for depression. 

:: Workout.  A lot of gyms are joining the call to take social distancing very seriously and are temporarily closing their doors.  Pinterest is filled with hiit workouts that you can do in your living room without any machines or weights.  Go for a run or a walk through your neighborhood.  Get out and play with your kids. 

:: Spend some time outside.  Social Distancing does not mean stay inside.  Go for a walk (I know i just said that, but it fits here, too!).  Read a book on your patio.  We get Vitamin D from the sun and when levels get low, we can become depressed. 

:: Read God's Word.  Listen to Podcasts.  Memorize Scripture. Watch your church's sermon from their livestream!  Many churches are scrambling to get things ready to go live in the next week or have already done so.  Take advantage of it!

:: Do something creative.  I mean that's what my blog is all about, right?  Find something you can do to create.  Order some supplies online and enjoy working your brain in a different way.

:: Learn something new!  Take some time to learn a new skill in the kitchen. . . like bread baking or macacron making.  Or even cross stitch or quilting! It will give your day some purpose and you will go to bed with a heart that doesn't feel like you wasted your day! Emily Lex has some really neat water color lessons that you can purchase over here. 

:: Read a good book.  I have  a stack of  Newberry Award books that my sister encouraged me to read for Middle Grade March and now I have some time on hand.

:: Paint a room or give that piece of furniture you bought on a whim a facelift.  You suddenly have some extra time on your hands.

:: Find ways to stay grateful. Make a daily list that you can look back at during the difficult times and be reminded of those gifts that God keeps giving daily. 

:: Keep a journal.  We are living history right now.  Chapters in history books are going to be written about this.  By keeping a journal, we are not only expressing our thoughts and opinions but also writing down history as it is being made.  Someday, someone might read your journal!  One way I am doing this is participating in #onedaycv, hosted by Laura Tremaine.  Each day post to instagram what's happening in your day and use the hashtag.  Then click on the hashtag and be encouraged by others who are doing the same thing!  Let's use social media for good! 

Keeping your kids alive
Now, I think is the hardest part and that is schools have pretty much shut down.  Some schools had time to get work out to their kids but if you don't have any work you are probably scrambling to figure out what to do.  I think my kids teachers are scrambling right now to get some things ready, but a lot of it will be online.  I am working really hard making sure my kids get some learning that is more than playing games on a computer. Here are some tips for surviving the instant homeschool status that has become many of us. 

::  Read Aloud a chapter book and have your kids sit and doodle while they listen.  This not only helps with comprehension developing your children's love of books, but it also brings some time for cuddles and connection. 

:: Have your kids pick a Newberry Award winner and have them read a chapter a day.  There are a ton of activities for these books that you can get for free or pay a few dollars for. 

:: Do science projects and Stem activities.  Take advantage of Pinterest.  There's a ton of ideas over there!  Also, We did a whole summer of them 2 years ago.  You can find them here.

:: Do some Art. This is probably my favorite part of having the kids home because we get creative together.  Take advantage of the MANY lessons on Pinterest, but also check out this past summer's summer art challenge here.  There are also a lot of websites that offer free tutorials for drawing, like Art Hub for kids and Mo Willems doodle lunch.  Emily Lex, one of my favorite bloggers, has a really neat kids watercolor class for purchase, too!

:: Throw in some History lessons.  Check to see what they are studying in school and look for free activities to add to that or look at what was going on in the book that you are reading with your kids and plan activities around that.  A number of museums offer virtual tours.

:: Do a puzzle.  This engages the brain and helps critical thinking skills to flourish.  Plus, it is quiet, not a screen, and fun!

I hope that this helps you and encourages you and maybe takes away a little bit of that overwhelming feeling at the pit of your stomach. Please remember that you are not alone.  Everybody is in the same boat.  I really believe that we can come together by not physically coming together.  I would love to hear ways you are keeping sane both for yourself and your kids.  Let's inspire each other and encourage each other during this really weird time!