Fill up to Spill out

It's been 46 days since Covid 19 literally turned our world upside down (and even more days since it all began).... 46 days ago spring break ended and my husband and kids were supposed to return to work and school, but sadly that never happened.  Everything changed.  Weeks later very few things feel familiar, except that I am still getting up and going to work 4 days a week, but like everything else my work is also very different.   I've tried to remain positive and hopeful during this crazy time.  I've consumed motivational content, reached for joy in the chaos, tried to stay grounded in my morning routine and habits while encouraging others to do the same, but it's not always easy.  I too have tough days.  Nothing about this is easy.  Whether it's the virus itself or the challenges it's created through stay at home orders and all this social distancing that has been required to slow the spread of the virus, it's difficult.  A couple of week...

As a healthcare provider still going to work during the coronavirus pandemic, I see the toll that all of this fear, uncertainty, change, and social distancing is taking on our mental health.  People are experiencing more anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, loneliness, and overwhelm.  Even those of us who are safe and well and not personally affected by the virus itself are still feeling the affects of having to spend more time at home, change the way we do things, and practice social distancing.  Nothing feels normal, and it's unclear if anything will ever get back to "normal." A lot of us are used to being BUSY.  We thrive on being busy, productive, and having goals and plans.  We love routine.  We love predictability.  We love a full calendar filled with activities.  This "being still" thing is hard.  We are mourning the loss of community and all the things that filled our days.  Coronavirus has wiped our calendars clean. ...

When I starting writing around this time last year, I didn't really know what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to share my story with my girls.  My pastor always told us to never leave this earth without sharing our testimony.  As his cancer journey was coming to an end last year, I felt inspired to share my own story as he had always been so good at sharing his.  He taught us how to not only live well, but to die well too, and oh, how we miss him.   It started with me typing a few chapters about my childhood, growing up as a farmer's daughter, those oh so wonderful teenage years, my family (especially my grandparents who are no longer with us), my faith, some of my struggles with anxiety and overcoming fear and failures, and ending with our love story and of course the birth of our girls.  It was a bit of a memoir, filled with all my recollections of life so far.  It was definitely not "book material" at first (it was awful, really awful), but I kept wri...

Most of us have been self-distancing and sheltering in place (with the exception of going to essential jobs or grocery shopping) for the last 3 weeks.  Yes... 3 weeks... or maybe longer for some people... and there's currently no end in sight.  Coronavirus has turned our lives upside down.  A lot of us are not used to spending so much time in our homes.  There are mouths to feed and endless messes... and dishes (and work and crisis schooling and all.the.things).  So... much... cooking... (and cleaning...)... and sometimes a bit of a challenge due to lack of items at the grocery store... although improving.  Thankfully, some restaurants are still serving drive-thru and pick-up, but most of our meals are being eaten at home.  Like us, you might be finding yourself out of meal ideas, so this week I thought I would share a few of our easy favorites with you! Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients - 6 TBS butter, a shredded rotisserie chicken, 1 C diced onion, 1 ...

Most of our lives have been turned upside down in the last 2-3 weeks.  The Coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic has led to big decisions world-wide to close schools, close a lot of businesses, cancel all community events, go virtual, provide drive-thru services, and basically shelter in place.  It's been a disruption to our normal lives, taken away our freedom to gather and go places, it's cost people their jobs, it's taken lives, it's caused the stock market to plunge, and it's forced us to do things very differently.   We are uncertain how long this historical situation will go on, and with uncertainty comes all sorts of emotions.  What's helped me the most is taking one day at time, consuming positive content, and choosing joy over fear and overwhelm.  We are all in this together.  We are all doing the best we can.  Some of us are working harder than ever before, and some of us are being given the gift of time right now.  Are we making good ...

2020 was off to a great start.  In just the first months of the new year, I published my 1 st  book, turned 40, ran my 3 rd  marathon, my husband successfully defended his dissertation after 6 long years of hard work, our calendars were full of exciting things, we were gathering with friends more often, we had trips planned, weddings and other fun events to attend, a graduation party to plan… and then Coronavirus (Covid 19) happened.  2020 was great until it wasn’t great anymore.  Suddenly school was cancelled, weddings were postponed, literally every activity and event and all the things were either cancelled or postponed indefinitely.  It strangely became impossible to find toilet paper or bread or eggs or bottles of water.  Store shelves became empty as the media created mass chaos and panic buying.  Lights were turned off.  Businesses closed or were forced to change their way of doing bu...

Home is where we find comfort and respite.  It's a place where we display and store things we cherish.  It's where we connect with those we love.  It's where we invite others in.  It's where we dream and plan and make beautiful memories.  Home is also where we create things. Do you have a favorite space in your home?  Have you created a room or area that brings you joy?  Do you get excited about entering this space each morning?  Is it where the magic happens?  It it where you drink your coffee, dream big dreams, write the book, relax, play games, pray, cook amazing meals, eat with your family, gather with your friends, get your work-out in for the day, read, work, craft, sleep, or rock your baby?  Have you put careful thought into this room, designing a space that inspires you, relaxes you, comforts you, or just makes you smile? For me, this is currently 2 spaces in my home.  First, it's my little coffee station I created la...