Another one....

How are you doing on this Friday afternoon?  Has your usual routine changed in these unprecedented times?  Have you previously made Friday plans for going out to eat?  Special shopping?  Entertaining guests?  Are you still doing your own shopping?  Are you wearing a mask/face covering when you go out in public?  Are others also wearing masks?  Do you wear disposable gloves?  Do you find yourself doing more online ordering?  Are you following the guidelines for social distancing?   Or - perhaps you haven't altered anything at all.

We were due to be in Mobile, Alabama at this time for the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Women Quadrennial Meeting.  I happen to be a voting delegate for this event, and there were a couple of nominees from our Conference.  We were notified several weeks ago about a postponement.  Hopefully we'll be able to gather at some time in the future.

This is Day #36 (five weeks) of our self-imposed isolation.  We continue to have groceries delivered via Instacart and have made minimal trips out into the world for curbside pickup (prescriptions and such).  On our most recent errand, we wore masks and took along disposable gloves and disinfecting wipes.  We have veered away from the street when walking when we realize we're going to meet someone and that social distancing will be difficult.

We recently had a visit from the Country Couple.  How odd it was to not be able to offer them something to drink or invite them inside for a meal!  That was also a very difficult time for social distancing!

The Country Couple came bearing gifts!  As I mentioned, this is the month for surprises, and they brought one for us, too.

There are some happy birds in the neighborhood!!

Another surprise came from our state government!  As this is our birthday month, it happens to be time to renew our drivers' licenses, especially with the emphasis on having a Real ID.  We've been given an extension until October for that renewal!!  We must, however, carry along the letter that indicates that extension is officially in force.

Wishing you a good weekend ahead!  Be safe, and stay well!

Surprises....

How do you feel about surprises?  Have you ever received any?  Have you ever given any?

Well, I was surprised when UPS left a delivery at our house yesterday!  After placing the box in "quarantine" in the garage overnight (even picked it up with a disinfectant wipe and washed my hands really well afterward), I deemed it was safe enough to open!

What a surprise!

I believe I have my sister to thank!  There was nothing inside the package to indicate who had sent it.

This is actually the month that I should expect a surprise or two!  This is a really special one, and a very nice way to begin those surprises!  There will be no problem finding a spot to hang it!

Thank you, sister!

Everyone....take care, be safe, and stay well!

Sunday, April 5, 2020....

The United Methodist Women Mission Focus for today is the Gum Moon Residence Hall in San Francisco, California.

Today is Palm Sunday, the Sixth Sunday in Lent.  There will be no processing with palm branches in our church today.  The churches in our Conference have been under closure orders since March 15 due to COVID-19.

We have been honoring Sunday by attending our Sunday School class via webinar, set up by our teacher.  By going to the church website, we are able to click on a video for worship by our own pastors each Sunday, and we have also worshipped through United Methodist Church of the Resurrection website.

Today, we will light a candle that will burn during the UMCOR service, then celebrate Holy Communion online.

May you find hope, joy, love, and peace on this day!  Take care, be safe, and stay well!

Today....

....is my sister's birthday!  Happy Birthday to you!

It is also the first day of a new month - April!  Rabbit, rabbit to you!

It is also Day #20 here for our self-imposed isolation.  We continue to have grocery delivery via Instacart, and we've been out five times to pick up something at curbside.

It is also a day I was to have lunch at Panera with a longtime friend.  We'll make up for this one day!

In lieu of that lunch, I made it to the kitchen for some cooking.

Shepherd's Pie!

I am imagining each one of you joining me! 

Take care!  Be safe!  Stay well!

Sunday, March 29, 2020....

Especially during these troubled times, the work of the United Methodist Women continues.  The Mission Focus for today is Friendly Center in Toledo, Ohio.

Our self-imposed isolation is in its 17th day, and we are thankful we continue to be well.  What a blessing!  May this day hold hope, joy, love, and peace for you!

Take care! Be safe! Stay well!

What are you doing?

As I post this, The Husband and I are on our 14th day of self-imposed isolation, one of our actions to avoid the Coronavirus that is causing such difficulties across our nation and the world.  We are grateful that we are feeling all right at this point, and I hope all is well with you.

Our grocery shopping decision is to go with Instacart.  While there is, of course, an extra expense to this option, it seems very worth it to us if we are able to stay healthy.  Once the order is delivered, then the disinfecting begins as we wipe everything that is coming into the house with a disinfecting wipe.  I just viewed a discussion on bringing food into the house from elsewhere, and we'll begin to add an extra step or two.

We have made no intentional plans to gather in small groups, even while practicing social distancing. Needless to say, life has changed a bit, not only for us, but for many!

Filling the time has never been a problem for me, and I recently took awhile to work on a different project.  I took pictures along the way, and I will share them with you.  I am posting this from the iPad, which sometimes works just fine, and sometimes it doesn't!  I won't be adding any more script to this under the pictures, so I'll leave you with this....take care, be safe, and stay well!

Sunday, March 15, 2020....

In the midst of uncertainty as we face the reality that the Coronavirus is changing our lives as we know them for now, may you be able to find some hope, joy, love, and peace in this day!  Special blessings to all on this Third Sunday of Lent.

The United Methodist Women Mission Focus for today is the Dumas Wesley Community Center in Mobile, Alabama.