Lent in the Time of Coronavirus: An Update

So I decided to give up social media for Lent … during coronavirus.

Yeah.

I have to admit my Google News Feed has been scrolled often to abate the feeling like I am totally blocked from the outside world. With my family coming in a month (coming here, to Washington state), I’m wondering how much their itinerary will be changed to avoid “ghost planes.” In other news:

• The garage-to-bedroom conversion is moving along. I’m surprised by how many people didn’t realize that they were sitting on our living room couch aka our bed. The last bit of wiring is happening while other walls have insulation and sheetrock. We are pricing out flooring and choosing paint colors. (I just want to go on record as saying I really don’t consider Pinterest as social media.)
• We were down to one working element on our stove. New elements solved that! No new stove needed.
• Our dryer quit again after purchasing and installing our second dryer repair kit, so new dryer needed. It’ll be here on my birthday. Yay.
• I have been on a We the Kingdom kick. Their most popular song is “Holy Water,” but “Dancing on the Waves,” “SOS,” and “Free Amen” have been weaving throughout the house.
• My devotion for Proverbs 31’s Compel Writing Challenge was accepted! Out of over 600 submissions, mine will be one of 40 featured in a printed piece, 40 Reminders God is in Control: Devotions to Redirect Your Worry into Worship.
• Yes, my birthday is coming up on the 17th, so I’ve been shopping for my own gifts because that’s what it has come to. I was so excited to receive Every Moment Holy, a beautiful book of liturgies for the big and little moments of life. I also got an 11×14 print of “A Liturgy for a Husband and Wife at Start of Day” for our new room.
• I also finally received my Thred Up Goody Box. Here are a few of the ten things included. I kept two things. It was fun having someone shop for me, but it took almost a month to get my box. Eeeks. For only $10 (that money goes towards whatever you keep), I’ll probably do it again later in the spring.

I also decided to do Whole30 with a friend. That will officially start Monday. I’ve been practicing this weekend, and it’s more difficult than I expected. The program consists of going 30 days without eating foods that cause inflammation, allergies, digestion issues, headaches, breakouts, etc. for many people. This includes anything with sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, and dairy. I normally *try* to eat foods that have been least processed, but my goodness, so many things have sugar! I love beans (chickpeas, hummus, black beans!), so it will be difficult to eliminate them. After the 30 days, you slowly reintroduce the “bad” food categories one at a time while taking a few recovery days back on Whole30 to see what causes reactions.

So yes, let’s do something drastic like this … along with my kids having a six-week school break due to coronavirus … and my social media fast.

A lot of time to talk to God, stare aimlessly inside kitchen cabinets, force myself to cook, get to homeschool the kids again, plan out a putt-putt maze, build a climbing wall, install a bathroom fan, and write, write, write.