Last week, on May 7th to be exact, we hit our 50th day of living in quarantine. Other than a few social distanced chats and happy hours with friends, stops from my parents and grandparents on our driveway, some trips to Hy-Vee, Target, or the greenhouse for flowers, and a few more stops for carry-out or a Sunday afternoon Dairy Queen blizzard, we have lived outside our normal and have spent the majority of our lives inside our home for the past 50 days. And being a self-proclaimed homebody, I have tended to stay in the camp of enjoying much of the good and unexpected gifts this season has brought. Free nights to eat dinner around the table, a rare opportunity to home-school and share my love for teaching with my own kids, a return to simple, slow pleasures like a cup of yummy coffee and the pages of a good book, and the creativity of maintaining connection - through a letter in the mail, a Zoom Bible study early on a Tuesday morning, a game night after the kids go to bed.
Last week, though, I started to feel the novelty of it all wear a bit. I let good habits slide, often choosing to stay in bed for an extra hour instead of getting up to get a workout in or spend time reading my Bible. I didn't take time to look over the kids' school plans or create any of my own fun for them, resulting in abandoned plans and a lot more screen time. I wandered around the house without a clear plan or purpose, usually ending up mindlessly scrolling my phone or hiding in the pantry stuffing chips in my face. I'm pretty sure this is what people call "numbing out." And while I'm all for giving a lot of grace for these tendencies, especially during a pandemic, I can't say it did any favors for my spirit by the time the weekend rolled around...
So for Mother's Day weekend, Beau encouraged me to do what a lot of Moms are encouraged to do on their special day - to take a break from all maternal duties and do anything I wanted or literally nothing at all. I started Sunday from this angle. I enjoyed a sweet breakfast in bed from the crew, then lingered under the covers for awhile and finished my book. I half-listened to church, flipped through a new magazine, and started a new Netflix show. But around lunchtime, I started to crave something much different. What I wanted wasn't to take a break from it all, but to be refueled and inspired by it all. I needed to create with my hands, be around my people, and recharge my spirit by doing something I really love to do. I didn't need to rest by "numbing out," but by feeling alive again. And I knew just how to get started.
I got out my trusty ole Magnolia Table cookbook and turned to a recipe that I've been putting off for awhile. Aunt Bevie's Famous Chocolate Roll, a delicious but difficult looking dessert that resembled a large HoHo and was going to require some new technique and time in the kitchen. I called up my sous chefs from their basement lair, put on some music, and floured my hands. I taught the kids how to separate eggs into the yolks and whites, we watched, eyes glued to the stand mixer for just the right "stiff peaks" to form, danced to Push It while we whisked the yolks "real good," and made sure to taste every step along the way. I successfully learned to roll my first chocolate roll and we all officially named it one of our favorite Magnolia recipes as we savored a slice with homemade hot fudge and a big glass of milk before bed.
I went to bed more grateful, happy, and inspired than a day numbing out to Netflix ever would. And while I think some of this is okay, I'm not sure it's ever going to be my source for a solid reset after a week of wandering my house eating chips out of my pantry. If moms are superheros, my elixir is one part inspiration, one part experience, and one part creativity. Then add in my superhero squad and a little sugar and I can pretty much save the world. Or at least my sanity.
I'm starting the week thankful, ready to close out this strange season of home-schooling strong, grateful for the chance to start again on a Monday. And celebrating lots of simple gifts from this weekend. I am so very thankful for my own mom who gave me such real pictures of grace-filled mothering, and for the village of mamas who have taught me where to go for inspiration along the way.
Good Gifts from Mother's Day Weekend...
900. Starting my Saturday with a hike around Hartman with some mamas and friends. Katie, Jess, Natalie, and I have been reading through the book of Acts and meeting on Tuesdays via Zoom. Katie had the idea to go for an early morning hike on Saturday and invited us as well as her sisters and moms. I felt honored to be included and loved starting my morning in one of my favorite places.
902. Surprise Impact Coffee packages from Kate that smelled the minute I opened the mailbox.
903. Visits from my grandparents, the first time we've seen them since March 8.
904. I wasn't in the best mood on Saturday night, so Mila decided I should take a bath. She went into complete planner mode, spraying her "happy" essential oil spray all over the bathroom, bringing in little plants and candles, pouring me a glass of ice water, and taping a sign above my head that read, "I love you, Mom." Before she closed the door she said, "I hope you have a really good bath, Mom." She's a thoughtful little sprite, and I saw her whispering to Beau more than once this weekend about ways to make my Mother's Day a special one.
905. Long walks through Hartman with new discovered places to revisit this summer. Secret sandbars perfect for fires on the beach, narrow paths that feel like we're in a whole different place, and summer inspiration for kayak hangs and picnics.
906. Homemade cards and homemade breakfast in bed. Beau accidentally made grits with cornmeal and photo-shopped my face on Daenerys Targaryen in honor of my coined name, "The Mother of Dragons." He also wrote me a poem!
Looks like a perfect Mother's Day under these crazy circumstances!! Love Beau's poem so much!! That's a keeper & so is he!! Love you so sweet girl!!
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