A Bunch of Stuff Happened

When Ben and I were first married, we were in the midst of moving to a new city, a new apartment, new jobs, and of course, new budgets. It probably took us a good three to six months to combine our finances together as I was working to change my name, update my social security card, and obtain a new driver's license. So when we were able to start a joint bank account, we took a look at each other's separate accounts to make sure we remembered what bill was coming out of which account. However, as I glanced over Ben's balance register, all I saw written to cover a couple of months of accounting was "A BUNCH OF STUFF HAPPENED," followed by the current balance (for the record, he did this as a complete joke to get a laugh out of me)!

This has become a long standing joke in our marriage over the past 13 years!

So as COVID-19 continues to wreak its havoc over our state, and as we've been living in this fog of a new normal, not knowing what day it is or even what month it is, we've turn to our longstanding family joke: A BUNCH OF STUFF HAPPENED in March, April, and May 2020.

In June, things will begin to re-open in our state, slowly, and with a different look. And I will also be giving a fond farewell to my good, true, and beautiful series on social media on May 31, as we look forward to a summer that will feel very sweet and free indeed.

As I glimpse back into the the past three months of fogginess, some very wonderful things have come from it, and I feel like this is a good time to reflect upon those things, in no particular order:

1. Our adoption home study is approved, and the country that we will be travelling to has granted us a preliminary approval for a match with a child. Glory be! Now, we're on to completing the dossier.

2. My piano students not only did an amazing job of performing in their Zoom piano parties, but they also raised $600.00 for the Food Bank of Iowa during our Practice-A-Thon fundraiser!

3. I submitted my Music Teachers National Association certification request, and should be hearing back from them in a few weeks to see if I have passed.

4. I've been able to play prelude music for church still on Wednesday nights, thanks to Zoom.

5. I've been able to increase FaceTime calls with family and friends.

6. I've been able to read some great books and watch some great films and operas.

These are the blessings found with the extra time I've had these past three months. And the extra time has been a great teaching tool, as it has taught me to "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways" (Psalm 119:37). In short, less scrolling, more reading!

So as we move over to summertime, that doesn't mean we should forget what's happened these past three months, and it doesn't mean we should become complacent in our activities outside the home. We should still consider our neighbors, who may be elderly or may have autoimmune disorders. We should still consider social distancing and wearing masks, not to protect ourselves, but to protect others. In short, continue to love your neighbor!

I hope that all of you are able to find the silver lining as A BUNCH OF STUFF HAPPENED this spring, and that you are able to have a very fun and enjoyable summer!