What Are You Looking Forward To When This Crisis Is Over?

Update 29 March 2020

I’m writing to you from the sunshine and fresh air of my balcony.

Of course that means the cats are all out here with me.  LOL.

I moved the little shelves that used to hold my emergency supplies to the balcony as I need something to help me organize my garden supplies.

I broke my fast early today as I needed to get my medication in me and I don’t trust myself yet to take it without food.

I decided to hold my own little Church prayer service to break my fast.

The opening hymn was #26 Joseph Smith’s First Prayer

Prayer to begin the service and break my fast

Watched while eating:  Spiritual Treasures by President Nelson - October 2019 General Conference - Women’s Meeting

Closing hymn was We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet

Closing prayer of gratitude

How thankful I am to be back in the Church, serving a calling, attending Church meetings and partaking of the Sacrament, and best of all, I was able to get a new Temple Recommend just before all of this happened.

How thankful I am that we have President Nelson, a former physician, as our current Prophet, Seer & Revelator.

How thankful I am, most especially, for a Savior who still loves me, no matter how ornery I get sometimes.

Physically I am fine, I have sinus and asthma issues but no temperature.  I am finally sleeping through the night (nightmares are only occasional now) without medication, so that’s also a blessing.

Take care, be safe, be well.

Update Saturday 28 March 2020

Today was a great day!

It did mean I had to go out and be in public, albeit with social distancing, of course.

I filled the gas tank with gas and picked up some food at Walmart and pretty much found everything I needed.  The pasta was already sold out (again) and the young people who were stocking the shelves were looking at each other with shock on their faces as people were grabbing the pasta as soon as they put it on the shelves.  Crazy.  I wan’t looking for pasta, I was looking for pasta sauce which I was able to find.

I also purchased and curb-side picked up a new vacuum... this time it’s one built for pets and very highly rated.

I’ll keep you posted on how well this works.

Take care, stay well.

The Modern Day Passover?

I don’t know that I would go to that extreme, but it does make you wonder about the spread of this virus.

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today and I thought I’d share it here.

Today’s date:  3/26/20

If you go to Isaiah 26:20 you will read:

20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Picture Source:  

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/images/passover-supper-1238799?lang=eng

The Benefits of Following The Holy Ghost

Tonight I feel enormously blessed.

Yesterday I went through and made my Tuesday transfers because I got paid from my job.

I’m working from home, so my employer is making sure I am covered for my paychecks.

I also feel enormously blessed because, after transferring money to my HSA in January, I made another transfer to my HSA for the remainder of the money.  Then, instead of making an extra payment on my credit card, I put that money into my Medical Sinking fund to replenish what had just been removed for the HSA transfer.

Today, while working and watching some of the news on the TV, I realized something.

I had posted in January about the prompting to put the extra money I had saved last year into my Medical sinking fund, rather than going towards the credit card.  What I didn’t know was within three months there would be a medical pandemic along with a stock market crash.  The Lord knew, the Holy Ghost knew, but I didn’t.  

I have been prompted, over the years, to purchase things for my home to reduce the waste my home produces.  

I was prompted, the last trip I made to Costco a few weeks ago, to purchase some extra food items, namely pasta and sauce, along with a few other essentials.  I didn’t understand why I would be buying something in such a large quantity (I don’t eat THAT much) and I now realize these items were not for me to consume but for me to give to others to help them in this time of grocery store famine.  

I feel extremely humbled and blessed to be able to be the Lord’s hands in His work.

I also feel I’m in very good company.

Self Quarantine Day 1 - 21 March 2020

It’s Saturday and I’m starting a new routine around the house whilst I’m here full time.

Last night, I fed the cats and I our food and watched a little of Paul Krugman’s MasterClass on economics.  It’s very good and the topics are quite varied and extensive, but it shows how economics touches everything here in the United States.

I took an Ambien as I’ve not been sleeping through the night all this week and I’m at the point of exhaustion.

This morning I got up at 6am without an alarm, I’ve fed the cats, fed myself, unloaded the dishwasher and have started a load of dishes.

While eating breakfast and taking my medications, I’m watching the MasterClass on Judy Blume and Writing.

Update 17 March 2020

The past few days have been a different kind of crazy than what I’m used to, but I did find out it is short lived:  after this coming Friday, the doors to the office I work in will be closed until we receive word from our management.

It’s been a very weird vibe in the office (most people are working from home right now and there is only a skeleton crew of us staying to take care of people before the shutdown), but I’m also thankful to be of help to the teachers who are deservedly freaked out over this entire situation.

I am, however, looking forward to more time at home for cleaning, taking online classes through SkillShare and MasterClass, and of course, reading and writing.  And sleep.  I’m looking forward to an uninterrupted night’s sleep.  Lately I have been awoken with nightmares, so I’m hoping that will pass.

Stay safe and well, everyone.

Hugs

Not Bad...

It’s not completely cleared off, but it’s a lot better than it was!  Except for Gypsy.  She will not be decluttered.  LOL.

Progress!

Update 12 March 2020

Today has been a great day!

I spent time with my dear friend and hair miracle worker, Dina, while she cut and styled my hair for a concert this evening.  I’ve been looking scruffy for weeks now, so it was well past time to get a haircut.

I took a test drive afterwards so I would know where the venue for tonight’s concert was, I was glad I did!  There was a lot of rush hour traffic going on, but at least I knew where I was going!

I stopped by the cemetery and spent a little time with Decker and with my Parents.  I love and miss them both and the rains really cleaned up the markers.

I went and picked up groceries at Walmart and then enjoyed some YouTube videos to keep the anxiety down before changing clothes and leaving for the concert.

By the time I arrived, Hilary and I assume her husband, were out in the parking lot talking with people.  I went over to say hello and that was when she broke the news that the shows have been cancelled until it’s safe to have concerts with the Coronavirus.  I was so sad, but mostly for them, as they had travelled all the way out here, set up and rehearsed, did sound checks, only to have the shows cancelled.  Hilary was so nice and gracious about the entire thing.  I’ve seen Hilary perform at Time Out For Women, but somehow God blessed me to be able to get a meet and greet VIP ticket before they sold out and I was really looking forward to meeting Hilary.  There will be other times and future shows, but I at least got to meet her and chat for a few minutes with her.  She was very gracious in consenting to a picture with me.

I wish her and everyone on her team safe travels back home.

On the drive home, I did a drive-by of the Gilbert Temple, and while there were still people there, I’m assuming it will be closed until further notice since I got word after arriving home that Church meetings have been suspended until further notice.  I was blessed to see, though, the closest (and largest) rainbow.  It was gorgeous and I said a quiet prayer of gratitude as I travelled home.

Here is a video for the song I wake up to every morning.

Now to eat some dinner and settle in for the night.

Transfer Tuesday

Would you believe I almost forgot it was payday?  LOL.  Yes, I’m enjoying my Spring Break.

Tithing and Fast Offerings - Undisclosed

$500.00 - Visa

$22 & $24 - Base Savings

There are some larger bills coming up between now and the next paycheck, which accounts for less money put into savings.

Homemade Sanitizing Hand Wipes

From the FlyLady channel:

How To Be Yourself

I love this book, and am so glad I listened to it (although I admit I did fall asleep for a couple of the hours it was running - due to my own exhaustion)!

This book is for people like me who feel socially anxious and awkward.  A lot of those rules regarding conversations I didn’t get growing up and us kids were expected to be seen but not heard for a chunk of my childhood.

A lot of these things are explained in this book in a wonderful, anecdotal way.

Here is a link for the book on Audible:

I'm listening to How to Be Yourself by Ellen Hendriksen, narrated by Ellen Hendriksen on my Audible app. Try Audible and get it here: https://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B079YYNDWG&source_code=ASSORAP0511160006

Book on Amazon:  

How To Be Yourself

Books To Read

I’m still trying to figure out the kind of person I want to be.  LOL.

Emergency Preparedness

Tuesdays are my shopping days, so I went to Costco and Walmart.  It’s the slowest day of the week for stores, so the lines are shorter and less people to climb over trying to get through the aisles.

The gas line at Costco was short, if you compare it to Saturdays.  Trust me, I’ve been there.

After filling up the gas tank, I went in with a list of items to purchase.  These items were things I needed, but could wait a few days, mostly just restocking my cat food.

It was interesting to see what was going on.  I’m guessing people panicked about the Coronavirus (Covid 19) and people were stocking up on water and disinfectant wipes.  Oh, and toilet paper.

It’s great that people were stocking up, however if they had bought these items before the end of February, they could have gotten much of these items on sale.  Namely the disinfectant wipes.  I stocked up a while back and still have a nice little stock pile.

About the toilet paper.  At some point it runs out, what do you do then?  My husband and I invested in cloth diapers.  Clean, sanitize and you’ve got a renewable resource.