Week Four at Home: The Easter Edition

Week Four at Home: The Easter Edition April 12, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles — Amy Scott @ 6:37 pm

Hello! I hope you’ve had a lovely Easter! Our weekend plans were very different from the usual hustle on Easter weekend. While I missed gathering with our church family in person, I enjoyed the change of pace to our Easter celebration. We kept up with our church through online gatherings. We participated in a Seder meal experience. We watched Good Friday gatherings together and Easter weekend gatherings. I love seeing our staff get creative during this time.

Along with our church commitments, we did all the fun Easter traditions we could at home. We dyed eggs. We bought white eggs for the first time in months since our chickens are such excellent layers. They produce more eggs than we can eat, but we wanted to do an experiment coloring both white and brown eggs. We did multiple egg hunts around our house. This morning, we did Resurrection Eggs with our boys which share the Easter message through an egg hunt. The boys got Easter baskets and happily played with their new toys and munched on candy. We made flower deliveries to the grandparents and called GG on the phone to wish her a happy Easter. Our family enjoyed a yummy special meal together to complete the holiday. Because it’s such a lovely day here in the PNW, we spent a good amount of time outside just enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.

The whole weekend was special and really did feel like a holiday even though we were at home. My boys have such joy and enthusiasm for celebrating and their joy is contagious! I might be aware of what is missing from our usual Easter weekend, but the boys don’t have a feeling of loss at all. They are happy and blessed – just living in the moment. I am thankful for the way they lead me and show me the right attitude to have during this unique season.

Switching gears… We’ve now completed four weeks at home. I’ve seriously contemplated when I’ll stop counting the weeks. Before it was the countdown back to school opening, but now? What is the end game? I’m not sure. We’ll see when the mental shift happens. I’m still waiting.

April was a busy month for our calendar. Our church hosts many large gatherings for Easter. We had an annual conference with our church network. I had multiple showers – one baby, one bridal – to host/attend. We had a graduation ceremony to attend. The boys were supposed to have Spring Break. It seems like almost every day I think “I would have been doing *insert activity here* today.” While I don’t mind the freedom from the busy calendar, it’s a strange feeling to think of all that would have been and all that didn’t happen.

Tomorrow, we will pick up another homework packet from Owen’s school. We are starting our fifth week of homeschooling. The packet we receive tomorrow will introduce new concepts that Owen would have learned at school this spring. Up to this point, I’ve been trying to decrease brain drain, but I haven’t been teaching Owen anything he didn’t know already. This packet will be a step in the right direction. We will also receive a weekly assignment from his teacher as a way to stay connected to her.

As for Graham’s education, I’m starting to hone in his educational needs more. This last month, I’ve kept Graham busy with school-like work so I could help Owen. I ordered a preschool workbook that will give me more direction. My hope is to move into a teaching mode with Graham and less keeping him occupied/distracted. I will admit that I feel the tension of teaching two kids at different learning levels. I remind myself that I am not alone in this endeavor. I’m working on it. That’s the best I can do and that’s okay.

It seems like each week brings something new to process. It’s almost impossible to plan beyond May 4^th. I’m trying to take things day by day, week by week – sometimes minute by minute or hour by hour. There is so much to be thankful for. Our family had a lovely week celebrating Easter together. In light of all that is going in the world, I am ever more thankful for the hope I have in Jesus. I am thankful that I had extra time with my family during Holy Week. We are making the most of the moments, making memories, and rising to the occasion. While this strange season has its difficulties, I’m choosing to find beauty and joy in these circumstances.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

Playing his violin for Palm Sunday worship!

The boys and I helped Jeremy film his sections for the Seder meal. I’m sure my boys will remember making videos as a family as a part of this time at home.