"Caged in"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  Proverbs 19:21

We have had a strange month and a half, haven't we?  Back in the middle of March, our daughter, Mindy sent a picture from San Francisco.  Their mayor had issued a stay-at-home order.  You could go to the grocery store, but shelves were empty in many cases.

She could find NO sanitizer.  I happened to have an extra bottle so I told her I would send some to her.  I also sent her some masks.   Thanks, friend Teri, for these!

Soon after California went into stay-at-home mode, most of the rest of the States followed.  It seemed like the world came to a stop.  We were especially shocked when March Madness was cancelled!  Which means Hannah gets to keep the family trophy one more year!

I made myself a mask.

I also did some other sewing.....don't you just love these birdie pins?

Church services went on-line.   We found ourselves on Sunday mornings watching our church, and our kids' churches as well.  Loved it!!

Jan, who leads the older women's Bible study I am in, figured out how to do a Zoom study.  I am not savvy enough to know how to do it myself, so the one I led just finished for the year.  Plus it would be terribly hard to do a Zoom study with lots of preschoolers running about!  It would have been interesting though!

 Our community life group went on-line.

 Our son's small group has a wonderful place to meet together, keeping at a distance.  Josh has a fire pit area that is the perfect spot!

Our Wednesday evening Awana Clubs no longer met at church and I was asked if I could record the Cubbies stories at home and put it on the Awana Cubbies site at church.  It usually takes 3-4 tries before I can get one taping that works without too many flubs!  

What fun it has been for me to receive pictures from the parents showing their children watching along and also saying their Bible verses!

Jill told us that they went through all their puzzles so I went to the post office and mailed them a couple of ones I had.  The Post Office had put up some clear shower curtains for a barrier.

I worked on a couple of puzzles myself. Have you been doing puzzles?

I've been baking.....and unfortunately, eating too!!

  

Does he look a tad bored?   

In case you are wondering what the thing is that is strung across the window on the left, it is a sparkly ribbon we put there to keep the cardinal from pecking at his reflection in the window!  It has worked!

Our granddaughter got sick, running 106 temperature!   A Covid test came back negative but she did have Influenza A.

We are so grateful that she is better now!

 She is doing lots of pretending in her spare time.

(can you guess who she is pretending to be?)

She dressed up Kobi too!

She lost her 2 front teeth during this time.  We asked her if the tooth fairy brought her $5!  (The "tooth fairy" didn't appreciate us saying this.)  She has also enjoyed doing lots of crafts!  My "Kansas" born girl doing origami.  I found lots of origami paper from Japan in my desk so I sent some to the grandkids. 

Eli also made some origami.

Jill's family drove around to see friends and families, talking with them from the car.  (you know, the social distancing thing)

 Hannah offered to volunteer at church, answering the phone.  She did her school work when phones weren't ringing.

Grandson, Eli, has been having fun with his best friend, who is also his neighbor.   They can still play and keep their distance.

Emeri and Eli were having to "hug" as a discipline for not getting along.  Brother/sisterly love!  I know lots of families are struggling to always be kind and nice to one another.  Nerves are getting frayed perhaps.  When our kids were little we used to make them sit on the sofa and hold hands/hug when they weren't getting along. They couldn't get off the sofa until they had "made up."  And actually, they usually ended up laughing after awhile. 

I thought I'd capture some pictures of town during this Covid19 time.  Since it is history, after all.

 

 

 I have never seen the Bread Basket's parking lot so empty (except on Sundays).

 I am finding pleasure in the simple things.

Allen is often saying "This too shall pass" so I found this sign quite funny!

We have spent much time reading books, and especially the Bible, especially these days since we don't have to run to this activity or that. 

Allen continues his job at the hospital.  But what was thought might be so many hours caring for Covid patients has not happened.  They thought perhaps they might get 1000 cases, but in fact only less than a handful.  In fact, the hospital has seen less patients since many surgeries have been cancelled.  They have had to cut hours and pay.  I am glad that the prediction of the pandemic has not happened here.

We neen't be afraid.  God's promise to those who follow Him is "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5, but many other places in the Scriptures too.)  He is always present and I can talk to Him all day!  And in the night when I wake!   We will try to be sensible and keep from getting this virus, but even if we did succumb, perhaps die from it, I KNOW that Christ has conquered death.  "Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54  Our last breath on earth, our first in heaven.  I have to recommend a great book on heaven.  It is NOT a boring place!!!  

And this coming week we are anticipating that Governor Kelly, governor from Kansas, will open the state from the stay-at-home order!  It will be in phases, most likely, but we are no longer having to be shut in!

          

Birds don't "stay at home"

We may all be having to "stay-at-home" by order of the governor of our state, but the birds have no reason to pay any mind to it.

I saw a hawk sitting on my purple martin house one day!

Fly away, Mr. Hawk!  Leave my birdies alone!

"He's gone, Mildred!  We are safe!"

The next day, another hawk was in the birch tree.  But luckily, he had to fly elsewhere for his dinner.

A "hawk" cloud

 Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are at the pond and just recently decided to make a nest at the little creek behind our home.  They have discovered the seeds that  drop from the bird feeder and so I have left some purposely on the ground for them.

I love Mrs. Mallard's blue markings!     There they go, waddling back to the creek.



As I was walking around our pond with my walking partner, we saw a great blue heron looking for dinner.

  As we walked by, he decided we were too close so he flew to the other side of the pond.

The sidewalk came to the other side too, so we were interrupting his fishing.  Sorry, Mr. Heron!

When walking along the river downtown, we saw this Greater Yellowlegs sandpiper.  Migrating up north to Canada.  Yup, paying no attention to any order to stay at home!

Early one morning, out of my dining room window I saw 3 white egrets at the pond.  I was still in pajamas, or I'd have gone out to get closer.  Last year, they came to the creek behind our house.  Maybe they will yet.

They are working on a new pond to the south of our house that has been added to our development and that pond overflows under the street to this creek that then flows into the pond in our back yard.  I like to call it a creek, although I suppose it could be called a "ditch".  But that doesn't sound as nice as "creek".  There are lots of frogs in this creek we can hear croaking in the evening.  I LOVE that sound!

This was last year.

 The pussy willows were taken out, but hopefully they will grow back?  I can only hope.

Hi, Mr. Robin!  The male has a brighter marking on its breast and the female's feathers look more washed out is what I have read.  So I think this is a male.

Wait a minute, Mr. Squirrel.  Do you think you are a bird?  (He could NOT figure out how to get the bird food.)

Mr. Chickadee knows how to slip right into that bird feeder.  It keeps the bigger birds out, like blackbirds and grackles....and squirrels!  (I say Mr. Chickadee, but it is hard to tell the difference between a male and female.  The male has a bigger black bib, but they flit about so fast and there weren't a pair here.)

Mr. Goldfinch enjoys thistle seed and Mr. Oriole enjoys his grape jelly, orange half and sugar water!

I have safflower for the doves.

This male has a bum leg.  He hobbles around.  We call him "Long John Silver".

 Kissing.   Well, it IS that time of year! 

 All the birds have been showing off for their mates!

I grew up with this sweet little prayer that reminds me of this picture above:

God is great,

God is good,

Let us thank Him for our food.

By His hand we are all fed,

Give us Lord our daily bread.