Saturday, March 28, 2020

Joy on purpose.






"We made a choice to do joy on purpose. Not in spite of life's sorrows. But because of them." 

~Katherine Center




It's a constant head game to keep the bad thoughts away.
I am choosing to fight the gloom with positivity.  
I glob on to stories about potential treatments, stories of flattening the curve, 
stories of people encouraging people and stories of charity toward others.

I nearly had a panic attack yesterday at Target.
My heart was racing and I was afraid my breath was short and I darted away from anyone I saw.  
I'm a chicken.  It's true.  

I applaud the medical workers who walk into a 'burning building' day after day.
God bless you all.

But I do come home and breathe...
I listen to another doctor on youtube on how to be safe.
I read another article on how it is contracted....
and I pray for the people on my bathroom wall list and the prayer goes on and on from there.


My mind is set.
I will choose joy.

Encourage one another,
Donna


p.s. thank you for the quote Jep


















Friday, March 27, 2020

Encourage one another!





Melinda shared this with me today!  Isn't it wonderful and inspiring?

We are replacing scary negative thoughts with positive encouraging thoughts and it really works!

Love and prayers,
Donna





Wednesday, March 25, 2020

What happens matters.






Katie is finally home.
I am thankful that this little chick is in our cozy nest.






March

The sun is nervous
As a kite
That can't quite keep
Its own string tight.

Some days are fair
And some are raw.
The timid earth
Decides to thaw.

Shy budlets peep
From twigs on trees,
And robins join
The chickadees.

Pale crocuses
Poke through the ground
Like noses come
To sniff around.

The mud smells happy
On our shoes.
We still wear mittens,
Which we lose.

John Updike


One day at a time,
Stay home.
Save lives.

What happens matters.
Love you guys,
Donna Elsie




Tuesday, March 24, 2020

We can be Heroes!!!










If we all do our part we can be Heroes.
Stay home. Save lives.

God bless those of you who are on the front lines.
We will stay home to try to ease your burden.

You are the big heroes.
We are the little heroes.
But heroes, none the less.






From Melinda:

Today I join you all in trying to balance the details of this new life.

I am lucky to still be working. I am proud to be a nurse, and happy to go take care of mamas welcoming new babies into the world. Even if it looks a little different today than it did a few weeks ago. And I never planned on having my school aged children home 24/7. I never planned on homeschool, or social distancing, or the anxiety of not knowing what I may be walking into with my hospital nursing job.

But. We can do hard things.

I tell my patients this a lot. When labor gets hard, and they want to quit. We can do hard things. Especially for our babies. We can do hard things.

So, today. I remind myself of this. This is going to be hard. This is going to be stressful, but we have to show each other grace. This is going to be stressful, but we have to be active in forgiveness. This is going to be stressful, but we must practice patience. This is going to be stressful, but we have to be kind. This is going to be stressful, but the sun will still rise tomorrow. This is going to be stressful, but we will do our best.

We will do our best. We can do hard things.

And we don’t have to do them on our own. We are all doing this together. With our family, with our friends, with this sisterhood of other women and other mamas next door and around the world. We are entering into this great challenge, this great responsibility, with an entire world of support.

And how lucky are we? To have fridges full of food, and access to world class healthcare, and warm houses, and books, and electronic devices for learning and entertainment. We have yards in which to play, and roads that are safe for travel.

And we have so many helpers. The grocery store workers, the delivery drivers, the farmers, and manufacturers, the civil servants, the teachers, the healthcare workers. They are all working and adapting and helping us along the way.

Am I sacred? Yes. Am I uncertain? Absolutely. Am I stressed? A little. But am I still oh so very blessed? More than ever. I am holding onto faith. I am practicing joy. I am searching for peace.

We are doing our best. Because we can do hard things.


*****
Thank you Melinda.  Just perfect.

Yes.  I love that....We can do hard things.


Encourage one another,
Donna










Sunday, March 22, 2020

Wait and hope






"Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and
never forget that until the day when God shall deign to
reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in
these two words, -- `Wait and hope.' 

Your friend,

"Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo."






This is Finlandia sung by Cantus

Isn't it the most beautiful song....


1. This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

2. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
Myself I give thee, let thy will be done.

Text: vv. 1-2 Lloyd Stone (1912-1993), v.3 Georgia Harkness (1939)
Tune: FINLANDIA 11 10. 11 10. 11 10, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)



I just spotted this on Facebook and thought I'd pass it on.
Thanks Tom Faller....old friend from Marinette :o)

Waiting and hoping with the whole world.
Donna










Friday, March 20, 2020

Encourage one another.



I wish you love.














Some encouragement from Pope Francis during these difficult days:


“Tonight before falling asleep
think about when we will return to the street.

When we hug again,
when all the shopping together will seem like a party.

Let's think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other.
We think about when it will be all a memory but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.
We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us.
Every second will be precious.

Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.
We will go back to laughing together.
Strength and courage."


Encourage one another,
Donna



Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Trusting God. Loving others. Staying home.




Stephanie and her husband, Vicar Scott, share the Noonday Office.  I think it is perfect and comforting. I plan to pray this with them every day at Noon.

I am staying home and saving lives.
How about you?

How are you and your families? 

We are well. 
Katie's college is closed so she will be coming home soon.

I visited Emma in Missouri last week.  She is still unable to drive so she has been in isolation since River was born.



Now don't get all excited....River does not have red hair.  It's a teeny red but my Nikon loves to add red to pictures.  We had a super fun time getting to know one another.  She loves my singing!!

My favorite song to sing to her is Close to You by the Carpenters.  I have a hard time remembering words to songs...but ones I learned when I was young seem to stick with me.
Even Baby Beluga is beyond me.  I've heard it 500 times....but who knows what Raffi is saying?
Weird huh?





Melinda and Matthew had a scare as Melinda's mom was at the special olympics in Omaha that had the covid-19 case....Ezekiel stayed with them a time or two before they know that they had been exposed.  I am very thankful that Carol Sue's family isolated and they did not come down with the virus. Zekie is fine too.  So very thankful.  Melinda is on the front lines as a nurse.  She is feeling anxious.  Could you pray for her.





I never imagined my tendency to laziness would be virtuous.
But here we are.

Take care!

Love you,
Donna















Monday, March 02, 2020

Welcome Silas Rex



I'd love for you to meet Silas Rex Boucher.
He is Patrick and Shelby's new baby.

He was born Feb 26th.
And all is well. 

Actually things are going super! He is nursing really well and sleeping and active and has that amazing head of hair!

His big sister, Dottie, is not quite two and she is seems to be doing fine with him.  I have not heard any dramatic stories yet!  

Patrick Jr works at a company that gives him many months off for paternity leave so he will be home to help Shelby!  Isn't that great?

I am very thankful for baby Silas.
Welcome to the world sweet child.
I love you so.

What ever you want to call me is fine by me...
Donna