Molinas in Quarantine

This family has learned a lot from being stuck at home: 

1. Our lifestyle really hasn't changed much. PJ still has to go to work, the kids are not in school or day care, I don't have any prior commitments (besides outings, play dates, and Disneyland), and online shopping is a general rule for household or personal items. I'm very grateful for this time I have to be reminded of the abundant blessings we have. 

2. Groceries are difficult to get when everyone is being forced to stay home. Praise the Lord, we have what we need and enough to go week by week, it's just hard to make a more preferred menu. I am certainly grateful for the ability to make a menu for the week and set up a healthy eating plan for our family on a regular basis.

3. People are weird when it comes to social distancing. When I am able to go grocery shopping, people are not unkind, but they seem to be uncertain of how to act with other people. It's as if the government ordered us all to become socially awkward. When this is all over, I will find even more ways to connect with others while we are shopping together, even if it's just to talk about the weather or how old their baby is in the infant section at Target. 

4. I miss shopping with my kids. As annoying as it is when I have to correct them when they grab everything off of the shelves, I miss walking up and down the toy aisles and browsing the dresses. I miss my boy pointing at all of the tv screens in the electronics section. I miss them asking for every sample at Costco and requesting a churro that they don't finish from the snack bar. I miss them asking for stickers from the clerks at Sprouts and Stater Bros and pretending to be shy when the clerks ask how old they are. 

5. Though my father, grandfather and uncle were all truck drivers and I have always had a respect for them; I have a new appreciation for what they do. Also, though I've always told clerks, cart wranglers, stockers and baggers, "Thank you," for their help and service, I (again) have a new appreciation for them and all that they put up with. 

What we're doing at home everyday:

1. Our kids love being outside, and I have been able to take this opportunity to take the kids for walks and build up the girls' endurance for longer distances. 

2. Time is of the essence. We are not wasting it, but we are all getting ample rest and making sure that we are on a good schedule. Our boy knows when it's nap time and even asks to be taken upstairs in the morning; this is when I am able to review Bible verses and Gospel concepts with the girls and do their lessons. In the afternoon, we all head up together and read books before their afternoon nap; this is when I get to do chores, read, and work on scripts for our family YouTube channel or do other personal projects. 

3. Instead of squandering this opportunity, I am grateful that we are being more intentional and hubby and I are working together to arrange our priorities. 

4. Dinner time gratitude. This was born a while ago out of a few tantrums, however, it has become pretty essential lately. At dinner, we all go around and play the Thanksgiving game.It's nice not to feel obligated to stuff ourselves afterward hahaha

Matthew Chapter 6

Our family are counting our blessings right now. I have has having a very challenging time as an extrovert who loves getting out of the house, PJ has been having a tough time at work with technicians calling off due to sickness or family issues, the kids are tired of being cooped up and the girls want to know why they can't go to class (Sunday school) or visit their friends...

It took several days, 7 stores, 5 actually shopped at, and countless back and forth trips (with and without kiddos), but we were finally able to get our normal shopping done and add some extra essentials so as to avoid going out too much again. PJ had to work 6 days last week and our schedule has been thrown off due to the lack of exercise - for Jessy and the kids.

This morning, PJ's alarm went off with NPR updates and I was ready to get up just so I didn't have to listen... However, the Lord is faithful to grant insight and perspective. As I listened to someone describe a program implemented in this state of emergency that all mortgage holders have 1 year of protection not to be foreclosed on due to CoVid-19. As I pondered this, I realized that I am in no position to complain or be frustrated.

I do not have to work outside our home, I get to be here with our kids who are not in pre-school or day care at this time. Their lives have not been shifted in any drastic way. My husband has a "critical" job that requires him to not only work, but he has been having to work overtime. Our budget is not hurting and we are not having trouble making rent. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, but I am grateful for abundant blessings and resources He has granted.

He cares for the birds of the air, clothes the blades of grass in the field, of course He will provide food and water and shelter. All we are to do, brothers and sisters, is to "Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be added."

We miss our church family, we wish we could fellowship in person with them, but we have Zoom and can meet together with amazing technologies right now. We miss Disneyland and wish we were able to go have a family day, but we have Disney+ and dance parties at home and we can ride bikes and walk around our neighborhood (because we live in a place that has decent enough weather right now and is perfectly pleasant for outside activities).

The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness Thereof

This is a loaded statement from the Psalms (Psalm 24:1). He is the Creator (Genesis 1:1). He has established all things. By His hand, He gives generous gifts (James 1:17). Yet, we live in a world cursed by sin (Genesis 3), one where we are at constant war with our flesh (Romans 7). Where all of our perfect gifts are seen with distorted and sinful vision. His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), through every trial, we are to find joy (James 1:2-3) - for He is pruning us (John 15:2).

Pruning is an unpleasant business. Since I am not a gardener, I will describe the refining illustration with better communication: When gold is refined, it is tested by fire to cleanse it from all impurities. Because of sin, God's perfect gift of motherhood is cursed by my selfishness and their rebellion. Yet, the Lord allows it, and I am being refined. He is sanctifying me by His Holy Spirit and granting me the privilege of mothering through the fiery trials. Learning to understand what He faces as our Father when we rebel.

I will not share the sins of others (namely, my children), but I will confess my impatience, my temper, my laziness, my distracted heart, and my self-focused goals. Being a mother is challenging, yet it is the calling I have of the Lord to seek His guidance and wisdom as I shepherd them. We have been so grateful for the lessons at small group from Kirk and Chelsea Cameron, The Heart of Family, and the encouragement we have found in our marriage and parenthood. We have been deeply blessed by the practical words of Paul David Tripp, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that Can Radically Change Your Family, remembering that we cannot control our children's hearts - only guide their minds.

Putting these things into practice is the work of the Holy Spirit, though, and when I try to do it my my own will and strength, my Heavenly Father reminds me - through my children's Awana verses and prayer - that He is in charge (Awana Cubbie Bear Hug lessons and verse memorizations from Appleseed).

As I was reviewing verses with my kiddos the other night, I reached a point when they simply walked away to go play (between getting ready for bed activities) where I was just too tired to go after them. I continued reviewing the Bible verses out loud, knowing that time spent hiding His Word in my heart is never wasted (2 Timothy 3:16). I said Romans 5:8 aloud, ...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." I stopped to reflect on this...

While we were still sinners. While we were His enemies. While He knew that I would scream at my children. While He knew that I would selfishly think on my own desires while He asked me to parent these children (His children). While I was still scorning His righteousness out of a desire to serve myself. While He knew that I would fail... He died for me. Christ took nails into His hands and was pierced at His side praying, "Father forgive them..." He suffered that I may bear His righteousness, though I am a wretched sinner...

Of course there was more to these thoughts in the moment, but the point is, He is faithful to remind me of His goodness no matter what I am feeling. These children are His, He has granted me and my husband the privilege of shepherding their hearts as their parents here on earth.

I was reminded recently, also, that when we sin, we not only stop doing what is sinful, we must repent and turn toward obedience. This means turning to something else. When you try to stop a bad habit, you must replace it with a new one. You can replace it with something else bad, or you can replace it with a good one, but it will manifest in replacement. If we are to repent of our sin, we are to replace it with righteousness, we will find His righteousness in His Word.

If I must repent of my impatience and frustration with my children, I must find what His Word says about children and replace my self-focus with aligning my heart with His. One of my favorite passages regarding children is found in Psalm 127:

(3) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. (5) Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (ESV)

I plan to meditate and memorize these verses and start here in developing a right perspective of parenthood and children.