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).