Our View from Quarantine: Part I

Can any of you remember ever going through a month like this before?

It was just a month ago that we returned to Michigan and started to figure out what life was going to look like. Initially, we were looking at a “stay at home” order until mid-April, but now that’s been extended through the end of the month. At this point, we’re not sure when life will start to return to the way it used to be. Maybe we are just on the threshold of getting used to a new normal.

I’ve also been feeling some tension in finding the balance between radio silence and putting everything we’re doing on social media. Not to mention I’m trying to avoid burning too much time on these screens, something that’s becoming all too easy these days, am I right? Anyway, we do want to give you all some updates – what we’ve been doing, what’s good right now, what hard, and some things to pray for.

What have we been doing?

We joined Life Action to travel to churches around the country and encourage them. That plan is on hold for now. So, what are we doing instead? Well, life is definitely slower in pace than our normal days on the road, but we’re keeping ourselves busy.

• Just about every day, Amanda and the kids are continuing full tilt with school. Only major difference is that I’ve been able to jump in and help more as I work from home.
• I’ve been tasked with calling friends and partners of Life Action to see how they’re doing and pray with them. It’s been great connecting with folks we’ve met in our travels.
• We’ve been keeping in touch with our team, most of whom have been quarantined at home when they were expecting to be traveling around the country. Texts, calls, Marco Polo, and Zoom calls have been a great way to continue encouraging and mentoring.
• I’ve also become an honorary member of the Camp facilities team! So far, it’s just involved doing some leaf-blowing, but hopefully I’ll be helping lay down some wood flooring in a couple of cabins soon.

What’s been good?

I think one of the most important things we can do right now is recount the things in life that are good right now. So here it goes:

• Rhythms and Routines
  • Prayer – During the last month, we’ve been more consistent with daily prayer and reading as a family than we’ve ever been. I think praying together each morning and evening has been the single most steadying practice during this time. You know what? There are days when we’re barely out of bed before we’re at each other’s throats. Sometimes, it’s hard to smile at each other by the end of the day. But for a few minutes each morning we asking God for his help. Each night, we reset ourselves with gratefulness for his good gifts.
  • Meals – One of the things I’ve missed on the road is meals together. We eat lunch and dinner with the team most days. It’s been hard to nail down a better routine of eating together as a family. This has changed completely as we cook and eat lunch and dinner together every single day. It’s defintely a lot of work (and dishes!), but I love it!
  • Fun – We’ve been making a point of playing LOTS of board games. I’m happy to announce that I did win our 20-day challenge. We’ve also been reading books, watching movies (Star Wars marathon anyone?), and getting outdoors for exercise and activity.

• Online concerts – If you know me and Amanda, you know that we love to hear live music. There’s nothing like getting to see our favorite musicians on stage in person. Seeing them in their living rooms is definitely nothing like it! But we’ve loved getting to enjoy liveshows from favorites like Drew & Ellie Holcomb and Jill Andrews, not to mention Andrew Peterson, reading his Wingfeather Saga by his fireplace!

• Home – The idea of home is kind of weird right now. We live in an RV full-time, usually in a different place every week or two. But parking up at Life Action Camp in Buchanan, MI has highlighted a couple of great things about being here for a longer period.
  • Space – In spite of the close living quarters, it’s been great for the kids to be in a place where (weather permitting) they get outside and roam. Though we’re not able to see friends like we normally would, the kids are able to stretch their legs and imaginations, riding bikes, building forts, and even having snowball fights in April.
  • Community – Even though we aren’t able to connect as closely with friends up here as much as we would like, We’ve still enjoyed a sense of community through a couple of ways. We’ve been enjoying video call with family, friends, and partners around the country. It used to seem weird, but right now, these calls are super fun! It’s also been neat to see all the sharing and caring going on – dropping off little gifts, food, and suprises. We’ve been the recipients and the givers of these exciting departures from the mundane – tangible reminders that God continues to love his people through his people.

Tune in tomorrow to hear about what’s been hard, and some things to pray for in Our View from Quarantine: Part II!