The Quarantine Chronicles

The first 16 days…

Welcome Back!

I’ve been thinking, since there’s so much time on everyone’s hands. I have time to write and y’all have time to read, so why not document what I have been up to these past 16 days of quarantine! Also how fun will it be to look back at the memories am I right.

So here we go, with some picture evidence, this is everything me and my household have been doing over these past 16 days.(by order of activity)

~ Going to the grocery stores

and realizing we should probably just stock up for two weeks to avoid the masses. We probably bought 8 dinners, snacks, drinks and no toilet paper because we have plenty lol.

~ PUZZLES. daily.

I have never been a “puzzle person” or “puzzler” if you will. But man do I enjoy a good puzzle now. For me it’s the idea of never having the large amount of time needed to complete one. I always would feel like I should be doing something else. But right now is the perfect time where I could just sit and do a puzzle for literally hours! Before we went full quarantine we went and got a 4 pack of 500 piece puzzles and a separate cat puzzle, as well as an ice cream puzzle we already had. 4 down currently, 2 to go…and more coming in the mail.

The cat puzzle on top of the ice cream puzzle, we are going to frame them!

~ MOVIES and TV shows

We have been very grateful for Netflix and Hulu to get us through! But most importantly Disney plus! We get to catch up on all of the Disney classics, so many childhood memories and stories have been shared. We all have that list of stuff we want to watch but never get to right?! So this has been a fun time to sit as a family and watch a movie. some of our current favorites are:

  1. Little Women
  2. Lion King (strictly original)
  3. Nacho Libre
  4. Rango
  5. The Goldbergs
  6. The Great British Baking Show
  7. Pretty much any Disney movie
  8. Friends

~Reading!

This is a hobby I want to get into the longer we are in quarantine. I have a good amount of books waiting to be read, the only one that I finished a couple days ago is, “She” by Kate Spade. This beautiful, up lifting book, tells the memoirs of iconic women in America, mostly from the 1900’s. Most of them you’ve never heard of, but they are costume designers, set builders, interior designers, photographers, people who make the entertainment industry what it is! So this is clearly my suggested read if you can get your sanitized hands on it!

The one and only Jackie Kennedy.

~ School/Homework

So many plans.. cancelled.

My sister and I both have school, me more than her because I am in my 3rd year of college. My mom is also a teacher so she is navigating this new world of technology as well. This is definitely the biggest stress point for me. I never take online classes specifically because I’m bad at them. And now, If I want to know anything, I have to go online, and it’s a nightmare. Pray that I get through this month and a half left! Anyways, our routine seems to be get up around noon (we are serious night owls) and do school work in the morning (afternoon), then hang out the rest of the day.

~ Working out…Kinda

I did dance and yoga for a number of years, and my sister plays softball. So we are familiar to being active, however I’m sure many people are finding out that it’s hard to just get up and work out. I’ve been trying to do a mile a day, but that hasn’t been very successful. My boyfriend and I just started a workout today that I want to try to do everyday to get better at! Us as a family have gone on a walk by a river, and we plan to do that more, as well as hit up some parks. Moral of the story, get out and get moving! It helps you not stay stir crazy!

~ Coloring Books

My family is pretty artsy, and even my mom who is the least artsy will do these adult coloring books. I accumulated around 4 of them as gifts for graduation, and now have tons of time to sit and color whatever I please! They are fun, vibrant and easy. Such a relaxing and rewarding activity. I wonder if I will finish a whole book by the end of the whole thing…

Our Curtains Broke..

So we just got new curtains maybe a month ago. And the middle prong just came out of the wall, requiring us to take them down and put up spare sheets. Aren’t they lovely? Don’t know when this will be fixed but plans are being discussed. It’s just really funny to go from really nice curtains to, “don’t rob our house, we got sheets for curtains,” ya know?

Cooking and Baking

Cooing and baking pretty much everything have become a huge hobby of mine. I cook pretty much every dinner here, and have baked bread and cookies so far! But we got more coming! I should post more recipes on here. Anyways I’ve loved have the time and liberty to cook whatever sounds yummy!

More over

We also have been playing video games, eating ice cream with family (6 feet apart) in my grandparents garage, skipping rocks on the river, stick race in the river, saving tons of money on gas, loving on our kitty, having deep conversations, going to church in our PJ’s, little worship sessions, and I’m sure I’m forgetting things.

I encourage you to document your own adventures to look back on in this time. We are in a era like no other, and it will be so fun to show this to future generations what we lived through.

I plan to keep documenting what my household is doing so keep a look out!

Until then,

Morgan!

5 Bible Verses for Anxiety

Welcome back!

On the first week of March 2020 I was on an island with no phone reception or internet. I came back to world of quarantine, fear, anxiety and stress. We were told that as Christians, we need to a be light to this world. Love on those who need it, and help those who really need hope and rescue right now. I’m sitting on a ferry thinking, “how in the world can I help people emotionally, I am just as stressed as everyone else.” But today I got a spark of inspiration, I was scrolling through Pinterest looking for bible verses about anxiety. Eventually I stopped because I wasn’t finding what I was looking for, and started finding my own verses. So here I am, trying to help anyone who will accept it, here’s some verses from the Bible that I personally love, and help my anxiety in times where there is so much grief and loss.

  1. The little children and Jesus. Mark 10:13-16 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” NIV.

This passage is not directly about anxiety, but there’s more under the surface. Remember what it was like to be a child? To not care or worry about what you were making for dinner, or how much money you have? To just trust everything because nothing had hurt you? Such a precious time to be a child. In this quarantine period, the children are the ones who are having a blast. Parents are home all day, family dinners, movie nights, children love togetherness. This is what Jesus calls us to be like in our everyday! This passage reminds me that I don’t have to be this big strong adult for Jesus to love me. You are NOT valued by your job, how much money you have, how good looking you are. You are a child of God, and he wants and loves his children. So look up child! Jesus wants to place his hands on you and bless you.

2. The Passover. Exodus 12:1-12

 “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” NIV

Fitting for Easter as well. Another story, this time from the Old Testament. This story is such an early sign of God’s faithfulness to his people. God warns the Israelites that he will kill all of Egypt’s first born sons in a night. To avoid this, the Jews must sacrifice a lamb, and wipe its blood on their door frames. When the spirit comes through the land, it will see the blood, and passover the house. This story shows me God’s love for his people, how in tragedy, in what can feel like slavery, he will fight for us. God sends TEN deadly plagues to Egypt, he is faithful, resilient, and jealous. Whatever you are going through, or missing in this time, God is on your side and is your protector. And the best part is the lamb, Jesus covers us. He covers our sin, our fears, and our struggles.

3. Isaiah 41:10

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God reassuring Israel, and the world, do not worry, trust me. God needs to tell this to Israel over and over and over again. So do not be frustrated when you need to read this every week or everyday, we need to remember God’s promises.

4. Psalm 94:19

19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Consolation – Noun. the comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment.

Do you ever have a terrible day, but someone wonderful is able to cheer you up or maybe just sit and weep with you. This is when consolation turns into joy. I saw something the other day that said joy is the result of deep wellness. God cares about you, and sends us things like nature, music, art, other people, and his word to cheer us up. He consoles our souls.

5. Proverbs 12:25

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

A sweet verse :), I want you to remember when we feel anxious, and stressed, to give ourselves a “kind word”. Because really what tears me down the most is my own words. This verse is just a nugget of wisdom! Love yourself in this time! Take time to tell yourself the kindest things, to enjoy life itself.

Of course the Bible has so many more passages for us to turn to. I suggest if you want to study more use a bible app! I use BibleGateway, and I can search the whole bible for certain words! so you could type in the word “anxiety” and they will give you direct verses with that word in it. It is a great tool that I use all of the time.

How are you guys doing with staying home? I know others are working as well and my heart goes out to those people. This time is the most bazaar situation I’ve ever lived through. Let me know what you’re doing to stay busy!

Until next time,

Morgan


3 Ways to be a More Expectant Girlfriend

How to “thrive” in the waiting season..

Welcome Back!

I have been dating my boyfriend for almost 2 years! (1 year and 10 months but who’s counting). And it has been everything I have dreamed of. God seriously saved this man for me and spared me the whole high school dating scene. Not that the college one is much better, but I was blessed to find the man I am going to marry in college!

Despite how amazing and how much love and joy he has brought into my life, dating a person for any amount of time brings it challenges. Here’s some things I’ve gone through as Christian girlfriend, and how I have dealt and am still dealing with them! I hope this helps girlfriends alike out there!

Continue reading “3 Ways to be a More Expectant Girlfriend”

January Craziness!

Hello Internet friends,

Wow hasn’t January just FLOWN by?! Basically what I’ve done through January is returned from my awesome 13 day trip to Chicago area, Had company in town for MLK weekend, started school again, and I’m working on launching a huge thing in my church’s student ministry (which starts in February). So crazy. I feel like I’m on top of things but just barely honestly.

I start attending my new bible study tonight and I am just psyched. I haven’t attended a bible study In probably 2 years. I’ve always been the leader and I am so excited not lol. So that’s exciting. January brings about new and fresh opportunities which I love.

I feel like I’m getting in my groove with Jesus again. Ya know when you take a much needed break from church and ministry but you start to miss that community? Yeah, I guess I’m kinda addicted. I freakin love the kingdom of God because I feel at home in so many places, sometimes even in churches full of strangers! I got my own little quite time and worship Sesh this morning, and I now have a 30 min drive twice a week, which will become my Jesus concert.

Anyways this just a little check in, just haven’t had time to really sit and write things out. Think about topics and try to get Pinterest to notice me lol. All in all I’m actually doing well even though I’m still trying to get my head on straight with planning, and school adjusting.

See ya in February!

Morgan

Exploring Milwaukee , WI

I got to visit Milwaukee today with some amazing people, we had such a great time. We went to the public market, and got some goodies there. We then hit up “the domes,” which are basically bio spheres with little environments inside (nice and warm) And the we ate the lake front brewery, great food. Here’s some cute pics I got throughout my day! Have you been to Milwaukee? What do you like there?

Thanks for reading!

Morgan

Home for the Holidays

Grief, traditions, and God doing a new thing.

Happy Holidays!

It’s a different feeling being home for the holidays. I live at home all year, but my sister and my mom stay home during Christmas break so we spend a lot more time together! My boyfriend is from Chicago, so there’s always the question if he would go home, or stay with us for Christmas. Last year he left but this year he’s staying and then him and I will fly to Chicago together after Christmas.

Continue reading “Home for the Holidays”

College Girl Holiday Gift Guide

What’s up people! Happy holidays!

I really wanted to do gift guides this year, so I can show you some of my favorite gifts to give and receive! And what better way to describe me as a college girl right?!

As a woman in college, your priorities are different. We do not have the money that women with full time jobs have lol. So some gifts are pricey, but most are under $50, which is convenient, especially if you’re a broke boyfriend reading this. (I doubt you are but you never know, shout out to the boyfriends on Pinterest!) But you’re probably a mom, or aunt, or best friend trying to figure out what buy for that college girl in your life.

Well let me tell ya, here’s the links and info for the best gifts to give a college girl!

  1. Pay for her to get her nails done! $20-$40
Continue reading “College Girl Holiday Gift Guide”

A Couple of Bad Weeks

Hello everyone!

I am back! These past couple of weeks have not been ideal to say the least. I am still very much blessed beyond measure, but when you’re a busy bee, things can go down hill fairly quickly. From serving in two ministries, to full time college to boyfriend, friends and family it all feels like it can just fall apart if all the pieces aren’t moving correctly.

I physically know when I am stressed out because my body tells me. I get cold sores, I get stomach aches or head aches. And these were happening these past weeks, as well as my family members and my boyfriend telling me that I am too stressed out and I need to chill with some things. And they were right.

But you know the truth is that sometimes we would rather be comfortable over working and stressed out than actually trying to fix it and change.

Continue reading “A Couple of Bad Weeks”
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