13 Fun Family Pandemic Projects

The 2020 pandemic has brought out a significant number of projects at my house. So, I thought I’d write a (satirical) post to give you 13 Fun Family Pandemic Projects.

1) Ration Snacks – In our house, we found that we can sit and eat a bag of chips or most snacks in one sitting. So, we rationed them.

2) Move the TV to the other side of the room – our TV used to be on the right, and we moved it to the left as you see below. Luckily, we didn’t have to move any cable!

3) Replace a broken sump pump – Definitely don’t want water overflowing.

4) Tile an entryway – I have to give a shoutout to my friend Dan who helped tremendously with this (he basically did it – LOL!) While nobody will ever come in this door, this looks so much better!

5) Add new electrical outlets – All of our bedrooms have had at least one outlet added, often because the existing outlets were not in the best place.

6) Dig and bury a sump drain – since we moved in the sump drain was an above ground tube that drained right out by the tree. This created a swamp by the tree. We could not even mow it and we were afraid about gators.

7) Build a closet computer desk – because…why not. Right?

8) Replace the lights on your porch – Do you like wasps? I don’t. Our lights before had a gap between the light and the can. When we pulled out a bulb to replace it, there were three wasp nests inside. We have 6 lights like this that we needed to replace. All had nests in them! We replaced them with lights that do not have any slit for a wasp or bug to get into. Totally worth it!

9) Sign your will – We have wanted to do this for almost 20 years. Last year we went through Financial Peace University (recommended) and we committed to getting our wills done. We were supposed to sign the week we were shut down due to COVID-19. Once Phase 1 opened we were finally able to sign our wills. Huge for us!

10) Build stairs to the bunk bed – my daughter has been asking for this since we moved in…finally got to it. It used to have a ladder like thing…but this is better.

11) Build tool hangers – Have tools…why not use them? This was actually a bit easier than I thought, and turned out pretty nice. I used most of my tools to build these. Good thing I had them. 🙂

12) Build a fire-pit – The family had a fire-pit night and noticed some rust in there. This started a conversation about alternatives. One thing led to another. New fire pit! Hope to have you over soon. 🙂

13) Paint a dresser – We have one child who reorganized and got rid of a dresser, and another who needed a dresser. Worked out great. But, it did need a paint job…primarily on the drawers.

I am hopeful that we will not have another quarantine. But, if we do, you now have 13 Fun Family Pandemic Projects! Don’t do them all in one day!

Love and blessin’s,

David

I never expected a pandemic

Seven weeks of quarantine because of a pandemic has given me a new perspective on some things I have never noticed before, especially in the Scriptures.

  • Adam was initially alone, and God said “it is not good.” – I pray for my single friends who may feel alone in this time. Please reach out. We know this isn’t good.
  • Noah and his family spent a year on the ark in quarantine – eight people in a boat for a year, without cards, board games, phones, neighborhood walks, zoom.
  • The plagues in Egypt – I have a new appreciation for how they must have felt on those nights when they had to stay inside, wondering if the plague would get them.
  • Elijah hiding from Jezebel – how quickly I can think that I’m the only one left.
  • Jesus 40 days of temptation in the wilderness – this time of quarantine has opened doors of temptation that were closed when more options existed.

We know that plagues have and will come upon the earth. History has shown us and the Bible has confirmed this. Even still, I have found myself saying, “But I didn’t think it would happen in my time.” It seems odd to think like that given the historical and biblical promises. I guess I’ve been naive to this reality.

I didn’t think it would happen in my time.

The opening words of Psalm 91 have been a great comfort to me in this time. I should note that this Psalm was likely written by Moses who understood plagues and pestilence.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  Psalm 91:1-3

I think this passage tells us where to “shelter in place”. It tells us the specific location to quarantine during a time of pestilence, or even when you are being tracked down by an enemy.  This text points us to find shelter in God’s protective shadow. God is a welcoming refuge to those in danger, and He has a secure fortress for us.

There are so many opinions right now about the COVID-19 pandemic. Some want to quickly get back to “normal”, others want to stay sheltered until this passes. Some believe this is a hoax while others believe it is worse than the government and media are presenting. Some think this will essentially be like the flu while others believe this will be a recurring plague with much more severe implications. Other debates are: inside only or primarily inside, mask or no mask, vaccine or no vaccine (or no vaccine until it’s been tested), or whether the President told people to drink bleach. It truly is interesting times.

Honestly, I think depending on the day, I’m not sure where I stand on each of these debates. But, I know this, the Lord is my refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

Trust our deliverer.

Father, help us make our home in Your presence. Cover us with safety. May we lead others into Your shelter also, where they can find You. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

Love and blessin’s,

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Dave