good morning there, friend!  how are ya?
what are you thinking right now?  how is your life being impacted by these crazy times?  are you doing okay?
it's weird, isn't it??  i hope you're doing okay.  i think it helps to take things a day at a time.

i'm just in this surreal headspace.  it's all just too surreal.  like, really, restaurants are closed?  i'm not advised to leave my apartment and church and small group and all the things are cancelled?  i can't go to the gym?  what even is a routine anymore?  and will i ever wear jeans again? ;)
i am thankful for God's incredible provision for francis and i during this time.  we are both very thankful to be able to continue working and be healthy.  we definitely recognize that many families are suffering without incomes because of all of this, businesses are suffering, many are sick and scared, and scary things like domestic abuse is way up because people are left at home with their abusers.  it's kind of overwhelming.  i was praying yesterday about this virus' impact, and i didn't know what to say.  "God, heal everybody and make this go away."  can i say that?  is that something He'll do?  is that naive?  praying about this actually stressed me out a bit.  i don't know where to start, and i still struggle with what to ask of God.  i've found myself asking God to make things a lot less devastating than they are projected to be, and to provide all of our daily "bread and water" (basic needs).  maybe i need to pray bigger.  guys, i don't know.

here are the things i know are true:
.  there are lots of people helping.  good things are still happening.  communities are helping each other out, kiddos are writing positive chalk messages on sidewalks, churches are donating money and services to those in need.  families are ordering take-out from restaurants just to help them stay afloat, schools are bringing meals to kids' homes throughout the week, i heard of a coffee shop in minneapolis whose landlord is offering them a free month of rent, medical professionals are working tirelessly and sacrificially.  good things are happening, and i believe God's finger is in all of them- big and small.  we are created in God's image and any inclination towards love and service in our hearts is because God made us like Him.
.  this will not last forever.  i'm not sure what 'normal' will look like after all of this, but there will be a time where we can all hug each other again and go out without fear.
.  Jesus is still LORD.  God has not stopped being God.  and He is trustworthy in all things.

^^ fran & i saw this on a walk around our neighborhood. ^^

hey friends!
happy march 5th.
here is a recap of our month over here.  actually a really great month.  who knew?!  i think largely it was so great because of the mild temps and so many sunny days!  it does wonders for my spirits.

^^ these are pictures of me that francis took one morning for no apparent reason when we were making the bed.  i don't know why i've included them to be honest.  i guess they're kinda funny and they show me in life at this point in time.  please ignore our messy messy closet.  

^ our valentine's day was low-key and nice.  i baked a cake because i wanted to, found some heart-shaped pasta at aldi, and francis brought home some flowers for me!  we also exchanged cards and made each other tear up and it was wonderful.

^^ the weekend of february 14th, we met up with all of francis' family but two in wisconsin dells for the weekend, celebrating francis' mom's 60th birthday!  francis and i did the lazy river at the mount olympus waterpark a million times, i got some sweet sweet time with our nieces and nephew (including my little niece, ivy, calling me "ducky"...she's never called me anything before, guys! :)), and lots of games and rest.  also, this restaurant in the above photo was amazing!  called "the grateful shed" and filled with food trucks and 90s music.  i tried my first poke bowl there, weirdly enough.  i've learned something about myself recently.. when food comes in "bowl" format, i'm far more likely to order it, enjoy it, choose it. ...burrito bowl, burger bowl, you know.  it's all good.  plus, i love using chopsticks, so it really was a win.  (p.s. the pic is missing francis' sister, theresa, and our bro-in-law, ben who were there for the weekend, but had already left at this point).

on our way out of the dells, francis and i spotted this upside-down museum and spontaneously spent $5 each to walk through it.  i'm the target audience for weird stuff like this.  pay money to look at furniture put on the ceiling?!  yes!
waste of money in the end, but such a fun concept.  

^^^ pictured above: francis so cute, making me eggs one mornin before church :), the beautiful, fragrant flower guy i bought from aldi that i loved watching bloom, and my sisters and i pictured on paige & dave's move-in day to their new, beautiful house in saint paul!

^^ my wonderful, very special daddio celebrated his 54th birthday on the 25th!  and, like, his fifth consecutive year celebrating in mexico.  i love to make fun of him for that.  i love that diva so much! ;) i'm excited to celebrate as a family tomorrow!

also, on the 28th, my dear grandma turned 85!!  holy cow, i'm so lucky!  she is sharp and active and lovely and such an important person to all of us.  i'm so grateful to have her!  and isn't she radiant.

^^ please enjoy this picture of francis on the top of a huge mound of snow-dirt.  i also climbed it, but far less gracefully.  i had dirt all over my hands after climbing it, let's just say.  we took a pleasant walk that day, leap day.  francis flood is my favorite person and i could do anything in his company and be totally content.

the end.
​thank you for caring about my life, friends.  i'd like to update you on deeper stuff i'm thinking about too sometime soon.  thoughts or prayers, leave me a message, please!  i'd love to hear from you.

​and a sunny march to us all!