What can I say about March? Day by day more and more things were cancelled: no more church, no more swimming lessons, no March Break programs, no community dinner. I became obsessed with checking the news because something new was happening all the time. Social distancing recommendations and stay-at-home orders proliferated as news from farther afield became ever more dire.
Life for me and my family didn’t change drastically (we have carried on with homeschooling and working from home), but the world sure feels strange. The playgrounds closed, the grocery stores ran out of flour and introduced hand washing stations, restaurants and other businesses shuttered their doors. It’s hard to say what will happen next.
As the month winds down I am resolving to stop checking the news and email on my phone, keep up a stricter routine (especially in the mornings), and spend more time outside.
Now on to my March favourites!
Read
I’m not sure why I had a lackluster reading month. One highlight was rereading this charming children’s book, translated from French: Secret Letters from 0 to 10. I’m also currently listening to Gone-Away Lake, one of my favourite childhood books, with my kids.
Eat
Some recent culinary highlights:
- Sourdough Cinnamon Buns
- White Girl Dahl, which I’ve made many times
- Thai American Noodles from this cookbook
- A pizza birthday cake inspired by this cookbook
Watch
I’m afraid I use the pandemic as an excuse to spend more time watching TV and eating ice cream. Andrew and I are enjoying old episodes of The Great British Baking Show, as well as the current season of Kim’s Convenience.
Listen
I’m thankful for livestreaming church services in this time of staying home as much as possible.
Do
Here area few things that have been keeping us busy:
- Mailing cards/letters
- Decorating a cake and cookies
- Walking: looking for snowdrops and crocuses, watching a kayaker, checking out the bridge construction, posing in front of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry
Meditate
“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6
Our pastor drew my attention to this quote from Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?” (Read John Piper’s take on it here.)
As always, Margaret, your posting inspired and entertained me. We finished listening to Jane Eyre and are now listening to Wuthering Heights. I much prefer the former to the latter! Both are brilliantly written and read aloud. I find it much easier to understand and relate to these characters and story lines by hearing them! Thank you so much for giving us things to think about beyond ourselves! God-bless!