Treat others the way you want to be treated

Happy Friday! This week felt like it went by fast since Monday was a holiday. Memorial Day has always been a kind of start to the summer. Usually its the time that pools open up, and the weather gets pretty warm from here on out. I’m assuming a lot of pools are not open yet and some may not open at all, but it’s still the start of the summer for me, and I’m excited! I love the warm weather and don’t mind the heat. We have definitely been having some warmer weather in Iowa, but the change in the weather has also brought tornado warnings. We went to visit my in-laws for the first time in awhile this weekend to spend the holiday with them and drop our dog off so they can watch her when we are all out of town. We hit some bad weather on the drive back home, and just as we pulled in our driveway, the sirens started going off! It was a scramble to get screaming kids in the house, and calm them down enough to be ready for bed, but luckily the weather calmed down and we didn’t get anything serious.

I have been thinking about how different things were at the beginning of the year for me, and everyone else as well. The holidays had just ended, and I decided that it was time to really focus on getting my body back to where it was before I was pregnant with Theresa, and was really watching what I was eating and trying to increase the amount of weight I could move at the gym. I started praying a rosary almost daily with @manyhailmarysatatime, and I made time to read a religious book that interested me. I was excited for Lent and was able to get up early to make that extra time to read and have peace before the kids got up. I re-learned how to crochet so I could start crocheting baby hats and other projects, and I was able to keep up with the house and laundry and cleaning. Now, between the grind of pregnancy, stress, the quarantine, and regular fatigue that comes with having little ones I am finding it hard to keep up with everything. With the quarantine we didn’t really have anywhere we needed to be, except for the occasional doctor appointments, and we ended up sleeping in later. At nap time I find myself exhausted and lying down more instead of being able to write blogs, catch up on housework, crocheting or reading. I’ve always been one to adapt slowly to change, and when I get overwhelmed sometimes I end up just taking a mental and physical break instead of trying to keep up with the house or pursuing my interests, which only causes me to just get more behind and more stressed out. Christian just went back to work today, and will continue to go into work now. I am hoping that with the old routine coming back and getting further into the second trimester I will have more energy to do things and finally catch up with the growing laundry pile.

Even before Christian went back to work we were slowly getting back into a routine here. Our gym is open again and Christian and I have been able to take turns going to class every day, while the other person stays with the kids. Other than that though, we have been continuing to stay at home and try not to go out if we don’t have to. I am looking forward to visiting my family next month- it has been almost a year since I have been home! I really have grown to love where we live now (except for the winters 😜) but I wish that we lived closer to my family. My dad was in the military until I was in the 5th grade, so we moved around a lot when I was little and never lived close to family. We loved the summers growing up because it meant that we got to take a trip to Arkansas to visit our grandparents, and see some of our cousins. Even though we only saw them once a year, we all got along great. I wish my kids could grow up with their cousins, and closer to both grandparents, but that just comes with life in the military. We are very grateful for the technology to be able to talk to them as often as we do. I was really debating whether or not to make the trip there this summer with everything going on. In these circumstances it is really hard to figure out what the right choice is and it’s up to each individual and each family to figure out what the best decision is for them. I decided to go visit my family so I have extra help with the kids while Christian is at military training for a few weeks, so my dad can finally meet Theresa, and so that the kids can spend some time with their grandparents and cousins. It’s not going to be like our trips there in the past, and I am sure we will be spending most of it at my parents’ house, but as long as we get some time together, my heart will be full.

I know that this year has been so different than what everyone imagined it would be, and that I am not the only one who has been finding it difficult to keep up a regular routine and motivation. Now that things are starting to calm down a little bit and places are opening up, there are so many different opinions on how we should approach it. Some people feel safer staying at home while others are ready to get out of the house and are trying to get back to normal. During stressful times you can get a glimpse of someone’s true character by seeing how they handle the situation and how they treat others. A lot of people were brought together during the quarantine while some others protested it. Tensions have gotten a little higher with the re-opening of places and differing of opinions. With so many different facts and figures it’s hard to tell who is right and who is wrong; time will tell if there will be a resurgence of the virus later on in the year. Some unfortunate current events have also risen tensions in the country. This is also the year of the presidential election and it will only cause more divide and arguments between differing opinions and political parties. This is a stressful time for so many people and instead of letting it divide us, we should let it improve our character and the way we view others who may have different opinions than us.

If we truly want to become better, then we need to learn how to respect others and their viewpoints. You don’t have to agree with what they believe, but you should treat them with the same respect that you want to be treated. My parents would always tell my siblings and I growing up to “treat others the way you want to be treated.” We need to see Jesus in everyone that we meet, and treat them the way you would treat Him. When God sees us, he doesn’t see our outward appearance, he sees our souls and the beautiful creation he made. Jesus did not only take care of a select few. Instead, he sought out everyone! He helped those that were outcast, the sick, the sinners, those of different ethnic backgrounds and political beliefs. He didn’t turn away from anyone and died to save ALL of us. We need to be there for our neighbors right now and for those who still are scared of getting sick or have lost someone from the virus. We need to be there for those who cannot speak for themselves. Instead of choosing to see the differences in others, look at them through God’s eyes and choose to see their souls and help them regardless of gender, race, age- gestational or earthly, political beliefs, health, etc. Everyone has a right to state their opinions. We just need to be more respectful of others and continue to pray for peace and health for everyone.

I hope you all enjoy the last weekend in May!

~Michelle

Gabriel was coloring with markers earlier...can you tell?

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