Instagram Journal through Lock Down

“Be sure of your call to every business you go about. Though it is the least business, be sure of your call to it; then, whatever you meet with, you may quiet your heart with this: I know I am where God would have me. Nothing in the world will quiet the heart so much as this: when I meet with any cross, I know I am where God would have me, in my place and calling; I am about the work that God has set me.”

― Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

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Below are the last 9 instagram posts over @hollandfamilylife copied and pasted as a personal 'journal' through the virus days.

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March 10, 2020
Day 1 house lock down in Italy.
We are allowed to leave only for groceries, emergency, to the hospital or the doctors. Those that have jobs in pharmacy, medical facilities, grocery stores etc can go to work.
All schools have been out all week. We home educate so boys still have school. 😄😄
Boys played rummikub on the porch. They cried when they learned our plane was canceled. (They wanted to see grandparents and have American cereal.)
Went to the store for groceries. It had most everything we needed, they only allowed one family member in at a time and allowed a certain amount of people in to shop at a time. They seem organized.
Loren made chocolate chip cookies.

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March 11, 2020
Day 2 on lock down.
We started our day letting kids and us parents draw/write our expectations/feelings with the sudden change of plans. We shared these together, prayed for the fears/sadness, and will continue to do this as we need to in the coming days.

As both Loren and I are Third Culture Kids we know how many goodbyes and disappointments we had to go through at an early age. Thankfully our own parents did a good job helping us through these griefs.

A TCK expert Ruth Van Reken says "The issue is that transition always involves loss, no matter how good the next phase will be."

We had a good day!

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March 12, 2020
​Day 3 lock down in Italy.
Today I am thankful for the yard and carport area we have to play/exercise in.
Tonight instead of meeting with our Discipleship group in person we met online and it was a great time of prayer and studying the Bible together! God's Word never returns void.

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March 13, 2020
​Day 4 of Lock Down.
We had tea time outside today to change things up a bit.
The coming days will give a whole new meaning to 'staycation'. Thankful we got to have a prayer meeting together with the Church this evening online.
Please be in prayer for those who live pay check to pay check for weekly food but are on lock down- If they can't go to work- what do they do? Let us keep our eyes open to how we can help others in this time!

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March 14, 2020
​Day 5 on lock down.
Today we did a lot with not having regular school work to do. We made masks, played games, made pie (3.14 day), attempted to make homemade icecream, and got groceries! In order to leave the house to get the groceries Loren has to fill out a paper declaring his reason for leaving. This is a rule right now to have this form with you if you leave in case you get stopped by the police and they want to know where you are going. I ordered all the groceries online and Loren just had to go pick them up. That was nice!

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March 15, 2020
Day 6 lock down.
We have an eternal peace in God even though the world we live in is being turned into a standstill.
We did church online today like [many] of you did!

To my friends in places around the world where things are still "like normal"- take this virus seriously. Please stay home. This is not panic- this is choosing not to spread the virus. We had 3,000+ more cases pop up today alone in Italy. If you know of 1 or 2 cases in your state the likelyhood of thousands already infected is strong but won't come out for another couple of weeks.
Do you have a fear that grips your soul and you want to talk to someone about it? Please feel free to reach out to me. I might not have all the answers but I know a radical truth that can give you peace even in chaos.

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March 16, 2020
Day 7 lock down in Italy.
We already home educate so the morning routine around here stays the same, but it's our afternoons that have changed! No more soccer practice, no more gelato for a weekend treat, no more pizza buying on Thursday night... but it will be worth it in the long run because we are taking it seriously as a country.
We are still hearing of thousands of new cases being reported daily.
We have now been in limited movement as a whole country for 7 days and still the numbers continue to rise for those going to the hospital. You can have no symptoms for 2 weeks and still be passing along this virus. Or you could have it, it not effect you that bad, then you get better continue with life and keep passing it on for another long time! If you have or have not been in an infected city. Consider yourself as a possible carrier. Get tested if you start to feel bad.

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March 17, 2020
Day 8 of lock down in Italy.
Today we spoke over the fence (with proper distance in place) to our neighbors. It is nice to talk with those who you live closest to. I challenge you- if you don't already know your neighbors- reach out- if they are living alone or need help- let them know they can contact you.

Weirdest St. Patrick's day we have had yet. But we still celebrated with green swirl pancakes and our favorite Voice of the Martyrs St. Patrick's book.

To my friends who find themselves schooling at home all of the sudden... Your whole family will take time to adjust to the new rhythm. Form a new rhythm.
Have something daily to look forward to!

Do what works best for your family. If you school at home it doesn't have to look like a classroom. Is it easier to school today in the afternoon instead of the morning?! Do that!
Getting too overwhelmed? Take breaks, go for a walk, read a favorite book, or eat one bite of a favorite snack per problem you accomplish!

There might be some anger, miscommunication, and all kinds of sins that get exposed when you are living in closer proximity to those you love. Practice forgiveness and choosing to love in words and actions.

God places us in challenges to grow us- so we seek Him- so we can find Him.
What is the most important lessons you can be teaching your kids right now? Relax, and talk about that when you sit, lie down, and go about your day. You got this if you go through Jesus for strength!

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March 18, 2020
​Day 9 on lockdown in Italy.
The days are starting to run together and the weekend feels just like the week- I am forgetting what day it is, yet having a set schedule has been so helpful!

March 18th alone: 4,207 new cases in Italy. Making it the highest number of cases so far in one day. And we are still a week away from what Doctors are guessing the peak is. 475 have died today. 1,084 have recovered today.
I just want to point out that about 3 weeks ago there were no to maybe a couple of cases in Italy. Now over 36,000 cases. This is how fast this thing spreads. If you think to yourself that "not that many cases, not a big deal" as we did 3 weeks ago- it could be a big deal in a couple of weeks. Advice from Italy? Go ahead and cancel all plans for March and April unless it is an emergency, or you are an AMAZING Doctor or nurse who will be fighting on the front lines. You are my hero.

Now take a big breath. Know God is ultimately in control and none of this is surprising to him. Give your anxieties to him because He cares for you.
Pray. Pray for the healthcare workers. Pray for others to come to know Jesus the true healer of our souls!
Oh and have your kiddos find bugs in your yard to study. 😄