Around the Home

Week number who knows what in lockdown, but I am growing to love this. I know that may sound odd, but I often find when we have slower times in life or when I am forced to slow down, it’s because I’m recovering from a procedure or surgery. Those times are often quite difficult, so during this quarantine, to be able to be healthy, but forced to slow down, has been a gift. We’ve had way too many times in the past 2 1/2 years that have really tested our faith and strength and so for us, this has come as a reprieve! So we are making the most of it while we can. So in yet another week of lockdown, here is what it has looked like for the Sterks:

Monday morning, Mazy ran up to me and said, “MOM, there are DUCKS in our yard!” Sure enough, there they were:

On one of the nicer days we headed back to the Outdoor Discovery Center – one of Mazy’s favorite places!

We decided to do some “schooling” while there and create a pattern with outdoor items, as was suggested in her lesson that day from school:

And this dog…has been the best addition! Who knew back in late January when we got her, that this time would happen. Also that I would be healthy enough to care for a dog. And that Mazy would need a companion! She sure makes us laugh and plug our noses b/c of her gas, but boy she’s been worth it:

Don’t ask Mazy to play Jenga with you if you want to win; not a chance:

Our school-time tends to get a little crazy:

Mazy and I have tried to explore the various parks around our county during this lockdown and this week we went to Ottawa Sands County Park and despite the rain, it was beautiful!

And it was a bit cold…

So really, during this crazy time, we have spent most of it doing concrete. We are no professionals, but we have learned to lay our own concrete and I must say, we sure have learned a lot in the process! Dan was ready to do a happy dance after being done jack hammering a massive amount of concrete out! Though now we have even more room to pool party!

Opening day of turkey season, Dan and Mazy headed out in their camo:

These two…

And this is how we satisfy the desire to see family: Zoom meetings! We’ve also been able to do them with our youth group kids, which has been such a gift. Who knew technology would be such a prized thing during this time?

This Thomas Kinkade puzzle is not an easy one and I’ve been working on this one for way too long…

These 2 crazies decided to jump in the pool…I chose to just go knee deep because clearly, I wouldn’t want my ICD to go off because of the shock of the cold (that was my excuse :)). So this week we went from wearing winter coats, hats, and gloves on a walk, to bathing suits! ONLY IN MICHIGAN:

And the water was nasty because we took the cover off partially to do the concrete around the pool, but there Dan went:

And Mazy wouldn’t let me take a picture of her, but she also jumped in the shallow end…brave girl! I obtained the name “chicken” by the end of that afternoon :).

I hope you are able to find the blessing in this time, even though it may be one of the hardest times you’ve gone through. I firmly believe God has a purpose for everything he allows and for everything he allows, it’s always to draw us closer to him. May this time be no different!