Monthly Archives: April 2020

Starting a new normal

24 Friday Apr 2020

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My sister, Carrie Koh (Carrie Koh Consulting, LLC), posted another webinar about pivoting into our new normal.  This got me thinking about the many times in my life where things took a change for the better, worse or a little of both.  Thinking back here are some that come to mind:

  1. Moving to the middle of nowhere from main street of Chetek.  For those wondering, gone were the days of walking to the grocery store, biking a block or two to my friend’s house, going to have peanut butter crackers with Sybill, cooling off whenever I wanted in Lake Chetek (well – when Mom said it was ok ..), walking to school, riding my bike to the beach, and walking to Ben Franklin’s with Grandma to buy ‘Whatever we wanted!’  I can’t imagine life not on the farm now.  The acres to roam on snowmobile, weeding the seemingly football field sized garden, learning to drive on roads with tractors, riding the school bus for HOURS!  So many changes but it turned out to be pretty special.  Weddings/birthdays/parties at the Bannister farm are second to none.
  2. Graduating high school and then college. Taking the step into independence – to see the world and be a part of different communities. Anywhere I lived was a big change from Chetek, WI, but that just made coming home that much sweeter.  I can’t imagine what life would have been like had I let fear take over and not take chances.  Where would I be without taking 2 years to be a part of a musical theatre ministry?  Where would I be without taking a job that put me on the road more weeks than not?  Life changed – but I adapted and thrived!
  3. 9/11/2001.  Who can forget?  Life changed after that day.  No more meeting friends at the gate from flights.  No more shampoo bottles in carry-ons that were bigger than 3oz.  But even in me…something tried to take root.  Fear.  Fear of another attack.  Fear of the unknown.  I can honestly say, thankfully, I was not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control/discipline. (2Tim 1:7) We moved on, but I would be remiss if I didn’t count this as one of my life’s big moments.
  4. Marriage and having kids! Nothing humbles you more completely than having kids who listen to your every word and choose to repeat those words at most inopportune times! Learning a new normal of staying home with the kids and volunteering more.  It has been the best of times and the worst of times (can we talk about the all night sicknesses/lice/exploding diapers).  I can’t imagine life had I said I don’t 8/3/2002.  What a blessing.
  5. Now we have been at home since 3/14/2020. Covid-19 put a grinding halt to life as we knew it. No parties except on zoom. No movie dates except on Amazon Prime or Netflix.  No restaurant meals except the one Chuy’s take-out after Easter when Cadence found the most eggs and chose that prize.   No working with Bob currently looking and my jobs slowed or non-existent. But – what does it mean?  Dinners continue to be family times and now more than ever with no place to dash off to.  Singing and creating recordings with my husband and friends has been on the rise for sure! Doing for others has become an addiction with making fabric masks for anyone needing some.  Giving away preschool toys/games/activities to moms needing help! Zooming/writing letters/Duoing/Hangouting – connecting to more people.

So! My amazing sister, Carrie posted a webinar about steps to thriving in a new normal.  Four simple steps that she explains  much better than I can : The Push-Pull of Pivoting: 4 lessons during time of relentless uncertainty that will positively impact you!

So – what do I want to say goodbye to? Silly business. Being busy to feel better about my position in life. It sounds ridiculous when I write it down… I also want to say goodbye to adding stress to our lives. Stress comes from so many places but I think we can see now how much stress to make the perfect grade, write the perfect paper, ace the test and so on I was almost unconsciously putting on my kids! Nagging doesn’t make for great parenting.

What do I want to do more of?  Time for bible study/journaling and worship is top on my list. For the last 6 weeks I have been waking early to study the bible and taking time to just drink it in.  It’s been amazing for me and has changed my attitude and outlook for sure!  I also want to do more connecting! I don’t want to wait for the next crisis to talk to my college friends.  I don’t want to continue to ‘connect’ with a like to a facebook or insta post.   It’s time to go deeper.  Connect/support/love my friends, family and neighbors!

What am I resisting? Hmm…I’m not sure I want to put that in a public blog.  I’m still wrestling but there are a few things that I’m looking at namely for my career.  Also leading a bible study at my church…

How have my strengths and weaknesses magnified!?  Easy.  I am singing more.  I am studying more. I am connecting more. My weakness is falling into the trap of needing likes/comments on social media to be accepted.  It helps that I read a few blogs in the last few days and didn’t like or comment to a one of them…It’s not that I didn’t like them. It’s that I needed time to think on them.  So – maybe that’s why I enjoy spending so much time studying the bible…I quickly ascertain that I am not the one worthy of praise.  There is only one who is worthy of all praise, Jesus Christ.

 

Be blessed, my friends!

Amy

For such a time as this…

14 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Bible, Blessings

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When I consider all that was prepared in advance for all the good works that are happening around the globe today, I am in AWE!  I stand amazed.

For such a time as this…Esther was prepared to be a queen and save the Jewish people.  God placed her in the palace – gave her favor with the king – allowed her access to her cousin to hear of the plot against the Jews – and even more.   Esther was prepared for such a time as that.

So what about me?  Was I prepared for such a time as this?  Was the world prepared for such a time as this?  I think this may be a blog post I come back to time and time again to be reminded of the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord.  So what do I see?  Let me just list a few things…

  1. My family all has cell phones to connect with family, friends, co-workers, and reunion type gatherings.  Most of the world has cell phones. 20-25 years ago…not the case.
    • But really – so you can talk…who cares!  Simple. Some can continue school; some can continue to work; all can continue to connect with others via call/facetime/duo/zoom/hangouts/Facebook!  We are not alone. I know for me I have connected with way more people that I would have normally.  I am connecting with my New Life Ministry alumni  – most not seen in 25 years!  I am chatting with family almost daily! My Saturday morning gaggle of ladies still meets to encourage, build-up and share struggles and prayer.
    • Imagine this happening in 1990.  No one had cell phones. Pay phones/calling cards were out there.  Want to reach out to people?  Write a letter….then wait…Or call and hear a busy signal if an answer at all.
    • Check!  We are blessed.
  2. Along those same lines – we have Zoom (since 2011), Google Hangouts/Meet (since 2013), Facetime (2010) and/or Skype (since 2003)
    • Seeing one another face to face is life-changing.  Thanks to Google – looks like the most popular ways weren’t around before 2003!  Covid-19 is 2020..we have so much.
    • Bible studies/churches/friend groups can stay connected and lift one another up.
  3. I have fabric/thread/2 sewing machines and time.
    • For the past 20 years, people have given me yards upon yards of fabric.  Perhaps they know that I love to sew but only craft stuff…and any fabric will do!  I know at one point I had 2 big black garbage bags full of fabric -all kinds but  a lot of cotton!
    • Because I am not a professional seamstress – I never know how much stuff I need…so when I would start the few clothing projects, I would stock up on more thread than I could possibly use…I have more than enough.  Had I touched it in the last 5-10 years? Barely.
    • Because I made purses for a charity – I had 1/4″ elastic on hand…not much but enough to get started!  Had I touched it in 5-10 years?  Barely.
    • Over 60 masks made and barely a dent in my fabric supply…I’ve gotten through some of it…but I’m a very ‘eat all of one food item before going on to the next menu item’ kind of person…I guess it translates to using fabric I have had for years.
  4. I have an inductive study bible that has been waiting for the right moment to work through…Empty chapter headers/book questions/etc… I love my bible but it is obvious that it is meant for more…It was given to me for my 40th birthday….10 years ago…Guess what – the time is now!
    • As I study Acts through Community Bible Study (highly recommend), I have been in awe of the ministry of Paul…I really did want to spend more time in his writings but …  time – not something I had a lot of.
    • Welcome to self-isolation then stay home orders, and I have nothing but time. I started to study I & II Thessalonians (seeing Christ as our Calling King) inductively and moved to Galatians (Seeing the freedom we have in Christ0 and now finishing up Ephesians (Our glorious treasure in Him)…WHOA ! I am blown away and am absolutely loving my time of study.  I am awoken in the early hours and can’t wait to get into the Word.
    • Finally – maybe it’s the non-English-loving part of me, but I am really bad at coming up with key word markings…Thank you to other people willing to share their mark ups with people like me! Do I know them?  NOPE!  But I so appreciate them!  Thank you internet!  (Again….20 years ago? )
  5. And finally – music. From the moment I was born I was exposed to music – probably prior to birth actually.  It’s been a huge part of my life. How cool is it that we get to hear so many talented musicians live-stream just for encouragement…for the love of community! My husband has had recording equipment for years….but in the last 5 or so years,  upped his game to an 8-track recorder.  What a blessing to create music to share and bring joy!   We got the time.  We have the equipment.  God gave us gifts and talents to share….

I am guessing in the coming weeks, I will think of many more ways we were prepared for such a time as this. Internet shopping…curbside pickup…delivery…you name it.  This was not a surprise to God. He saw this moment at the beginning of time and knew what we would need and wanted each of us to look to Him for everything we would need.   He is our Provider, our Comforter, our Healer, our All in All, the Great I AM!  He is everything you need.

And so – do as our great Mr. Incredible did  on the way to his wedding…declare…  ‘I got time!’  😉  My favorite movie quote – also coincidentally probably the only quote I remember off the top of my head… Be blessed!

Amy