Today as I watched the crushed ice fall from the soda fountain machine into my 32 oz Maverick cup I thought, "This is a luxury." And then as I loaded it with some beautiful Coca Cola Classic carbonation I wondered if this was the last time I'd do this for awhile.Who knows?
The beginning of last week I wasn't really paying attention to the Coronavirus and now it dictates my life.
Comfort. That is what I'm used to. When I turn the handle on the faucet I expect water to flow, and not only that, I expect to navigate the temperature.
I'm used to sending my children off to school and my husband off to work in the mornings, to my kid's weekly extra-curricular activities, to my big Costco grocery shopping trips every two weeks, to nightly (okay, every other, or maybe every other, other "nightly") workouts at the gym, to really whatever the heck I want.
I'm used to not giving a second thought to toilet paper, and I'm used to not eyeballing the stockpile of Liahona, Friend, and Ensign magazines up in here that I hope we never have to resort to (tip from my nephew serving a mission in Ecuador. Thanks, bud.)
A luxury - something that is of great comfort, ease, or wealth. Something that may not be necessary.
Like getting my hair done.
Or the new granite counter-tops I got two weeks ago.
Or the laminate ones I was so happy to get rid of.
The beginning of last week I promised my daughter we would eat at McDonald's this week - INSIDE - so she could enjoy every inch of that playground. I hate McDonald's (except for their Coke because its yummy, yummness), but I hate even more that I didn't realize what a luxury taking my daughter to play inside McDonald's was.
I am now trying to soak up every luxury my current life has to offer. Day to day.
When I do the dishes and turn my dishwasher on I say a prayer of gratitude. I am so blessed to have a dishwasher. I am so blessed to have food to dirty those dishes.
When what felt like my 57th load of laundry you better believe I said a prayer of gratitude for my washer and my dryer instead of cursing my mounds of laundry. I am blessed to have a healthy family and I am thankful they are with me, in this life, in my home, dirtying clothes. Though I did still yell at them to put their dang clothes in the hamper because - come on.
And when I flush that toilet I give a BIG hallelujah for indoor plumbing!!
I love group text messages and that The Beloved and I could connect with the Patton Fam after the earthquake today.
When I directed my children in their schooling today I was so thankful for modern day technology. For my children's incredible brains and adaptability. I felt an immense appreciation for all of their different teacher's hard work. They have done an incredible job providing lesson plans and guidance during this fictional-like circumstance.
As my children started out their day in Google Classroom, I listened to video after video (I've got a lot of kids, yo) of teachers expressing their love, empathy, and reassurance to my people. Sweetrotten's teacher even recorded herself doing calming exercises. Gosh, she's a keeper.
These are all luxuries.
Today my sister, Erin, surprised my parents, my siblings, and I with a group call on FB Messenger. It was such a luxury to see my dad's ear fill up the whole section of his screen because he couldn't hear us well and didn't really get the whole camera thing. It was such a luxury to see my sisters' beautiful, comforting faces amidst my dad's ear. Gosh, it was the best. I wish I had taken a screenshot of this perfect memory before my parents hung up. I did luckily capture a few moments of the rest of us chatting afterward.
The best luxury is to know, with assurance, that Heavenly Father has a plan. That Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that He 100% has our backs.
What a luxury it is to pray.
To have faith.
To have one another.
For funny Coronavirus Memes.
And to have the Holy Ghost be our comforter.
God Bless you All!!
