Coronavirus and COVID19 Articles You Need

Here Are 5 Ways to Ease Tension in the Midst of a Pandemic

“I have too many emotions to count,” I told my therapist a few days ago as we sat looking at each other’s faces on the screen. “For good reason. Start with these then, and name any you feel,” she said as she showed me the list of seven words hanging on the wall behind her. I identified my three main ones. Lonely? Check. Anger? Yep. Fear? Oh yeah. As I write these words, the state of our world feels upside down and a bit surreal. With each passing day, alerts flash across my cell and emails land in my inbox announcing more national and local closures of borders, businesses, schools, and social gatherings. Our hearts mourn for the lives lost, and they […]

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An Open Letter to the Coronavirus Bride

By Molly Dockweiler / Life & Culture

An open letter to the bride who is postponing her wedding due to the CDC’s recommendation: First, I really hate that this is a thing. Second, I feel you. I am you. While today my wedding is on the outskirts of the 8-week window of seclusion, the news is constantly changing and I feel as though I might not be in the clear for much longer. I’m not sure what to do, and no amount of worrying has seemed to help. I’m just sad—sad for you, sad for me. And I think that’s okay. While deciding whether to cancel, postpone, or stick it out and hope for the best, please give yourself the space to be sad about a dream that won’t

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To the Mom Terrified of Homeschooling Through the Pandemic

By Dr. Zoe Shaw / Motherhood

I’m a homeschool mom, but don’t write me off as not understanding your situation. Although I’ve homeschooled four out of my five children at various times over the last 15 years, I am currently only homeschooling my youngest. But my other kids are back home now (even the one in college), and we’re finding our new normal. I’m not that homeschooling mom who thinks that everyone should homeschool because it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Don’t get me wrong. I love those women! They are walking in their purpose, but they’re not going to help you right now. If homeschooling was your calling, you would have already been doing it voluntarily, right? First, take a deep breath, mama. Take a couple

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A 30 Day Challenge That Will Boost Your Mood

By Molly Dockweiler / Life & Culture

A lot is going on in our world right now. It’s hard not to get caught up in the anxiety that comes from all the news, all the issues we face that can steal our joy, all the uncertainty of the future. If you are struggling to enjoy the beauty that today holds, a 30 Day Challenge might help you appreciate all the good that is still happening around us, while simultaneously forming a new habit that just might improve your life as a whole. I first heard about the 30 Day Challenge from Matt Cutts’ TED Talk. In the video, Cutts discusses that doing something for 30 days is just the right amount of time to add or subtract a habit

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How to Trust He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

By Amy Saxby / Faith

I’ve felt so scattered lately. Do you know the feeling? Not being able to focus on a task and finish it? School has been shut down for at least 3 weeks, restaurants have shut their doors, we are only to gather in groups less than 10. All because of a nasty, deadly virus. Truly it feels like the world is upside down. On the inside, I’m reeling with how to process or feel about all of this, and on the outside, there is a lot to be done. Online teaching to be prepared, workspaces to be prepped for our four kids to learn at home, bathrooms to clean, meals to plan. But I feel paralyzed. I feel like a hypocrite even suggesting

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Is the Coronavirus Pandemic Causing Fear? How to Find Hope – 126

By This Grit & Grace Life Podcast / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More Are you feeling anxious, with heightened levels of fear as we all grapple with new concerns that we didn’t see coming? Everything that brings the feeling of security has become uncertain: our health, finances, jobs, even our daily routine. It’s normal to be affected by all of this! But, we know that what is certain in this life is uncertainty. We also realize that we have an opportunity to turn to and genuinely rely upon the One who is certain. In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham share real tips on how to handle the stress

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An Adventure in First Time Homeschooling (We Miss You Teachers)

By Meaghan Dawson / Life & Culture

6:00AM: My house is silent. By some stroke of #Coronamiracle I’m up first, trying to settle myself as we step into our new normal. Time for coffee. Bible. And a self pep talk. I’ve got this. HOMESCHOOL, here I come. 7:00AM: Online Yoga. For peace. And strength. And sanity. And, yes, another pep talk. 7:45Am: Coffee (you’re going to start to see a trend here, wait for it…) 8:00AM: Class begins. Middle Child: The studious one, jumps in feet first. The lessons their amazing teachers spent hours over their spring break preparing are beautiful and clear and concise. He’s a self-starter and he’s off to the races. Godspeed, little buddy. You’re on your own. Youngest Child: Still in PJs. Hair’s a rat’s

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Feeling Anxiety How to Snap Out of It and Live in the Moment

Feeling Anxious? How to Snap Out of It and Live in the Moment

By Ashley Johnson / Life & Culture

I recently read a great article about how anxiety can negatively affect our health, stress our immune systems, and actually cause us to become more susceptible to illness. While this is good information, it can also cause those who are anxious to feel even more anxious about their anxiety. Welcome to the mysterious world of living inside your head. Here’s the thing: cutting through the static of anxiety is not as simple as turning the station or flipping it off altogether. Trust me, if it were, I’m fairly certain the issue would no longer exist. Instead, anxiety disorders are affecting 40 million adults in the U.S.1 So, if you’re struggling in this crazy COVID season, here are 10 things that might help

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5 Ways to Get Your Teenager Off Screens Now

By Meaghan Dawson / Motherhood

My oldest son has the most beautiful head of blonde hair I have ever seen. I know this is an odd statement, but it’s true. I have been stopped by strangers in public who compliment me on his cool hair, even though he is past the cute baby stage and well into the gangly preteen years. It’s the envy of his friends (I’m not lying about this,) and a color many women pay hundreds of dollars to maintain. But for me personally, I’m tired of seeing it. Let me rephrase. I’m tired of seeing just the very top of his hair as he stares down, neck craned in that awkward “I’m staring at my phone” posture. I want to see his eyes.

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