I definitely had that Friday feeling this morning, I couldn’t face battling maths and learning about ferns anymore, so we opted for more of a ‘wellbeing’ task that school had sent. Creating little books all about one of their friends. They loved the idea and started out enthusiastically, but the reality was it made them sad too. It was hard to see Theo’s little face when we finished crumple and him put his head in his hands, ‘I miss Henry.’ And Maddie get excited then wobbly and want more help than she really needed because she needed to be near us when facing all the feelings. But sometimes allowing them – and ourselves – to feel it and actually miss what we’re missing is helpful too. So we kept it simple and called it a day on schoolwork.

Instead they were very excited that Liam’s Aunty Christine had managed to get us the last three bags of sand from Tesco! Yes, I’ll be battling sand all over the kitchen for the rest of the summer, but they LOVE it, and it definitely helped entertain them today. Obviously when they weren’t throwing it/face planting in it/eating it.

Liam and I had a major house clean today. It took me a while to work up the motivation, but I couldn’t cope with the dust anymore. Give it three days and it will be back, but for now, it feels clean and that’s soothing to my soul.

I had a nice chat with my mum this morning when I needed to ask her a post-sending related question, and then, not long after, these turned up from her. And a card and chocolate for me (maybe I’ll share with Liam), but I hid the chocolate and hung the card up before I took this photo. One of the things that I’m finding really special in these days is those encouragements that pop up in the post or in messages. I’m keeping the cards up until these days are done, and then I’m planning to put them in a book, a visual reminder that we’re never truly alone, even when we’re isolated. The kids thanked Grandma by sending her a very loud and screechy thank you message. Which I think she really liked.

I didn’t take many pictures today, because photos of me cleaning or at the post office weren’t that interesting really. We spent a surprisingly large portion of the day discussing possible names for the chicks who may arrive soon. Trio of female name suggestions included:

Rachel, Monica and Phoebe

Stacey, Gwen and Nessa

Aurora, Ariel and Elsa

Dr Eggstein, Taron Eggerton, and Eggmerelda

K, F, and C

Shiraz, Merlot and Chardonnay

And Liam suggested three of my closest friend’s names. I think there were implications of us being like clucky hens. Which I took offence at. And given that every conversation gets to this stage, we still don’t have names for the poor chicks. I think this is why we haven’t had any more children.

I started week 2 of couch to 5k today. It was hard. It reflected where I felt with lockdown today. Plodding on, with tired legs, not enthusiastic about the next stage, reaping very slow rewards. And as I ran (/brisk walked!), I thought about the verses from Hebrews that talk about running our race.

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God’. – Hebrews 12:1-2

Running is hard some days. But then I thought about the people I’ve spoken to recently who are a few weeks – or years – ahead of me in it. Encouraging me, inspiring me, reminding me of the benefits.

And lockdown – and life – are a bit like that sometimes aren’t they? Sometimes to keep running through lockdown days I need to remember the benefits. And to be encouraged. And to keep looking ahead, to the days where we’ll be together again.

And I look to the ultimate Encourager. The ultimate Inspiration. Jesus, who sacrificed everything, was isolated from His Father, and pushed through unbearable pain for the joy before Him. The joy of community with those He loves.

It’s all worth it. Couch to 5k, isolation, running the race of life, with all the ups and downs. Sometimes it’s an easier day, sometimes it’s a gritting teeth and holding on to hope kind of day, but there is always hope. And there is One who gets it. And has got us.