Simple Living in a Smaller World

Parenting Littles in Jesus People During a Pandemic

Parenting tiny humans is hard. Full stop. Parenting tiny humans during a pandemic is extra hard. Now, parenting a three-year-old, then giving birth, and parenting a newborn in the midst of a global pandemic while living in a community with 180 others – that’s just crazy!

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The Jesus People Kitchen During Covid

Cooking Three Meals A Day for Two Hundred People During A Pandemic

There are few things that bring people together like laughter over a delicious meal. It has been a cornerstone of our life together: nourishing our bodies and our communal spirit. Cooking them together is another cornerstone. A little over a year ago, I joined the kitchen staff as a head cook. It is truly a joy to work with younger, and often newer, community members as we prepare meals for our friends and family.

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Christmas in the Time of Covid at Jesus People

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

My favorite time during the holiday season comes in the few days after Christmas. The gifts are unwrapped and put away, there are leftover cookies everywhere you turn, and people are still in the holiday mood but have already finished (or not finished) the long list of traditions and gatherings that can be both a blessing and a bane. Things get quiet. People sleep in. A calm descends and everyone in our house shuffles around in new slippers, clutching cups of coffee and chatting in the hallways, or visiting in each other’s rooms. This has always been part of my ultimate idea of Heaven – hanging out with loved ones, grateful for each other, and having enough time to just be with each other, without any planned activities or expectations. The Christmas decorations are still up so everything looks beautiful but the chaos is somewhere in the far off distance.

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