faith

How Are You?

How is everyone doing? I hope this post finds you healthy and happy. We’re doing just fine over here in the Zottola household. We are healthy, we have food, a roof over our heads, and we’ve been able to connect with our families and church family via technology. God. is. good.

I’m just popping in to share some photos and thoughts from our life lately. 

Melissa and Doug Reusable stickers

Some fun activities we’ve been doing while hanging out at home with Sadie girl:

  • Playing with play dough
  • Using re-usable stickers
  • Coloring and drawing
  • Baking and cooking
  • Taking walks around the neighborhood
  • Reading books
  • Chasing each other around the house (though this probably should stop because Sadie fell yesterday and almost bit through her lip… it was quite the bloody mess!!)
  • Playing with toys
  • Watching sign language videos
  • Filming vlogs
  • FaceTiming with friends and family

I baked double chocolate cookies with a bar of Lindt dark chocolate and they have been such a treat. I based the recipe off of this one. Also lots of sourdough action happening around here.

Baking with Lindt chocolate

Sourdough bread in dutch oven

We’ve been staying positive and praying a lot. Like many others, Jimmy is currently out of work. We are making the best of it by trusting that God will take care of the situation, giving thanks for our health, and enjoying the extra time together as a family ❤

Sadie is always a source of joy for us, but especially so lately! She’s just so innocent and sweet and a huge blessing in our lives. Seeing her smile just lights up my day. 

Father and daughter playing in teepee

Mom and daughter drawing on easel by Melissa and Doug

Last but not least, vlogging has been a fun distraction and a way to document this unique time in our lives. I’ve never vlogged on a Sunday before, so it was a fun little project while we hung out at home this weekend!

 

How are you doing?

Lately: COVID-19

Hey! I hope this post finds everyone healthy and as calm as possible. Everything that has been going on with COVID-19 has been pretty wild. I think it’s safe to say everyone has been impacted in one way or another.

It was crazy to go to the grocery store and see the shelves bare and completely out of stock of things I usually take for granted like toilet paper, canned goods, bread, and cereal.

Empty shelves at Walmart during COVID-19

I know a lot of people are out of work or working from home and facing really difficult situations. We have been praying for everyone who is impacted in any way. As always, if I can pray for you, send me an email or leave a comment. I would be more than happy to pray specific prayers for you 🙂

Our church had its last gathering for at least the next two weeks on Sunday morning and it hurt my heart to think we won’t be with our church family, especially during a time when we need each other the most. Technology to the rescue, though! We’ve been able to watch our church’s sermons and lessons on our TV via Facebook live and try to keep things as normal as possible in that regard. 

Sermon on TV

The extra time at home and absence of busyness has helped me to draw closer to God, dig into my Bible, and spend more time in prayer. He is in control, He loves us, and is with us. Always.

One of my blog friends, Nicole, wrote an awesome post on everything that’s going on from a Christian’s perspective. Check it out here if you’re interested! She truly has a way with words and I found her post both real and comforting, which is tough to achieve these days. 

In an effort to keep as much normalcy as possible in our day, Sadie and I filmed a vlog yesterday! 

Other happenings have included walks around the block, texting our neighbors to see if we can help, Facetiming (<– is that a word?!) with our parents, lots of baking, cleaning, hand washing, and enjoying our time together.

How about a few pictures?

Walking down stairs with toddler

Prayer journal

Toddler licking spoon while baking muffins

Well, I better get going. I hear Sadie starting to wake up. Her sleep has been all over the place lately and we’re hoping it’s not because her ears hurt.

She has been having ear infection after ear infection and we’re praying she doesn’t have another one now because we really don’t want to expose her to any extra germs at the doctor’s office and also don’t want to add extra work onto the doctors who are already so busy. Fellow parents, what do you do when your child has an earache?

Alright, I really better go! 

Is there any way I can pray for you?