How do I sum up all that has happened in March? Well I am grateful to still be breathing. Let’s start there. I think this season has been really interesting for a lot of us in the chronic illness community to observe as for a lot of us, life hasn’t changed much. For me, outside of not being able to have my family come over or some close friends, and the wonderful ability to have Jared home all the time-my life really hasn’t changed that much. We joke about the fact that I am an “OG quarantiner” and was living like this before it became cool (lol)

Seriously though, I’ve been used to cultivating life at home and learning how to fill my days and feel as if I have a leg up right now. I have already wrestled with the understanding that one infection could really be destructive for me. So it’s definitely been interesting in this time to kind of see what we’ve been dealing with for months and years on end is really what the whole country is starting to experience. I am grateful to be able to share what I have learned with those who are just learning how to cultivate in quarantine.

Before we get to the April tending list here are a few resources to help you cultivate during quarantine:

I did my Spring Refresh and even made a video sharing with you how I am going to be cultivating in quarantine.

The Chronically Cultivating Podcast is back! We did a whole episode on how to cultivate in quarantine! Check out Episode 33: Chronically Quarantined for more!

Want to try a new hobby while stuck at home? Learn to hand letter!

Alright now onto the powersheets update! I did not accomplish half of what I set out to do for obvious reasons. Having everyone home 24/7 has been an adjustment and I truly want to enjoy this time with Jared while he is working from home. We also have Foxy with us who is probably in her final few weeks so we are soaking up every moment with her while we can. The seeds have sprouted and will be planted this month!

(Don’t know what powersheets are? That’s okay you can check the out how I use them here!)

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There was a lot of uncertainty heading into April, but there is a lot on my tending list. Most would have been there regardless of quarantine because again, not a lot for me has changed. I don’t want to fill the quarantine with to do lists and tasks; I want to enjoy these unique weeks loving my people well. My top priority is routine because we are still finding our new normal in all of this.

Monthly Goals:

• Repurpose the Sunroom: We have a beautiful sunporch that has not been utilized in a long time and I have been planning to repurpose it as garden room and entertaining space since this past December
• Build + Plant the Garden: For our anniversary this month, Jared got me a raised garden bed for the sunroom! He is going to be building it and painting it once it comes in! Then as soon as we get past the last of the potential frosts all of my seeds will go in there!
• Read 1 book: I didn’t even halfway finish one of my books from last month so I hope to get on track with at least one of those!
• Mentorship Meetings: Keeping up with mentorship meetings via facetime
• Powersheet Prep for May’s Tending List
• Celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary!
• memorize one Bible verse! I still need to pick one!
• Add my notes from reading through Exodus and Leviticus into my commentary notebook
• Learn a new font: I found a new font to master!

Weekly Goals:

• All the Things: med cart inventory, organizing pills, joint corrections, self care, etc.
• Love Jared Well: spend intentional time together without our phones
• Quiet Time 2x a week: Time reading the Bible together with Jared
• Spend Time in the Sunshine: If it ever stops raining I want to spend at least 3 days in the sunshine each week!
• Tend to Garden: Watering and tending to my succulents and seeds!
• Platform Check In: I transformed the life giving-home wildcard page into a life-giving platform check-in so that I stay on top of all the things Living the Chronic Illness Life entails such as instagram devotionals, the Spoonie Study, the Chronically Cultivating Podcast, and Blog Posts!
• Spoonie Study Prep and Live: Prepare for and lead the Spoonie Study!
• Church: Our church broadcast’s both their services online through live streaming (and all of the services are also kept on youtube so you can watch them at anytime), to check out Grace Chapel’s online ministry click here We are so grateful for this ministry as I am not always well enough to physically go to church. We prefer the 11:00 contemporary worship service

Daily Goals: Because we still finding out groove, I am not focusing on any time constraints

• Connect: I want to connect and check in with one friend or family member each day of the month!
• Water Flowers: Gotta take care of these sprouts!
• Bible Reading: I am excited to be reading the Bible in a two year canonical (front to back) plan!
• WTW: I am going through Cultivate Worship currently!
• Prayer: working to pray persistently and boldly! I am not getting out of bed to start the day without spending time in prayer each morning

What are your goals while in this quarantine?

Don’t have your powersheets yet? 

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Cassie Nolin is a married spoonie who lives the chronic illness life with EDS + Co. (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and it’s comorbid conditions.) She challenges others to choose grace over guilt in goal setting, and is in ministry part time serving the online community through The Spoonie Study. She loves planting, hand lettering, and sharing the hope she has found in Jesus. Her blog, Living the Chronic Illness Life, is in the top 100 chronic illness blogs and her podcast, Chronically Cultivating, is produced by Speaking to the Heart Network. Cassie encourages women to live authentic and intentional lives through their diagnosis’ not in spite of them. You can learn more about her at www.livingthechronicillnesslife.com

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