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Canadian Pastor Imprisoned

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James Coates is a young pastor in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who was imprisoned this week for continuing to hold services at his church. This really hits home for me because I was born in Western Canada.

The story has received international exposure via social media and news outlets, but in order to fully understand Pastor Coates’ perspective, I believe that it’s important to go to direct sources. James’ wife, Erin, has an Instagram page (@erincoates80), and the church (GraceLife Church of Edmonton) released a detailed statement on its website.

If one simply reads the news articles being released, it would be easy to assume that GraceLife Church is purposefully going against the Alberta lockdown guidelines to gain attention and make a public statement. But Pastor Coates has stated in recent sermons that he and his church members are simply trying to lead tranquil and quiet lives in service of God.

GraceLife states on its website that it is taking measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. The church closed its doors last spring and did not reopen until June, when the first public health emergency had officially ended. Since that time, GraceLife says that it has not seen any transmission of the virus as the result of any of its gatherings.

In a recent sermon, Pastor Coates took a moment to thank law enforcement officers, but before he did, he asked his parishioners not to cheer, in order to comply with guidelines set by Alberta Health Services. So instead of cheering, congregants stood and clapped. This church is not trying to defy the government, but simply serve God.

As I read through the posts that Erin Coates has made on social media since her husband’s arrest, I am incredibly encouraged by the complete trust that this couple has in God and His providence. They are committed to serving their congregation and serving their God, whatever the cost.

We realize that this is a complex situation and that the government officials are working hard to mitigate the spread of the virus, but imprisonment is simply not the answer. To see a man who has a clear love for the people in his church and his city be thrown in jail should be troubling to our society.

Let’s join in prayer for James and Erin and their children, as well as for the people of GraceLife Church. We also want to pray for those who authorized this imprisonment, that they would be able to see Pastor Coates’ heart for the city of Edmonton.

A positive result of this situation is that Christians and non-Christians across the world now have a front-row seat to witness Pastor Coates’ love for and devotion to God.

My New Favorite Workout

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I’ve talked a little bit about the various types of exercise that I do from home. Mr. Handsome and I belonged to a gym before we had our son, but it’s just so difficult to make the time to go in this stage of life. Perhaps someday we can belong to a facility that has childcare, but those can be so expensive.

Between my treadmill and exercise DVDs, I am able to get my cardio in pretty easily, but I have struggled to find a method that is somewhat enjoyable for strength training. Just a few weeks ago, I decided to dive into Pilates, and it has been life changing. I’ve been able to find some great YouTube videos that are 30 to 40 minutes long, and I’m so pleased with how it’s going. It’s a great way to work the whole body without too much intensity.

Have any of y’all done Pilates?

Helping the Needy

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While doing errands this week Little Buddy and I drove past a man holding a sign that read, “Please help: Need money for food and Pampers.” His wife and two young children were standing next to him. It was the middle of the afternoon, and the sun was bright and hot.

My heart broke for this beautiful family. There was a grocery store nearby, so Little Buddy and I ran in and grabbed some healthy granola bars and organic chocolate milks. We rushed (as much as a mom can rush when her toddler wants to walk through the store instead of sit in the cart).

I hoped that would still be there when we came out, and they were. As I rolled down my window and handed the bag of groceries to the dad, he was genuinely appreciative. “Thank you!” he beamed, in broken English. “God bless you and your family.’

In my rearview mirror, I saw the kids eagerly tearing into the snacks, and I wished I had bought more. I truly hope to cross paths with this family again. If that does happen, my plan is to give them a larger load of groceries and then stop by the nearest church and talk to the pastor. I know that if someone did that at our church, our pastor would immediately buy the family a meal and then take it upon himself to make sure they received the help they needed.

Have you ever been in this situation? It can be disheartening when you give food or offer to buy a meal and the person turns up their nose and walks away, clearly only interested in money. We’ve all been there, and it stings. But this family was genuinely in need and clearly appreciative of any gift.

Let’s Talk about Coffee

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Last year, I shared that Mr. Handsome and I had recently become coffee drinkers. He drinks a cup every morning to start his day. I usually wake up with a burst of energy–I guess that means I’m a morning person. But when my eyelids start to droop in the early afternoon, I’ll have my first cup.

In the summer I enjoy iced coffee. If I’m really on top of things, I’ll use coffee ice cubes to cool it down. Or I’ll make it in the morning and stick it in the fridge to chill. If it’s been a rough day, I’ll just add my cream and milk and drink it lukewarm. Not too bad, actually.

I don’t think I’ve ever had more than one cup in a day. Every once in a while, Mr. Handsome will drink two. If I’m not terribly tired, I’ll drink decaf or half-caf.

We enjoy whole bean coffee, although I admit that I usually grind a small container of beans every week to have on hand. I know that the authentic way to drink coffee is to grind the beans on the spot, though.

Right now, our favorite regular coffee is Dallmayr Espresso D’Oro Whole Bean from World Market. A friend gave us a small container of Donut House Medium Roast as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and that was fantastic.

If I’m drinking decaf, it’s Kicking Horse Dark Decaf from Amazon, which uses the Swiss water process. Apparently that’s the most natural way to decaffeinate coffee beans.

What is your favorite type/brand of coffee?

Getting Rid of the Paci

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It goes by different names, but the love-hate relationship between parents and this tiny piece of rubber is universal. When your newborn is crying his heart out, you love it. When your baby is up at 2am and having trouble settling back down, it’s a great tool. But when your toddler refuses to let it go, it quickly becomes your least favorite item.

I’m guessing you know what I’m referring to. Our son is approaching 18 months old, and we are considering getting rid of the pacifier, or “paci” as we call it. Feel free to share any tips and tricks for this transition phase. Oh, and I would love to hear your name for the pacifier. There are dozens of different names, depending on the country and region that you live in.

Beauty in Quarantine

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2020 has already been a year that will go down in history, and it’s not even half over. We all would have laughed if we had been told on January 1st that we would soon see empty shelves at nearly every grocery store, news articles about people hoarding toilet paper, or a worldwide shortage of hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, N95 masks, and disinfectant spray.

Being unemployed for two months was not on my husband’s radar, nor did we expect to witness the government send billions of dollars through the mail to private citizens. When I offered to help my brother-in-law find a deep freezer, I was prepared to research the best brand and model, not to be told that there were literally none available on the market and likely would not be for months. And so much worse than all the inconveniences that our society has faced are the deaths that have resulted. While I only know of two friends who have tested positive for COVID-19, my heart break for those who have lost loved ones.

Here in Nashville, residents were still dealing with the fallout from the March 3rd tornado when the Coronavirus shutdown hit. Our city’s economy is fueled by the entertainment and health care industries, both of which are experiencing major setbacks. Two credible sources told us that one of the area’s leading hospitals is facing financial stress due to elective surgery cancellations, and no one knows how many months will pass before large concerts and conventions will resume.

But in the midst of all the upheaval, uncertainty, and heartbreak, there is still beauty to be found. I have especially enjoyed the extra time that I have been able to spend with my family, the opportunity to have long telephone or video conversations with friends and other loved ones, and the chance to work through house projects. It’s encouraging to see others getting out and enjoying nature, while still social distancing. Some of the smaller parks have been closed, but those with ample field space and wide trails have remained open.

So that brings me to my next discussion question: What beauty have you found in quarantine? What new things have you done? How has your routine changed for the better?

We can all list the things we miss and are eager to get back, but let’s take a moment to focus on the positive.

Family Dynamics

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Mr. Handsome and I have been married five years and are in the early stages of our parenthood journey. We were talking the other day about how interesting it would be to have our readers tell us about their families. Some of you have done this in the comments section of other posts, and we have really enjoyed that.

So here goes: How many children do you have, and how far apart are they in age? Did you set out to have a specific family size, or did it just kind of happen? If you don’t have children, we still want to hear from you! Do you have a spouse? Live with other family members or roommates? Or perhaps you live alone? Hoping to jump-start an interesting conversation.

Freedom From Quarantine

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One of my loyal readers posed a great discussion question this morning, so I thought I would share: What are the first things you will do when quarantine is over?

Federal, state, and local governments are working tirelessly to come up with detailed plans to open up up the economy without jeopardizing the safety of citizens. It will likely be a slow process, but I am definitely looking forward to having some semblance of normal life back.

Below is a list of a few things that I am excited about doing when quarantine is lifted. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

-Going out to coffee

-Hanging out with friends (Little Buddy and I really miss our playgroup)

-Attending church

-Going thrift store shopping

-Taking a vacation (likely still a few months away, but a girl can dream, can’t she?)

On Becoming a Coffee Addict

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Looking back at how much of a fad coffee–particularly espresso–has become over the past several years really fascinates me. The regular coffee, whether black or mixed with a bit of cream and sugar, that folks have brewed for centuries has sort of become passe. In its place are lattes, mochas, frappes, americanos, cappuccinos, and a host of other drinks that I can’t name, let alone tell you how they are made.

Before we became parents, Mr. Handsome and I were not big coffee drinkers. We would occasionally pick up a latte or mocha on car trips, but that was it. Enter Little Buddy, and everything changed. It was Mr. Handsome who started the trend, claiming that he needed it to function at work.

I somehow survived the newborn days without coffee, but it just made the house smell so good that I eventually got into it. I usually don’t drink it in the morning, but it makes a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up. In fact, I’m drinking a cup as I write this.

When we’re at home, we drink black coffee, made in our $20 French press, with a good amount of milk and a tiny bit of cream (the real stuff, not creamer). But when we’re out and about and feel like treating ourselves, we love to stop by coffee shops and pick up one drink to share. Over the summer, we did mostly iced lattes, but now we’re into hot lattes. While we enjoy the more sugary drinks, we usually ask the barista to hold off on any sweetener or flavoring. But every once in a while, we’ll try one of the advertised seasonal lattes, like lavender or pumpkin spice.

I still remember the day I told Mr. Handsome how delicious the fancy coffee drinks from Starbucks were and that he should try them. He laughed and told me that he would never get into that. Fast-forward about three years, and he is quickly becoming a coffee connoisseur. We haven’t been to Starbucks in months because we both agree that the coffee sold at independent coffee shops is much more delicious.

Are you a coffee drinker? What are your favorite ways to drink it?

Our Favorite Movies

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Mr. Handsome and I are always up for a movie night, but finding good movies is a perpetual challenge. We both have fairly easygoing personalities and are happy to watch a movie that the other one chooses, even if it isn’t something that we particularly enjoy. We are always up for a clean comedy, but those don’t seem to be as common as comedies with excessive amounts of inappropriate content or clean movies that aren’t as funny as they claim. (Let us know if you have any suggestions.)

Unfortunately, whether we’re at a theater or at home, I have the terrible habit of falling asleep during movies, especially if it’s late. Thankfully, when it comes to long movies like Lord of the Rings, I can catch a short nap during the middle and not miss much. My habit has gotten worse since I became a mother. The trouble is that I am running around all day, and I rarely ever sit down for more than a few minutes. I eat while I stand, often feeding Little Buddy at the same time. And when I sit at my computer to blog, I’m up frequently to tend to him. If we watch TV or a movie in the evenings, I usually prefer to watch while doing stretches and light exercises because I know that if I sit down on the couch, I’ll have a hard time fighting sleep. Do you have this problem?

In the video below, we share our favorite genres and whether we like movie theaters or prefer watching at home. Feel free to chime in in the comments section.