Disruption

Sunday, March 22nd:
Well, the world has basically shut down due to COVID-19. I mentioned this coronavirus before we went on our cruise, and now it has spread the whole world over. Everyone is supposed to be practicing "social distancing" and staying at least 6 feet apart from others. We aren't supposed to leave our home unless absolutely necessary. Today is day 8 of this new life.

It's been challenging having the kids off of school for the unforeseen future. We don't know how long school will be canceled. For now, at least, we still have 3 weeks of this to endure. We've tried to live by a schedule each day to keep ourselves from getting too bored or from watching tv all day. We've done a lot of puzzles, card games, board games, baking, playing outside, bike riding, yard work and washing of hands. This first week has gone pretty well. But I can already tell that the next 3 weeks are going to be hard.

Everyone is feeling very uncertain about the future. The effect this is having on the economy is catastrophic! And it's certainly not the best time for David to be looking for a job. He finishes school at Darden next month and has been job searching.


Sunday, March 29th:
The Coronavirus continues to spread like wildfire throughout the world. I now personally know people who have been effected and it isn't pretty. This week we learned that school will not resume for the remainder of the academic year. This is going to be the longest summer ever! Actually the teachers are all working to adjust their teaching to online instruction, but this will not start for another few weeks. Until then, we've turned my office into Home School Central and are trying our best to keep some sort of routine. It's definitely not too rigid, but does keep us from idling away our time.

The weather this week has been rainy, so it's been hard to get outside time. But Friday was gorgeous and we took advantage of the sunshine and went kayaking at Beaver Creek. It was glorious to be out on the water! Carmen especially is really missing her crew practices and was dying to be on the water in some form or another.

Governor Northam has also closed all non essential businesses now. So only grocery stores and pharmacies are open. Even some outdoor spaces are closed off as well.  Some National parks and hiking trails have been closed because so many people were using them that social distancing became impossible.  Beaver Creek felt that way on Friday, but we didn't care! We needed to feel the sun on our faces.

Thursday, April 9th:
Lately I have been clinging to the thought that there is power in disruption. It gives you an opportunity to reflect and figure out what really matters. To change course. And I have thought about that over and over again in the past three weeks. What do I want to disrupt? What do I want to hold onto? Am I doing what matters most at a time like this? 

It is mind blowing to think what has happened in our world in the last few weeks. Never in a million years would I guess that we would be right here right now. My calendar is filled up with the skeletons of life past, and we are trying to figure out this new kind of normal.

It is safe to say these past weeks have been among some of the most tumultuous and emotional that any of us can remember in our lifetimes. The impact of the coronavirus outbreak has been felt by individuals and families, companies and communities, across the United States and around the world. The response to this crisis has been extraordinary; as much for what it has required from our society as for what it has revealed of us as a people. Far from causing division and discord, this crisis and the social distancing it has required, has allowed us to witness something profound and moving about ourselves: our fond and deeply felt wish to be connected with one another. While much remains uncertain right now, one thing is for sure: this crisis will pass. Our nation and communities will recover. And hopefully we all come out on the other side valuing family time and the simple things of life more than ever before. We have played more games, gone on more bike rides, done more puzzles, eaten more meals, studied the scriptures, worked in the yard and camped in the yard together over the past 3 weeks more than we have any other time before this disruption to life. I hear people describe this time as unprecedented, scary and challenging. And while it is, I have also enjoyed it! I have't been taxi mom nonstop. Our family has time to eat dinner together each night. We aren't worried about bedtime or what clothes we are going to wear to school the next day. Online learning doesn't start until next week, so we haven't been stressed over school work and projects. All we are concerned about is who stole the final piece to the puzzle?! Or who wins at Battleship. Or whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher. We have played more games, gone on more bike rides, done more puzzles, eaten more meals, studied the scriptures, worked in the yard and camped in the yard together over the past 3 weeks more than we have any other time before this disruption to life. Weddings and graduations, birthdays, business trips and funerals, events large and small all have to be cancelled.  David's Darden graduation won't happen now. Charlotte won't get her 5th grade graduation. Carmen was supposed to go to Disney World with band. Aliza missed her Wallops Island trip. Soccer, volleyball and Crew seasons have all been cancelled. There are no church activities and we miss our friends dearly. But more than anything, this Covid-19 virus has taught us all to slow down and refocus on the simple things of life. And I count that as a huge blessing.