Pandemic Diaries, Part 1

We've survived week two of the shelter in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I've had to take days off - from reading articles and watching videos of doctors talking about how to prevent and treat this virus.  I've had countless meltdowns due to anxiety.  I've gotten frustrated at my kids and REALLY missed my quiet days alone.

Yet, we're settling in to a new normal.  It's fascinating, isn't it?  Before all of this?  I couldn't imagine how we'd make it through a trip to DC, a trip to Boston, a graduation and a wedding.  But in just one week, we went from basketball state tournaments and a house full of teammates and friends and trying to figure out when we'd have dinner...

To being home.

Just being home.

In spite of my personal opinions about government overreach and my concern about the long term effects on the economy... one of my people is high-risk.  So here we are.

We are trying to get online school completed each day (seven students - our wifi isn't happy!), keep up with laundry, meals (and dishes) for 10, and work on some things that have been neglected - the last three years, especially.  Our yard is finally getting some attention and I've cleaned out BAGS of junk from our house.

I'm thankful for time together.  LOTS OF TIME TOGETHER.  Haha!  No, I really am thankful. Mostly.  I'm thankful for food and Spring weather and Maggs to make us laugh.  For garage workouts and runs that exhaust me physically - since the hardest work of this whole thing has been mental.

I'm thankful for longer quiet times and less rushed mornings.  I'm thankful for kids who *mostly* enjoy being together.  I'm thankful for our home (which has worked fairly well, with everyone here) and our big yard.  I'm thankful for the deck to eat dinner on, when it's not raining.  I'm thankful for the basketball court and games of four-square and the bunnies hopping around the yard.

I'm thankful that my 13 year old doesn't have a phone and that he's been writing letters to his friends.  I'm thankful that our parents are all close by and we can drop groceries off and check on them, easily.

I'm thankful for the amazing way that my kids have responded. My little senior girl has seen her classes be moved online, her Spring formal canceled, and her senior trip to Boston, postponed.  My sixth grader's trip is canceled, as well.

I'm thankful for coffee and sleeping in - even if we've determined that everyone DOES need to be up at a reasonable time.  Seven o'clock in the morning is LOVELY.  I haven't seen 6:00 in ages.

I'm thankful that in spite of allergies and a couple of sinus infections, we've been WELL.  So so thankful we've been well.

I'm thankful for our boy's doctors, PAs and nurses, who continue to be there to care for their patients. Thursday, he'll head to chemo.  What a strange time this is.  We have to be screened in our vehicle for fever and symptoms.  Every hospital and clinic is on lock-down.  But his treatments are considered essential and he'll have scans in April, as well.  Pray with us that he will be protected from this virus.

I'm thankful for my little NICU nurse.  Praying for her and her guy as they continue to plan a June wedding, but have no idea what the future will hold.  Wedding invites will go out, as planned.  Thankful God is on His throne and we can trust Him.

The Coach is going in to work one day a week to record his lessons to post each day, but is otherwise attempting to work at home - with 9 other people, the noise, and the crashing wifi.  Love him.  He wants to limit his exposure and risk - because of our boy.  Our school has worked SO hard to keep classes going.  It's been an amazing endeavor.

I'm thankful for evening walks (even in the light rain, last night) and longer dinnertimes around the table - because there's no other place to be. I'm thankful that both boys are moved out of their dorms and their stuff is here.  I AM thankful. I AM.  Haha!  Now to find somewhere to put it all.  Praying for them, too - they weren't planning on living at home for over 5 months.

It's funny, isn't it?  I went from not being able to keep up with all of the events, games, and appointments... to being HOME.  So strange.  Not bad.  Just strange.

I suppose we will grieve the losses of these weeks for a long, long time.  But in the meantime, I'm going to purpose to be thankful.  And to trust the One who holds it all.  For now, He's given me the gift of time with my people - how amazing is that?