Happy Easter

        This year, we attempted to do something different as a family the week leading up to Easter.  I bought an Easter creche, which I love that will stay up with my nativity year round. Each part of the creche represents different people whom were part of the Savior's final week."A Christ Centered Easter" is the book that accompanies it and the book offers different traditions and challenges that can be used the week leading to Easter.  Our family wrote what the Savior's sacrifice means to us and what we can sacrifice for him and placed it on a folded sheet of paper in a plastic egg and hung it on the branch of a tree.  We added a scripture that reminds us of Christ and placed that on the tree too and a ribbon after we have eased someone's burden this week. While we were not perfect at it, I am excited tonight or tomorrow to share some of these with one another.
        Here is quick breakdown of the people we referenced (and we looked up scriptures about them too): The people of Jerusalem- they found ways to celebrate Christ and show their love for Him. Palm leaves were used as he entered the city (which is why we used a tree branch as the symbol and the task was the find a way to celebrate Christ. Simon- he was compelled to serve in an unexpected way (symbol was a ribbon knot on our finger and after we lifted the burden of another (the task), we tied the ribbon a branch). Joseph and Nicodemus- they sacrificed all they had and gave their very best (symbol was the plastic egg with a message on the inside of what Christ sacrifice means to me or what we will sacrifice for Him). Mary Magdeline- the first to see the resurrected Lord and went to tell others (the task is to share your testimony of Christ with someone). Thomas- symbolizes waiting and home, so we were tasked to find something in our home to remind us of Him. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus- felt the love and learned of the love through the Scriptures, even when Christ was right there with them, so we write a scripture that we cherish about Him and hang it on a branch. Like I said, it was not perfect but hopefully it strengthened us some.
       It was very odd not being able to attend church Easter Sunday or go to my parents but we watched a stake service in our home and uploaded a video to the branch facebook page.  Several families in the branch posted musical numbers on the page to share with others. I so enjoyed watching them and felt more love for them as I watched.  Although it was not the "ideal" Easter, we found ways to invite Him in and remember Him. We dressed in our Sunday best and observed the Sabbath.

It is great (most days) to be together

It has been exactly 4 weeks since school was last in session. We have done a great job at staying home but there are definitely days where we want to be back to normal life. Ginny's graduation announcements came in yesterday and she received notice that she received the Chic-fil-A scholarship. It is surreal to think that she is done with high school, eighteen, and on to her next phase of life.  Last week was General Conference and we participated in the Hosanna shout from home.  A new proclamation was also given about the restored gospel. President Nelson also asked the world to join him in fasting this Good Friday for control of the pandemic, economy strengthened, caregivers protected, and life back to normal.

Last night as our family had family scripture and began our fast, uniting with others in the world to help with the pandemic, protection for health care withers, economic improvement, and life becoming somewhat normal, my kind turned the parallels of this historic event to Earth’s most historic event. We reflected Last Supper of Jesus Christ before Gethsemane and Calvary, which would’ve been today.
Before offering family prayer, we discussed briefly the parallels happening in our world today with that time some 2000 years ago.

Christ lived a life of love, compassion, kindness, obedience, and serving others. People are pausing their everyday lives and showing obedience and compassion by staying home and reaching out to help others even from a distance.
Christ’s character is filled with love, patience, hope, encouragement, and shouldering the burden of others....daily I see this happening in our stories right now with one another. People of all denominations are caring for, comforting, empathizing with and encouraging others. There is so much good in our world!
Christ suffered in Gethsemane and hours later died on Calvary, rose three days later that we might live. Our health care workers are risking their lives daily to give the sick a chance to extend their lives here on this Earth.
It is my testimony that we have a loving Father in Heaven who sent His Son to provide the light needed in this ever-darkening world. We are empowered by His grace and become His hands today. He is our healer and allows us to help heal as we love one another.
We are one nation under God....we are the United States unified with other nations pleading to our Savior to rescue us in way that only He can.
He lives and because He lives, we will one day live again too.

Day 20

The day started peaceful. I woke up a little after 7:00 and decorated cookies to leave for people with small Easter Notes.  But by 2:00, it was a hot mess.  Ginny and I went out front to work and watch Christopher ride his bike and in less than five minutes, we heard Will crying and walking our way.  He had biffed it on his bike. We ended up taking him to the doctor, where he received 8 stitches (2 in his right knee and 2 in his right elbow).  We are thankful he had on a helmet. We had to wait in the car until it was our turn to be taken in, the clinic is taken serious precautions. There was a nurse outside that took our temperature and gave us masks to wear.  The governor today ordered people to stay at home or you can receive a misdemeanor (you should leave your house for food or medical).
Just so I remember.....
-Gas price a mile from home was $1.39 (I can not recall since high school prices this low)
-School cancelled - yes cancelled (students left March 13 and have yet to return
-Self-distancing measures are on the rise.
-Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
-Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
-Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
-Entire sports seasons cancelled.  (NBA stopped early and MLB is on hold until further notice).
-Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
-Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled. (Funerals are limited to 10 people in many states)
-Churches are closed.
-No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now no gatherings of 5 or more.
-Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
-Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
-We are to distance from each other.
-Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
-Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
-Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer for those who really need it.
-Shelves are bare.
-Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
-Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
-Fines are established for breaking the rules.
-Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
-Press conferences daily from the President. -Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
-Government incentives to stay home.
- Road are not as busy but still busy.
 -People wearing masks and gloves outside.
-Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
-Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020. I hope that I am able to look back on it and tell not only of the changes but of not being panicky. Thank goodness for the gospel, a living prophet, and good parents that taught us life skills.

Finding my Purpose

We are now two weeks into our quarantine and although I feel like I have accomplished a lot of small things, I do not feel that I have accomplished many things.  We have planted a small garden, worked on the patio, played games, played outside, tried new recipes, and I have shown a few houses (not that I want to but I need to try to make a little money (we tend top spend more when not at work) but each time I go out, I fear bringing something back to a member of my family).  Today as we had "home church", which was soothing to my soul and I love doing, my mind pondered what my purpose is during this pandemic. Is there something I am suppose to be learn or teach my family or reach out to others about. What can I teach my children through all this,  what will my babies remember through this quarantine? Christopher seems to have questions about covid and what is happening in the world- how do I comfort him and help him turn to good. My mind has also turned to my students as well and I wonder if they are okay, what learning opportunities can I provide them to bring normalcy but not stress. I want to be a force for good, a helper, and someone who helps lift the burdens of others.

Birthday Reflection

I think it is safe to say that Ginny had a great little birthday.  She had over a dozen cards in the mail today and I know that many more are going to continue to come in this week.  She woke up to a delivery of flowers and had more throughout the day delivered today. My parents and Charity came up from Jackson and sang to her through the window. Stella, her best friend, and family stopped by and decorated the door and sang.  She also had many other visitors stop by throughout the day to drop off treats and to sing: Callie Martineu (dinosaur cookies and card), Sherri Nelson (new book and card), Kate Lyman (earrings, card, and randoms), Noah Orris (card and candy), Carly Garrett (burned cd's with songs that remind her of Ginny), Debbie Donald (flowers and candy), Candice Marshall (bread and girl scout cookies), Jason and Ellen Payne (cookies), Rebekah (Chick Fil fries and shake). She had several phone calls from folks too, even from people we rarely hear from. Ginny requested spaghetti and Alfredo for dinner with Italian cream sodas and my attempt at homemade breadsticks.  I hope that she felt loved and in the end knows that I made it as special as I could for her.  I told her it may be have been better to be "quarantined" because of all of the attention.  She was smiles most of the day and my heart was happy.

Happy Birthday Ginny!!

We are doing all we can to "flatten the curve", so we are not around people but I really wanted to make this birthday special the best I could, so last week, I reached out to people and asked them to mail cards or letters....I wanted to "flood the mailbox". It is not the same as having an 18th birthday celebration but I am hoping it allows her to feel loved and valued.

Happy 18th Birthday to our Ginny....Today was a day I had hoped to have a big celebration for one of the biggest presents of my life! Ginny is the type of girl that brightens a room, seeks out the one who may need a friend at the time, has a giving heart, sacrifices for others, is an extraordinary example for her young her siblings, thinks she is hilarious (sometimes she actually is because she is cracking herself up so much), and exemplifies not judging others in a negative way. We are blessed she is ours and our oldest. There are a ton of good things I would like to wish for Ginny, but it all boils down to a few things... My hope and wishes are many but these are the biggest- that your relationship with our Savior continues to grow and that you always know you are remembered and remember your worth. I wish that every year, this very day, when you look back to the past years, there won’t be any regrets for the things you did and – most importantly – for the things you didn’t do. We love you GinBug! 

Facts about Ginny, by Ginny:

You currently want to be when you grow up: dental hygienist

Your favorite color is: pink and grey

Your favorite show is: The Office

Your favorite game is: Spades

Your favorite toy or activity is: squishmallows 

Your favorite boy is: um.... Jesus

You are really good at: making people laugh  

Your best friend is:  Estella Seaman

You want to vacation to: Greece

Your favorite ice cream is: cookies n creme

Your wish is to be: happy and successful

Your hero is: my mom

Your favorite thing to do with your friends is: hang out. Like sit around and watch movies.

Your favorite holiday is: Halloween

Your favorite person in the whole world is: myself

Your favorite song(s) is: There is a light that never goes out- The Smiths

Your favorite restaurant is: Chick-fil-a

Your favorite foods are: pasta and Italian

If you had $1000 you would buy: I would finish paying off my car man 
 

Jake's Journal Entry for the Day

Jake and a few members of his family shared some of their thoughts on the current situation via a text string and I asked Jake to send me his to put on here (I consider this my family journal).  I will include that and my daily photo update.  Jake and Ginny usually attend a movie together the weekend before or or the weekend after their birthdays but since all theaters are closed right mow and we are trying to physically distance ourselves, I arranged for them to have the media room to themselves for a show.  What I loved the most is both dressed nice for it...how sweet is that! We spent hours outside today and that was also great.

Jake's text to his family today (3/23/2020): "I thought my days were tough.  I wake up around nine and workout (at least today anyway).  After I workout I am worried I have Covid due to the heavy breathing, but my family reminds me that maybe I am just out of shape.  Then, I am forced to watch movies, read books, play games, and eat.  The sacrifice of social distancing!

More seriously, today started in family isolation.  We are doing our best to practice physical distancing.  The city of Bartlett is putting bears in the windows so people out on walks can do bear hunts.  So we decided to go out for a walk.  As soon as we step out, five of our neighbors come out to talk as well.  We kept our distance but socialized for about 3 hours.  I was good after about 15 minutes, but Renee is a talker.  We celebrated my birthday with homemade Tres Leches cake and carry out Mexican food.  I am not big into social gatherings and prefer to be around just my family, so that was awesome.  Several students emailed me happy birthday and one even dropped by with a gift (that Renee sprayed with Lysol).  Ginny and I have a tradition of going to a movie for our birthdays.  So today Ginny and I watched Jurassic Park in the media room and everyone else stayed downstairs and decorated for Ginny's birthday tomorrow.

Renee and I are making videos of fun experiments they can do at home.  I am almost certain school will be online starting April through the end of the year.  I want to send all these funny memes to parents about homeschooling, but I just can get myself to rub in the difficulties they must be experiencing with that.  I will send some your way... they are just too good not to share with someone.

Ultimately, I feel blessed to have a prophet that has prepared us for hardships.  I am grateful to have a beautiful home to stay in and a family to spend time with.  I am grateful for technology that keeps me in touch with loved ones.  Everyday is a reminder of the love God has for me."