Spring break day 1

I woke up late and my first thought was “I should go to the temple today”. So I showered and dressed, told the kids good morning and then went.

I got there a little too late for the session I was targeting so I did some initiatories. My names happened to be some sisters from France who lived in the 1600’s so that was fun. Then I stayed for an endowment. It was sweet to go and feel the spirit. I felt particularly grateful in the face of church closures and global pandemic panic to be able to worship, and to be so strengthened.

Later in the afternoon I learned that on Monday temples will only be open for live ordinances. 

After I went to Walmart, where it looked like we were in the middle of an apocalypse. So many shelves were empty and the lines we super long.

Parable of the 10 virgins anyone??

Grace went to Kaylynn’s birthday and had a fun time!

Rob and I went to Epcot between when we dropped her off and picked her up. 

We had time for 2 rides, dinner, and the fireworks show. 

Then we came home and had family scripture and prayer. (Spiritual toilet paper)

There’s that then

Well, the world is officially upside down and sideways. Disney is closed. The MTC and MBA and MLB and schools, churches, and so on and so forth are closed or closing. We will not have church OR any gatherings for at least two weeks. It feels so ominous and strange. Truth is I am not particularly worried about getting the virus and dying from it but the disruption to our lives and finances and routines is crazy.
People are also panicking and buying the shelves out.
I cancelled my flights to Utah, which I am simultaneously so so sad and a little relieved about. I wanted to go and spend time with the kids and grands and SIL’s and mom and dad and all the family but I was beginning to feel stressed about leaving Grace and Ethan here. I am still their full time
Mom even if they are almost grown.

So we will enjoy quiet time at home, I have some projects to work on.  Some TV to watch, some books to finally get to. We will probably go to the beach. We will pray and study and worship as a family. We will FaceTime. We will walk the dogs and Ethan will play ball. Grace has a couple parties to go to that aren’t cancelled yet and as she has spent 12 hours a day with these kids for the last 9 months I don’t suppose it will hurt anything to keep on. This week alone they have had 4+ hours each day after the regular 7 school day hours together for leadership camp.

I guess we will see. Last week I would never have thought that this week would unfold the way it has so no telling what tomorrow will bring.

Nana and Abba are slowly making their way state side. I hope they have safe, smooth and healthy travels and that we can put our minds at ease over their travels.

Virus

I am sitting at the dentist office right now. Ethan is having his pre-mission dental appointment. I can’t believe how quickly the days are flying by. Today the church announced that because of the corona virus no one will be able to go to the conference center for general conference. It will be broadcast but woah that’s different. Especially since last conference it was announced that this one would be historic and unlike any previous as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first vision. Also they announced that, for now, new missionaries will be doing their training online instead of at the MTC. Also because of the virus. This is not good news, how weird is that. I really want Bub to have the MTC experience. This crazy virus has reached pandemic status and people are in a frenzy buying up toilet paper and bottled water. I’m not sure why. Will our water faucets not work? We live in an alarming world. I am grateful for the peace Jesus Christ brings into the lives of His followers.

Work is crazy. I have a stack of work that grows quicker than I can get it done. It’s okay though. I’m not bored.

Yesterday Sierra and I went to DS

Grace has had band leadership camp every afternoon this week.

Ethan has been sick, flu like symptoms but he’s doing mostly fine. He stayed home from school a couple of days.

Tonight for mutual we met up with the lake Cresent ward and the Avalon ward and the lake butler ward and cleaned at the school. It was a thank you for letting us use the building for seminary.

Modern day miracles

Random photo

• When Gracie was little she drank “purple milk” (silk very vanilla soy milk). We literally can not find it in stores. Tonight she looked on amazon fresh and there it was. Shipping is free if you order $35 worth of stuff so we added some deodorants, eggs, lunch foods and popcorn to our list and an hour and a half later, at 9:30pm, we had groceries on our doorstep. What kind of magic is that?
• Tomorrow our trash cans will be washed and returned to the side of our house, smelling great. 
• I FaceTimed my darling red headed granddaughters this afternoon and I could see them and they could see me. It’s common place and taken for granted today but in the days of my childhood it was unthought of. 
• This week I will board an airplane and 5 hours later land in Utah (how many miles away?, idk for certain but I do know people used to walk for months to cover the same distance)
• And tonight, after I am done blogging, I will plug my lightweight, handheld super computer into the wall so that tomorrow I can take it to work with me and look at dog videos and see what my friends eat for breakfast and what my kids tik tok. Crazy!
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News

Just a few weeks ago our ward boundaries were realigned and we got a new bishop...who, by they way, I love. Today they announced that there will be a new stake formed in 2 weeks and our ward will be in the new stake. How crazy is that?

We had a day of rest today. We slept in and then when I got up I made cookies for our combined YW and YM lesson. Bishop Cole taught and he was inspired, really. He gave a fabulous lesson on how to guard against depression and anxiety, how to know the Lord. He told stories that we loved to hear and that were relatable and interesting. Bro. Williams did a light, object lesson after that was a perfect ending. The spirit was strong and I think we all felt like we heard the Lord’s words.

When we got home Sierra, Ethan and I played Chickapig. Grace practiced the clarinet. We napped in front of a movie:) and then had dinner.

We ended the night with our Come Follow Me and a dog walk.

Basketball

Sierra and I drove Val and Ryan to the port. They are off on their cruise. I miss them already. 

We stopped at the beach on the way home, for like 1 minute. It was chilly.

I went to watch Bub play basketball. They lost but it was fun.

Rob went kayaking. 

I went grocery shopping. 

Sierra and I watched a kind of dumb movie. 

Dinner was Chinese! One of my favorites. 

Meanwhile in Utah the girls went to a “international women’s celebration”

So fun

We always have the best time with Val and Ryan (and any of my siblings actually). 

Today was a great one. 

We rode lots of rides, walked over 9 miles, ate some yummy food, talked a lot. 

I wish they lived close!