Easter

 Church online while kids colored Easter pictures

Covid-19 Changes Our World

On March 9th we were walking home from school in the sun...

On Saturday, March 14th we had snow!

What happened next was even more crazy!  Beginning March 16th, schools across Washington state were closed due to the rising spread of Covid-19 or Coronavirus - a severe flu-like, respiratory virus. The entire United States and world were affected.  Stores here sold out of toilet paper, paper towels, tissues and other staples as people began to hoard.  Stores like Winco and Costco began limiting the number of people who could enter at one time so I stood in a line outside Winco for 20 minutes to get in.  Social distancing of 6ft was encouraged to slow the spread of the virus.  All people in Washington were ordered to "shelter-in-place" till April.  Then Governor Inslee extended it to May 4th.  Parks were closed in addition to churches, campgrounds, hiking trails, restaurants, hotels, movies and malls. Many, many people were laid off.  All Washington and Oregon schools were closed for the rest of the year and all students began Distance Learning from home.   

 In our family, our new niece, Francesca was born and we met her on FaceTime.  Joey continued working and the kids did lessons from 8:00-noon.  I spent the morning teaching my own children and afternoons preparing lessons for my 3rd grade students and checking in with school stuff.  The kids were bummed about so many things that will not happen in the coming months: trips, sports, friend's birthdays, school activities & even being able to celebrate Easter at church.  

We did find ways to make best of things by going on evening family walks, FaceTiming with family and friends, watching church online and I'd even say there was a greater level of sibling bonding.  Example #1 They all had sleepovers. #2 They made Ninja Warrior courses in the backyard. #3 Micah looked up "annoying songs" and danced around the siblings to "I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain.

 We all just hope and pray Coronavirus goes away soon.

St. Patrick's Day- our last family gathering