Oddly, for months now I have prayed that God opens up a window of time and a clear thought process for blogging/writing.  This is not exactly how I saw it all going down but when the opportunity presents itself…

So here we all are-self-quarantining, homeschooling, working remotely…moving back home from college sooner than planned, canceling vacations, and possibly postponing major milestones for our high school senior.  It’s a new normal and I don’t think anything or anyone could have prepared us, as a whole community, for what we are facing.  This morning as I watched Trippe as he listened to his morning message from his teacher I started to tear up.  Bless all of those in education who are doing such an amazing job making it possible for these kids to continue their learning.  It’s not just the math and history facts either- it’s the teachers across the board who are going above and beyond to check- in with their kids and make sue they are ok, have the food they need and the love that they give these kids on a daily basis in their classrooms.  I would also like to say there is a reason I no longer teach school…bet you didn’t know that little fun fact.  Yesterday was day 1 and there were tears, mine not theirs, but we all survived.  Check back later.

Also, our little college coed is now back home for the remainder of her freshman spring semester.  Big bummer for her and her peeps, but Frank and I are selfishly glad to have “Turner, Party of 5” back in the house.  This time last year I was trying to figure out how I would manage having two high school seniors back to back, now I’m trying to figure out if I can hold a small graduation for Julia in my backyard and skype family in over the internet if we don’t flatten this damn curve.  I know there are much more pressing and serious issues surrounding COVID-19- these just happen to be the things that our nuclear family is currently facing.  Everyone will have their COVID-19 stories to tell this time next year.

Not that my opinions or thoughts on this matter, and no one from CNN or Fox news is calling for comments, but I do think we will come out on the other side of this better than before.  As my wise younger sister noted this morning, our kids will probably be better for having gone through this and I tend to agree with her.  I think we will all have a greater appreciation for a simpler way of life…a simpler life with Netflix of course.

Stay in touch with your people.  Invite your girlfriends for a cocktail over face time.   For the kids: Skype with your friends or form a Google Hangout (whatever that is) for your lunch table peeps so you can bring something normal into your routine. Send a card or note in the mail to a resident at a local nursing home or assisted living facility.  Pray for those working on the front lines of this mess and pray for their families.  Check in with  your local community to see if there is something you can do to help while practicing good social distancing.  Support local businesses by ordering take out, online shopping or gift cards.  We will get to the other side of this, but only if we do it together.  #STAYHOME