Although I have written about the Covid pandemic since it started in earnest in the US and therefore in our lives, I decided to accept the challenge issued at RootsTech and write about the pandemic specifically on: how you lived, who you loved, and what you learned.
Like most Americans, I watched the news related to the emerging Covid-19 virus in Asia with concern for the people there and the loss of life, but really didn't consider that it would rise to a worldwide pandemic. Over the past decade or two, there had been warning and outbreaks of illnesses in other parts of the world but they never "materialized" as a worldwide pandemic for a variety of reasons. I assumed that this would be the same. Of course, due to travel, the illness would come to the US but it would be dealt with and life would proceed....which it did until everything stopped--the unfolding of the restrictions and the changes in our lives have been dealt with in the blog for 2020.
How we lived:
Gary, Jena and I were at our home in Syracuse, Utah. Jessica and family in Magna, Utah; Scott and family in Oro Valley, AZ; Ben nearby in Layton, UT; and Tosha and family in Tacoma, WA.
Jena's BYU program closed as the campus closed and also her workplace of the RUSH and all other activities that she was involved in. She went from a full and meaningful life to be home 100% of the time. So little was known about the virus that we were very cautious about going out anywhere because of our concern for her. She has been amazing, but I know that she really misses her "old" life. She uses zoom for meetings and interactions with friends, spends time writing and making cards for family and friends, and she helps round the house more than she ever has in the past. During the spring and summer when I was still working, she did almost all of the laundry each week. Now we both do it on Saturday- our P-day.
Many of Ben's activities were also closed but he continued to work 2 hours a day in cleaning at the CRU. That made me nervous due to his asthma and other risk factors but felt it was more important for him to be out of the house every day and have a bit of structure, so I kept my worries from him. He wore a mask but never seemed over concerned about things. I began taking him grocery shopping once a week in addition to him coming to dinner each Sunday. I think that Davis Behavioral Health did a good job in supporting Ben during this uncertain time.
We received our mission call and began serving our mission from home in the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission in the Church History Library.
Gary continued to interact with his mom because she was living alone, but was very cautious about going anywhere else especially during the first several months. I didn't visit my dad for over three months to avoid carrying the virus to him as we were very concerned about his heart at that time.
We had limited interactions with Jessica and her family since Jessica had to work and interacted with lots of people who may or may not have been following good practices. We did do some outside activities during the summer.
We were lucky that all of our kids were able to continue to work in their jobs--with some changes in their schedules and with masks and social distancing. It was good to not have to worry about the financial strain that many people had to deal with.
Despite Covid, I did make some trips--one to surprise Tosha for her birthday (although that trip was changed from a road trip with stops on the way with friends to flying there and back.), to AZ for my brother-in-law's passing (not from Covid), another trip to Washington in September, and then to Amarillo, Tx to gather with my siblings. There were also two cancelled trip to Oro Valley in the middle of those trips due to the loss of Gary's mom as well as my brother-in-law's death. Luckily Scott and Chantel did make a trip in the summer and we got to spent time with them at Willard Bay. We cancelled our big Oregon and Northern California RV trip that we had planned for July. And we also cancelled a trip to Virginia for my niece's wedding.
My work went from in person counseling at Layton Family Services Office to tele-therapy from my basement---you have to love the commute but I didn't love teletherapy although I think it was workable and helpful to my clients. And I actually missed my commute as I had used it to transition from work to home. Took me a while to adapt to that change.
We were fortunate to have food and toilet paper so didn't need to worry about the first rush on the stores. We had some disposable masks stored, but had no trouble getting masks when that became the mandate. We started ordering groceries strictly online which still continues. It has its good points and bad points but it is very convenient so I am likely to continue that in the future. We have also kept Amazon busy for other needed items.
Having Sacrament at home was a sacred privilege never to be forgotten. Yearning to go to Church, to shake hands and to hug each other, to serve in person, is also a feeling to not be forgotten. And the temple--how I want to be there--what a waste of months and years when life seemed too busy to fit it in regularly.
We really have not gone many public places since the pandemic started even as things began to open up. Not because we felt afraid, but more because of the uncertainty of the virus especially early on and the sense that we wanted to be available if we were needed--specifically I was concerned about Gary's mom, my dad, and Carter who seemed to be struggling so much with breathing and lung issues.
I decided to work on getting more healthy during this time and lost about 30 lbs, and walked an hour many days a week. I read more books (what a sacrifice for me-right?) and watched a lot more TV. We started Friday Night Movie night which has been a fun tradition for all of us.
Who we loved:
Well, each other and all of the people mentioned above. And sweet, smiley Ezri Jo who joined our family in December--one of the best gifts of 2020.
In addition, I tried to be more intentional in my ministering assignments in reaching out to those sisters during this time to make sure they were doing okay. I also began to do that with my friends, far and close, including making phone calls from time to time.
We joined together in Zoom meetings to celebrate my dad's birthday and later with extended family for the Owen Reunion and later with our first cousins in September--loving each other in new ways.
How I miss our friends--we have done some unplanned and planned porch visits--but life has moved on without seeing and being with them. Friends are the bonus of life and they add so much to the enjoyment of it. I can't wait to laugh with them again.
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| Porch visit supplies at Kevin and Jolie Watson's |
What I have learned:
1. I knew the Church was true before--but hello, world--look at the ways we were prepared over the past several years by policy and procedurals changes plus the directions to becoming spiritually stronger. It is amazing to see. I wrote a post about that last year.
2. If I was going to be stuck inside with anyone, I want it to be Gary--now and forever. He makes life fun and meaningful and he makes me feel better than I am. Jena is a bonus--she is so patient and makes us laugh!
3. I can do hard things. When we first had to start working from home, we thought it would be for a month or so. I think we all expected things to resolve quite quickly at first, but it dragged on and the world was in commotion over many things not just the virus. We just kept living our lives and figuring things out a day at a time. Perhaps we have been over cautious, maybe not enough, but I feel good about how we have managed things so far.
4. I miss my PEOPLE! The sense of coming and going in each other's lives in a natural ways, the meeting for lunch, the gathering together to party, the Sunday walk visits--the list goes on. Not very often, but some days--it seemed too much to sacrifice--I just wanted to run to Michelle's for an afternoon chat or head to Cafe Rio for lunch with Laurie--throwing all caution to the wind, as they say. I probably could have done those things and been fine, but we were trying to be good citizens and make solid decisions and avoid risk to ourselves and others--so IF we did get sick with the Covid-19, we knew we had done our best to prevent it.
5. I have learned that as humans we have not changed much since the time of the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. I studied about that pandemic to learn about ours and realized that humans reacted in much the same ways back then. Our "growth in scientific knowledge" has not changed our human nature at all. We just know more about the reasons for the virus. Back then, viruses couldn't even be seen in microscopes of the day. That insight removed one of the errors in my thinking that life was harder back then--to be good, follow the gospel, etc. I mean I knew that I wouldn't have been a great pioneer! But I realized that every time period of the world's existence has been and will always be a proving ground for God's children--each one has the needed experiences to mold and change us to do better. The one advantage we have today is that we are part of the restoring of ALL things and ALL truth and we know that it will never again be removed from the earth until Christ comes again. However, the tasks remains the same--each one of us changing toward God and His Will for us. I have learned to be more diligently involved in that personal change with or without a pandemic.
6. On the flip side, people are creative and amazing--sewing millions of masks, singing out their windows to their neighbors during lock downs, neighborhood scavenger hunts, and Zoom games and gettogethers. And medical workers of all kinds---truly awe inspiring! And the teachers...and the parents teaching their kids at home....the heroes list is long!
7. I learned (or was reminded) that when you are prepared, you shall not fear.
8. The power of gratitude to help manage life is unmeasurable and real!
9. One of the meme related to the pandemic which spoke to me was : We are all in the storm, but our boats are not the same. We were blessed to have an easier boat to row than many others. Hopefully during this time, we have helped those around us row a bit easier as well.
And there you have it--my Covid-19 pandemic post! Hopefully not one of you who ever reads this will have to live in a worldwide pandemic with quarantines, mask wearing, social distancing, and uncertainty on a global scale---
but you will face something, many things so----
Follow the living prophet and stay close to God and Christ.
Love the people in your family and your circle of influence and have compassion and kindness for everyone else on the planet.
You can do hard things.
Be prepared--physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Be grateful.
