When the Whole World Shut Down

It has been a strange last few months, to put it lightly. The entire world has been affected by a pandemic of the virus Covid-19. A week before spring break, they shut down all of the schools and many offices and stores. Church was canceled. It was supposed to be for a few weeks to keep people apart and slow the spread of the virus. Well, it has been a few months now and we have not gone back in person to school and won't until next school year (if then...). You have to wear masks in public and social distance (stay 6 feet apart). 

I was working at the middle school as an academic focus teacher. That ended abruptly in March. Here is my empty classroom.

Brooke turned 16. We celebrated at home, where we spend a lot of time lately. She handled it like a champ. And several of our church friends did a "drive-by" birthday celebration for her. There were signs and balloons. What a strange time we are living through.

We have spent a lot of time together in the great outdoors. We can have our masks off as long as we aren't around other people that are not part of our bubble. As strange as this has all been, it has been pretty great to spend so much time with our growing kids. I am grateful for that, even if it has been forced togetherness. 

Garrett had a birthday as well. He had his dinner with dad on the back patio. At least restaurants were open for take-out at this point. No dining in. 

He also "finished" elementary school. There was no graduation, but they did deliver cool yard signs to every kid. That way it felt like something happened. 

Otherwise, we have been at home or in the mountains. We had to cancel our planned trip to Hawaii with my family this summer. It is not clear at this point how long things will be somewhat shut down or how far this virus will spread. But we are doing fine, all things considered. And we know that is not the case for everyone around the world. 

So we will keep smiling through it.