And then last weekend, it came to a screeching halt. With the COVID-19 virus spreading rapidly, life here has rapidly changed. In one week's time, I have gone from teaching in front of a classroom children to trying to figure out how to work from home. I've NEVER (not since I was home with only one baby) contemplated working from home. It is NOT my jam.
It's scary, this unknown. I'm a planner. I cried when I looked in my calendar. I got a new calendar. One that wasn't already written in. It helped. Not seeing those best laid plans that weren't going to be. Reagan's birthday 5k that was cancelled, every single running club practice that wasn't going to happen, the Girl Scout meetings that wouldn't take place, church services that would only be online... it was too much.
We've planned a pretty awesome quarantine birthday for my nearly nine year old. We will still run a little race (maybe not quite a 5k since she's recovering from the flu...a whole other can of worms that happened this week), we have gifts that Amazon will be delivering to our doorstep, she wanted to go to Pinewood (our country club) for dinner, so I bought her favorite meal from there to recreate here at home. We will put a fancy tablecloth on the table, let the girls sip water from wine glasses, and sing happy birthday. It's not the birthday we had planned, but my girl had already given her birthday to raising money for others through her 5k, I hope that she will let us spoil a little.
This morning was our first morning of this new normal. Last week Reagan was diagnosed with Flu A which she graciously shared with her Dad. I took sick leave from work Tuesday-Friday and worked on getting them well. Anna and I drank a lot of elderberry syrup and we stayed well. We aren't now... I read the articles about it not being friends with the new virus. Today we were homeschooling and remote working.
I woke up early, blared worship music, got everyone dressed, made breakfast. I had scheduled our day because David went in to his office today and I was working from home. The girls stayed on schedule until 9:30. It was harder than I thought, it wasn't peaceful, but we all survived. Tomorrow is a new day. It's predicted to rain and be chilly again, but by Friday the sun should come out. We will pray and appreciate this time together. I can't fix this, but I can lead by example for my girls. They don't seem phased at all yet. I'm so glad they have each other to pal around with. But my heart hurts. It hurts for time missed with my class. It hurts for the sick. It hurts for the sweet milestones my girls will miss at school and with their classmates. It hurts because I am fearful. It just plain hurts.
Romans 12:12 hangs in our dining room. It is one of my favorite verses, and I'm claiming it as our quarantine verse. Hope, Patience, Prayer. Sending virtual hugs to all our friends.
