Covid-19

It sure is an interesting time in our lives right now.  On March 13 the kids came home and said they wouldn't be going back to school until April 10th.  There had been a virus spreading throughout the world named Corona.  We hadn't been too worried about it because it seemed like a bad cold especially for everyone in the age groups in our immediate family.  It was weird. We wondered why they wouldn't hold school for so long. 
As we learned more about the virus we started to understand how easily the virus was spread and how long before symptoms start showing up after infected.  It started to make sense of why they were trying to keep large groups from getting together.
After they started closing schools and telling us to not get together in groups more than 10 people started to loose their minds.  The grocery stores were being ravaged especially toilet paper, hand sanitizer, hand soap and things like meat and eggs. Even though we had some food storage it started to even make Mike and I nervous that we didn't have enough. 
It has been interesting having the kids home everyday. They do online school Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.  Our kids have done well adapting to the school change.  I think they miss the social aspect but I also think they have liked having some room to make their own schedules when it comes to learning.
All other activities have been canceled as well.  Noah's volleyball tournament, indoor soccer, spring soccer has been pushed back and may be canceled, academic bowls, work trips for Mike, guitar, any church meetings and activities and Mike can only be at his office once a week.  Essentially our lives have come to a halt.  There are people that are having a hard time without all the activities running ut I have found that it has been a respite our family has needed.  We have had time to play together, teach things, do projects, deep clean and just see each other. We also have been able to hold church at home with our kids and it has been pretty great. 
There are well over a million cases in the world now.  With over 60,000 deaths.  The hospitals are overrun as well as the morgues.  There isn't enough protective equipment for out healthcare workers and there aren't enough respirators available for the sick. Body bags are being keep in large cooling trucks.  It is sad and scary when we think about those age groups that are at higher risk if they get it. 
We are so glad we understand that God is in charge, if we are prepared we don't have to worry and  we can pray to Him and trust Him. 
On March 2 the governor of Indiana closed Indiana schools for the rest of the year. There were some mixed feelings among our kids as well as my own. There are many things that will be missed like sports, prom, academic bowls, recognition assemblies, parties, friends and teachers but we are trying to see this as a blessing of time.  Time to do the things that we didn't have time to do during normal life.
Just so I never forget I want to add a list of things happening right now April 2, 20202
*Gas prices by us are $1.72
*School canceled for the rest of the year
*Schools trying to still run school and make sure kids who need food have it during the day
*Tape on the floors at grocery stores to help keep people 6 ft apart
*Limited number of people in certain stores allowed making long lines outside of the stores
*Nonessential stores and businesses mandated closed
*Eating inside a restaurant not allowed
*NCAA basketball tournament canceled
*MLB postponed indefinitely
*Entire sports seasons canceled
*Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events canceled
*Disney closed
*Weddings,family celebrations, holiday gatherings canceled
*Families having to choose only 10 people to come to funerals, people watching funerals live from parking lots
*All churches closed, we are holding it in families, at home
*Children's parks are closed
*Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for healthcare workers
*Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill
*Panic buying and hoarding causing shortages in grocery stores
*Limits on things such as water bottles, toilet paper, meat ect
*Manufactures, distilleries and other businesses switching their lines to help make masks, hand sanitizer ect
*Government closes the border to all non-essential travel
*Government tells all Americans in other countries to come home or they will have to stay there for an undetermined time.  Missionaries all over the world are sent home to quarantine for two weeks and then either released or sent to a state side mission.  Missionaries with any health concern are sent home and released. 
*Temples are closed
*Stadiums and recreation facilities are opened up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients
*Navy ships are sent to NY and California to help with patients
*Press conferences daily by President Trump
*Government mandates to stay home
*Barely anyone on the roads, Chicago is like a ghost town.
*People wearing masks and gloves when out
*Essential workers are scared to go to work and afraid they will bring it home to their families
*Millions have lost their jobs
*The economy is hurting bad and businesses are closing their doors forever

We've learned a lot during this time.  We think more about the future and how to live our lives. We think about how to always be prepared and to never take the things we have for granted.  We think about those suffering because of illness, loss of job and other hardship. And we count our blessings during this time.  We have food, a secure job, space for our kids to run and play away from others, savings, and smart kids that can learn on their own. 
 I wonder what 2021 will be like at this time next year?  Will we have changed anything?  How will the world be?  How will it recover from this pandemic?