Odd Time in History

Since this a family journal and intended to be read years from now, it seems best to share a bit of this odd time in history in which we find ourselves.  Some say the CoVid 19 virus/ pandemic is a media-created hoax. Others say it's very, very serious. We are doing our best to navigate through the maze with faith, love, and wisdom (2 Timothy 1:7) and without fear.

Monday I met a friend. We were the ONLY ones at the restaurant for much of our meal.  I worry for those who work in these industries.

Michael was across town meeting with a young man.

We both felt peace in continuing with our plans to meet and felt they were God-planned meetings.

I headed to Fred Myers and Carrs after our breakfast. I had to pick up meds for Dad. I'm not sure why Healthnet has all his meds as 30 days - but this results in frequent trips for meds. I took advantage of being out to try to hunt down sanitizer, soap, beans, vitamins, zinc, and flour.

Well...shew...I did get some kleenex, no sanitizer, flour or vitamins to be found anywhere. I looked for bleach, alcohol - you know anything to make disinfectant. All sold out. Vodka was gone. Michael called and said he would go to Walmart and look for the items I couldn't find in our town. I don't usually worry about sanitizer as we wash with soap - but soap is another item impossible to find right now....

I have been on the look out to give out coffee cards to harried grocery store stockers  and cashiers. I saw one poor girl crouched and cringing as she tried to clean an empty shelf. Customers were very rude and spewing their anger at the lack of product on HER. We are BETTER THAN THIS people! It was my joy to stoop down next to her and speak words of affirmation and encouragement. Let's look for chances to be salt and light. Let's look for opportunities to be different in the midst of the panic.

While I was out I heard all bars, restaurants and gyms were closed in Anchorage. They are still open here.  The recommendation was still not to gather in groups more than 50. None of us did.

I was finally DONE. I KNEW I was done when I discovered Matzos and green tea in my cart. I used to buy Matzos for Mom G when I shopped for her at Safeway.... I was in Safeway/Carrs on autopilot.

Our mayor or Borough is asking businesses to stay open...but with things as slow as they are I am guessing many will be shutting...and if we follow Anchorage's lead it will be a ghost town downtown soon.

I came home and made dinner.  After dinner I brought out a gift for the family.

Krista divided some out for everyone who was going to play Farkle.  I abstained. The slower evenings are giving us much more time to connect as a family.  

Michael wasn't able to find hand sanitizer, bleach or alcohol...but he found Listerine. I wondered why all the mouthwash was gone in our town....now we have fresh smelling hands. Saving the strong stuff for when we're out and about. Using Clorox wipes around here OFTEN and our minty fresh home made sanitizer. I don't think it is doing much...but oh well.

Here's a recap of the way we spent the first day in isolation....

Michael and I carried on with ministry - to others and family.

The boys came home early - business is slow at McDonalds.

Stacia continues to rest and recuperate.

G Dog continues to read, visit and rest.

Krista fielded various emails from work and read.

I got Stacia and Alex's 3rd quarter work samples turned in to our charter school.

This evening President Trump announced national guidelines in dealing with the pandemic for the next 15 days....you can read them here.  Since this may be read by our descendants long after the website is down...here's a summary.

Just like that the whole country is encouraged to school and work at home.  Now some are saying these are not "rules" for local states....but seriously? I would guess in most states they WILL be rules within days, if they aren't already.

The big one for us is avoiding groups of more than 10 for the next 2 weeks. This means we  will go from being out every week night to being home - and that's got some positives too.

I am praying these measures "flatten the curve."

Grandpa and Cory Get Older

(I am writing this on Tuesday and am surprised already at how fast things keep changing in regards to Covid-19.)

Today (Sunday) G Dog turns 79. Cory turned 27 on Friday, the 13th.  We planned a dinner/dessert time at our house for this evening. 

Talk of self-distancing ratcheted up this weekend. Other states are imposing restrictions on the size of gatherings. Alaska isn't, yet...but Borough buildings and schools will be closed.  We know Dad is high risk and he has been staying at home. We are disinfecting often.  

We decided to go ahead with our birthday plans. Dad has been isolated all week and is always thrilled when family visits. He loves visiting with his grandkids - but really gets a kick out of the great grandkids. 

Benny flung the door open and said, "Hello!!!" and then brought GG the card he had made for him. 

Benny & GG

As the afternoon went on, Benny came to me and said, "I Looove us." I told him I love us too. ::grin::

Dad wears the old Party Animal hat. 

Michael, Benny, Josiah and GG

Y'all treat the employees at grocery stores NICE. They are tired. They are facing the same stress you are, and are working in the stress as well. We were thrilled to have Cory join us.  

Benny & Cory

 Stacia played Sonatina by Clementi for Grandpa. She did a great job. I think she may have gone further than any of the others in their lessons. Michael says she's about ready for him to have to pass her off to another teacher.

Benny was the gift and card runner. Here he has barricaded GG. 

Michael made an oak fishing pole holder for Cory. 

And this, THIS, is not social distancing. This happened before I had time to stop it..I guess the germs are shared now.

GG and Cory

We enjoyed visiting and catching up with each other. We discussed news and heard that the CDC had recommended no groups over 50 meet. We knew that meant some upcoming changes.

Social Distancing at it's Best

We are a family which lives in close proximity to each other. We have a couple of high risk members. Note, neither are with us on this adventure.  We took our contact with each other out into nature. No one else came into contact with us. It was a GREAT lift to our spirits and a reminder time will pass and spring will arrive...The sun was AMAZING today! 

Any day which begins with moose in the yard and thieves oil difussing in the living room has to be good.

 Note - "someone" keeps turning the diffuser off. I've questioned all and scrutinized when it gets turned off...seems Grandpa may not like the thieves oil. 

Arielle had a meeting to attend today. I stopped by to play with Benny. He began the morning by displaying a yoga stretch for me.

He helpfully assisted with the eating of my homemade, sugar-free, cinnamon roll. My tea was safe. 

At some point in the day he wanted to watch Curious George. I cannot figure out how to make their TV work....but I did figure out how to make popcorn. Baachan score!  He was content to sit in front of the quiet screen with popcorn.  I consider it a win win.

Kimber alerted Benny to strangers outside. See him peeking out on the other side of Kimber. I checked it out - maybe another moose? 

No it was "UNCLES....and yay-ya and co-co." We decided to let them in. Benny outfitted everyone with a reading book. All is well. Note the social distancing in spacing of individuals.

While Arielle was at her meeting, these had picked up Alex from work with the plan  I'd shortly be available and we'd all go to Reflection Lake. This was my ONE spring break goal and it hadn't happened.

Unbeknownst to these 4, Josiah and Jamin had called to see what we were doing on this bright, sunny afternoon. They decided to meet us there.

Arielle got home and heard the plan and she and Benny joined us. Perfection. Not only did I get to walk around Reflection Lake...I got to do it with seven of the nine Gherkins, two grand dogs and one grand blessing. A win all the way around.

And THIS is what social distancing looked like today in Alaska...so nice to be OUT in nature...and yet, we were far away from others....and in fact...when this many people live in one home...there is contact. We just took the contact outside...we didn't come in contact with anyone besides ourselves...and it lifted all our spirits...because we are that sort of a family.

The lake is frozen...it's beautiful in any season. 

Nolan, Josiah, Me

 Benny alternated between insisting on BLAZING trails....

"Baachan - lets go this way!"
OK - LETS.  

Photo via Arielle 

...and being carried by various uncles. 

Benny and Uncle Axe

 As a side note - no one carried Baachan at all. 

There is a little "island" in the middle of the lake that has needed exploring. Today was the right day to get to it...nothing spectacular as it turns out. LOL Note the spacing of individuals....close but safe.

Josiah, Krista, Stacia and Cody is to the right

We checked out some "ice fishing holes" and discovered they were NOT ice fishing holes...the ice is melting out here in the middle of the lake...water was bubbling up.....

Coooo-DEEE! He loves the snow. 

My favorite Horgi - it's a thing - check it out

  

Stacia and Cody 

Arielle and Kimber

 Some of the crew - notice the skill it took to get not even ONE face looking at the camera with a group this size. LOL 

Arielle, Benny, Krista, Nolan, Alex, Jamin 

Photo via Krista 

 At the END of the hike, Benny pulled this out of his pocket...He carried it from home, on the ride, along the lake....His timing of the revelation reveals a strategist? 

Finally Spring Break Friday

Except  Krista heard  this isn't the last day of spring break at all. It had been extended a week. Later she heard staff is to report to work.

Alaska has it's first case of covid 19....a cargo airplane pilot who  I've heard either "went directly to the hospital for  testing," or "walked around the community for 2 days before going in for testing." I choose option 1.

Unfortunately,  Stacia is fighting a cold. Dad said he had a sore throat. My antibiotics are still not kicking in as expected. I texted Bre and she and Izaak opted not to have me watch the kids tonight.

I spent some time considering the peace with which God graces believers. I opened New Morning Mercies; it was ALL about trusting God to rule even when life isn't going as expected. Timely.

I was on the Elliptical when I heard all the Burrough (county) buildings would be closed for the rest of the month. This includes meeting rooms, courthouses, pool and THE LIBRARY. I added a trip to the library to my tasks for the day.

Krista offered to run a few of the errands for me. She took boxes to Bishop's Attic, took Amazon returns to the UPS store and went to the library for books for her and Stacia.

I headed to Fred Myers. We are well stocked with food due to my "prepper" tendencies since living through the food/power disruption after the 2011 Tsunami/Quake in Japan. I needed to pick up fresh produce, ingredients to make two ice cream cakes (Cory and Dad's birthdays), cards, and pizzas.

It is  easy for supply disruption to occur in Alaska. I would think more people would have had basics on hand...however...it would appear not. It was CRAZY in here....flour, soups, veggies all gone....If we have a supply problem it will be because folks are going crazy buying toilet paper, soap etc. One man is reported to have ordered a 12 year supply of toilet paper. Yes, 12 years. Why? It'll keep - I guess. I would simply wait until AFTER this crisis to put that much demand on the supply. Ah well....the stories I heard were stunning.

I arrived in the library with less than 10 minutes until it is closed for the month. I opened my bag, and slid a dozen mystery books from the shelf into it. The librarian laughed. I'm prepared.

 I love this neighborhood flock of turkeys. Note the sign "No Trespassing or Hunting." These birds know just where to hang out. LOL

We moved a dresser into the girls' room. Krista can finally get her things put away the way she'd like them. I'm not sure why it took us months to realize we could bring Dad's extra dresser inside. We still have a trailer of furniture to unload - but it will have to wait for the spring.

We were playing games when we heard all schools in the state of Alaska will be closed at least until April. Just like that homeschooling becomes the norm.

This is how we play Farkle when there are germs in the house....

Stacia, Nolan, Alex, GG, Krista 

 Every person had their own set of dice...I sanitized them all after the game was over. Nolan pulled his typical sneak attack with a final roll of over 5,000 and won.

The boys went to bed as they have work in the a.m. Dad, the girls and I watched a few shows. 

All in all it was a good day in Alaska. 

God is still on the throne!

God is God even in the midst of new virus'.

I spent some time today considering His creativity, His rhythm of rest, work, solitude, community, and how that might apply to the way I make a home....I also pondered what it would mean to live incarnationally as the body of Christ.  I was thinking some of these thoughts when I checked my mirror and saw an amazing array of mountains in the mirror. I was on a side road with no traffic. I stopped and enjoyed the view.

It's good in the midst of uncertainties and busy-ness to simply stop and let God take your breath away.

Thoroughly Frustrating Spring Break Thursday

Not for me. It's been a fairly relaxed and productive day for me.

But for KRISTA....I'd say frustrating fits the bill. She needs to send some paperwork to the big poobahs in the Air Force. It should have been easy from home with various connections - but it wasn't. She went to the Recruiting office in Wasilla, hoping to avoid a trip to Anchorage. It didn't work. She had to drive to base to email reports to the grand poohbahs of the Air Force.

She has been trying to get a schedule for an event in which one of our youth is participating. As she got home they texted they'd changed the schedule and our youth needed to be in Anchorage late tonight, rather than tomorrow. WHUT? Poor thing. She picked up Alex and Stacia, and headed to pick up Jesse and go back to Anchorage. Communication seems key in so many spheres of life. LOL

Ah well - she DID run into a 75% off on polish pottery and picked up a few things for me.

Michael is at Man Camp this weekend. 

Alex and Stacia were busy with school today.

Dad slept most the day. He says he doesn't feel well, but isn't quite sure what doesn't feel well.

I had a roast in the instant pot but when it was time to eat no one was here but Dad and me.  ::snort::  Nolan put in another 12+ hour day. Dad said the roast was wonderful - so his appetite is o.k.

I took advantage of full access to our room to clean out our closet. I didn't take a before shot - I should have. Since we didn't have use of much of the downstairs storage when we moved in - things kept getting stacked in our closet. I took out a bag of garbage and have a nice stack of boxes ready for the thrift store.

This is not the most convenient closet. We really need to do some brainstorming about making it better. It is clean now...but LOOK how high the shelf is....and there is no space for long hanging things like uniforms and dresses.

I NEED that stool to reach the top rack of clothes

 The perspective is off in the photo,  but this is HIGH.  I used the stool to hang the bags out of the way - there is NO WAY my robe was going on that hook. LOL

The chickens are settled in for the night.

This gal is determined to brood....

Meanwhile - in Anchorage....these kids gear up for Jesse to participate in Fine Arts 2020 through the Assembly of God.

Stacia, Alex, Jesse, Krista in front 

This is a new fixture outside the sanctuary. There is also sanitizer and spray to clean phones inside the sanctuary.

Before the kids hit the highway to come back to the valley they stopped at Panda Express. They arrived just as the lobby was closing and were given a ton of food. They ate in the car and jetted for home.