Mid March, our life (and all those around us) came to a screeching halt. Thanks to the Coronavirus making its way across the US, the state of IL was ordered to Shelter in Place by our governor. We went from having track practices & meets, volleyball tournaments & practices, band & choir concerts, church services & meetings and numerous school meetings/rehearsals filling up the calendar to absolutely nothing! It was surreal. Everything was cancelled/postponed for a few weeks, including school. It coincided with Spring Break so the schools just called them "Act of God" days and they wouldn't need to be made up at the end of the year.
Matt & I continued to work. We learned a new normal with face masks, constant use of hand sanitizer, spraying down everything that we could touch and hand washing (more so than we were accustomed to). It included changing our outfits as soon as we came home in effort to eliminate cross contamination. We considered it a blessing that we were able to continue working and receive a paycheck. So many people weren't able to do so.
By mid April, the kids were involved in E-Learning and adjusting well (as well as could be expected). They really missed their friends and teachers, school in general. At this point, most things were closed down. We soon learned that school would not be meeting in person again. There would be no high school graduation (for Kaitee), no 8th grade recognition (Maddie & Will), no end of the year celebrations (yearbook signings, senior skip day, trip to Adventureland, etc, etc). The cancellations far outweighed everything else. No birthday parties for Alex and Kaitee, no anniversary getaway for Matt & I. No Cubs games to watch on TV...we were supposed to go to a game on Mother's Day. Cancelled!
We have adjusted okay as a family. We all have our moments of "missing normal". Some of us more than others. We miss our extended family, we miss hugs from friends, eating out, shopping, libraries, theaters, haircuts, school activities. We are thankful for our health and that our finances weren't affected too much. We are thankful for the nice(r) weather during the majority of this quarantine, allowing us to be outside.
We took pictures of many things to help document our time in quarantine. We don't want to forget what we had to go through. Hopefully this blog post will help us to remember in years to come. Remember the isolation, the hard times, the joy, the laughs, the special time that we were forced to slow down and enjoy each other - because that is all we had.
March, April & May in the Midwest - Could be 80° one day and snowing the next. And yes, it did that a few times!
This was the first time that Matt got "marked" at work. This shows that he was a visitor, but allowed to be in the facility. When he arrived at a facility, he would often have his temp taken and asked the typical "Covid" questions before they would allow him entrance.
We never thought we would see the day that our church would close its doors. We are so thankful for the technology that is available today - we were able to watch the service every week, live or "replayed" on our own schedule.
We quickly learned how to do Zoom meetings. Matt is a part of an accountability group that meets every Sunday afternoon. Because of Covid, they started having weekly Zoom meetings. Because the topics of discussion are often confidential, Matt wanted to find a private space. In our small house, that is easier said than done. He got creative and set up the van for his meetings!
Matt's getting creative for his meetings. Trying hard to enjoy the nice days when they come along! Notice the laptop with a cardboard box trying to eliminate some of the glare.
Will adopted a new "pet"...
We celebrated Easter by ourselves this year. No big, celebratory church service, no extended family Easter Dinner, No Easter Egg Hunt. I am thankful that we don't need any of those things to celebrate the greatest moment in History! Thank you Jesus for the Cross!!
We enjoyed a Zoom meet with family at the end of our Easter day. We read some Bible verses, sang a few songs and shared a lot of laughs.
Matt received this cross from his grandfather's collection of church items (he was a pastor). He asked a friend to restore it - we were able to use it for our Easter celebrations. Matt had to make due with what he could find around the house, but the colors represent our lives before and after the sacrifice performed on the cross.
The kids asked for Chick-fil-A chicken instead of a big traditional meal. That worked for me!
Enjoying the beauty of Spring...
Remember what I mentioned in regards to Midwest weather? This is snow...in mid April. My poor tulips..
Just a few days later, we were out back enjoying a great afternoon. The kids asked if they could burn their old school paperwork.
Kaitee - this is never a good way to add papers to the fire!!
We also enjoyed many family games and puzzles!
One evening we ate a late dinner. We sat around the table, the kids were arguing about one thing or another (or all the above). I decided to ask them a "discussion" question. Something to get a conversation going. This time, my diversion worked. We sat and discussed childhood memories and trips we'd taken over the years. We soon got out the photo books and were laughing, remembering and thinking of days gone by. It was a wonderful evening!
We received some surprise cookies from a friend one evening! Happy birthday Alex!!
We have done many projects around the house. Nothing major, but lots of organizing & purging. I made a batch of blank note cards, twice.
2 van loads to Goodwill (this is the first round!)
I've been trying to figure out the best way to clean up this corner. I found a wooden, closed lid hamper to put the blankets in, then moved them to another room. I bought some shelves and glued them together to store the multiple Chromebooks, tablets and phones. It really worked out well!
Down time -
Maddie trying her hand at drawing
School - E-Learning, Home Version
Maddie & Will making their "Moo Masks" for IT Class. So much laughing!!
Kaitee & Alex worked on our "Heart Window" for one of their classes.
I was able to finish the project of scanning in Matt's Grandfather's sermons to the computer.
Pretty much the same message over the interstates every day - different wording, same message. Flatten the curve, Social distance, wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize, stay home, etc.
Once the CDC recommended facial coverings for everyone who goes out in the public arena, I ordered a face mask for each family member off of Etsy. I have had to use mine every day at work and when I go to get groceries. Here I am at the hospital, while Kaitee is getting her Iron transfusion. So thankful for the nurses and staff who worked through all of this for the infusions and chemo treatments that needed to be performed, even amid a pandemic! Side note - the infusions worked and Kaitee's numbers look great!
It felt like I went to HyVee and Aldi's every week - buying a full month's worth of groceries...only to run low (4 teenagers can eat a lot!!) and have to go again the next week!! So thankful that the grocery stores were open!
Celebrating birthdays - quarantine, social distancing style!
Haircuts - with the salons all closed, I had to do some basic cutting. I cut Maddie's hair early on in the quarantine. Here is Will's before & after. I'm so sorry to those who have to clean it up once the salons reopen.
Kaitee received this basket with some fun things from a family friend - celebrating her last month of high school.
We surprised some friends with basket of goodies...
Seeing the beauty within the ugly situation...
After 2 months of not seeing Dad on Saturday mornings, he started bringing donuts again! Brought tears to my eyes the first Saturday that he started up again.
We've learned a lot during this time, esp how important family and community is. We miss our friends and regular routines. Things are slowly starting to return TOWARDS normal. Took the kids to get their hair cut today. Celebrated the end of the school year by driving through Whiteys (still no walk in service). Parks are opening, some restaurants are seating inside again. Happy Day!
Be sure to read through our other posts about a few day trips we took during the quarantine, Alex's birthday and the "open yard" parties we held for Kaitee's birthday and graduation.
