3/23/2020 Covid is affecting everyone!

Dear family,

                In these crazy times, I feel compelled to share the sad, raw us to start with.  I am doing this simply as a remembrance of how the COVID scare is affecting our family. 

I am working from home more.  As I listened to my regional managers give a pep talk I was making lunch in the kitchen.  Adriel was trying to talk to me but I did not look.  Finally, I registered that Adriel was talking to me when I heard, “You’re mean.”  I asked, “What?”  She then said, “You weren’t listening and I said I love you.”  Oh dear – apologies weren’t enough and I felt sad.  I had missed an opportunity to show my 18-year-old love.  That she felt hurt tore me up deep inside.

We are seeing a lot more of Adriel because she is going in to work early to cover for the sick.  I enjoy her company and bright spirit.  She also spent some time on Sunday afternoon with us. 

I enjoy teaching Adriel’s boyfriend to drive.  I have to relate a story simply because it epitomizes our times.  He mentioned that he did find toilet paper for sale at $2.65 for one roll.  He wistfully said, “I almost bought it but it was one ply.”  We had to laugh because being overpriced was one thing.  Being overpriced and HORRIBLE quality – well, that was going too far.

My job is to help businesses grow.  I truly believe in what I do and know I can help.  Right now I face many distraught business owners.  “Why would I sign up for your help when I don’t know if I will be open next month?”  “I just fired people.”  “All of our offices are closing next week.”  Their pain is real it hit me hard Thursday.  Thank goodness my job is amazingly innovative.  Getting businesses online with free set up and three months free is our newest way to help.  I am so glad to work for an ethical, upright, good company.

Seth and I were talking about my concern for my parents in Kirkland.  He asked, “Well, what do they do?”  When I told him my mother works in a daycare and my dad drives Uber Seth was resigned.  “Oh, they’re gone.”  I was incredulous and tried to downplay.  He insisted, “A daycare is the fastest way to spread germs.”  Ugh, and the kids wonder why I cry. 

I did have to tell my dad Seth’s prediction of their early demise.  He laughed and thinks Seth is hilarious.  The irony and bluntness are too much not to laugh at.  Better to laugh then cry right?  Last time I called my dad I started with, “Oh, good, you are alive.”

Seth was accepted into the C-Tech Drone program!  We are excited and this is the only thing holding me back from enrolling him in an online school. Seth mowed the lawn and has been doing dishes.  He was the only one home last week for the most part.

Seth is not impressed that Bobby and I go outside to play Pokémon Go.  “You don’t have to catch them all!”

Bobby had some people over last Tuesday and canceled Youth Group because of the 10 people or fewer rules.  He is bending over backward trying to figure out how to meet the needs of students while obeying the law.  He can’t have youth group or Sunday School for a while this is very hard.  I enjoyed playing a board game with a church family, that was one way to be with people.  Please pray for us as we all may find the future of staying in place, not going out, very hard to bear.

I enjoy walking with Bobby.  I am leaning on him for support.  May we grow stronger as the days grow harder.

I was spraying Koppor on my trees and noticed how easy it was to spray my pruned tree.  It hit me that pruning is what God does to us and is doing to us now.  The feeling of loss and pain is real.  The future growth and beauty will be more real, wonderful and amazing.  May we weather the storm.  May we grow stronger.  May we be resilient and may we find strength in each other and our Lord.

Much love,

Cristy