March Madness

Well, nobody really knew what was coming in March. Except maybe the prophet! It's been a very crazy week or two. A sickness called a Corornavirus, or Covid-19 has been declared a pandemic. This virus started with lots of infected people in China and has moved to the United States and Canada now. It is spreading like wildfire, causing most businesses to shut down and people to be instructed to quarantine themselves at home, with very little if any visiting others. It is a respiratory illness, with symptoms of a common cold, but is most dangerous for older people or those with pre-existing health conditions. Myself and my kids would be just fine if we got this virus, but my parents or anyone older, and even Jeff have a higher risk. Jeff had pneumonia as a kid and has always had bad lungs. So he is a little worried about what would happen if he got it. 
 Anyways, this has changed life completely and is all very surreal. It seems we have always been told things like this would happen to the world in the scriptures, but it is so weird to actually be experiencing it. Today I just heard about an earthquake in Utah and locust swarming in East Africa. It seems lots is happening. I know that I will be okay no matter what happens because of the faith I have in Christ. I am so happy for my faith and everything I know to be true.
The hardest part for me right now is having to stay home with my kids and find things for them to do. I love going out and doing all the fun things with them but everything from play places, to the library, to the zoo, and even restaurants with seating have been shut down. Stores have been crazy busy as everyone is stocking up on food storage, in particular toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Those products are almost impossible to find, and even canned goods, pasta, and rice have been flying off the shelves. I made it to the store a couple of times and it was very weird to see some empty shelves. I truly believe the prophet knew what he was doing when he told us all to shift to a home based gospel study. Church has been cancelled, and we are all allowed to distribute the sacrament and encouraged to do lessons and things at home. It has been crazy! Schools are all cancelled and I am now trying to keep the kids busy without too much TV. 
I think that hardest thing to think about is all the things we are missing out on. Bentley and Deacon both had the best teachers ever, and were loving and thriving in school. It is so hard to think about them missing that. I also had a trip planned to Mexico with my friends Sarah, and Jeff and I were going to Arizona next month, which may have to be cancelled as well. I'm at the time in my life where I really wanted to squeeze in all the fun I could before possible having one more baby. But, who knows with what this world is becoming! The borders are closed now, so we are hoping they will open before it is cabin time. 
I'm trying to stay positive, and I honestly do feel very lucky. Jeff is working from home now, as most people are advised to do now. The markets are of course going down like crazy, but luckily he changed the way he invested not long ago, and has done better than the markets and all of his clients are happy. We still have an income and don't have to worry. The kids are safe and we get to spend more time together. We have family and friends who love and care about us. 
I think this is expected to peak in the summertime and my hope is that schools will open again in September, but nobody really knows. For now, I have been playing with the kids lots. We made a leprechaun trap and almost caught a leprechaun. Instead, he left us some goodies and a surprise in the bathroom. We did lots of other St. Patrick's day crafts, and made green pancakes. We've been doing workbooks and science experiments, games, and piano. I've been working out at home and the kids have been doing kids exercise videos and outside play. Bentley tells me she's bored a lot...but we are doing our best!! This first picture is how we are all trying to stay calm...haha!