When the World Stops Spinning . . .

Our busy schedules, that to-do list that I keep adding to, the grocery list that always gets filled to overflowing -- now we are back to basics of milk, bread, eggs, butter.

What do we have left when . . .

. . .the g'kids sporting events are canceled for the season?

. . . school activities are postponed or canceled?

 . . . trips for celebrations are canceled?

.. . . Concerts are canceled, theaters closed, March madness doesn't happen?

. . .and CHURCH is relegated to online services?

WE HAVE JESUS --

WE HAVE HIS STORY OF HOW HE BROUGHT HIS PEOPLE THROUGH PLAGUES, ECONOMIC DISASTERS, WARS.

After the Crucifixion, when the disciples thought they had lost it all, Jesus appeared to them on the road to Emmaus and retold the story of God.  GOD IS SOVEREIGN-- He is here and HE knows the end of this story.  The Word says - HE GOES BEFORE US.

Return to your first roots, sing the old Hymns, return to the Story-- reread the Bible Stories to your children -- see Jesus living in our moment now.

WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER

Is this a pre-retirement exercise to practice living off schedule -- spending days together -- uninterrupted by even a stop-by visitor?  It's a good thing that we're best friends and Terry doesn't often let me know how much I'm getting on his nerves!

When I sent my students out for Spring Break and the question came up as to whether or not we'd be coming back and resuming life as usual in room 130 -- I laughed it off -- saying "I'll see you back on March 23".  One girl asked for her lab fee back is school was closed for the remainder of the year.

Friday at noon 3/13 -I hurried to the airport to meet my lifelong friend, Charlene, flying in from St. Louis--

 Planning the next few days -- knowing we would head to Edmond on Saturday and celebrate Charlie's 3rd birthday.

Plans began to change quickly . . .
The friend Charlene was going to meet up with in Yukon, couldn't receive visitors because of a rare kidney condition she has

We were all housebound because of this virus and constant rain and drizzle, so we spent our time cuddling with little ones and questioning how bad this whole thing was going to get.  

Marshall was quite concerned about his dad's low immune system and he, Katie and Bethany gave us their rules for us for the next 14 days.  We obeyed -- that's what parents do, isn't it?

Returning to Tulsa, Charlene and I ran errands (not really worried about getting out) -- finding stores empty of shoppers -- realizing this was a big deal --  so we did what country girls do -- we cooked, quilted and talked up a storm -- planning our next projects.  I said to her "We may look back on these days with REAL gladness that we had this time to visit if we're all shut in for weeks."

Charlene went home on Wednesday on a SW airplane with 22 passengers.

Goodletss Celebrating St Pat's with friends b/4 it shut us all in.

Bethany has already set up her home classroom and Mat became the PE teacher in his spare time!

Katie has developed lots of preschool activities for our little Bells.  Our girls are doing an excellent job of keeping these little ones busy.  

Marshall and Clara have planted their Spring garden. 

Sydney has set up her own Dolly Daycare for her baby dolls. .  . even getting a wheelchair for Baby Rosie who was attacked by Prairie in the late summer.  Notice dolly on crutches.  

Meanwhile -- Jack -- our budding athlete has a canceled T-ball and soccer season -
His shirt and cap came in the mail yesterday. . . sigh

- Campbell's Lacrosse and Soccer were canceled, as well.

Since the beginning of Spring Break these six children have been observing social distancing, adjusting to the new normal and are real troopers, though they really miss their teachers.  

 I have resorted to shopping from home with delivery service -- I thought that was a luxury -- now it's a necessity.  Just leave the groceries on the porch, please.

I'm knitting, working on a photo project, cooking more than I have in months, trying to exercise and starting to quilt an heirloom quilt that Charlene and I set while she was here.

We've watched far too much news - getting rumors of schools being closed for the remainder of the year.  I got the sense of loneliness for students -- In the meantime, I'm listening to podcasts and doing webinars on how to distance teach and making plans on the next 7 weeks of school.

It's a time of reassessing and re-evaluating -- the stillness opens me to think more deeply and hear God more clearly -- praying for those things that are most important.  My mind is less cluttered without all the multi-tasking!