Out like a lion??

Isn’t there a saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?  Our March came in like a lamb.  Basketball was wrapping up.  Leah was looking forward to watching the last basketball zones of her boys.  We had a few quiet weeks until softball and soccer started.  Cora got a transfer to Swansea and was made an STL.  Her and her companion Sis Peters from Germany.

We had heard on the news about this virus that was being spread around the globe.  It sounded kind of scary, but had not hit Canada yet.  Then with in a matter of days, first the church announced that there would be no stake conference, then no meetings at all.  Everything was to be home based. After that all large gatherings were shut down.  20 mins before we to leave to watch zones, we got the info that zones would also be cancelled. And then shockingly school.  It was all such a whirlwind.  I was grateful that we had some food storage and felt fairly comfortable.  But the more stories we heard I started to get nervous about when I did need to shop, would there be anything there.  And did Cora have enough.  I braved the stores and did a good stock up.  Totally did not stay in budget. And Cora's MP gave them extra money and told them to stock up.

Church at home has been fun.  Blake asked that we still dress up and we all agreed that was a good idea. Dave assigns us talks and we sing.  We then have a 5 min break and then we discuss the Come Follow Me for the week.  We have great discussions with our kids.  I was pleasantly surprised each week as we have gone almost 2 hours.

Blake and Leah also started online seminary with Zoom.  That has been going well and they are definitely not complaining about not getting up early. :)

I was a little sad St Patrick's Day, as I had been saving this shirt for Blake as a surprise.  But he wore it all around the house.

They are either going to be super tight when we come out of this, or hate each other. 

We had to make appointments to pick up the kid's school stuff and clean out lockers.  Lots of hand washing.

It was nice to get out last weekend as we did the Preg Testing.  Leah invited her friend Olivia to help us.  It was nice for her to have a little association with friends.

So now we just wait.  Cora's companion got sent home.  Literally thousands of missionaries are being sent home at this time to be safe with the virus.  Her current companion (the blond) Sis Otengren is from Denmark and had only been out a few weeks.  So as Cora was supposed to be being trained as an STL her comp was sent home and she got sent a greeny to train.  And with so many going home she is over more zones than originally planned.  

They are in quarantine.  Can go out for groceries and runs, but no site seeing on PDays, no meeting in members homes, only online lessons, online zone conferences etc.  She had not even been to church to meet anyone in her new area.  But she said the ward mission leader, her mission president and the bishop are all awesome and truly helping them.  Cora feels very unprepared for this role, I reminded the that the Lord put her in this position at this time for a reason and it would all be ok.  She said she was positive that the angel delivering this message got very mixed up. She really wants to just get out and teach.  This is her view.

Even in quarantine, Cora said she would rather be in England serving than at home. Missionaries are being sent home all over the world and we just continue to pray that she gets to stay.

School is going well so far for Blake and Leah.  I am NOT homeschooling.  They are doing online schooling at home.  Very different.  But they have been sticking to a schedule and  getting things done. We have made sure they add to the schedule exercise, cooking, music, and time to sit in the sun and read.

With some many things shutting down everyone's job are up in the air.  I told Dave a few weeks ago that I thought only medical staff and grocery stores were safe. It is uncertain times.  Every day as I go to bed I say a prayer of thanks that Dave had one more day of work and Cora had one more day in the mission field.  We do not know how long either of them will last.  I am a little nervous but also feel we have been well prepared.  Our prophet is an inspired man of God and counselled us for years to have a food storage, be self-reliant, and has prepared us for home based church.  I hope COVID-19 passes quickly and we can return to seeing friends and grocery shopping with out worry.  March is going to go out like a Lion.

February

Another month flew by. We packed it with skiing and basketball mostly. We have had good ski weather.  Everyone went Family Day.  Dave and Blake got off the red chair just moments before it broke down.  Dave said he heard a weird grinding.  It was good they got off when they did because others sat for two and a half hours waiting to be rescued. Cora tried to talk to us at the hill.  It was a short conversation because wifi cuts in and out and it was hard to hear. Also I didn't want to be that person talking loud on their phone in a room full of people.  She loved seeing the ski hill 

Blake did really well in ball this season.  Most games he was high point score and he has an awesome rebound.  A couple times he got pulled up to play with the HS boys, when their numbers were low.  He really enjoyed that.  Said it was a whole new game and level, where they played with skill not just who could make a basket.  Blake had exceptional coaches this year and we were so grateful for them for helping out. 

Leah really enjoyed coaching the Jr high girls.  They have asked her to please come back next year.  Too bad it's such a long drive, she would love to.  She is looking into seeing if she can do some reffing in Edmonton. She had fun with the girl and was glad to still be around basketball.  She also caught as many of her friends games as she could and did lots of reffing and score keeping.

We  banded and vaccinated the calves.  It turned out to be a crazy windy day.  Amber was fighting her papers and trying to keep everything on the table.  Cows did not like coming around and getting hit with the wind, but considering all it went pretty well.  The kids  love getting out and working with the cows.

Dave was not growing a beard, he was just not shaving. :) The kids were curious what he would look like and so he decided to give it a whirl.  He was only about 3 weeks in and it was driving him crazy, but he wanted the sides to fill in and give it a full chance before he shaved.  Beginning of February he wrote on the calendar that on the 29th he was shaving.  By the 14th he said it felt like a wire brush on his face and was done.  But we convinced him to wait the whole month like he had planned.  Evening of the 29th he had us take a picture and off it went.  Blake was the only sad one. (Also not sure about odd face Blake is making, doesn't even really look like him)

Cora is still working hard.  I think she will sleep for days when she gets home. She met this guy who is a grandson of a man Grandpa Puzey baptized on his mission.  Bro Beales' family, who David  baptized, now makes up half of the Bristol ward.  His grandson is a returned missionary and they are doing well.

Fun picture from Cora

There has been lots of flooding in Wales and parts of England the last month.  The missionaries have been helping to clean it all up.  Cora has enjoyed working hard and doing physical labor.  She said it has been lots of work.