This time has been a rollercoaster of emotions for us. We have had disbelief that all of this is actually happening as well as times of peace and calmness. We have had times of anxiety
, worried about what is right for social distancing for our family and how we are going to navigate our jobs and homeschooling our kids at the same time. We have had times of sadness as we have had to cancel trips and parties (it got real when they closed disney world). We have had moments of laughter as we all try to navigate being together 24 hrs a day. We have realized 24 hours is not always created equal, some 24 hour days are MUCH LONGER. Seriously though, the family time we have gotten out of this situation has been refreshing compared to our constant “on the go” normal schedule. We have had more conversation, spent more time together in the same room, had more family dinners, more family bike rides, just more time together. It has been an opportunity to really be present with each other and for that we are so thankful.
God has been so good to us during this time. We have been able to lean on the truth that God is the same God whether we are worshipping him in a church building or worshipping him in our living room (while our kids are going crazy in the background). God is still the same whether we are praising him for keeping us healthy or making it through the first LONG, LONG, LONG morning of homeschooling an 8 year old and 5 year old. Watching the news and hearing all sorts of different, sometimes scary, information, it is such a comfort to know our God is who he says he is no matter what we see or hear is happening in the world. There is absolute peace and comfort knowing that.
We also are so thankful for meaningful relationships (community) with our family and friends. During “normal” times it may be easy to take those relationships for granted knowing they exist, but during times of difficulty and angst it has been amazing to lean on people, have conversation and prayer with people so that we are not navigating this crazy life on earth without these meaningful relationships, truly blessings from God.
By: Ryan & Cayla Anderson