Sunday: I really have loved church at home. We do breakfast, go for a short walk around the neighborhood, then come home and get everyone dressed for church. (Whether we like it or not. Everyone gets dressed and their hair done. Hazel). Today was special because President Nelson invited the word to participate in a world wide fast to combine our faith to find solutions for COVID and bless and inspire all people medical, scientific, and other wise to work together in this global crisis.

Our Bishop asked if everyone would email in their testimony today and then he sent them out to everyone in the ward. So I thought I would put mine and Marc’s here too.

Marc’s…I know that Jesus Christ lives, I know that he is my Savior. I have felt him guide me through life. I know that he loves us, collectively and individually and we are always before his face. It can be hard at
times like these to understand why these things happen, why we must face this kind of fear. I was talking to my family the other day and my brother mentioned talking to a coworker about COVID miracles. How siblings now stuck at home together we’re kinder and more patient with each other. I have noticed that too. People are kinder and more open on the street. Generosity has increased, love abounds in new and
creative ways. I am reminded of Paul V. Johnson’s talk from the April 2011 conference where he spoke of adversity and gave the warning “ We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.” I believe that this trial will help us become more like our divine exemplar, and that this fast will provide miracles I know the Lord is with us, and that if we look we will see his hand
in our lives.

And mine….

I am so grateful for the gospel and for our prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I love primary songs that teach the gospel in really simple ways, and tells the simple sermons I have needed the last few weeks.
“Heavenly Father are you really there? And do you hear and answer every prayer?… Pray. HE is there. Speak. HE is listening”
“I can do and say happy things each day, for I know Heavenly Father loves me.”
“When dark clouds of trouble hang or us and threaten our peace… there is HOPE smiling brightly before us.”
“HE gives us hope, when hope is gone. HE gives us strength when we can’t hold on. HE gives us shelter through the storms of life. When there’s no peace on earth there is PEACE in CHRIST.”
I know that Heavenly Father is the kindest, more caring parent and wants us to let Him in all the parts of our day. He is happy when we are happy, and He knows that when we are trying to be like Jesus and following in His way we will be the happiest.

We also had our Pizza Dinner tonight! Marc got all fancy and made pizza with green salsa for the sauce, smoked poblano and corn, and chicken sausage. Then we put more salsa on it when it came out. Umm yeah, it was amazing!

Most nights end with me lying on Ruby’s bed with Hazel on top of me. I had Marc take a picture because I know it won’t always be like this, and they won’t always love being close enough to physically touch me all day long.

Tuesday, we spent a lot of the day outside, crossing our fingers we don’t jinx this perfect weather before it gets super hot.

Levi had spaghetti for the first Tuesday night and he was a BIG fan. He experienced it with his whole body. It was my grandparent’s wedding anniversary tonight, but with state wide quarantine in place my family arranged for a “drive-by party” where we all drove slow, honked our horns, and yelled how much we loved them out of our open car windows. I love them. We also got to FaceTime Alisa! It was fun to see her pretty face and hear the goings on in Logan.

We finished up the night with a shower glow stick party for the girls, story time on the couch, and a few primary songs in bed with me taking turns laying next to each little lady. Levi falls asleep in his crib in the first 2 minutes. (Insert Cool-Aid “Oh YEAH!). With the hoodlums in bed, Marc and I turned up Dear Even Hansen and Hamilton while we sanitized and cleaned the house. We might have been blasting Right Hand Man (Here comes the General!!) and Ruby called me in her room, “Mom, this song… it doesn’t help me sleep. It just makes me be awake.” That’s fair. So we turned it down a little.

Wednesday we spent a magical morning playing in shade Mel’s front yard. If I could have any yard in the world, I would pick Mel’s.

We stop and watched a neighbor, who is a senior and Pom cheerleader, who was doing a double back handspring into a standing back tuck. (Super impressive) And she did it like 10 times in a row. And Ruby started asking how she learned that. So I casually answered, “she practiced a lot.” And she then asked, “Mom, can you do that? You can practice a lot.” It’s crazy to think that in her eyes I can do anything.

Friday was just another marvelous ordinary day at home with my people. Everyone was awake and in my bed by 6:30, per usual. We snuggled, did the morning breakfast thang, and went for a nice lonnng walk weaving through the neighborhood.

We had a delightful picnic lunch in Mel’s yard.

For our Family Friday movie night the girls helped me slick up the house and pop the popcorn. I have read that favorite family memories revolve around “non-holiday” traditions and to make them special in small ways to set them apart from the ordinary. So I stole from a friend the idea that before we start the movie we all shout, “Welcome to Family Movie Night!!” (How exciting) the girls really liked that part. We watched Disney’s Onward. It was if Disney and Dungeons and Dragons had a baby and wrapped it all up with a heart warming message of life after losing a family men ever to cancer. So it really stuck a cord that hit home for Marc and I.

Then we had time for some stories, favorite time, family prayer and snuggles. Before we pray we go around and everyone gets to share their favorite time. Hazel said her favorite time “was sitting next to Dad.” So Marc’s favorite time was hearing that Hazel’s favorite time. Quarantine makes me slow down, I’m starting to think I have a superpower of finding the magical joy in small moments.