I thought it would be nice to post some photos of loveliness in the midst of all the Coronavirus ugliness. (I will get to that topic at the end of the post.)
On Saturday, Steve and Sarah and I had the joy of attending the wedding of Rachel, a young woman we have known since we moved to the Outer Banks ten years ago. She and Sarah were in our church’s girl’s group together on Wednesday nights (until they grew too old for it) and they have continued to meet for lunch whenever Sarah is in town.
Patricia was the teacher of that group for twelve years. She drove several hours to see her former student get married and was doubly happy to get to see Sarah, too. Patricia is one of the people in a post I wrote called, “Lobby Ladies.”
Sarah loved getting to hang out a few moments with the bride.
Someday our sweet girl will put on her own wedding dress. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it.
And since we’re on the topic of young adults getting married, I thought I’d throw in this doozie of an oldie–Steve and I, a few hours after our wedding. I was just nineteen years old and had absolutely no clue about anything. While I still feel like I don’t have much of a clue, I’m thankful for the wonderful 38 years we have had together and wish long years of happiness to Anthony and Rachel, as well.
This is my favorite shot of the day. Anthony, the groom, just noticed for the first time that Steve was at the wedding. Seven years ago, Anthony was a resident at Dare Challenge, getting help with his addiction. Steve considers him to be one of his Dare Challenge sons.
It was special to see the two of them spend a few moments together, remember the past and looking forward to a bright future as Anthony prepares to go into the ministry.
One of the best things about weddings is getting to see people you don’t get to see often, in this case, Pastor Duwayne Gibbs, who performed the wedding ceremony.
Although they are looking pretty dignified in this photo, if I had taken a picture two minutes earlier (which I wish I would have, but I was laughing too hard), you would have seen them just about laid out on the bench guffawing as they told hilarious stories to each other.
Steve and I have always thought Duwayne looked more mature than his age which is thirty-one. Anyone else agree? He’s the dad of four, a pastor, a sheriff’s deputy and the High School’s resource officer. As you can imagine, his life is a bit stressful and he told Steve after the fifteenth belly laugh, “You have NO idea how much I needed this today.”
And something all of us might need today is the sight of blue water and bluer skies.
There’s something about being with friends under an endless sky, enveloped by a spring breeze, and witnessing the new love of two young people that helps to momentarily dilute the stress and trauma that our country is going through.
Speaking of stress, both Steve’s dad and my mom have been isolated in their skilled care nursing centers. As you can imagine, that has been very difficult for Steve’s mom and also for my sister, Debbie, who has taken care of Mom’s hands-on care for many years. While Vernie and Debbie understand the good reasons behind the confinement, it sure doesn’t make it any easier on their hearts.
In addition to dealing with the virus complexities and the challenges with mom’s confinement, yesterday was Debbie and Randy’s last day at the church where they pastored twelve years. (That’s their son, Caleb, and his girlfriend, Amanda, with them.) We love these guys and are so proud of them.
Being a pastor under any circumstances is not always the easiest task but it has just become a whole lot more complicated with the arrival of the Coronavirus. There will be a lot of new territory for Steve and I and our church to navigate in the coming weeks. The bottom line though is that our congregation will need each other and its pastors more than ever. We will just have to find new ways to stay connected.
And on a personal note, Steve and I are, of course, concerned that people with lung problems are at higher risk of contracting this virus. I saw one article that said lung function is often decreased by 20% to 30% after someone recovers which would NOT be a good thing for me.
Steve doesn’t order me to do things very often, but last Friday he issued a Husbandly Edict that was I was to stop working at the daycare for the foreseeable future since there are oftentimes a lot of germs around a lot of children.
I am still going to work at the church since I am in my own office 90% of the day and have contact with only three or four other people in the building.
So anyway, that’s my story. I know you have stories of your own.
Whether you have been reading here 17 years or whether you are a new reader, this is an invitation to all of you to share your story about what’s going on in your life, your town, your community as it relates to the Coronavirus. How has it affected your children, your work, your travel?
We are all in the same boat, all facing the same enemy, all dealing with the same fears and challenges for ourselves and our families.
Let’s share our stories. Together.
I have gone to the Bible many times throughout my life for wisdom, guidance, inspiration, and comfort. I wanted to share some snippets of verses that may be especially meaningful to all of us right now.
These are especially good to read right after spending fifteen minutes reading the latest CDC report. You can’t help but feel your blood pressure drop as you read.
(And please share your own favorite verse in the comments.)
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.
Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Exodus 33:14 My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Isaiah 30:15 In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.
Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Luke 12:25-26 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Philippians 4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 27: 1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 145: 18-19 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 112: 1, 7-8 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.
Psalm 91:1-2 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”
Philippians 4: 12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.
Becky,
Yes, unfortunately nail salons, beauty shops, barber shops, dog groomers, department stores, car dealerships, shopping malls, zoos, museums, theaters, libraries and the list goes on and on (basically all those things we normally take for granted)… are all considered non life essential businesses. In other words, we are basically shut down except for groceries, pharmacies, gas stations and hospitals. Even a lot of the doctors offices are rescheduling a lot of appointments if they are regular, routine appointments. Such are the challenges of the times.
One bit of humor to bring a smile to your face…one of our local female TV personalities said on air, “well, now we’ll all know what color everyone’s hair really is, and let me tell you I’m NOT a natural blonde.”
Hugs, thoughts and prayers to you and yours,
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
As for people knowing your natural hair color, I am thankful mine is sort of blended all together so it can go for a long time without a touch-up. But there are some who are going to be in trouble in a few weeks! 🙂 Nice to have something to chuckle over.
We are pretty much shut down here on the OBX, as well. This is the height of the spring break season where our streets and businesses would be packed. A bit strange to see such low traffic.
Hugs back to you!
Lots of stuff shut down here in Central Florida. Gotta love my timing though; I retired as a 911 operator in January of 2019, and just decided to go back as part time on March 11th, a couple days before all this chaos hit. I should have waited!
Melissa,
Yeah, crazy timing for sure!
But thank you for being one of the heroes in this story, dedicated to people getting the help they need. I appreciate you!
Hi Becky,
This is my third attempt at leaving a comment, so I’ll just Keep it brief and hope it doesn’t disappear when I try to post it.
First of all, thanks so for sharing your lovely photos amidst all the ugliness of these times. I also appreciated your choice of bible verses. Much needed during these times.
Almost everything here is shut down. Schools, bars and restaurants (except drive through or pick up), colleges and universities, churches have canceled services and most recently our governor has just ordered mandatory closure of all non-life sustaining businesses. So I think that basically leaves grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and medical facilities. It remains to be seen what they do and don’t consider “non-life sustaining” businesses.
I’m hanging in, anxious for this to end, praying for safety and good health for all.
Hugs, love and prayers for you and yours,
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda
Sorry about the disappearing comments. Let me know if that happens again in the future.
And thank you for persevering three times to leave a comment. You get a gold Smithellaneous Star!
“Non-life sustaining businesses” is definitely an interesting phrase. I am hoping that it at least means what you said–the Big Three. (or Four.) If a nail salon closes, I am sad for the owners but my life can still continue. But a grocery or a doctor? Not so much!
I feel bad for the leaders who are having to make these tough, tough decisions. No wonder the Bible says to pray for those who are in authority over you. At times like this, they especially are in need of it.
Hanging in there right along with you.
I absolutely love this idea for a wedding on a dock. What a special time.
We are doing pretty good in North Dakota. 7 cases confirmed. A lot of things are being bought in bulk, but the stores are doing a good job at restocking. My son is still attending the day care at the local Y. The Y itself is closed, only the day care is open. A lot of kiddos are gone, tho with parents working at home or not working, they have them at home. Schools, colleges are closed. Restaurants are still open. They are closed in MN which is just across the river (we can see MN out our windows at home) so, no eating there.
Hoping and praying this will be over soon.
Be Blessed!
Krista,
Yes, our restaurants are all closed too, except for drive-through. (And restaurants are providing that service who have never done it before so hats off to them for their innovation.)
Thankful your son’s daycare is still open. Thankful for everything right now–big or small. And thankful we will come out of this stronger and closer together than when we went in.
Thank you so much for sharing the bible verses. Your list inspired me to share a bible verse a day with someone who is alone and struggling to adjust during this situation.
Donna,
How wonderful that you passed on the verse-sharing. Sometimes we just need a voice of peaceful sanity to come into our minds in the midst of all of this; the Bible certainly offers that.
Hi Becky,
I’m leaving a second comment up here, because the reply button isn’t letting me reply after your response to what I commented earlier. I just wanted to say thank you so much for always being so encouraging to me and to the others who comment on your blog/ facebook. I see the encouraging words you write and how you champion the people around you and I think your encouragement makes a huge difference to many people. I know it makes a difference to me. What you have said to me over the years has been like encouraging gems and I appreciate it so much. Hugs back!!
Jenna,
You don’t know how much it means to hear that my words have made a difference over the years. Thank you for taking the time to send encouragement my way.
You and I will just keep on spreading our “encouraging gems” being thankful as we do that no virus or social distancing can keep us from doing it! Blessings to you today.
Thank you for sharing such a hope-filled, beautiful post. I wish the happy couple many years together of joy.
Your encouraging words are a light in a world that has dramatically changed in a short period of time.
Here, in Alberta, Canada big changes have come over the past week. All our kindergarten to grade 12 schools have closed until September. The school year which normally runs to last day of June is suddenly over. Daycares and programs for children are also banned too. All universities are closed too. We thought my son’s program would continue online but were told this morning the semester is over. Mh teacher friends are out of work. Closed schools mean parents often have to stay home even if their workplaces remain running.
Eric’s workplace sent him home yesterday afternoon as from now on all their employees will be working from home. All movie theatres and indoor community pools and gyms are closed as are dentists and libraries. I usually take time off to volunteer every Friday at a program that meets at the library so that too has stopped. My aunt has an underlying lung disease and just developed pneumonia so she is now in quarantine in her house with just her dog and cat (and my family can drop off food etc if needed but not allowed to visit). Churches were allowed to run last Sunday but many chose to close including my mom’s Baptist Church. The ban on gatherings has now been expanded to include places of worship so I expect my CRC church will not have a service next Sunday. The church has already stopped Bible studies. Grocery stores have some empty shelves but still enough food. Huge toilet paper shortages. My parents had tickets to fly on vacation to Mexico today but they had to cancel that. And my husband and son were excited to go to a King and Country concert Saturday but that is cancelled.
And yet many things remain strong. Most of all, faith, hope and love remain.
Jenna,
I LOVED your closing line. In light of all that’s changed, all that we’ve lost, good thing remain–the BEST things remain. Thank you for that reminder.
The U.S. has not yet closed daycares. Our church runs a preschool and is still able to continue operating with some modifications in place. Our schools are also closed.
I hated to read about all the ways the virus is affecting your family personally, from Eric’s job to your parent’s canceled vacation to your inability to do the volunteer work you enjoy.
And how difficult for your aunt to be all alone when feeling so poorly. With lung disease of my own, my heart truly goes out to her.
As always, thank you for your wisely-written, compassionate words. God has truly given you the ability to communicate in amazing ways. Hugs.
The blue skies and beautiful water are just what I needed to see today. All of this coronavirus stuff is beginning to cause me some anxiety. I hate hearing about it ALL of the time but also want to know what is going on. Ugh. I just keep fervently praying for mercy for our nation.
To top it off, my 89 yo mother-in-law is in the hospital with a very stubborn case of pneumonia. It is a huge worry right now and she isn’t allowed any visitors other than my two sisters-in-law that were with her when she was admitted. They are allowed into her room and can visit with the doctors when they make rounds. Even my niece who is an RN at that hospital is not allowed in her room.
I have been turning to my bible too for comfort and really was glad to see all of the comfort-specific verses that you shared. Thank you!!
Our church has been told by our bishop that we can’t have public worship through April 4th so on Sunday, a service was live streamed via Facebook. It was very well received. A great way to stay connected!
Stay well!!
LeeAnne,
That’s amazing that even your NIECE is not allowed in your mother-in-law’s room. Wow! Those are some restrictions! But knowing it’s being done to help keep a loved one safe makes it a bit more bearable.
I am glad the blue skies and water of the OBX made your day a little cheerier. It is SO therapeutic to be out in nature’ it helps to put some of the craziness in perspective.
Glad your live streaming went well. We are going ready to do that Sunday for the first time. It should be interesting!
My sister and her husband live in Lombardy in northern Italy, the epicenter of the outbreak there. She also gave birth to her first baby 6 weeks ago. The situation she describes there is a grim one and has convinced me to take preparedness seriously here in the states. I’m sorry for everyone suffering from the effects of COVID. On a personal level I’m especially sorry my sister has had to spend her first few months of motherhood isolated and anxious.
Ellen,
Oh my. I feel bad for your sister right along with you. Having a first baby is such a precious chapter of life; to have to spend it with the anxiety accompanying the virus is sad.
I took a few minutes and looked up pictures of Lombardy; it is absolutely gorgeous! In the midst of the turmoil, I hope your sister finds some comfort in the natural beauty around her. Best wishes to her and her sweet, new baby. Thanks for sharing your (and their) story.
I think I must take the prize as your longest “lurker”. I found your blog through caringbridge, probably back in 2003, when my own daughter was diagnosed with cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma), and we also had a buddy with neuroblastoma. What prompted me to comment (finally!!!) is today’s post reminded me of a post from all those years ago where you walked past a wedding dress in a store window and wondered if you would ever get to see Sarah in a wedding dress and how that brought tears to my eyes….
My daughter fortunately had a good outcome with her treatment, and I consider your lovely Sarah as a walking miracle. But the tears in my eyes today are happy ones in that you will be able to see Sarah in a wedding dress, and you know I’ll be watching from afar, as will many others who follow your amazing family.
Lisa,
Stop the presses! We have an old-time reader, first-time commenter in our midst! 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
I’m glad you reminded me of the story about the wedding dress; I had forgotten all about it. I’m thankful your daughter has joined Sarah in long-term survival; their weddings will come with extra helpings of thanksgiving!
You can bet that when Sarah does get married, there will be several billion pictures on this blog. Looking forward to the day!
Enjoying the lack of cars on the road, peaceful drive to work, not having to get my grandson on the school bus each morning! Grateful I was raised by Great Depression era parents, one of which was a Marine, who taught us to be prepared. Thus my freezer is full & I already had toilet paper and paper towels to last 2-3 weeks. Lysol was already in my cleaning closet and a full tank of gas in my car. Schools are closed for a couple of weeks (but expect that to be extended), bars & restaurants closed as of tonight except for take out (hoping the drive through donut shop stays open!) & some delivery. One of the 2 local casinos has closed down (Hallelujah!) for at least 2 weeks. Life is good! The following brought me great peace:
The 16th-century theologian Martin Luther had this to say during the bubonic plague, offering his thoughts in a letter titled “Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague” on how best to practically and spiritually overcome:
You ought to think this way: “Very well, by God’s decree, the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal. Therefore, I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person, but will go freely.”
Stay well and stay isolated, Smithies! God can be shared via livestream! Love you!
Guerrina,
I truly loved how your comment included the words “enjoying” and “grateful.” Those are not words I’ve run across very often in recent days. Thank you for your refreshing perspective.
LOVE the Luther quote. He was an amazing man and his words still inspire.
Hugs to you today.
Wow – has it really been 10 years since you relocated to Manteo??? I’m sorry your sister & mom and Steve’s parents are having to endure physical separation during this time, but smiled at Mrs. Vernie’s comment.
I work in a public high school so we are definitely in uncharted territory. Last week was our spring break and this week there will be no students on campus, but staff is to report back on Wednesday, but should keep 6 feet from each other and no more than 10 in an area – it will be interesting to see how that works out. Teachers are supposed to have online lessons ready by Wednesday along with printed copies as needed.
The wedding photos were beautiful – what a lovely setting for a wedding. (And I’m glad Steve was able to provide some comic relief for his pastor/SRO friend – I know here being a school resource officer can be quite stressful, but we sure are thankful for them on our campus.)
Prayers for you and others with health conditions that put them at a higher risk with this virus.
Sue Ellen,
I am in awe of all you teachers who are having to make huge changes in your teaching with little to no warning. You are my heroes! Thank you for what you are doing for our kids.
Yes, it has been 10 1/2 years since we have lived on the Outer Banks. Pretty hard for me to believe, too!
Here in Maryland, all schools, restaurants, pubs are closed, the National Guard is activated. They are reopening hospitals that have closed in the past. No more than 50 people allowed in one area. Its only a matter of a week or so before the entire country is shut down except essential things, in my opinion, the sooner the better. Every day that goes by spells a bigger disaster two weeks from now. My Sarah and I are self isolating but since we live in an apt building its a little tricky. The mailroom, package delivery and elevators are all common areas. I’m thinking I will go down and get the mail once a week. I can take the stairs down but cant do the 8 flights back up! Ha!
Love the bible verses, there’s so many! Thank you for taking all that time to add them to your post. And what a lovely wedding, great pictures. I feel so sad for all those in nursing facilities and their families. I know its for their safety but for many, having a family member who visits frequently, is what keeps the staff on their toes and ensures the best care available.
Take care of yourself!!
Lesley,
When you say reopening hospitals, you mean those that were completely shut down years or ago, or those shut down more recently? I can’t imagine getting a hospital back into working order under such time pressure. God bless ALL the medical personnel who are being true heroes!
Sounds like you have a good plan in place as far as limiting your mailroom checks and not going out except for things that are urgent.
Since you commented, another edict came through about not gathering in groups of more than ten. Hard to believe the changes our country has undergone in just a week.
And yes, those verses are a wonderful, calming haven in a storm. I’m glad they are meaningful to you too.
Thank you for a lovely post, full of smiles, blue skies and comforting scripture verses! Thanks, too, for mentioning Ken and me and our challenges! It’s helped me to hear his voice each day by phone and to hear his familiar phrase that he’s the same. Blessings to you and all of us as we go through a new normal.
Love you,
Vernie
Vernie,
So glad for technology and being able to hear the voices of the ones we miss! You’ll be giving him a hug and kiss again before you know it. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the blue skies and the scripture. Two healing things.
My church did not have in person services but live streamed the service. The original passage was supposed to be 1 John. However, Saturday our youth pastor changed that to Psalms 56:3 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. He was preaching as our lead pastor, adult minister and music minister were all out due to Spring Break. He did a great job of switching gears at the last moment. He talked about working in a grocery store as a teenager and how he had to wear a red apron which let customers know that he was the one to turn to if there was a spill, toilet overflowing, etc. He then went on to say as Christians, we need to put our red apron on so non-believers know we are the ones to turn to.
Our prayer request email this morning referenced the Philippians passage. I plan to look up the other passages you reference.
Sounds like you had a great time at the wedding. I think Steve’s order was very much needed!
Phyllis,
Wow. I love the illustration that your youth pastor told; that was great and one that I will pass along to Steve.
Kudos to your youth pastor for handling a difficult time in such a great way!
Such powerful verses to lift His name and give us encouragement. I posted on Facebook, II Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of, love and a sound mind. I also added and common sense. My husband is 76 and has diabetes so he has to be especially careful. We were planning on leaving on a 5 week vacation, driving by car, so we have to cancel all of our reservations. Neighbor and her friends were going to Spain in May, they cancelled their reservations. We attend a large church so services are cancelled for 2 weeks. Just have to continue trusting the Lord and believe He has everything under control. Such beautiful pictures and I’m sure they were happy they were blessed with such a beautiful, although windy, day. Yes,pastors need many times of laughter. So glad they could get together and enjoy much laughter.
Sharyn,
I’m so sorry you had to cancel your road trip. That’s extra sad to me because I would LOVE a 5-week road trip and know you do too. I know you’re looking forward to the time when you can head out on the highway again. You will appreciate it even more when the time comes.
And yes, we all DO need to use common sense. That’s a great reminder.
Hey, me too, Deb!! Love these verses!
What an arsenal, array, accumulation, assortment, ample, accurate, amazing, anchor
for the heart, mind, and soul– a sermon of God’s unfailing WORD!!
Ruth,
Loved your alliterative comment! Give mom a hug for me.
Here in Wake County, NC in the Raleigh area where we are there are some cases of Coronavirus, I believe they are shutting down the schools, the shelves at the grocery stores are depleted….my son and his girlfriend did shopping for me yesterday as my husband and I are considered high risk, and they could barely find anything on my list…..my husband is almost 65 and has heart issues so he is staying inside for the most part. Luckily he can work from home. My son’s girlfriend goes to FIT in New York City, which is now shut down, she couldn’t afford to fly home to Nebraska, so she is staying with us, doing online courses for the time being. My daughter is a server/manager at a restaurant, it is a sports bar and March Madness is their bread and butter, but she said NOBODY is coming in and she thinks Governor Cooper is going to order all bars and restaurants shut down soon, especially in the normally busy Raleigh area. She is also a teacher, she just chose not to teach here, but she is going to post on our town website that she is available to tutor elementary school kids who are home now due to the virus. I was talking to a woman in Food Lion the other day who said her nephew was scheduled to get married in Texas next week but they actually cancelled the wedding, which they had been planning for a year, because so many elderly relatives were scheduled to fly in and they didn’t want to put them in danger….well Becky, you and Steve, please stay safe and take good care of yourselves.
Dale,
It’s really mind-boggling to think of how many peoples’ lives are affected by all this, in big and small ways. Good for your daughter finding a Plan B to try now that the restaurants are closed. I feel bad for the couple in TX who had to cancel their wedding. Maybe they will do a small one now and celebrate BIG when all this settles down some.
Nice you have a son to do your grocery shopping for you, even though aren’t many groceries to shop! Stay well.
This flu season was bad enough but now Covid-19 makes it worse. I have been inside basically since January 3. I go to the grocery store but no other ones. Church sometimes depending on the weather. I Peter 5:7 has always been one of my favorites. Also Philipians 4:4. There are many others. Take care of yourself. Maybe Debbie and Vernie can go to the windows and talk to them. We did that with Mama when we could not go inside. Blessings on all.
Ann,
I know you are looking forward to the days when you can leave your house and go wherever you want. It’s such a luxury we all take for granted when we can do it without a second thought.
Mom actually got out of the nursing center today and will go to live with my other sister and her husband at their lovely place in the country. They were all so happy to be able to make that happen.
Thank you for the scripture. I have had a number of my own bringing great comfort too. Beautiful pictures of the wedding and Sarah looks great. So grown up. Our daughter was married on the beach in the Outer Banks. Our community, like many other are shut down. No school, no church, and the groceries on the shelves are gone. My husband and I, he with asthma and I’m on oxygen has caused us to take this all very seriously. Of course i know the Lord is in control and we will wait on Him and enjoy this different type of relaxation. I may want to stop baking and cooking so much. We may have trouble fitting out the door if it keeps up.
Catherine,
Isn’t it interesting how we have the inclination to cook and bake during hard times? I’d be right there with you!
I can only imagine how seriously you are taking the precautions necessary with your and your husband’s health situations. Stay well!
Loved the Bible verses–thank you. Helps me remember where my focus should be.
I’m honored you would mention us in your post. You and Steve’s love and support means so very much. On to a new chapter!
So nice to see the pics of lovely Sarah and the wedding.
You take care of yourself! Glad Steve banned you from the daycare. ?.
Love you!
Deb
Deb,
Thanks for your lovely comment. I know you’ve had a busy, happy day today with mom; enjoy every moment!