Quarantine Week 3 - March 29 - April 4

Sunday March 29
This was our first Sunday having church online, and it did not go as well as home church. The primary leaders were unaware of the lag, so song time was a bust, and everyone had their mics on so it was way noisy... they've got two weeks to figure it out as next week is General Conference. By the time it was our Fast and Testimony meeting the girls had all pretty much left the room, then we had Sunday School. It felt really long to me. I wasn't excited about it, BUT I did feel the spirit and it was uplifting.

Since the girls didn't really "attend" church, and since we hadn't partaken of the sacrament, we had a short family service after church was over. We partook of the sacrament, sang some songs, and had a short little discussion, and that was nice too.

After church Ken and I wanted to go for a walk, and it was beautiful out, but none of the girls wanted to come, so we left them at home and went for a walk by ourselves. It was so nice. We ended up walking behind our neighbours Helene and Brian until they went a different way. It was fun to see them from afar.

We walked down a gate from Cluett to a little ravine that I didn't even know about. It was magical. I loved it. And we walked over to Shoal Point Road to see the " Ajax Rock Concert". I saw it in our Durham Region Sun Rocks Facebook group and I wanted to see it in person.

 Oh and Alice burned her finger with the glue gun - ew.

Fiona had en epic bouncing adventure tonight. I got some fun pics of her with my SLR. Sometimes I forget how much I love taking pics with my "real" camera.

Monday March 30
Fiona had her lesson with the missionaries. It was backwards day - spirit week - I should post the pic for that! Alice's blister popped. I was nervous all day because of my staff meeting. I blogged about that separately.

The pig pic is for the banner photo for my first ever Google Classroom. There were a few options given for hosting your online classroom, but the only one I was remotely familiar with was Google Classroom. I now have a Google Classroom called Ms. Bacon's Music Land. I sent out an email to all the homeroom teachers asking to add me to their classroom, and then I've been inviting their kids to my room by pasting the code for my classroom in their classroom. I posted a couple videos and our school song. Our online teaching starts next week. We've got this week to start getting prepared and organized. My brain is kind of full trying to process all of it!

Tuesday March 31
It was a misty morning this morning - misting rain. Ken asked if I would go for a little walk with him. We walked down to the lake and back. It was nice.

There were big cement blocks blocking the parking spots and a big sign saying not to gather and to stay two metres apart.

It was Fancy Pants day. The girls really got into it. They did their hair and make-up for ages. And then we took pics.

After the pictures they got dressed for real, and at some point there was a knock at the door and an Amazon parcel from Sis. Yates - their primary president. It was a game called Bean Boozled. I think the game was invented in one of the Harry Potter books. You spin the spinner and then you have to find the jelly belly that matches the picture, and it might be yummy or it might be disgusting. Alice and Ken were the only ones brave enough to try it. Alice and Ken both did a few rounds. Alice was as cool as a cucumber and ate the disgusting flavours, swallowing them. She won't try the really gross ones, but she ate smelly sock, dog food, stink bug and toothpaste. Ken had stinky sock, toothpaste and rotten milk. His reactions were hilarious and the videos are so funny!

Ken and I want to change up the backyard. I hate it. We have this huge ugly deck that takes up half the backyard. We spent a bunch of time outside today (or yesterday?) and we talked about what we want the backyard to look like. Ken decided that he wanted to take apart the deck today, so he started removing some screws, but not all the screws...

Wednesday April 1
Today was the day to go into my classroom and gather resources. I still haven't completely wrapped my head around what I'm going to teach. I knew I wanted my first term marks, my unit plans, but honestly I wasn't sure what else. I grabbed a bunch of stuff, time will tell if I use it. It was weird, but that was also in the separate blog post.

And now it's April. We turned the page on the calendar, and I think one of the girls might have played a joke on Ken, but I don't think anyone had the heart for April Fools jokes this year.

It was favourite shirt day today. Kate is wearing her bunny shirt - a sweatshirt I picked up at Justice for her for Christmas 2018. I just knew she'd love it. Fiona is wearing a shirt that says "Today is my Favourite Day" and it makes me happy because Kate used to love wearing that shirt too. Alice is wearing the narwhal shirt Miss Kelly gave her.

The girls and I went on an epic bike ride today. We rode through the magical new place behind Cluett and then we rode to the Rock Concert, and then home the same way Ken and I walked. Alice and Fiona are really confident on their bikes, but Kate still struggles with confidence and endurance. She's getting better all the time though! The girls loved seeing their rocks that Ken and I dropped off.

There was another surprise from Amazon today from Sis. Yates - a mystery puzzle game. The girls are excited about trying to play it.

And we had a funny mail incident. Alice and Fiona went to go pick up the mail and left our mailbox open. It made me slightly annoyed, but it also made me giggle. Someday they'll stop leaving every day open all the time!

Thursday April 2
Today was Christmas sweater day. The girls had fun playing in the backyard with the croquet set. I love it when they play together so nicely. There have been fights, there has been whining, and fear and anxiety and sadness (Alice and her sleeping issues!!OY!) but I really hope that after this is all said and done that they'll have some happy memories from this time.

After dinner we walked down to the lake. I am so so grateful right now for where we live. I love the escape of walking down to the lake.

Friday April 3
Trying to get organized for school next week... it's been a lot nuts. I still haven't figured out all the grades but I've got grade 8s and 7s kind of figured out. Kate took a little practice video for me today - and a lovely selfie!

It was pajama day today and I thought it would be cute if they posed with the Care Bears their Nana made them, and they happily obliged.

Saturday April 4
Conference. Six months ago our dear Prophet invited us to prepare for General Conference this year. He invited us to immerse ourselves in the glorious light of the restoration, to consider where we'd be without the Book of Mormon, and where we'd be without the Restoration. He invited us to prepare for a conference, and he said that "next April conference will not only be memorable; it will be unforgettable." I don't think that a global pandemic was what anyone was thinking would happen, but here we are. Here. We. Are.

The Conference Center is closed. The sessions are happening in a small auditorium and the only people in attendance are those speaking or praying - or filming! There was no live music either. All of the choir performances were from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, but they were all previously recorded, and many of them were from past conferences.

I have listened to so many audio books - about the priesthood (another thing the prophet encouraged us as sisters to delve into last conference) the restoration and the Book of Mormon. My testimony has been strengthened in ways I didn't know it needed to be, and I'm so grateful for the further light I've received.

Kate sat with Ken and I for almost the first whole session today. I ate it up, all of it. I've been so up and down the last few weeks, and Conference has been balm for my soul.

After the first session was done, we walked down to my new favourite place on Cluett to play Pooh Sticks. It was so fun. The girls did not want to go, but once we were there they didn't want to leave.

The rocks everywhere has been a really fun thing. People are painting rocks and leaving them everywhere! The Durham Region Sun Rocks group on Facebook has also seen a huge surge in membership which is fun.

During the second session we listened to our current Stake President get called to be an Area Seventy. Ken and I did a total double take. We weren't sure we heard it right, but then it was confirmed - I messaged his daughter on Instagram! And before too long it was published on church news.

I'm thankful for my Savior, and that I am a member of his true church. This new symbol was introduced today.

The evening session was for ages 12 and up, and there were two youth speakers which was totally awesome. I'm so thankful that it's Conference this weekend. So thankful.

School

On Monday we had our first online Staff Meeting. The direction was that we were to have content for kids online by next Monday. There wasn't a whole lot of clarity around what that would look like and exactly what it would be, but grade teams were to talk to each other and make a plan to go forward. I'm on music island of course, and not part of one grade team, I'm part of eight. I don't know exactly where I fit, or what I should be asking of kids...

Also in the meeting we were told the school would be opened up for us Wednesday and Thursday. We would be given a 15 minute window to go into our classroom and grab our stuff.

When I walked into my classroom this morning I started to tear up. I wasn't prepared for or expecting an emotional response. I want to be in my classroom with my students. I don't want my classroom to be frozen in time because of some crazy global pandemic.

I wanted to stay and linger, but I needed to honour the 15 minutes, so that other people could have their 15 minutes.

My last day of school was Friday, March 13th. My girls had enjoyed a P.A.day and were home with their Dad. I knew that there would be an extra two weeks of March Break, but that was it, that was all. I didn't think we'd return to school on April 6th, but I wasn't sure. School is now out until May 4th, but in other provinces they've said goodbye to the whole year.

I don't know when I'll be back in my classroom. I don't know when life will return to normal or what normal will look like on the other side of this. Today it feels hard and sad. The sun is shining brightly though, so that's something.

Quarantine Week 2 - March 22 - 28

Sunday March 22
I wasn't happy. I felt panicky this afternoon. It was hard to feel calm. I did go over to the school yard with Fiona on her bike and tried to practice some of the mindfulness that I'd learned listening to a mindful book. I had this beautiful moment. I acknowledged that these times are crazy, that I don't feel okay, and that it is okay to not feel okay, and I felt this flood of the spirit through my body. I felt warmth and love and calm, but then the moment passed and I felt crazy again. But, underneath the crazy, I knew it would all be okay.

Monday March 23
Our neighbour and friend Heidi Stahler has a blog, and a big heart. She wanted to do something to help in the midst of the chaos. She came up with Self-Isolation Spirit Week. Her post was shared and shared and shared! The girls were excited, and here they are, day one, PJ Day!

Last week before I stopped taking the girls to stores, Fiona, Alice and I went to Michael's and bought these cute Easter Kits.

Alice made an Art Studio.

Kate an Egg Ferris Wheel.

Fiona made an Egg Factory.

One of the most exciting things about today, was learning of Brenden's safe return. Missionaries in foreign missions in Africa were the most recent to be evacuated. He told the story in an email. They had to fly to Maputo. Then they took a plane to South Africa, but they didn't have visas to be in South Africa, and the missionaries were not treated well. He missed a first flight out, but caught a different flight out later, saying that he was Canadian. He flew to Amsterdam, and then home to Toronto. He slept in airports for four days. It was crazy, but he's home and he's safe!

I also made quiche for both sets of missionaries tonight. We've now got an online missionary dinner calendar which is great. The Elders came, picked up their quiche and we chatted in the doorway (6 ft apart) for a bit. They seem okay, but one elder seems like he's having a hard time, he seemed sad. The sisters came next and again, we chatted in the doorway 6 ft apart for a bit. I told them about the elders and they said they need someone to teach. I decided this would be the perfect time for the missionaries to teach Kelly. I messaged her and told her that she should have lessons, we chatted on the phone, and set up an appointment!!! Kelly has her first discussion set up for Wednesday. And the sisters are going to teach Fiona a little lesson every day. We're starting tomorrow with prayer. I feel so strongly that I need to help take care of the missionaries!

Tuesday March 24
Today was costume day. It was really cute, the girls were really into deciding who to be from all our costumes.

We did another bike ride over to the school. Fiona is doing really well on her bike! It's awesome.

 And silly fun with Messenger filters.

I started to feel calm again today, which felt good.

Wednesday March 25
Today was crazy hair day.

I wanted to post a funny pic, so I wore one of my fun music sweatshirts today, and had Ken take a pic of me.

After dinner we went over to the girls school. Ken fixed his bike and he rode his bike over, all the girls rode over, and I walked. I did however take Ken's bike for a test spin and it was fun. I thought the bike would be way too tall for me, but it wasn't, it was okay. Fiona and I rode around the school over and over again. I hadn't ridden a bike since 2002 maybe? It was a really long time!

It's weird seeing the signs that schools are closed. I need to take a picture of one of the parks covered in caution tape.

Kelly had her first lesson with the missionaries, and Alice sat in on the whole thing. It was great. Kelly asked lots of great questions, and the missionaries did great! Elder Itaya and Elder Holman taught Kelly about the apostasy and the restoration, about Jesus and the God head. It was a good start! We have another lesson set up for Friday.

Thursday March 26
It was Super Hero Day today, and we took that opportunity to start working on our next cousin superhero girls book. I wanted to make a Covid 19 book. I have a bunch of ideas about the book, but not an ending yet. I messaged the Moms and some of the cousins with all my ideas. It was a little bit gray and misty and kind of perfect for taking pictures.

We did a Messenger Call with all of the cousins. I love these cousins!!!

Kate decided to decorate the fridge tonight and spent a long time arranging pictures and then putting up a cute message.

And Suzanne sent me the cutest pic of Ben at his babysitters. He's doing an "around the world" adventure with her! Today they went to Mexico.

Today was hard for some different non-pandemic reasons. Today I sort of came to terms with some health stuff for me. Last week on the Monday I called my doctor's office to schedule an appointment to get a referral so I could see about getting a diagnosis for celiac. I had a blood test several years ago and my numbers were high. Not as high as my brother's (Jon) but high. My doctor recommended that if I wanted to I could just live gluten free, but at that point I wasn't symptomatic, so I thought I'm not going to worry about it. For the past few months I've begun to notice some symptoms, and I've thought several times that I should make a doctor's appointment, but I never got around to it. The rotating teacher strikes were a major disruption and I didn't know when to make an appointment. Today I kind of decided, that I'm done. I can't get a doctor's appointment right now, and I don't want to suffer through the symptoms anymore, so I'm just going to start living gluten free. I was in mourning today for so many foods that I love that I won't be able to eat anymore. I felt kind of angry. I've always been so thankful that I don't have any food allergies, and that my kids don't have any either.

And then if I wasn't sad enough, I learned tonight that a friend - one of the families from Orangeville Ward went through a terrible tragedy on March 17th. Their sweet little baby boy that was born in January died in his sleep. I watched the video that she posted on Facebook and wept for them and their loss. It put my silly food woes in perspective.

Friday March 27
The Fri-yay feeling... it just isn't there right now, go figure! Today was mis-match day and the girls' outfits were epic!

Fiona and Alice rode their bikes, and Kate and I walked and we went down to the lake. It was so beautiful and sunny today. It's been cloudy for the past couple of days, so it was so nice to see the sun.

I still feel a little off today. I'm still so sad for Meg and her husband, their two girls, their extended family. The grief of losing a child, it is so much.

I also found out that we're having our first staff meeting on Monday at 2 p.m. I feel nervous and confused, well, mostly nervous about what this next phase of life will bring. There have been daily press conferences and today Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario announced that schools will now be closed until May 4th. We were supposed to be off for two extra weeks after March Break, meaning that we would go back to school on April 6th. I didn't think that would happen, and I'm not sure that we'll actually go back in May, so it's weird, and real, and right now, un-ending.

Kelly had a second lesson with the missionaries tonight. Alice and Kate sat in for part of it. The missionaries continued from where we'd left off. We talked more about the Book of Mormon. I feel like the discussion went better. The missionaries know where Kelly's at now and we able to teach her. I was able to bear testimony when I could, and that feels good. Having a missionary discussion tonight with Kelly was really uplifting, and I was grateful for that tonight!

Saturday March 28
Ken went shopping today. He was out for a long time. He did groceries, and after some deliberation and online research, he picked me up a bike at Canadian Tire. Now that all the girls ride bikes, and Ken has a bike, we can go on bike rides as a family! It's pretty cool.

I didn't take any pictures today. Not one. My emotions are really up and down and all over the place. I'm not really sure what I'll feel from one day to the next. I know that God loves me, He loves all of us, I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and of His gospel. Trying to hold onto hope is easier some days than it is others.