Living in a Pandemic

 We are living in a part of history that is going to be talked about for decades.

I asked everyone to write the good and bad of these 8 months of living in a pandemic.

Austin

Good: 

Family Connection

Time at home

Hanna at home for her mission prep and MTC

Clean up yard and get other odd jobs done

Technology use

Bad:

No ability to see family

Couldn't travel - New York Sacred Grove trip cancelled & Gwilliam Family Reunion cancelled

Temple not open - also church and other activities

Schools closed  and school activities

Missionaries can't get to assigned areas

Larsen

Five positive things about the Pandemic.

1) The pandemic has given us the opportunity to find new ways to learn from school, and church. Having zoom classes and zoom church has been a major blessing as it has brought family’s closer together.
2) The pandemic has outlined the good and bad things about social media. Giving us the knowledge to make better decisions and the ability to do better research than just a Facebook post.
3) The changes brought by the social distancing guidelines have given most people much better health awareness.
4) Personally I fee that this pandemic has shown me that God is in control.  With the temples closed and the ever changing dynamics of our church meetings I have witnessed our heavenly fathers hand in preparing people for his spirit. Giving us one of the greatest eras of missionary work.
5) For Jill and I the Pandemic has been great as we have been able to accomplish many goals this summer. Although we didn’t get to rodeo as much as we want to we were able to save and invest that money into better things.

Not so good things.
1) The effects of the virus on the economy have just begun. While we are blessed there are many who are not so lucky that have run out of business. Our little town is dependent on tourism for the bulk of our economy and the pandemic has crippled the tourist industry.
2) There is nothing more uncomfortable than wearing a mask. Although they claim it helps slow the spread of the disease. I miss people’s faces. Masks are deceiving and make it so many experiences are less important because we no longer get to see faces of people.
3) Many rodeos and social events have been canceled that have affected our life and many other peoples lives.
4)No one knows what to believe about this virus anymore. With so many different facts and opinions that have come out and about. How can we know how dangerous this virus is with all of the educated opinions on the logistics of the virus.
5) The pandemic has shut down so many great things like movie theaters and bowling ally’s. With people being cooped up in there houses the psychological problems have just begun. 

Jill

Positive things from this pandemic:

1) I have been able to continue my education, because of the technology available to us. We can’t meet in person, but we are able to meet online and learn. I am grateful I haven’t had to stop that learning process. 

2) Larsen and I have been able to spend a lot of time together and become closer. There have been lots of nights that we just laugh together and it’s great. We have been able to find joy in the smaller things. 

3) I have realized the absolute importance of families. Family is who will always be there and who truly has our best interest at heart. I am forever grateful for the technology we have available. We have been able to keep in touch with friends and family - some even more so since the pandemic started. We have been able to have church meetings and parties and have been able to be present for some big events in our lives. 

4) I have had a learning opportunity to see more of how much the Hand of the Lord is in our daily lives. We have had to rely on Him for peace and comfort and that has been a good refresher for me. I have seen the angels that have blessed me and my family throughout this pandemic and throughout our lives and that brings me great peace. We are never alone.  

5) Honestly, I think at-home church has been one of the greatest blessings of this pandemic. Being able to learn from those in my family has been amazing. Hearing Lincoln and Lilas (my nephew (4) and niece (2)) testimonies has been a great reminder of how simple and pure the love of Christ is. Learning from my family about the gospel has been a great joy for me. It also has been a reminder of how grateful I am for the priesthood in my home and that I have the ability to take the sacrament in my home. 

Not so positive things from the pandemic:

1) I have missed rodeos and jackpots and being able to compete. I realized I have been in competitions of some kind almost my whole life and I haven’t been able to this year and that’s been hard. 

2) I have struggled a lot with the Canada/US border being closed. I have missed my family and missed some pretty major family events, like Hanna leaving on her mission. That has been hard for me. I often find myself feeling sorry for myself, but I have to remember that this is a crazy year for everyone and all I can do is trust in God because this is a time that we are being tested. 

3) It’s been hard to keep up with the COVID-19 guidelines. It seems like they change every day and everything contradicts itself and that is frustrating and exhausting. 

4) there are days when I feel like I am going stir crazy because lots of things have been closed. The challenges of being able to get out and do stuff has been tricky. I am glad I have horses and a place to ride them because if not I would go crazy. 

5) this one might seem dumb, but man alive I miss Olive Garden. 

HANNA

Okay 5 good

I got to come to Toronto, I got to live with the Cranneys, I became closer with Steve and karma, I learned how to cope literally all by myself, I realized how much going to the temple is such a a blessing and to not take that for granted

5 bad

Borders are closed so I can't go to the DR yet, rodeo season was cut short, all my plans for literally the whole summer were ruined hahaha, we are back in lockdown here, idk life in general just wasn't as fun cause everyone is scared of it... like people don't smile at each other or talk to each other

KAYLYNN

5 Good Things

1 - We have slowed down our life so much since there are no events. We have spent so much time at home together which has been fun, and we have gotten many projects done.

2 - We have learned to simplify events.

3 - We have been blessed with technology that we can still connect and re-connect with family. We have been able to have Relief Society and Young Women lessons and activities online. We have been able to watch baptisms, funerals, missionary talks, etc because everything is now broadcast online.

4 - Being able to have church at home and have the Sacrament was a blessing. The Savior had prepared us with the implementation of home-centered, Church-supported gospel study and Come, Follow Me weekly lessons. We are also thankful for the priesthood so we could have the Sacrament in our home.

5 - We have benefited financially from the pandemic. Partly because we have spent way less money from not traveling or going to basketball tournaments, etc. We have also received government grants to help from the pandemic from Canada and from the US. Some businesses have thrived because of the pandemic and others (such as anything with tourism, restaurants, etc) have suffered. We are thankful everyday that our jobs were secure through this time.

5 Bad Things

1 - The worst thing has been not being able to see the people we want to see. With the borders being closed or having to quarantine for 14 days, Jill has not been home for ever. It is possible but a big pain to go to see her. We haven't been able to see family like we normally would. When Hanna came home, it was very stressful to make sure she was following the quarantine restrictions. 

2 - Having the temples and churches closed has been hard. We went 6 months without being able to go inside the church. We have been to the temple one time since March. We miss weekly church, Relief Society and Young Women lessons and activities, and the temple.

3 - Having our freedoms restricted has been painful. People fear the government restrictions much more than they fear the pandemic.

4 - I miss events. I love events. I love basketball games and rodeos and church activities and parades and having my calendar full.

5 - I miss interacting with people. We aren't supposed to go to each other's homes. We need social interaction and face to face connection.